Amtrak to Extend On-Board WiFi
(10/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
Following the launch of WiFi services on its Acela trains running up and down the NE corridor in the US, Amtrak appears ready to take the service national. According to reports on the Muni-Wireless website, the train company has issued an RFP which will result in a selection of a set of vendors qualified to work on a task-order basis to install, operate and maintain WiFi, business services and passenger information services for Amtrak across the United States.The train operator is keen to identify a "complete technology solution that will serve as an onboard communications ... ... more
Swiss Operator Wins Termination Fee Battle
(10/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
Swisscom appears to have won its battle against the Swiss Competition Commission, Weko, over allegations of illegal mobile termination fees. Weko had accused Swisscom of keeping its fees too high and had imposed a fine of SFr333 million on the operator. However, three years after the fine was set, the Swiss federal administrative court has overturned the main points of the decision and ruled that the mobile operator will not be fined. The original ruling had decided that Swisscom, as the dominant operator, had violated its position as defined under the Swiss Cartel Act. This had followed an ... ... more
iPad Date Announced to World - US First
(08/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
The long awaited launch date for the Apple iPad has been revealed. From 3rd of April, Apple fans in the US will be able to get their hands on the new device. However, the first batch of iPads will have only WiFi connectivity - the 3G and WiFi combined versions will not be able until later in the month. Apple says it will allow pre-ordering of its iPads to begin on the 12th of March in America. For those hoping to buy an iPad in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, the wait will only be a few weeks more - Apple says they will make all versions of the ... ... more
MTN Ghana Reports 900MHz, 3G Success
(08/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
MTN Ghana says it has concluded trials of the first 900MHz UMTS network in Africa. The company, which has been working with Swedish vendor Ericsson on the system, claims that the tests show that it is possible to build and expand cost effective nation-wide mobile broadband coverage. Ericsson echoed the sentiments and pointed out that the addition of UMTS at 900MHZ will compliment city wide coverage at 2,100MHz for UMTS services where it will help with in-building coverage. According to Lars Lindén, President of Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa, "By leveraging off their existing ... ... more
Major US Train Company Starts Offering WiFi On-Board
(02/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
Amtrak has launched free WiFi-delivered internet access on all 20 of its Acela Express trains which run up and down the East Coast Corridor between Washington DC and Boston. The train operator is also providing WiFi coverage for its passengers at the six major stations along the route. The new AmtrakConnect, service is available to every passenger on board Acela Express both in Business and First class seating. Whilst the service is free for the moment, Amtrak is reserving the right to charge for it in the future, once an introductory period is over. In a statement, Matt Hardison, chief of ... ... more
UK Giant not Slain by EC
(02/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
European regulators have given the green light to the proposed merger between Orange and T-Mobile in the UK. As a result there is little to stop the creation of a new giant in the British mobile market. The pair were given the official blessing of the European Commission yesterday, having agreed to certain concessions. The decision means that the UK's own Office of Fair Trading will not be given the chance to review the merger. The OFT has formally withdrawn its request to be allowed to examine the get-together, saying that the companies had "offered remedies that fully address the ... ... more
Apple Takes Biggest Bite of Smart Phone Sales
(01/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
The smart phone market was dominated by one company last year, with sales of the Apple iPhones overtaking those of Windows Mobile, claimed Gartner Research. However, Symbian phones and Research in Motion's Blackberry handsets still retain their lead, the research company reported. In 2009, the global figure for the sale of Symbian handsets stood at 80.9 million, up from 72.9 million a year earlier. Yet, due to the fast rising market overall for smart phones (172.4 million sold in 2009 and 139.3 million in 2008), Symbian's market share fell to 46.9%, meanwhile, second-placed RIM's market share ... ... more
Skype Throws Itself out of the Window
(01/03/2010, BWCS Staff)
Communications software outfit Skype is to remove Skype Lite and Skype for Windows Phones applications from its offerings. According to the company, its Skype Lite service only actually works in a few countries. More importantly, however, the proprietary VOIP service supplier has withdrawn Skype apps from Windows Mobile operating systems.The VOIP company has refused to confirm the decision, though online message boards are full of the story. In fact, according to one website, the story first broke on a user forum when one individual posted that Skype's own FAQ entry on Windows Mobile now said ... ... more
BBC Aims at iPhone Market
(25/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The BBC's commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, is preparing to dive into the world of mobile phone applications. According to press reports this morning, the broadcaster is keen to develop a series of iPhone applications (other smart phones are available) featuring content from popular shows, past and present. One of the first in line for this treatment is said to be the Generation Game, a stalwart of Saturday evening viewing from the Seventies.The Beeb has apparently been involved in discussions over how best to exploit its huge bank of content on the new generation of smart phones. One of the ... ... more
India Sets 3G Date ... Will it Hold?
(25/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The Indian government has, at long last, set a final date for the much-trumpeted, and much delayed, auction of licences to supply 3G mobile telephone services across the subcontinent. The federal government yesterday confirmed that the 9th of April is to be the red letter day when the bidding can finally take place. Two days after the 3G sale ends, the government will sell off licences to offer other broadband wireless services. Applications are now being accepted by the Indian government from all prospective bidders. The deadline for submitting applications is March the 19th. Pre-qualified ... ... more
Tasmanian Buses Get WiFi ...
(24/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
WiFi on public transport has now reached as far as Tasmania. Following recent news that trains to Norwich in England are to be fitted out with WiFi, it seems there are few corners of the world were the service is not at least being trialed, if not introduced commercially. The recent announcement in Tasmania will see an AU$300,000 pilot scheme launched on buses in the state's second city Launceston.The trial is due to last 18 months and follows public access WiFi on transport tests in other parts of Australia. South Australia launched an i-Commute project last August and in April 2009, the ... ... more
UAE Gets WiFi Going on Trains
(24/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
Implementation of what its backers are calling "the first WiFi on Trains system in the United Arab Emriates" is now complete. Mobiserve, the Egypt-based telecoms solutions provider, and Nomad, the UK-based WiFi on trains company, said that work on the Dubai Metro WiMax network is finished and that commuters can now access the internet on-board all trains via WiFi-enabled laptops or smart-phones.The WiMax network, installed by Nomad Digital, on behalf of local telco and ISP Du, boasts average broadband speeds at stations of up to 4Mbps, while backhauling to the network through WiMax ... ... more
3G Sale (Finally) Gets Green Light in India ...
(23/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
At Long last the Indian government has announced that there are no longer any obstacles to its planned auction of 3G licences. In fact, barring any last minute mishaps, the process of selling off the spectrum set aside in India for 3G and broadband wireless services should start this week. Communications and IT Minister, Mr A. Raja, said yesterday that the Notice Inviting Applications, which gives the policy guidelines for the auction, will be issued by the end of this week. More importantly he added the words that many have been waiting a long time to hear "All issues have been ... ... more
Mobile Operators to fix Own Termination Rates in NZ
(23/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The New Zealand Commerce Commission has decided not to recommend the regulation of mobile termination access rates in the country. In its final report delivered to the Communications Minister yesterday, the Commission recommended that he accept the undertakings offered by the two main mobile players Vodafone and Telecom New Zealand and that these should stand as an alternative to regulations. However, the Commission's decision was by no means unanimous. Whilst Vodafone and Telecom naturally welcomed the Commission's findings, rival operator 2degrees expressed disappointment over the ... ... more
Allo, allo, allo ... Police Mobile Contract up for Grabs ...
(22/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The largest police force in the UK, the Metropolitan Police Service, is to set up a mobile phone framework deal that it says could be copied by the other 42 police services across the UK. The deal will be for the supply of mobile services over and above the Airwave secure communication system, currently in use by the police and other emergency services. According to the London Police Authority, the deal could be worth around £16 million a year to a single supplier, if it is only used by the Met. However, according to the tender notice in the Official Journal of the European Union ... ... more
EC Set to Give Green Light to Mobile Merger
(22/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The proposed mega-merger of mobile operators Orange and T-Mobile in the UK looks set to get approval from the EC as early as this week, according to newspaper reports over the weekend. If the press is to be believed, the European Commission will reject an appeal by the Office of Fair Trading in the UK for the case to be passed back to it. The OFT has already said it fears that a joining of forces by the France Telecom-backed Orange and the Deutsch Telekom-owned T-Mobile would "significantly" reduce competition in the British mobile market. However, various newspapers now claim that ... ... more
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