Data Making Networks Creak?
(08/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
Smart-phone use is growing fast in the UK and putting extra strain on existing 3G networks argues WiFi hotspot operator the Cloud. The company, which admittedly may have a vested interest in painting a gloomy picture of mobile capacity issues, claimed at the weekend that 3G networks, particularly in London are cracking under the surging demand for mobile data - lead by those on unlimited data plans. Partly in order to meet this rise in demand, mobile operators recently asked the UK telecoms regulator Ofcom for the right to increase the broadcast power they are allowed to use. According ... ... more
EC to Order Lower Fees in Latvia
(08/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The European Commission has stepped in to demand that the Latvian telecoms regulator, the Sabiedrisko Pakalpojumu Regulesanas Komisija (SPRK for short), acts to lower fees charged to consumers in the country. The EC has reportedly asked the regulator to change the way it calculates fixed and mobile termination rates allowing them to be lowered, which in turn will make calls cheaper. In May of last year, the EC backed an EU wide approach to calculating termination rates but, at the time, it said it would allow telecoms regulators to continue in their own way for a transitional period. However, ... ... more
RIM to Push Touch-Screen OS
(04/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
Determined to hit back at its smart phone competitors, Research In Motion is reportedly working hard on a new touch-based operating system update for its BlackBerry devices. The Canadian-based company is also rumoured to be about to produce a new touch-based BlackBerry phone with a Qwerty keyboard, in the manner of the iPhone. Various news sources have carried the story that RIM is developing a newer, more Web-friendly BlackBerry operating system, as well as a brand new BlackBerry device, apparently known as Magnum, that boasts a touch screen user interface.While RIM remains far and away the ... ... more
UK Mobile Giant Under Attack ...
(04/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The UK's own, and only, mobile mega-merger may be under threat. It emerged today that regulators are to study the proposed tie-up between Orange and T-Mobile, which would create a dominant force in the UK mobile market, before deciding on whether or not it can go ahead. Officials at the Office of Fair Trading are apparently concerned that the deal could push up prices and reduce competition. Rival mobile companies have been quoted in this morning's newspapers as saying the deal would create a "guerilla" which would have an unfair advantage via its "stranglehold" on 3G ... ... more
Advertising System to Aid Free On-Board WiFi ...
(02/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
Mobile WiFi service provider Icomera has launched a new service to bring advertising to WiFi hotspots on trains and buses. The new system will, the company claims, allow the hotspot owners to generate revenues by offering targeted messaging to their customers. The new service, MoovManage Ads, enables operators to create and manage advertising campaigns and track their success. In a statement, Icomera said that the advertisements will be presented to hotspot users during their online sessions. The Swedish-British company argues that its service provides a way for hotspot operators to increase ... ... more
BIPT in Drastic Call Cost Cuts
(02/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
The Belgian telecoms regulator is seeking to force mobile operators to slash the fees they charge each other by half. The watchdog says the move is aimed at cutting costs for consumers and businesses and boosting competition. However, the carriers argue that the money they charge for terminating calls from other networks is a vital revenue stream and such a drastic reduction would, they say, hit them hard.The regulatory body in Belgium, the BIPT, shocked many with the severity of the cuts it called for when it made its announcement late yesterday. It is widely expected that the main mobile ... ... more
Qualcomm Targets Korea
(01/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
Giant US chip-maker Qualcomm is to invest in an impressive new Research and Development centre in Korea, the company said today. The new venture, which will be constructed in co-operation with the South Korean Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), will be linked directly to local high tech companies. The centre will be second such outpost established by Qualcomm in the last twelve months following a recent decision to construct an R&D centre in China.Qualcomm's investment in South Korea will be made directly to a local venture firm, Pulsus ... ... more
Vodafone in Double German Push
(01/02/2010, BWCS Staff)
Vodafone, under pressure to beef up its European performance, has today relaunched o.tel.o as its mobile discount brand in Germany. The new, cheap-rate operator will offer German consumers low-cost pre-paid services. For example, o.tel.o will charge only euros 0.09 for calls or SMS messages sent to other users in Germany. The same charges (per minute) will be levied on mobile internet connections. O.tel.o Pre-paid will be sold via the brand's own website or retail partners offering a starter package for as little as euros 9.95 which includes a Sim card with euros 10 credits on it. Meanwhile, ... ... more
3G VoIP Allowed on Apple Phones
(28/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
It might have been easy to miss, but in amongst Steve Jobs' showmanship surrounding the launch of the iPad yesterday, his company also announced that it has removed restrictions on making VoIP calls across 3G networks. Apple evangelists had seen the VoIP on cellular networks ban as one of very few bugbears they had with their new toys, but, now, apparently all such restrictions are to disappear. The move marks a sea-change in attitude at Apple and its US partner-carrier AT&T. The previous agreement between the two had only allowed VoIP communications via WiFi connections. In October, 2009 ... ... more
Will Vodafone Make Like a Banana ... and Split?
(28/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
Pressure is mounting on Vodafone and its CEO, Vittorio Colao, to improve the company's European division. According to reports in today's Financial Times newspaper, Vodafone shareholders are gearing up for a scrap and some investors are even suggesting that the break-up of the UK-based global mobile operator could be on the cards.The FT claims that shareholders are disappointed that Colao's plans to transform Vodafone's European operations have, so far, met with little success. Some investors are even said to be pressing for a sale of the company's 45% stake in US mobile giant Verizon ... ... more
Apple Shines with Bumper Crop
(26/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
Perhaps not surprisingly, given the recent run of success it has had with its iPhones, Apple has just reported its best quarter ever, with first-quarter earnings easily surpassing Wall Street expectations. Late yesterday, the company handed in profit figures of US$3.37 billion (US$3.74 a share) for the three month period that ended on the 26th December 2009. This marked an increase of 50% on the same period last year. Overall revenue for the first three months of its 2010 financial year stood at US$15.6 billion (up 32%). In fact, most US analysts seemed to think that its revenue would be ... ... more
Faster Mobile Speeds for France
(26/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
French mobile operator Orange is busy upgrading its HSDPA network from the current 7.2Mbps to a more respectable 14.4Mbps. However, the increased speed will only be available in the capital this month. During February and beyond the mobile wing of France Telecom, the former French state operator, will expand the new higher-speed mobile system to other cities including Bordeaux, Lens, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Strasbourg, Toulon and Toulouse. According to Orange, the new, faster mobile networks will allow users to download a 5MB file in three seconds, providing the network is ... ... more
New Wireless System to Make Track Workers Safe ...
(25/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
Researchers in Canada have launched a new scheme to use wireless systems and RFID tags to keep tabs on trackside workers. The move is designed not to boost productivity, but rather to improve safety and avoid accidents. Bombardier Transportation is helping fund the research in Canada to develop the location awareness technology. The scheme, in which McMaster RFID Applications Lab is also participating, is aimed at notifying subway vehicles of the exact location of track inspectors and other trackside workers. Keith Sheardown, general manager, Bombardier Transportation Technology Solutions ... ... more
Spanish to Take-Over Telecom Italia?
(25/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
The three largest shareholders in Telecom Italia's holding company, Telco, have all denied a newspaper story that Spanish operator Telefonica is preparing a takeover bid. According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, one of the largest shareholders in Telco, Mediobanca has been busy analysing a possible merger between Telco and Criteria CaixaCorp, a holding company backed by Spanish financial institution La Caixa. This move would, the newspaper claimed, generate a "paper merger" between Telecom Italia and Telefonica. The La Caixa banking group owns 3.75% of shares in Telefonica ... ... more
Bing to be Found on iPhones?
(21/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
No-one wants to keep adding to the hype around Apple and its iPhones, especially as it is about to monopolise the headlines again soon with the much-heralded launch of its iTablet (see below). However, a new rumour is gaining credence that Apple is about to ditch Google as the default search engine on its iPhones in favour of the up and coming Bing - supplied by Microsoft. The stories appear to have some weight behind them and are backed by what the BBC website called a few moments ago "credible sources here in Silicon Valley." If the stories are true, it would make little ... ... more
New Apple Device Really Coming, but What Will it be Called?
(21/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
The iTablet (or iSlate or iPad) is coming ... Apple is due to hold a media event to reveal some details of its long-rumoured new device on Wednesday 27th of January in San Francisco. Unlike the iPhone, which ran out with only one operator in most markets, it is expected that several phone companies in each country will be given the chance to simultaneously bundle the new mini-pc in with their mobile broadband packages. Details have been kept a closely guarded secret though the new device is said to be a 10 inch touch-screen, boasting WiFi and 3G connectivity, and pre-loaded with digital ... ... more
Google Puts Two Chinese Phones on Hold
(20/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
Having threatened to move out of China and close its Chinese language websites, Google is now determined to delay the launch of its new mobile handsets in the country. The search engine giant, which is working hard to increase its presence in the mobile sector, has developed two mobile phones specially tailored for the Chinese market. The new phones, which were scheduled to be unveiled this week, have been developed in tandem with Samsung and Motorola and reportedly incorporate Google's e-mail and search facilities. They were part of a deal with Chinese mobile operator China Unicom.So far, ... ... more
More Patent Disputes for Nokia...
(20/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
Following yesterday's news of its continuing spat with Apple, Nokia gained some cheer today from a victory in Britain's High Court. This time, the case was centred on a long-running patent dispute between the Finnish company and IPCom. IPCom owns the 160 mobile patents once developed by Bosch and believes Nokia has been illegally breaching its patents. Nokia said it will now seek to recoup the costs of the action from its German opponent. A spokesman for the Finns in the UK, Mark Durrant, summed up his company's position "This is an important decision, as it is not possible to infringe ... ... more
iPhone Rings up the Sales for Vodafone
(19/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
Vodafone has given a quick demonstration of the power of the iPhone. Despite being forced to put the iconic handsets on sale after, instead of before, Christmas, the UK mobile operator has still managed to rack up sales of 50,000 of the Apple handsets on the first day of trading. Certainly the queues outside many of Vodafone's 400 UK retail outlets must have been a reassuring sight for the company's top brass, who may have feared that the market for iPhones had already been largely mopped up by rival network operators. According to Guy Laurence, Vodafone UK's CEO, the company saw ... ... more
The Year of the App' ...
(19/01/2010, BWCS Staff)
2010 will, among many other things, be the year of the mobile application, claims US heavyweight research group Gartner. According to the American researchers, consumers around the world will shell out a total of over US$6.2 billion to purchase mobile applications from various online stores. At the same time advertising on mobile phones should reach US$600 million this year, giving a clear indication of where the money is. In terms of mobile apps, of course, the market is dominated by Apple.The predicted online spend for 2010 is a huge increase of around 42% on the US$4.2 billion that Gartner ... ... more
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