3G Americas has provided updates to its popular white paper titled UMTS Evolution from 3GPP Release 7 to Release 8: HSPA and SAE/LTE that explains the leading evolutionary roadmap for the GSM family of technologies to 3G and beyond.
Globally, the demand for wireless data services is driving the growth of 3G UMTS/HSPA technology with more than 200 commercial HSDPA networks today and subscriptions to UMTS/HSPA estimated at over 236 million by Informa Telecoms and Media. With more than 3.1 billion subscriptions for the GSM family of technologies worldwide today, the potential for third generation HSPA technology is forecast to reach 1.39 billion subscriptions by year end 2012 and 1.8 billion by year end 2013 according to Informa.
UMTS Evolution from 3GPP Release 7 to Release 8: HSPA and SAE/LTE offers a further review of 3GPP Release-7 (Rel-7) upon its completion in the technology standardization process and an introduction to the improved features of 3GPP Release 8 (Rel-8). The paper explores the growing demands for wireless data and successes for a variety of wireless applications, the increasing Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless services by operators worldwide, recent developments in 3GPP technologies by several leading manufacturers, and 3GPP technology benefits and technical features.
Upon the finalization of the Rel-8 standard later this year, 3G Americas will publish a new white paper on the 3GPP standards that will include the completion of Rel-7 HSPA+ features, voice over HSPA, SAE/EPC (Evolved Packet Core) specification and Common IMS among other new developments and features. Since HSPA+ enhancements are fully backwards compatible with Rel-99/Rel-5/Rel-6, the upgrade to HSPA+ has been made smooth and evolutionary for GSM operators. Additionally, Rel-7 standardizes Evolved EDGE with continuing development in Rel-8 which will improve the user experience across all wireless data services by reducing latency and increasing data throughput and capacity. Finalization of the Rel-8 standard by the end of this year will further progress market interest in commercial deployment of LTE. Leading operators worldwide are announcing their plans to deploy LTE as early as 2010 with trials already occurring today.
The popular white paper UMTS Evolution from 3GPP Release 7 to Release 8: HSPA and SAE/LTE was written collaboratively by members of 3G Americas and is available for free download at: www.3gamericas.org
Updates to 3GPP Release 7 and Release 8 White Paper
Thursday, July 10, 2008Orange Launches New Service for Mobile Social Networking
Orange announced that Europe’s leading social network sites will be brought together within Orange World.
The new service combines access to the sites’ popular functions into a single destination. The news follows the completion of partnership agreements with MySpace, Facebook and Bebo whose members will be able to view their profile updates – emails, comments from friends, recently uploaded pictures - alongside others from Skyrock , Pikeo, Flirtomatic , DailyMotion and Meetic .
The service, which lets users keep in touch with their friends wherever they are, has launched in France and will follow soon in the UK, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal. It works by displaying the most popular functions of multiple social networks side by side these so that they can be accessed far more simply with one click. Consumers will now be able to receive and send messages, upload photos and check status updates without having to browse individual URLs or log into separate sites. Orange plans to evolve the service from Orange World to an embedded application, accessible from the home screen of Orange Signature phones. The ultimate goal is to bring these communities together across all three screens: mobile, PC and TV.
Our partnership with MySpace shows that mobile is a seamless extension of the online experience, not an alternative to it,” said Olaf Swantee, Head of Orange’s global mobile operations.
“This service illustrates how Orange is aggregating digital content to simplify access to social networks from mobile devices. In future, Orange will deliver digital entertainment across mobile, TV and broadband, giving consumers content not just where they want it, but how they want it.”
Orange is Europe’s leading provider of broadband, reaches 5.8 million mobile TV subscribers and attracts 61 million unique visitors per month to its online properties worldwide. The provision of aggregated content and exclusive entertainment across mobile, broadband and TV is central to the company’s advertising solutions.
Paul-Francois Fournier, Senior Vice President for Portal Strategy and Online Advertising at Orange says: “At Orange, we are committed to giving over 170 million customers the best and most user-friendly multimedia experience possible, whether on the mobile, the Web or IPTV. This new service will give our mobile customers easy and optimised access to the most popular Internet online communities on their mobile, so they can take it with them wherever they go.” Paul Francois concludes, “It also supports our cross platform advertising strategy with a compelling offer for advertisers to reach all those different communities in one single place on Orange World portals" [3g.co.uk]
Mobile WiMAX Users in South Korea will Reach 2.5 million by 2011
Monday, July 7, 2008Report Buyer has added a new report analysing WiBro Services and Strategies in South Korea.
"WiBro Services and Strategies in South Korea", which is available from http://www.reportbuyer.com/go/ROA00034 reports that the number of mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Acces) users will increase to more than 2.5 million by 2011. The market revenues are also expected to increase to 65 billion KRW by 2011.
The report shows that Mobile WiMAX, called WiBro in Korea, was commercially launched in the country two years ago, on June 30, 2006, but due to insufficient CAPEX (capital expenditure) investment, resulting in poor service coverage and device line-up, the subscriber growth was slow, until KT started strong marketing strategies to attract subscribers in early 2007.
Authors of the report note that the subscribers increased 5,600 in April 2007 to 106,000 in December 2007. In 2008, the subscribers are increasing by about 10,000 per month. In addition, KT and SKT, the two mobile WiMAX operators in Korea, have decided to expand their investment from 2008, and the mobile WiMAX market is expected to grow faster.
Moreover, the availability of VoIP (Voice Over Internet protocol) will have a significant influence on subscriber addition. Currently, the biggest disadvantage with WiBro service is that it fails to provide a killer application.
The report further shows that to improve the service expansion, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in Korea is developing NeMA (New Mobile Access), an upgraded version of WiBro. NeMA is a technology for the users who move at a high speed; at 100Mbps while moving at the maximum of 120km/h. In 2007 ETRI developed NoLA, which is LAN-based technology for the users who move at low speeds. ETRI plans to combine these two technologies and if it succeeds, the Korean market could witness next year a service that allows the users to use Internet in a moving vehicle on the highway.
"WiBro Services and Strategies in South Korea" is available from Report Buyer. For more information go to: http://www.reportbuyer.com/telecoms/3g_wimax/wibro_services_strategies_s outh_korea.html
Report Buyer product ID:ROA00034
T-Mobile rumored to be readying Android phone for 3G launch
Word in the blogosphere is that T-Mobile USA will include a Google Android phone as part of its nationwide 3G wireless network launch later this year.
Several blogs reported Monday that T-Mobile is set to offer service in some 20-plus cities starting October 1. And the carrier plans to include the HTC Dream smartphone as one of its first 3G phones to launch with the network, according to reports.
T-Mobile started offering 3G service in New York City in May. And the company said at the launch it would roll out the service in other top markets by the end of the year. Separately, T-Mobile has said it will be offering an Android handset in the fourth quarter, which many believe will be the HTC Dream. But until now, the 3G network launch and the availability of the Android handset were not linked.
Now the rumor mill is churning that T-Mobile will offer the new Android phone along with three others including, the Sony Ericsson Z780, a high-end Samsung camera phone, and possibly the Motorola ZINE ZN5.
A T-Mobile spokeswoman reiterated that T-Mobile expects to launch the 3G service in 20 to 25 markets by the end of 2008, but she wouldn't specify when these cities would go live. As for the talk of the HTC Android phone launching with the 3G network, she said that T-Mobile doesn't comment on rumors.
T-Mobile, which is a distant fourth place in the U.S. wireless market with about 29 million customers at the end of December, spent more than $4 billion to buy spectrum in the 2006 Advanced Wireless Service auction held by the Federal Communications Commission. The new spectrum more than doubled the company's spectrum offering and finally gave it the necessary bandwidth to build a high-speed wireless network.
The nationwide roll-out should help the company compete more directly with other major carriers such as AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint Nextel.
Some of the other cities where T-Mobile is expected to offer its 3G service by the end of the year, include: Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Birmingham, Ala.; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Houston; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Memphis,Tenn.; Miami; Minneapolis; Long Island, N.Y.; Orlando, Fla.; Philadelphia; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; Sacramento, Calif.; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; and Washington, D.C.
Android is a new mobile operating system that's being developed by Google. Recently, a report in The Wall Street Journal indicated that the new software had hit some snags and phones using the operating system wouldn't be ready until the fourth quarter instead of being available in the third quarter.
iPhone 3G Gets Even Babies in Line
Sunday, July 6, 2008We all know that Apple's new iPhone 3G will be released on July 11 in the US (and other 22 global markets), so there are about six days left until then. Well, six
days don't seem to be enough for some US iPhone fans, as the line in front of Apple's Store in New York has already begun to take shape.
According to GearDiary, there are at least ten people in front of the Cube from Apple's New York flagship store. They have tents, sleeping bags, food and - the shocking part - there's a couple among them who came with their six-month old daughter. The couple says the baby will "probably" not wait all the time in the line. But that doesn't change the fact that a baby as young as six months should not be involved in such an action.
Apparently, this early group wants to set a world record. On their website, suggestively named Waiting for Apples, they have self-titled themselves "The Who Farmers", saying the record should be for the "longest time waiting in line to buy something". Well, as they will have to stay in front of Apple's Cube until July 11, 8 AM local time, when all the US Apple and AT&T stores start selling iPhone 3Gs, they do have some good chances to set a record.
Reading more about the mentioned website, I've found that these iPhone 3G fans say that, during the in-line wait, they will eat "local healthy food", and "especially Apples". Furthermore, they will talk to people who pass by about "local organic farming", since this is "a critical element to sustainable healthy living, food security, youth education, and climate change mitigation".
Well, all this is definitely weird, and the fact that it revolves around Apple's new iPhone will surely bring more publicity for the Cupertino-based company (as if necessary).
Orange Launching New 3G iPhone on 17 July 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008Europe : Orange will be launching the new 3G iPhone on 17 July 2008
- The 3G iPhone offers even faster internet access plus new features such as GPS and email via Microsoft Exchange
- Orange will be selling the 3G iPhone from €149, as exclusive operator
- Orange plan subscribers upgrading from the previous iPhone will be able to get the 3G version at a preferential rate
3G iPhone: the only mobile of its kind on the market
The 3G iPhone builds on the features that made its predecessor such a huge success: revolutionary mobile phone with touchscreen, iPod function, real internet access, and email.
In addition to the wealth of features available on the original iPhone, the 3G version adds 3G/3G+ technology, which with Orange covers over 66% of the French population today. Outside 3G coverage areas, mobile broadband is available via EDGE and Orange WiFi, with the iPhone switching networks automatically.
In addition to this wide variety of features, 3G iPhone customers also get advanced GPS capabilities, combining geolocation technology with the Multi-Touch interface, for trouble-free pathfinding.
The 3G iPhone also offers advanced email handling, with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, a key enterprise function bringing over-the-air synchronization, push mode (for contacts, calendar and email) and remote content deletion.
Orange exclusive
The 8Gb 3G iPhone will be sold at €149 with subscription to Orange for iPhone, Origami Star (from 3 hours), First and Jet plans. And the 16Gb 3G iPhone will be sold at €199, with the same plans.
With other plans (except time-cutoff and pay-as-you-go), the 8Gb iPhone will sell from €199 and the 16Gb model from €249. So from €32 per month (1-hour Origami Star plan), Orange continues to promote wide-scale mobile usages, offering customers unlimited internet access (*) from their iPhone.
Under the Orange loyalty upgrade programme, the 8Gb 3G iPhone will sell from €199 and the 16Gb version from €249 with a 24-month contract.
The 3G iPhone will also be launched for Orange Business Services clients on 17 July 2008.
Preferential upgrade offer for existing Orange iPhone customers
As an exceptional offer, Orange customers who bought an iPhone before 12 June 2008 and are using it with an Orange plan (except time-cutoff, Initial and Mobicarte) will be able to buy the 3G iPhone for €99 through a €100 refund valid until 31 October 2008, as part of the "Changer de mobile" programme (ie: Change your mobile) and subject to a 24-month contract.
The refund offer will be available to Orange Business Services clients from 17 July 2008.
source: 3g.co.uk
3G iPhone To Cost Only $199 at AT&T
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The second generation iPhone, you know, the one that will soon come with 3G connectivity, might be cheaper than the first version, the EDGE-only one. This will be possible thanks to AT&T, the sole carrier who can currently sell the iPhone in the US (apparently, it will be the only one selling the 3G version too).
According to Fortune (that quotes someone "familiar with the strategy"), when the 3G iPhone will hit AT&T stores, the double-t carrier will subsidize its price, bringing the 8GB edition to only $199, from $399, and the 16GB edition to only $299, from $499. This discount will only be available to customers who also want to sign a two-year contract agreement with AT&T.
Now, before getting your hopes up – meaning all those who want a 3G iPhone – we have to mention that the "cheap 3G iPhone" is only a rumor for the moment, so until official statements from AT&T or Apple come out, you should stick to the thought that the long-awaited 3G handset will in fact have a "normal" price.
Anyway, if the $199 pricing proves to be true, the 3G iPhone will probably sell even better than the original one (I believe you remember the huge queues that formed outside AT&T's stores when the iPhone first came out). With such a price tag, Apple's handset will be accessible to a wider range of users, and they'll surely not miss the chance to get their hands on the 3G touchscreen device.
Besides the fact that it could cost as much as two Palm Centros, the 3G iPhone will (apparently) have a slimmer case, with about 2.5 millimeters, and it will also feature built-in GPS. So what we'll have is a 9.1 millimeters thick advanced piece of technology with even more features than the existent iPhone. I don't know why, but this sounds too good to be true. We'll see in June, when the 3G iPhone is rumored to be launched, if the price discount detail is true.
Unlocked Apple iPhone 8GB Quad Band GSM Phone
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Unlocked iPhone 8GB with latest firmware (1.1.3)
Google Maps, Edge, iTunes, YouTube, SMS, Safari Browser and more!! Everything unlocked!
Important:
Do NOT update or restore the iPhone with any new firmware using iTunes. We do not assume responsibility of unlocking it again for you. We will inform you when its okay to update the new firmware.
Overview
GSM 850 / GSM 900 / GSM 1800 / GSM 1900, 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixels, video, iPod audio/video player, 8 GB shared memory, Multi-touch input method, Accelerometer sensor for auto-rotate.
iPhone combines three products — a revolutionary mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, maps, and searching — into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone also introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting you control everything with just your fingers. So it ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, completely redefining what you can do on a mobile phone.
iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows you to make a call by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book, a favorites list, or a call log. It also automatically syncs all your contacts from a PC, Mac, or Internet service. And it lets you select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want — just like email.
Receiving and making a call
With iPhone, making a call is as simple as touching a name or number. In addition, you can easily construct a favorites list for your most frequently made calls, and quickly merge calls together to create conference calls.
SMS
iPhone includes an SMS application with a predictive QWERTY soft keyboard that prevents and corrects mistakes, making it easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones.
Photos
iPhone features a 2-megapixel camera and a photo management application that goes far beyond anything on a phone today. Sync photos from your PC or Mac, and you’re ready to browse or email them with the flick of a finger.
iPhone is a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy all your content — including music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows, and movies — on a beautiful 3.5-inch widescreen display. It also lets you sync your content from the iTunes library on your PC or Mac. And then you can access it all with just the touch of a finger.
Music
Scroll through your songs, artists, albums, and playlists with just a flick of a finger. Album artwork is dramatically presented on the large display. And now use Cover Flow to browse your music library by album artwork for the first time on an iPod.
Video
iPhone’s stunning 3.5-inch widescreen display is the ultimate way to watch TV shows and movies from the iTunes Store on a pocketable device. Just tap the touch controls for play/pause, chapter forward/backward, and volume.
iPhone features a rich HTML email client and Safari — the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device — which automatically syncs bookmarks from your PC or Mac. Safari also includes built-in Google and Yahoo! search. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background over Wi-Fi or EDGE.
Safari Web Browser
With its advanced Safari browser, iPhone lets you see any web page the way it was designed to be seen, then easily zoom in by simply tapping on the multi-touch display with your finger.
Mail
iPhone uses a rich HTML email client that fetches your email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics right along with the text.
Google Maps
With Google Maps and iPhone’s amazing Maps application, you can view maps and satellite images, or get directions and traffic information, all from iPhone’s remarkable, easy-to-use touch interface.
Widgets
iPhone even has widgets: small applications that give you helpful information like stock reports, weather reports, and more in real time.
Multi-touch
iPhone features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. It’s an entirely new interface based on a large multi-touch display and innovative new software that lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flip through photos and email them with a touch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page — all by simply using iPhone’s multi-touch display.
Intelligent Keyboard
iPhone’s full QWERTY soft keyboard lets you easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. And the keyboard is predictive, so it prevents and corrects mistakes, making it easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones.
OS X
All the power and sophistication of the world’s most advanced operating system — OS X — is now available on a small, handheld device that gives you access to true desktop-class applications and software, including rich HTML email, full-featured web browsing, and applications such as widgets, Safari, calendar, text messaging, Notes, and Address Book. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background. This software completely redefines what you can do with a mobile phone.
Wireless
Apple has chosen GSM technology for the iPhone. GSM provides the best global solution for our customers today and into the future with 3G and beyond. iPhone uses quad-band GSM. It also supports Cingular’s EDGE network, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, which links to Apple’s new, remarkably compact Bluetooth headset.
Built-in Advanced Sensors
iPhone’s accelerometer detects when you rotate the device from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display, so you immediately see the entire width of a web page or a photo in its proper landscape aspect ratio.
The proximity sensor detects when you lift iPhone to your ear and immediately turns off the display to save power and prevent inadvertent touches until iPhone is moved away.
An ambient light sensor automatically adjusts the display’s brightness to the appropriate level for the current ambient light, thereby enhancing the user experience and saving power at the same time.
Note: Apple may attempt to re-lock the iPhone via a future firmware release. It is recommended that the user not update the iPhone's firmware (currently 1.1.3).
THIS PRODUCT HAS NO FACTORY WARRANTY AND NO RETURNS
Unlocked Apple iPhone 8GB Quad Band GSM SmartPhone
Merdeka Luxury Phone Celebrates 50 Years of Malaysian Independence
Sunday, June 1, 2008Most of the luxury phones appeared on the market don't have a specific goal, but that's not the case with the new Merdeka 50 24K, which was created to celebrate 50 years of Malaysian independence from the UK. Well, the 50 years anniversary actually took place last year, when a Merdeka 50 18K phone was released, but this year's 24K handset is made for the same celebration.
The difference between the two Merdeka phones is that the new one is covered with 24K gold, while the old one is covered with 18K gold. Besides the different gold purity and value, the 24K version also comes with a leather pouch, a "Privilege Card" and a serial number. Aside from these aspects, both versions of the Merdeka 50 are basically the same.
Manufactured by Inobel, brand name of UMW E-Technologies, the Merdeka 50 is very slim and lightweight for a luxury phone. It measures only 107 x 49 x 8.9 millimeters and weighs 67.4 grams. The device's specs cannot be compared with the ones of today's high-end handsets, but they're still nice.
Merdeka 50 features a 176 x 220 pixels TFT display with 260K colors, Bluetooth, MP3 player, Video player, a 2 Megapixel camera with video recording, WAP 2.0 browser, tri-band GSM connectivity with GPRS, embedded games, speakerphone, voice recording, scheduler, plus a battery capable of providing a talk-time of up to 2.5 hours and a stand-by time of up to 160 hours.
There will only be 5,000 Merdeka 50 24K phones made, coming with a Commemorative Booklet each. To buy one you need 2,388 Malaysian ringgits (about $750 or 480 Euro) – a part from this money will be donated to charity organizations.
For more details about how can you purchase a Merdeka 50 phone you can visit Inobel's website, found at this address.
CoreCodec Releases CorePlayer Mobile for Symbian
Monday, May 12, 2008
CoreCodec has announced the immediate availability of CorePlayer™ Mobile for Symbian, a universal multimedia platform for mobile devices and desktop computers.
CoreCodec CorePlayer Mobile for Symbian, ushers in a new multimedia era for a wide range of Symbian based devices. With its ubiquitous multiplatform design, CorePlayer Mobile provides simple ease of use that the Chicago Sun-times says, "it actually has a user interface designed with bipeds in mind."
"We are thrilled to provide Symbian users with our award winning CorePlayer multimedia platform," said Lora Bieri, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for CoreCodec, Inc. "All Symbian operating systems will now enjoy the convenience, ease of use, and high quality audio and video experience that CorePlayer Mobile is known for."
"Users will finally get to see the power of Matroska on Symbian," said Steve Lhomme, Creator of the Matroska Project. "CorePlayer Mobile now enables Matroska to the masses and shows that there are alternatives to the MPEG-4 container."
CorePlayer Mobile for Symbian supports all the latest codecs, including CoreAVC / H.264, DivX, XviD, MPEG-1 Video. AAC, MP3, OGG, FLAC, WAVPack, and Midi Ringtone Audio, and is available for third party OEM and ODM's white label licensing. For more information email licensing @ corecodec.com
CorePlayer Mobile for Symbian is now available at www.CorePlayer.com
About The CorePlayer Platform
The CorePlayer Platform is a ubiquitous multimedia platform for desktop and mobile devices running; Windows, Linux, OS X, CE, Windows Mobile, Smartphone, Palm and now Symbian Operating Systems. For more information, visit www.CorePlayer.com
3G Spectrum Transfer Completed
TIME dotCom Berhad (TdC) and DiGi.Com Berhad (DiGi) can now execute their joint business plans to strengthen their core businesses with the successful transfer of the 3G Spectrum from TdC to DiGi today. An allotment of 27.5 million new shares to TdC was made as well in consideration for the transfer of the 3G spectrum with all its rights and benefits to DiGi.
This was announced at the official transfer ceremony where Datuk Dr. Halim Shafie, Chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission handed the Spectrum assignment documents to DiGi Chief Executive Officer, Johan Dennelind. The event was witnessed by the Deputy Secretary General 1 for the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications, Dr. Mohd Padzil Hashim, who represented the Minister, Yang Berhormat Dato' Shaziman Abu Mansor; and Dato' Wan Muhammad Wan Ibrahim, Chairman of TdC.
As outlined in the Definitive Agreement between both parties on 25 January 2008, TdC and DiGi would leverage on their respective core businesses to fully optimise the existing networks and resources currently owned by both parties.
The 3G Spectrum transfer exercise was also approved by the shareholders of both parties at their respective Extraordinary General Meetings.
For DiGi, the 3G Spectrum offers opportunities to enhance its mobile network capacity and efficiency, and provide a platform for ongoing innovation and development of enhanced mobile and broadband services.
"We have been very successful without 3G in the past; however, we believe the timing is right for DiGi to start the rollout of broadband services to our customers. We are excited that this Spectrum will enable us to contribute actively to the extensive deployment of broadband infrastructure and services in keeping with the aspirations of the National Broadband Plan," said Johan Dennelind.
"We are currently working hard undertaking technical trials and with these approvals, we are targeting to launch 3G services and mobile broadband during the second half of this year," he added.
"I am very happy today because with this transfer, TIME dotCom and DiGi have entered into a service agreement, which sees TIME dotCom, through our subsidiary TT dotCom Sdn Bhd, appointed as DiGi's wholesale partner for a 3-year period, contributing fixed bandwidth businesses worth at least RM12.5 million each year. With the completion of the 3G Spectrum transfer, TIME dotCom stake in DiGi will increase to 10% of the enlarged paid up capital of DiGi," said Dato' Wan Muhamad.
The transfer of the 3G Spectrum to DiGi does not result in TIME dotCom exiting from the 3G market because it will be able to participate via an MVNO arrangement with DiGi once DiGi have rolled out the 3G network. In the meantime, TIME dotCom will focus on enhancing its Next Generation-IP network and Broadband services for the Corporate, Government and Wholesale market segments.
The completion of the 3G Spectrum transfer establishes the foundation for the Alliance between both parties to collaborate on several business areas that can further contribute towards enhancing the nation’s telecommunications needs. Both parties will look into:
* jointly developing new service offerings in the area of Fixed Mobile Convergence;
* optimising the usage of TdC's domestic and international fibre networks by DiGi;
* reselling of mobile services, including Mobile Virtual Network Operator services by TdC for selected markets; and
* exploring mutual transfer of knowledge and technology between the employees of both parties.
Source: www.3g.co.uk
World's Smallest GPRS Module
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Europe : With this new revolutionary product, Sagem Communications launches a leading edge product that will address the market requirements for the ever increasing number of applications which implement embedded M2M communication. Utilising the latest GPRS technology in a module which is no larger than a stamp! The SAGEM HiLo module will give M2M developers the ideal solution they have been asking for, in terms of features, size, price, usability, and reliability.
GPRS quad band with embedded TCP/IP stacks, SAGEM HiLo is perfectly suited to applications that have space limitations, which require a small and compact design, such as point of sales terminals, trackers and security.
With its extremely small size - 27x27 mm - and weight - 4 grams - the SAGEM HiLo is the smallest wireless M2M module available on the market.
Its very low power consumption (<1,5ma>
FlyTunes Powers AccuRadio Move to the iPhone
Sunday, April 20, 2008
FlyTunes announced a partnership with AccuRadio.com -- the world's leading independent, personalizable, multichannel Internet radio broadcaster -- that will bring all 320+ channels of AccuRadio to iPhones and iPod Touch models.
Building on its patent-pending "Hurricane" streaming technology, FlyTunes has created a complete AccuRadio mobile radio portal that provides a mobile-friendly user interface, targeted ad delivery, and enhanced QoS (Quality of Service) streaming. AccuRadio, with nearly a half-million listeners per month, is among the top Internet radio broadcasters in the world. AccuRadio's channels cover a sweeping range of musical interests, including rock, pop, jazz, country, classical music, and Broadway.
AccuRadio founder and CEO Kurt Hanson is also the publisher of the aforementioned "RAIN: Radio And Internet Newsletter" (http://www.kurthanson.com), and, as such, is one of the most prominent voices in the webcaster community. "Already, according to numerous sources, there are over 50 million Americans per month who listen to Internet radio," said Hanson. "Currently, most of that listening occurs during the 9-to-5 'at-work' daypart. But that '50 million' number is about to grow significantly, as Internet radio makes the leap onto mobile devices and into automobiles.
We're pleased that AccuRadio is going to be at the forefront of that trend ... and we're pleased to be working with FlyTunes to do that." "The move to the mobile Internet has been a big question in the broadcasting industry in the past few years," said FlyTunes CEO Sam Abadir. "Today's announcement that AccuRadio is bringing over 320 stations to millions of iPhone and iPod Touch owners proves that mobile Internet radio is now ready for prime time -- and I expect terrestrial broadcasters to follow this trend shortly." The new service is available immediately. iPhone and iPod Touch users can listen to all of AccuRadio's 320+ channels by visiting http://www.accuradio.com.
3G MTV Mobile Phone Launched
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Europe France : ModeLabs Group (Paris: MDL), the customized design manufacturer, announces the commercial launch of the new MTV3.3 mobile on April 23. The first music channel 3G mobile will be accompanied by the MTV SERIES range of limited-time offers from SFR.
SFR and MTV with ModeLabs Group have joined forces to create a new mobile offer intended mainly for young users. The offer features four new limited-time plans, with no risk of surcharges, plus exclusive access to all of MTV for this ModeLabs-designed product.
With the MTV 3.3, MTV makes it easier to access the channel's content in mobile mode and is boosting its multi-channel distribution strategy. It is also consolidating its already close relationship with its customers.
Available on April 23 at a price of €49 from all SFR stores and major retail outlets, this red 3G slider mobile is Bluetooth™- enabled, features a 2.2" high-resolution screen, a 2 mega pixel camera and a video/audio player and recorder compatible with AAC and MP3 formats. Embedded MTV content is also available, from videos and logos to exclusive wallpaper, original ringtones created by DJ Cut Killer and the MTV Cribs mobile game. Finally, the HotScan application provides permanent access to MTV news videos.
Especially for mobile music addicts, MTV and SFR stores are also offering a stereo MTV Bluetooth™ kit, also developed by ModeLabs Technologies. This 2-in-1 headset and the MTV3.3 mobile are the perfect combination of elegant design and top-quality sound. Featuring Surround Sound System (SRS) technology, it includes six different music moods: Pop, Rock, Truebass, Jazz, Classic and Basic.
With the launch of a complete mobile telephony offer combining the MTV3.3 mobile and the MTV Bluetooth™ stereo kit, ModeLabs Conception meets the demands of operators aiming at the development of made-to-measure products according to different consumer profiles.
Source: 3g.co.uk
Vodafone Improves 3G Mobile Coverage on Virgin Trains
Monday, April 7, 2008Europe UK : " Can you hear me?” – the refrain familiar to anyone used to travelling on a commuter route – could start to become a thing of the past as Vodafone UK announces that it has teamed up with Virgin Trains to deliver improved mobile phone coverage within carriages. The new ‘repeater’ technology, which retransmits 2G and 3G within carriages, will be installed on all 52 of Virgin’s high speed Pendolino trains on the London to Glasgow route by November 2008 and has already improved the number of calls completed without interruption by around 60%.
But the news also comes with a warning that companies need to advise their colleagues to be more discreet – and use alternative forms of communication when discussing sensitive information. New research commissioned by Vodafone UK has found that more than 70% of all workers talk business on their mobile phones in public, with one-in-five talking about business-critical subjects such as sales leads, and 15% admit to openly discussing confidential new products or services whilst travelling. More than a quarter of workers (26%) even confessed to following up on a lead they have overheard in someone else’s phone conversation.*
“This research shows that people need to consider which contact method they use when communicating sensitive information on the move – whether that be voice, text or email,” says Mark Bond, Director of Enterprise, Vodafone UK. “Vodafone provides customers with access to many forms of communication on the move, allowing business people, when necessary, to switch to more discrete methods such as text or mobile email.”
Over half of the mobile phone users surveyed say they always talk business on the phone in public and never switch to a more private communication channel such as email or text. And only 6% of people use code names for people, places or projects when talking in public.
And it’s not just company security that employees should be aware of. The research also shows that mobile phone users admit to discussing their love lives and even sex lives, as well as those of other people, while talking on the phone in public – unwittingly compromising friends and colleagues in it in the process. While only one in five of us will discuss our own love lives – health, careers and children being more popular conversation topics – six out of ten are quite happy to discuss the private lives of our pals. Over a third 16-24 year olds will also happily share details of their sexual conquests.
* Survey of 2,053 mobile phone users (666 business users) carried out by TNS between 21.02.08 and 25.02.08.
Source: 3g.co.uk
Velocity Mobile Launch New Windows Smartphones
US : Velocity Mobile announced that it is showcasing its first Microsoft Windows Mobile phones at CTIA Wireless 2008. With an emphasis on ease-of-use, sleek and attractive design, and high-end features, Velocity Mobile aims to shift the way people view and use smartphones, combining Western design philosophy and Eastern manufacturing efficiencies to bring no-compromise experiences and value to consumers.
“People want more from their mobile phones, but they still point to price, design, and performance as their top priorities when they walk into the store,” said David Hayes, president and managing director, Velocity Mobile. “When it comes to building mobile devices that really engage and excite consumers, however, compromise in any of these three crucial areas is a major turn-off. Velocity Mobile was created with the goal to finally eliminate these tradeoffs and bring leading-edge smartphones to the mass consumer market.”
Velocity Mobile’s core leadership team collectively has nearly forty years’ experience in innovative mobile engineering, design, sales and marketing, and is working in collaboration with Inventec Corporation, one of the world’s top three original design manufacturers (ODMs) for notebook computers with revenues of more than US$8 billion in 2007. Together, the two companies share a vision for mobility that is powerful and innovative yet intuitive and familiar – all at a great value for consumers. The first Velocity Mobile smartphones, the Velocity 103 and Velocity 111, are currently being demonstrated at CTIA Wireless 2008 (Meeting Room MR 191).
“Velocity Mobile is driven by the understanding that people want compelling mobile experiences, not merely applications and functions,” said Kirk Suen, vice president and general manager of the Mobile Business Unit of Inventec Corporation. “Our new smartphones will deliver in the areas you would expect such as design and power, but fuse those elements with a simple and intuitive user interface so there are no compromises, making the Windows Mobile experience relevant and accessible to the broadest possible audience.”
“The phone market has traditionally been divided by a notion that consumers and corporate workers have completely different needs,” said Sanjay Chheda, vice president at Microsoft. “The truth is that everyone is a person looking for great experiences built on a platform that works for all your life’s needs, whether they’re work-related or just for fun. Velocity Mobile is a company that understands this desire, and we’re excited to partner with them and underscore the strength and flexibility of Windows Mobile.”
“Demand for full-featured, low-cost devices such as those Velocity Mobile is bringing to market are testimonial to the fact that wireless consumers are expecting more from their devices,” added Alex Katouzian, vice president of product management for Qualcomm CDMA Technologies. “By using Qualcomm chipsets, Velocity smartphones deliver worldwide 3G connectivity, integrated GPS and a fantastic multimedia experience at prices that appeal to mainstream consumers.”
Featuring Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1, high-resolution screens, ample memory and much more, Velocity Mobile’s first devices significantly raise the bar for smartphones in their class. Specifications of the Velocity 103 include:
* Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
* Qualcomm Mobile Station Modem™ (MSM™) MSM7201™ chipset
* GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
* UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850, 1900 (1700), 2100
* 640x480 VGA touch screen
* 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM
* Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g WiFi, GPS
* 2.0 megapixel camera, 0.3 megapixel videoconferencing camera
* TV/VGA out
* MicroSD expansion slot
Specifications of the Velocity 111 include:
* Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
* Qualcomm MSM7201™ chipset
* QWERTY keyboard
* GSM/EDGE 850, 900, 1800, 1900
* UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 850, 1900 (1700), 2100
* 320x240 QVGA touch screen
* 256MB ROM, 128MB RAM
* Bluetooth 2.0, 802.11b/g WiFi, GPS
* 2.0 megapixel camera, 0.3 megapixel videoconferencing camera
* TV/VGA out
* MicroSD expansion slot
*
* The Velocity 103 will be available in Q2 2008 and the Velocity 111 will be available in Q3 2008, both in unlocked configurations. For more information, please see here
Downloads of Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones Top 1 Million
Sunday, April 6, 2008Research In Motion (RIM) announced that downloads of the Facebook for BlackBerry® Smartphones application have surpassed the 1,000,000 mark. The easy-to-use mobile software application, which leverages the push-based BlackBerry(R) service and Facebook(R) Platform to offer an unparalleled mobile experience for Facebook users, was launched at the CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment 2007 show on October 24, 2007.
"When we launched Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones, we believed that consumers would recognize the value of marrying social networking with mobility and that vision has now been validated more than a million times," said Mark Guibert, Vice President of Corporate Marketing at Research In Motion. "This innovative mobile application, combined with the refined usability of BlackBerry smartphones and the incredible convenience of the push-based BlackBerry service, makes it easier than ever for Facebook users to stay connected with people wherever they choose."
With the Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones application, Facebook users can wirelessly send and view messages, photos, pokes and Wall posts. The rich, native application goes beyond browser-based access, automatically pushing notifications to the user's BlackBerry smartphone as friends and colleagues send notes, Wall posts or pokes. The application allows users to take a photo, upload it to the site with captions and tags; quickly and easily invite friends; manage events; manage photo albums; and manage their status while on the go.
Since its initial launch, Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones has added language support for French, German and Spanish. The software application is available as a free(i) download from www.facebook.com/blackberry or www.blackberry.com/go/facebook and can also be downloaded using a BlackBerry smartphone from m.facebook.com or mobile.blackberry.com.
Facebook for BlackBerry Smartphones is being showcased this week at CTIA. Visit the BlackBerry booth (425 in Center Hall) for a demo.
Source: 3g.co.uk
Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing Platform Launched
Europe Spain : Cystelcom Sistemas, a leading supplier of 3G mobile video solutions, announced the availability of Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing, a multimedia advertising platform that uses the video call channel to deliver targeted interactive video advertising to any 3G phone. Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing is the first multimedia advertising platform to manage and distribute video and multimedia campaigns using automatic outbound video dialing.
With over 2.6 billion mobile devices in the world, the mobile device is rapidly becoming the most popular gateway to information, and is likely to become the most popular media communications channel across the globe.
Veedia leverages this opportunity, and the growing interest and use of video call technology, to present this solution. Video calling is an extraordinary vehicle for mobile advertisers and operators to connect with their target audiences in a new and interactive way, anywhere - anytime.
Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing aims to improve the user’s mobile advertising experience by delivering interactive, enjoyable video advertisements—that contain timely, high-interest information—directly to 3G users. The Veedia platform can launch push campaigns that use outbound video dialing or pull campaigns that entice the user to make a video call to the brand portal.
Video advertisements are delivered by means of a video call, at no cost to the consumer, and provide a much improved customer experience. End users easily access the video content and can interact with the application. This means advertisers get immediate one-to-one contact with their audience and have the capability to capture real-time customer data and measure campaign effectiveness.
“Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing is a powerful tool that enables brands and operators unlimited segmentation and the ability to collect customer response information during the actual video call ad while users interact with the application,” commented Manuel Cuenca Vélez , CEO of Cystelcom.
“This eliminates the mobile advertising problem that many have when trying to monetize their advertising on the mobile Web—knowing what end users are doing,” Cuenca explained. “Moreover, with the video call channel, advertisers and operators have a way to reach mobile users without them having to visit a WAP page—and possibly pay—to view their mobile campaigns,” added Cuenca.
Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing gives advertisers and operators the ability to earn revenue and learn more about target users through interactive call-to-actions during the video call that are associated with each advertisement. For example, users might respond to a survey, send a video message or even connect to a contact center agent in real time. While consumers interact with the application, Veedia compiles valuable data about how they respond to the spot, such as if they liked the video ad, how long they viewed it, those who hang up, and more.
Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing also integrates with interactive Flash based applications, which means what can be done with Flash on the Web can now be extended to a 3G mobile video campaign.
The Veedia 3G Mobile Marketing platform is a standalone solution or can be integrated with any multimedia mobile advertising platform (SMS, MMS, WAP Push, etc.).
Source: 3g.co.uk
3G Laptop Guardian Receives Product of the Year Award
Saturday, March 22, 2008Europe : Alcatel-Lucent announced that Technology Marketing Corporation's INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has named its OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian as a recipient of its 2007 Product of the Year Award.
OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian (NLG) is a security system on a CDMA or HSDPA 3G card that is developed to remotely secure, monitor, manage and locate a mobile computer and to protect its data if it is lost or stolen. The NLG has its own processor, power supply and operating system, and it leverages broadband networks to let enterprises manage laptops anywhere, anytime, even when the computer is turned off.
"The OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian is truly an innovative solution that has come along at the right time.
Regularly, reports of loss or stolen laptops holding critical data are heard around the world. The OmniAccess 3500 NLG, designed for CDMA, GSM and 3G networks, delivers protection as enterprises become more mobile and dynamic in the way their users share knowledge and create work styles," said Dor Skuler, Alcatel-Lucent's enterprise mobile security solutions general manager. "We are excited to be recognized as an industry innovator."
"Alcatel-Lucent has proven they are committed to quality and excellence while addressing real needs in the marketplace.
INTERNET TELEPHONY is pleased to grant a 2007 Product of the Year Award to their OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian," said Rich Tehrani, TMC President and Editor-in-Chief of INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine. We're proud to honor their hard work and accomplishments and look forward to more innovative solutions from Alcatel-Lucent in the future."
About INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine
INTERNET TELEPHONY has been the VoIP Authority since 1998(TM).
Since the first issue in February of 1998, INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has been providing unbiased views of the complicated converged communications space. INTERNET TELEPHONY offers rich content from solutions-focused editorial content to reviews on products and services from TMC Labs. INTERNET TELEPHONY magazine has a circulation of 225,000 including pass-along readers. For more information, please visit external link www.itmag.com.
By 2013 One in Every Three Phones Sold Will be a Smartphone
The market for smartphones will grow from around 10% of the total handset market in 2007 to 31% of the market in 2013. A new study from ABI Research projects this meteoric growth to be a product of a number of complex factors including carriers’ drives to grow data revenues from advanced services and the general trend to pushing “smart” operating systems down into middle tier devices.
ABI Research vice president Stuart Carlaw comments, ”Smart operating systems are continually being optimized to run on processors with lower performance. There is a strategic move to support smart OSes in single chip midrange devices in order to unlock more data revenues.” Carlaw adds that, “The market is currently dominated by Nokia (52%) and Symbian (65%). However, the coalescence of the framework wars in the Linux environment and the growing stature of Windows Mobile will enable new competitors to put pressure on this established axis.”
The report finds that the iPhone effect is truly filtering through the handset market as other OEMs strive to remain competitive. Features that look set to proliferate and become central to enhancing user interface experiences include touchscreens, touchpads, and accelerometers facilitating tilt and shock sensing, as well as haptics providing tactile feedback.
“Smartphone and OS Markets” provides a thorough overview of the smartphone market, concentrating on key developments in both device feature set expansion and the evolving software landscape. The report covers important topics including specific features and technologies that enhance the user interface, in addition to the encroachment of open source software into the smartphone domain. [source: 3g.co.uk]