Mobile operator 3 UK has registered over 1 million customers for its free, advertising-supported mobile video services, run by Rhythm NewMedia. Six months since the start the service, over a quarter of 3’s customer base is registered for the service, which delivers targeted and personalised advertising alongside the videos. Brands that have already used the service include Microsoft for mobile, Cisco, Intel, Unilever Lynx, Nivea, Ministry of Sound, Paramount Pictures, Entertainment Film and Coty and the Gwen Stefani fragrance.
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Mobile operators T-Mobile and 3 UK are in talks on possible sharing of network infrastructure, the Financial Times reports citing people familiar with the talks. Analysts suggested an eventual agreement could pave the way for T-Mobile acquiring the smaller rival 3. 3’s UMTS network covers around 90 percent of the UK population, while T-Mobile claims coverage of 85 percent. Network sharing would enhance their coverage and also help lower operating costs. Vodafone and Orange have already announced plans to share infrastructure in the UK.
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Marketwire writes…The X-Series from 3, developed in partnership with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC), marks a turning point in mobile services - making popular internet applications available on mobile handsets on the 3 network in the UK.
Within their UK Managed Services partnership, Ericsson and 3 developed the X-Series, a new service that includes services from Skype, Sling, Orb, Yahoo!, Microsoft Windows Live Messenger, eBay and Google from their mobile phones.
During the project, Ericsson was responsible for assisting in the end-to-end services development and delivering the systems integration. Ericsson also provided solution design, development, verification and integration services. The project involved many aspects of the 3 business, including handsets, core network, IP, billing, customer care and content management.
3 developed the global partnerships with the leading Internet brands included in the X-Series service and also developed the branding, marketing and flat rate mobile broadband pricing.
Jacqueline Hey, Managing Director, Ericsson UK, says: “I am delighted to see our managed services partnership with 3 has created a first in the marketplace with these innovative services and brought further advantage for 3’s customers. It’s another great example of how a managed services partnership can bring two companies together to deliver great results.”
David Cooper, 3 UK, CTO said: “Over the last year we’ve proved a managed services partnership on this scale not only works, but delivers the best service for both 3 and our customers. Ericsson’s ability to ensure that all components of this complex project came together on time was crucial to the launch of the X-Series from 3. 3’s focus on its customers, the partnerships and the marketing package was enhanced as a result of working with Ericsson.”
The new service, including many different functions from the IT, internet and media sectors, were smoothly integrated on the 3 network. Additionally, Ericsson took responsibility from day one for implementing and operating the necessary IT and network systems to meet all contracted service level agreements.
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Mobile-Ent writes…Groove Mobile delivered 7.5 million full track music downloads in the last quarter of 2006.
The US based mobile music provider powers services for over a dozen operators across North America, Europe and New Zealand. They include Bell Canada, 3 UK and Sprint and boast a collective potential subscriber base of over 85 million.
Adam Sexton, chief marketing officer of Grrove Mobile, attributed much of the success to the surge in popularity of music-enabled phones. “Robust sales of music handsets are driving mobile music downloads,” he said. “Around the world consumers are embracing the music phone as their preferred player, and using it to download songs directly.”
Groove services, which include P2P sharing, personalised music recommendations, streaming radio and more, are compatible with the ‘big five’ manufacturers’ device range.
The figures reflect a buoyant digital music market that is starting to reverse the recent decline in overall annual revenues. According to a new report from Portio Research, annual sales of digital and offline music are predicted to reach $38.8 billion by 2011. It also says over half of the one billion mobile handsets shipped in 2007 will have music playing capabilities, and that music phones will outnumber standalone MP3 players by approximately 5 to 1 in 2012.
As these conclusions were emerging the mobile handset sector was rushing out still more devices. As reported by Mobile Entertainment earlier today, Sony Ericsson has added another entry-level Walkman phone, the W200, which can store up to 37 full length tracks.
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3 UK gets 1 mln takers for ad-supported videos (UK)
