Life:) to launch MVNO in Italy with 3 Italia (Italy)
Ukrainian mobile network operator life:) has announced plans to launch an MVNO in Italy to serve Ukrainians living and working there. Life:) Italy is set for launch in Q1 2008. Statistical data shows that over 200,000 Ukrainians live in Italy. Life:) will look to serve these residents using the network of UMTS operator 3 Italia. The MVNO will offer specially-priced tariffs for calls between Italy and Ukraine.
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McAfee completes USD 350 mln acquisition of SafeBoot
Global security software developer McAfee has completed the acquisition of all the outstanding capital stock of Netherlands-based mobile data security services provider SafeBoot Holding for approximately USD 350 million in cash. Through the acquisition, McAfee becomes a leader in the data protection market and the only vendor to deliver endpoint, network, web, e-mail and data security, as well as risk and compliance solutions. As previously announced, Gerhard Watzinger, the CEO of SafeBoot, will lead the newly-established Data Protection product business unit and will report directly to Dave DeWalt, CEO and president of McAfee. McAfee plans to integrate SafeBoot technology into McAfee ePO, McAfee’s centralized management console for enterprise customers. Users will be able to encrypt individual files and folders as well as the entire local hard drive for the widest possible range of devices, including PCs, laptops, smart phones, USB drives and PDAs. SafeBoot’s mobile phone offerings will help advance McAfee’s current mobile solutions by allowing McAfee to offer a new comprehensive suite of integrated device protection and data security.
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SIP services to generate USD 150 bln in revenue by 2012
IP networks deployed by fixed and mobile operators will lead to mainstream VoIP and SIP, driven by the increasing popularity of smart devices such as PDAs and smartphones, according to market research firm ABI Research. New affordable price points and ease of use will allow consumers to benefit from SIP services such as instant messaging, video sharing and conferencing, which will join VoIP as it takes over from circuit-switched voice. SIP services will develop into the norm after 2010 and rapidly begin to dominate the world’s telecom markets. By 2012, almost half of all telecom users will use at least one SIP service, but will have many services from multiple devices able to communicate with other users and services across the web and between enterprise and public networks. This will generate over USD 150 billion in service revenue annually with cumulative infrastructure capital expenditure of over USD 10 billion. ABI Research expects that by 2012, almost 1.2 billion VoIP users to be active, with most users also subscribing to several forms of messaging and video sharing driven by interest in user-generated content. Additional services supported by SIP will include presence, click to dial, buddy lists, e-mail, and web access. A portion of the VoIP users will also be connected to an FMC service.
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BT partners with Etisalat to provide Radianz services (UAE)
United Arab Emirates telecom operator Etisalat and BT have expanded of BT’s financial services capability in the Middle East with the launch of Radianz Services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Working with Etisalat, BT will establish a platform that distributes services from the UAE exchanges to BT clients already connected to the Radianz Shared Market Infrastructure. The portfolio of services will provide financial institutions from around the world with connectivity to institutions and trading platforms in the Gulf region; BT’s global financial community and connectivity is expected to stimulate international trading with emerging financial centres.
Vodafone expects T-Mobile to drop SIM lock from iPhone (Germany)
T-Mobile Germany continues to sell the Apple iPhone, despite the injunction that the Hamburg state court imposed, after a complaint from Vodafone Germany. T-Mobile will comply to the court’s decision pending the final resolution of the legal situation. At the same, T-Mobile is looking into filing a damage claim against Vodafone Germany, according to T-Mobile spokesman Philipp Humm. Meanwhile, Vodafone expects that the court will order T-Mobile to start selling the iPhone without SIM lock, enabling all German mobile customers to use the phone on any network. At the same time, German mobile service provider Debitel has filed a complaint against T-Mobile Germany at the German telecommunications regulator Bundenetzagentur, because T-Mobile is breaching the mobile licence conditions with the exclusivity of the iPhone on its own network. T-Mobile received support from a telecom professor Torsten Gerpott, who said in the German daily the Rheinische Post that there is no basic right for all Germans to be able to use the iPhone and the agreement between Apple and T-Mobile Germany is legally valid and part of a competitive mobile telecommunications market.
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Tiscali board approves EUR 150 mln share capital increase (UK)
The board of directors of Tiscali has resolved upon a share capital increase of up to EUR 150 million to be offered with pre-emption rights for Tiscali’s shareholders. The capital increase proceeds will be utilised to partially refinance the debt related to the acquisition of the broadband and voice division of Pipex in the UK. It is expected that the capital increase will be executed in the first months of 2008, depending on market conditions. Tiscali has also signed an agreement whereby Management and Capitali will underwrite EUR 60 million of subordinated bonds convertible into Tiscali new shares. The bonds will be issued by a Luxembourg company controlled by Tiscali which will also guarantee the bonds.
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Anti-trust watchdog orders Temasek to sell telco stakes (Indonesia)
The Indonesian anti-trust watchdog has said that Temasek Holdings has violated competition laws and ordered the investment group of the Singapore government to sell its stakes in Indosat or Telkomsel within two years. In a hearing the KPPU said it would fine Temasek and its telecommunications units IDR 25 billion each, Reuters reports. The KPPU further stipulated that buyers acquiring Temasek’s stakes were not allowed to buy more than 5 percent of the shares and cannot be affiliated with Temasek or other buyers. Temasek holds a 35 percent stake in Telkomsel through subsidiary SingTel while ST Telemedia, which is wholly owned by Temasek, has a 41.9 percent share in Indosat through a subsidiary, Asia Mobile Holdings. According to the anti-trust agency, Temasek’s cross-ownership has caused a price leadership in the telecommunications market. Both Temasek and ST Telemedia denied any wrongdoing and issued statements they would fight the decision. Simon Israel, Temasek’s executive director stated, “The charge against Temasek is groundless Temasek has no shares in Indosat and Telkomsel, and we play no role in their business decisions and operations. Telkomsel is controlled by the Indonesian Government which also has a golden share in Indosat.”
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China’s smartphone sales reach 6.4 mln sets in Q3 (China)
China’s smart phones had a sales volume of 6.388 million sets in Q3 2007, up 5.2 percent over Q2 2007, according to a report from research firm CCID Consulting. Sales revenue reached CNY 16.61 billion, up 11.3 percent on a month-on-month basis. The smart phone market created highs in sales volume because of promotions during the Chinese national holiday. Mobile phones with a screen size of over 2 inches acquired more than a 90 percent market share. The market demand of mobile phones with screen sizes larger than 2.4 inches has decreased due to a larger and heavier phone introduced by the bigger screen, with the market share decreasing 12.9 percent. Symbian OS acquired nearly 70 percent of the market share in Q3 and sales volumes reached 4.416 million sets due to its match with Nokia. The market share for Windows Mobile has increased with a sequential growth rate of 52 percent. The sales volume of Linux operating systems fell and the falling Linux figures is directly related to the Motorola smart phone in Q3. The market share of Motorola was 70 percent of the total Linux market. The market share of Palm operating system phones fell 52.6 percent vs Q3 2006.
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Verizon Wireless, Vodafone sign global services agreement (USA)
Vodafone and Verizon Wireless have signed a global services agreement for multi-national organisations. The programme allows both companies to provide services in one contract with constant pricing to cover their mobile services in the US, Europe and elsewhere in the world.
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Etisalat launches global carrier and wholesale services (UAE)
UAE-based Etisalat has announced the launch of ‘Carrier and Wholesale’ services, offering a host of international services and broadband capacity to operators across the Middle East and worldwide. They include voice, internet and a complete range of mobile and value-added services. The new services will lessen the dependence of operators in the Middle East on European and US carriers to expand their worldwide reach. Carrier and Wholesale Services have created a voice, data and mobile service hub in the UAE.
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