Motorola signs deal to acquire Soundbuzz
Motorola has signed a definitive agreement to acquire pan-Asian music provider Soundbuzz. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is subject to customary conditions and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2008. The acquisition of Soundbuzz will allow Motorola to expand MotoMusic beyond China, into India, southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Telecom Italia appoints Calyon to sell Alice France (Italy)
Telecom Italia has appointed French merchant bank Calyon to find a buyer for Alice France, writes le Figaro. The newspaper estimates that Alice France would be worth EUR 600 million to EUR 650 million, based on its 882,000 subscribers at the end of September and the purchase of Club Internet’s 600,000 customers for EUR 425 million. Due to recent consolidation in the French broadband market, with the purchases of AOL France, Tele2 France and Club Internet, the sale of Alice is considered less strategic and may bring a lower purchase price than expected. Calyon is a subsidiary of French bank Credit Agricole.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Sony develops close proximity wireless transfer technology (Japan)
Sony has developed a close proximity wireless transfer technology called TransferJet. TransferJet enables transfer of large data files by touching two electronic products together such as mobile phones, digital cameras, digital video cameras, computers and TVs. TransferJet’s physical layer transmission rate is 560 Mbps, and even allowing for error corrections and protocol overheads, the effective physical layer transmission rate is 375 Mbps. Users can also register their electronic products to enable TransferJet to recognise specific products. TransferJet can also be used as a universal interface among a variety of consumer electronics devices. Sony will present reference exhibits of the new technology at the CES in Las Vegas. The company plans to introduce products using the transfer technology and actively promote its use across the industry.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Panasonic unveils Link to Cell phone accessory
Panasonic has introduced its Link to Cell KX-TH1211 mobile phone accessory that connects a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone to cordless handsets. With Panasonic’s Link to Cell, a user can initiate and receive mobile phone calls from a cordless handset preserving battery life and offering better reception. The Link to Cell KX-TH1211 has phone features such as talking caller ID, night mode and call blocking. The new KX-TH1211 Link to Cell supports up to two mobile numbers. Link to Cell is also expandable up to six handsets that have LCD displays, multi-colour LED incoming-call indicators and multiple ring tones. Link to Cell also supports traditional landline connections and features a 50-station phonebook and dialler. Link to Cell KH- TH1211 comes equipped with one handset and will be available in March at a retail price of USD 99.95. Additional handsets have a retail price of USD 39.95.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Zain signs up Nokia Siemens for Saudi network (Saudi Arabia)
Mobile operator Zain has awarded a contract worth USD 935 million to Nokia Siemens Networks to build its mobile network in Saudi Arabia. The greenfield project includes the roll-out of 2G and 3G networks, including HSDPA and HSUPA technology and base stations based on the latest 3GPP release 4 standard. Nokia Siemens Networks will supply core and radio networks, operations and business support systems, applications and a full suite of services, including managed services for five years from a local network operations centre. Nokia Siemens Networks will also provide Zain with its convergent prepaid system, charge@once select, for voice and data. Nokia Siemens Networks is the sole supplier of Zain’s core network, including its MSC Server mobile softswitch and IP Multimedia Subsystem. Zain, formerly known as MTC, was awarded the third mobile operator licence in Saudi Arabia last year.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Verizon Wireless Launches Mobile Banking Services (USA)
Verizon Wireless and Firethorn, a Qualcomm company specialized in mobile banking and payments solutions, announced that customers of major financial institutions in the U.S., including Wachovia, SunTrust, FirstBank, and BancorpSouth, can access their accounts from their mobile. The mobile banking solution powered by Firethorn allows Verizon Wireless customers to manage their finances while on-the-go, enabling them to check bank account balances, transfer funds between accounts within the same bank, and review and pay bills that are already set up through the financial institution’s online account service.
“After announcing our relationship with Firethorn two months ago, we’re making mobile banking a reality for our customers,” said Jim Straight, Verizon’s senior vice president of consumer products. “And whether our customers prefer to bank at Wachovia, SunTrust, FirstBank or BancorpSouth, they can now do so wherever they go because Firethorn and their financial institution partners provide a secure, easy-to-use and flexible mobile banking application that delivers a superior customer experience.”
The Firethorn application is secure and utilizes both PIN and device lock-out capabilities, which are in addition to the security that is already incorporated by the financial institution. As another layer of security, customers will need to register with their financial institution’s online banking service in order to use mobile banking.
“Viewing balances, making transfers and paying bills on-the-go is an exciting first step for millions of Verizon Wireless customers. Together with Verizon Wireless and our financial partners, we are helping to define the market for mobile financial services,” said Tripp Rackley, CEO of Firethorn. Financial institutions that have joined the Firethorn network include Wachovia, SunTrust Bank, Regions Financial, BancorpSouth, Synovus, FirstBank, Arvest Bank, and America First Credit Union.
The Firethorn application is currently available on several phones from Verizon Wireless, including the Chocolate, enV, X8700, VX8600, VX9400 by LG, and the Samsung SCH-a950, with support for new devices to be added in the coming months. Users can download the Firethorn application for free from Verizon Wireless’ Get It Now virtual store.
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Mobile Internet Reach in India is 19 times more than broadband!
The declining prices of mobile handsets and low connectivity costs have helped in doubling internet access through cellphones this year.
The latest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) figures showed that the number of Indians using their mobiles (both GSM and CDMA) to access the internet has more than doubled from 16 million in 2006 to 38 million in 2007.
There were 2.69 million broadband subscribers as on October 30 this year. Besides, of the 22 million PCs in the country, around 30-40 per cent have internet access.
This implies that internet access through mobiles is at least three times more than that through PCs and nearly 19 times more than broadband.
The GSM and CDMA players registered a double-digit growth in users accessing the internet through mobile phones. Among the 50.91 million Bharti-Airtel subscribers, as on Oct 2007, about 35 per cent access the internet through their handsets.
Around 10 per cent of this user base accesses the net through mobile handsets in any quarter,†said a company spokesperson.
The company said the user base has been doubling over the last three years. In the last 12 months alone, thee has seen a 70 per cent growth in this user base. Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications (RCom) claims that 10 million users visited its Reliance Mobile World every month since July 2007 to try out new applications.
Krishna Durbha, head business and marketing, application solutions and content, RCom said, This shows a tremendous interest among the people to use mobile devices to access the internet. We believe this is growing at a conservative estimate of 10-15 per cent across industry.â€
Analysts said the next stage of growth would be the usage of data on handsets. The mobile data revenues are expected to outpace those of voice services and contribute to about a fifth of the total revenues in the country by 2011, doubling year on year, said research firm Gartner.
Mukul Khanna, vice president, Spice Telecom, said, Data usage is becoming a large pie in value-added services. Its growth rate will be 50-60 per cent more than that of traditional content in the next few years.â€
Spice Telecom recently launched Spice TV for its subscribers. While subscribers can watch live cricket matches on their handsets (it is the official telecom partner of Indian Cricket League), they can also view NDTV, Times Now, Zoom and cartoon networks.
About 10-15 per cent of Spice’s total user base browses the net through handsets. We are expecting at least 25-30 per cent to do so in the first three months,†added Khanna. The choice with regard to content is restricted to checking e-mails, search, downloading ringtones, wallpapers and images, games, e-ticketing and instant messaging.
Via Business Standard
