iPad crushed by rumors and expectations
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Even after coming off its most profitable quarter ever, the $50 billion-plus company, Apple is a victim of its own success and history of innovation. Media and consumers who were anticipating another revolution from the company got an evolution instead in the form of iPad.
Apple’s iPad is generating remarkably negative buzz, facing criticism for what it isn’t, not for what it is. The most commonly cited complaint lodged against the tablet is that it doesn’t support Adobe Flash, significantly limiting the scope of its web capabilities. Besides, absence of camera features and lack of multi-tasking are some of the other problems cited in the tablet.
In essence, the iPad needed to be all things to all people–and there was no margin for error. However, by making the iPad compatible with the existing iPhone and iPod applications, Apple is giving its developers a new channel to market their mobile software without investing energy and resources into making changes to their work.
This might be considered a pragmatic approach but unfortunately, there is no ‘wow’ factor in this practicality.
Broadland to invest US$100 million in Zimbabwe
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: US$100 million would be invested by Broadlands Networks to set up a 4G based wireless network in Zimbabwe, however, the technology platform is not specified which might be WiMAX.
US$30 million has already been invested by company to build its network in Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru, with nationwide coverage expected by the middle of this year. Besides, the operator has also invested in its own fibre base network for backhauling traffic.
The aim of the network is to have a capacity for 10 million subscribers when fully completed.
Nokia N900 devices receive Firefox Browser
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A formal version of mobile web browser has been released by the Mozilla Foundation, for Nokia’s Maemo platform. Some of the key design principles like minimal typing; seamless synchronization with desktop Firefox and the ability to take your Firefox with you are at the heart of the mobile browsing experience.
Location -Aware Browsing getting the maps and information relevant to your location, weave Sync allowing the sharing of Firefox tabs, history, bookmarks and passwords between desktop and mobile devices are some of the other notable functions.
Nokia’s Maemo5 platform currently supports Firefox and is available for download on the Nokia N900.
Base Stations closed in the Indian city, Noida
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Around a quarter of the base stations had been shut down by the authorities, resulting in the disruption of ¬mobile phone services over the weekend in the Indian city of Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
The action was taken after the phone companies failed to meet the authorities demand to seek the necessary authorization for the towers to be erected. Out of 400 to 572 towers in the city, 125 to190 towers have been shut-down. The authorities have also cut the electricity supply to the towers and have sealed the backup generators.
According to Sandeep Chandra, senior project engineer, Noida Authority, only 125 cellular service providers had submitted applications requesting an extension a few months ago and would be spared for the moment.
Telecom investments to be reduced by Alfa Group in Russia
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Alfa Group may have to sell off some of its telecoms assets as desired by Russia’s Competition Regulator, to reduce its dominance in the home market. 25% of Megafon and 44% of VimpelCom is owned by Alfa Group.
The two companies have planned to settle their long-standing shareholder disputes with overseas investors. However, their decision has been criticized as the merged entities have to be registered outside Russia.
Megafon and Sweden’s TeliaSonera agreement to merge their shareholdings in Turkcell into a single holding company has been opposed by the Russian government who would prefer to create a larger Russian telecoms operator spanning both landline and mobile services.
Highest ever revenues grossed by Batelco Bahrain in 2009
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: US$920.2 million, the highest ever gross revenues and US$278.5 million, the highest ever net profit has been recorded by Bahrain based Batelco in 2009. Besides, the company had a 9% growth year-on-year.
5.1 million Mobile subscribers, 19% year on year increase, and 200,000 Broadband customers by Batelco has been attributed to its expansion strategy in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Yemen and India.
At the end of 2009, Batelco Bahrain had 822,000 active mobile subscribers, 85,000 broadband customers and 200,000 fixed lines.
According to Group Chairman Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, the operator has maintained its market leadership in Bahrain, continued to grow across the Middle East region and got off to a successful start in India, despite the highest competitive intensity in every market.
MTN Uganda’s former employees charged over free calls scam
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: MTN Uganda’s former employees James Clinton Benio, a contractor, Patrick Muhoozi, an offline administrator, and Douglas Kibuuka, a system analyst; have been charged with attempting to defraud the company of up to US$5.1 million. All the three have been remanded to prison.
It has been alleged that the three employees modified SIM cards through which they could make calls without triggering billing records on the network. This effectively enabled the users to make unlimited free phone calls.
The offences were allegedly committed in December 2009 and January this year. It has also been alleged that the offences were committed even after knowing that it would cause loss to MTN.
