Hutchison 3G Austria modernizes its network for HSPA+ and LTE

On 10.02.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Hutchison 3G Austria is modernizing its radio access network to be ready for HSPA+ and the next generation of mobile broadband, or LTE. At the same time this step will allow the operator to halve the energy consumption of its base stations. Nokia Siemens Networks will undertake this upgrade starting in autumn 2009.

“The demand for increased mobile broadband capacity and throughput in Austria is reflected in the increasing usage of data cards and mobile services like Mobile TV, video download or video sharing,” said Berthold Thoma, CEO of Hutchison 3G Austria. “Mobile broadband is also one of the most pragmatic solutions to bridging the digital gap between cities and rural areas. For rural areas, mobile broadband coverage is simply less expensive and faster to deploy than “fiber to the home” solutions. We hope that with our nationwide coverage we will contribute significantly to this end.” (more…)

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Ringtones still a lucrative mobile content (Italy)

On 07.31.08, In Mobile, By Editor

Ringtones, often taken as a technology of past is still one of the most rewarding forms of mobile content. This conclusion was borne out by recent news from Jamba that will spend $100 million on advertising this year, according to Mobile Entertainment, which does a good job at checking up on the industry. Although declining as a proportion of Jamba’s sales ringtone sales are still increasing in absolute terms, and realtone comprise 40 percent of an average month’s downloads on Jamster.

There was a serious shake-out in the direct-to-consumer industry, but it resulted in consolidation of the industry rather than the end of it. A lot of that is because of strong growth in developing markets, but top D2C players have other things to offer. “Javier Perez Dolset, CEO of Zed, says: “In five years between 40 and 50 per cent of people will access the net from a mobile device. So companies like Zed will have an advantage. Remember, we have agreements with more than 130 operators and we know how to make portals or apps work across hundreds of devices.” Buongiorno  is looking at using content as a reward for topping up prepaid cards with the idea that it reduces churn.

   

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Buongiorno to acquire iTouch for EUR 141 million

On 07.04.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Italy-based mobile entertainment service provider Buongiorno has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the share capital of South Africa-based mobile entertainment services provider iTouch Ventures. ITouch has offices in 13 countries and distributes its content in 23 countries, having access to over 500 million mobile users through a flexible multi-channel strategy. The company de-listed from the LSE in June 2005 following the acquisition of the company by For-side.com in Japan for GBP 184 million but is now privately owned following a management buyout in February of this year. Current investors in iTouch include Oak Investment Partners with 40 percent of the ordinary shares and Goldman Sachs with 20 percent, as well as the management team.

The value of the transaction is EUR 141 million. Buongiorno will pay EUR 129 million to iTouch shareholders and will absorb the current EUR 12 million of net debt of iTouch. The consideration will be satisfied partly in cash and partly in new Buongiorno shares to be issued to iTouch shareholders in exchange for iTouch shares, pursuant to article 2440 and 2441 of the Italian Civil Code. The cash component, for a total amount of EUR 73.7 million of the total consideration, will be funded by a new loan facility arranged by Banca IMI (Intesa Sanpaolo Group) for a total amount of EUR 115 million. The contribution in kind is to be settled by issuing 15.4 million new shares in Buongiorno (at a share price of EUR 3.59 per share) with a par value of EUR 0.26 each, reserved for the shareholders of iTouch, arising from an increase in share capital to be approved by Buongiorno’s shareholders in an upcoming Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting to be convened for this purpose. The total amount of Buongiorno’s fully diluted outstanding shares post transaction will be 106.2 million as per the Treasury method.

The company will provide further details on the operational and income statement impact of the transaction with respect to its targets for 2007 and long term plan after the closing date. Further details relating to the transaction will be included in the documentation to be made available to the Italian Stock Exchange, Consob and the Shareholders in accordance with Italian laws and regulations. The closing of the acquisition of iTouch by Buongiorno is subject to certain conditions precedent, among which the approval of the dedicated capital increase by the General Shareholders’ meeting of Buongiorno and the absence of material adverse change with respect to the transaction. It is intended that following the closing of the transaction Wayne Pitout will join the Board of Buongiorno as an Executive Director, together with a designee of Oak Investment Partners. Wayne Pitout will be in charge of M&A activities in the new combined entity.

   

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Buongiorno launches DIY tones site

On 05.11.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile-ent writes….Buongiorno is to launch mytones, a showcase for self-created ringtones, with Telecom Italia Mobile.
mytones is available on wap and web and promises to reward musical talent in the ringtone sector, while establishing a new social network. Consumers can create and upload ringtones, which are then made available for streaming and downloading. Creators of highly-rated ringtones will be rewarded with prizes such as top-up credits.

Rising consumer interest in mobile music is the main reason for the launch –Buongiorno says more than seven million people in Italy downloaded at least one ringtone in the last six months.

The company believes the concept will work well outside of Italy too. Pierpaolo Cervi, Buongiorno’s country manager (Italy), said: “We see mytones as potentially appealing to mobile audiences also outside of Italy, in territories where TIM and Buongiorno work very closely, such as Greece and Brazil.?

   

 

 

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Buongiorno launches DIY tones site

On 05.03.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile-ent writes….Buongiorno is to launch mytones, a showcase for self-created ringtones, with Telecom Italia Mobile.
mytones is available on wap and web and promises to reward musical talent in the ringtone sector, while establishing a new social network. Consumers can create and upload ringtones, which are then made available for streaming and downloading. Creators of highly-rated ringtones will be rewarded with prizes such as top-up credits.

Rising consumer interest in mobile music is the main reason for the launch –Buongiorno says more than seven million people in Italy downloaded at least one ringtone in the last six months.

The company believes the concept will work well outside of Italy too. Pierpaolo Cervi, Buongiorno’s country manager (Italy), said: “We see mytones as potentially appealing to mobile audiences also outside of Italy, in territories where TIM and Buongiorno work very closely, such as Greece and Brazil.

   

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Buongiorno buys itself into China

On 01.16.07, In Mobile, By Editor

MobileGames writes…The Italian aggregator giant Buongiorno has acquired China based competitor DongAsia trough its JV Buongiorno Hong Kong (which Buongiorno italy owns for 49%). Buongionro purchased 80% of the shares for $ 2.7 million. Buongiorno hopes to start offering the Blinko B2C services to Asian consumers soon.

 

 

 

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Buongiorno says hello to China

On 01.15.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile-Ent writes…Buongiorno is set to enter the Chinese market with the purchase of eDongAsia, a Shanghai-based provider of SMS and content services.
The acquisition will be carried out by Buongiorno’s Hong subsidiary (a joint venture with Mitsui & Co). Buongiorno will buy 80 per cent of eDongAsia’s share capital for around $2.7 million. The remaining percentage will stay under the current shareholders’ control.

For Buongiorno, it’s another key stage in an audacious international expansion programme. The company recently entered the Russian and Indian markets, and has formed partnerships in fast growing Asian markets like Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. It is also among the drivers of the fast-evolving US off-portal market.

Entering the Chinese market will not be straightforward. Last year the government imposed tighter regulations on mobile content companies, which resulted in many casualties. However, the sheer potential of the market is too tempting to ignore. According to Chinese Industry Ministry’s figures, there are 449 million subscribers – and 65 million more sign up every year.

Buongiorno’s plans in China will be consistent with its approach elsewhere:offering B2B services for operators and large media groups while selling B2C services under the Blinko brand.

“The Chinese mobile content market is burgeoning and it represents a tremendous opportunity for global companies operating in the digital entertainment market, as Buongiorno. We therefore decided to cautiously enter the Chinese market by leveraging on a small-sized fast-growing entity in which our joint venture Buongiorno Hong Kong will invest in terms of know-how, people and capitals. This will allow our Group to seize the local challenging business opportunities without facing risks in the short term” said Andrea Casalini, CEO of Buongiorno SpA.

 

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Buongiorno acquires eDongAsia for $2.7M

On 01.15.07, In Mobile, By Editor

FierceMobileContent writes…Digital entertainment multinational Buongiorno acquired mobile content production services provider eDongAsia in an effort to gain a foothold in the Chinese market. Under the terms of the deal, Buongiorno Hong Kong (a joint venture with trading and investment firm Mitsui & Co.) will acquire up to 80 percent of eDongAsia’s share capital in a $2.7 million cash transaction; the remaining 20 percent of the firm will remain under shareholder control. Bongiorno said its Chinese plans include B2B services for telecom firms and large media groups as well as B2C services marketed under its Blinko brand. “The Chinese mobile content market is burgeoning and it represents a tremendous opportunity for global companies operating in the digital entertainment market,” Buongiorno CEO Andrea Casalini said in a prepared statement. “We therefore decided to cautiously enter the Chinese market by leveraging on a small-sized, fast-growing entity in which our joint venture Buongiorno Hong Kong will invest in terms of know-how, people and capitals.”

 

 

 

 

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Buongiorno Buys Chinese Mobile Content Services Firm DongAsia For $2.7 Million (press release)

On 01.15.07, In Mobile, By Editor

Buogiorno writes…Italian mobile content company Buongiorno has acquired Chinese mobile content service firm DongAsia through its JV Buongiorno Hong Kong (it owns 49 percent of the latter, with the rest being owned by Mitsui & Co). Buongiorno Hong Kong will buy up to 80 percent of eDongAsia for $2.7 million, with the rest staying with the current shareholders.
Buongiorno will offer B2B services for telecom companies and introduce the Blinko brand for its B2C efforts. In the Asia Pacific Buongiorno also has operations in India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia.

 

 

 

 

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Buongiorno Buys Chinese Mobile Content Firm

On 01.15.07, In Mobile, By Editor

The Italian mobile content firm, Buongiorno says that it is entering the Chinese market, through the purchase of eDongAsia. Under the agreement’s terms, Buongiorno Hong Kong will acquire up to 80% of eDongAsia’s share capital by cash for a total amount of about US$2.7 million. The remaining percentage (about 20%) will stay under the current shareholders’ control.

According to Chinese Industry Ministry’s latest figures, the local mobile market is the world’s largest with 449 million customers (34% of the active population) and the most dynamic with a year-over-year growth of about 65 million new users.

For Buongiorno Hong Kong (a Joint Venture between Mitsui (51%) and Buongiorno (49%)), the entrance in the Chinese mobile market is another important step of its expansion plan in the Asia-Pacific. This new expansion follows the entrance and business development in Russia and India and strategic deals for provision of technological services, content and marketing for mobile digital entertainment in several fast growing Asian markets like Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.

Buongiorno’s plans in China confirm the Company’s balanced approach: Buongiorno will offer both B2B services for telecom companies and large media groups and B2C services with the Blinko brand.

“The Chinese mobile content market is burgeoning and it represents a tremendous opportunity for global companies operating in the digital entertainment market, as Buongiorno. We therefore decided to cautiously enter the Chinese market by leveraging on a small-sized fast-growing entity in which our joint venture Buongiorno Hong Kong will invest in terms of know-how, people and capitals. This will allow our Group to seize the local challenging business opportunities without facing risks in the short term” stated Andrea Casalini, Chief Executive Officer of Buongiorno SpA.

eDongAsia operates through eDongCity (translation= The mobile city), a Shangai-based firm fitted to be the launching platform of Buongiorno services in the Chinese market. eDongCity’s core business has focussed on the provision of SMS services and mobile services through its local strategic partner company.

 

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