Wireless Federation

European firms eye TOT for MVNO services (Thailand, Europe)

On 01.30.12, In Mobile, By Editor

State-owned telecommunications company TOT is reportedly in talks with two European mobile operators to provide 3G wireless services as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO). As reported by BP, Panthep Chamrasromran, Chairman, TOT has said that they have held discussions with the operators regarding their business plan and strategy, and are likely to arrive at a decision next month.

He added that the operators are looking to tie-up with TOT if the Thai operator continues with its nationwide 3G network coverage plan. Further, while the names of the two operators have not yet been disclosed, Chamrasromran has revealed that one operator is from Norway.

The Thai operator is currently involved in regrouping its MVNOs into three categories: strategic partners, conventional MVNOs and resellers.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Europe • Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) • Panthep Chamrasromran • Thailand • TOT

Orange to offer free Wikipedia access in Africa and the Middle East (Europe, Africa, Middle East)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Telecommunications operator Orange has entered into an agreement with the Wikimedia Foundation to provide over 70 million Orange customers in Africa and the Middle East (AMEA) with mobile access to Wikipedia, without incurring data usage charges.

The move comes in an attempt to make knowledge more easily available to Orange mobile customers, in both remote and urban areas, throughout Africa and the Middle East. According to a company report, this new partnership will be gradually launched throughout 2012 across 20 African and Middle Eastern countries where Orange operates, with the first markets launching early in the year. The initiative is part of the Wikimedia Foundation’s mobile strategy that aims to reach the billions of people around the world who access the internet solely through mobile devices.

The report reveals that any customer with an Orange SIM and mobile internet enabled phone will be able to access the Wikipedia site either through their browser or an Orange widget. They can access the Wikipedia encyclopaedia services for as many times as they like at no extra charge as long as they stay within Wikipedia’s pages.

Sue Gardner, Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation said that Wikipedia is an important service, a public good, and so they want people to be able to access it for free, regardless of what device they’re using. Further, this partnership with Orange will enable millions of people to read Wikipedia, who previously couldn’t.

Marc Rennard, Group Executive Vice President of Orange, Africa, the Middle-East and Asia, commented, in countries where access to information is not always readily available, they are making it simple and easy for our customers to use the world’s most comprehensive online encyclopaedia. It is the first partnership of this kind in the world where they are enabling customers to access Wikipedia without incurring any data charges; and shows Orange’s ability, once again, to innovate in Africa and the Middle East, and bring more value to their customers.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Africa • Europe • France Telecom • Marc Rennard • Middle East • Mobile Data • Orange • USA • Wikipedia

Telekom Austria cuts dividend payout by half (Europe)

On 12.23.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Leading telecommunications provider, Telekom Austria, has cut its dividend payout for 2011 and 2012 to half of what it originally planned, owing to the declining European economy. The operator had earlier planned a payout of US$ 1 which has been revised to US$ 0.50 for 2011 and 2012, while the payout for 2013 will be maintained at 55 percent of the cash flow.

As per company reports, the operator has said that this move is the result of an adverse economic condition along with the ever changing foreign exchange market. Further, the operator also expects the upcoming spectrum auctions to have a significant impact on the company’s cash flow. Telekom Austria has said that the maintaining a stable investment grade rating of ‘BBB’ remains the key parameter for the company’s cash use policy.

As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Spanish telecom giant, Telefonica, had cut down its dividend forecast for 2012 by 14 percent based on the extensive changes witnessed in the market conditions. According to reports by the company, the payout has been reduced to US$ 1.95 a share as compared to the earlier forecast of US$ 2.27 a share.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Austria • Dividend • Europe • Telekom Austria

Hutchison Whampoa may acquire Orange Austria (Europe)

On 10.25.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

Hutchison Whampoa, Hong Kong based conglomerate may reportedly be in talks to acquire Austrian mobile operator, Orange Austria, owned by France Telecom and private equity firm Mid Europa Partners. As per reports, Hutchison, which operates in Austria through its subsidiary 3, aims to acquire Orange by this year.

Sources claim that a deal between these two operators, would compbine the third and fourth largest telecom players in the country, after Telekom Austria AG and T-Mobile Austria (Deutsche Telekom AG). As per company reports, France Telecom has a stake of 35 percent in Orange Austria with the remaining 65percent being controlled by Mid Europa Partners.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: Austria • Europe • France • France Telecom • Hong Kong • Hutchison Whampoa • Orange Austria • T-Mobile

Alcatel-Lucent to sell Genesys for $1.5 billion to Permira (Europe)

On 10.20.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

Alcatel-Lucent, a global leader in mobile technologies, has sold of its call center services unit –Genesys for $1.5 billion to private equity firm Permira, but will continue to keep its operation business to help meet the needs of its existing customers. As per reports, Alcatel-Lucent expects to finalize the deal by the end of 2011 or early 2012, subject to regulatory approvals in Europe and the U.S.

Alcatel-Lucent had reportedly been considering different options with regard to Genesys since July, which although profitable, was accounting for less than 10% of the company’s annual revenue. As per sources, Brian Ruder, Partner at Permira has said that Genesys is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading providers of customer service software and contact center solutions, and they are excited by the long-term growth potential of this business. He added that with an exceptional brand, differentiated technologies and a blue-chip customer base, Genesys is well-positioned to continue to take advantage of the positive trends in its expanding markets.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: Alcatel-Lucent • Europe • Genesys • Permira • Private equity

France Telecom expected to pay $1.55 billion to French government (Europe)

On 09.12.11, In Mobile Operators, By Editor

France Telecom SA may be required to pay the French government an amount of $1.55 billion in back taxes, in the event that it loses the appeal over an order by the European Union. As per sources, Niilo Jaeaeskinen, an advocate general for the EU Court of Justice, said that the EU court should dismiss the appeal.

The European Commission looked into the support given by the French government for the phone company when it was close to bankruptcy in 2002 and believes that France Telecom had received improper tax benefits from 1994 through 2004. As per sources, rulings by the EU’s top court take about six months from the time of the opinion. France Telecom has reportedly said that the company has set aside the funds in an escrow provision.

Filed under:Mobile Operators Tagged with: Europe • European Union • France • France Telecom

NEC in discussions with US, European carriers for handset sale (Japan)

On 06.02.11, In Mobile, By Editor

If reports are to be believed, NEC is in discussion with various US and European mobile carriers to sell handsets overseas.

NEC sold 4.4 million mobile handsets in the last fiscal year, and expects to sell 7.4 million this fiscal year, with about 30 percent to be sold overseas.

In the next fiscal year, NEC intends to sell 12 million mobile handsets, with about 5 million, or 40%, in overseas markets.

According to NEC, much of the growth in handset sales will come from the expansion of the market for smartphones, both in Japan and globally.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Europe • Japan • U.S

Nearly 20 mn access bank account via mobile phone in March

On 05.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new study has revealed that about 20 million mobile users across the five European markets of UK, France, Spain, Germany and Italy, representing 8.5 percent of mobile subscribers in these markets, accessed their bank account via a mobile phone in March.

Since August 2010, there has been a 15.4 percent rise in mobile bankers, which has been driven by smartphone users who accounted for 70 percent of the mobile banking market in March.

Among smartphone owners the number of banking users has risen by 40 percent since August 2010. During the three month period ending March, France boasted high penetration of mobile bankers in EU5 with 10.3 percent of consumers accessing bank accounts through their mobile phones.

Spain ranked second with 10.2 percent penetration. Germany had low penetration of mobile banking users with 6.8 percent accessing their bank accounts. In the EU5 region, 8.5 percent of mobile subscribers overall accessed mobile banking, while 5.1 percent accessed credit cards and 5.2 percent accessed electronic payments via their mobile device.

UK mobile phone owners were conservative with regards to accessing credit card accounts and only 3.9 percent of the mobile population used the service in March. On the other hand, mobile banking reached 8.6 percent of the total UK mobile market, making it the third largest market for mobile banking in Europe.

In the EU5 countries, nearly two males accessed mobile banking for every one female. Among age segments, 25-34 year olds accounted for the highest percentage of mobile banking users, about 27.9 percent, and were also the highest indexing segment.

Mobile users aged 55 and older showed low relative usage of mobile banking. Smartphone users accounted for nearly 70 percent of mobile banking users, despite accounting for 35 percent of the total mobile population. Apple users exhibited the highest relative usage of mobile banking (index of 393), followed by users of Google Android (index of 245).

About 82.4 percent mobile subscribers in EU5 countries sent text messages during the three month period ending March, 30.3 percent used applications, 31 percent used browser, 25.6 percent listened to music, 19.8 percent accessed social networking site or blog, 14.9 percent accessed news, 25.6 percent played games and 34.5 percent used smartphone.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Europe • France • Germany • Italy • Mobile • Spain • USA

Jimdo Announces 4 Million Websites Now Mobile (Europe, Asia, South America)

On 05.24.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Jimdo.com, the global free website creation tool, has announced it has optimized all its sites for mobile.

“We think it is important to be out in front of the mobile revolution,” says Christian Springub, co-founder of Jimdo. “Starting today, all JimdoPages have a mobile-friendly view for optimal display on iPhones, Androids, and other smartphones.”

All 4 million Jimdo websites now include a mobile friendly view for iPhones and Android phones – generated automatically. Additionally, all 40,000 online stores offer a mobile store with mobile checkout. To see an example, visit http://www.suigenerisclothing.net/2011-shop/gypsopila from a mobile device.

The native applications of the phones have been integrated wherever it makes sense: when a visitor clicks on a Google Map in a mobile JimdoPage, the native phone’s Google Maps app opens.

Springub says Jimdo created the mobile- and mobile commerce-friendly feature because many users in Asia and the US already have smartphones, and he expects mobile commerce to grow quickly as a key differentiator.

Jimdo has 4 million users in Europe, Asia, and South America, ranks #774 overall on Alexa worldwide, and is in the top 500 sites in fifteen countries. Quantcast measures that Jimdo’s site reached about 10 million people monthly worldwide with over 100 million impressions.

About Jimdo

Jimdo — Pages to the People (www.jimdo.com) was founded in February 2007 by three young entrepreneurs Christian Springub, Fridtjof Detzner, and Matthias Henze. In an old farmhouse in 2004, the three started a web agency for small businesses. The technology powering Jimdo was first developed so business clients could easily edit and update their sites, but frequent requests from friends gave the founders the idea to offer free JimdoPages. In just a few minutes, anyone – no technical knowledge required – can get a website online, complete with blog, photo galleries, video, online store, and more. Industry leaders like the Samwer brothers (CityDeal/Groupon, Facebook, LinkedIn) have invested in the innovative company. Jimdo is now available in 11 languages, and in May 2011, the 4,000,000th Jimdo site went online.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: ASIA • Europe • Mobile • South America

Aspiro launches WiMP version for iPad (Europe)

On 05.20.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Aspiro’s Scandinavian music streaming service WiMP has launched a customized app for iPad in Norway and Sweden.

The new application is available for download on the AppStore, containing the complete WiMP music library with more than 10 mln licensed tracks, album lists, search and more.

WiMP aims at assisting users in finding their way via a huge library of music available through streaming. WiMP for iPad can be explained as a merger between the desktop and mobile versions.

It is customized to fit the larger screen with a tablet-adapted user interface. Additional space has been given to editorial content such as artist biographies, playlists with editorial descriptions and album reviews. It also displays related artists, making it easier for users to discover new music.

A number of improvements will follow in coming versions, both planned and user-generated. WiMP is growing fast and by the beginning of May had 200,000 paying customers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Portugal.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Denmark • app • Apps • Europe • Mobile • Norway • Portugal • Sweden