eMobile adds BlackBerry to handset, mobile plan range
eMobile has added BlackBerry to its range of handsets and mobile plans.
For US$84.89 per month, eMobile customers can get unlimited calls and texts to any network, including landlines, 3 GB of data and a free BlackBerry.
As part of the offering eMobile will sell the Blackberry Curve 8520, Blackberry Curve 9300, Blackberry Torch 9800 and the Blackberry Bold 9780 smartphones for post-paid and pre-paid customers.
MEP invites operators to join internet freedom code (Europe)
Marietje Schaake, a MEP from the Dutch party D66, has invited European telecom companies to sign up to a code of practice on internet freedom and show that they consider human rights important.
Companies signed up to the Global Network Initiative (GNI) adhere to a code on internet freedom and human rights. GNI is made up of businesses, civil society groups and academics.
According to Schaake, access to an uncensored and unfiltered internet, also over mobile networks, is increasingly important for free speech, press freedom and the documentation of human rights abuses.
She called on the EU to give more attention in its foreign policy to the importance of free communication and access to information.
European SMEs lose business with slow customer response
A research has revealed that small businesses across Europe as missing out on crucial new business as they are unable to respond to enquiries fast enough in a market where customers expect 24-hour service.
The research was conducted among SMEs in four key European markets – the UK, Italy, Germany and Spain. It shows that 78% of European small businesses believe providing a fast response to customer queries was the biggest source of competitive advantage.
One third (33%) blame their inability to respond quickly enough to customer enquiries for the loss of contracts to more flexible rivals, with the average contract lost valued at around US$21,237.
Half of firms said that operating in a 24 hour society the biggest pressure facing their business. Almost 8 in 10 (79%) of SME managers now expect their employees to respond to customer phone calls immediately during office hours no matter where they are; and 32% expect workers to respond immediately to customer requests made on social media such as Twitter during office hours.
Ericsson acquires Telenor M2M platform (Europe)
Ericsson has agreed to acquire Telenor Connexion’s M2M technology platform for an undisclosed sum.
As per the deal, Telenor will use the Ericsson Device Connection Platform going forward for its M2M services. The acquisition includes Telenor Connexion’s M2M technology platform and the transfer of eleven employees who will continue to work on development of the service offering provided on Ericsson’s Device Connection Platform.
The Ericsson platform, launched during the Mobile World Congress in February, supports operators’ delivery of tailored M2M services for enterprise customers and is delivered under a software-as-a-service business model.
According to Telenor, with the maturity of the M2M market in recent years, the deal with Ericsson allows it to focus on developing value-added and customized services for its customers.
Ericsson stated that Telenor’s technology will complement its existing platform, adding the know-how of the pioneers in this area.
Tele2 apponts Joachim Horn as new CTIO (Europe)
Tele2 has appointed Joachim Horn as the new Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO), effective as of 15 August.
Horn has a very strong background from his previous roles as Group CTO at Bharti Airtel, Group CTO at T-Mobile International, technology director at T-Mobile Germany, together with numerous high level management positions at Siemens.
HTC offers high-end Smartphone, VOD service (Europe, Asia)
HTC has introduced a new high-end smartphone, the HTC Sensation, which will launch with Vodafone in Europe and in Asian markets in Q2.
The Sensation features an aluminum body and 4.3-inch SLCD touch display with 540 x 960 resolution and Gorilla glass. The Android phone runs on a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and comes with 8 megapixel camera and 1080p HD video.
It’s the first phone to offer access to HTC’s new video-on-demand service HTC Watch. The video service uses progressive download technology that makes it possible to watch videos without waiting for the file to finish downloading.
HTC Watch offers the choice of renting or buying videos, and if purchased, they can be watched on up to five HTC devices. The phone also comes with a new version of the HTC Sense user interface. This transforms the lockscreen into a real-time window to important information, such as social updates, weather or stock updates that are viewed by simply turning on the display.
The active lockscreen also can be customized to jump to the most used features, like making a phone call, sending an e-mail or taking a picture, with the same quick gesture used to unlock the phone.
Visa Europe plans investments in m-commerce
Visa Europe’s CEO, Peter Ayliffe has stated that the company is planning to invest US$144.29 million per year into mobile payments and e-commerce to enable commercial mobile-payment rollouts starting at year-end.
Visa Europe includess nearly 4,000 member European banks which have collectively issued more than 419 million Visa debit, credit and commercial cards across the European Union as of the end of September.
According to Visa Europe, its cardholders will spend a combined US$2.88 trillion with their cards by 2015.
Sony slashes prices for PlayStation Portable by 24% (Europe)
Sony Corp., the world’s largest exporter of consumer electronics, has slashed European prices for its PlayStation Portable video-game player by 24%.
According to Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, the PSP player will have a suggested retail price of $187.29 beginning today. The price was cut to $129.99 in the U.S. in February.
According to Satoshi Fukuoka, a Tokyo-based spokesman at Sony’s video-games unit, the price cut is aimed at increasing adoption of the player in Europe.
Sony, based in Tokyo, competes with Microsoft Corp., maker of the Xbox, and Nintendo Co. in the gaming market. Sony may stagger the global release of its next-generation PlayStation Portable game machine, code-named NGP, after the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last month disrupted production.
Navigon offers FreshMaps in Europe
Navigon, navigation software developer has launched FreshMaps for navigation devices in Europe.
Navigon offers updated maps each quarter. User can get access to Navigon FreshMaps without subscription with a single download.
The update includes all developments, such as speed limits, lane widening and roundabouts or POIs. The maps will contain additional POIs such as pharmacies, petrol stations and restaurants. The Navigon first quarter map of Europe is available via Navigon Fresh at .navigon.com/fresh for US$99.76.
EuroMP disappointed with profit margin of international calls (Europe)
EuroMP Lambert van Nistelrooij of the Dutch Catholic Democrat Party was reportedly not happy with figures obtained by European commissioner, Neelie Kroes (Digital Agenda).
According to EuroMP, Europe set a maximum rate in 2007 for international calls. Still, figures obtained by Van Nistelrooij from 2009 showed that calls national and international- still had a profit margin at 282 percent. Figures for 2010 are still not available from the European Commission.
As per Van Nistelrooij, making a profit is fine, but 282% is out of proportion. The MP concluded that competition is not working properly, but added that he supports Kroes’ policy of having a price difference of “almost zero” between domestic and European calls by 2015.
He also noted that the market for international mobile data connections still needs special attention. Unlike voice and SMS rates, mobile data connection rates have no rate cap at the consumer level, only at the wholesale level. This has not led to enough competition or lower prices.
MP stated that they will have to see how to stimulate more competition and lower prices.
