Apple’s revenue to reach $200 bn mark soon (USA)

On 03.25.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A group of researches believe that Apple Inc. can keep posting sales growth of more than 50% in the next two years as a mobile applications boom fuels demand for devices such as the iPad.

According to researchers, Apple sold almost 15 million iPads in its debut year and more than 90 million iPhones in its four-year lifespan. Demand for the devices has spawned a market for downloadable apps that let users shop, work, play games and handle other tasks on the go. That in turn keeps customers buying Apple’s products, and puts the company on course for higher revenue than International Business Machines Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co.

It is also expected that the company will be bigger than IBM next year, and they’ll be bigger than HP the year after that. At current growth rates, they’re going to be a $200 billion revenue company.

Hewlett-Packard had sales of $126 billion in the year that ended in October and IBM’s revenue was $99.9 billion last year, making them the largest technology companies, respectively, by sales. Apple ranks No. 1 by market capitalization.

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Airtel Kenya joins hands with KDN for 3G launch

On 03.08.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Airtel Kenya has partnered with infrastructure provider, Kenya Data Networks (KDN) to upgrade its transmission network to  launch its 3G network in April, raising the stakes in the battle for the Internet market.

The firm’s low cost strategy targets the mass market, with the planned network set to offer high speed mobile internet access, mobile video conferencing and videophone, among other services which it cannot provide with its 2.5G system.

Under the five year partnership, KDN will inter-link Airtel sites through its countrywide fibre optic network.

According to Airtel Kenya Managing Director, Mr Rene Meza, the service will lead to increased mobile internet speeds for Airtel mobile consumers. Both corporate and personal consumers will benefit from increased speed and coverage. This will allow customers to enjoy more multimedia applications and experience enhanced operation of existing applications, including real-time video conferencing.

With the 3G launch, users will also be able to download videos, images and music faster; besides accessing email, games and performing financial transactions faster.

Airtel has partnered with IBM, Nokia Siemens and Ericsson in the roll out of the 3G network and is planning to spend $250 million to expand its network across the country.

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Airtel introduces staff transfer program (Africa)

On 02.28.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Airtel Africa has launched a staff transfer program which will give African employees the opportunity to gain valuable work experience within the company’s parent company Bharti Airtel. The program started on the 23rd of February, 2011.

The initial phase of the program saw the integration of specialized staff from Bharti airtel into some African markets. In this phase of the program, the initial group from Africa to India will be employees from Airtel’s operations in Congo, Tanzania, Kenya, the democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Niger and Zambia.

They will spend up to one year working within various units, which include Bharti Airtel’s network infrastructure development, solutions for medium sized enterprises, sales & distribution, financial systems, marketing and other functions.

According to Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) & Joint Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, the company’s strongest pillar is the people. They invest considerable resources in developing capabilities whilst giving their human capital opportunities to grow. The transfer of knowledge is a conscious strategy informed by the fact that globalization has changed the required skill sets of the team.

According to Mr. Kohli, the transfer program is a mutually beneficial program between all Airtel operations in Africa and the Indian sub-continent. The need for consumers to leapfrog existing technologies and embrace new innovations is a reality as evidenced by some of the latest innovations rolled out by Airtel in Africa. They need to ensure that their solutions connect in a cultural and socio-economic context. This initiative is just a first step of getting their teams connected across the Globe.

During the launch of its operations in Africa, the telecom operator reiterated its intention to harness local manpower which stands at over 6,500 employees across the African continent. In addition to investing in the skill sets, Airtel has partnered with some of the leading technology providers to develop specialized skills and nurture job opportunities across the continent. The company has kicked off partnerships with global technology leaders such as IBM, Nokia Siemens, Huawei, Ericsson and Business outsourcing partners such as Spanco & Tech Mahindra.

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IBM introduces new services for communications service providers to build high quality multi-play networks

On 02.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

IBM today announced new services for mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), communication service providers and cable companies transforming their network infrastructures to address exploding data demands while launching their next generation voice, video, data and mobile services.

With a crowded marketplace and increased price volatility, subscribers expect their providers to offer the latest cutting edge services — and furthermore, they expect superior quality of service, security and reliability. To compete, communications service providers need data and application aware networks that support new innovative consumer services and the ability to support advanced analytics in their network to ensure high quality and reduced costs.

IBM’s Communications Service Provider Network Infrastructure Services tackles the challenges in building advanced networks by enabling providers to develop new revenue generating services while controlling costs. More specifically, IBM’s services provide the professional services for solution planning, migration, architecture, detailed design, project planning, deployment, and end-to-end multi-vendor infrastructures.

Major French communication service provider, Bouygues Telecom, worked with IBM to consolidate its multiple networks — voice, data, TV and mobile — into one high end multi-vendor backbone with advanced policy control features to support quadruple play. This solution gives Bouygues Telecom the agility needed for their daily operations and provides to their consumers a higher level of quality and availability with dynamic network backup.

IBM delivered Bouygues Telecom an end to end network solution by providing services from high level design to daily maintenance,” said Jean Paul Arzel, Network Director, Bouygues Telecom. They worked with us to integrate solutions from third-parties such as BootEdge from ActivNetworks to compress and optimize data traffic over 3G to save bandwidth. Their understanding of our constantly evolving industry and the unique challenges we face has been key to the success of the project.”

We have built worldwide expertise based on nearly a decade of helping clients build next generation network infrastructures and new services,” said Laurence, Guihard-Joly, VP, Integrated Communications & Security Services, IBM. This portfolio is the result of that experience and our ongoing investments in new solution capabilities such as mobile broadband, video distribution, cloud and the service assurance monitoring infrastructure that is the foundation for deploying the advanced analytics required by our clients.”

IBM works with the top 1,000 communications service providers worldwide, including all 20 of the largest global providers.

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Samsung Electronics and IBM ink patent cross-license deal

On 02.10.11, In Mobile, By Editor

­Samsung Electronics and IBM have announced a patent cross-license agreement, under which the companies will license their respective patent portfolios to each other.

Over the past several decades, IBM and Samsung have built strong patent portfolios covering a wide range of technologies including semiconductors, telecommunications, visual and mobile communications, software and technology-based services. The companies said the cooperation fostered by cross-licensing reinforces their ability to provide better products and services while maintaining their competitiveness.

According to Dr. Seungho Ahn, Executive Vice President and Head of the IP Center, Samsung Electronics, this licensing agreement will help both companies expedite innovation and achieve business growth by providing each company access to the other’s patents for basic technologies. The company also hopes that the agreement will open new opportunities for wider collaboration between two of the leading innovators in the technology industry.

As per Ken King, Vice President, Patents, Software & Services IP Licensing for IBM, patents and innovation are a critical component of IBM’s high-value business strategy. In addition to protecting the huge investment we make in R&D, patents also allow them to establish cross-licenses, which provide IBM and partners like Samsung significant freedom of action, which is essential in the competitive global business environment.

Specific terms and conditions of the agreement were not disclosed.

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IBM and ARM announce collaboration on advanced semiconductor technology

On 01.19.11, In Mobile, By Editor

ARM and information technology company IBM have entered into an agreement to extend their collaboration on advanced semiconductor technologies.

The collaboration announced on Monday, is expected to enable the rapid development of next generation mobile products optimized for performance and power efficiency.

The resulting technology will provide a suite of optimized physical and processor IP by ARM tuned to IBM’s manufacturing process down to 14nm; providing streamlined development and earlier introduction of advanced consumer electronics into the marketplace, the companies said.

ARM is a provider of technology for advanced digital products.

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Bharti Airtel and IBM Confirm Pan-Africa IT Management deal (Africa)

On 01.15.11, In Mobile, By Editor

IBM and Bharti Airtel have announced the completion of contract talks for technology services spanning 16 African countries.

As part of the 10-year agreement signed in December 2010, IBM will deploy and manage the information technology (IT) infrastructure and applications to support Airtel’s mobile services throughout Africa.

IBM will combine and alter the 16 different IT environments across Airtel’s African operations into an integrated IT system, and will oversee the management of all applications, data center operations, servers, storage and desktop services.

Furthermore, IBM is planning to deploy a powerful media management system to offer content such as music and video over mobile devices, while simultaneously facilitating the growth of the application developer community in Africa, which will enable Airtel to tap new sources of revenue.

According to Manoj Kohli, Chief Executive Officer (International) and Joint Managing Director, Airtel, their relationship with IBM is catalytic in its delivery of information and communication technology solutions across Africa. The deployment of cutting edge technology will provide a positive multiplier effect to our customers, employees and business partners through applications that deliver enhanced services, data and processes in real time. An empowered ecosystem will manifest in quick delivery of solutions that meet the evolving needs of Africa’s consumers.

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IBM, Samsung in cooperation to develop chip technology

On 01.14.11, In Mobile, By Editor

IBM and Samsung Electronics Co have announced that both the companies will jointly develop new semiconductor technology to be used in smartphones and other new gadgets.

According to the company, International Business Machines Corp and Samsung are planning to research new chip materials and improvements in process technology, to develop smaller and more energy efficient semiconductor products.

The step comes as more consumers and office workers are using mobile phones and tablet computers for Web access, leading to demand for new kinds of semiconductor technologies.

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Airtel plans African mobile market economy transformation

On 01.05.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Bharti Airtel Limited is planning to move the transformation of African mobile communications and positively impact the speed of economic development across the African continent.

According to the company, it is relying on the partnership between it and IBM, which is expected to manage the computing and technology services that will enhance Airtel’s mobile network.

In addition to deploying and managing information technology (IT) infrastructure and applications, IBM will deploy advanced technologies created by IBM Research, including the Spoken Web _ a voice-enabled Internet that allows users to access and share information simply by talking over the existing telephone network, which is particularly compelling for populations with little or no literacy, visual impairments, or lack access to computers.

IBM is also planning to deploy a content management system to offer rich media content such as music and video over mobile devices, while simultaneously facilitating the growth of the application developer community in Africa.

According to Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and Joint Managing Director, Bharti Airtel, the   strategic partnerships with Ericsson, Huawei and NSN will exponentially improve the quality of the network across the African landscape and expand the footprint of the 2G and 3G services. In line with global trends, Africa is experiencing a surge in demand for access to mobile data applications.

The modernization and optimization of the networks will give Airtel an opportunity to offer exciting services in 2011.

Kohli further observed that the partnerships take us one step closer to our vision of making telephony available and affordable for everyone across Africa, even in the most remote areas which are at present disconnected from the world. We are also laying the foundation for the introduction of 3G HSPA wireless broadband as access to content is the right of every African citizen. Mobile broadband is a catalyst for economic growth and development. Many of their new customers will have an online experience for the first time in their lives.

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Smartphones and Tablets set to eclipse computers soon.

On 12.08.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Market research major IDC has predicted that smartphones and tablets are in things today and their shipments will overtake PC shipment in the next 18 months, i.e. precisely by June 2012. If reports are to be believed, the United Kingdom is slowly moving away from PCs and going towards mobile devices. However, this is all about development of a new market of smartphones and tablets and in no way it means that PCs would be shunned. They would still be a main part of computing.

IDC also added that the total number of shipments of app-enabled devices such as smartphones and tablets all over the world would touch a 284 million mark. And the projected figures for 2011 and 2012 are 377 million and 462 million respectively. This figure would easily exceed that of PC shipments. For those who are uninitiated, one shipment equals one device.

The company also predicted that the PC shipments to be about 356 million this year as well as 402 million and 448 million for 2011 and 2012 respectively.

According to Frank Gens, Chief Analyst, IDC, non-PC devices are not replacing the PC that’s a key point but they are expanding the market. He also reveals the similarities between the start of the PC era and what is happening today with smartphones and tablets.

He further added, the IBM personal computer arrived in 1981, but it wasn’t until 1986 that vendors stopped debating the future of the PC and rushed toward it. A major turning point for the PC was the 1986 initial public offering of Microsoft, a company quickly embraced by Wall Street. The PC era resulted in the emergence of new companies and the loss of older ones that didn’t adapt to the market change. Today, through acquisitions and other moves, vendors are positioning themselves for the new smartphone and tablet market.

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