T-Mobile USA, Everything Everywhere allow international M2M deployment
T-Mobile USA, in partnership with Everything Everywhere and Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) has announced the ongoing development of the industry’s first embedded multi-mode international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) SIM.
Designed for cost-effective international machine-to-machine (M2M) deployment, the multi-mode solution will act as a local SIM when deployed in the U.S. and the UK.
This unique borderless solution will offer M2M application providers the ability to deploy multiple global subscriptions for reduced roaming costs and improved coverage in areas outside of local networks. The embedded multi-mode IMSI SIM is expected to be available before the end of the year.
Google acquires Gizmo5 to take on Skype. Deal valued at US$ 30 Million.
Google has been on the prowl acquiring some strategic companies in what could be termed as the next frontier. After acquring Admob, Techcrunch has reported that it is to acquire VOIP Start-up Gizmo5 for about USD 30 Million.
The deal comes after Skype successfully negotiated a deal with its former owners Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis, to maintain full possession of the technology it requires to operate.
Gizmo5, operated by Michael Robertson (of mp3.com fame), was reportedly in discussions with Skype about a potential acquisition should the company lose its legal battle with its former founders. But since that dela has gone through now, Skype no longer requires Gizmo5 as a potential back-up plan.
Google will now set itself up as a VOIP provider to rival Skype, which holds the vast majority of the market and accounts for 8% of all international voice traffic.
While Google already offers a feature for users to speak over the internet via Google Talk/Voice, it does not have the ability to make incoming or outbound calls to “real” telephones – a service Gizmo5 has already established. Interestingly, Gizmo5 has already been integrated with Google Voice, a service that replaces a user’s telephone numbers with a single number for all devices.
Vimpelcom building a solid South East Asian Cluster – Boris Nemsic, CEO Vimpelcom.
VimpelCom will pay about $66 million for Millicom’s 78 percent stake in Millicom Lao Co. Ltd. The remaining 22% of Millicom Lao Co., Ltd. is owned by the Government of the Lao PDR.
VimpelCom’s CEO Boris Nemsic describes the deal as, “the next logical step in our international expansion strategy” and one that “fits perfectly into our strategy of building a solid Southeast Asian cluster.”
VimpelCom already has mobile operations in Vietnam and Cambodia, having launched services in both markets in July 2008. It holds a 40 percent stake in a JV established with state-owned GTEL in Vietnam. In Cambodia, it owns 90 percent of Sotelco.
Laos has a population of 6.5 million people and low mobile penetration estimated at around 23%, thus making it attractive for Vimpelcom and an obvious choice for acquisition.
