Orange to launch TV Check app in iPhone in UK (UK)
Telecom operator Orange is planning to launch its TV Check iPhone application in the UK this month, and will launch the app on the Android platform in both France and the UK at the same time, according to a report by DTVE. The app offers additional content and games such as quizzes around TV shows, and the ability to chat and comment on shows via Twitter and Facebook.
Patrice Slupowski, vice-presdent, digital innovation and communities at Orange, said that they are happy to open a second country. They will see how the UK audience does with it.
Slupowski told DTVE that Orange would add social recommendation features to the app and said that Orange would discuss with channels in the UK about building partnerships with them. He said the Android version of the app would launch both in France and the UK at the end of May. Slupowski said that the app had been downloaded about 100,000 times in France.
Apple’s journey towards wireless services (USA)
Recent rumours doing the rounds show strong indication of US giant Apple moving towards offering wireless services to its iPad and iPhone users. According to a report by Gigaom, Apple will provide wireless service directly to its iPad and iPhone customers. First, Apple will sell data packages bundled with iPads. Then it will sell data and international roaming plans to iPhone customers through the iTunes Store. And in time Apple will strike wholesale deals with several mobile operators so that Apple can provide wireless service directly to its customers, as Apple Mobile.
With Apple’s increasing dominance in the smartphone arena, mobile operators are less likely to disagree with the company. As per the report, operators are less likely to refuse a deal offered by the iPhone maker out of fear that the same may be sold to a rival.
As revealed in the report, Apple filed a patent for “Dynamic Carrier Selection” on October 10, 2006, just a few months before Apple announced the first iPhone. The diagram in the patent application portrayed Apple as the wireless service provider connecting to multiple carriers. This would allow Apple to make wholesale cellular agreements with and connect to multiple carriers so it could offer its customers choices in carriers, plans and services. Apple has clearly put a lot of thought into its dynamic carrier selection architecture.
Further, Apple recently has been fighting with other handset vendors, including Nokia, over a new, smaller-sized SIM card for GSM and LTE handsets. According to some, such a SIM would allow Apple to bypass carriers entirely, and activate a new customer through the iTunes Store. Whether it uses the NanoSIM, virtual SIM or other variant, Apple could have the ability to activate and sell voice, data, messaging and roaming subscription plans before the ink dries on a carrier wholesale agreement.
Apple has all of the pieces necessary to offer wireless service directly to customers. They have the world’s leading brand, a loyal following who will pay a premium for Apple’s products and services, and 363 retail stores around the world, growing to 400 by the end of the year. And with iTunes, it has the digital content and billing platform to offer service with one-click simplicity. The infrastructure is in place today, with the patented architecture ready for Apple’s next big move.
iPhone customers typically spend as much as twice or more the U.S. national average monthly wireless bill, which was about $44 in the last year. So these are high value customers. And they buy apps and content – music, videos, TV shows and movies – through Apple today. By offering mobile service with iPhones and iPads, the company could provide the full Apple experience to its users.
Apple may be looking to launch its own mobile data service (USA)
US giant Apple may be planning another surprise for its iPhone and iPad users. According to a report by Slashgear, Apple may be planning to offer mobile data services across the USA for the likes of the iPhone and iPad.
As per the report, Apple currently has more than a massive 250 million credit card numbers on file through iTunes, and iTunes has the ability to take payments just as easily as any mobile carrier in the United States today. The difference is that groups like Verizon and T-Mobile own their own spectrum. Apple would have to either have plans in place to purchase spectrum or would have had to already have purchased spectrum to make this work inside 2012 – and that’s not news you can easily keep under wraps.
Etisalat launches new UniTalk promotion for the youth segment (UAE)
UAE’s leading mobile operator Etisalat has launched a new UniTalk promotion plan aimed at students in universities and the overall youth segment. According to the company, on subscribing to UniTalk, the consumers are automatically entered into the UniTalk mega draw where they can win some really cool prizes.
Further, users can enhance their chances of winning by referring friends to UniTalk; the higher the conversion rate, the higher the chances of winning. Under the promotion, Etisalat offers a car, vacation or a cash prize worth $35,400 as the first prize, an Apple set consisting of MacBook, iPad and iPhone worth $4,084 as the second prize, and a valuable shopping voucher worth $1,362 as the third prize.
Verizon to charge $30 additional fee for upgrades (USA)
America’s leading telecom operator Verizon Wireless will start charging customers a $30 fee for cellphone upgrades, on top of the price they pay for the new device, as the company looks to supplement its income to cover costs, according to a report by Reuters.
Carriers pay high subsidies to manufacturers like Apple as devices like the iPhone help attract a significant amount of consumer base as well as increase revenue.
However, as per the report, upgrades can be less attractive to operators because despite paying a subsidy for the new device, mobile companies often get no extra revenue from existing customers who switch phones.
Verizon Wireless said the fee, which comes into effect starting April 22, would help it provide customers with the level of service and support they have come to expect. For example, it cited wireless workshops, online tools, and expert advice on devices.
Android gets Mashreq’s mobile banking app (USA, Middle East)
Leading financial institution Mashreq has announced the launch of its Mobile Banking for Google Android devices. Mashreq’s mobile app is also accessible through smartphones and devices such as iPhone, iPad, Blackberry and Java OS Mobile phones.
The mobile banking application is a fully integrated transactional service offering customers to check their accounts’, make payments to Mashreq Credit Cards and transfer funds anywhere in the world through their mobile phones at anytime, from anywhere.
Furthermore, recharge Etisalat, du, Salik and make other bill payments such as DEWA, SEWA, ADDC through its safe, secure and customer friendly interface. Customers using this service enjoy easy access to their bank accounts through their mobile phones 24/7, from any GPRS / 3G / wireless (Wi-Fi) network, anywhere in the world, as per a press release.
Aref Al Ramli, Head of Alternate Channels at Mashreq commented that they are continuously working towards offering various distinctive platforms for customers to carry out their banking transactions. As technology evolves, so does their online banking services. They are proud of their multi-faced Mobile banking system, which is now available across all systems to reach out to further customers extending a hassle free banking service and help them save time.
For iPhone and Android, the app is to be downloaded from AppStore and Google Play (Android Market). Once installed, Mobile Banking app is ready for use completely free of charges from the bank.
Cell C may offer Apple iPhone (South Africa)
Mobile operator Cell C may have reached an agreement with US giant Apple to sell the iPhone in South Africa. According to reports, CEO Alan Knott-Craig said that they are planning to sell the iPhone in the coming months.
This will be a first for the operator as they have not signed a contract with Apple earlier. With Apple leading the global smartphone arena, selling the iPhone may give the operator a boost in subscribers as well as give it better grounds for competition. Rival operators Vodacom and MTN have been selling the iPhone which has been high in demand.
Apple said to be worth more than Poland at a value of US$ 500 billion (USA)
With iPhone maker Apple crossing the US$ 500 billion mark, the industry has been abuzz with news stating that the U.S. giant is now worth more than the entire country of Poland. According to reports, Tim Cook, CEO, Apple said that Apple is the sixth company in history to reach a value of US$ 500 billion.
The comparison arises as the share market value of Apple reached US$ 506 billion while the GDP of Poland was reported to be US$ 497 billion. Reports reveal that the value is expected to be more than Belgium, Sweden, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan as well.
Cook had told its shareholders at the annual meeting that the company has more money than it needs, and the board and management are thinking very deeply about ways to use the cash.
Industry analysts believe that such a comparison is unfair as the valuation of a company takes into account the combined profits and future cash flows. On the other hand, the GDP of a country refers to the market value of all officially recognized final goods and services produced within a country in a year. However, the fact that such a comparison could be thought of highlights the success of Apple and its profitability. Analysts believe that while Apple is a very strong company, it is yet to be seen as to how long it can continue the success run.
Further, the release of the new iPad which will go on sale by March 16 is expected to enhance the earnings of the company.
Samsung to supply the touch screen for Apple’s latest iPad (USA, South Korea)
South Korean manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. will supply the touch screen for Apple’s new iPad, as LG Display Co. and Sharp Corp. were unable to uphold the quality standards, as reported by BN.
As per the report, Samsung is the sole provider for the 9.7 inch device, which will be sold from 16 March. Apart from the display screen, Samsung also provides Apple with the chips that power the iPhone and iPad.
The reason for this move is being said to be the demand for very high resolution in the new iPad’s display specifications. Further, achieving this high resolution without compromising on the power consumption and brightness and maintaining Apple’s quality standards are supposedly proving to be a challenge for LG Display and Sharp.
Industry analysts believe that Apple will be looking for other suppliers as well, owing to the number of legal disputes that the two are involved in.
The companies are yet to make an official statement about the same.
