Telefonica launches single pan-European mobile data tariff (Europe)
Telefónica banishes bill shock with the announcement of its first standard pan-European data roaming tariff – giving smartphone customers 25MB of high-speed Internet usage anywhere across the 27 European Union member states for just $2.54 a day.
Telefónica’s EU-wide tariff means mobile customers – on Movistar or O2 networks – will no longer have to worry about the cost of sending or receiving emails, updating their Facebook status or browsing the web on their smartphones when travelling or holidaying abroad.
For $2.54 a day, Telefónica is giving its smartphone customers travelling in the EU a data volume of 25 Megabytes – which translates to 250 visits to essential websites like Facebook, Twitter, Google or BBC Online and up to 500 emails.
Additionally, customers will only pay for days they choose to use data, and will not be charged should they wish to switch off their phone.
The Telefónica tariff weighs in at a fraction of new price caps announced by the European UnionFacebook, Twitter, Google – which ruled that as of 1 July, one data megabyte should cost no more than $0.9, or $22.25 for 25 MB. On a per megabyte basis, Telefónica’s European tariff works out considerably cheaper than the EU’s regulated rate.
José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman and CEO of Telefónica Europe, said that users no longer need to switch off their smartphones when travelling within the EU, and neither do they need to worry about bill shock when they get home. Further, their European data tariff gives smartphone customers great value while allowing them to do what really matters – to stay connected wherever they are in a simple and transparent way and with complete peace of mind.
Smartphone customers use on average around 6MB in a day, but any Telefónica customers exceeding 25 MB will be immediately notified. The Pan-European tariff launched in Germany in May and will be available this summer to O2 and Movistar customers in Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Hutchison Whampoa’s $2.6 billion bid for Eircom rejected (Hong Kong, Ireland)
Telecommunications company Hutchison Whampoa Ltd.’s bid of $2.6 billion for Eircom Group, the Irish phone company in supervised credit protection, has been rejected, according to a report by BN.
As per the report, the cash offer by Hutchison’s Three Ireland unit was rejected by the country’s court-appointed examiner because there were too many conditions attached, and that Three Ireland is working on a revised bid.
Further, it is said that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. is advising Hutchison, while, Morgan Stanley is Eircom’s adviser.
Telefonica Solutions selected by Serco to manage its European Mobile Services (Europe)
Serco, the FTSE 100 international services company has selected Telefónica Multinational Solutions as its provider of European mobile telecommunications services. The $19.87 million five year contract will deliver both savings and technology innovations enabling Serco to deliver improved services to its customers.
The contract covers over 27,000 mobile voice and data connections for Serco across the UK and Ireland, and will roll out across Serco’s other European territories later in 2012. It will reduce Serco’s expenditure by approximately $ 3.05 million over the duration of the contract and support the delivery of innovations such as VoIP and Global Wi-Fi solutions.
Garry Fingland, Serco Group CIO, commented that they are delighted to extend their relationship with Telefónica Multinational Solutions for their mobile platform across Europe. They are driving hard to embrace new ways of communicating with their customers, colleagues and suppliers, exploiting technology to enable new ways of working. Telefónica Multinational Solutions has demonstrated real passion and energy to help them achieve these goals through innovation and a focus on exceptional customer service, underpinned by strong commercial capability.
The agreement will see Telefónica Multinational Solutions providing devices, connectivity and managed mobile services, underpinned by a global account and service support model. Telefónica will provide Serco with much greater visibility and control over their mobility expenditure as well as significantly improving the service experience to its end users through its Managed Services capabilities.
Michael Hayes, Director Telefónica Multinational Solutions Europe, said of the deal that this is an exciting opportunity for Telefónica and demonstrates how they work closely with strategic global customers in leveraging the opportunities presented by delivering regional mobility solutions. They look forward to working with Serco to deliver exceptional service and great value through their range of mobile services.
Ireland plans to raise US$ 660 million from 4G auction (Ireland)
The Irish government is hopeful of raising approximately US$ 659 million via the spectrum auction for high-speed mobile broadband and 4G services.
According to reports, ComReg (Commission for Communications Regulation), the communications regulator in Ireland, expects a minimum amount of US$ 540 million for 28 lots of radio spectrum, but says that competition levels may lead to an increase in the price.
Reports reveal that a lot of 1800 megahertz spectrum will be charged at a minimum price of $ 13.2 million while a lot of 800 megahertz and 900 megahertz spectrum will be sold at a minimum of $ 26.3 million each.
Telecom operators Vodafone, 3, O2 and Meteor, are expected to bid for the licence. The process is expected to complete by the end of July 2012.
Meteor abolishes roaming charges in Europe (Ireland, Europe)
Mobile operator Meteor Ireland has become the first operator to abolish roaming charges in Europe enabling consumers to pay the same charges for calls and texts as when they are at home.
According to the company, the new service applies to both Pay-as-you-go and Bill pay customers. Further, the new policy would enable customers to pay more than 60 per cent less than Vodafone and O2 while roaming.
For users on the operator’s pay-as-you-go service, the call rates will be dropped to US$ 0.38 while texts will be charged at US$ 0.16. While, on the other hand, Bill Pay customers will be charged US$ 0.13 for a text and US$ 0.33 for a call. Also, all incoming calls and texts would be free for the consumer.
Reports reveal that Bill Blake, spokesman for Meteor has classified this decision as a groundbreaking one. He said that their customers will no longer have to worry about paying more for calls and texts while in the EU, with the added benefit of being able to receive calls from family and friends for free, as reported by the Irishtimes.
Talking about mobile data charges while roaming, Blake said that the wholesale rate for data in Europe at the moment is US$ 1.04 per Mb so they will be dropping their charges by 90 per cent. He concluded by saying that as this price continues to drop they will be hoping to pass that on to consumers but they’ve unfortunately not been able to bring it in line with domestic rates just yet.
Vodafone to launch ‘Vodafone Guardian’ app (UK)
Mobile phone operator Vodafone has come out with a new parental control service allowing parents to monitor and restrict unwanted content and misuse of the mobile phone by children. According to reports, the new service to be titled ‘Vodafone Guardian’ will enable parents to blacklist certain numbers, transfer unwanted texts to a secured folder as well as set up an approved list for outgoing calls.
Further, sources claim that the new application would also enable parents to restrict internet use as well as manage access to the phone’s camera. With a large number of children owning a smartphone and spending a lot of time surfing the internet, parents have often raised concerns regarding the content being viewed.
The app will reportedly be free of charge and will be made available in a week’s time in the UK along with Egypt, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Further, Vodafone also plans to launch the app in Italy and Spain under the name ‘Smart Tutor’.
Telefonica signs network sharing agreement with China Unicom (Spain, China)
Spanish telecom operator Telefonica has reportedly entered into a strategic partnership with China Unicom, wherein both operators will use each other’s networks to expand their coverage. According to reports, the deal will provide Telefonica access to China Unicom’s network in the regions of Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, France and Sweden.
In return, China Unicom can reportedly increase its presence through Telefonica’s network in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
Reports suggest that Telefonica believes this agreement will help both operators expand their capabilities to provide telecom services to various customers in different geographic areas.
O2 ties up with Cisco for cloud services (Ireland)
Telecom operator O2 has reportedly entered into an agreement with Cisco for cloud services targeting large business segments and public sector organisations. According to reports, the new service termed O2 Unified Communications will enable corporate houses to combine their fixed and mobile telephone, voice mail, instant messaging and videoconferencing operations into a single managed cloud-based service without any capital expenditure.
As per sources, Alan Brown, Business Director, Telefonica Ireland, has said that they are the first major communications provider in Ireland to bring the full range of Cisco Unified Communications services to the corporate market via the cloud. He added that because of the current economic climate, many Irish large organisations are sitting on outdated and costly legacy telecommunications systems and have had to delay the move to more efficient communications. O2 has launched Unified Communications to address this need and help organisations to upgrade to efficient, cutting-edge communications systems at a manageable price.
Reports reveal that the unified communications service enables users to interact in real time regardless of their location or the device being used, as it is compatible with smartphones, desktop PCs, laptops and tablets.
Irish MVNO puts up the shutters
Just Mobile is a MVNO based in Ireland, and it announced the closure of its network. This move was triggered by the failure to secure additional funding for sustaining operations.
In its heydays, the company had run its operations on the back of Vodafone’s network. However, the same network, in addition to other suppliers could not carry on supporting the company any further who had been extra supportive otherwise, as acknowledged by the MVNO.
According to a statement issued by the company, it had created something special for their customers but unfortunately the business climate is not conducive for young companies to raise capital in.
The absolute closure date for the company is 19 August, however, the process will be carried forward progressively over the next couple of weeks.
The company has been reported to have suffered loses worth $2.82 million since its inception ten months back.
BBC unveils iPad app in Europe for its TV shows
BBC, the UK based broadcaster has announced the unveiling of an app for Apple’s iPad. The app makes it possible for reviewing the BBC television shows by way of the iPad’s inbuilt iPlayer app.
It is going to be an on-demand subscription service. Western Europe will witness the app’s launch in 11 markets, ahead of subsequent launches elsewhere. Services will be offered at $10.04 per month or $71.86 annually in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, in the app’s initial launch.
Subscribers will be able to both stream and download shows for offline viewing – the major highlight of the BBC app.
