Vodafone to launch own-brand Android Smartphone (UK)
Vodafone has announced the launch of the Android OS based Vodafone Smart, the latest handset in its own-brand range. The 3G capable phone will come with Android OS version 2.2.
In addition, the phone has a zoom camera and a capacitive touchscreen as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
The Vodafone Smart will be rolled out in a range of colours, and customers will be able to personalize their phone, creating their own one-off covers on the web.
The homescreen comes pre-loaded with direct links to key content and features including Facebook, Twitter, email, Vodafone’s ‘Prepay Manager’ for quick top-ups, Vodafone Music and finally the ‘Updates’ widget, which gives customers access to a shortlist of leading Android Market apps and other services selected by local Vodafone editors.
The Vodafone Smart will be available across the Vodafone footprint by early summer. Germany, Italy and the UK will be among the first to sell the phone which will retail for around US$127.
PosteMobile offers 20% more for each top-up (Italy)
MVNO PosteMobile has introduced the “+20% more Top-up” offer which provides a bonus credit equal to 20 percent of the amount added for every top-up .
The promotion is aimed at all new customers who combine their SIM to a BancoPosta payment instrument (the current account, the PostePay or the CartaSi credit card) and make the top-up by using the PosteMobile menu.
Free top-ups are valid up to a threshold of US$846. The promotion remains active for 12 months from the association of the SIM with one of the means of payment.
PosteMobile offer mobile payments for train tickets (Italy)
MVNO PosteMobile and railway company Trenitalia have signed an agreement, enabling customers to book for train tickets online and pay with their mobile phones.
PosteMobile customers who have linked their SIM to the BancoPosta or Postepay account, will be able to use their phone as a payment channel.
After booking a ticket on the Trenitalia site with the “Postoclick” service and filling in the web form, the client will receive an SMS with booking data and will be able to validate the transaction by entering the personal security code on the mobile phone.
The cost of the train ticket will be charged on the payment device associated with the SIM, while the operation costs only US$0.14.
TIM Italia introduces TIM x Smartphone offer
TIM Italia has launched the TIM x Smartphone, an offer that allows clients to browse the internet, communicate with instant messaging and send and receive email at US$3 a week.
All TIM customers who activate the option by May 21 get the first two weeks free. This promotion is reserved for customers with the top-up SIM.
The offer is automatically renewed every seven days, but it can be disabled at any time and without cost. Customers can send up to 2,000 IM per day. Internet access should be done directly via a default access point (wap.tim.it, ibox.tim.it for the iPhone and blackberry.net for BlackBerry).
The phone cannot be used as a data modem or for the use of VoIP and P2P applications.
Vodafone Italia offers “Bring a Friend” ad campaign
Vodafone Italia has introduced the new advertising campaign “Bring a Friend to Vodafone”, featuring Francesco Totti and Ilary Blasi.
All those who convince friends and acquaintances to switch to Vodafone Italia while keeping their phone number will be reimbursed according to the size of national phone calls made.
Customers with the SIM pack could get a refund of US$13 for every US$13 of national calls for six months and a maximum of US$252 per month.
Customers with a post-paid SIM have 50 minutes of free calls per month to all phone numbers. New customers who choose a SIM top-up can double their top-ups for 6 months and up to a maximum of US$1408.
Telecom Italia buys 200 retail stores
Telecom Italia has signed an agreement with the BS Investimenti IV Fund, BS Private Equity and other private shareholders for the acquisition, worth US$11.70 million, of 71 percent of the share capital of 4G Holding.
The company is the parent of the largest Italian retailer specialising in the field of telephony, with about 200 stores located in major national shopping malls, of which 150 are already operating as a franchise for TIM.
The remaining share of 29 percent will continue to be the property Gir, a company controlled by the current CEO who will remain in that position. Last year the 4GH group’s revenues totalled about US$198 million.
HTC Flyer tablet hits major European markets
HTC has announced that the new HTC Flyer tablet is now available across major markets in the EMEA region from 13 May.
The device is available as a Wi-Fi only or a combined 3G/Wi-Fi model, and will also be available to buy in store and online from the HTC.com website.
The combined 3G and Wi-Fi HTC Flyer features 32 GB of onboard memory which can be expanded with a microSD card of up to 32 GB and will retail at US$914.89.
A second variant will be available for US$704 with Wi-Fi connectivity only and expandable 16GB memory.
From 13 May, the device will be available in the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
Turin publishes $2.11 million Smart Technology tender (Italy)
The Torino Wireless Foundation and the Department for Innovation and Research of the Piedmont Region have published the ‘Smart Technology’ tender worthUS$2.11 million, with the goal of supporting ICT companies in the region.
The resources are aimed at supporting the introduction of innovation initiatives, especially in the area of Digital Smart Factories (interaction with robotic systems, simulation tools, wireless communication systems, etc.), Smart Metering and Smart Building (intelligent lighting, heating and air conditioning, etc.).
The recipients are small and medium-sized enterprises based in Piedmont for at least 12 months after publication of the notice, and research institutions in Piedmont. Applications for funding must be submitted by July 6.
Nokia Italia introduces apps at Rimini Wellness Fitness
Nokia Italia is taking part at the Rimin Wellness, an event taking place in Rimini in the weekend of 14-15 May, and dedicated to sports enthusiasts and anyone wishing to keep fit.
The mobile phone company will present a number of applications for its smartphones in the name of physical fitness and fun (Angry Birds, Elio ti Guida, etc.).
It will also promote during the event its flagship Nokia C5-03, as well as accessories and a bicycle charger kit. Visitors can browse the internet via Wi-Fi and test fitness applications on the Nokia phones.
Italy ends Q1 with 34.4 million internet users
Recent research has shown that Italy had recorded 34.4 million home, office or mobile internet users at the end of the first quarter, amounting to 71.5 percent of the population.
The figure for March represents an increase of 7 percent from the year before. Primary access to the internet is still from home, with 60.5 percent of households connected to the web.
Access from smartphones grew by 50.5 percent compared to March 2010.
