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.
EU member states served notice to expedite implementation of new telecom regulations
25th May 2011 was the deadline set by the European Parliament and the EU’s Council of Ministers for the member states of the European Commission for full implementation of the new EU telecoms rules as part of their national law. Twenty of the EU member states have been sent information requests as to why they have not yet reverted with regard to the stipulated implementation of the telecoms rules.
Under the EU infringement procedures, the information requests are equivalent to letters of formal notice.
Under the ambit of the new EU telecoms rules, phones, mobile services and internet are taken into account with regard to rights of the consumers and businesses. The highlights of these rights comprise of customers being empowered to switch telecoms operators in just one day without changing their phone number, more transparency regarding the services customers are offered, in addition to securing their personal data online.
So far only seven Member States namely Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK have confirmed the Commission of full implementation of the rules; a majority of the EU member states having notified the Commission of implementation to certain extents while the legislative processes are continuing.
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain constitute the twenty other Member States that are yet to respond to the letters of formal notice within two months, failing which or even not being convincing, the Commission stands to issue the concerned Member States, a formal request to implement the legislation. The second request will be the form of a ‘reasoned opinion’ under EU infringement procedures. Eventually, the matter will be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
TeliaSonera comes on board the M2M cooperation agreement to join France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom
With TeliaSonera’s joining the initial alliance inked by France Telecom-Orange and Deutsche Telekom with regard to Machine to Machine (M2M) services, it represents the expansion of the growing cooperation among operators.
France, Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg were brought under their coverage when the seed agreement was ratified, the first time by France Telecom-Orange and Deutsche Telekom in February 2011. Ever since, the Netherlands and the UK were also covered under the purview of this alliance as result of more operators joining in.
Presently, the footprint of the M2M cooperation agreement will include TeliaSonera’s geographical reach as well, represented by Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia and Lithuania.
Apparently, this multi-lateral alliance stands to enhance roaming services across countries where the stake holders operate, characterized by improved service quality as opposed to the initial services offered based on bi-lateral roaming agreements, concentrated within single markets.
The troubleshooting capability that the joined forces of France Telecom-Orange, Deutsche Telekom and TeliaSonera stand to muster is being seen as a key attribute of the agreement; expected to ensure quality roaming services to customers.
Tyntec appoints Dose as VP of finance
Mobile interaction services provider tyntec has appointed Jochen Dose as its Vice President (VP) Finance. Dose joins tyntec’s management team from retail group Primondo and has held a range of senior finance roles.
This appointment is tyntec’s first VP of finance and represents a major step in the development of the business. Dose has been appointed as tyntec continues its rapid growth and global expansion. The company was founded in 2002 and grew to 140 employees today with offices in UK, Germany and Singapore with more than 500 international customers. His role will be to oversee this growth and to put in place financial processes to help optimise the business’ performance as it expands into a major global enterprise.
Prior to joining tyntec Jochen has held a number of senior finance roles in the retail and finance sectors. He was previously Head of Finance for Primondo GmbH, the holding company for the German mail-order giant Quelle and Home Shopping Europe, a sub-group of Arcandor AG. Jochen also acted as Head of Treasury at Home Shopping Europe and Head of Finance at HOT Networks. Prior to this he held several positions at different branches of IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG in Germany and Luxembourg.
Michael Kowalzik, CEO, tyntec, said: “The appointment of our first VP Finance is a sign of our continued growth. We’re now at a stage where we need the highest level of financial insight and planning and Jochen brings with him the international experience to put these processes in place.”
Jochen Dose, VP Finance, tyntec, said: “This is a really exciting time to be joining tyntec – they’re at a pivotal moment in their company development and they’ve got a strong technology and product leadership position. I look forward to move the company to the next level and develop a framework which ensures accounting, controlling and finance are scalable and at the same time to provide an environment which fosters growth.”
About tyntec:
tyntec is a global mobile interaction service provider, offering high-quality mobile messaging and information services to mobile network operators, enterprises, mobile service providers and internet companies.
tyntec offers its customers a unique level of quality in 2-way SMS interaction services. This promise is based on the company’s pioneering service level agreements (SLAs) and end-to-end security of message transmission. tyntec enables its customers to reach more than 90% of global mobile subscribers and offers a 15-second SMS delivery guarantee, real-time delivery notifications of all messages and a no-message loss policy.
Founded in 2002, the company has 140 employees in offices in the UK, Germany and Singapore.
208 operators in 80 countries currently investing in LTE- Report
A recent report by Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has revealed that around 208 operators are now investing in LTE, which is 98 operators more than in June 2010.
According to the report, the number of countries and territories where LTE systems are deployed or planned has increased by 32 in the same period.
The report confirms 154 firm LTE network deployments are in progress or planned in 60 countries, including 20 networks which have commercially launched. A further 54 operators in 20 more countries are engaged in LTE technology pilot trials or tests.
Taken together, it means that 208 operators in 80 countries are now investing in LTE. The report covers both LTE FDD and LTE TDD systems. The 60 countries and territories having firm LTE network commitments are Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong S.A.R., Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore , South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, UAE, UK, Uruguay, USA, and Uzbekistan.
LTE networks are launched in 14 countries, namely Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, USA, and Uzbekistan. GSA forecasts that at least 81 LTE networks will be in commercial service by end-2012.
Tango Q1 sales grow by 5.2% (Luxembourg)
Tango has reported US$27 million of revenue in the first quarter, up 5.2 percent on US$27 million in the year-earlier period.
This growth was driven by the residential, rather than enterprise business, and comes in an economic environment still in the doldrums with a continual fall in roaming revenues.
The operator attributed its performance to strong iPhone and smartphone sales, ongoing migration of prepaid mobile customers to postpaid and increased service options for consumers.
The operator adds that postpaid customer growth was boosted by the successful take-up of the Tango Complet triple-play service.
Tango’s average mobile ARPU surged by 14.5 percent to US$29 a month between 1 January and 31 March, compared to US$25 a month for the first three months of 2010. (The operator’s ARPU excludes revenues from inbound roaming, mobile phone and accessory sales, and transfers between group divisions). The overall number of active customers decreased by 3.1 percent to 262,254.
According to CEO Didier Rouma, Tango would pursue its growth strategy over the the next few months, taking into account the government’s broadband plan and the rapid instauration of effective regulation to support it.
Mobile Vikings slashes data roaming prices (Belgium)
MVNO Mobile Vikings has reduced the cost of data roaming in 14 countries.
Customers will now pay US$0.74 per MB when abroad. The new tariff is valid in Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands, UK, US and Belgium.
The new rate applies automatically.
Sony Ericsson names Mignot as Chief for France, Belgium, Luxembourg
Sony Ericsson has named David Mignot as Managing Director of Sony Ericsson France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
Mignot, who was previously the regional marketing director for the countries, stated that one of his objectives was to steer Sony Ericsson France to winning a 15% smartphone market share this year. Another target for France is to sell 2 million Android phones in 2011.
He added that the company had captured a 10% share of the smartphone market of France, Belgium and Luxembourg in the last nine months. Mignot succeeds Pierre Perron, who becomes managing director for Central America, Northern Latin America and the Caribbean.
Apple confirms launch of White iPhone
Apple has confirmed that the white iPhone 4 will be available from 28 April.
White phones will be available from Apple’s online store, at Apple’s retail stores, AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.
The new colour will be available in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Macau, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, UK and the US beginning 28 April and in many more countries around the world soon.
It will sell for a suggested retail price of US$199 for the 16GB model and US$299 for the 32GB model with a new two-year agreement.
Mach names Grohol as Chief Commercial Officer (Luxembourg)
Mach has appointed Richard Grohol to the position of chief commercial officer.
Grohol will have full responsibility for all aspects of Mach’s global sales and marketing. Grohol has more than 25 years experience working for a range of blue chip technology companies.
Most recently, he was executive vice president of Worldwide Field Operations at Roamware, where he had full profit and loss responsibility for all aspects of Roamware’s field operations, including sales, pre-sales support, and professional services.
His previous roles included vice president sales, Europe at US Interactive, where he was responsible for web design and integration sales, as well as field marketing activities for the Europe region.
