EU’s Cyber-security Agency Highlights Risks & Opportunities of Smartphones
A report by Europe’s Network and Information Security Agency has warned of the security risks that could occur from the increased use of smartphones by business and government employees.
“Given the growing importance of smartphones for EU businesses, governments and citizens, we consider it essential to assess their security and privacy implications,” says Prof. Dr.Udo Helmbrecht, Executive Director of ENISA.
Some of the key risks identified by the Agency include the accidental leakage of sensitive data -e.g. through GPS data attached to images; Data theft by malicious apps and from stolen, lost or decommissioned phones; and the potential overload of network infrastructure by smartphone applications.
In terms of opportunities, backup is often very well integrated into smartphone platforms, making it easy to recover data if the phone is lost or stolen. Another opportunity lies in the use of app-stores: “Most smartphone users only install 3rd party software through controlled software distribution channels,” says Dr. Marnix Dekker, co-author of the report.
The most important result of the report is a comprehensive set of strategies for securing smartphones. “Smartphones are a goldmine of sensitive and personal information – it’s vital to understand how to maintain our control over this data. We’ve designed our recommendations to plug into a typical security policy,” says Dr. Giles Hogben, co-author of the report.
The full report can be downloaded from http://enisa.europa.eu/smartphonesecurity/
TD-SCDMA, China and GSM Lead RF Power Amplifier and Device Markets
Rapid Chinese TD-SCDMA rollouts and the often-maligned GSM/GPRS/EDGE equipment markets have benefited the base station RF power amplifier and RF power device markets. GSM/GPRS/EDGE RFPAs and devices are still shipping in the millions.
The Asia-Pacific region is presently accounting for more than 50% of the RF power semiconductor devices sold into the mobile wireless infrastructure segment. According to research director Lance Wilson, recent Chinese TD-SCDMA base station deployments have been massive, and have buoyed RF power vendors to a tremendous degree. The demand is expected to strengthen the market until at least sometime in 2011, and the Chinese deployments will probably only start to slow in 2012.
Wilson added that although LTE has not significantly impacted RF power amplifier and device sales in the near term, it is going to bolster RF power sales in the wireless infrastructure space from about 2011 on.
Wilson also notes that since the previous edition of ABI Research’s report on this market, there have been some modest changes in the breakdown of market share held by the leading RF power device vendors.
T-Mobile UK Hope to initiate Android 2.2 launch for Samsung Galaxy S
T-Mobile UK’s Samsung Galaxy S will soon be seen loaded with Froyo today. The reason for the uncertainty, however, seems to be in the delivery method.
As per reports, T-Mobile UK wants to deliver the update over-the-air rather than through Samsung’s much-maligned KIES software, but company is not sure whether they will be successful.
According to the company, their goal is to make the update process smoother and they are working to become the only mobile operator offering FOTA (Firmware over the Air) updates for the Samsung product range. The aim was and still is to have the FOTA update available at some point today. If for reasons out with their control they are unable to have a FOTA update process fully functioning by close of play today, then they will make the update available for download via Samsung KIES today.
Wateen Telecom CEO Tariq Malik resigns (Pakistan)
Tariq Malik, CEO of Wateen Telecom is resigning from the company as he wants to focus on his entrepreneurial ventures.
Tariq Malik had resigned earlier this year, however, at that time Wateen’s board of directors urged him to stay with the company.
Wateen confirmed that Mr. Malik’s resignation has been approved by the board of directors now. According to Wateen’s spokesperson, company is looking for new chief; however no name has been finalized so far. The name for new CEO will be made public very soon.
Telkom SA 1H EPS falls 5.3%
South African telecommunications company Telkom’s normalized headline earnings per share from continuing operations decreased by 5.3% to 265.7 cents for the six months ended September.
Normalized basic earnings per share from continuing operations decreased 6.8% to 260.2 cents per share.
According to the company, revenue declined 5.4% to US$2.50 billion. Voice revenue decreased 19% to US$980.35 million and data revenue increased 15% to US$795.64. ADSL subscribers increased 16% to 699,368.
Five African Countries Agree to synchronize Radio Spectrum Policy
Five African countries – Benin, Burkina, Mali, Niger and Chad – have reportedly signed an agreement to coordinate the management of radio spectrum. The agreement particularly provides a settlement process for spectrum use along national borders where interference can be at its worst.
As per the caretaker Chairman of the Niger national regulation Council, Pereira Charafadine, though the spectrum of radio-electric frequencies is reusable, it is a limited source that needs to be soundly managed.
He added that these five countries seek to jointly endorse and sign a document on the coordination and sharing of frequencies at their common borders, in line with the Article 6 of the Telecommunication Regulations stated by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
France Telecom plans to expand mobile payment service in Africa
France Telecom is planning to expand its mobile payment services across Africa, as part of a wider plan to double revenue in Africa and the Middle East over the next five years.
According to the company, it has teamed up with Equity Bank Ltd to launch Orange Money in Kenya, after having launched the service in Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal. Mobile payment services offer an enormous potential in Africa, where less than 10% of the population has a bank account, while almost half of the population has a mobile phone.
According to Marc Rennard, Executive Vice-President in charge of Africa, Middle East and Asia, France Telecom wants to expand such services into other African markets in 2011 in partnership with banks and aims to double the amount of Orange Money clients to around two million by next summer from one million at the end of November.
The company has also announced that it will open a new center to focus on the development of new products and services in Abidjan, Ivory Coast by the end of the year.
As per Rennard, at the end of this year, France Telecom aims to have around US$5.51 billion of revenue in emerging markets, up from US$4.68 billion in 2009.
Zantel increases Coverage with National Roaming Deal (Tanzania)
Zantel, a Tanzania based mobile network has announced a national roaming deal with Zain Tanzania that will expand its network by 236 base stations, a move that has connected its services to approximately every village in the country.
According to Zantel acting Chief Commercial Officer Nitish Malik, this extension has been made possible through an agreement Zantel has signed with Zain Tanzania to roam on its network. The new sites are in areas that Zain has exclusive network coverage. The network expansion was an ongoing exercise aimed at bringing services closer to the customers. The company has invested over US$140 million in the past two years to expand the network coverage in mainland Tanzania to ensure that the company is extending the presence and continue to grow business in untapped areas.
UAE based Etisalat is the majority shareholder in Zantel with 51% stake.
Senegal awards 4th mobile license to Globalcom
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Mobile operator’s license in Senegal has been issued to Nigeria-based Globalcom (Glo Mobile) and it is the fourth to be awarded in the West African country. The concession will allow Globacom to land its Glo 1 trans-Atlantic submarine cable in Senegal, with opportunities to extend the infrastructure to Mali.
According to Nigerian firm’s chairman Mike Adenuga Jr, the license would enable the telco to offer ‘world class telecommunications services’ to the government and people of Senegal. It will continue to play a major role in stimulating a new era of prosperity in the sub-continent and build facilities that will offer Africa advanced telecoms services such as teleconferencing, distance learning, disaster recovery, telemedicine, on-line diagnosis and video conferencing during surgery and research.
The operator holds working license in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic and Cote d’Ivoire but has threatened to exit the Ghanaian market citing sabotage as the reason.
Orange launches Mobile Money service in Madagascar
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The mobile payment service of Orange has been launched by the company under the brand name Orange Money in Madagascar in early May. Banque Malgache de l’Ocean Indien (BMOI) and post office Paositra Malagasy (PAOMA) are the two partners of the telco in this project.
Mobile customers will be allowed to deposit, withdraw and transfer money, to easily buy call credit, to pay for goods at certain retail partners and to pay bills, through this service. Orange Money has been introduced by the telco to two West African countries in the last few weeks, Senegal and Mali after studying customer needs in each market, with the intention of developing additional, more advanced mobile payment services such as international money transfers.
Local banks with which the telco has signed a partnership deal will be responsible for issuing and guaranteeing the electronic money.
