Vodafone UK launches marketing campaign to drive mobile internet usage (UK)
Vodafone UK has launched a new marketing campaign worth $3.2 million in an attempt to increase mobile internet usage. According to reports, the campaign targets both postpaid as well as prepaid segments and focuses on the simple services that help improve a user’s daily life.
The campaign reportedly features four service elements which include Vodafone’s unlimited data offer for the first three months on new contract plans; a service that transfers customers’ contacts and media on to their new phones; the Buyback scheme allowing customers to trade in their old phones; and the Sure Signal, that enables customers to boost the mobile signal in their homes. According to industry reports, as much as half of the population in UK owns a smartphone, which is beneficial for mobile operators as date services generate higher margins as compared to regular phones and voice plans.
Telenor Hungary offers voucher option for internet payments
Telenor Hungary announced that Telenor and djuice non-business customers can now use internet vouchers to pay for mobile internet and other services.
Telenor and djuice accept Sodexo Pass and Endenred Ticket Web internet vouchers from consumers wishing to pay for mobile internet. Vouchers received from employers can be used to settle mobile internet tariffs and service fees (monthly fee, excess usage charge) even if these costs are included in the same invoice letter as the voice services.
Telefonica and Claro spice up Costa Rican telecom market
A new research report has revealed that state-owned ICE faces important challenges and opportunities as a result of the recent liberalization and entry of new competitors into Costa Rica’s mobile market.
By the end of 2010, the majority of markets in Latin America saw population penetration exceeding 100%. Against that backdrop, Costa Rica offers America Movil (Claro) and Telefonica the opportunity to close a 30 point penetration gap, with advantageous economies of scale coming from several operations in the region.
In addition, Costa Rica has a very small prepaid base (less than 30 percent of the total) and is in the early stages of the democratization of mobile data services, such as mobile Internet and mobile broadband.
The price paid by Telefonica and Claro for mobile licenses is consistent with what we have seen in other auctions in Central America, and suggests that both operators will seek a significant share of the market over the coming years to challenge current incumbent ICE.
The outcome of the auction will result in mobile penetration exceeding 130% by 2015, mostly driven by prepaid subscriptions and mobile broadband. By the same token, researcher anticipates a rapid migration in the mid- to high-end base toward mobile Internet subscriptions, thus increasing the share of mobile data services over total telecom revenue.
Mobile Operators Profitability Challenged Within Three Years
A study has found that profitability could become extremely challenging for some mobile operators within three years. The mobile Internet is forcing operators to transform their networks and business models.
Without rethinking the design and capabilities of their networks, costs will surpass revenues for many operators in: North America by Q4 2013. In some cases this could happen as early as Q1 2013; Developed Asia Pacific by Q3 2014. In some cases this could happen as early as Q3 2013; and Western Europe by Q1 2015. In some cases this could happen as early as Q1 2014.
The study puts timescales on an issue that has concerned operators since users began embracing the mobile Internet. Traditional ways of handling dramatic traffic growth are expensive. Meanwhile competition has increased pressure on revenues.
Mobile operators can spend themselves into a hole well before users run out of hunger for capacity. The study shows that simply adding capacity or ‘dumb pipes’ is an unsustainable business. To avoid the ‘end of profit,’ operators must bring intelligence to their networks – it’s critical to carrier survival.
It’s challenging for mobile operators to sustain a business model based on bandwidth alone. Adding intelligence to the network adds revenue, improves business fundamentals and enables a more profitable business.
To provide critical intelligence for operators to survive and prosper, we’re introducing a new smart mobile backhaul solution and an improved smart mobile packet core platform.
Network intelligence encompasses many variables in carrier networks. Powerful analytics enable smart networks to deliver the right bandwidth to the right users at the right time. Intelligence brings new traffic management efficiencies, new business models and new revenue streams. Intelligence will reverse the trend of declining carrier profits.
Lenovo unveils Mobile Internet Devices Division
Lenovo has established a new business group, the Mobile Internet and Digital Home Business Group (MIDH), responsible for creating mobile Internet-focused devices, including tablets and smartphones, as well as devices for new categories like cloud computing, smart TV and the digital home.
Liu Jun, formerly senior vice president and president of Lenovo’s Product Group, will lead the new group as president. He is based at the company’s China headquarters in Beijing. The company has promoted Peter Hortensius, formerly head of its Think Product Group, to president of its Product Group. He is based at Lenovo’s USA headquarters.
According to Yang Yuanqing, Chief Executive Officer, Lenovo recognizes the tremendous growth potential of the mobile internet, as well as that of new categories like cloud computing and smart TV, and so they are putting the focus and investments in place to fully capitalize on these opportunities to drive growth in their business today and for many years to come. The Mobile Internet and Digital Home Business Group will help us leverage their leadership in the PC arena to create a rich portfolio of Internet-centric devices. At the same time, they will use their creativity, innovation and technical prowess to help their customers navigate the future of personal technology worldwide.
Lenovo launched the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid (a combination of a slate and laptop) and the LePad slate at the recent International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
China Telecom to increase 3G mobile Internet
Wang Xiaochu, Chairman and CEO of China Telecom Corporation states that the company aims to increase the number of its 3G users to 35 million this year, and claims10 million of them could be 3G smart phone users.
The company did not reveal the exact number of current 3G users, but industry analysts’ believes that the figure probably surpassed 11 million by the end of last year.
The number of China Telecom subscribers reached 93 million by the end of 2010, an increase of 34 million from the previous year.
According to CEO, they expect China Telecom will have more than 100 million subscribers by the first quarter of this year. The number of newly added mobile phone users will surpass that of 2010. During the past two years, especially in 2010, they saw a breakthrough in the CDMA chain. They broke the bottleneck of insufficient numbers of handset.
He added that the company provided 800 CDMA device models in 2010 and terminal sales rose 50% to more than 45 million units. Domestic demand for CDMA terminals is expected to surpass 60 million this year, and more than half of those will be 3G phones.
He suggested mobile phone manufacturers should step up production of 3G smartphones, especially those handsets with a price range of between US$106 to US$303.81, which are most popular smartphone models in China. China Telecom also wants to bring ‘Made-in-China’ handsets to overseas CDMA operators.
China Telecom’s 3G network has the most extensive coverage among the three domestic carriers, with full coverage at county level since 2009. Meanwhile, 77 percent of villages and towns across China can use China Telecom’s 3G services.
Spice i2i appoints Dilip Modi as the new Executive VC (India)
Spice Group firm Spice i2i has appointed Dilip Modi as the Executive Vice Chairman of the company.
Dilip Modi is the son of BK Modi, who is the promoter of Spice Group. The board has also appointed Dato Eric Chuah as the Managing Director of the company, which will be effective from October 1. Chuah would focus on the mobile device business and thus help the company grow in Asia, India and the rest of the world.
Dilip Modi is also the Managing Director of Spice Mobility in India, the holding company of the business in the mobility ecosystem, including mobility devices, mobility & digital lifestyle retail and mobility value added services and applications.
According to B K Modi, Spice Group Global Chairman, Spice i2i will continuously innovate to create infinite possibilities for the future, constantly creating value in mobile internet, communication and entertainment space.
Maneesh Tripathi would continue to be the Chief Executive Officer of the Spice i2i Group of companies and KTS and Anand will continue working as the Chief Financial Officer.
Spice i2i offers voice, data and computing services with a leading edge in mobile Voice over Internet Protocol technology. The company is also listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
3UK to launch new options on PAYG
3UK a wireless carrier has announced a new options on its Pay As You Go (PAYG) offering, which will include the launch of a new plan for its customers. It is offering a new market plan that connects the value of contract with the flexibility of PAYG and makes mobile internet quicker, easier and more accessible for everyone.
According to the company, the customers can now enjoy more services with the nominal amount of US$ 15, which will include 3,000 texts, 100 minutes and 500MB.
It gives the impression that users are offered with the possibility to change the credit on their phone to the add-on they believe is useful for them.
According to William Ripley, Director of Voice at Three, all in one gives the PAYG customers marketing beating value for just US$15. Easy access mobile internet is at the core of this PAYG offering. Every top up on PAYG automatically gives customers 150MB worth of internet usage. That’s enough to browse 10,000 BBC.co.uk pages, 15,000 Facebook pages, search Google Maps 300 times or watch 2.5 hours of YouTube around 250 clips.
The company also declared the launch of lower international calling rates on PAYG for a number of twelve of the most popular countries for customer’s calling friends and family abroad.
The customers who make the calls to the international numbers will be able to make the call at the price of just 2p a minute. All the users need to do is add a 3-digit code in front of the international landline or mobile number.
According to Ripley, the All in One was built to give the PAYG customers the freedom to use their phone and tariff in the way they want to. The company’s range of smart phones, strong 3G network and now the competitive All in One plan means that the PAYG customers will enjoy the same great mobile Internet experiences as contract customers.
