Cisco completes mobile network for RCom’s 3G deployment (India)

Networking solutions provider, Cisco has completed mobile network for Reliance Communications’ 3G deployment in India. With this the company’s customers will be able to experience mobile services such as high-quality video telephony and high-speed mobile data.

According to Cisco, it has completed the mobile network for RCom that will cover 100,000 square km – the largest 3G deployment in India.

It added that with the new network, the customers of Reliance will be able to experience mobile services such as high-quality video telephony and high-speed mobile data, along with enhanced music downloads, instant messaging and online gaming.

 

Verizon to reveal tiered data plans on 28 October

If sources are to be believed, Verizon Wireless is planning to introduce a less expensive but restricted data plan for smartphone customers next week in a move that follows AT&T Inc.’s own offer of two tiers of pricing.

Verizon will offer a US$15 monthly plan that gives customers 150 MB of data starting Oct. 28. But unlike AT&T, it will keep available its US$29.99 monthly unlimited data plan.

The move is part of a broader shift by carriers to change how they charge customers for the use of Internet, email and music downloads through their mobiles. Carriers have to manage offering these data services at a fixed rate with adequate investment in the essential networks to ensure the traffic flows smoothly.

But the lower-priced data plan has also proven to be an advantage for AT&T, enticing new customers into upgrading to a smartphone. The $15 monthly charge would last throughout the life of the two-year contract.

Verizon Wireless will look at how successful the plan is before deciding whether it will extend the offer permanently, the person said. The new option is seen as a more affordable plan that can better compete with AT&T’s own tiered offering.

Verizon Wireless could also make significant changes to the plan next year once it begins offering its fourth-generation wireless services. It is scheduled to launch its 4G network in 38 markets by the end of this year, and is expected to offer different plans for the service.

Globe telecom market leads in ‘value-added’ services

Globe telecom has claimed that it has grabbed more than 50% market share in value-added services in its first six months. The company asserts to have an ‘inconsistent share’ of the country’s value-added services market. Value added services includes ringtones, music downloads and social networking services.
According to Rina Azcuna-Siongco, Globe Telecom’s value-added services head, more subscribers preferred mobile Internet handsets over personal computers, netbooks and laptops for accessing social networking sites and to avail other mobile services.
According to Globe Telecom, the availability of mobile Internet-capable devices and affordable data rates helped push the company’s value-added services revenues up. Customers are increasingly accessing the Internet using their mobile phones due to the rise of popular content and applications today. The credit for the good performance of the company goes to the ease and convenience of accessing and using these services via SMS (short messaging service) menus, the Globe WAP (wireless access protocol) portal and the Globe Web portal.
In its second-quarter report, Globe Telecom’s mobile data revenues, which accounted for 49% of total mobile service revenues in the first half, declined by 13% compared to last year.

The total subscribers increased to 24.6 million in the second quarter, up by 3% from the first quarter, but indicated a fall by 2% from last year. Postpaid subscribers increased by 8% to 909,466.

Vodafone launches new price plan to challenge T-Mobile

02 September 2006 – Vodafone has announced a new pricing structure for its monthly contract customers called ‘Your Price Plan’ and ‘Your Extras’

In an attempt to compete with T-Mobile Flex Tariff, the company has launched a flexible pricing structure based around giving its users a set amount of inclusive texts, minutes and extras.

Over the 12 months Vodafone has reportedly struggled to keep up with its competitors such at T-Mobile in attracting new customers in the UK.

T-Mobile on the other hand has reportedly attracted over 800,000 customers since March, while Orange has reorganised its tariff structure around its “Animals” campaign that pigeon-holes customers in two distinct groups such as dolphins and raccoons.

Vodafone customers who apply for the packages can choose the level of inclusive minutes, texts or data services they receive as part of a monthly contract, including mobile television and music downloads. For example, customers who opt to take an 18-month contract at £35 a month could choose to receive 750 minutes and 250 texts or alternatively 500 minutes, 500 texts and six months of free mobile television. The packages range from £20 a month to £75 a month and can be combined
with other Vodafone tariffs such as “Stop the Clock” and “Passport”.

To ensure the new pricing structure isn’t too confusing, Vodafone has said it has trained over 4,000 staff on the new price plan to help customers make the decision that is best for them.

“With Your Price Plan and Your Extras Vodafone customers will get the best choice of any contract offering on the market. We’ve paid close attention to what contract customers want and what the market is currently offering. We believe we’ve come back with something that gives value to every customer – in the way they want it,” said Tim Yates, a director at Vodafone UK.

Source- http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk

Technorati : , ,
Ice Rocket : , ,