NZ telecom operators to offer mobile money services (New Zealand)
In an attempt to provide mobile money services to mobile phone customers in New Zealand, mobile operators Paymark, Vodafone New Zealand, 2degrees and Telecom have come together to launch a common platform. According to reports, the new initiative will enable mobile phone users in the country to purchase goods and pay for utilities, using their mobile phone.
The new service makes use of the near-field communication (NFC) technology. A NFC chip is inserted into the smartphone using which users can transfer information from one device to another, by keeping them close together.
According to reports, the companies have said that they will form a joint venture and launch a trusted service manager (TSM) for mobile wallet services. In a statement they said that this initiative will create the infrastructure necessary to enable many of the cards held in a wallet today to be replaced by applications securely stored in a virtual wallet on a mobile phone.
Vodafone to launch ‘Vodafone Guardian’ app (UK)
Mobile phone operator Vodafone has come out with a new parental control service allowing parents to monitor and restrict unwanted content and misuse of the mobile phone by children. According to reports, the new service to be titled ‘Vodafone Guardian’ will enable parents to blacklist certain numbers, transfer unwanted texts to a secured folder as well as set up an approved list for outgoing calls.
Further, sources claim that the new application would also enable parents to restrict internet use as well as manage access to the phone’s camera. With a large number of children owning a smartphone and spending a lot of time surfing the internet, parents have often raised concerns regarding the content being viewed.
The app will reportedly be free of charge and will be made available in a week’s time in the UK along with Egypt, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Further, Vodafone also plans to launch the app in Italy and Spain under the name ‘Smart Tutor’.
Vodafone to provide 3G services to Sony’s PlayStation Vita (Europe, Australia, New Zealand)
Vodafone PLC, a London based global telecommunications company, has reportedly signed a deal with Sony to provide 3G services for its PlayStation Vita in various regions of Europe along with Australia and New Zealand. According to reports, the 3G enabled Vita devices will include a Vodafone SIM, and will be made available in all Sony stores. Further, it has been reported that while Vodafone is not the sole provider of 3G services, it will be given preference over the others.
As per sources, Sony has said that the data plans will be flexible so as to meet the needs of all its users and also partnering with Vodafone will enable PS Vita users in the selected countries to always be connected with their PlayStation life, friends and games, wherever they are. Reports suggest that the Vita devices are expected to be launched in February 2012.
New Chorus executive team announced in the event of demerger (New Zealand)
Chorus, New Zealand’s largest telecommunications utility provider announced its new executive team in the event that the shareholders approve of its demerger from Telecom Corp. of New Zealand. The demerger follows the deal made by the New Zealand government with Telecom to build the majority of the new nationwide US $2.5 billion fiber network. Chorus will own and operate the entire copper network and most of the fibre, and will be responsible to build the network.
Mark Ratcliffe, CEO Chorus, announced the appointments to the new Chorus executive team. Brian Hall, has been appointed as Financial Controller and will also act as CFO till an appointment has been made. Ed Beattie will be responsible for managing the performance of new Chorus fibre and copper network and maintaining its portfolio of network assets. Chris Dyhrberg will be responsible for network investment, planning, capital management and the roll out of the ultra-fast broadband and rural broadband initiatives. Ewen Powell will be responsible for technology and enterprise infrastructure and managing the systems platforms to deliver business and customer operations. Telecom plans to demerge Chorus by the end of 2011.
Vodafone New Zealand signs multi-million dollar contract with Pacific Fibre (New Zealand)
Mobile operator Vodafone New Zealand, a unit of the Vodafone Group PLC has entered into a contract with Aukland based private company Pacific Fibre to supply international bandwidth connecting Sydney (Australia) and Aukland (New Zealand) with Los Angeles (USA). Currently, New Zealand’s connection relies solely on Southern Cross cable allowing the owners Telecom NZ, SingTel Optus and Verizon Business to differentiate prices for retailers. Pacific Fibre aims to provide a solution for the increasing demand for international connectivity by building two subsea cables with a combined length of 12,750 kilometers by 2014.
As per reports, the 10 year multi-million dollar deal will make Vodafone the largest New Zealand customer for Pacific Fibre, who has also signed a deal with the New Zealand government company, Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Ltd. (REANNZ).
According to reports, Mark Rushworth, Pacific Fibre CEO says that foundation customers such as Vodafone and REANNZ have championed the cause of ensuring international bandwidth competition. Their commitment will help break the monopoly on capacity pricing into and out of New Zealand by have a direct impact on bringing faster service and better rates to the region.
Vodafone braces up for next year’s spectrum auction in the 700 MHz band (New Zealand)
Vodafone New Zealand has made known its expectations in view of the upcoming spectrum auction in the 700 MHz band. According to Vodafone head of corporate affairs, Tom Chignell, the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) is apparently laying the groundwork to release its preliminary plans later this month while the auction is slated for next year.
The radio spectrum is being released as part of the digital dividend, in the wake of the closing down of analogue television services.
As per Chignell, the 700MHz band has 45MHz (paired), in addition to a critical policy setting that will likely act as the spectrum cap. Apparently, the head of corporate affairs wants the cap set at a maximum block of 20MHz, although that would potentially leave just two out of the country’s three networks with enough spectrum for a nationwide LTE network.
According to sources, Chignell expects the 700MHz auction to bring in a net amount of between $127.85 million to $170.46 million for the government.
Vodafone and Telecom NZ patch up with regard to rural subsidy lawsuits (New Zealand)
Vodafone and Telecom NZ happen to be the biggest telcos operating in New Zealand. The two companies have arrived at a resolution with regard to a long running dispute over the fees paid under the previous Telecommunications Service Obligation (TSO) regime. Earlier, Vodafone had deemed the fees it had obliged to pay to Telecom NZ as required by the TSO – the body that provides subsidized telecoms services in rural areas – too high.
However, the terms agreed upon by the two telcos as part of the settlement have not been revealed; stands to close the dispute in the attendance of both the Supreme Court and the High Court by way of a full and final settlement of all claims between Telecom NZ and Vodafone with regard to TSO related issues.
According to Telecom group general counsel Tristan Gilbertson, this settlement draws a line under a long-running, protracted legal process. In addition, the TSO funding regime has been replaced with a new arrangement for the funding of rural telecommunications services, and Telecom and Vodafone have recently embarked on a joint programme to greatly enhance broadband delivery across rural New Zealand.
The Commerce Commission and Supreme Court have been apprised of the settlement between Telecom NZ and Vodafone.
Vodafone admits in court to have misled customers (New Zealand)
Vodafone New Zealand has admitted to have misled customers by way of pleading guilty in court with regard to charges applied for mobile internet services access. The operator now stands to face a fine that could run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to Vodafone’s lawyer Bruce Gray QC, they have pleaded guilty to the charges and apologized to customers and the court, as a representative of the public.
Vodafone is put on trial by the New Zealand Commerce Commission on five breaches of the Fair Trading Act. The mobile operator is charged of misleading customers with regard to the cost of using its Vodafone Live mobile internet service between May 2007 and July 2008.
The court was appraised of the fact that Vodafone had duped customers into believing that they were accessing services via the Vodafone Live portal for free. Instead, customers were redirected to independent mobile websites that charged them.
Alcatel-Lucent allocates funds in view of network costs (New Zealand)
With an eye on a potential loss amounting to $22.5 million as a result of the 3G network problems, Alcatel-Lucent’s subsidiary based in New Zealand has apparently, set aside funds. The 3G network was built for Telecom NZ that had experienced a series of critical network failures.
For the year 2011, the company is understood to have taken a $10.3 million provision, in addition to another $12.2 million for the future, according to sources.
Early the preceding year, the WCDMA based network commissioned to the company had been a subject of a string of serious network failures. The failures were attributed to a lack of Radio Network Controller’s in the network and capacity restrictions elsewhere.
Eventually, Telecom NZ’s CTO had resigned, in addition to a number of local managers at Alcatel-Lucent.
Telecom New Zealand set to phase out its CDMA network
It has been confirmed by the Telecom New Zealand that its CDMA mobile network will be shut down as on 31 July, 2012. Previously, statements have been issued that the network in question will be available until the middle of 2012.
The WCDMA based “XT network” was launched in 2009. Ever since, Telecom New Zealand has asserted that it would phase out the CDMA network around middle of 2012. The CDMA network is expected to continue function as normal till that point. However, once the network has been closed, devices will not be able to make or receive calls, texts, or use data.
According to Telecom Retail CEO, Alan Gourdie, they are committed to providing a smooth and straightforward transition for CDMA customers to move to the XT network well in advance of its closure.
CDMA customers will also be able to keep their phone number, their contacts and any existing credit when they sign up to XT.
In a bid to assist customers, a range of XT handsets have been developed, offered exclusively for CDMA customers, a number of which cost $0 upfront. These offers are also known to be supported by a range of attractive plans.
Gen-i is also known to be working with its clients to make sure that they know in advance, what options they have prior to the closure of the CDMA network. Business clients will be required to get in touch with their Gen-i client manager for further information.
