Comba launches enhanced DAS products in North America
Comba Telecom Inc., a leading wireless enhancement solutions provider, announced the launch of its next generation of distributed antenna system (DAS) solutions for the North America market. The DAS was unveiled today at the American Conference Institute’s 4thAnnual DAS Congress held in Las Vegas, May 23-25.
The new generation of DAS supports up to 6 independent inputs: 700MHz, 850MHz, 1900MHz, 2100MHz, 700MHz MIMO, and 2100MHz MIMO in a single system and is optimally designed for ease of installation with a small footprint and sealed to weather all environmental conditions.
In addition to maintaining the customary high degree of flexibility to optimize CAPEX and OPEX, the new generation of Comba’s point-to-multipoint DAS is an RF-over-fiber solution that expands wireless network coverage and capacity through extension of cellular services from existing cell sites for both indoor and outdoor applications.
In comparison with traditional network architectures, operators deploying Comba’s DAS for new or additional networks will eliminate the need for replacing existing fiber and antenna systems. The modular nature of the DAS means that wireless network operators are able to effortlessly expand the reach of their voice and data services with multiple DAS rather than deploying additional base stations, thus allowing the system to easily accommodate growing capacity and coverage demands on the network. Therefore, the deployment of DAS can help the operator to realize efficiencies in CAPEX and OPEX compared to traditional network architecture.
Mr. David Luo, Deputy Director of Comba’s Wireless Enhancement solutions division, said, “This latest generation of DAS solutions is the result of intensive development from our California and China R&D centers. They are effective point-to-multipoint solutions that provide effective coverage enhancement from single buildings to shopping malls, sports arenas to city centers and beyond. We will continue to build on these efforts and bring more value-added offerings to our customers over the coming year.”
Mr. Augustin Chang, General Manager of Comba Telecom Inc., said, “We are delighted to bring this new iteration of DAS solutions to North America. With its commercial availability and compelling value propositions, we are optimistic of market acceptance from the general wireless network operator community.”
DAS Product Features
- Supports multi-operator, multi-system application
- Supports all major technologies GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, AWS, and LTE
- Fully compatible with both Indoor and outdoor applications
- Supports all major modulations in mixed mode with high efficiency and linear MCPA up to 40W per frequency band (tri-band DAS model)
- Compliant with 3GPP & FCC standards
- Scalable – grows with the network and extendable up to 6 bands
- Remote control facilities with web based browser over LAN
- System alerts delivered to network operations center or standard EMS system through SNMP
- Software-controlled output power
- Optical link auto gain control
- Fully sealed remote unit for maintenance-free electronics for harsh outdoor applications
Images
Company logo: http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/122
Photo: The Comba Multi-Band High Power DAS
http://release.media-outreach.com/i/Download/173
About Comba Telecom Inc.
As one of the leading wireless solution providers in the world, Comba is primarily engaged in the R&D and manufacturing of wireless enhancement products including remote radios, base station subsystems & antennas, and wireless transmission & access systems. Comba also provides complete turnkey solutions and services to its global customers. Listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Comba’s global operations include manufacturing platforms in China, R&D centers in USA and China, and over 40 offices worldwide. For further information, please visit: www.comba-telecom.com
MMA publishes ‘Guidelines and Best Practices in Mobile Price Promotions’ for N America
The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has published ‘Guidelines and Best Practices in Mobile Price Promotions’ for North America.
Created by the MMA’s Mobile Couponing Task Force, the document is designed to provide marketers, merchants, mobile carriers and other mobile marketing ecosystem members with an industry-standard standard for using mobile coupons and rebates to increase sales and promote consumer loyalty.
Mobile coupons are one type of Mobile Price Promotion, which the MMA defines as ‘electronic coupons or rebates that traverse the full redemption process without the requirement for conversion into a paper or other hard-copy format.’
Mobile Price Promotions are distributed, discovered and redeemed through a variety of mobile technologies, including SMS, MMS, mobile applications, mobile web, Bluetooth, NFC and 1D/2D barcode scanning.
‘Guidelines and Best Practices in Mobile Price Promotions’ includes five stages of mobile price promotions, such as the ways that consumers can discover and redeem coupons and rebates, and general best practices and principles, including transparency, good taste, privacy, opt-in/opt-out and government laws, rules and regulations.
The document also provides campaign-specific best practices and principles, such as those involving contests, food, pharmaceuticals and alcohol, and tips for designing coupons, using the word ‘free’ and creating notices such as terms and conditions.
Ozura World buys Tatto Media (N America)
Ozura World, a digital entertainment company has acquired Tatto Media, a North American mobile advertising network .
The transaction is worth around US$60 million.
Canada next-Gen networks to propose increased capacity (N America)
A new research report has revealed that the LTE deployments planned in coming years will give operators the necessary bandwidth to allow for more mobile data devices on networks, including smartphones, tablets and notebook/netbook connectivity devices.
The research also indicates that with a mobile penetration rate of 72%, Canada has a sizable untouched market opportunity compared with other mature markets of its size. Over 9.5 million Canadians go without mobile service. Other than subscriber growth, mobile data is the main opportunity for operators to grow revenue, the study shows.
Moving forward, continued growth in smartphones and mobile devices, such as eReaders and tablets, is expected to contribute to the growth in data ARPS, reaching nearly 40 percent of total ARPS by 2015. Canadian operators are expected to focus on FTTx and LTE rollouts over the next several years. LTE deployments planned in coming years will give operators the necessary bandwidth to allow for more mobile data devices on networks, including smartphones, tablets and notebook/netbook connectivity devices.
MobPartner Raises $3.5M from Alven Capital and Newfund
The leading mobile affiliate network MobPartner (http://web.mobpartner.com/) just closed a $3.5 million first round from Alven Capital and Newfund. This funding will enable MobPartner to accelerate its international growth.
Founded in 2008, MobPartner is a pioneer in mobile affiliate marketing. MobPartner’s platform allows advertisers to pay per a defined action such as sales (Cost per Sale), registration (Cost per Lead) or downloads (Cost per Download / Install). This is particularly pertinent for in app advertising (iOS, Android and soon WP7). Mobile site or App publishers (“affiliates”) are paid directly depending on their business performance.
To date, MobPartner deals with hundreds of advertisers and more than 100,000 affiliates worldwide, out of which the most successful earn tens of thousands of dollars per month. The platform has generated more than 2 million transactions since the launch , exclusively on mobile phones. These results establish MobPartner as a key player in the mobile marketing space.
For Vianney Settini, CEO of MobPartner, “the calibre of our investors shows that our initial decisions to create this new market were correct. This funding will allow us to accelerate on an international scale. On the one hand, we will consolidate our presence in Europe and North America and on the other hand, MobPartner will strengthen its presence in emerging markets:Asia, Africa, Latin America, where mobile phone is the main internet access mode.”
Jeremy Uzan, investor at Alven Capital says: “We have been impressed by MobPartner’s ambition and ability to roll-out its model across the five continents. The platform besides being robust in handling huge quantities of data is highly scalable and adaptable to the varied needs of both advertisers and affiliates. This has lead them to establish themselves as market leaders in this vibrant sector. This has established them as market leaders in this vibrant sector”.
Charles-Antoine Morand, of Newfund, added: “On the web, performance marketing now represents a lion’ share in advertising investments. Mobpartner’s expertise will attract major brands and advertising agencies, looking for performance-based solutions on mobile phones.”
Lenovo starts LePad sale in China
China’s Lenovo Group Ltd. has started the sale of its first tablet PC, LePad in China.
Lenovo’s move comes after other major electronics companies like Dell Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. have begun selling tablet devices to compete with Apple Inc.’s iPad. BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. will start selling its PlayBook in North America next month.
The LePad has a 10.1 inch screen and runs Google Inc.’s Android software. Lenovo is selling four versions, starting at US$533 for a version with Wi-Fi wireless Internet connectivity and 16 gigabytes of memory. A version with 3G cellular connectivity and the same amount of memory starts at US$700.
As per Lenovo spokesman Jay Chen, the LePad went on sale in China on Monday and will go on sale outside China by June.
Huawei launches small cell products in North America
Huawei has launched a series of small cell products for North American customers at the CTIA Wireless 2011.
The series of small cell solutions: the BTS3202E for LTE, the BTS3902E for UMTS, and the BTS3702E and BTS3701B for WiMAX, these series will enhance Huawei’s SingleRAN system, and capitalises on advancements in areas including smaller cell technology, Self Organizing Network (SON) and the LTE radio air interface.
Huawei’s small cell products support multiple technologies across multiple frequency bands in North America. These small cell products will be a part of the wider base of base stations designed to optimize mobile broadband applications and services.
Vivendi to expand network in Middle East (France)
Vivendi is currently in discussions with telecommunications companies and banks in the Middle East to expand its operations in the region, after opening an office recently in Dubai.
According to Jean-Bernard Levy, Vivendi’s chairman, they are working with partners that have not been disclosed. It’s a young office and they hope to announce more partnerships within weeks and months. They are working to make it happen.
The group, which among many assets owns Universal Music and a majority stake in French pay-TV company Canal+, also holds a 53% share in Maroc Telecom in Morocco. In 2010, Vivendi also signed a content deal with Qatar’s Qtel through Universal Music.
The company has a solid path to growth in the MENA region, Mr Levy added, confirming the music video website Vevo will launch in the Middle East by the end of June and the UK within weeks, as joint venture between Vivendi, Abu Dhabi Media and Sony Music.
Vevo has so far been limited to North American consumers, who are able to choose from 26,300 music videos uploaded by major artists so far. Unique viewers to the site which launched in December 2009 – had reached 43.7 million as of June 2010.
Mr Levy stated that it has been a tremendous success and this will help consumers from the Middle East to access thousands of videos and music content.
Ericsson to deploy 4G/LTE mobile broadband to rural US
Ericsson has signed an LTE network contract with a USA based organization that acts as a trade alliance of smaller regional wireless spectrum holders to build out a LTE based 4G network.
Under the terms of the four-year contract with NetAmerica Alliance, Ericsson will be the sole supplier for the LTE -based radio access network and the core network, based on Evolved Packet Core (EPC) technology. The contract also includes IMS, enabling the deployment of tailor-made applications and systems integration services.
Members of the NetAmerica Alliance run the network in their own territories, but NetAmerica acts as a group buyer on their behalf.
According to Arun Bhikshesvaran, Head of Strategy and Market Development, Ericsson North America, this is a new type of LTE deployment. NetAmerica is making it possible for smaller operators to join together to deliver cost effectively the same mobile broadband services available in major metropolitan areas. The socioeconomic benefits of broadband services in metropolitan areas are well-proven and with applications designed for rural consumers, one can only imagine the extent to which the people and businesses in these markets will become more empowered and more productive as a result of this opportunity.
RIM and North American carriers battle over m-payments
Research In Motion is reportedly battling with wireless carriers in North America over their diverging mobile payments strategies.
RIM and the carriers disagree over exactly where the key data related to mobile payments should reside on the next generation of smartphones, slated to come out later this year, as this will decide who will control the customers, revenue and applications that grow out of mobile payments.
Carriers like Rogers Communications in Canada, and AT&T and T-Mobile USA in the US are opposing RIM and other handset makers’ strategy to make phones that will store mobile payments data, known in industry parlance as ‘credentials,’ in the devices themselves.
According to officials representing some of the carriers, this would bind users to phone makers’ devices and potentially cut carriers out of the loop. The carriers believe they want to encrypt and store the credentials in the phone’s SIM card as these can be easily swapped from phone to phone.
