Greenpacket introduces WiMAX pocket modems (Malaysia)
Malaysian wireless equipment developer and service provider, Greenpacket has launched its line of pocket modems to address demands for broadband features.
The line of WiMax Greenpacket Pocket Modem enables the consumer to create a portable hotspot, whereby they can connect multiple wireless devices to the internet or even share secure broadband access.
Greenpacket has worked with operators during the product development stages for the Greenpacket Pocket Modem. Greenpacket’s pocket modem line is already garnering interests from operators in South East Asia, Europe and North America.
Smartphones to drive enterprise data plan revenues to $102 bn in 2016
A new research has revealed that mobile data plan revenues will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 9% and are expected to exceed $102 billion worldwide by 2016.
Regionally, data plan revenue share among different device classes varies significantly. Currently in North America, data plans for smartphones deliver the lion’s share of revenue. However in regions lacking fixed line access such as Eastern Europe and Latin America, connections to other computing devices constitute the majority share. By 2016, smartphones will become the largest portion of each region’s mobile data plan revenues with over 50% share.
Increasing smartphone penetration rates among mobile enterprise customers are major drivers for data plan revenue growth. The connectivity for other devices such as tablets will become increasingly important and contribute significantly to overall connectivity revenues from the business sector.
Data plan growth portends other opportunities for the enterprise sector. More connections mean greater need for applications, content, security, expense and other mobile device-related services. Forward-looking enterprise segment suppliers are looking holistically at the opportunities presented by increasing enterprise mobile device connections.
Apple launches iPad 2
Apple has unveiled the much-anticipated iPad 2, promising a device that is twice as fast as its predecessor. The iPad is also one third thinner and 15% lighter than the original iPad.
The announcement was made by Steve Jobs himself in a rare public appearance since his latest medical leave.
The iPad 2 will begin shipping in the US on March 11 and internationally on March 25 – originally to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the rest of North America and 21 European countries. Apple stated that it is planning to launch in many more countries around the world in coming months.
The company added that for the US launch it will provide versions compatible with both AT&T’s GSM and Verizon’s CDMA 3G networks.
It will use a new dual-core A5 processor, and be powered by iOS 4.3. The base version will have 16GB of memory, scaling up to 64GB on the highest-end model. It will come in black and white from launch.
iPad uses the same screen as the original iPad, but has new graphics processing capabilities that Jobs stated promises a nine fold speed boost.
The device will come with two cameras, including a front-facing one capable of recording 720p HD video. The base model will have a price tag of $499 in the US, the same as the first iPad.
Aircom installs Optima network with AT&T (North America)
Aircom International, a Network planning and optimization consultancy, has installed Optima network performance management tool across North America with AT&T.
Optima consolidate network systems and technologies including 2G, 3G, HSDPA and LTE in the future.
Aircom delivers multi-technology, multi-vendor, RAN-to-core network performance management system.
Global mobile transaction value to reach $1 Trillion by 2014
A research report has revealed that while mobile transaction usage is growing, consumers show little willingness to pay for these services. The researcher’s predict unparalleled growth in mobile transactions worldwide, with the total value of global mobile transactions increasing from $162 billion in 2010 to $984 billion in 2014.
However, according to a survey result, less than 10% of respondents would be willing to pay extra for mobile transaction services such as mobile banking, mobile coupons and mobile payments.
Every silver lining comes with a big, dark cloud and the explosion in mobile transactions is much the same. Although mobile transaction service usage is increasing phenomenally, consumers show little interest in paying any additional fees for them. If banks, mobile operators, card networks and retailers want to tap mobile transactions as a revenue stream, they’ll need to come up with more creative schemes than per-transaction fees.
Researchers mobile transaction forecast tracks metrics on mobile banking, international and domestic remittances, contactless cards, mobile coupons and NFC communications. Other forecast findings include:
- Asia-Pacific overtakes EMEA as the mobile banking powerhouse: In 2010, EMEA leads all regions with 42 percent of worldwide active mobile banking users, followed by Asia-Pacific (38 percent), North America (16 percent) and Latin America (4 percent); by 2014, Asia-Pacific will lead with 54 percent, followed by EMEA (32 percent), North America (10 percent) and Latin America (4 percent)
- Mobile coupon usage explodes: The number of active mobile coupon users is expected to grow from 2.7 million in 2010 to nearly 35 million in 2014
- Near field communications (NFC) takes off: The number of NFC-enabled phones will grow from just 834,000 in 2010 to 151 million in 2014, a CAGR of more than 300 percent. Similarly, the value of NFC-based transactions will explode from $27 million in 2010 to $40 billion in 2014.
IDC to ship 5.5 million LTE smartphones by end of 2011
IDC believes that by the end of 2011, the mobile phone vendors will ship a total of 5.5 million LTE mobile phones worldwide. From there, LTE mobile phone shipments will reach a total of 129.1 million units in 2014, the final year of their forecast. This results in a CAGR of 811.9% for 2010-2014.
According to experts, in 2010, carriers in Asia/Pacific, EMEA, and North America launched their respective LTE networks. While dongles and data cards have been the first devices running on these networks, it won’t be long until they see LTE mobile phones arrive in the market.
Experts believe that they have seen offerings from some of the major handset vendors already and they certainly expect more. In addition, as more LTE networks reach commercial launch, LTE mobile phones will increase by double or even triple digits. While the trajectory of LTE mobile phones is certain, what remains to be seen are the new services and applications that can harness the power of LTE into new revenue streams.
Global smartphone sales increased by 72% in 2010
New research report reveals that smartphone sales gained 72% last year, helping propel the worldwide mobile-phone market to 1.6 billion units.
According to reports, Research in Motion Ltd. and Apple Inc. became the fourth- and fifth-biggest mobile-phone companies, displacing Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB and the business now known as Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.
Handsets with Google Inc.’s Android software overtook Nokia’s sales of Symbian smartphones in the fourth quarter. Symbian remained the best-selling smartphone system overall as other manufacturers have it on their devices too. Nokia, which remained the biggest mobile-phone vendor, saw its market share drop to 28.9% from 36.4% in 2009.
The decline is not solely attributable to Nokia’s continuing deficiency in high-end devices but is in part the result of the growth of legitimate white-box sales. So-called white box manufacturers, based mainly in China, produce small runs of mobile phones from standard components without the benefit of a major brand. White-box phones have expanded from the black market and informal channels to regular phone retailers, where they now sell in significant numbers and are tracked by researchers. Sales by such vendors reached 360 million units last year.
About half of all the phones sold in Western Europe and North America in the fourth quarter were smartphones. Android sales increased more than nine folds during the year.
Aviat Networks reports flat Q4 revenue
Aviat Networks has reported that its fourth quarter revenues increased very slightly to US$124.2 million, although the company’s net loss nearly doubled to US$12.5 million compared to US$7.9 million a year earlier.
Revenue in the North America segment was $40.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2011, compared with $49.4 million in the year ago period. International revenue was $83.8 million, compared with $73.2 million in the year ago period.
According to Chuck Kissner, chairman and CEO, Aviat Networks made significant progress in its restructuring efforts during the second quarter FY11. Shipments increased substantially, resulting in revenue growth for the first time in several quarters. In addition, as the transition of our internal operations accelerated, cash usage was significantly less than projected. The rate at which they are implementing changes gives them confidence they can complete their previously announced restructuring on schedule by the end of the third quarter of FY11. They are enthusiastic about the release of several new products, both those announced in Q2 and those which they anticipate announcing soon. These new products, together with a reduced cost base, will position Aviat Networks for long-term growth and a more effective financial model.
Based on current backlog, business trends and operational changes, the company expects revenue will be in the range of $115 million to $125 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
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.
