Wireless Federation

O2 apologizes for revealing mobile numbers online (UK)

On 01.27.12, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile service provider O2 has apologized to its customers for the technical glitch during their routine maintenance which disclosed customers’ mobile number on the website. According to company reports, O2 has said that the technical changes they implemented as part of routine maintenance had the unintended effect of making it possible in certain circumstances for website owners to see the mobile numbers of those browsing their site.

The company added that they have investigated, identified and fixed the problem, and have apologized for the concern they caused. As per sources, this act has caused great discontent amongst subscribers causing many of them to respond negatively towards the company.

According to reports, the company said they only shared this information with their trusted partners. However, due to technical changes, the information was shared with other website owners as well. Further, the company has reportedly said that they have contacted the regulatory authority Ofcom, and are also cooperating with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

3UK approached by Everything Everywhere, Vodafone and O2 to join m-payment venture (UK)

On 12.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile operators, Everything Everywhere along with O2 and Vodafone, are reportedly talking with operator 3 UK to join them in their joint venture for mobile payment services. According to reports, Vodafone plans to submit the proposals for the venture by early 2012.

The operators have reportedly said that the proposal will provide the European Commission with the relevant details associated with the venture as well as highlight the benefits provided to customers. As per sources, the joint venture will offer customers and retailers a common platform for mobile payment services, in collaboration with the banking industry.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3UK • Everything Everywhere • M-Payment • Mobile payment • O2 • Vodafone

Orange and O2 lead Ofcom’s mobile satisfaction survey (UK)

On 12.02.11, In Mobile, By Editor

A new survey by the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries, Ofcom, reveals that Orange and O2 have emerged as the most appreciated mobile networks by users in UK. According to reports, as many as 72 percent of the subscribers gave positive feedback for these operators with 10 percent giving a negative feedback and 18 percent maintaining a neutral stand.

Further, as per sources, T-Mobile accounted for 12 percent of unsatisfied customers followed by Vodafone which received positive feedback by 66 percent users. Reports reveal that as per the survey mobile operator 3 accounted for 60 percent satisfied customers.

Industry analysts have reportedly cited high speed broadband connection and improved network quality as the prime reasons for the success of Orange and O2.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3 • O2 • Ofcom • Orange • T-Mobile • Vodafone

O2 kicks off the first LTE network in UK

On 11.16.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobile operator O2 has reportedly commenced UK’s first LTE network service. Accroding to reports, the wireless carrier switched on the first 4G base station in the 2.6 GHz band, with the remaining 24 stations expected to be made active by the end of this month, covering key areas in the capital city.

As per sources, O2 has said that the LTE network will offer its users a data experience that can rival home fibre connections. Further, it has been reported that around 1,000 users would use the trial service through Samsung dongles, personal hotspots along with handsets from different vendors.

Ronan Dunne, CEO, Telefonica has reportedly said that their work in London will give them a better understanding of the capabilities of 4G technology and will further allow them to explore the superfast benefits it will bring to the people and the industry across UK.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 4G • LTE • Mobile Data • O2 • Ronan Dunne

Telefonica works towards improving services for users with sensory needs (UK)

On 11.11.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Telefonica UK, a leading telecommunications company, has reportedly partnered with Telenomics in an attempt to enhance services for people with sensory needs. As per reports, the company has trained its staff on how mobile can help people with visual impairment as well as people who are hard of hearing, in their daily routine.

Reports suggest that the staff has received its training from premier organisations such as, Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Apple, BlackBerry maker – Research In Motion (RIM), and application developers such as Code Factory.

According to sources, the detailed training enables them to recommend specific smartphone features and functions, along with the different applications that can help improve the daily lives of individuals with sensory needs.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple • O2 • RIM • Telefonica UK • Telenomics

Mobile payments expected to reach $30.5 billion by 2021 (UK)

On 10.18.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Industry sources claim that owing to rapid technology upgradation and the increase in the number of smartphone users, British consumers are likely to spend as much as $30.5 billion by 2021 on purchases through their mobile handsets. As per reports, the mobile purchases currently account for $1.8 billion, with almost $417 million comprising of mobile sales from the food and groceries category.

Sources claim that mobile commerce is expected to grow by 55 percent over the next five years. Innovations such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and faster mobile data transmission play an important role in the success of mobile commerce, by offering users a more secure and convenient way to pay for goods and services. In order to better provide mobile payment services to their customers, network operators O2, Everything Everywhere and Vodafone joined forces to offer users a single system of paying for goods and services via mobile phones.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Mobile Payments • NFC • O2 • Vodafone

Three raises concern over joint mobile payment service (UK)

On 09.12.11, In Mobile Banking, Mobile Operators, By Editor

UK based company, Three, has objected to the joint venture by network operators O2, Everything Everywhere and Vodafone which seeks to offer users a single system of paying for goods and services via mobile phones, citing unfair competition. Three met with the European Commission (EC) regarding the joint venture and has reportedly said that it will provide a more in-depth response when the operators make a formal submission to competition authorities.

According to reports, Stephen Lerner, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Three UK has said that the planned and explicit exclusion of Three from the proposed UK mCommerce joint venture is designed to weaken Three’s ability to be a competitive force in the UK and denies the initiative’s claimed ambition to be a ‘One Stop Shop’ for mCommerce. He added that instead of competing for the benefit of consumers, the three operators that hold 90% of the UK market have engaged in a cozy collaboration and closed ranks against competition.

In a bid to counter Three’s claim, a joint statement from the three operators said that the fact that other companies are not shareholders in the venture has no impact on their ability to benefit from the technology it will develop. The carriers further stated that they have already opened dialogue with the European Commission and expect to have further discussions and make a formal submission later in the year, as per reports.

Filed under:Mobile Banking,Mobile Operators Tagged with: Everything Everywhere • mpayment • O2 • Three • UK • Vodafone

O2 confirms partners for m-wallet service (UK)

On 05.20.11, In Mobile, By Editor

O2 in the UK has confirmed the following as partners for its mobile wallet service : Wave Crest, FIS, Intelligent Environments and Visa Europe.

The service is scheduled for launch in the second half of 2011.

Christened as “O2 Money”, the operator will work closely with its partners to enhance and offer the best customer experience.

Wave Crest will provide the e-payment system and will also manage the security and online customer experience.

FIS will provide transaction processing and UK-based customer service for both the prepaid cards and the mobile wallet service.

Intelligent Environment will develop the m-wallet application.

Visa Europe will provide the payment network for wallet and new prepaid products.

O2 will also re-launch its pre-paid Visa card in the coming months with contactless capabilities. The new O2 Money prepaid cards will also operate on the platform and systems provided by these new partners. Existing customers will be able to migrate to the new platform and will be issued with the new contactless prepaid cards.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: M-Wallet • mobile money • Mobile wallet • O2 • UK

O2 drops mobile data tethering fees (UK)

On 03.30.11, In Mobile, By Editor

O2UK has unearthed a new tariff structure which includes free internet tethering. The company is clearly changing its strategy based on the fact that 70% of new customers are buying net-connected smartphones.

As per the company’s blog, for the first time, Internet Tethering (using your phone as a modem to connect your laptop to the Internet) is completely included in their data allowances, so you don’t have to pay a penny extra for it.

The company has revealed the removal of tethering fee as a US$12.24 additional value, but existing customers will not see charges removed, instead the new deals apply only to new contracts.

The new pay monthly tariffs charge US$4.7 per month for 100MB, US$9.5 for 500MB and US$15.98 for 1GB of data.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: internet • Internet Tethering • Laptop • mobile data tethering • O2 • operator • UK