Wireless carriers begin trials for RIM’s PlayBook (Canada)
Wireless carriers in US and around the world have begun testing the PlayBook 3G and 4G with OS 2.0.1 according to a report by Berry Review. The report reveals that the launch has been scheduled for May around the same time that RIM (Research In Motion) would be hosting BlackBerry world 2012.
As per the report carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have begun testing the PlayBook in the Unites States; while Rogers, Bell Mobility and Telus have begun trials in Canada. Further, Orange UK and StarHub Singapore are also rumoured to be involved in the trials.
Blyk surpasses 800,000 subs on Aircel and Orange UK
Mobile advertising company Blyk, operating on a subscription model, now has over half a million users in the UK, against 400 thousand in January, and 300 thousand users in India.
These results appear to confirm the steady progress made by the firm since it abandoned its MVNO model to focus on running programs on behalf of operators.
It launched the Orange Shots project in the UK in February 2010 (aimed at the age segment 16-34) and Blyk on Aircel India in November 2010 (age segment 16-29). It’s also launched with Vodafone Netherlands.
In all services, users are invited to subscribe to receive advertising and promotional messages from brands. It is interesting that Blyk has revealed critical differences between services in the UK and India. The company stated that subscribers Aircel applies to messages from brands as to the content. Thus, the operator uses the program more as a tool of differentiation and retain users, and not for advertising sales.
According to Aircel, after 90 days of retention levels Blyk customers using the service, reached 89%, compared to 60% on average.
Orange UK introduces contactless pre-paid MasterCard
Orange UK has announced the launch of UK’s first major contactless prepaid MasterCard card- ‘Orange Cash’.
It can be used in over 30 million locations that accept MasterCard in the UK and overseas, as well as online.
The Orange Cash prepaid card costs US$8.05 and can be loaded with up to US$8053. Orange Cash prepaid cards can be loaded with money at over 22,000 shops and petrol stations across the UK with the PayPoint logo, at 12,000 Post Offices, over 450 Orange Retail stores and online on the Orange Cash website.
Customers can also earn rewards that can be used on their Orange PAYG mobile phone. Earning one Orange prepaid reward point for every US$1.61 spent, customers can redeem their rewards online for free texts, airtime, credit on Orange Pay As You Go phones or vouchers for use in Orange shops.
The card will allow customers to pay for purchases of US$24.16 and under by simply holding their card close to a contactless reader. The pre-paid card has been developed by pre-paid services company PrePay Solutions.
Orange Scores Hat-trick with mobile games
Orange UK has introduced three new mobile games including games for the iPhone.
The company is set to offer all its UK iPhone customers access to mobile games designed and produced by Orange, via the Apple App store. The application offers games like off-road racing, plus a selection of card games, including Blackjack and Poker.
Playtomo, a social gaming service will allow UK customers to play card and action games for free. it integrates with social networks so users can always share their scores with their friends and also challenge them.
Another one, Games Zone will be a £5-a-month subscription gaming service and it will offer Orange customers two free games each month, exclusive competitions and a 20% discount on additional purchases.
According to Orange’s Head of Gaming Products and Services, Neil Holroyd, this is an exciting time for Orange, with the launch of these new mobile gaming offerings forming a key part of their strategy to evolve their business through entertainment.
In his opinion innovative gaming services such as Playtomo and Games Zone give customers the best possible gaming experience and value for money on their mobile phone, while enabling them to develop their offering.
Orange and HMV join hands to launch Mobile Games
Orange UK has partnered with HMV to launch a mobile-gaming service. The service will be available in the next one week for customers across any network and on over 1,000 Java-enabled handsets.
To access this service the customers will have to text HMV†to 87010. They will receive a link in the reply. By clicking on this link they will find reviews and previews of the latest games; free demo downloads, and games to buy.
Under this, HMV mobile games will provide its customers over 400 games with a new title every week. Names of a few games which will be available during the launch include, ‘Fifa Manager 10′, ‘Tetris’, ‘Call of Duty MW2′ and ‘PAC-MAN’. The starting price of the games will be £1.
Orange customers will be billed directly for their mobile game-play, while customers on other network will have to use the ‘Payforit billing system, where they will be required to pay for the individual cost of each game.
According to Orange UK Business Development Director, Stephen Harris, the company is proud to be introducing this new service in strategic partnership with HMV, which will enable both the parties to deliver greater value, products and services to their customers.
Orange UK signs new MVNO deals with three partners
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreements have been signed between British mobile network operator Orange UK and its three new partners- Unicom, Catalyst and Axis Telecom. The three companies have been secured on the Orange Partner Platform via Transatel, Orange’s mobile virtual network aggregator (MVNA).
The initial target of 80,000 existing customers with its new wireless services has been expected from fixed line provider Unicom. Mobile voice offerings are expected from Catalyst through partners targeting specific demographics including students, ethnic minorities and SMEs.
The deal will be used by Axis Telecom to offer mobile voice to its 14,000 residential and business customers. The three MVNOs are expected to launch commercially by the mid-2010.
According to Marc Overton, Vice President of Wholesale, Business Development & Partnerships at Orange UK, Orange has very ambitious plans to become the network partner of choice for new and existing MVNOs and with the deal, it is on its way to achieve this but the ambition is to have twenty new MVNOs on the Orange network by the end of the year which again clearly demonstrates that there are untapped opportunities for telecoms services across business and consumer sectors.
Is UK heading towards merger era?
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: European Union has given its blessing to the most talked about deal of the season and the celebration will soon begin with the consummation of the proposed merger of Orange UK and T-Mobile UK. The telecom sector of UK is vital and highly competitive and the main players have always and loudly protested their support of the benefits of competition.
But with the finalization of the proposed merger, the big five have come down to big four. The current market leader in UK, O2 will be pushed a place down the hierarchy. Vodafone will go further down the order and will be casting around for some way to bolster its fortunes. All these mobile operators will try to cope up with the new and a powerful competition in the form of Orange UK and T-Mobile UK merger and by “competition” they all will mean merging themselves.
Though O2 will not be allowed to merge with Vodafone as the regulators in the UK and in Europe would not allow it too but the two can share their networks on a full fledged way.
The merger is paving the way towards a new trend of merger and collaboration of the entities that have control of two huge networks running the sector by themselves. The new trend will also provide access and services to a variety of MVNOs.
Until and unless a line is drawn by the regulator between the big two, the end user will be disadvantaged by the consolidation.
EC conditionally approves Orange UK/T-Mobile UK merger
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The recent speculations regarding the grant of conditional approval for the merger between the UK subsidiaries of France Telecom and Deutsche Telekom has been confirmed by the European Commission (EC).
Under the conditions for the deal, Orange UK and T-Mobile UK are required to enter into a joint network sharing agreement with Hutchison 3G UK in order to ‘ensure there remains sufficient competitors in the market’.
A quarter of combined spectrum in the 1800MHz band is also required to be sold by the new enlarged company.
However, consumer rights groups have opposed the approval citing it to be too quick and without the involvement of the UK regulator.
