New Mobile Technologies Boost for Welsh Business
The Welsh Assembly Government in the UK has set up a Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services (CEMAS) at the University of Glamorgan. The US$7.80 million venture is backed with US$3.82 million from the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.
The centre will be a test bed for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to design, develop, test and protect the creation of new mobile phone services and applications.
As part of the initiative a dedicated commercial manager will assist SMEs to identify market opportunities, demonstrate products to a wide range of existing telecommunications firms and help ensure that their products reach their intended markets.
The creation of the Centre follows publication last month of the Assembly Government’s Delivering a Digital Wales framework, which capitalises on the opportunities of the digital age. The policy will support key aspects of the digital agenda – including building a thriving and competitive digital economy – and complements the UK Government’s Digital Britain report.
According to Professor Khalid Al-Begain, Director of the Centre, for the first time, SMEs and external service innovators can contribute to the offering of applications and services – but only if they receive access to appropriate support and infrastructure. In response to this emerging need, the Centre of Excellence in Mobile Applications and Services will provide a unique web-based platform and telecommunication infrastructure, enabling academic experts to assist Convergence region SMEs to create, develop, and test innovative mobile applications and services prior to market launch.
The Centre will appoint seven new highly skilled professionals in addition to existing staff to enable provision of a first class service to SMEs in the Convergence region of West Wales and the Valleys.
The Centre has been testing its next generation network facility with a number of local companies. This piloting phase proved highly successful and with this funding, the Centre will be in the position to roll this facility out to many more businesses.
SLT’s Skymax launches WiMAX network (Sri Lanka)
Sky Network, a subsidiary of Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), has announced the launch of its WiMAX 802.16e (mobile-ready) wireless broadband network on the island, under the brand name ‘Skymax’.
According to Sky Network’s CEO, Mahinda Herath, WiMAX offers a superior broadband experience for households, the corporate sector and SMEs, adding that the offering will soon incorporate other value added features such as usage- and quality-of-service-based charging models and web-based payment options. The company’s vision is to give each and every person in Sri Lanka access to high speed broadband connectivity and digital content anywhere in the island at any time. The new technology will reduce costs of broadband rollout.
Nokia launches messaging service for Indian SMEs
Nokia has launched a messaging service in collaboration with US-based Intuit, under which small businesses can send SMS’ to their customers about their products and services.
Intended at small businesses with up to 10 employees, the GoConnect service will help companies send information on products and other details to their customers in a personalized manner.
According to Nokia India sales director Vipul Sabharwal, small businesses can deepen their relationships through targeted communication, which results in increased repeat visit from customers. This is targeted at small businesses, for example, a florist, who has a dedicated clientele and the messages sent out are more personalized.
The Intuit GoConnect service is based on a subscription model, which would be available through Nokia Priority dealers. The service will cost US$52.68 for six months (10,000 SMS’) and US$79.03 for a year (20,000 messages).
In case, the company finishes the SMS’ given to him as part of the package, he can get it recharged through various tariff plans, according to Intuit Global small business vice president and general manager Terry Hicks.
Though the service is being launched as a pilot in Delhi and Chandigarh, Nokia expects to roll out GoConnect across the country by early 2011.
Orange, Alca-Lucent join hands to develop next-gen content
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Development of next-generation content and communication services based on LTE technology by French businesses will be made easy by the pooling of resources by Orange and Alcatel Lucent. R&D and expertise to simplify content creation by SMEs in France’s Loire and Brittany regions will be combined by the company.
ImaginLab platform will conduct most of the testing with additional validation provided by the two group’s own testing suites. Human, technological, business and financial resources will also be accessed by the SME’s to assist them in developing applications fit for high-speed fixed and mobile networks.
Orange’s Vincent Marcatt© and Alcatel-Lucent’s G©rard Le Bihan have been appointed as co-directors, to ensure the smooth running of the program.
