Mobilcom-debitel launches free Navigon software for Android (Germany)
Mobilcom-debitel is offering the navigation software Navigon select Telekom Edition Android for Telekom Deutschland customers with an Android smartphone.
The software includes maps of Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein and can be downloaded for free by Mobilcom-Debitel customers with an Android smartphone and mobile service using the network of Telekom Deutschland if they select a two year subscription or extend their current subscription.
Orange to upgrade mobile network, reducing electricity consumption by 30% (Switzerland)
Orange is modernizing its GSM network and getting its 3G mobile network ready for the future. As part of this, Orange will also be deploying Flexi Multiradio Base Stations, which can be upgraded to the LTE technology.
Customers will soon enjoy better in-building coverage, quicker initial connection and even fewer interruptions, as well as considerably faster mobile broadband. Modernizing the entire mobile network will reduce its electricity consumption by up to 30%. This will take about two years to complete and forms part of an investment programme of more than US$778.47 million for network expansion over a period of five years.
According to Gabriel Flichy, VP of Network & IT at Orange Switzerland, mobile data transfer has increased more than thirtyfold in just three years, while the explosive growth in smartphones and mobile data services continues apace. They are modernizing their mobile network to offer even better quality in terms of calls and data connections in the current year, and their customers will be able to benefit this year already.
Flichy added that they will be making huge improvements in urban areas with HSPA+, which allows them to offer theoretical connection speeds of up to 42 Mbps. And as an advantageous offshoot of the modernization, they are also introducing EDGE to their GSM network. This will enable users in rural areas without 3G coverage to surf the Orange network more comfortably.
Upgrading more than 4,500 base stations
Over a period of two years, more than 3,000 GSM and a total of more than 2,100 3G base stations (so-called “nodes B”) will be upgraded with advanced technology. This includes both new mobile radio software and operational support systems (OSS). The first phase has already been completed with more than 600 new 3G base stations (nodes B) in place. By modernizing, Orange will further improve the coverage and efficiency of its mobile network, while reducing network electricity consumption by almost 30%.
In addition to modernizing the entire mobile network, Orange is also driving forward capacity building along the SBB main lines this year.
Ascom appoints Odman as GM of Wireless Solutions Division (Switzerland)
Ascom has appointed Claes Odman as General Manager of Wireless Solutions Division based in Gothenburg, Sweden and as a member of the Ascom executive board, effective 14 June.
Since 2005, Odman has been acting as vice president in different management functions for Ericsson in Stockholm, Sweden. Prior to that, he held general management positions for Ericsson in Singapore and Taiwan.
Vodafone Malta offers postpaid roaming add-on
Vodafone Malta is offering a new postpaid data roaming add-on available at a price of US$4.32 a day.
With this offer, users will receive 30MB on their smartphone or internet key for use on Vodafone networks in Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the UK as well as while roaming in Austria on Mobilkom, Belgium on Belgacom, France on SFR and Switzerland on Swisscom.
Over-the-limit traffic is US$2.52 per MB on all Vodafone preferred networks. The add-on is available to those subscribed to a Smartphone plan or Liberty plan.
Hoststar offers iPhone app for web hosting customers (Switzerland)
Hoststar has launched a new iPhone app for web hosting customers.
The app enables customers to manage their hosting account using their iPhone.
Using a monitoring function, users can examine various services on their server. The app has been specifically developed for Hoststar customers and cannot be used with hosting services of other providers.
Zattoo rolls out Live-TV App in Germany
Zattoo has partnered with German TV listings magazine ‘TV Digital’ to launch the ‘Live-TV App’ in Germany.
This will allow users to watch over 40 TV channels live in real-time on iPhone and iPad devices via WLAN.
The app is available to download from the iTunes Store, with users getting four test channels to use with their download.
To view all the channels, users need to pay a subscription: US$6 for one month, US$13 for three months or US$44 for 12 months.
Business Sunrise offers virtual fixed number service (Switzerland)
Sunrise’s business division Business Sunrise has introduced a virtual fixed telephony number service for SMEs.
The service automatically forwards calls made to a virtual fixed number to the mobile phone of the SME, thus relieving them of the need to have an actual fixed line.
The service costs US$13.21 per month including a fixed telephony number and is available with any Sunrise mobile subscription. For customers signing up for a Sunrise flat classic or higher subscription, the service can be used for free until the end of May of this year.
Zattoo introduces iPad app (Germany)
Zattoo, a Switzerland-based web TV service provider has commercially announced the launch of iPad app for streaming web TV in Germany.
The introduction follows a short test in February of this year, which offered access to the TV channels via Apple’s browser Safari via iPod Touch, iPhone and the iPad. The app is only available for iPads and can only be used with WLAN.
The app comes with a price tag of US$5.76 per month, US$14.44 per quarter or US$43.35 per year and only includes channels from public broadcasters like ARD, ZDF, Arte, Phoenix and BR Alpha.
me2me closes series ‘A’ funding (Switzerland)
me2me has closed its series A equity capital increase to the amount of US$2.3 million as part of a first closing.
The round was supported by wholly-owned Credit Suisse entity SVC for Risk Capital for SMEs, Swisscom (Schweiz), beelk Holding with management led by CEO Peter Hauser.
A second closing is anticipated to take place on 30th June, increasing the series A figure to approximately US$3.2 million. The funds will enable me2me to advance its product development efforts for mobile applications, improve sales efforts in the single markets such as the United States and Western Europe and to conduct further development work related to the integration of Frisbee into EMR systems.
Swisscom,Sicap launch prepaid re-load kiosks (Switzerland)
Sicap, a Swiss mobile software developer and Swisscom have launched an in-store reload kiosk for mobile prepaid users.
The self-service reload kiosk allows customers to reload their account within seconds, using cash. The embedded NFC feature of the kiosk will also allow phone-swipe reloads on devices equipped with an RFID.
A pilot kiosk was launched in October 2010 in the main Swisscom store in the country’s capital, Bern. Following the success of the test, the kiosk has been deployed in Swisscom stores in Zurich and Lausanne as well.
