CommerceTel Acquires Key Telecom Patent
CommerceTel Corporation, an award-winning provider of proprietary mobile marketing technologies and solutions, announced today that it has acquired a key patent in the Telecommunications and Internet sector.
US Patent number 6,788,769 B1 covers a method and system for using telephone numbers as a key to address email and online content without the use of a lookup database. Using this system, a phone number is used to access a website or an email address in exactly the same way it is used to dial a telephone.
“While domain names have dominated the addressing scheme for the traditional Internet, phone numbers have become the de facto standard response mechanism in the mobile marketing space,” said Dennis Becker, CEO of CommerceTel. “Obtaining this patent provides CommerceTel with a highly relevant intellectual property position in this rapidly growing space.”
“A directory mapping a phone number to a Website is utilized whenever a consumer sends a text message to retrieve a link to a mobile Website, and this form of interaction is only becoming more prevalent in the marketplace,” added Becker. “This patent embodies just this application and we’re excited to add it to our portfolio.”
In addition to telephone number keyed addressing, CommerceTel’s patented system details the use of application-based directory systems utilizing telephone-keyed addressing to bridge between the existing numbers and addresses of any of the owner’s communications devices. For example, entering a phone number into a web interface could present a menu of communications options, allowing connection to a website, to a home, office and/or mobile phone, even to a fax machine. This element to the claims could have huge ramifications in the industry as the line between the “Web” and mobile applications continues to blur.
China Telecom plans to build world’s largest fiber optic network
China Telecom is planning to triple the number of users for its fiber optic broadband service this year to reach 30 million.
The company further aims to grow the user base to 100 million by the end of China’s 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). It is planning to cover every city in China with the fiber broadband service in three years and convert all copper lines to fiber.
Under the five-year plan, the Chinese government will focus on developing the telecommunications infrastructure, with total investments reaching UD$304.47 billion. Broadband development would account for 80%.
According to China Telecom Chairman Wang Xiaochu, only 23% of Chinese families have Internet access now, so China still has huge potential in this industry. This plan will provide broadband access, high-definition IPTV, 3D and rich media services that require bandwidth of about 10 megabytes and above.
China Telecom will follow the government’s policies to improve infrastructure and cooperate with local authorities to integrate telecommunications, television and Internet networks.
The company further plans to introduce cloud computing and Internet of Things services, more internet applications for mobile and fixed Internet users and to accelerate its transformation into a comprehensive telecommunications provider. It is expected to benefit the optical fiber firms.
Carlos Slim to invest $3.6 billion in Mexico in 2011
Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has announced that companies he control will invest US$3.62 billion in Mexico this year, including significant amounts in infrastructure, mining and telecommunications.
According to reports, the Mexican billionaire, who controls Latin American mobile giant America Movil, will invest around US$820 million in the group, while a further US$820 million is expected to be set aside for Mexican fixed line incumbent Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex).
With Telmex still awaiting regulatory approval to offer television services of its own, it currently offers billing services for direct-to-home satellite company DISH; delays in allowing the operator to enter the TV sector stem from the government’s concerns that competition in the market could be hampered should such approval be granted.
The report notes that in response to queries regarding whether Slim could consider acquiring a stake in the satellite TV provider the executive noted that they are not focused on that, they are waiting (for the authorization) to offer triple-play.
MNP deadline to be missed by MTNL, BSNL (India)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: BSNL and MTNL, both state-controlled telcos in India will not be able to meet the deadline set by Indian government for supporting mobile number portability (MNP). Both the companies have said that the deadline of end of 2009 will not be met as the necessary upgrades to their systems will take few more months.
The Department of Telecoms earlier decided that key metro markets will offer MNP by the end of this year while the rest of the country will receive it from next June. However, the service was supposed to be available from the end of September but the problems with the regulators and operators lead to its delay.
According to TRAI chairman JS Sarma, the companies may be labeled as anti consumer if they fail to meet the deadline this time. As per the guidelines decided by the Department of Telecommunications, country will be geographically divided into two Number Portability Zones namely zone 1 & zone 2, with11 licensed service areas each.
The license for Zone 1 (Northern and Western India) was granted to Syniverse Technologies while MNP Interconnection Telecom Solutions received the license for Zone 2 (Eastern and Southern India).
The selections were done on the basis of the guidelines for MNP service license.
Anatel warns operators to prove their 3G capacity in Brazil
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Brazil’s telecommunications regulator Anatel said that it will continue to veto the aggressive promotions of broadband Internet services of the operators. It warned the telco’s to prove that their networks can cope with the demand for mobile broadband services.
There has been an extensive expansion of broadband Internet services on mobiles with 20% increase in the clients taking the tally to 7.9 million in the month of October itself and is expected to reach 10 million by the end of the year.
The warning was issued amid this rapid expansion and in order to facilitate this growing demand, Anatel may also authorize network sharing between operators.
The local unit of Mexico’s America Movil SA and market leader in the Brazilian market, Vivo Participacoes and Claro along with other operators has decided to share infrastructure in order to face enormous investments in infrastructure in the coming years.
TOT launches 3G network in Thailand
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The launch of 3G network by Thailand’s state-controlled mobile network TOT got a cold response from the subscribers. However, initially the network will be available only in Bangkok and the areas surrounding it. Expansion of the network in the near future relies on the auction of the 3G license.
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) will offer four licenses- three of 10 Mhz and a fourth with 15Mhz of radio spectrum while the reserve price will range between US$100-US$200 million. The process will not take place until next year as there is a lack of executives to form a quorum.
Small trials of 3G networks are already run by the current operators over their existing GSM radio spectrum, while CAT Telecom which is a CDMA operator, is seeking an overseas investor to assist in 3G rollout plans
Singtel will join ZTE for Long Term Evolution trials (Philippines)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: For carrying out Long Term Evolution (LTE) trials in the Philippines, ZTE Corp, a Chinese equipment vendor has planned to work with Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel) affiliate, Globe Telecom.
The intention behind the tie up is to develop strategic management of the network as well as long-term planning for LTE network infrastructure projects. A trail will be conducted in the early 2010 for six to nine month in order to assess market demand for broadband access services.
Earlier, SingTel announced it wanted to conduct regional trials of LTE technology in Australia, Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore in collaboration with Telkomsel, Optus, and Globe Telecom. Through this step the company hopes its regional partners and joint ventures will better understand the approach and strategy behind the adoption of LTE in the regional markets.
The trail also aims at wide range of scenarios, including different urban environments and frequency bands.
Stephane Richard set to be France Telecom SA’s deputy CEO
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Head of French operations of French telecom magnate, France Telecom SA, Stephane Richard will take over the post of deputy chief executive from January next year. The appointment was made after the request by company’s chief executive officer Didier Lombard who himself will step down in 2011.
Stephane Richard is in the line of succession for the post of CEO and earlier worked as a senior official in France’s finance ministry. He took the role of running domestic operations in October this year.
He started his stint as head of the international operations of French telecommunications giant last summer.
BSNL puts Zain purchase on hold.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has put its plan to be a part of the consortium looking to buy a stake in Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Co, on hold. The decision was taken as the information sorted by Vavasi Group has still not been received.
Vavasi Group which is not yet listed in India had tied up with Al-Bukhary group of Malaysia to buy a 46% stake in Zain. It was trying to add state-owned Indian telecommunications firm like BSNL and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd., to the consortium. By joining the consortium, BSNL and MTNL seek to widen its horizon beyond India.
Earlier, Gurudas Kamat, India’s junior telecom minister had said that both MTNL and BSNL are not very serious about joining the consortium.
The state owned telecom companies are facing stiff competition from private sector companies. According to BSNL Chairman Kuldeep Goyal, BSNL’s revenue is going to be severely hit by the latest tariff war in the current financial year.
The company is planning to add 20 million working lines to its present 50 million on the global system for mobile communication platform, over the next six months. Besides, it is also planning to spend INR140 billion in the current fiscal year to expand its mobile services.
Indian mobiles set to get 11 digit numbers
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Get ready to add one more digit to your already difficult to remember mobile number from January next year. National Numbering Plan 2003 has been amended by Department of Telecommunications (DoT), migrating the current 10 digit numbers to an 11-digit numbering plan in mobile services.
As per the amendment, an extra ‘9′ would be prefixed to the existing two-digit PLMN Access Code. According to an internal DoT note, the proposed migration may be implemented from January 10, 2010.
Earlier, number ‘2′ was prefixed to all BSNL and MTNL fixed-line phones across the country a few years ago to accommodate more connections.
Every service provider has its own PLMN, identified by Mobile Country Code (MCC) and the Mobile Network Code (MNC). The PLAM connects with internet service providers for data and internet access and interconnects with other PlAMs and public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) for telephone communications.
The unexpected growth in India’s mobile subscribers has made this numbering plan imminent. With 10-14 million mobile subscribers added to the list every month, the wireless subscriber base has already crossed 500 million, making it compulsory for DoT to re-examine plans in order to accommodate more subscribers.
