Ericsson helps implement mobile ticketing service in Florence (Italy)
Azienda Trasporti dell’Area Fiorentina (ATAF, the public transport authority in Florence, Italy) has launched its Mobile Ticketing service in partnership with Ericsson and mobile operators TIM, Vodafone, Wind and 3 Italia. As per a report by the company, the service allows customers of these operators to buy public transport tickets by text message, charging the cost to their mobile account.
Through this initiative, the Italian operators are strengthening their commitment to Mobile Pay, a platform launched in May 2011 to expand the use of mobile technology as a payment method. ATAF is the first public transport administration in Italy to implement mobile payment services. The system is convenient for passengers because a mobile phone is all they need to make a payment, and the cost is charged to their existing mobile account, so no registration or credit system is necessary.
Mobile ticketing represents a new step toward the mass adoption of m-commerce, a concept that transforms mobile devices into mobile wallets to provide a new method of payment for goods and services. In a study on preferred mobile services conducted by the Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan) in Italy, 65 percent of respondents said they were interested in mobile ticketing.
Ericsson is the world leader in mobile charging and billing, with more than 1.6 billion subscribers using its solutions. Prior to the 2012 Mobile World Congress, held in Barcelona, Spain, Ericsson launched its new extended suite of m-commerce solutions and services, designed to accelerate access and interconnection between the emerging m-commerce ecosystem and the financial world to fast-track the next generation of mobile financial services.
T-Mobile USA unites with FreeMove Alliance for International Services
FreeMove has announced that T-Mobile USA will participate in the FreeMove Alliance. FreeMove, the mobile telecommunications alliance is between Deutsche Telekom, Orange, TeliaSonera, and TIM (Telecom Italia Group)
As part of this, T-Mobile USA is planning to offer the FreeMove Alliance’s advanced solutions to multinational clients, especially to those who require communications both in the United States and Europe. The company is targeting offers, such as the FreeMove International Connect, which offers reduced rates for intra-company calls, and FreeMove Central Report, a web-based solution for managing international phone fleet expenditure.
According to Fabien Gustafsson, General Manager of the FreeMove Alliance, the addition of T-Mobile USA to the FreeMove Alliance footprint will provide real value to businesses operating on both sides of the Atlantic. FreeMove customers will benefit from a dedicated global account management approach that includes European and US sales resources, harmonized products and services beyond European borders, and aligned sales, bid and implementation management.
As per Michael Wilkens, Supervisory Board member at FreeMove, they are extremely pleased that the strong cross-border collaboration within Deutsche Telekom Group in Europe and the United States has now also led to T-Mobile USA becoming part of the FreeMove Alliance. This milestone is good news for the Alliance as well as for Deutsche Telekom as it further reinforces the competitive position of Deutsche Telekom as a global provider of communication services to the business and multinational customer segment.
According to Frank Sickinger, Director, Multinational Corporations at T-Mobile USA, their FreeMove participation will better enable the company to provide the quality of service, cost savings and connectivity that multinational enterprises need and expect.
Telecom Italia Upgrades Mobile Data Network
Telecom Italia has planned the launch of a 21Mbps upgrade to its network in Rome and Milan this December, with plans to expand the upgrade across the country.
According to Franco Bernab¨, Telecom Italia’s CEO, this venture confirms the company’s decision to take a 360-degree approach to broadband evolution in Italy spanning both landlines and mobile, and to pioneer technological innovation. Telecom Italia’s number one business priority is to evolve, upgrade and adapt the network to cater to customer demand across the country.
By the end of 2011, 42 Mbit/s services are scheduled for first rollout; by the end of 2012, services powered by new LTE-technology network will gradually be rolled out. LTE trials were recently completed in Turin at actual data transmission speeds in excess of 100 Megabits per second per cell.
In 2010, the TIM network will handle around 60 petabytes of traffic, 15 times more than the 4 petabytes it carried in 2007. In 2013, the company expects to handle 150 petabytes of traffic.
By the end of this year, approximately 25% of the mobile network will benefit from links between aerials and the fibre-optic backbone, Ethernet over ADSL or next-generation radio relays. By 2013, more than 80% of TIM cell sites will be equipped with high-speed links.
According to Oscar Cicchetti, Head of Technology & Operations at Telecom Italia, the company wants the TIM mobile network to remain number one for quality and performance, which is why it they are continuing to invest in technology and services. Over the next 24 months, they will be increasing voice and data coverage, enhancing cell capacity, connecting most of sites with fibre optics, and developing new platforms and new services to ensure that they offer clients an outstanding traditional service and mobile internet experience. Over the next three years, over a thousand Technology & Operations operatives will be working on this project and upgrading 15 cell sites per day.
Brazil Mobile Penetration Reached 96%: 1.89 Million New Mobile Subscribes in July’10
Brazil saw a significant growth in its new mobile subscriptions as it grew to 187 million in July, the telecommunications regulator Anatel revealed.
1.89 million new subscriptions were added in the month of July, an increase of 1.02% compared to June. Brazil has recorded 13.06 million new users in 2010.
Brazil now has 96.83 mobile phone users for every 100 population by now. Of the total number of mobile phones, almost 80% are prepaid and the remaining 20% postpaid.
Vivo remained the market leader with 30.25 percent of the total and is closely challenged by Claro 25.42%, TIM 24.05%, Oi 19.93% and others 0.35%.
Rogers Navigator for iPhone to hit the market soon.
New iPhone navigation app from Canada’s ‘Big Red’ is on its way to hit the markets very soon. After launching the Samsung Galaxy ‘Spica’ powered by android 1.5 and the new Rogers ‘RedBoard’ the Rogers is all set to launch ‘Big Red’.
The navigator for iPhone will be made available by March 26th and it will be priced around $4.99. The prominent features of the set will be voice turn by turn directions, real time traffic alerts, one touch reroute, 2D or 3D maps, business finder, listen to music while navigating, and integration with address books.
The turn-by turn directions is expected to be voiced by Kenny Rogers.
TATA india to offer SIM cards on its CDMA network
Oberthur Technologies the world’s second largest provider of Smart Card based solutions today announced the commercialization of its OMHTM (Open Market Handsets) SIM cards for CDMA (Code Development Multiple Access) networks. OMH SIM cards contain subscriber, network and service configuration data that allow subscribers the freedom to easily change and upgrade their handset, but maintain their network configuration.
Oberthur Technologies collaborated with Tata Teleservices Limited, one of India’s fastest growing private telecom service providers, and Qualcomm Incorporated, a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies, to introduce OMHTM SIM cards into the India market.
Olivier Leroux, Head of the Mobile Product Line for the Card Systems Division at Oberthur Technologies said, “Oberthur Technologies is the first to commercially launch OMHTM SIM cards. We are pleased to partner with industry leaders such as Tata Teleservices and Qualcomm who are enhancing the subscriber experience for Indian consumers.”
The OMHTM SIM card, referred to as a removable user identity module (R-UIM), is a state of the art smartcard that stores operator and subscriber specific configuration parameters, separate from the handset memory. By having this configuration parameters located on the OMHTM SIM card rather than the device, subscribers can more easily switch or upgrade their handsets. These cards allow CDMA network operators to increase the selection of devices and services while lowering distribution and inventory costs.
“These are exciting times in the Indian telecom space where innovation, research and development are the key to success and remain competitive in the business. In our constant effort to redefine the telecom space keeping customers at the central point, Tata Teleservices decided to partner with Qualcomm and Oberthur Technologies to further develop the Open Market Handset initiative and offer more choice to customers”, said Lloyd Mathias, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Teleservices Limited.
“Qualcomm is pleased to work with Oberthur Technologies for its leadership as one of the first companies to develop OMH SIM cards,” said Nakul Duggal, Senior Director and OMH Project Lead, Qualcomm Corporate Engineering Services. “The OMH initiative is focused on increasing device variety by offering new channels and distribution options within the CDMA ecosystem to provide greater subscriber flexibility.”
About Oberthur Technologies
With sales of 882 million Euros in 2008, Oberthur Technologies is a world leader in the field of secure technologies. Innovation and high quality services ensure Oberthur Technologies’ strong positioning in its main target markets:
– Card Systems: The world’s second largest provider of security and identification based on smart card technology and associated services for mobile, payment, transport, digital TV and convergence markets. – Identity: Leading international supplier for the manufacture and personalization of secure identity documents such as passport, identity card, driving license or health care card – traditional and electronic – and associated services for both governmental and corporate markets. – Security printing: World’s third largest private security printer specialized in high security for the production of banknotes, checks and other fiduciary documents in more than fifty countries. – Cash protection: World leader in the emerging market of intelligent systems to secure cash-in-transit and ATM.
Close to its customers, Oberthur Technologies benefits from an industrial and commercial presence across all five continents.
Oberthur Technologies S.A. is a limited liability company (societe anonyme) registered in France with its registered office at 50 quai Michelet 92 532 Levallois Perret, France. Oberthur Technologies S.A.’s corporate registration number is 340 709 534 R.C.S. Paris.
Website: http://www.oberthur.com
About Tata Teleservices Limited
Tata Teleservices Limited is one of India’s leading private telecom service providers, having a pan-India presence across all of India’s 22 telecom Circles. The company offers integrated telecom solutions to its customers under the Tata Indicom, Tata DOCOMO, Photon and Walky brands, and uses both the CDMA and GSM technology platform(s) for its wireless networks. Tata Teleservices Limited, along with Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited, operates in more than 325,000 towns and villages across the country. In November 2008, Tata Teleservices entered into an agreement with Japanese telecom major NTT DOCOMO, and this transaction marks a key step in the strategic evolution of Tata Teleservices Limited. Tata DOCOMO has so far launched GSM services in eight telecom Circles, and the remaining part of the country is also expected to be covered shortly. In December 2008, Tata Teleservices announced a unique reverse equity swap strategic agreement between its fully-owned telecom tower subsidiary-Wireless TT Info-Services Limited-and Quippo Telecom Infrastructure Limited, thereby becoming the largest independent entity in this space. Tata Teleservices’ bouquet of telephony services includes mobile services, wireless desktop phones, public booth telephony and Wireline services.
For details, visit http://www.tatateleservices.com, http://www.tatadocomo.com or http://www.tataindicom.com.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
