Telefonica launches single pan-European mobile data tariff (Europe)
Telefónica banishes bill shock with the announcement of its first standard pan-European data roaming tariff – giving smartphone customers 25MB of high-speed Internet usage anywhere across the 27 European Union member states for just $2.54 a day.
Telefónica’s EU-wide tariff means mobile customers – on Movistar or O2 networks – will no longer have to worry about the cost of sending or receiving emails, updating their Facebook status or browsing the web on their smartphones when travelling or holidaying abroad.
For $2.54 a day, Telefónica is giving its smartphone customers travelling in the EU a data volume of 25 Megabytes – which translates to 250 visits to essential websites like Facebook, Twitter, Google or BBC Online and up to 500 emails.
Additionally, customers will only pay for days they choose to use data, and will not be charged should they wish to switch off their phone.
The Telefónica tariff weighs in at a fraction of new price caps announced by the European UnionFacebook, Twitter, Google – which ruled that as of 1 July, one data megabyte should cost no more than $0.9, or $22.25 for 25 MB. On a per megabyte basis, Telefónica’s European tariff works out considerably cheaper than the EU’s regulated rate.
José María Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman and CEO of Telefónica Europe, said that users no longer need to switch off their smartphones when travelling within the EU, and neither do they need to worry about bill shock when they get home. Further, their European data tariff gives smartphone customers great value while allowing them to do what really matters – to stay connected wherever they are in a simple and transparent way and with complete peace of mind.
Smartphone customers use on average around 6MB in a day, but any Telefónica customers exceeding 25 MB will be immediately notified. The Pan-European tariff launched in Germany in May and will be available this summer to O2 and Movistar customers in Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland, Czech Republic and Slovakia.
UN-backed scheme ropes in private sector to provide poor people with mobile phone numbers (UK)
For about three million people that constitute the poorer section across Africa and South Asia, it will now be easy acquiring low-cost mobile phone numbers. The United Nations in collaboration with a technology firm Movirtu will roll out an initiative that will rope in the private sector in the fight against poverty. As part of this scheme backed by the UN, the majority of the beneficiaries would be women.
The Movirtu provided cloud phone number will enable the owner to use any mobile phone to log in with their unique number to make and also, receive individual calls instead of sharing a phone number with family members and so forth. These unique numbers will also help the users gain access to critical information and services in the form of banking or agriculture support.
The Business Call to Action (BCtA) is a global initiative under the aegis of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Global Compact which is the corporate responsibility scheme, in addition to few other organizations and governments, as part of which the UN-backed scheme is being undertaken.
Movirtu is based in the United Kingdom, and the company is looking to usher in the phone technology to minimum 12 markets across Africa and South Asia by early 2013. This move will facilitate access to the technology, to at least 50 million people across both the continents. In addition, the target for the technology’s usage on a regular basis would be 3 million.
By way the unique personal mobile identity, users stand to get access to network applications that provide information about employment opportunities, promote access to mobile payment systems or banking services, and help keep users up-to-date on a variety of health and market topics.
Women in rural communities across South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are the primary targets of this scheme.
Movirtu has been instrumental in implementing these phones across Africa; Madagascar being the first market entry point while additional country launches will be announced later this year.
Smart brings mobile transfers to its customers (Philippines)
Smart Communications is a mobile network based in the Philippines. The operator has signed an agreement by way of which its customers will be able to use the HomeSend remittance service, offered by eServGlobal and BICS.
Empowered by HomeSend, Smart Communications stands to provide remittance services to their mobile money users. Apparently, this service will be popularly accepted in the country, given that more than $20 billion worth of international remittance is received every year, making it one of the top remittance receiving countries in the world. For instance, Qatar and the United Kingdom sent over US$500 million each in remittances to the Philippines in the year 2010.
HomeSend establishes a connection between a variety of mobile money systems and financial institutions across the world while it is the only mobile-centric international remittance hub endorsed by the GSMA.
UK bus operator registers more than one million mobile tickets
Arriva is a bus and coach company based in the UK. It is known to have registered delivering more than one million bus journeys by way of the mobile ticketing technology. There have been 40,000 users using their m-ticketing services in the first 18 months of operation. They have now recorded 1,020,181 journeys delivered across the United Kingdom.
Arriva had started offering the m-ticketing service back in 2009, the first one of its kind that encompassed the whole of the UK. In order to make use of m-ticketing, a GPRS phone is all it takes. Due to the ubiquitous implementation of GPRS devices in various communication mechanisms, a vast number of bus passengers have been offered an accessible system.
Eventual m-ticketing services offered include specific features pertaining to smartphones like BlackBerry, Android and iPhone.
According to Mike Woodhouse, marketing manager Arriva UK Bus, the rate at which customers are adapting to the new technology is incredible. In the first 12 months, they saw 500,000 trips made on m-tickets, which was ahead of their targets. Then, in the next six months, they saw a further 500,000 journeys.
Vodafone looks to improve customer experience while roaming with latest roaming offers (Malta)
Vodafone announces new call and internet usage rates while roaming. The new offerings lets consumers pay at local rates outside of the local zone.
At the cost of $1.39, customers will now be able to take advantage of a 10 minute call while roaming as well as use 30 MB of data per day for $4.17. Vodafone is looking to bring to customers an enhanced experience at competitive rates.
Vodafone’s latest offerings are applicable in Vodafone networks across Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and United Kingdom, in addition to roaming in Austria on Mobilkom, Belgium on Belgacom, France on SFR and Switzerland on Swisscom.
According to Daniel Grech, Business Marketing Manager at Vodafone Malta, Vodafone’s initiatives with regard to roaming are part of the bigger effort to provide customers the most competitive roaming rates as well as roaming service.
TomTom Delivers Real Time Traffic Products
TomTom extends its portfolio of real time traffic products for industry partners, adding coverage for Belgium, France and the United Kingdom which brings the count to 14 countries globally. Real time traffic products can significantly benefit a range of industries: Governments and traffic planning agencies can reduce costs by eliminating the need to install or maintain fixed measurement systems and by more efficiently using the existing road network; Fleet companies can save money by ensuring their vehicles spend less time in traffic and get to their destinations faster.
TomTom real time traffic products contain information from multiple data sources, including connected navigation devices, mobile phones, road sensors and real time incident data. TomTom combines this anonymous information to produce real time traffic products using proprietary and tested methods.
“TomTom is happy to announce the extension of our real time traffic product portfolio to include three important countries in Europe,” said Maarten van Gool, Managing Director of TomTom Licensing. “Our real time traffic products are more accurate, cover more roads and deliver a higher update frequency on highways, major roads and secondary roads, making them the most competitive products on the market. By extending coverage, TomTom is positioned to create partnerships that ensure the most efficient use of the road network and will enable reduction of traffic congestion globally.”
TomTom real time traffic products can act as stand-alone traffic monitoring and reporting systems or be incorporated into navigation solutions or routing tools developed to help better manage traffic. The real time traffic portfolio includes:
- Enterprise Traffic, which provides precise locations and delays caused by congestion on the road network, allowing routing programs to provide the fastest route based on actual current travel times;
- HD Flow, which delivers a real time, detailed view of traffic speeds on the entire road network, designed for easy integration into traffic management systems or calculating current routing travel times;
- HD Route Times, a turnkey solution providing highly accurate real time travel and delay times for a specific route either on a temporary basis or for permanent solutions.
comScore Launches Mobile Measurement in Canada
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today announced the introduction of its syndicated mobile measurement service, comScore MobiLens, in Canada. MobiLens offers insights into mobile consumers’ demographics, behaviors, and device attributes and capabilities, to provide a comprehensive picture of the mobile market. Canada marks the eighth individual market now reported in MobiLens, along with U.S, U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Japan.
“We are excited to bring MobiLens to market in Canada in order to deliver a mobile measurement solution to this growing industry,” said comScore vice president Bryan Segal. “MobiLens provides valuable and actionable reporting capabilities, essential for establishing mobile as a legitimate advertising medium. Advertisers, publishers, advertising agencies, and mobile carriers alike can now gain visibility into Canada’s mobile audience and optimize their sales and marketing strategies for this rapidly developing market.”
Mobile Behaviors in Canada
Mobile subscribers in Canada exhibited strong usage of mobile media on their devices. In March 2011, 40.6 percent of mobile users in Canada used an application on their mobile device, while 32.7 percent used a mobile browser. Accessing of news/information was conducted by 35.2 percent of the mobile audience, while social networking sites or blogs were used by 25.4 percent. Sending text messages and taking photos with their phone were the top two activities, used by 64.5 percent and 48.9 percent, respectively. Accessing work or personal email represented 29.7 percent of the total mobile audience.
| Select Mobile Behaviors in Canada March 2011 Total Canada Mobile Audience Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens |
|
| Share of Mobile Subscribers | |
| Total Mobile Subscribers: 13+ yrs old | 100.0% |
| Sent text message | 64.5% |
| Took photos | 48.9% |
| Used application | 40.6% |
| Accessed news and information | 35.2% |
| Used browser | 32.7% |
| Used email (work or personal) | 29.7% |
| Played games | 27.3% |
| Accessed social networking site or blog | 25.4% |
| Accessed weather | 22.9% |
| Used major instant messaging service | 21.1% |
| Accessed search | 21.1% |
| Captured video | 20.3% |
| Listened to music on mobile phone | 19.0% |
| Accessed maps | 17.5% |
| Accessed sports information | 13.1% |
| Accessed entertainment news | 13.0% |
| Accessed movie information | 12.0% |
| Accessed bank accounts | 11.1% |
| Accessed restaurant information | 9.8% |
| Accessed financial news or stock quotes | 9.4% |
Smartphone Penetration Across Global Markets
Smartphone adoption continues to spread across the globe at various rates. Canada’s smartphone penetration reached 32.8 percent in March 2011, marginally higher than that of the U.S. The U.K. led all reportable markets in smartphone penetration at 40.8 percent, followed by Spain (40.2) percent and Italy (38.3 percent).
| Smartphone Penetration Across Global Markets March 2011 Total Mobile Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens |
|
| Share of Mobile Subscribers | |
| Total Smartphone Subscribers | 100.0% |
| United Kingdom | 40.8% |
| Spain | 40.2% |
| Italy | 38.3% |
| Canada | 32.8% |
| United States | 32.2% |
| France | 31.4% |
| Germany | 28.3% |
| Japan | 9.7% |
Smartphone Platform Market Share in Canada
In March 2011, 6.6 million people in Canada owned smartphones, representing one-third of the total mobile audience. RIM was the leading mobile smartphone operating system with 42.0 percent share of Canadian smartphone subscribers. Apple ranked second with 31.0 percent share, followed by Google with 12.2 percent, Symbian with 6.4 percent share and Microsoft with 5.1 percent share.
| Top Smartphone Platforms March 2011 Total Canada Smartphone Subscribers Ages 13+ Source: comScore MobiLens |
|
| Share of Smartphone Subscribers | |
| Total Smartphone Subscribers | 100.0% |
| RIM | 42.0% |
| Apple | 31.0% |
| 12.2% | |
| Symbian | 6.4% |
| Microsoft | 5.1% |
Mobile Industry Leaders Voice Support for comScore Mobile Measurement in Canada
“comScore has a heritage of commitment to the Canadian marketplace. With the growth of mobile from a consumer perspective, and an advertising platform, we are very excited to see the first ongoing syndicated measurement of the mobile market established,” said Michael Becker, Managing Director of North America for the Mobile Marketing Association. “The availability of ongoing data should only help raise the profile and investment in this important and growing media”
“Consumption of mobile media is dramatically accelerating in the Canadian market,” said Greg Banducci, Head of Mobile, Yahoo! Canada. “In order to continue leading and innovating, Yahoo! relies on on a comprehensive data set to provide insight into consumers’ mobile behaviors; our own methods and insights combine with products like MobiLens provide us with that advantage.”
“Reliable data is an essential ingredient in delivering sound strategic planning and media buying solutions for our customers,” said Robert Jenkyn, Vice President of Digital Solutions at Media Experts. “We welcome the advent of a comprehensive and ongoing mobile measurement service in Canada. We are eager to derive actionable and verified mobile consumer behaviours as we continue to explore this rapidly evolving media.”
For more information on comScore MobiLens, please visit: http://www.comscore.com/Products_Services/Product_Index/MobiLens
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world and preferred source of digital business analytics. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo.
Vodafone extends World Calling Club promotion (Qatar)
Vodafone Qatar has extended its World Calling Club international call rates to more than 180 countries for just US$17.69 a minute until June 30.
All of the most popular calling destinations are included in this promotion, which included Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Yemen.
Vodafone is also extending until 30 June its International Calling Card 25 offer that gives customers 51 minutes of talk time at a rate of US$0.13 a minute. The countries included in this are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Mobilicity to introduce 3.5G network in Calgary (Canada)
Mobilicity will launch its 3.5G mobile network in Calgary on 28 April. Calgary consumers will be able to purchase popular name-brand Mobilicity phones (such as BlackBerry and Android smartphones) and plans at over 70 points of distribution, including corporate stores, exclusive Mobilicity dealers, national retailers and other non-exclusive dealers in every neighborhood across the Greater Calgary Area as well as online.
Mobilicity applies the simple unlimited local usage principles of landline calling to mobile communications. Mobilicity will also introduce Calgary to international long-distance offerings that make calling overseas friends and family affordable on the go.
Its Unlimited Asia add-on provides direct-dial, unlimited long distance to India, China, Hong Kong and Singapore for US$21.10 a month with any Mobilicity talk plan. To make calling to countries, like the Philippines, Jamaica, Iraq, Pakistan and the United Kingdom more affordable, the company also offers Multi-Minute bundles and pay-per-use international long-distance rates that rival calling cards.
Voxbone partners with Jajah on international VoIP calling service
Voxbone has collaborated with Jajah to develop a value-added telecommunications service that enables enhanced international calling.
The International Favorites service, which Jajah provides for mobile customers of O2 in the United Kingdom, offers subscribers a virtual overseas number so friends and family abroad can call at local rates.
As part of the new service, Voxbone supplies an international ‘Call Me’ number that directly reaches a customer’s mobile phone. The customer adds this second phone number from a country of choice to an existing mobile subscription. Calls to the number are dialled, delivered and billed like local PSTN calls.
These calls are transmitted through Voxbone’s IP network to the O2 user’s mobile phone. The subscriber does not need a special phone or application. The virtual number complements the subscriber’s UK mobile number, enabling two phone numbers to be mapped to the same device.
The service works with most O2 phones. In addition, Voxbone is supplying numbers for another feature of International Favorites that include provision of three local outbound numbers per subscriber that the customer may use to reach selected international landline and mobile numbers. A fee of US$30 per month covers 3,000 minutes (50 hours) of calls to these numbers.
