Unicom to sell Apple iPhone with Wi-Fi
Adding to the mounting competition in China’s smartphone market, Apple’s Chinese Partner – China Unicom Ltd has announced that it would sell iPhones with Wi-Fi.
China Unicom Ltd. began to sell iPhone in October last year but early models lacked wireless connections due to Chinese regulations. Also, due to the availability of black market editions in China, it is hard to sell iPhones.
Unicom will be selling 8GB iPhones with 3G service and Wi-Fi throughout China. They are already selling 16 & 32 GB iPhones without Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is a part of the iPhone in other parts of the world and lets the users take advantage of free wireless networks to download e-mail and the latest applications.
The latest iPhone would aid Unicom and Apple Inc. race in an increasingly packed Chinese smart phone market. China has the most crowded mobile phone market, with millions of smart phone users
Beijing banned use of Wi-Fi while the government was trying to develop a rival Chinese system, named WAPI but Wi-Fi permissions are given this year to facilitate people.
Telekom Malaysia plans Wi-Fi expansion
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Plans to expand the coverage of ‘Streamyx’ wireless internet service has been revealed by Malaysian fixed line incumbent Telekom Malaysia (TM). The aim of the company is to offer the service nationwide.
Wi-Fi internet access is provided by TM via more than 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots. It has added around 800 sites during 2009, of which almost 35% (724) are located in the Klang Valley including the capital city Kuala Lumpur.
No timeframe in which it expects to complete the rollout has been given by the telco.
Ten One launches Autograph for iPhone
Autograph for iPhone has been launched by Ten One Design. It is an iPhone app aimed to enable users to create digital signatures directly on the iPhone’s touchscreen and automatically insert them into electronic documents on their Mac or PC via wi-fi.
The function of the app takes place in conjunction with Ten One Design’s free Autograph Helper program that, once downloaded, runs on the user’s computer to quickly and conveniently receives signatures from iPhone or iPod touch devices.
Goober Network launches free IM, VoIP apps for iPhone
Goober Networks has launched two new apps for iPhone- an IM app, Goober and a VoIP app Goober VoIP. These apps allow users to send and receive messages, and manage Goober Galleries. The VoIP app also enables cheap calls over the Internet to landlines and cell phones, starting at $.01 per minute.
It operates over Wi-Fi and 3G and a customer can call for free for the first two minutes. The other prominent features include caller ID, and payment via a user’s iTunes account.
According to Goober Networks CEO Peter Uhlich, Goober VoIP and goober for the iPhone has brought the company one step closer to meeting their goal as the most advanced and unifying communications solution on the market today, allowing businesses, enterprises and consumers to publish, connect and share content and communication from a single point, anytime, anywhere.
Apple unblocks VoIP calls over iPhone’s 3G networks
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: iPhone users has been allowed to use Internet calling services over 3G cellular networks by Apple. However, the service is available only over Wi-Fi connections, which don’t have the range of 3G cellular networks.
The service applies to applications for the iPhone and the new iPad tablet device unveiled this week, some of which will come with 3G capabilities.
Earlier, Google Voice was blocked by Apple as the program duplicated some of the iPhone’s features, and that it was still studying the application.
Talks on Borusan’s takeover by Vodafone Turkey about to conclude
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Negotiations for the purchase of a controlling stake in Turkish alternative fixed line telco Borusan Telekom by Vodafone Turkey is on the verge of successful conclusion. Earlier, India’s Dhanus Technologies bought Borusan for USD30 million.
The two parties have three options- a partnership giving the UK-backed mobile operator management control of Borusan, 100% stock takeover or a majority stake purchase.
Vodafone Turkey’s acquisition of Borusan would help it to offer converged fixed, mobile and broadband services, and develop its corporate sector presence. Turkcell and Avea, rival telecom operators have already drafted the converged strategies. ISP unit, TTNet of PSTN operator Turk Telekom, which cross-markets mobile broadband and Wi-Fi packages owns Avea.
Turkcell, a fixed broadband operator Tellcom (Superonline), on the other hand, is aiming at extended high speed internet service coverage both with HSPA mobile and fibre-optic technologies.
Zain to launch Wireless Mifi in Kuwait
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Middle East and Africa operator Zain Group will soon launch Mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device, ‘Zain Mifi Intelligent Mobile Hotspot’ in Kuwait. The company will extend its services to the other countries later on.
This project will enable all the Zain customers to create their own Wi-Fi using their broadband connection. Apart from this, the connection can be also be shared with five Wi-Fi enables devices including laptops, smart phones, cameras, MIDS’s, UMPCs gaming devices or portable media players.
Zain customers can use this service in any of the other 20 Zain ‘One Network’ countries. The Mifi would not require any kind of installation or previously installed software and will be delivered by Novatel Wireless.
Vodafone to launch its iPhone on January 14, 2010
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A New Year gift awaits the people of UK as Vodafone is ready to launch its iPhone on January 14, 2010. 24-month contract will cost £30 per month to the customers. A flat fee of £59 for the 8-GB iPhone 3GS, £149 for the 16-GB 3GS, or £239 for the 32-GB 3GS will also has to be paid by the customers.
Besides, various tariffs plans are also offered including unlimited SMS and WiFi access, and 1 GB of data. A range of tariffs for small business customers are also offered by the operators.
The handset will be sold online through its network of 400 stores and through Apple retail outlets, and also through its indirect partners, which include Carphone Warehouse and Phones 4U.
Indotel’s development plan for 2009 released (Dominican Republic)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: An investment of approximately USD31.8 million will be made by Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (Indotel), a mobile operator based in Dominican Republic, on 14 initiatives shooting from its
‘Biennial Plan of Development Projects 2009-2011.’
According to the project, which will be benefitted from the funding, broadband will be installed in 100 schools across the country. The plan schemes also include roll out of fibre-optic networks in unserved regions, along with the development of Wi-Fi networks for access in public places, projects for training information and communication technology (ICT) and Community Technology Centres (CTC)
According to Jose Rafael Vargas, head of Indotel, the second phase of the Rural Broadband Connectivity project is the most important one, has an estimated budget of DOP157 million and will last for two years.
The purpose of the Rural Broadband Connectivity project is to bring the rural sector on par in terms of access to Information Society and Communication with the urban sector.
Nokia Laptop (Booklet 3G) to sell for $299 in the US
Nokia’s Booklet3G, a Windows 7 based notebook computer will be sold in November through AT&T and Best Buy. It will be on offer for $299.99 with a 2 Year AT&T Data Connect plan.
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sleek, strong Windows 7-based mini-laptop hits Best Buy stores for 299.99 USD in time for the holidays
New York, NY, USA – Drawing upon its rich heritage and leadership in the mobile industry, Nokia is opening a new chapter in mobility with the introduction of the Nokia Booklet 3G to the U.S. together with AT&T, Best Buy and Microsoft. Developed for connectivity just about anytime and virtually anywhere, the Nokia Booklet 3G is refining what consumers can expect at the crossroads of mobility and the personal computer.
“Nokia understands mobility like no other company and recognizes that the most ‘powerful’ device is the one that doesn’t have you running for the power plug or network point” said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, president and CEO of Nokia. “By combining the Booklet’s sleek design, impressive features and competitive price together with the new Windows 7 operating system from Microsoft, AT&T’s nationwide 3G coverage and Best Buy’s unmatched national retail footprint, we believe we have a winning combination for U.S. consumers” (more…)
