Wireless

Wireless shoppers make heavy searches: Google

On 03.19.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

According to Google Inc., the Internet giant wireless carriers, retailers and manufacturers need to have a strong voice in the marketplace and promote phone features in order to increase their online campaign clicks.

Google also added that carriers, retailers and manufacturers should increase online marketing to accommodate today’s wireless shopping hobbit.

According to Kyle Keogh, industry director of technology sales at Google, Mountain View, CA, people are searching for phones but not finding what they are looking for but the search volume is high.

As per the study, a whopping 78 percent of the first clicks are on brand names. Other key finding of the study include that the wireless phone arena is a competitive marketplace and smartphones bring new customers to retailers, carriers and manufacturers.

Over 2,961 consumers had participated in this survey. 65 percent of which were found to be new smartphone owners.

Mobile Marketing Association launches Rich Media Ad Whitepaper

On 03.17.10, In Mobile Marketing, By Editor

A whitepaper has been launched by the Mobile Marketing Association on Rich Media Mobile Advertising. The aim of this whitepaper will be to educate the mobile marketing industry about the rich mobile media ad units.

The whitepaper will be containing definitions, attributes and examples of Rich Media advertising in the market place. The MMA has created a definition for Rich Media Mobile Ad Units with this document which is interactive or non-interactive ad units displayed on a mobile web page or in a mobile application. It offers the following: inclusion of streaming video content or animated GIF within the ad unit, inclusion of sound, and a richer interactive feature set than basic mobile click-through.

The whitepaper has been created by MMA member companies serving on the organization’s Mobile Advertising Committee including Quattro Wireless, Crisp Wireless, Eyewonder, Millenial Media, Greystripe, GOGII, JumpTap, Medialets, Rhythm NewMedia and The Weather Channel.

According to Rohit Dadwal, Managing Director, APAC, MMA, the 2009 Asia Pacific Smartphone market is estimated to be 52 million devices, which indicates a tech-savvy consumer group that wants to get the most out of their mobile experiences. And with the increasing penetration of these feature-rich Smartphones, marketers have now started to increase mobile ad capabilities and provide richer content on mobile devices.

Tagged with: ASIA • Asia Pacific • Crisp Wireless • Mobile Advertising • Mobile Marketing • Quattro Wireless • smartphone • Smartphone Market • smartphones • whitepaper • Wireless

Motorola Backflip launched; priced at $99.99

On 03.08.10, In Mobile Phones, By Editor

AT&T’s Motorola Backflip has been launched and the price is $99.99 after a mail-in rebate and with a two-year agreement.

AT&T has huge carrier plans which include launching of 5Andoid-powered devices in the first half of the year, most probably during the upcoming CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas. These 5Android-powered devices will include Dell Mini 3 and some HTC models.

It runs MOTO’s own MOBOBLUR UI on top of Android, which allows users to quickly connect with their friends across various social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. The other features loaded on the phones include 5-megapixel camera, WiFi connectivity, GPS with compass, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard and HADPA.

Tagged with: Android • Android-powered • Dell Mini • Facebook • GPS • HTC • Las Vegas • Mail-in Rebate • megapixel camera • MOBOBLUR • Motorola • QWERTY • QWERTY keyboard • Social Networking • social networking sites • WiFi • Wireless

Motorola Opus rechristened to i1

On 03.08.10, In Mobile Phones, By Editor

Motorola Opus is expected to make an official announcement at the CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas next month. The iDEN based device is attracting people because of its name. Instead of Opus, Motorola will be calling it i1. This gives a hint that even i2 and i3 are in development.

It’s likely that i1 will run Android 1.5 and will be loaded with various features including 3-megapixel camera. Since it’s an iDEN device, it surely will be having push-to-talk functionality.

Motorola is expected to make easy money with this iDEN-based Android smartphone. Though it’s not a large market but at the same time the product lacks competition, which is a positive sign. As it is Motorola is ruling Nextel’s offering and by adding an Android device the brand could at least bring their margins to some higher level. The i1 is expected to be a bit more expensive than some other MOTO phones sold through Sprint-owned networks, Nextel and Boost Mobile included.

Tagged with: Android • Android Device • CTIA Wireless • Droid • Las Vegas • megapixel camera • Mobile • Motorola • NEXTEL • smartphone • Wireless

Indian mobiles set to get 11 digit numbers

On 12.03.09, In Mobile, By Editor

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.

Tagged with: access code • ASIA • BSNL • country code • Department of Telecommunication • India • Internet Service Provider • MCC • migration • MNC • Mobile Subscribers • MTNL • national numbering • Subscriber base • Telecommunications • Wireless • wireless subscriber

Zain Malawi gets 3G Licence.

On 11.13.09, In Mobile, By Editor

MACRA has awarded a 3G licence to Zain Malawi, which is expected to enhance high-speed wireless internet access.

Zain marketing director, Enwell Kadango confirmed that discussions that started between the company and MACRA since 2006 has finally borne fruit as its licence conditions have now been changed.

“3G is the telecommunication hardware standard and general technology for the mobile networking superseding 2.5G system which will now allow speed in data processing,” said Kadango who added that Malawi is taking after most developing countries that are using this technology.

Currently Zain Malawi is about to finish its equipment installation across the country which will be compatible with the new system which offers fast downloading speeds of between 2-8mbps.

Malawi’s Zain CEO Fayaz King said 3G would also allow users to watch television besides connecting to the internet and make video calls.

TNM Limited Zain’s competitor in the market got the licence sometime back but it is only now that the company has been testing it.

Zain marketing director, Enwell Kadango confirmed that discussions that started between the company and MACRA since 2006 has finally borne fruit as its licence conditions have now been changed.

“3G is the telecommunication hardware standard and general technology for the mobile networking superseding 2.5G system which will now allow speed in data processing,” said Kadango who added that Malawi is taking after most developing countries that are using this technology.

Currently Zain Malawi is about to finish its equipment installation across the country which will be compatible with the new system which offers fast downloading speeds of between 2-8mbps.

Malawi’s Zain CEO Fayaz King said 3G would also allow users to watch television besides connecting to the internet and make video calls.

TNM Limited, Zain’s competitor in the market got the licence sometime back but it is only now that the company has been testing it.

Tagged with: 3G • 3G Licence • CEO Fayaz • Internet Access • MACRA • Malawi • Mobile Network • telecom • Wireless • wireless internet • Zain Malawi

Send Free Children’s Day SMS Greetings to any mobile in India.

On 11.13.09, In Mobile, By Editor

India’s top Free SMS site, YouMint.com has announced that Indians all over the globe can now send Free Children’s Day SMS Greetings to their loved ones through YouMint.com.

Children’s day is celebrated in India on the 14th of November, the birthday of independent India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as a tribute to his love of children.

A poll was conducted to determine the most popular Childrens Day SMS and the winner is:

Do u know why 14 Nov is Children’s Day. It’s because it comes exactly after 9 months from Valentine’s day (14 Feb).

TO SEND FREE DIWALI SMS : CLICK HERE (Registration Required)

India’s top Free SMS site, YouMint.com has announced that Indians all over the globe can now send Free Children’s Day SMS Greetings to their loved ones through YouMint.com.

Children’s day is celebrated in India on the 14th of November, the birthday of independent India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as a tribute to his love of children.

A poll was conducted to determine the most popular Childrens Day SMS and the winner is:

Do u know why 14 Nov is Children’s Day? It’s because it comes exactly after 9 months from Valentine’s day (14 Feb) !

TO SEND FREE CHILDREN’S DAY SMS : CLICK HERE (Registration Required)

Tagged with: Diwali SMS • Free diwali SMS • Free SMS • Free SMS site • Mobile in india • SMS Greeting • Wireless • YouMint • Youmint.com

Wataniya finally launches in West Bank.

On 11.12.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Wataniya Mobile finally began operations after months of disputes with Israel. This will break Paltels monopoly and is likely to drive down prices.

Qtel owns 57% of Wataniya Palestine and the remainder is owned by the public Palestine Investment Fund. Wataniya has invested USD 100 Million already and a further $700m is planned over the next decade.

Current penetration in the west bank is only 35% which Wireless Federation expects to go up rapidly following the launch of Wataniya. Paltel currently has 1.5 million Palestinian subscribers.

Wataniya said it has received only 3.8MHz of bandwidth from Israel, instead of the 4.8MHz that had been promised. Without this Wataniya will not be able to launch 3G services.

Wataniya Mobile finally began operations after months of disputes with Israel. This will break Paltels monopoly and is likely to drive down prices.

Qtel owns 57% of Wataniya Palestine and the remainder is owned by the public Palestine Investment Fund. Wataniya has invested USD 100 Million already and a further $700m is planned over the next decade.

Current penetration in the west bank is only 35% which Wireless Federation expects to go up rapidly following the launch of Wataniya. Paltel currently has 1.5 million Palestinian subscribers.

Wataniya said it has received only 3.8MHz of bandwidth from Israel, instead of the 4.8MHz that had been promised. Without this Wataniya will not be able to launch 3G services.

Tagged with: 3G • 3G Services • Fund • Investment • Israel • Monopoly • Palestine • Palestinia • Palestinian • Paltels • Penetration • Qtel • Subscribers • Wataniya • West Bank • Wireless • Wireless Federation

IndiaMobile 2009: India’s largest Mobile Usage study results to be announced shortly.

On 10.14.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Wireless Federation will shortly be announcing the availability of the results of India’s largest primary research project undertaken to study Mobile usage in India. The project is titled IndiaMobile 2009.

The survey is one of the most representative, independent enumeration of mobile phone usage in India. Close to 285,000 urban and rural Indians, covering all states and union territories–574 districts, 3,175 towns and over 2,800 villages were interviewed. With at least 30 plus sample each from 323 districts and 419 towns, and 100 plus sample each from 184 districts and 155 towns, the study could actually be the World’s largest mobile (telecom) usage study carried out in a single country. The survey was carried out by a reputed local research agency under the guidance of Wireless Federation.

With the Mobile sector in India seeing close to 20% of its market capitalisation knocked off in the last few days and increased momentum in the price war in India, the results from this survey will help the sector understand its customers better in order to re-gain some of its strength back.

Airtel, Aircel, Tata Indicom, Tata DoCoMo, Etisalat, MTS India, Loop Mobile, Reliance Mobile, Idea Cellular, Vodafone, BSNL, MTNL, Telenor, Virgin can all now compare data from each and every circle and each live operator to understand demographic spread, handset usage and analysis as well as detailed psychographic analysis of the Indian mobile consumer.

The Indian mobile industry will be able to plan better based on the results from this study, which is now planned to occur each year. A large majority of mobile operators have expressed keen interest in the results of the study.

By using the IndiaMobile 2009 results, Mobile Operators will be able to further mould the study to better suit their needs from 2010 onwards.

This study will be the de-facto benchmark for Mobile Usage in India, given the thorough nature of the research, the sheer size of the sample and the level of interest from the Mobile Eco-System in utilising the results from this study.

For More information, please write to Audrey [at] WirelessFederation.com for your free copy of the headline results.

Tagged with: Aircel • Airtel • Audrey • BSNL • consumer • DoCoMo • Etisalat • Idea • India • IndiaMobile • Indicom • Loop • MTNL • MTS • operators • Reliance • Survey • Tata • Telenor • Virgin • Vodafone • Wireless • WirelessFederation

Bharti Airtel considering bid for Millicom SL

On 10.07.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Bharti Airtel CEO, Manoj Kohli told reporters in India that Airtel may bid for Millicom’s Sri Lankan operation. Bharti already operates in SL.

Wireless Federation had earlier reported that Millicom/Tigo Laos has been sold to Russia’s Vimpelcom.

Bharti is actively considering acquisitions in Africa and the world over after the talks with MTN collapsed.

Bharti group CEO Sunil Mittal has said that the company won’t engage in dialogue with MTN for a third time, after inconclusive talks twice.

Nasdaq-listed Millicom provides prepaid cellular telephony services to over 30 million customers in 16 emerging markets in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Asked if Bharti Airtel was also interested in Kuwait’s Zain Telecom, Kohli said they will continue to explore international acquisitions. (Airtel-Zain, See Here)

Tagged with: Acquisitions • Africa • africa and the world • Airtel • ASIA • Bharti • Bharti Airtel • Bharti Group • CEO • CEO Sunil Mittal • Emerging Market • Emerging Markets • India • international acquisitions • Kohli • Kuwait • Lankan • Laos • Latin America • manoj • Millicom • MTN • nasdaq • Nasdaq-listed • Russia • Sri Lanka • Sri Lankan • Sunil Mittal • telecom • Tigo • VimpelCom • Wireless • Wireless Federation