Press Clippings: September 2011
Major Industry items you might have missed
Friday, September 30, 2011
Nokia paying developers to build Windows Phone apps.
Source: CNN.
As Nokia prepares for its next crucial venture into the U.S. and high-end smartphones, the Finnish cell-phone maker is missing a crucial piece: an abundant catalog of applications.
Nokia is attempting to woo app developers with such incentives as pre-installing their software on the forthcoming phone, prominent promotion for their products and funding development of an app.
Posted by Judith — 10:53 AM
Samsung to pay Microsoft royalties over Android.
Source: BBC.
Samsung is to start paying Microsoft royalties for every sale of its smartphone and tablet computers that run the rival Google Android platform. Microsoft has long accused Android of violating its patents.
Posted by Judith — 3:21 AM
Italy raises EUR3.9bn. in spectrum auction.
Source: Telecompaper.
Italy has raised EUR3.9bn. in its aucton of 4G radio frequencies, more than double the reserve price of EUR1.7bn. for 240MHz of spectrum.
Posted by Judith — 2:38 AM
Airtel inks Africa 2G, 3G network deal with NSN.
Source: TeleGeography.
NSN has signed an agreement with Bharti Airtel to expand the operator’s 2G infrastructure and deploy 3G networks in seven African countries. Under the agreement, NSN will manage end-to-end network operations, including planning, designing and implementing the 2G and 3G networks for Airtel in the markets of Madagascar, Malawi, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Posted by Judith — 1:34 AM
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Nokia to cut 3,500 jobs, close Romanian plant.
Source: Reuters.
Nokia Oyj, the world’s largest cellphone vendor by volume, is cutting 3,500 jobs in its second major restructuring move in a year, as it struggles with falling sales and profits.
The company said it would close the Cluj factory in Romania, leading to 2,200 job losses, while a further 1,300 jobs would be cut at its Location & Commerce business unit.
Posted by Judith — 3:12 AM
Nokia Siemens gets EUR1bn. injection.
Source: Telecompaper.
Nokia and Siemens have announced that they will each invest another EUR500m. in their network equipment joint venture Nokia Siemens Networks. The announcement follows an unsuccessful search for potential private equity or other investors in the loss-making company.
Posted by Judith — 2:02 AM
T-Mobile lines up against Apple in Samsung lawsuit.
Source: Reuters.
T-Mobile USA has become the latest mobile provider opposing Apple’s bid to stop Samsung Electronics from selling some Galaxy products in the United States.
The move by T-Mobile follows a similar position taken last week by Verizon Wireless.
Posted by Judith — 1:56 AM
Comcast expands into mobile tower business.
Source: FierceCable.
Comcast has announced that it will begin to develop and operate own telecommunications towers. The MSO’s Comcast Ventures unit said it formed a new company, CTI Towers Inc., which will launch initially with a portfolio of about 800 towers that were previously owned and operated by Comcast Cable subsidiaries.
Posted by Judith — 12:30 AM
Rogers expands LTE to Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver.
Source: TeleGeography.
Rogers Communications has expanded its commercial LTE mobile broadband network service to Canada’s three largest cities, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Having launched the country’s first LTE network in Ottawa in July - two months before rival Bell’s LTE debut in Toronto - Rogers now covers more than 5.5m. people - around 9% of the population.
Posted by Judith — 12:20 AM
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Microsoft signs mobile licensing deal with Samsung.
Source: Telecompaper.
Microsoft has announced the signing of a definitive agreement with Samsung Electronics to cross-license their patent portfolios. Under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will receive royalties for Samsung’s mobile phones and tablets running the Android mobile platform. In addition, the companies agreed to cooperate in the development and marketing of the Windows Phone operating system.
Posted by Judith — 4:30 AM
Google to open East London start-up centre.
Source: Telecompaper.
Google has signed a lease for a building in East London to house Tech City, that will serve as a launch-pad for new internet start-ups and developers, Reuters reported. The centre is scheduled to open next year and will house advisers from Google and other organisations that support technology entrepreneurs.
Posted by Judith — 3:34 AM
EC to test broadband performance across member states.
Source: BBC.
The European Commission is launching a major new study of broadband performance across Europe.
The project, led by measurement firm SamKnows, aims to give a clear picture of speeds and reliability of net services in all member states.
ISPs, regulators and consumers will have access to the results when they are completed.
The EC is seeking 10,000 volunteers for the project.
Posted by Judith — 1:34 AM
Intel, Samsung get behind new Linux phone software.
Source: Reuters
Two Linux software groups have joined forces to develop a new operating system for cellphones and other devices in collaboration with Intel and Samsung Electronics.
However, analysts said the new Tizen platform is likely to struggle to attract wider developer and manufacturer support to compete with the dozen or so other mobile operating systems in a market dominated by Apple and Google’s Linux-based Android.
Posted by Judith — 12:10 AM
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunrise and Telefonica ink cooperation deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
Spanish Telecoms company Telefonica has incorporated Switzerland’s Sunrise into its Telefonica Partners Program. Under the terms of the agreement, the two will collaborate on the procurement of network equipment, the development of devices and the delivery of services to multinational companies. Sunrise hopes that the telcos’ combined efforts will give it an advantage over its local competitors.
Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM
Nokia Siemens enters dongle, router business.
Source: Reuters.
NSN has announced that it has started to sell a USB-dongle and two wireless router models for new TD-LTE network technology, marking its entrance into the devices business.
The new devices, stemming from its US$975m. acquisition of Motorola Solutions’ network gear business, are commercially available to support 4G services using the TD-LTE standard in the 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz band.
Posted by Judith — 2:52 AM
Shaw allowed to combine cable and satellite units.
Source: TeleGeography.
Canadian triple-play TV, broadband and telephony operator Shaw Communications has been given permission to combine its cable-based division with its direct-to-home satellite TV service by the country’s telecoms and broadcasting regulator. The CRTC agreed with Shaw’s position that structural separation was no longer necessary because the country’s broadcasting distribution market is now ‘competitive and sustainable’;
Posted by Judith — 1:48 AM
Vimpelcom, MTS embark on US$2bn. LTE collaboration.
Source: TeleGeography.
Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) and Vimpelcom, two of Russia’s self-styled ‘Big Three’ mobile operators have confirmed plans to collaborate on a joint infrastructure rollout to support their respective LTE networks.
Posted by Judith — 1:02 AM
India cap on text messages to deter tele-marketers.
Source: BBC.
The telecoms regulator in India has put a cap on the number of text messages which can be sent from a mobile phone.
Under the new rules, no-one will be able to send more than 100 texts in a day.
The ruling is expected to be a big relief for millions of mobile phone users who have to deal with dozens of unsolicited text messages every day.
Posted by Judith — 12:34 AM
Monday, September 26, 2011
Samsung’s legal woes threaten to crimp growth.
Source: Reuters.
An intensifying legal battle between Samsung Electronics and Apple is expected to crimp growth at one of the fastest growing businesses of the Korean company, while threatening to worsen business ties with the firm’s largest customer.
Posted by Judith — 2:50 AM
Verizon takes Samsung’s side in spat with Apple.
Source: Reuters.
Verizon Wireless, the biggest U.S. mobile provider, has taken a legal stand against Apple’s request to prohibit the sale of some Samsung Electronics’ models in the United States.
Posted by Judith — 1:54 AM
Google starts MVNO trial in Spain.
Source: Telecompaper.
Google is reported to have launched an MVNO trial in Spain, buying network capacity from existing carriers and providing employees with Google Sims. The employees said they received a starter pack containing a Sim card and a Nexus S smartphone. The Sim works over the Movistar, Orange or Vodafone networks. The staff will test which of the three networks is more suitable for a possible future launch of Google’s MVNO.
Posted by Judith — 12:19 AM
PCCW says proposed trust listing could raise HK$10bn.
Source: Businessweek.
PCCW, Hong Kong’s biggest phone company, has said it could raise more than HK$10bn. (US$1.3bn.) from the proposed listing of its telecommunications business trust to repay debt and fund investments.
Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Amazon expected to unveil tablet next week.
Source: Reuters.
Amazon.com, which revolutionized reading with its Kindle e-reader, is expected to unveil a tablet computer next week that analysts say will seriously challenge Apple’s market dominating iPad.
Posted by Judith — 6:37 AM
Friday, September 23, 2011
France raises EUR936m. from 2.6 GHz LTE auction.
Source: Telecompaper.
French regulator Arcep has sold four lots of 2.6GHz spectrum for EUR936m., compared to their reserve price of EUR700m. Orange Frame will pay EUR287.12m. for 20 MHz, Free Mobile EUR271m. for 20 MHz, Bouygues Telecom EUR228.01m. for 15 MHz, and SFR EUR150m. for 15 MHz. All operators have made a commitment to host MVNOs on their networks.
Posted by Judith — 1:45 AM
ZTE plans to roll out 4G handphones in Q2 2012.
Source: Reuters.
ZTE, the world’s No.5 cell phone maker, plans to launch 4G handsets in the second quarter of 2012, aiming to grab more market share by expanding its product range.
Posted by Judith — 12:14 AM
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Qualcomm says India rejects application for Internet licence.
Source: Reuters.
Chipmaker Qualcomm has announced that India’s telecoms ministry has rejected its application for Internet service license for using the broadband spectrum it won in a government auction last year.
Posted by Judith — 4:39 AM
Judge sets February 13 date for AT&T antitrust trial.
Source: Reuters.
A U.S. judge set a February 13 start for a trial over whether AT&T Inc can buy rival T-Mobile USA, a compromise between the companies’ desire for a quick resolution and the Justice Department’s request for more time to prepare its case.
Posted by Judith — 2:05 AM
LightSquared proposes solution to GPS interference complaints.
Source: cellular-news.
LightSquared, the USA based LTE network which is facing complaints that its service will interfere with some GPS devices says that a filter has been developed that alleviates the problems.
The company says that it has signed an agreement with Javad GNSS to develop a system that will eliminate related interference issues for GPS devices, including those already in the agriculture, surveying, construction and defense industries.
Posted by Judith — 1:11 AM
Tesco partners Vodafone to launch Hungarian MVNO venture.
Source: TeleGeography.
Hungary is set to get a new mobile service provider with the news that Tesco has inked an agreement with Vodafone Hungary to offer an MVNO service over the latter’s network. Tesco Mobile Hungary will become the fourth mobile service in the country.
Posted by Judith — 12:01 AM
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
AT&T seeks to offload subscribers, spectrum to rivals to smooth path for T-Mobile takeover.
Source: TeleGeography.
US wireless company AT&T has reportedly made approaches to a number of smaller rivals - including MetroPCS and Leap Wireless - with a view to selling off surplus spectrum, and even parts of its subscriber base. The move forms part of AT&T’s strategy to rescue its controversial US$39bn. takeover of T-Mobile USA. It has also been reported that AT&T reached out to CenturyLink, Dish Network and Sprint Nextel, to gauge their interest in buying some of its assets.
Posted by Judith — 4:54 AM
Vodafone and Conexus Mobile Alliance ink partnership agreement.
Source: TeleGeography.
UK mobile comnpany Vodafone has announced that it has agreed to form a strategic partnership with the Conexus Mobile Alliance, which the former says will significantly expand [its] partner market presence in Asia and provide Conexus member customers with greater support in Vodafone’s global footprint.
Posted by Judith — 2:57 AM
Samsung OS Bada to go open source in 2012.
Source: Telecompaper.
Samsung plans to open up its Bada mobile operating system to outside developers and device makers next year in a bid to reduce its reliance on Google’s Android.
Posted by Judith — 12:03 AM
TeliaSonera to buy additional stake in Kazakhstan’s Kcell.
Source: cellular-news.
TeliaSonera is to increase its holding in GSM Kazakhstan — operating under the brand Kcell — as part of an agreement with Kazakhtelecom.
Kazakhtelecom currently owns 49% of the company, and the remaining 51% of the company is owned by Fintur Holdings, which in turn is owned by TeliaSonera (58.55%) and Turkcell (41.55%).
As part of a government programme to improve the local stock exchange Kazakhtelecom will float just under half of its shares in an IPO.
TeliaSonera will then buy the remaining 24% plus one share, either directly, or through Fintur Holdings.
Posted by Judith — 12:00 AM
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Google and Visa team up on mobile payments.
Source: Reuters
Google Inc has enlisted Visa Inc in its effort to push mobile payments, striking an agreement to allow Visa account-holders to pay for store purchases with their smartphones.
Visa comes onboard a “Google Wallet” project already supported by Citigroup, MasterCard, Sprint Nextel Corp and First Data. In May, the group announced a trial of a system that lets shoppers store money on phones and pay at checkout.
Posted by Sarah — 11:15 AM
Liberty Global closes Aster deal.
Source: TeleGeography
US-based Liberty Global has successfully completed its acquisition of Polish cableco Aster. Following regulatory approval, which was granted with conditions, Liberty Global’s local subsidiary, UPC Polska will merge with the newly purchased company. As previously reported by CommsUpdate, Poland’s regulator has acquiesced to the deal with the caveat that UPC must, within 18 months, resell parts of its network formerly belonging to Aster where services had previously been provided by both companies. In addition, in those buildings previously served by both operators, Aster customers must be given the option to choose an alternative provider without penalty.
Posted by Sarah — 11:14 AM
SmarTone, M1 end partnerships with Vodafone.
Source: Telecompaper.
Two Asian mobile operators have ended their partnerships with Vodafone. Singaporean operator M1 and Vodafone have decided not to renew their partnership agreement when it expires at the end of this year. Separately, Hong Kong mobile operator SmarTone-Vodafone also announced it would not renew its marketing cooperation with Vodafone Group.
Posted by Judith — 5:03 AM
Monday, September 19, 2011
Softbank bets USD200m on mobile ad network.
Source: The Register
The world’s largest indie mobile advertising network InMobi has received a USD200m cash infusion from Japan’s Softbank.
The transaction represents one of the biggest venture capital deals of the year and eclipses all mobile VC investments. InMobi, which launched in 2007, claims it can currently serve ads on 340 million mobile phones in 165 countries.
The deal will be split in two payments of USD100m each, one this month and the other in April 2012.
Posted by Sarah — 10:17 AM
Start-up SpiderCloud targets emerging corporate mobile market.
Source: Reuters
Venture capital-backed telecom gear startup SpiderCloud Wireless aims to tap into the emerging market of small wireless networks which can be used inside offices, shopping centers and stadiums.
Telecom operators around the world are struggling with a shortage of network capacity as the use of video on smartphones and tablets proliferates, and are seeking new solutions to the issue.
Posted by Sarah — 10:14 AM
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Fujitsu gov workers strike Monday: Unite on, PCS off.
Source: The Register
Unionised Fujitsu workers have called off their strike set for Monday after bosses at the firm “doubled” the pot of money available for pay rises with an additional GBP500,000 brought to the negotiating table.
This is according to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union which following a ballot of its 720 members planned a walk out over lower-than-expected pay rises.
The staff work in support functions across the UK public sector for the DVLA, HMRC, Home Office, MoD and ONS and were co-ordinating action with colleagues from the union Unite, who still plan to down tools at the start of next week.
Posted by Sarah — 4:56 AM
Friday, September 16, 2011
Seven states join effort to stop AT&T/T-Mobile deal.
Source: Reuters
Attorneys general from California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington have signed onto the effort to stop the USD39bn deal to merge two of the four large national cellphone carriers.
New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman noted in a statement that New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Albany and Syracuse could see less competition in the wireless space.
The Justice Department says the acquisition of T-Mobile USA by AT&T would lead to higher wireless prices.
AT&T said Friday it was interested in reaching a settlement that would lead to Justice Department approval, and was confident the deal would go forward.
Posted by Sarah — 4:58 AM
Thursday, September 15, 2011
China Mobile inks deal with Clearwire
Source: TeleGeography
US wireless broadband operator Clearwire and Chinese telco China Mobile have signed an agreement to collaborate to accelerate the development of Time Division Long Term Evolution (TD-LTE) devices. The two companies will work together to ‘cultivate a robust device ecosystem that supports multi-mode, multi-band devices with minimum component complexity and cost’. By cooperating, the two companies hope to rapidly increase the availability of TD-LTE-enabled devices and are working towards worldwide data roaming with a variety of network types.
Posted by Sarah — 12:37 PM
France gets 4 bidders for 2.6GHz band
Source: Telecompaper
France’s three main mobile operators, Orange, Bouygues Telecom and SFR, as well as newcomer Free Mobile, have applied to participate in the auction of 4G radio frequencies in the 2.6GHz band, regulator Arcep announced. The deadline to apply was noon on 15 September. Arcep said it will consider the applications and name the qualified bidders by mid-October, with the auction to follow shortly after.
Posted by Sarah — 12:37 PM
Hyperoptic unveils UK’s first 1Gbps broadband connection for residential subscribers
Source: Telegeography
A new British internet service provider (ISP), Hyperoptic, has launched services with what is claims is the UK’s first residential tariff offering downlink and uplink speeds of up to 1Gbps. With the ultrafast broadband connections initially only available in the capital, and then only to ‘large residential and commercial properties’, Hyperoptic has said that it expects to expand coverage of the service to other cities around the country in 2012. According to ZDNet UK, individuals will not simply be able to request a connection. Instead, would-be customers will need to register their interest and look to persuade neighbours to agree to a building-wide deployment, while property managers will be required to sign up for services for multi-dwelling units.
Posted by Sarah — 12:35 PM
AmeriHealth Taps NaviNet For Mobile Care Management
Source: Information Week
Pilot study will send patient information to physicians’ smartphones in the exam room, where critical clinical decisions are made.
With the goal of improving medication adherence, preventing illness, and reducing medical costs, Medicaid managed care organization AmeriHealth Mercy recently announced a pilot project that will allow 167 physicians in its Pennsylvania network to gain access to clinical care alerts and e-prescribing services through their mobile devices.
Posted by Sarah — 12:34 PM
Verizon’s Shammo: Give Spectrum to Companies That Can Use It
Source: The Motley Fool
Verizon Wireless would like to see the government unleash spectrum to companies that can use it rather those that will sit on it and try to flip it for profit. And the government should not place spectrum caps on wireless companies, a top Verizon executive said.
Verizon Communications CFO Fran Shammo said AT&T’s proposed USD39bn (GBP 24.7bn) acquisition of T-Mobile USA highlighted the spectrum issue, and that one of the reasons AT&T is trying to acquire T-Mobile is for its spectrum. Speaking at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch Media, Entertainment & Communications conference, Shammo said that the government needs to move faster to auction spectrum, and that placing spectrum caps on companies will not lead to industry innovation or to more mobile devices consumers want to buy.
Posted by Sarah — 11:38 AM
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
The Global Internet is Decentralising
Source: TeleGeography
The global Internet is far less centered on the United States than it was ten years ago. According to new data from TeleGeography’s Global Internet Geography study, the development of rich regional networks, coupled with a need for diversification, has reduced the share of international capacity connected to the US for all regions except Latin America.
Operators have also diversified the array of city-to-city connections used in global backbones to create additional routing options and improve resiliency.
Posted by Sarah — 1:36 PM
Telefonica Picks AlcaLu for LTE Pilots
Source: Light Reading
Telefonica SA will launch pre-commercial Long Term Evolution (LTE) pilot networks in Madrid and Barcelona using equipment from Alcatel-Lucent, the vendor announced on Wednesday.
For the project, AlcaLu will supply LTE base stations, evolved packet core and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)-based subscriber data management capabilities. The vendor will build and operate the network.
In July, Telefonica, Vodafone Espana S.A. and Orange Spain won spectrum for LTE services in an auction.
While just a pilot LTE network, this is a big deal for AlcaLu because it’s the first sign that the vendor can win at a major European operator to supply radio access network (RAN) equipment
Posted by Sarah — 11:49 AM
Virgin Media finally offers network options on SuperHub
Source: The Register
Virgin Media has finally issued an update for its SuperHub box that allows its customers to configure custom network set-ups with the kit.
The latest firmware upgrade (R30) comes seven months after VM debuted SuperHub, which was immediately hampered by stability issues and slow connections.
Posted by Sarah — 11:34 AM
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Intel and Google unveil Android mobile partnership.
Source: Reuters
Intel Corp and Google Inc launched a development partnership on Tuesday aimed at accelerating the chipmaker’s foray into smartphones.
They will work together to optimize future versions of Google’s Android mobile software for Intel’s “Atom” processors, hoping to speed the development and time-to-market of future Intel-powered smartphones.
Posted by Sarah — 1:14 PM
Chipmaker Broadcom to buy NetLogic for USD3.7 billion.
Source: Reuters
Chipmaker Broadcom Corp plans to buy NetLogic Microsystems Inc for about USD3.7 billion (GBP 2.15) to expand its lineup of chips used in wireless network equipment to take advantage of growing demand for mobile data services.
The $50-per-share deal, which represents a premium of 57 percent over NetLogic’s Friday close of $31.91 on the Nasdaq, sent NetLogic’s shares soaring 50 percent on Monday. But Broadcom shares were down 2.5 percent at $32.60 as some investors questioned the steep premium.
Posted by Sarah — 1:13 PM
Ofcom acts on broadband contracts
Source: BBC News
Broadband and landline contracts which automatically tie customers into long-term deals will be banned from December, Ofcom has said.
Automatically Renewable Contracts (ARCs) kick in if customers do not actively opt out, and impose penalties if users want to move to another service provider.
Ofcom estimates that around 15% of UK residential customers are on such rollover contracts.
BT is one of those using them.
Other residential providers include Adept Telecom, Axis Telecom, Eze Talk and iTalk, while TalkTalk Business, Titan Telecoms and Optimum Calls offer ARCs to business users.
Ofcom’s chief executive Ed Richards said: “ARCs raise barriers to effective competition by locking customers into long-term deals with little additional benefit.”
Posted by Sarah — 1:12 PM
BT to fibre-up another 114 exchanges
Source: The Register
BT is upgrading a further 114 exchanges - the majority of which will receive fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) technology.
The telco said this morning that the latest rollout would serve one million homes and businesses in the UK. Its Openreach division said that it planned to complete the upgrades by the end of autumn 2012.
BT has committed £2.5bn to its plan to bring “superfast” broadband to two-thirds of homes and businesses in the UK by the end of 2015.
Posted by Sarah — 1:11 PM
Monday, September 12, 2011
Smartphones exceed feature phones in Western Europe in Q2.
Source: Telecompaper.
Western European feature phone shipments continued to decline sharply in Q2 this year as consumers increasingly move to smartphones. Feature phone shipments were down 29% to 20.4m. units in Q2, while smartphone shipments increased 48% to 21.8m. units from a year ago.
Posted by Judith — 2:41 AM
Mobistar unveils network upgrade plan.
Source: TeleGeography.
Belgian mobile network operator Mobistar has revealed that it is to replace all of its 2G Nortel equipment and replace it with new, LTE-ready kit provided by Chinese hardware vendor Huawei. The cellco has said that it expects to upgrade all of its equipment by 2013, and claims that, as well as preparing it for the introduction of commercial LTE services, the network improvements will also allow it to increase transmission capacity and rates in the coming years.
Posted by Judith — 1:06 AM
NTT Com units expand global IP network with Brazilian PoP.
Source: TeleGeography.
NTT America and NTT do Brasil, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Japan’s NTT Communications have announced the joint expansion of the group’s Tier 1 global IP network through a new PoP in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The pair hope the new connectivity point in the region will enable them to better serve LatAm service providers and content delivery networks through its high-capacity network.
Posted by Judith — 12:06 AM
Saturday, September 10, 2011
German court upholds ban on Samsung tablets.
Source: cellular-news.
Samsung has suffered a set back in its battle with Apple over the design of its tablet devices after a German court upheld a ban on the sales of the Samsung tablet in Germany.
However, the court’s interim ruling which was overturned earlier was for the entire of Europe, so the decision by the court to limit its latest decision to Germany only will be a small crumb of comfort for Samsung.
Posted by Judith — 2:32 AM
Friday, September 9, 2011
Vodafone opens Vodafone Xone centre in Silicon Valley.
Source: Telecompaper.
Vodafone USA has launched Vodafone Xone, an integrated R&D centre in Silicon Valley. Under the Vodafone Xone programme, Vodafone will provide technical expertise, potential financial assistance, logistical support and facilities to help US technology companies gain a fast track into proof-of-concept trials across Vodafone’s global network.
Posted by Judith — 3:01 AM
Bharti Airtel granted 3G license in Rwanda.
Source: cellular-news.
India’s Bharti Airtel has announced that it has been awarded a GSM and 3G license in Rwanda, expanding its African continental footprint to 17 countries.
The company added that it plans to invest over US$100m. in the country over the next three years. According to the statement, this also marks the largest investment out of India into Rwanda.
Posted by Judith — 1:56 AM
Alibaba to release English mobile OS this month.
Source: Reuters.
Alibaba Cloud Computing, a unit of Alibaba Group, will release an English version of its mobile operating system this month and launch its tablet in the next two months..
Chinese Internet companies are expanding into the mobile hardware space as they try to bolster market share in this rapidly growing market..
Alibaba launched its first self-developed mobile operating system and smartphone in late July in a bid to capture a slice of China’s rapidly growing mobile Internet market.
Posted by Judith — 12:36 AM
Thursday, September 8, 2011
HTC gains Google patents to fight Apple.
Source: Telecompaper.
HTC is using nine patents bought from Google last week to pursue new infringement claims against Apple. Google had taken ownership of the patents less than a year ago, with four of the patents originating from Motorola, three from Openwave Systems and two from Palm. HTC now has more ammunition in its fight to fend off multiple patent-infringement claims lodged by Apple that contend phones running Google’s Android operating system copy the iPhone.
Posted by Judith — 2:49 AM
LG Electronics cuts 30% of overseas mobile staff.
Source: Reuters.
South Korea’s LG Electronics has slashed about 30% of overseas staff at its struggling mobile phone division as a part of broad-based reforms to turn the money-losing business around.
Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM
Vodafone Essar and IBM renew outsourcing deal.
Source: TeleGeography.
Indian mobile network operator Vodafone Essar and US-based IBM have reportedly renegotiated the outsourcing contract first signed between them in 2007. With the two companies having originally agreed a five-year, US$400m. deal back in 2007, it is understood that, with the contract expiry looming, negotiations to restructure the deal were completed last month.
Posted by Judith — 1:18 AM
French court rejects request to block 4G spectrum auction.
Source: cellular-news.
The highest administrative court in France, the Conseil d’Etat has rejected an appeal by French telco, Iliad to change the terms of the country’s forthcoming radio spectrum auction.
The company, though its Free branded subsidiary, had argued that the auction rules would hurt the company to a degree that would be illegal, or reduce the market competitiveness to a similar degree.
The company had tried to also argue that the requirement for the licenses to be paid for in full at the time of award put smaller companies at a competitive disadvantage. The judge rejected the claim.
Posted by Judith — 12:25 AM
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sprint sues to block AT&T’s proposed T-Mobile buy.
Source: Reuters.
Sprint Nextel has sued to stop AT&T’s US$39bn. purchase of T-Mobile USA, staking out its own private antitrust claims alongside the U.S. government’s challenge to the deal.
A fierce opponent of the deal, Sprint said the combination would lead to higher prices for consumers and create a duopoly between AT&T and Verizon Communications.
Posted by Judith — 2:56 AM
Regulators raid Google Seoul office.
Source: WSJ.
The Korean Fair Trade Commission has raided the Seoul office of Google in connection with an alleged unfair trade in South Korea’s mobile search engine market.
Local Internet portal operators NHN and Daum Communications filed a complaint in April with the FTC against Google for allegedly limiting their access to smartphones using the Android operating system.
Posted by Judith — 1:30 AM
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
NBN Co inks construction deals for Western Australia and Victoria.
Source: TeleGeography.
NBN Co, the public-private company set up to oversee the construction and management of Australia’s in-deployment National Broadband Network (NBN) has announced that rollout of the new fibre infrastructure will get underway shortly in Western Australia and Victoria.
Posted by Judith — 4:22 AM
Dell and Baidu tie up for smartphones in China.
Source: BBC.
Dell has confirmed it is one of a number of companies partnering with Baidu, China’s top search engine, on mobile devices.
A Dell spokesperson said the company was developing smartphones that would run Baidu’s new software platform for the Chinese market.
Posted by Judith — 3:56 AM
UK to delay 4G Radio spectrum auction.
Source: cellular-news.
The UK’s telecom regulator, Ofcom has pushed back the country’s radio spectrum auction by at least three months following rumoured threats of legal action from the main mobile networks.
The auction paperwork was due to be published by the end of this year, but will now be published sometime in the first quarter of next year, with the auction itself taking place about three months later.
Posted by Judith — 1:25 AM
Telefonica in major European shake-up.
Source: cellular-news.
A restructuring at Telefonica will see the company shift around 2,500 jobs from Spain to offices around the world as it folds its Spanish networks into its larger European division.
Currently, the company has a European division, made up largely of the former O2 mobile networks, but treats its home market of Spain as separate from that. Under the plans announced today, the company will retain its global HQ in Spain, but the management of the Spanish networks will be combined with the rest of the European management.
Posted by Judith — 12:46 AM
Monday, September 5, 2011
Amazon expected to unveil tablet next week.
Source: Reuters.
Amazon.com., which revolutionized reading with its Kindle e-reader, is expected to unveil a tablet computer next week that analysts say will seriously challenge Apple’s market dominating iPad.
Posted by Judith — 8:05 AM
Three UK wants legislation to force through spectrum auctions.
Source: cellular-news.
Hutchison 3G UK (Three) is calling on the British government to pass legislation making it impossible for the larger networks to delay next year’s radio spectrum auction.
The company, which holds spectrum in just the 2.1Ghz band is keen to buy more capacity, especially at the lower frequencies, but is concerned that the other networks may make good on threats to block the auction in a dispute over how it is structured.
Posted by Judith — 6:01 AM
German court bans sales of Samsung’s new tablet.
Source: Reuters.
Samsung Electronics has stopped promoting its new tablet computer at Europe’s biggest consumer electronics fair after a court-ordered sales injunction in Germany, the latest setback in its global patent battle with Apple.
The Galaxy Tab 7.7 is the latest addition to Samsung’s range of Galaxy products. It was first unveiled at the show along with 5.3-inch Galaxy Note, which Samsung hopes to create a new product category with and fill the gap between smartphones and tablets.
Samsung and Apple have been locked in acrimonious battle over smartphones and tablets patents since April as Apple seeks to rein in the growth of Google’s Android phones by taking directly aim at the biggest Android vendor, Samsung.
Posted by Judith — 2:17 AM
UK Mobile Networks sign mobile data backhaul contract.
Source: cellular-news.
Two of the UK’s mobile networks, Everything Everywhere (which owns Orange and T-Mobile) and Hutchison 3G UK have signed a deal with Virgin Media Business for mobile backhaul services.
Under the terms of the agreement, Mobile Broadband Network Ltd (MBNL) — a 50/50 joint venture company owned by Three and Everything Everywhere — will be the first company to roll out Virgin Media Business’ seamless Sync-E solution. Virgin Media Business will build 14 regional aggregation networks across the UK to enhance MBNL’s bandwidth capacity.
Posted by Judith — 12:53 AM
Brazil’s America Net spends US$6.4m. on fibre expansion.
Source: TeleGeography.
Brazilian alternative fixed line operator America Net has invested BRL10.5m. (US$6.4m.) to expand its fibre-optic network and plans to offer its services to 5,000 customers by the end of 2011.
Posted by Judith — 12:02 AM
Friday, September 2, 2011
Ofcom outlines plans for white space use.
Source: TeleGeography.
UK telecoms watchdog Ofcom has announced the progression of plans for the introduction of ‘white space’ technology, with the regulator claiming to be the first regulator in Europe to do so.
Ofcom expects that white space technology could be launched in the UK in 2013.
Posted by Judith — 3:55 AM
China’s Baidu offers glimpse of new mobile OS.
Source: Reuters.
China’s top search engine Baidu has offered a glimpse of its upcoming mobile operating system and launched a new mobile application platform aimed at bolstering its presence in the increasingly competitive mobile web market.
Baidu Yi is modelled on Google’s Android mobile operating system and will be rolled out to mobile devices in the future.
Posted by Judith — 2:59 AM
Shaw drops mobile network plans for Wi-Fi roll-out.
Source: Telecompaper.
Canadian cable operator Shaw Communications has abandoned plans to build its own mobile network and will instead focus on providing customers with Wi-Fi services. Shaw said a review of the mobile plans showed the cost of building a new operator was too high and it lacked the needed economies of scale and spectrum to make the venture a success.
Posted by Judith — 12:06 AM
Thursday, September 1, 2011
US Dept of Justice moves to block AT&T takeover of T-Mobile.
Source: Telecompaper.
The US Department of Justice has moved to block AT&T’s proposed US$39bn. takeover of T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom. The DoJ said the merger of two of the four national mobile carriers in the US would “substantially lessen competition” for mobile services, “resulting in higher prices, poorer quality services, fewer choices and fewer innovative products”. The DoJ filed a civil antitrust lawsuit to block the merger, against which AT&T can still appeal.
Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM
TeliaSonera Finland inks network modernisation deal with NSN.
Source: TeleGeography.
Finland’s second largest cellco by subscribers, TeliaSonera Finland, has inked a two-year deal with local hardware vendor NSN under which the latter will modernise its existing GSM and 3G networks and roll out new LTE services.
Posted by Judith — 2:34 AM
TTSL and Vanu sign agreement for coverage and capacity expansion in four circles.
Source: TeleGeography.
Indian mobile network operator Tata Teleservices (TTSL) has awarded US-based wireless infrastructure solutions provider Vanu a multi-million dollar contract for the supply of radio access network solutions for its GSM arm, Tata DOCOMO.
Posted by Judith — 1:36 AM
UK mobile internet use nearing 50%.
Source: BBC.
Almost half of UK internet users are going online via mobile phone data connections, according to the Office for National Statistics.
45% of people surveyed said they made use of the net while out and about, compared with 31% in 2010.
The most rapid growth was among younger people, where 71% of internet-connected 16 to 24-year-olds used mobiles.
Posted by Judith — 1:00 AM
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