SANTA CLARA, USA: NetLogic Microsystems Inc. announced that ZTE Corp., a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, has selected NetLogic Microsystems’ industry-leading NLA11k knowledge-based processors, optimized for Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) processing, for ZTE’s multi-terabit T8000 Cluster Router. ZTE’s T8000 Router is ideal for operators and service providers building sophisticated IP/Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) infrastructure for next-generation network backbones.
The exhaustion of IPv4 Internet addresses, driven by the proliferation of Internet-connected devices, is currently driving the migration to the new IPv6 Internet addressing scheme, which increases the number of available addresses by more than 28 orders of magnitude.
In order to support this migration, as well as the continued increases in complexity and higher throughputs of network traffic, next-generation networking equipment requires industry-leading knowledge-based processors that can perform Layers 2 - 4 network processing such as classification, security and forwarding at higher speeds, while supporting a 4x increase in Internet protocol address widths.
ZTE’s T8000 Cluster Router leverages NetLogic Microsystems’ advanced NLA11k knowledge-based processors to support complex Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) processing capabilities. Together ZTE’s T8000 router and NetLogic Microsystems’ NLA11k knowledge-based processor feature superior scaling capacity and port density, as well as offer unparalleled performance and reduced power consumption to operators and service providers.
“We selected NetLogic Microsystems’ advanced knowledge-based processors because they deliver superior processing performance for more complex IPv6 routing and lower power consumption that enables us to develop industry-leading solutions for carrier, enterprise and data center networks,” said Liu HengQi, chief engineer of router products at ZTE Corporation. “At ZTE, we are dedicated to technology leadership, and we are glad to partner with innovators like NetLogic Microsystems who share our commitment to excellence in developing highly competitive, best-in-class networking solutions.”
ZTE’s high-performance T8000 Cluster Router supports 200 Terabits per second (Tbps) of switching capability, is scalable from 3.84Tbps to 200Tbps, and has seamless interconnection with optical transmission network via 40 and 100 Gigabit interfaces, (having up to 2,048 40G interfaces or 1,024 100G interfaces). Each port of the T8000 router provides 10G, 40G and 100G capacity. The T8000 router employs an intelligent power supply management system that automatically controls and optimizes power consumption of each module according to traffic conditions.
By also having the fan speed variable and the fan system intelligently initiate the line card and go into hibernation, further reduces power consumption. Moreover, ZTE’s cluster router simplifies users’ network architecture, enhances the capability of deploying new services, improves users’ market responding capability, reduces customers’ OPEX and makes the customer more competitive in the competition.
“We are pleased that our industry-leading NLA11k knowledge-based processors have been selected by ZTE for its cutting-edge T8000 cluster routers,” said Chris O’Reilly, VP of marketing at NetLogic Microsystems. “The strong and continued design win success of our NL11K product family is a testament to both the growing momentum of IPv6-related carrier and enterprise infrastructure upgrades as well as our market and technical leadership in delivering highly differentiated solutions for next-generation networks.”
NetLogic Microsystems’ best-in-class knowledge-based processors deliver 1.6 billion decisions per second (BDPS) of IPv6 processing, quality-of-service (QoS), ACL security, video/voice forwarding, high-speed packet inspection, billing and VPN at line rates while maximizing energy efficiency of the overall system. The knowledge-based processor, which is manufactured in the advanced 40nm process node, integrates 128 high-performance knowledge-based processing engines, and includes an enhanced Intelligent Load Balancing Engine (ILBE) to efficiently allocate multiple tasks and communicate among all the 128 knowledge-based processing engines.
The knowledge-based processing engines and ILBE are tightly coupled with integrated advanced Sahasra Algorithmic Engines (SAEs) to dramatically lower the power consumption of search processing. The processor also integrates an innovative Range Encoding Engine (REE), which employs advanced one-hot and fence encoding algorithms to implement range encoding that allows customers to effectively double the efficiency of performing port range inspection, an integral part of packet classification.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Airtel extends 3G services to Dharamshala, Mandi and Manali
DHARAMSHALA, INDIA: Bharti Airtel has announced the availability of its 3G services in Dharamshala, Mandi and Manali. This follows the recent launch of Airtel 3G services in Shimla, Solan, Baddi and Parwanoo.
With this, Airtel mobile customers across Himachal Pradesh will now be able to experience the Airtel 3G advantage and enjoy a host of innovative service capabilities including fast mobile internet access, Mobile TV, video calling, video streaming and social networking – at anytime, from anywhere. Airtel also offers high speed USB data cards that provide customers with 3G access on laptops.
Airtel customers in Himachal Pradesh can now enjoy the next generation of mobile technology on their 3G compatible handsets that are available in the market for as low as Rs 3,500.
The launch of Airtel 3G gives customers the power to enjoy multimedia services, high speed mobile broadband, videos on phone, live TV, video calls and much more – all at speeds never experienced before. Airtel 3G mobile customers in the country will now be able to leverage Airtel internet on 3G to make international video calls and interact face-to-face with their loved ones and colleagues living abroad - instantly sharing experiences and information.
With this, Airtel mobile customers across Himachal Pradesh will now be able to experience the Airtel 3G advantage and enjoy a host of innovative service capabilities including fast mobile internet access, Mobile TV, video calling, video streaming and social networking – at anytime, from anywhere. Airtel also offers high speed USB data cards that provide customers with 3G access on laptops.
Airtel customers in Himachal Pradesh can now enjoy the next generation of mobile technology on their 3G compatible handsets that are available in the market for as low as Rs 3,500.
The launch of Airtel 3G gives customers the power to enjoy multimedia services, high speed mobile broadband, videos on phone, live TV, video calls and much more – all at speeds never experienced before. Airtel 3G mobile customers in the country will now be able to leverage Airtel internet on 3G to make international video calls and interact face-to-face with their loved ones and colleagues living abroad - instantly sharing experiences and information.
Qualcomm collaborates with leading OEMs to announce availability of multi-mode LTE TDD devices in India
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Qualcomm Inc., in collaboration with Huawei, ZTE, Quanta and BandRich, announced the launch of LTE TDD multi-mode devices based on Qualcomm's MDM9x00 chipsets at Qualcomm's signature event, IndiaOn 2011. This launch demonstrates the ecosystem's readiness for deployment and commercialization of LTE TDD in concert with 3G to enable seamless mobile broadband experience for Indian consumers.
"Qualcomm is pleased to collaborate with Huawei, ZTE, Quanta and BandRich for the launch of LTE TDD multimode devices based on our MDM9x00 chipsets in India," said Avneesh Agrawal, senior VP of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm India and South Asia. "The announcement of multi-mode LTE TDD devices today is a significant milestone for the commercialization and deployment of LTE in concert with 3G for Indian BWA operators."
LTE's interoperability with existing 3G HSPA and EV-DO networks enables operators to leverage investments in current infrastructure to offer seamless mobile broadband services through multi-mode devices. Offering the industry's first 3G/LTE multi-mode chipsets, Qualcomm continues to play a central role in accelerating the commercialization of LTE TDD with its announcements of multiple generations of multi-mode chipsets, support of interoperability trials with operators and, now, enabling the launch of LTE TDD multi-mode devices based on our chipsets.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Qualcomm to announce the world's first multi-mode LTE TDD Dongle E392 based on Qualcomm's MDM9600, which is anticipated to be commercially available in the third quarter of 2011," said Victor Shan, president of Huawei Devices India.
"Based on our experience of working with operator partners and serving more than 55 percent of global and Indian consumers' datacard needs, we believe that E392 offers a strong and unique proposition to Indian customers that enables seamless mobile broadband experience for services such as internet surfing, HD video downloading, 3D multi-media, navigation and gaming."
"ZTE, a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and services, is a strategic collaborator with Qualcomm the LTE. Today we are pleased to announce that ZTE's multimode LTE TDD dongles based on Qualcomm's MDM9x00 chipset which is anticipated to be available in the fourth quarter of 2011," said Cui Liangjun, CEO of ZTE Telecom India Pvt. Ltd.
"As a leading IT company, Quanta is committed to support cloud computing on mobile networks," Frank Jiang, VP and GM of Connectivity BU, Quanta Computer Inc. "By providing a complete line of LTE TDD terminal devices that includes USB dongles, CPE, MiFi, smartphones and tablets based on Qualcomm's MDM9x00 multimode chipsets, Quanta is working diligently to be the partner of choice for enabling seamless mobile broadband experience on 3G and LTE in India."
"BandRich is excited to work with Qualcomm, mobile operators and network equipment vendors to bring 2.3GHz LTE TDD multi-mode devices to the India market before the end of 2011," said Dr. Wen-Yi Kuo, CEO, BandRich. "BandRich is proud to bring innovative products and worldwide deployment experiences to accelerate LTE TDD deployment by Indian operators."
Qualcomm has played a key role in contributing to India's wireless revolution by making mobile communication affordable and accessible and is now accelerating the growth of mobile broadband with 3G HSPA, EV-DO and LTE. In collaboration with its ecosystem participants, Qualcomm continues to play the role of a technology enabler and innovator, to ensure that the benefits of 3G, EV-DO and LTE touch the lives of every Indian.
"Qualcomm is pleased to collaborate with Huawei, ZTE, Quanta and BandRich for the launch of LTE TDD multimode devices based on our MDM9x00 chipsets in India," said Avneesh Agrawal, senior VP of Qualcomm and president of Qualcomm India and South Asia. "The announcement of multi-mode LTE TDD devices today is a significant milestone for the commercialization and deployment of LTE in concert with 3G for Indian BWA operators."
LTE's interoperability with existing 3G HSPA and EV-DO networks enables operators to leverage investments in current infrastructure to offer seamless mobile broadband services through multi-mode devices. Offering the industry's first 3G/LTE multi-mode chipsets, Qualcomm continues to play a central role in accelerating the commercialization of LTE TDD with its announcements of multiple generations of multi-mode chipsets, support of interoperability trials with operators and, now, enabling the launch of LTE TDD multi-mode devices based on our chipsets.
"We are pleased to collaborate with Qualcomm to announce the world's first multi-mode LTE TDD Dongle E392 based on Qualcomm's MDM9600, which is anticipated to be commercially available in the third quarter of 2011," said Victor Shan, president of Huawei Devices India.
"Based on our experience of working with operator partners and serving more than 55 percent of global and Indian consumers' datacard needs, we believe that E392 offers a strong and unique proposition to Indian customers that enables seamless mobile broadband experience for services such as internet surfing, HD video downloading, 3D multi-media, navigation and gaming."
"ZTE, a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment, network solutions and services, is a strategic collaborator with Qualcomm the LTE. Today we are pleased to announce that ZTE's multimode LTE TDD dongles based on Qualcomm's MDM9x00 chipset which is anticipated to be available in the fourth quarter of 2011," said Cui Liangjun, CEO of ZTE Telecom India Pvt. Ltd.
"As a leading IT company, Quanta is committed to support cloud computing on mobile networks," Frank Jiang, VP and GM of Connectivity BU, Quanta Computer Inc. "By providing a complete line of LTE TDD terminal devices that includes USB dongles, CPE, MiFi, smartphones and tablets based on Qualcomm's MDM9x00 multimode chipsets, Quanta is working diligently to be the partner of choice for enabling seamless mobile broadband experience on 3G and LTE in India."
"BandRich is excited to work with Qualcomm, mobile operators and network equipment vendors to bring 2.3GHz LTE TDD multi-mode devices to the India market before the end of 2011," said Dr. Wen-Yi Kuo, CEO, BandRich. "BandRich is proud to bring innovative products and worldwide deployment experiences to accelerate LTE TDD deployment by Indian operators."
Qualcomm has played a key role in contributing to India's wireless revolution by making mobile communication affordable and accessible and is now accelerating the growth of mobile broadband with 3G HSPA, EV-DO and LTE. In collaboration with its ecosystem participants, Qualcomm continues to play the role of a technology enabler and innovator, to ensure that the benefits of 3G, EV-DO and LTE touch the lives of every Indian.
Mobile data explosion pitfalls for emerging markets operators
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Mobile operators in emerging markets face revenue losses and poor service quality if they do not plan adequately for the explosion in data traffic on the horizon, warns Ovum.
In a new report, the independent telecoms analyst states that operators need to prepare carefully if they are to deal effectively with the forthcoming data onslaught.
Shiv Putcha, Ovum analyst and author of the report, commented: “Mobile operators in emerging markets have begun the transition to 3G, LTE, and other advanced technologies, which will generate considerable levels of data traffic and place increasing pressure on their networks.
“Operators face the prospect of poor service quality and falling revenues if they don’t plan carefully for this upcoming surge in data traffic. While it is not quite a doomsday scenario, operators need to ensure that they have covered all areas if they are to cope with the coming explosion in traffic.”
The number of mobile broadband users in emerging markets is expected to increase exponentially over the next five years. Most consumers will access mobile broadband using ‘small-screen’ devices such as feature phones, and increasingly smartphones as penetration increases. Ovum predicts that small-screen devices will account for 77 per cent of all mobile broadband connections in emerging markets by 2015, equating to 1.6 billion connections.
This surge in mobile broadband connections has huge ramifications for operators’ networks, which will be flooded with millions of emerging market consumers using their mobile devices to gain access to the Internet for the first time.
The report advises operators to prepare by ensuring that their networks are relatively congestion free, and more importantly, that data traffic is correctly monetized. It also states that operators will need to invest in their RAN and backhaul networks to add capacity and remove bottlenecks.
Putcha concluded: “Operators will need to carefully consider the addition of optimisation and bandwidth-shaping tools that will ease the pressure of bandwidth-intensive applications such as video.
“Finally, operators must consider adding smart charging and policy-control capabilities that will allow them to balance network efficiencies with revenue generation and unique and personalised user experiences.”
In a new report, the independent telecoms analyst states that operators need to prepare carefully if they are to deal effectively with the forthcoming data onslaught.
Shiv Putcha, Ovum analyst and author of the report, commented: “Mobile operators in emerging markets have begun the transition to 3G, LTE, and other advanced technologies, which will generate considerable levels of data traffic and place increasing pressure on their networks.
“Operators face the prospect of poor service quality and falling revenues if they don’t plan carefully for this upcoming surge in data traffic. While it is not quite a doomsday scenario, operators need to ensure that they have covered all areas if they are to cope with the coming explosion in traffic.”
The number of mobile broadband users in emerging markets is expected to increase exponentially over the next five years. Most consumers will access mobile broadband using ‘small-screen’ devices such as feature phones, and increasingly smartphones as penetration increases. Ovum predicts that small-screen devices will account for 77 per cent of all mobile broadband connections in emerging markets by 2015, equating to 1.6 billion connections.
This surge in mobile broadband connections has huge ramifications for operators’ networks, which will be flooded with millions of emerging market consumers using their mobile devices to gain access to the Internet for the first time.
The report advises operators to prepare by ensuring that their networks are relatively congestion free, and more importantly, that data traffic is correctly monetized. It also states that operators will need to invest in their RAN and backhaul networks to add capacity and remove bottlenecks.
Putcha concluded: “Operators will need to carefully consider the addition of optimisation and bandwidth-shaping tools that will ease the pressure of bandwidth-intensive applications such as video.
“Finally, operators must consider adding smart charging and policy-control capabilities that will allow them to balance network efficiencies with revenue generation and unique and personalised user experiences.”
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
WDM-PON Forum announces new board members
SAN JOSE, USA: The WDM-PON Forum, a three-year-old organization dedicated to the advancement of Passive Optical Networking using Wavelength Division Multiplexing, today announced three new members to its Board of Directors, including Dr. Bas Huiszoon of Genexis, Jon Baldry of Transmode, and Dr. Alexander Niepel, of Nokia-Siemens Networks.
The new members join previous Board members, including Bernd Hesse of Ericsson, Johan Henes of Lambda Networks, Dr. Stefan Murry of Applied Optoelectronics, and Stephan Neidlinger of ADVA, bringing the total number of board members to seven.
“As WDM-PON technology continues to be adopted around the world, it is only appropriate that the Forum expand to include a broad range of viewpoints from many different regions,” said Hesse, chairman of the WDM-PON Forum. “With the addition of these four distinguished individuals, the Forum is positioned to provide continued education and ongoing discussion around WDM-PON technology and the opportunities it provides in an increasingly connected society.”
The Board of Directors of the WDM-PON Forum is currently primarily engaged in the planning of the organization’s annual full day Forum Workshop, which will be held in conjunction with the Fiber to the Home Council’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida on September 27, 2011. This year’s workshop will feature a broad cross-section of speakers from the WDM-PON community, representing carriers, analysts, equipment manufacturers and device suppliers.
The purpose of the Workshop is to provide an opportunity to showcase the latest advances in applying the immense bandwidth available using WDM technology to the optical access market.
The new members join previous Board members, including Bernd Hesse of Ericsson, Johan Henes of Lambda Networks, Dr. Stefan Murry of Applied Optoelectronics, and Stephan Neidlinger of ADVA, bringing the total number of board members to seven.
“As WDM-PON technology continues to be adopted around the world, it is only appropriate that the Forum expand to include a broad range of viewpoints from many different regions,” said Hesse, chairman of the WDM-PON Forum. “With the addition of these four distinguished individuals, the Forum is positioned to provide continued education and ongoing discussion around WDM-PON technology and the opportunities it provides in an increasingly connected society.”
The Board of Directors of the WDM-PON Forum is currently primarily engaged in the planning of the organization’s annual full day Forum Workshop, which will be held in conjunction with the Fiber to the Home Council’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida on September 27, 2011. This year’s workshop will feature a broad cross-section of speakers from the WDM-PON community, representing carriers, analysts, equipment manufacturers and device suppliers.
The purpose of the Workshop is to provide an opportunity to showcase the latest advances in applying the immense bandwidth available using WDM technology to the optical access market.
ADAPTIX granted two new 4G-relevant patents
CARROLLTON, USA: ADAPTIX Inc., a pioneer in the development of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technology, has been awarded two new US patents relevant to 4G and other wireless technologies.
US Patent 8,005,479, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Carrier Allocation and Power Control in Multi-Carrier Communication Systems,” was issued on Aug. 23, 2011, and describes methods for wireless frequency carrier allocation in conjunction with dynamic power control. Power control in wireless systems is an important feature for minimizing interference between subscribers while maximizing handset battery life, thereby greatly improving the overall user experience.
US Patent 8,010,118, entitled “Systems and Methods for Making Channel Assignments to Reduce Interference and Increase Capacity of Wireless Networks,” is being issued today, and details methods in which wireless systems may optimize available bandwidth for use by multiple subscribers using their connected devices.
“ADAPTIX is very pleased to have been awarded these two new patents,” said Byron Young, VP of marketing and technology. “The concepts and methods covered by these patents provide an excellent basis for how 4G wireless networks may more effectively manage frequency allocation and power control in real-world conditions. The net result is a more robust and faster user experience.”
US Patent 8,005,479, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Carrier Allocation and Power Control in Multi-Carrier Communication Systems,” was issued on Aug. 23, 2011, and describes methods for wireless frequency carrier allocation in conjunction with dynamic power control. Power control in wireless systems is an important feature for minimizing interference between subscribers while maximizing handset battery life, thereby greatly improving the overall user experience.
US Patent 8,010,118, entitled “Systems and Methods for Making Channel Assignments to Reduce Interference and Increase Capacity of Wireless Networks,” is being issued today, and details methods in which wireless systems may optimize available bandwidth for use by multiple subscribers using their connected devices.
“ADAPTIX is very pleased to have been awarded these two new patents,” said Byron Young, VP of marketing and technology. “The concepts and methods covered by these patents provide an excellent basis for how 4G wireless networks may more effectively manage frequency allocation and power control in real-world conditions. The net result is a more robust and faster user experience.”
Motorola Mobility intros Motorola MILESTONE 3 to Latin America
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL: Setting a new milestone for speed, Motorola MILESTONE 3 is a mobile powerhouse, delivering uncompromising Web, email and media content to people around the world.
This spring, Motorola Industrial Ltda. is introducing Motorola MILESTONE 3, the newest, most advanced member of the intelligent and powerful family of Motorola MILESTONE devices to Latin America. The individuals using this super-sleek device – the world’s thinnest Android QWERTY slider – will become digital trailblazers, channeling the strengths of the device to power through their day.
Among the many strengths of Motorola MILESTONE 3 is the device’s dual-core 1GHz processor, which delivers better multi-tasking, faster web browsing, faster loading of Flash videos and higher quality gaming experiences. A dedicated number row on the top of the thin QWERTY keypad lets users type and text faster and more accurately without the need to hit the ‘ALT’ button.
With a brilliant 4-inch qHD display, Motorola MILESTONE 3 showcases photos, Web pages and video content more clearly than any Motorola MILESTONE device before. Enhanced security features enable users to access corporate emails, documents and calendars, with no need to wonder if their IT departments will approve.
This spring, Motorola Industrial Ltda. is introducing Motorola MILESTONE 3, the newest, most advanced member of the intelligent and powerful family of Motorola MILESTONE devices to Latin America. The individuals using this super-sleek device – the world’s thinnest Android QWERTY slider – will become digital trailblazers, channeling the strengths of the device to power through their day.
Among the many strengths of Motorola MILESTONE 3 is the device’s dual-core 1GHz processor, which delivers better multi-tasking, faster web browsing, faster loading of Flash videos and higher quality gaming experiences. A dedicated number row on the top of the thin QWERTY keypad lets users type and text faster and more accurately without the need to hit the ‘ALT’ button.
With a brilliant 4-inch qHD display, Motorola MILESTONE 3 showcases photos, Web pages and video content more clearly than any Motorola MILESTONE device before. Enhanced security features enable users to access corporate emails, documents and calendars, with no need to wonder if their IT departments will approve.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Espial powers KPU Telecommunications on-demand video services
OTTAWA, CANADA: Espial, a leader in on-demand TV solutions, announced that KPU Telcommunications is now delivering premium on-demand video services to its IPTV subscribers in Ketchikan, Alaska using Espial MediaBase and Nokia Siemens Networks IPTV Middleware.
KPU Telecommunications is one of three divisions of Ketchikan Public Utilities. KPU delivers some of the most advanced communications products available in the marketplace, including high-definition digital television, video on demand, extensive local television content, broadband internet, business communication systems and local phone service. KPU offers services over an active fiber to the home network capable of up to 1 Gigabit per second speeds in addition to it’s copper based network.
Espial MediaBase is selected by KPU Telcommunications to provide premium on-demand video services to its IPTV customers in Ketchikan, Alaska. Using Espial MediaBase, KPU Telcommunications is now providing video-on-demand (VOD) and other on-demand services to subscriber.
KPU Telcommunications selected Espial MediaBase for its proven track record across dozens of global implementations, integration with Nokia Siemens IPTV middleware and excellent cost to performance ratio using commercial-off-the-shelf hardware.
Nokia Siemens Networks IPTV Middleware offers an open environment that allows KPU to tailor its TV services and encourages third-party developers to create their own rich media and Web 2.0 applications that integrate with the operator’s IPTV system quickly and cost effectively.
KPU Telecommunications is one of three divisions of Ketchikan Public Utilities. KPU delivers some of the most advanced communications products available in the marketplace, including high-definition digital television, video on demand, extensive local television content, broadband internet, business communication systems and local phone service. KPU offers services over an active fiber to the home network capable of up to 1 Gigabit per second speeds in addition to it’s copper based network.
Espial MediaBase is selected by KPU Telcommunications to provide premium on-demand video services to its IPTV customers in Ketchikan, Alaska. Using Espial MediaBase, KPU Telcommunications is now providing video-on-demand (VOD) and other on-demand services to subscriber.
KPU Telcommunications selected Espial MediaBase for its proven track record across dozens of global implementations, integration with Nokia Siemens IPTV middleware and excellent cost to performance ratio using commercial-off-the-shelf hardware.
Nokia Siemens Networks IPTV Middleware offers an open environment that allows KPU to tailor its TV services and encourages third-party developers to create their own rich media and Web 2.0 applications that integrate with the operator’s IPTV system quickly and cost effectively.
Nokia still has potential for brand expansion in China market
TAIWAN: TrendForce and Avanti Research Partners recently released a joint research report regarding China’s smartphone market in 2011. The report, based on data collected from over 10,000 samples via Avanti’s market survey website Jisha, covers smartphone-related topics such as brands, use habits, mobile Internet surfing, apps, future purchase intention, etc.
The research report reveals several interesting results. First, Nokia’s brand presence in China is stronger than expected. The manufacturer had decent results in the categories of brand awareness, use, and brand switching. Although Nokia is currently at a low, by taking advantage of their brand awareness and perhaps adopting new devices, the company still has a chance to achieve good sales results in China.
As for other cell phone manufacturers, in previous years HTC barely left an impression on users, but the company’s results in the current survey were not bad. When asked about which brands users would switch to for their next purchase, HTC ranked third, coming in behind Nokia and Apple.
Brand Awareness Varies According to Age and Gender
Brand Awareness Ranking By Year
Source: Avanti.
Avanti’s report indicates, whether in the “Top of Mind” or “Unaided Brand Awareness” categories, Nokia took the lead, and had the highest rate of use overall. In terms of smartphone use, Nokia was also in first place, while Apple improved the most, from ninth place in 2010 to fourth in 2011. HTC entered the top ten for the first time this year.
The younger the consumer, the stronger their brand awareness is for Nokia, Apple, Sony Ericsson, and HTC. In contrast, older consumers prefer Samsung and Motorola.
In terms of gender differences, males prefer Nokia, Motorola, and HTC, while females prefer Samsung and Sony Ericsson.
Everyone Switching to Smartphones
Smart Phone Purchase Intention
Source: Avanti.
Smartphone Operating System Loyalty
Source: Avanti.
As for switching cell phones, the research indicates that 95 percent of users plan to purchase a smartphone within the next year, and Nokia is the brand most users want to switch to. The iPhone has the highest brand loyalty, at 71 percent. Twenty seven percent of Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola users indicate that they plan to buy an iPhone when making the switch to smartphones. Symbian is the platform most users want to abandon when considering a smartphone platform switch. While the Symbian platform has the largest market share in China, brand stickiness to the OS is low, due to lower availability of legally purchasable apps and an unpopular interface.
Cell Phone Brand Ranking by Year
Source: Avanti.
In terms of annual ranking for 2010 and 2011, Nokia and Apple remained in first and second place, while Samsung and Motorola were overtaken by HTC.
The Future of Operating Systems
Source: Avanti.
As for operating systems, in the past two years iOS and Android have been the most popular, while Symbian is gradually falling behind. Notably, the survey results reveal that users are becoming more and more aware of which systems they currently use and which they plan to use in the future. The proportion of users that are unsure about OS choice has decreased significantly. There is also less room for survival of non-major operating systems.
Most Downloaded App Categories
Source: Avanti.
What then, is the main reason for users making the switch to smartphones? The answer is unsurprising, as users globally are attracted to the same thing: Internet access. As for most downloaded apps, e-books, entertainment, and games are the top three; the first place category a reflection of Chinese citizens’ thirst for information.
The research report reveals several interesting results. First, Nokia’s brand presence in China is stronger than expected. The manufacturer had decent results in the categories of brand awareness, use, and brand switching. Although Nokia is currently at a low, by taking advantage of their brand awareness and perhaps adopting new devices, the company still has a chance to achieve good sales results in China.
As for other cell phone manufacturers, in previous years HTC barely left an impression on users, but the company’s results in the current survey were not bad. When asked about which brands users would switch to for their next purchase, HTC ranked third, coming in behind Nokia and Apple.
Brand Awareness Varies According to Age and Gender
Brand Awareness Ranking By Year
Source: Avanti.
Avanti’s report indicates, whether in the “Top of Mind” or “Unaided Brand Awareness” categories, Nokia took the lead, and had the highest rate of use overall. In terms of smartphone use, Nokia was also in first place, while Apple improved the most, from ninth place in 2010 to fourth in 2011. HTC entered the top ten for the first time this year.
The younger the consumer, the stronger their brand awareness is for Nokia, Apple, Sony Ericsson, and HTC. In contrast, older consumers prefer Samsung and Motorola.
In terms of gender differences, males prefer Nokia, Motorola, and HTC, while females prefer Samsung and Sony Ericsson.
Everyone Switching to Smartphones
Smart Phone Purchase Intention
Source: Avanti.
Smartphone Operating System Loyalty
Source: Avanti.
As for switching cell phones, the research indicates that 95 percent of users plan to purchase a smartphone within the next year, and Nokia is the brand most users want to switch to. The iPhone has the highest brand loyalty, at 71 percent. Twenty seven percent of Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola users indicate that they plan to buy an iPhone when making the switch to smartphones. Symbian is the platform most users want to abandon when considering a smartphone platform switch. While the Symbian platform has the largest market share in China, brand stickiness to the OS is low, due to lower availability of legally purchasable apps and an unpopular interface.
Cell Phone Brand Ranking by Year
Source: Avanti.
In terms of annual ranking for 2010 and 2011, Nokia and Apple remained in first and second place, while Samsung and Motorola were overtaken by HTC.
The Future of Operating Systems
Source: Avanti.
As for operating systems, in the past two years iOS and Android have been the most popular, while Symbian is gradually falling behind. Notably, the survey results reveal that users are becoming more and more aware of which systems they currently use and which they plan to use in the future. The proportion of users that are unsure about OS choice has decreased significantly. There is also less room for survival of non-major operating systems.
Most Downloaded App Categories
Source: Avanti.
What then, is the main reason for users making the switch to smartphones? The answer is unsurprising, as users globally are attracted to the same thing: Internet access. As for most downloaded apps, e-books, entertainment, and games are the top three; the first place category a reflection of Chinese citizens’ thirst for information.
Nordson offers range of technologies for mobile electronics manufacturing
WESTLAKE, USA: Nordson Corp.'s Advanced Technology segment offers electronics manufacturers a comprehensive selection of fluid dispensing, conformal coating, underfilling, bond testing and inspection solutions that will increase yields and reduce production costs.
The Advanced Technology segment consists of Nordson’s ASYMTEK, DAGE, EFD and YESTECH product lines, which are used to assemble many elements in mobile phones and tablets, such as camera modules, MEMS devices, speakers, touch panels, keypads, displays, SMT boards and housings.
The companies will be demonstrating their latest technologies at the NEPCON South China tradeshow in Shenzhen, China, August 30 through September 1, 2011. Engineers will be available to discuss attendees' mobile device manufacturing issues and demonstrate new ways to increase throughput and yields while reducing production costs. Attendees can also schedule complimentary appointments to discuss their applications in detail.
“Only Nordson is able to offer so many industry-leading technologies from a single source,” states Greg Wood, Nordson’s VP for Advanced Technology Systems, Asia. “These high-quality solutions provide real value to customers and can help drive their productivity and profitability to higher levels.”
The Advanced Technology segment consists of Nordson’s ASYMTEK, DAGE, EFD and YESTECH product lines, which are used to assemble many elements in mobile phones and tablets, such as camera modules, MEMS devices, speakers, touch panels, keypads, displays, SMT boards and housings.
The companies will be demonstrating their latest technologies at the NEPCON South China tradeshow in Shenzhen, China, August 30 through September 1, 2011. Engineers will be available to discuss attendees' mobile device manufacturing issues and demonstrate new ways to increase throughput and yields while reducing production costs. Attendees can also schedule complimentary appointments to discuss their applications in detail.
“Only Nordson is able to offer so many industry-leading technologies from a single source,” states Greg Wood, Nordson’s VP for Advanced Technology Systems, Asia. “These high-quality solutions provide real value to customers and can help drive their productivity and profitability to higher levels.”
Friday, August 26, 2011
97 percent of all smartphones will have touchscreens by 2016
NEW YORK, USA: Touchscreens can claim as much credit for the booming success of smartphones as can 3G data speeds. In the time prior to the launch of the original iPhone, smartphones with touchscreens have gone from 7 percent of the total smartphone volume in 2006 to 75 percent in 2010, and were a key driver to the market growing more than 325 percent over that period. Over the next five years, touchscreens will be as pervasive in smartphones as Wi-Fi chipsets are today, reaching 97 percent of all smartphones by 2016.
The screen is the point of fulfillment for all that a mobile device promises to deliver to its user, so there is little surprise in the impact it can have on its success. However, it was the evolution of screen and touch technologies that triggered the market’s rapid growth. The more economical resistive touch technology has been almost universally replaced in smartphones with the more elegant projected capacitive technology that was first introduced in mobile phones through the iPhone.
Screen and touch technologies continue to evolve and are starting to reshape the markets for other classes of mobile devices.
Kevin Burden, VP, mobile devices, said: “Low-cost capacitive touch controllers that use just a single layer of sensors instead of two, and save as much as 30 percent on the cost, are opening the market for lower-end feature phones. And eReaders, which are the most fragmented device category in both display and touch technology, now have options that not only enable finger touch, but are at a cost that could standardize the segment’s displays.”
The screen is the point of fulfillment for all that a mobile device promises to deliver to its user, so there is little surprise in the impact it can have on its success. However, it was the evolution of screen and touch technologies that triggered the market’s rapid growth. The more economical resistive touch technology has been almost universally replaced in smartphones with the more elegant projected capacitive technology that was first introduced in mobile phones through the iPhone.
Screen and touch technologies continue to evolve and are starting to reshape the markets for other classes of mobile devices.
Kevin Burden, VP, mobile devices, said: “Low-cost capacitive touch controllers that use just a single layer of sensors instead of two, and save as much as 30 percent on the cost, are opening the market for lower-end feature phones. And eReaders, which are the most fragmented device category in both display and touch technology, now have options that not only enable finger touch, but are at a cost that could standardize the segment’s displays.”
Tata Communications launches next-gen Ethernet network in India
BANGALORE, INDIA: Tata Communications announces the integration of its India infrastructure into its Next Generation Ethernet (NGE) network architecture. The integration is taking place across 11 Indian cities, covering New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi, Noida, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. The in-country nodes for connecting the carrier's domestic NGE network with its international backbone are in Mumbai and Chennai.
The new NGE network will provide industry-leading network services for both service providers and enterprises, enabling higher speed, enhanced security and improved troubleshooting capabilities. Tata Communications' high-performance Ethernet services are provided throughout the country together with services connecting India to business centres throughout the world.
Much of India's Ethernet growth will come as a result of the adoption of more sophisticated and efficient multi-point networks. This necessitated the upgrading of the company's extensive Ethernet network in the country and led to the deployment of the Cisco ASR 9000 platform that enables Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB).
Ravi Pandey, Industry Analyst, ICT Practice, South Asia & Middle East Region, Frost & Sullivan said at the launch event: "For FY 10-11 the Indian Enterprise Telecom market stands at INR 63,400 Cr with around 11 percent coming from Enterprise Data Services. The data services market, which stands at Rs 6,660 crores will continue to grow at a CAGR of 12 percent for the next five years. Ethernet, which has been witnessing traction from verticals like IT/ITeS, BFSI and Media that run bandwidth intensive applications, will grow at a CAGR of 32 percent for the next five years.
"Ethernet is one of fastest growing segments for the data services market and for FY 10-11 the contribution of Ethernet services accounts for three per cent and stands at Rs 202 crores, however, the segment is poised to grow to Rs 800 crores by FY 16."
Large scale data centre build-outs in the last few years have resulted in application centralisation and demand for mission critical data centre connectivity. Scalability along with lower port costs & the ability of Ethernet to ride on legacy based WAN services is driving the demand for Ethernet in India. "The primary growth drivers for the Ethernet market in India are IP migration, evolution of borderless enterprises, compliances/regulations, business continuity & disaster recovery centres as well as the convergence of business, residential and wireless networks," concluded Pandey.
Tata Communications continues to build on its unique and diverse global footprint with the addition of PBB technology, ensuring that its customers have access to a bandwidth-efficient, scalable, carrier grade network, now and well into the future.
'With the Indian enterprise data market poised to grow significantly in the next five years, fuelled by bandwidth intensive applications, the market is seeking better and more extensive Ethernet services. While Tata Communications already offers multi-point service to its customers globally, the only way to increase multi-point capability and add more innovative Ethernet services and performance guarantees in the future is to move to the new industry standard of Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB), effectively addressing critical limitations of the existing technology,' said John Hoffman, Head of Ethernet Product Management, Tata Communications.
Tata Communications Next Generation Ethernet with PBB technology allows:
o Greater numbers of customers and higher bandwidth on the backbone.
o Better isolation of customers from Denial of Service attacks, ensuring even greater security and reliability.
o Improved performance monitoring with latency and packet loss as standard items in the Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Tata Communications' new Ethernet network core carries only Ethernet traffic, unlike competing operators who are building converged MPLS and VPLS-based networks to carry a mixture of private, public IP traffic and Ethernet services. As a result, Tata Communications can provide a wide range of unique Ethernet services with native Ethernet Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) management throughout. The Next Generation Ethernet core also allows Tata Communications to continue to provide its Ethernet customers with the ability to select specific routes through its network (for diversity, latency or cost reasons),
As a further evolution of Tata Communications' Ethernet network, the company will also be launching an enhanced multipoint service, burstability with usage-based billing together with a dedicated Ethernet service that can scale from 1,000 - 10,000 Meg in 500 Meg increments. The company is also now able to ensure higher network quality as a result of being able to monitor each and every customer and class of service, independently.
The new NGE network will provide industry-leading network services for both service providers and enterprises, enabling higher speed, enhanced security and improved troubleshooting capabilities. Tata Communications' high-performance Ethernet services are provided throughout the country together with services connecting India to business centres throughout the world.
Much of India's Ethernet growth will come as a result of the adoption of more sophisticated and efficient multi-point networks. This necessitated the upgrading of the company's extensive Ethernet network in the country and led to the deployment of the Cisco ASR 9000 platform that enables Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB).
Ravi Pandey, Industry Analyst, ICT Practice, South Asia & Middle East Region, Frost & Sullivan said at the launch event: "For FY 10-11 the Indian Enterprise Telecom market stands at INR 63,400 Cr with around 11 percent coming from Enterprise Data Services. The data services market, which stands at Rs 6,660 crores will continue to grow at a CAGR of 12 percent for the next five years. Ethernet, which has been witnessing traction from verticals like IT/ITeS, BFSI and Media that run bandwidth intensive applications, will grow at a CAGR of 32 percent for the next five years.
"Ethernet is one of fastest growing segments for the data services market and for FY 10-11 the contribution of Ethernet services accounts for three per cent and stands at Rs 202 crores, however, the segment is poised to grow to Rs 800 crores by FY 16."
Large scale data centre build-outs in the last few years have resulted in application centralisation and demand for mission critical data centre connectivity. Scalability along with lower port costs & the ability of Ethernet to ride on legacy based WAN services is driving the demand for Ethernet in India. "The primary growth drivers for the Ethernet market in India are IP migration, evolution of borderless enterprises, compliances/regulations, business continuity & disaster recovery centres as well as the convergence of business, residential and wireless networks," concluded Pandey.
Tata Communications continues to build on its unique and diverse global footprint with the addition of PBB technology, ensuring that its customers have access to a bandwidth-efficient, scalable, carrier grade network, now and well into the future.
'With the Indian enterprise data market poised to grow significantly in the next five years, fuelled by bandwidth intensive applications, the market is seeking better and more extensive Ethernet services. While Tata Communications already offers multi-point service to its customers globally, the only way to increase multi-point capability and add more innovative Ethernet services and performance guarantees in the future is to move to the new industry standard of Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB), effectively addressing critical limitations of the existing technology,' said John Hoffman, Head of Ethernet Product Management, Tata Communications.
Tata Communications Next Generation Ethernet with PBB technology allows:
o Greater numbers of customers and higher bandwidth on the backbone.
o Better isolation of customers from Denial of Service attacks, ensuring even greater security and reliability.
o Improved performance monitoring with latency and packet loss as standard items in the Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Tata Communications' new Ethernet network core carries only Ethernet traffic, unlike competing operators who are building converged MPLS and VPLS-based networks to carry a mixture of private, public IP traffic and Ethernet services. As a result, Tata Communications can provide a wide range of unique Ethernet services with native Ethernet Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) management throughout. The Next Generation Ethernet core also allows Tata Communications to continue to provide its Ethernet customers with the ability to select specific routes through its network (for diversity, latency or cost reasons),
As a further evolution of Tata Communications' Ethernet network, the company will also be launching an enhanced multipoint service, burstability with usage-based billing together with a dedicated Ethernet service that can scale from 1,000 - 10,000 Meg in 500 Meg increments. The company is also now able to ensure higher network quality as a result of being able to monitor each and every customer and class of service, independently.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Digital Planet selects Telesphere for delivery of managed cloud communications services to US businesses
PHOENIX & SAINT PAUL, USA: Telesphere announced that Digital Planet will market and sell its private, hosted voice, data and video services to businesses throughout the US market. Digital Planet is the latest member of Telesphere’s master agent network, which spans the contiguous 48 US states and has driven 52 percent annual customer growth over the past three years.
Under the agreement, Digital Planet customers, agents and partners now have access to Telesphere’s portfolio of business-grade, cloud-based services including videoconferencing, unified communications, VoIP, Internet connectivity, WAN management and call center solutions. Telesphere’s team of dedicated network engineers and indirect channel managers will support Digital Planet agents and partners to enable fast provisioning and a consistently high-quality user experience.
“Digital Planet’s decision to invest in hosted communications solutions highlights that it’s a progressive master agency,” said Jeff Savage, Telesphere vice president of sales. “We’re excited to work with a company that’s so aggressively pursuing the cloud opportunity and, just as important, understands that business-grade hosting is key to attracting and retaining business customers. We look forward to working with them and their family of sub-agents to help bring our products and services to their customers nationwide.”
“Cloud communications is where the industry is headed, and Telesphere is leading the way with innovation,” said Shawn Schmidt, Digital Planet president and founder. “Telesphere is a great addition to our portfolio and enables our agents and partners that currently lack an equipment offering to now offer a complete communication solution to their clients. As communications technologies converge, if your offering is not complete, you are not going to survive.”
Over the past decade, many master agents and their sub-agents have attempted to shift their customers to communications services hosted by a third party, only to find that their partners were unable to provide the level of engineering support, sales support and quality of service that those customers demand.
Under the agreement, Digital Planet customers, agents and partners now have access to Telesphere’s portfolio of business-grade, cloud-based services including videoconferencing, unified communications, VoIP, Internet connectivity, WAN management and call center solutions. Telesphere’s team of dedicated network engineers and indirect channel managers will support Digital Planet agents and partners to enable fast provisioning and a consistently high-quality user experience.
“Digital Planet’s decision to invest in hosted communications solutions highlights that it’s a progressive master agency,” said Jeff Savage, Telesphere vice president of sales. “We’re excited to work with a company that’s so aggressively pursuing the cloud opportunity and, just as important, understands that business-grade hosting is key to attracting and retaining business customers. We look forward to working with them and their family of sub-agents to help bring our products and services to their customers nationwide.”
“Cloud communications is where the industry is headed, and Telesphere is leading the way with innovation,” said Shawn Schmidt, Digital Planet president and founder. “Telesphere is a great addition to our portfolio and enables our agents and partners that currently lack an equipment offering to now offer a complete communication solution to their clients. As communications technologies converge, if your offering is not complete, you are not going to survive.”
Over the past decade, many master agents and their sub-agents have attempted to shift their customers to communications services hosted by a third party, only to find that their partners were unable to provide the level of engineering support, sales support and quality of service that those customers demand.
Smartphones to account for majority of cellphone shipments by 2015
EL SEGUNDO, USA: Driven by booming sales of low-end models, shipments of smartphone will rise to account for more than half of the worldwide cellphone market in 2015, according to a new IHS iSuppli Mobile Handset Market Tracker report.
Global smartphone unit shipments will soar to 1.03 billion units in 2015, more than double the 478 million in 2011. This will cause smartphones’ share of global cellphone shipments to increase to 54.4 percent in 2015, up from 32.5 percent in 2011, as presented in the figure. This rise to dominance is all the more remarkable considering that smartphones accounted for only 15.8 percent of the total cellphone market in 2009.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Within the smartphone market, the fastest-growing category will be low-end models, defined as devices with limited features and lower memory densities relative to higher-end products. Shipments of low-end smartphones are expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 115.4 percent during the period from 2010 through 2015, compared to just 16.4 percent for mid-range to high-end smart phones.
“With their affordable prices, low-end smart phones are attractive to first-time users and to consumers in emerging economies where subscriber levels are rising at the fastest rates of all regions of the world, such as China, India, South Asia and Africa,” said Francis Sideco, senior principal analyst, wireless communications for IHS. “Low-end smart phones often are sold with inexpensive tiered data plans that target consumers who do not yet need full-featured services. This further reduces these phones’ total cost of ownership, making them attractive to vast numbers of entry-level consumers.”
Samsung gets smart
The rapid expansion of low-end sales already is impacting the market share of various players in the smartphone space.
Nearly lost amid news of Apple Inc.’s rise to leadership in global smartphone shipments in the second quarter was the performance of Samsung, which posted the strongest growth of all companies in the market with a 600 percent sequential increase in shipments. Samsung’s industry-leading performance was driven by its line of low-end smart phones that appeal to consumers in China and Latin America.
Cellphone sellers like Samsung are now able to offer lower-priced smartphones because of the availability of inexpensive single-chip 3G baseband solutions and license-free open operating systems.
Apps driving growth
In addition to low-end models, the rise of the smartphone segment is being amplified by the growth of mobile apps development.
“Success in the mobile phone industry is no longer purely a function of hardware capabilities,” Sideco said. “Growth for all players is being determined by a number of other important factors, such as software capabilities, the sleekness and intuitiveness of the user interface and the availability of a variety of applications.”
Key drivers of success will be strong support from the developer community, and how well smartphone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can make their hardware and software work together to create the best user experience.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Global smartphone unit shipments will soar to 1.03 billion units in 2015, more than double the 478 million in 2011. This will cause smartphones’ share of global cellphone shipments to increase to 54.4 percent in 2015, up from 32.5 percent in 2011, as presented in the figure. This rise to dominance is all the more remarkable considering that smartphones accounted for only 15.8 percent of the total cellphone market in 2009.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Within the smartphone market, the fastest-growing category will be low-end models, defined as devices with limited features and lower memory densities relative to higher-end products. Shipments of low-end smartphones are expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 115.4 percent during the period from 2010 through 2015, compared to just 16.4 percent for mid-range to high-end smart phones.
“With their affordable prices, low-end smart phones are attractive to first-time users and to consumers in emerging economies where subscriber levels are rising at the fastest rates of all regions of the world, such as China, India, South Asia and Africa,” said Francis Sideco, senior principal analyst, wireless communications for IHS. “Low-end smart phones often are sold with inexpensive tiered data plans that target consumers who do not yet need full-featured services. This further reduces these phones’ total cost of ownership, making them attractive to vast numbers of entry-level consumers.”
Samsung gets smart
The rapid expansion of low-end sales already is impacting the market share of various players in the smartphone space.
Nearly lost amid news of Apple Inc.’s rise to leadership in global smartphone shipments in the second quarter was the performance of Samsung, which posted the strongest growth of all companies in the market with a 600 percent sequential increase in shipments. Samsung’s industry-leading performance was driven by its line of low-end smart phones that appeal to consumers in China and Latin America.
Cellphone sellers like Samsung are now able to offer lower-priced smartphones because of the availability of inexpensive single-chip 3G baseband solutions and license-free open operating systems.
Apps driving growth
In addition to low-end models, the rise of the smartphone segment is being amplified by the growth of mobile apps development.
“Success in the mobile phone industry is no longer purely a function of hardware capabilities,” Sideco said. “Growth for all players is being determined by a number of other important factors, such as software capabilities, the sleekness and intuitiveness of the user interface and the availability of a variety of applications.”
Key drivers of success will be strong support from the developer community, and how well smartphone original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) can make their hardware and software work together to create the best user experience.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Wynncom launching range of smarter phones under the Wynncom OGO label
MUMBAI, INDIA: Wynncom is launching a range of Smarter Phones under the Wynncom OGO label which deliver all that the smart phones do and more.
O 77 Konnect and O 78 Touch are edge enabled Dual SIM phone and come with a unique plan bundled with a leading operator offering a host of freebies as free internet downloads; free push email & instant messaging services, free talk time & sms etc.
These new Wynncom OGO phones are powered with Synchronica UK's award-winning Mobile Gateway messaging services This enables the Wynncom OGO handsets to support unique cutting-edge features like realtime Push Email, Instant Messaging, Social Networking Services with support of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts; and access to thousands of Indian and International news, sporting and entertainment Web feeds.
These devices not only support push emails with popular email accounts like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc but also support Microsoft Exchange Servers, Lotus domino, Sun Java suites and practically all POP3 and IMAP 4 accounts. Wynncom hosts this service in India to support the above services, and to provide Wynncom OGO customers with a tremendous user experience.
The Wynncom OGO- O 77 is a sleek QWERTY handset available in three colors - Red, White and Steel Grey while O 78 is a touch screen phone available in two striking colors - Red and Yellow.
Both the devices come with widget menus, optical track pad for smooth navigation and hordes of other high end features like 3mp camera , big displays, Bluetooth, Gsenor, JAVA, 2000X6 field phonebook, 1000 SMS , expandable memory, Video players with RMVB support to watch movies seamlessly, Mp3 player, FM Radio, expandable memory up to 8GB, Snaptu, Opera Mini 5.0. etc
The Wynncom O 77 and O 78 are available across India at select stores and priced at Rs. 4,499 and Rs. 4,999 respectively.
O 77 Konnect and O 78 Touch are edge enabled Dual SIM phone and come with a unique plan bundled with a leading operator offering a host of freebies as free internet downloads; free push email & instant messaging services, free talk time & sms etc.
These new Wynncom OGO phones are powered with Synchronica UK's award-winning Mobile Gateway messaging services This enables the Wynncom OGO handsets to support unique cutting-edge features like realtime Push Email, Instant Messaging, Social Networking Services with support of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts; and access to thousands of Indian and International news, sporting and entertainment Web feeds.
These devices not only support push emails with popular email accounts like Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc but also support Microsoft Exchange Servers, Lotus domino, Sun Java suites and practically all POP3 and IMAP 4 accounts. Wynncom hosts this service in India to support the above services, and to provide Wynncom OGO customers with a tremendous user experience.
The Wynncom OGO- O 77 is a sleek QWERTY handset available in three colors - Red, White and Steel Grey while O 78 is a touch screen phone available in two striking colors - Red and Yellow.
Both the devices come with widget menus, optical track pad for smooth navigation and hordes of other high end features like 3mp camera , big displays, Bluetooth, Gsenor, JAVA, 2000X6 field phonebook, 1000 SMS , expandable memory, Video players with RMVB support to watch movies seamlessly, Mp3 player, FM Radio, expandable memory up to 8GB, Snaptu, Opera Mini 5.0. etc
The Wynncom O 77 and O 78 are available across India at select stores and priced at Rs. 4,499 and Rs. 4,999 respectively.
Strong performance for optical networking market; No. 3 ZTE posts biggest gain
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: The global optical networking (ON) market put in a strong performance in the second quarter of 2011, climbing almost exactly halfway to its pre-recession peak, according to Ovum.
In a new market share analysis, the independent telecoms analyst finds that spending by telecoms service providers with ON vendors grew by 16 per cent when compared with the first quarter of the year, and 17 per cent when compared to the same quarter last year, to hit $4.1 billion.
Moreover, annualised spending rose 8 per cent when compared with the second quarter of 2010, to reach $15.3 billion. Dana Cooperson, vice president of Ovum’s network infrastructure practice, commented: “This performance marks the second sequential quarter of annualised gains and puts the market almost exactly halfway back to its pre-recession peak of $16.6 billion, posted in the third quarter of 2008.”
Regionally, the South and Central American market rebounded the most in percentage terms, growing 31 per cent sequentially to reach $267 million. However, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa market’s growth of 25 per cent sequentially, and 38 per cent year-on-year, to hit $1.17 billion, was more significant given its size.
Cooperson commented: “In North America, the market grew 18 per cent when compared to the second quarter of 2010 to top $1 billion for the fourth straight quarter. Only Asia-Pacific did not grow when compared to quarter two of 2010, with spending remaining at $1.4 billion.”
In terms of the vendor picture, Huawei reclaimed the top revenue spot for the quarter, with $900 million and 22.7 per cent share, beating its posting for the first quarter of 2011 by more than 60 per cent. However, despite this, Huawei still suffered the biggest loss of the top ten vendors in the more important annualised share metric.
Meanwhile, its archrival ZTE, which was ranked third in terms of market share, had its best ever quarter, reaching revenues of just over $500 million. This represented an annualised increase of 45 per cent when compared with the second quarter of 2010 and allowed ZTE to post the biggest annualized share gain in the top ten.
In a new market share analysis, the independent telecoms analyst finds that spending by telecoms service providers with ON vendors grew by 16 per cent when compared with the first quarter of the year, and 17 per cent when compared to the same quarter last year, to hit $4.1 billion.
Moreover, annualised spending rose 8 per cent when compared with the second quarter of 2010, to reach $15.3 billion. Dana Cooperson, vice president of Ovum’s network infrastructure practice, commented: “This performance marks the second sequential quarter of annualised gains and puts the market almost exactly halfway back to its pre-recession peak of $16.6 billion, posted in the third quarter of 2008.”
Regionally, the South and Central American market rebounded the most in percentage terms, growing 31 per cent sequentially to reach $267 million. However, the Europe, Middle East, and Africa market’s growth of 25 per cent sequentially, and 38 per cent year-on-year, to hit $1.17 billion, was more significant given its size.
Cooperson commented: “In North America, the market grew 18 per cent when compared to the second quarter of 2010 to top $1 billion for the fourth straight quarter. Only Asia-Pacific did not grow when compared to quarter two of 2010, with spending remaining at $1.4 billion.”
In terms of the vendor picture, Huawei reclaimed the top revenue spot for the quarter, with $900 million and 22.7 per cent share, beating its posting for the first quarter of 2011 by more than 60 per cent. However, despite this, Huawei still suffered the biggest loss of the top ten vendors in the more important annualised share metric.
Meanwhile, its archrival ZTE, which was ranked third in terms of market share, had its best ever quarter, reaching revenues of just over $500 million. This represented an annualised increase of 45 per cent when compared with the second quarter of 2010 and allowed ZTE to post the biggest annualized share gain in the top ten.
OmniVision launches high-performance OmniBSI-2 image sensor for video-centric smartphones
SANTA CLARA, USA: OmniVision Technologies Inc., a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, has introduced the OV5680, the first 5-megapixel CameraChip sensor using OmniVision’s new 1.75-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel. The OV5680 combines best-in-class image quality and sensitivity with high frame rate 1080p high definition (HD) video, making it the highest performance 5-megapixel sensor for mobile applications.
“With the rise of video-centric smartphones, we have experienced a steep ramp in 5-megapixel sensor demand in the past 18 months, and we are continuing to see strong growth forecasts into 2012, and reports are projecting 5-megapixel production to nearly double within the next three years as smartphones have now overtaken feature phones in the US market,” commented Vinoo Margasahayam, product marketing manager at OmniVision. “The OV5680 is designed to meet and exceed the expectations of this highly video-centric market, bridging the quality and performance gaps between mobile phone cameras and dedicated digital video cameras.”
Utilizing an integrated scaler, the 1/3.2-inch OV5680 offers 1080p HD video capture at 30 frames per second (FPS) for continuous shooting and shutterless designs without any lag. The scaler enables electronic image stabilization, while maintaining full field of view in 1080p HD video mode.
The sensor’s 2 x 2 binning functionality with post-binning re-sampling filter enables 720p video capture at 60 FPS, minimizes spatial artifacts and removes image artifacts around edges. Its advanced features allow the OV5680 to deliver clean and crisp color images for best-in-class HD video. Additionally, the OV5680 can synchronize exposure and frame for stereo cameras to meet 3D video capture requirements.
The OV5680’s new 1.75-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel is built using a 300 mm copper process with 65 nm design rules, offering optimized die size, lower power consumption, and significant performance and image quality improvements over the first generation OmniBSI pixel. These include a 20 percent improvement in peak quantum efficiency, 20 percent improvement in low-light performance and a 50 percent increase in full-well capacity.
The OV5680 comes with a standard 2-lane MIPI interface and fits into the industry standard 8.5 x 8.5 x 6 mm module. It is now available for sampling, with mass production expected for the first half of 2012.
“With the rise of video-centric smartphones, we have experienced a steep ramp in 5-megapixel sensor demand in the past 18 months, and we are continuing to see strong growth forecasts into 2012, and reports are projecting 5-megapixel production to nearly double within the next three years as smartphones have now overtaken feature phones in the US market,” commented Vinoo Margasahayam, product marketing manager at OmniVision. “The OV5680 is designed to meet and exceed the expectations of this highly video-centric market, bridging the quality and performance gaps between mobile phone cameras and dedicated digital video cameras.”
Utilizing an integrated scaler, the 1/3.2-inch OV5680 offers 1080p HD video capture at 30 frames per second (FPS) for continuous shooting and shutterless designs without any lag. The scaler enables electronic image stabilization, while maintaining full field of view in 1080p HD video mode.
The sensor’s 2 x 2 binning functionality with post-binning re-sampling filter enables 720p video capture at 60 FPS, minimizes spatial artifacts and removes image artifacts around edges. Its advanced features allow the OV5680 to deliver clean and crisp color images for best-in-class HD video. Additionally, the OV5680 can synchronize exposure and frame for stereo cameras to meet 3D video capture requirements.
The OV5680’s new 1.75-micron OmniBSI-2 pixel is built using a 300 mm copper process with 65 nm design rules, offering optimized die size, lower power consumption, and significant performance and image quality improvements over the first generation OmniBSI pixel. These include a 20 percent improvement in peak quantum efficiency, 20 percent improvement in low-light performance and a 50 percent increase in full-well capacity.
The OV5680 comes with a standard 2-lane MIPI interface and fits into the industry standard 8.5 x 8.5 x 6 mm module. It is now available for sampling, with mass production expected for the first half of 2012.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Blue Casa Telephone selects Contact Telecom’s cloud-based SaaS solution for business assurance services
MANCHESTER, USA: Contact Telecom LLC, a cloud-based SaaS solution provider offering fully automated inventory and invoice validation, auditing and reconciliation services to the telecommunications industry, announced that Blue Casa Telephone, a bilingual residential and business phone service provider, has selected Contact Telecom’s Billing Data Analyzer (BDA) service.
BDA is designed to manage and process carriers’ such as Blue Casa, billing, usage, and invoice data, in addition to other business-critical revenue and cost assurance analysis and reporting services.
Contact Telecom’s flagship service, the Billing Data Analyzer (BDA) is a highly scalable and modular web-based SaaS solution offering Communications Service Providers a comprehensive suite of standard, value-add and custom reports, and the flexibility to accommodate any specific data file format. The backbone of Contact Telecom's BDA platform, the Reader+ Module, deciphers the contents of billing and usage data files, and provides data analysis and reports.
By automating its data processing with Contact Telecom’s Reader+ Module, and two other cloud-based SaaS solutions – Contact Telecom’s BDA Cost Assurance and BDA Margin Assurance – Blue Casa Telephone seeks to streamline its billing process, gain efficiencies, facilitate cost management, and enhance revenue assurance and customer initiatives.
“With tens of thousands residential and business customers and still growing, most of whom are bilingual and a good portion of which participate in the California LifeLine program, Contact Telecom offered Blue Casa a scalable, flexible and comprehensive solution to a particularly complex challenge with respect to our data processing and billing,” states Jeff Compton, CEO of Blue Casa Telephone. “Right from deployment, Contact Telecom’s BDA platform has helped us to achieve efficiencies and benefit from actionable intelligence that has saved time and money, and is certain to become a key component in driving profitability going forward.”
In addition to DBA Reader+, and Cost Assurance, which allow telecom firms to track and process their invoices, Blue Casa Telephone is implementing Contact Telecom’s BDA Margin Assurance software. Yet another fully automated and cloud-based SaaS solution, BDA Margin Assurance makes it possible for companies to view how their validated costs are reconciled against revenue – either by account, or by vendor.
“Progressive telecom companies, such as Blue Casa Telephone, which are willing to embrace change and implement automated data processing, gain a distinct competitive advantage in the marketplace,” comments James Buttafuoco, managing partner for Contact Telecom. “Access to near-real-time reporting and analysis enables informed decision-making, and that agility makes it possible to jump ahead of lesser-informed carriers who lack the means to understand their true business costs, a capability which Contact Telecom’s BDA platform provides.”
BDA is designed to manage and process carriers’ such as Blue Casa, billing, usage, and invoice data, in addition to other business-critical revenue and cost assurance analysis and reporting services.
Contact Telecom’s flagship service, the Billing Data Analyzer (BDA) is a highly scalable and modular web-based SaaS solution offering Communications Service Providers a comprehensive suite of standard, value-add and custom reports, and the flexibility to accommodate any specific data file format. The backbone of Contact Telecom's BDA platform, the Reader+ Module, deciphers the contents of billing and usage data files, and provides data analysis and reports.
By automating its data processing with Contact Telecom’s Reader+ Module, and two other cloud-based SaaS solutions – Contact Telecom’s BDA Cost Assurance and BDA Margin Assurance – Blue Casa Telephone seeks to streamline its billing process, gain efficiencies, facilitate cost management, and enhance revenue assurance and customer initiatives.
“With tens of thousands residential and business customers and still growing, most of whom are bilingual and a good portion of which participate in the California LifeLine program, Contact Telecom offered Blue Casa a scalable, flexible and comprehensive solution to a particularly complex challenge with respect to our data processing and billing,” states Jeff Compton, CEO of Blue Casa Telephone. “Right from deployment, Contact Telecom’s BDA platform has helped us to achieve efficiencies and benefit from actionable intelligence that has saved time and money, and is certain to become a key component in driving profitability going forward.”
In addition to DBA Reader+, and Cost Assurance, which allow telecom firms to track and process their invoices, Blue Casa Telephone is implementing Contact Telecom’s BDA Margin Assurance software. Yet another fully automated and cloud-based SaaS solution, BDA Margin Assurance makes it possible for companies to view how their validated costs are reconciled against revenue – either by account, or by vendor.
“Progressive telecom companies, such as Blue Casa Telephone, which are willing to embrace change and implement automated data processing, gain a distinct competitive advantage in the marketplace,” comments James Buttafuoco, managing partner for Contact Telecom. “Access to near-real-time reporting and analysis enables informed decision-making, and that agility makes it possible to jump ahead of lesser-informed carriers who lack the means to understand their true business costs, a capability which Contact Telecom’s BDA platform provides.”
Android smartphones for monitoring of panchayat level MNREGA projects in Munger, Bihar
PATNA, INDIA: The District administration of Munger, Bihar has deployed Bizframe's Mobile Inspector on Android smartphones to monitor MNREGA schemes in all panchayats of all its 8 blocks. This brings in an unprecedented level of transparency of project status and progress of MNREGA projects which are very difficult to monitor, given the remotely located villages and inadept connectivity.
The system provides instant reporting features including image/ photographs and GPS location of the report. Project officers at all blocks have been provided with an Android powered smartphone, which are commonly available in the market. The results have been very encouraging with project officers sending in detailed reports of ongoing projects/ workers on site, images of working labourers, image proof of social audit meetings among others.
Bizframe congratulates the District administration of Munger and its officials for demonstrating a viable path for enhanced visibility in monitoring public welfare schemes and hopes that more districts adopt this low priced and readily available and field-tested mobile solution.
The system provides instant reporting features including image/ photographs and GPS location of the report. Project officers at all blocks have been provided with an Android powered smartphone, which are commonly available in the market. The results have been very encouraging with project officers sending in detailed reports of ongoing projects/ workers on site, images of working labourers, image proof of social audit meetings among others.
Bizframe congratulates the District administration of Munger and its officials for demonstrating a viable path for enhanced visibility in monitoring public welfare schemes and hopes that more districts adopt this low priced and readily available and field-tested mobile solution.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Mobile broadband policy and traffic management players about to merge
BOSTON, USA: Strategy Analytics shows why the mobile broadband policy and traffic management industry is ripe for partnerships and mergers in a new report from its Mobile Broadband Opportunities (MBO) service, “Mobile Broadband Policy and Traffic Management - Industry Consolidation Coming?” This report examines major tactics for vendors, and demonstrates where industry consolidation is most likely.
Sue Rudd, Director, Service Provider Analysis, noted: “Many of these players already partner with each other -- and with traditional equipment manufacturers – in order to deliver complete solutions for mobile operators. As service providers race to optimize capacity that will satisfy mobile broadband demand, policy management has changed from a passive network tool to a strategic business weapon. To meet operator needs, players may need to team up permanently to integrate and test high performance solutions that can increase capacity by 50 percent at a fraction of the cost of new infrastructure.”
According to Susan Welsh de Grimaldo, Director, Mobile Broadband Opportunities, “There are three areas where new capabilities will demand consolidation:
* personalization for new mobile data services;
* billing for real time pricing and billing options; and
* applications, media and video optimization.”
She continued, “Policy tools can now directly modify data plans and pricing instantaneously in order to create a myriad of user-driven options that simultaneously enhance user experience and operator profits.”
Sue Rudd, Director, Service Provider Analysis, noted: “Many of these players already partner with each other -- and with traditional equipment manufacturers – in order to deliver complete solutions for mobile operators. As service providers race to optimize capacity that will satisfy mobile broadband demand, policy management has changed from a passive network tool to a strategic business weapon. To meet operator needs, players may need to team up permanently to integrate and test high performance solutions that can increase capacity by 50 percent at a fraction of the cost of new infrastructure.”
According to Susan Welsh de Grimaldo, Director, Mobile Broadband Opportunities, “There are three areas where new capabilities will demand consolidation:
* personalization for new mobile data services;
* billing for real time pricing and billing options; and
* applications, media and video optimization.”
She continued, “Policy tools can now directly modify data plans and pricing instantaneously in order to create a myriad of user-driven options that simultaneously enhance user experience and operator profits.”
Spreadtrum secures leadership position in TD-SCDMA market
SHANGHAI, CHINA: Spreadtrum Communications Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor provider in China, with advanced technology in both 2G and 3G wireless communications standards, has achieved a leadership position in China’s TD-SCDMA market, according to the analyst firm IHS iSuppli. TD-SCDMA is the China 3G standard adopted by the country’s largest telecom operator China Mobile.
Spreadtrum’s low-cost, high performance baseband solutions, based on its advanced 40nm platform, has enabled the Company to secure design wins with both tier-1 OEM handset manufacturers, and independent design houses, serving the market. Shipments in the feature phone segment have also helped to drive significant growth in the first half of 2011.
“In the first half of 2011, Spreadtrum secured more than 50 percent market share of TD-SCDMA shipments,” said Kevin Wang, Director, China Research of analyst firm IHS iSuppli. Spreadtrum expects TD-SCDMA uptake to accelerate in the second half of 2011; bringing the overall market from 34 million units shipped in 2010 to more than 50 million units shipment this year.
“Our advanced 40 nm platform enables us to deliver a superior 3G experience on handsets,” said Dr. Leo Li, president and CEO of Spreadtrum. “The low power consumption of our TD-SCDMA baseband solutions enables up to 15 hours talk time and 17 days standby time off of 1000mAh batteries.”
Spreadtrum further expects that shifts in China Mobile’s purchasing strategy will also help drive faster growth. As more phone models have become available, China Mobile’s purchasing has shifted from central procurement tenders, in which the head office negotiates for certain models and volumes, to purchasing through local distribution channels. “Local purchasing enables regions to order handset models that are best matched to local consumer preferences, price points and styles,” added Dr. Li. “The ability of consumers to purchase 3G handsets with an attractive user experience, feature set and design, at close to EDGE handset prices, is accelerating market uptake of TD-SCDMA handsets.”
Spreadtrum’s low-cost, high performance baseband solutions, based on its advanced 40nm platform, has enabled the Company to secure design wins with both tier-1 OEM handset manufacturers, and independent design houses, serving the market. Shipments in the feature phone segment have also helped to drive significant growth in the first half of 2011.
“In the first half of 2011, Spreadtrum secured more than 50 percent market share of TD-SCDMA shipments,” said Kevin Wang, Director, China Research of analyst firm IHS iSuppli. Spreadtrum expects TD-SCDMA uptake to accelerate in the second half of 2011; bringing the overall market from 34 million units shipped in 2010 to more than 50 million units shipment this year.
“Our advanced 40 nm platform enables us to deliver a superior 3G experience on handsets,” said Dr. Leo Li, president and CEO of Spreadtrum. “The low power consumption of our TD-SCDMA baseband solutions enables up to 15 hours talk time and 17 days standby time off of 1000mAh batteries.”
Spreadtrum further expects that shifts in China Mobile’s purchasing strategy will also help drive faster growth. As more phone models have become available, China Mobile’s purchasing has shifted from central procurement tenders, in which the head office negotiates for certain models and volumes, to purchasing through local distribution channels. “Local purchasing enables regions to order handset models that are best matched to local consumer preferences, price points and styles,” added Dr. Li. “The ability of consumers to purchase 3G handsets with an attractive user experience, feature set and design, at close to EDGE handset prices, is accelerating market uptake of TD-SCDMA handsets.”
Monday, August 22, 2011
XConnect to deliver HD voice between fixed and mobile networks
LONDON, UK: XConnect announced a new transcoding technology designed to promote wider adoption and utilization of high-definition (HD) voice services. The new feature for members of XConnect’s HD Alliance delivers clearer, higher-quality and more effective voice communications by enabling fixed-line and mobile operators to seamlessly exchange HD voice traffic through an IP-peering federation for the first time.
“We are solving the key challenge to widespread adoption of high-definition voice services: the need to deliver traffic across disparate networks,” said XConnect CEO Eli Katz. “The enhancement to XConnect’s HD Alliance extends the benefits of cross-network HD voice service to mobile operators via cloud-based transcoding, thereby enabling fixed operators to connect HD voice calls with mobile endpoints and vice versa.”
Katz noted that the new transcoding feature will be increasingly useful as HD voice gains traction across all networks – fixed, mobile and over the top offerings – for consumer and enterprise markets.
To date, technology barriers have stood in the way of HD voice communication between fixed-line and mobile operators, which deploy different codecs. The new feature bridges the disparate HD “islands” by enabling transcoding in the XConnect multimedia interconnection hub. The resulting interconnection offers new revenue opportunities for fixed and mobile service providers, as well as improved call quality for more users.
The transcoding capability expands the benefits of XConnect’s HD Alliance – the world’s original peering federation dedicated to HD voice. Since its launch in April 2010, the HD Alliance has supported service providers using the G.722 wideband audio codec, the ITU standard for HD-enabled fixed communications networks.
Now, using the new transcoding technology, HD voice traffic can be delivered with tonal and audio quality preserved between fixed operators using the G.722 codec and mobile operators using the AMR-WB codec, which is most popular for wireless networks.
The HD Alliance, which operates within XConnect’s Global Alliance worldwide peering federation, currently has 11 participating service providers.
After launching the HD federation for US operators, XConnect in September 2010 expanded membership to include UK participants as part of an initiative with Polycom, BroadSoft and Dialogic to promote HD voice uptake in the UK.
“We are solving the key challenge to widespread adoption of high-definition voice services: the need to deliver traffic across disparate networks,” said XConnect CEO Eli Katz. “The enhancement to XConnect’s HD Alliance extends the benefits of cross-network HD voice service to mobile operators via cloud-based transcoding, thereby enabling fixed operators to connect HD voice calls with mobile endpoints and vice versa.”
Katz noted that the new transcoding feature will be increasingly useful as HD voice gains traction across all networks – fixed, mobile and over the top offerings – for consumer and enterprise markets.
To date, technology barriers have stood in the way of HD voice communication between fixed-line and mobile operators, which deploy different codecs. The new feature bridges the disparate HD “islands” by enabling transcoding in the XConnect multimedia interconnection hub. The resulting interconnection offers new revenue opportunities for fixed and mobile service providers, as well as improved call quality for more users.
The transcoding capability expands the benefits of XConnect’s HD Alliance – the world’s original peering federation dedicated to HD voice. Since its launch in April 2010, the HD Alliance has supported service providers using the G.722 wideband audio codec, the ITU standard for HD-enabled fixed communications networks.
Now, using the new transcoding technology, HD voice traffic can be delivered with tonal and audio quality preserved between fixed operators using the G.722 codec and mobile operators using the AMR-WB codec, which is most popular for wireless networks.
The HD Alliance, which operates within XConnect’s Global Alliance worldwide peering federation, currently has 11 participating service providers.
After launching the HD federation for US operators, XConnect in September 2010 expanded membership to include UK participants as part of an initiative with Polycom, BroadSoft and Dialogic to promote HD voice uptake in the UK.
XConnect calls on AudioCodes to support high-definition voice transcoding feature
LONDON, UK: XConnect announced that its new high-definition voice transcoding feature, which enables HD voice traffic to cross the fixed-mobile divide through an IP-peering federation, has been developed in conjunction with AudioCodes.
Now available for members of the XConnect HD Alliance, the new capability draws on the combined strengths of XConnect’s carrier-ENUM registry and multimedia interconnection services and AudioCodes’ Mediant 3000 high-definition transcoder.
In a tested, certified end-to-end solution, XConnect’s interconnection hub detects the need for transcoding, prompting the AudioCodes transcoder to translate between the different codecs used by fixed-line and mobile operators.
As part of the deployment, AudioCodes will also become an HD Alliance partner and join the XConnect Ready Partner Program to support cooperation and co-marketing efforts between the companies.
“With the recent increase in HD voice uptake on cellular networks, predominantly relying on wideband AMR, and the widespread use of the G.722 codec on wireline networks, high-definition interconnect becomes crucial for a ubiquitous quality of experience for both wireless and wireline users,” said Jeff Kahn, Chief Strategy Officer of AudioCodes. “We are delighted to be working with XConnect to advance what we at AudioCodes call HD VoIP.”
XConnect CEO Eli Katz said: “We are very pleased that AudioCodes has chosen to provide its expertise to help us enrich the benefits of our high-definition voice offering. AudioCodes’ transcoding technology complements XConnect’s ENUM registry and interconnection services, and we look forward to collaborating in other ways to bring innovation to market.”
Now available for members of the XConnect HD Alliance, the new capability draws on the combined strengths of XConnect’s carrier-ENUM registry and multimedia interconnection services and AudioCodes’ Mediant 3000 high-definition transcoder.
In a tested, certified end-to-end solution, XConnect’s interconnection hub detects the need for transcoding, prompting the AudioCodes transcoder to translate between the different codecs used by fixed-line and mobile operators.
As part of the deployment, AudioCodes will also become an HD Alliance partner and join the XConnect Ready Partner Program to support cooperation and co-marketing efforts between the companies.
“With the recent increase in HD voice uptake on cellular networks, predominantly relying on wideband AMR, and the widespread use of the G.722 codec on wireline networks, high-definition interconnect becomes crucial for a ubiquitous quality of experience for both wireless and wireline users,” said Jeff Kahn, Chief Strategy Officer of AudioCodes. “We are delighted to be working with XConnect to advance what we at AudioCodes call HD VoIP.”
XConnect CEO Eli Katz said: “We are very pleased that AudioCodes has chosen to provide its expertise to help us enrich the benefits of our high-definition voice offering. AudioCodes’ transcoding technology complements XConnect’s ENUM registry and interconnection services, and we look forward to collaborating in other ways to bring innovation to market.”
Skyworks supports ZTE with multiple front-end solutions
WOBURN, USA: Skyworks Solutions Inc. is supporting ZTE’s ramp of next generation tablets and laptops with EDGE and WCDMA/LTE front-end solutions. Skyworks’ innovative modules are powering data cards and USB modems to help deliver greater mobility for tablet users that are equipped with cellular connectivity.
With these wins, Skyworks is broadening its relationship with ZTE, one of the world’s fastest growing handset OEMs. ZTE already leverages several of Skyworks’ TD-SCDMA and CDMA solutions for handsets and will soon utilize Skyworks’ antenna switch modules in several forthcoming smart phone platforms. According to both IDC and Strategy Analytics, independent market research firms, ZTE was ranked as the fifth largest global handset maker in the second quarter of 2011, growing both its unit shipments and market share.
“Skyworks is delighted to be expanding its partnership with ZTE, particularly as they are well positioned to capture a disproportionate share of the smart phone segment in emerging markets such as China, India and Latin America,” said Bradley C. Byk, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Skyworks. “These markets are predicted to deliver the greatest number of wireless customers in the coming years. Skyworks is pleased to be playing a key role in this upgrade cycle that will enable greater mobility and wireless connectivity for consumers around the world.”
With these wins, Skyworks is broadening its relationship with ZTE, one of the world’s fastest growing handset OEMs. ZTE already leverages several of Skyworks’ TD-SCDMA and CDMA solutions for handsets and will soon utilize Skyworks’ antenna switch modules in several forthcoming smart phone platforms. According to both IDC and Strategy Analytics, independent market research firms, ZTE was ranked as the fifth largest global handset maker in the second quarter of 2011, growing both its unit shipments and market share.
“Skyworks is delighted to be expanding its partnership with ZTE, particularly as they are well positioned to capture a disproportionate share of the smart phone segment in emerging markets such as China, India and Latin America,” said Bradley C. Byk, senior vice president of worldwide sales at Skyworks. “These markets are predicted to deliver the greatest number of wireless customers in the coming years. Skyworks is pleased to be playing a key role in this upgrade cycle that will enable greater mobility and wireless connectivity for consumers around the world.”
SMS used as an aid to help young people in crisis
UK: SAFE@LAST, a unique and innovative charity providing a full range of services for young people at risk due to running away, and providing services ranging from prevention to crisis intervention in South Yorkshire.
SAFE@LAST needed a way for vulnerable young people to easily, cheaply and safely access their advice services. Their obvious choice was online SMS.
The facility for young people to text the helpline is provided through Txtlocal’s award winning control panel, where users can be in a position to text thousands of people in a matter of minutes. SAFE@LAST advertise the keyword and short code number that young people can send an initial text to, by texting SAFE to 60777. The charity can then reply to them, can have a text conversation and offer advice and guidance.
Clare Sherratt of SAFE@LAST, said: “Text messages are a familiar and regular form of communication for young people to feel comfortable with. As such we have seen a huge amount of success with young people contacting us in this way. For some it has helped to reduce the risks of running away and had a long lasting positive impact on their lives.”
SAFE@LAST have enjoyed Txtlocal services for a number of years, and have been happy with the results due to a constant flow of positive feedback from young people who they’ve supported.
SAFE@LAST needed a way for vulnerable young people to easily, cheaply and safely access their advice services. Their obvious choice was online SMS.
The facility for young people to text the helpline is provided through Txtlocal’s award winning control panel, where users can be in a position to text thousands of people in a matter of minutes. SAFE@LAST advertise the keyword and short code number that young people can send an initial text to, by texting SAFE to 60777. The charity can then reply to them, can have a text conversation and offer advice and guidance.
Clare Sherratt of SAFE@LAST, said: “Text messages are a familiar and regular form of communication for young people to feel comfortable with. As such we have seen a huge amount of success with young people contacting us in this way. For some it has helped to reduce the risks of running away and had a long lasting positive impact on their lives.”
SAFE@LAST have enjoyed Txtlocal services for a number of years, and have been happy with the results due to a constant flow of positive feedback from young people who they’ve supported.
HP axes WebOS
Nick Dillon, Analyst, Ovum
AUSTRALIA: Despite being a capable operating system, WebOS never found the commercial success it might have achieved. There is no denying that HP had struggled to sell the platform to customers, failing to generate either operator or customer interest in the Pre3 or TouchPad devices. Its products lacked a unique selling point and failed to stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
However, it does seem somewhat premature to abandon the platform given that HP only acquired Palm a little over a year ago for $1.2 billion. While you could argue that Palm lacked the scale to make the platform a success, the same couldn’t be said of HP. That HP has abandoned the platform so soon after purchasing it illustrates not only how competitive the mobile devices market is, but how quickly it moves.
Given HP’s new focus on software and services, mobile devices had become a peripheral part of HP’s business and we can therefore assume that it was unwilling to dedicate the level of investment required to make it a success.
It is unlikely that HP will find any licensees for WebOS, as it offers little benefit over existing platforms in terms of functionality or governance. However, it might make a tempting purchase for a handset maker looking to end its reliance on Google and/or Microsoft, or an adjacent player wanting to expand into mobile. Such companies could include HTC, Facebook or Amazon.
Interestingly HP is making an opposite move from Google – moving out of hardware and into services and software. In doing so HP will no longer be able to control the access to its services, leaving itself at the mercy of other platform and hardware providers, many of whom also have competitive services and software.
AUSTRALIA: Despite being a capable operating system, WebOS never found the commercial success it might have achieved. There is no denying that HP had struggled to sell the platform to customers, failing to generate either operator or customer interest in the Pre3 or TouchPad devices. Its products lacked a unique selling point and failed to stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
However, it does seem somewhat premature to abandon the platform given that HP only acquired Palm a little over a year ago for $1.2 billion. While you could argue that Palm lacked the scale to make the platform a success, the same couldn’t be said of HP. That HP has abandoned the platform so soon after purchasing it illustrates not only how competitive the mobile devices market is, but how quickly it moves.
Given HP’s new focus on software and services, mobile devices had become a peripheral part of HP’s business and we can therefore assume that it was unwilling to dedicate the level of investment required to make it a success.
It is unlikely that HP will find any licensees for WebOS, as it offers little benefit over existing platforms in terms of functionality or governance. However, it might make a tempting purchase for a handset maker looking to end its reliance on Google and/or Microsoft, or an adjacent player wanting to expand into mobile. Such companies could include HTC, Facebook or Amazon.
Interestingly HP is making an opposite move from Google – moving out of hardware and into services and software. In doing so HP will no longer be able to control the access to its services, leaving itself at the mercy of other platform and hardware providers, many of whom also have competitive services and software.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
6th CMAI ICOMM 2011 and 7th AEF 2011 opens in Delhi
NEW DELHI, INDIA: The 6th CMAI India International Communications Fair (ICOMM 2011) and 7th Asia Electronics Forum (AEF 2011) were opened at the NSIC Expo Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi.
The most-awaited mobile and communications technology fair (ICOMM 2011) of the year, targeted at boosting the localized production, strategic tie-ups and technology promotion for telecom trade in India was inaugurated by international commercial representatives and trade experts along with NK Goyal, president, CMAI Association of India.
Some of the VIPs on the inauguration dais included Jai Gopal, ITS advisor-DOT, Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India; Uday Kumar, director,
NSIC; Peng Gang, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of China, New Delhi; Monir Agbaria, Economic Counselor, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi; Grant Kuo, MD, MediaTek India; SN Rai, director, Lava Mobiles; Sudhir Gaur, director, Videocon Mobiles. It was remarkable to see the commercial representatives of China and Israel on the same stage with CMAI.
ICOMM 2011 boasts of more than 60 exhibitors from various fields of telecom & communications technology representing countries like China, Taiwan, HongKong, Japan, Korea and India. The 7th AEF that also began with ICOMM 2011, the two-day exhibition-cum-B2B event, also had leading international trade representatives.
Some of the VIP participants to the 7th AEF were Johny Yeung, chairman, Fujikon Industrial Holdings Ltd, Hong Kong; Somboon Hotrakool, president, Electrical & Electronics Institute, Bangkok; Hiroaki Takeichi, vice chairman, CIAJ, Japan; Shoichi Inoue, deputy director of International Affairs Deptt., JEITA, Japan; and Liu Shunguang, vice secretary general, CECC, China.
Till the afternoon on Day 1 of the event, it is reported that contracts worth $65 million had been finalized. It is also learnt that five companies have committed to start manufacturing facilities in India for handsets/tablets with an approximate investment of $250 million.
The show also witnessed the launch and announcement of “Indo-Global Digital Devices Association”, jointly by India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan for promotion of Mobile/Tablet/Digital Devices in India. This association will help in facilitating FDI Investments and strategic-tie-ups in the Indian market.
The most-awaited mobile and communications technology fair (ICOMM 2011) of the year, targeted at boosting the localized production, strategic tie-ups and technology promotion for telecom trade in India was inaugurated by international commercial representatives and trade experts along with NK Goyal, president, CMAI Association of India.
Some of the VIPs on the inauguration dais included Jai Gopal, ITS advisor-DOT, Ministry of Communications & IT, Government of India; Uday Kumar, director,
NSIC; Peng Gang, Commercial Counselor, Embassy of China, New Delhi; Monir Agbaria, Economic Counselor, Embassy of Israel, New Delhi; Grant Kuo, MD, MediaTek India; SN Rai, director, Lava Mobiles; Sudhir Gaur, director, Videocon Mobiles. It was remarkable to see the commercial representatives of China and Israel on the same stage with CMAI.
ICOMM 2011 boasts of more than 60 exhibitors from various fields of telecom & communications technology representing countries like China, Taiwan, HongKong, Japan, Korea and India. The 7th AEF that also began with ICOMM 2011, the two-day exhibition-cum-B2B event, also had leading international trade representatives.
Some of the VIP participants to the 7th AEF were Johny Yeung, chairman, Fujikon Industrial Holdings Ltd, Hong Kong; Somboon Hotrakool, president, Electrical & Electronics Institute, Bangkok; Hiroaki Takeichi, vice chairman, CIAJ, Japan; Shoichi Inoue, deputy director of International Affairs Deptt., JEITA, Japan; and Liu Shunguang, vice secretary general, CECC, China.
Till the afternoon on Day 1 of the event, it is reported that contracts worth $65 million had been finalized. It is also learnt that five companies have committed to start manufacturing facilities in India for handsets/tablets with an approximate investment of $250 million.
The show also witnessed the launch and announcement of “Indo-Global Digital Devices Association”, jointly by India, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan for promotion of Mobile/Tablet/Digital Devices in India. This association will help in facilitating FDI Investments and strategic-tie-ups in the Indian market.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Motorola buy sees Google having its cake and eating it
Tony Cripps, Principal Analyst, Ovum
AUSTRALIA: Google sought to reassure doubters on its investor conference call following the announcement, claiming that the top five Android licensees – presumably Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, and Sony Ericsson – support the move. Nonetheless, there is a chance that Google may put off some Android licensees from committing more deeply to the OS, with the increasingly expansionist Samsung perhaps the most likely to break ranks, especially given that it has its own platform strategy in the shape of Bada.
That’s a calculated gamble on Google’s part and perhaps it knows something we don’t as to those vendors’ future plans. The real question is whether Google’s action will drive those same licensees away from Android completely and into the hands of other platform providers?
This seems less likely to us, at least at the time of writing. After all, the main alternative to Android, Windows Phone, is barely different to Android from a competition perspective. Microsoft too sees its mobile OS investment as a Trojan horse for its consumer services, and more broadly its consumer-related interests, including advertising.
So it would be a case of “out of the frying pan and into the fire” for most Android licensees if they were to take this approach, although there’s nothing to stop companies such as Sony Ericsson from double-sourcing. Indeed, there may well now be more compelling reasons to do so.
OEMs have too much to lose in abandoning Android
At its root, there’s a very real sense in which many smart device OEMs are now beholden to Google and – albeit currently to a lesser extent – to Microsoft for device OSs. That dependence comes not from the fact that other options aren’t available. They are. Symbian remains in the picture, albeit in a diminished and diminishing role, while HP’s WebOS remains available and the Intel-backed MeeGo has now been given its smartphone debut care of Nokia’s forthcoming N9 (despite that company having now publicly redirected its future away from the Linux-based platform it co-created).
Rather, the dependence OEMs have on Android (and potentially Windows Phone) comes from a promise of hardware sales driven by the expectations consumers have of their devices resulting from using the software. Those expectations arise not only in terms of hardware design but also in terms of the applications, content, and experiences those devices provide access to.
This itself is a function of the software platform and ecosystem building efforts of the OS proprietors themselves catalyzed by factors such as attractive brands and price. Apple is the master of making this approach work, having recognized the strategic value in using its OS as the basis for controlling all elements of the ecosystem around its devices early in the existence of the iPhone.
As for the other mobile OSs in the market, neither RIM’s BlackBerry OS nor iOS are licensed, rendering them off limits to Android OEMs. And even if it were to become available to third-party OEMs, BlackBerry OS seems to be suffering from a similar malaise to that which afflicted Symbian, at least as far as developer momentum and end-user enthusiasm are concerned.
Hardware is the keystone for a concerted “extended home” push
If Google’s ploy works, buying Motorola Mobility may actually enable it to increase the dependency that end users and third parties are already feeling towards Android, even if it does ultimately lose some OEM support. Google itself could help make up and exceed the shortfall, using the substantial consumer goodwill bound up in the Motorola brand, especially by US consumers for which the Motorola name has a long association with US technology leadership and innovation.
Importantly, the goodwill captured by Motorola’s brand extends further, into the connected home, care of its successful set-top box business. With the Google TV platform currently struggling to find favor with either OEMs or consumers, there is a clear incentive for Google itself to drive home the benefits of a more integrated approach to multi-screen content, applications, and other services. Importantly, Motorola Mobility also brings related assets, such as video servers and data connections devices, that could prove a boon to Google in this space, as well as supporting broader “extended home” efforts.
Certainly, the future expansion of Google’s core advertising business depends to a great extent on taking its message not only wider but also in deepening the level of engagement it has with consumers. If that also means that Google gains a foothold in the high-margin market for “smart” hardware so much the better. The company will benefit from a degree of diversification as insurance against a downturn or greater competition in online advertising.
Motorola may be a launchpad to challenge Apple
In this light, the acquisition of Motorola Mobility presents the strongest means at Google’s disposal to challenge Apple, especially as that company finally turns its spotlight on the TV, as we’re sure it will (Apple TV does not count – it has always been discounted by Apple as “a hobby”). Indeed, we would not be surprised if part of the subtext to this acquisition is to revivify Motorola and to restore it to its former position of US tech archetype, a position it only lost in the past few years to Apple.
Whether Google can pull that off remains to be seen. Motorola Mobility currently only boasts around a 2.5 percent share of the global handset market. But even as things stand, Google is acquiring a much more focused and streamlined business in Motorola Mobility than was the case when the company hit the skids in 2008. Motorola Mobility’s portfolio of some 17,000 patents and another 7,000 patents pending globally is merely the icing on the cake for Google, following its recent failed bid to acquire Nortel’s IP treasure chest against a consortium including Apple, RIM, and Microsoft.
If nothing else, Google’s expanded patent portfolio will give it – and presumably Android licensees – more latitude to point the metaphorical intellectual property gun back at its rivals in cases of dispute in what is set to become a very litigious age in the consumer and communications technology spaces.
AUSTRALIA: Google sought to reassure doubters on its investor conference call following the announcement, claiming that the top five Android licensees – presumably Samsung, HTC, LG, Huawei, and Sony Ericsson – support the move. Nonetheless, there is a chance that Google may put off some Android licensees from committing more deeply to the OS, with the increasingly expansionist Samsung perhaps the most likely to break ranks, especially given that it has its own platform strategy in the shape of Bada.
That’s a calculated gamble on Google’s part and perhaps it knows something we don’t as to those vendors’ future plans. The real question is whether Google’s action will drive those same licensees away from Android completely and into the hands of other platform providers?
This seems less likely to us, at least at the time of writing. After all, the main alternative to Android, Windows Phone, is barely different to Android from a competition perspective. Microsoft too sees its mobile OS investment as a Trojan horse for its consumer services, and more broadly its consumer-related interests, including advertising.
So it would be a case of “out of the frying pan and into the fire” for most Android licensees if they were to take this approach, although there’s nothing to stop companies such as Sony Ericsson from double-sourcing. Indeed, there may well now be more compelling reasons to do so.
OEMs have too much to lose in abandoning Android
At its root, there’s a very real sense in which many smart device OEMs are now beholden to Google and – albeit currently to a lesser extent – to Microsoft for device OSs. That dependence comes not from the fact that other options aren’t available. They are. Symbian remains in the picture, albeit in a diminished and diminishing role, while HP’s WebOS remains available and the Intel-backed MeeGo has now been given its smartphone debut care of Nokia’s forthcoming N9 (despite that company having now publicly redirected its future away from the Linux-based platform it co-created).
Rather, the dependence OEMs have on Android (and potentially Windows Phone) comes from a promise of hardware sales driven by the expectations consumers have of their devices resulting from using the software. Those expectations arise not only in terms of hardware design but also in terms of the applications, content, and experiences those devices provide access to.
This itself is a function of the software platform and ecosystem building efforts of the OS proprietors themselves catalyzed by factors such as attractive brands and price. Apple is the master of making this approach work, having recognized the strategic value in using its OS as the basis for controlling all elements of the ecosystem around its devices early in the existence of the iPhone.
As for the other mobile OSs in the market, neither RIM’s BlackBerry OS nor iOS are licensed, rendering them off limits to Android OEMs. And even if it were to become available to third-party OEMs, BlackBerry OS seems to be suffering from a similar malaise to that which afflicted Symbian, at least as far as developer momentum and end-user enthusiasm are concerned.
Hardware is the keystone for a concerted “extended home” push
If Google’s ploy works, buying Motorola Mobility may actually enable it to increase the dependency that end users and third parties are already feeling towards Android, even if it does ultimately lose some OEM support. Google itself could help make up and exceed the shortfall, using the substantial consumer goodwill bound up in the Motorola brand, especially by US consumers for which the Motorola name has a long association with US technology leadership and innovation.
Importantly, the goodwill captured by Motorola’s brand extends further, into the connected home, care of its successful set-top box business. With the Google TV platform currently struggling to find favor with either OEMs or consumers, there is a clear incentive for Google itself to drive home the benefits of a more integrated approach to multi-screen content, applications, and other services. Importantly, Motorola Mobility also brings related assets, such as video servers and data connections devices, that could prove a boon to Google in this space, as well as supporting broader “extended home” efforts.
Certainly, the future expansion of Google’s core advertising business depends to a great extent on taking its message not only wider but also in deepening the level of engagement it has with consumers. If that also means that Google gains a foothold in the high-margin market for “smart” hardware so much the better. The company will benefit from a degree of diversification as insurance against a downturn or greater competition in online advertising.
Motorola may be a launchpad to challenge Apple
In this light, the acquisition of Motorola Mobility presents the strongest means at Google’s disposal to challenge Apple, especially as that company finally turns its spotlight on the TV, as we’re sure it will (Apple TV does not count – it has always been discounted by Apple as “a hobby”). Indeed, we would not be surprised if part of the subtext to this acquisition is to revivify Motorola and to restore it to its former position of US tech archetype, a position it only lost in the past few years to Apple.
Whether Google can pull that off remains to be seen. Motorola Mobility currently only boasts around a 2.5 percent share of the global handset market. But even as things stand, Google is acquiring a much more focused and streamlined business in Motorola Mobility than was the case when the company hit the skids in 2008. Motorola Mobility’s portfolio of some 17,000 patents and another 7,000 patents pending globally is merely the icing on the cake for Google, following its recent failed bid to acquire Nortel’s IP treasure chest against a consortium including Apple, RIM, and Microsoft.
If nothing else, Google’s expanded patent portfolio will give it – and presumably Android licensees – more latitude to point the metaphorical intellectual property gun back at its rivals in cases of dispute in what is set to become a very litigious age in the consumer and communications technology spaces.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Romtelecom deploys Comptel dynamic OSS for IMS
HELSINKI, FINLAND: Comptel Corp., the leading vendor of dynamic Operations Support System (OSS) software, announced that Romanian communications services provider Romtelecom will deploy Comptel Provisioning and Activation, Comptel Catalog and Comptel Subscriber Profile Repository to automate service activation for its new IMS network.
Key facts
* Romtelecom is one of the most important telecom operators in the Romanian market, with approximately 4.9 million revenue generating units (RGUs) at the end of the second quarter of 2011. The company is the market leader in data and broadband Internet services for companies, and also the only telecom operator in Romania offering Service Level Agreements (SLAs) by default, free of charge, for the services provided under the Romtelecom Business Solutions brand.
* Comptel Provisioning and Activation enables operators to fully automate the process of handling subscriber orders to activating services in the network and all the way up to the start of billing. The solution helps CSPs control costs, reduce manual errors and efficiently deliver services, thus increasing customer satisfaction and reducing churn.
* Comptel Catalog allows CSPs to quickly create new products from pre-tested service components and orchestrates the delivery of these customer-facing services. The solution allows for an agile response to market changes and competitors’ initiatives, and helps operators maximise revenue opportunities from product innovation.
* Comptel Subscriber Profile Repository provides a live, accurate view of subscriber data, and allows CSPs to monitor business-critical customer status and activity information across multiple networks. The solution ensures a dynamic, agile workflow and greatly improves subscriber visibility, enabling operators to enhance the customer experience by quickly responding to their behaviours and anticipating their needs.
Key facts
* Romtelecom is one of the most important telecom operators in the Romanian market, with approximately 4.9 million revenue generating units (RGUs) at the end of the second quarter of 2011. The company is the market leader in data and broadband Internet services for companies, and also the only telecom operator in Romania offering Service Level Agreements (SLAs) by default, free of charge, for the services provided under the Romtelecom Business Solutions brand.
* Comptel Provisioning and Activation enables operators to fully automate the process of handling subscriber orders to activating services in the network and all the way up to the start of billing. The solution helps CSPs control costs, reduce manual errors and efficiently deliver services, thus increasing customer satisfaction and reducing churn.
* Comptel Catalog allows CSPs to quickly create new products from pre-tested service components and orchestrates the delivery of these customer-facing services. The solution allows for an agile response to market changes and competitors’ initiatives, and helps operators maximise revenue opportunities from product innovation.
* Comptel Subscriber Profile Repository provides a live, accurate view of subscriber data, and allows CSPs to monitor business-critical customer status and activity information across multiple networks. The solution ensures a dynamic, agile workflow and greatly improves subscriber visibility, enabling operators to enhance the customer experience by quickly responding to their behaviours and anticipating their needs.
Syniverse supports Indian operators' transition to 3G, preparation for LTE, 4G and beyond
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Syniverse executives and experts will meet with representatives from India’s mobile operators August 18-19, as the company hosts a private workshop designed to help operators optimize their existing networks, transition to 3G, and prepare for LTE, 4G and beyond.
Syniverse president and CEO Jeff Gordon, who is visiting India this week, said the workshop is just one example of the company’s dedication to help India’s operators prepare for the future of mobility.
“The Indian market is fiercely competitive, and we are deeply committed to making mobile work for operators across the region, regardless of size, technology or network roadmap,” Gordon said. “Whether helping mobile operators make the transition to new network technologies or implementing mobile number portability, our in-region teams understand the specific demands of the Indian mobile landscape and have a strong vision for its future growth.”
During the workshop, Syniverse thought leaders from around the globe will discuss a diverse array of topics ranging from the latest industry developments affecting roaming to new opportunities for enhancing the subscriber experience via real-time intelligence and next-generation services like mobile video. Representatives from all the major Indian operators, as well as several from other countries in the region, have committed to attend.
“In-person working sessions are one of the best ways to provide relevant information targeted specifically to the operators in the Indian region, facilitating the exchange of ideas that helps us better address their needs,” Gordon said. “We had tremendous positive feedback from a similar workshop this past December and look forward to expanding on that foundation at this week’s workshop.”
Syniverse’s presence in India has been consistently on the rise. The company was selected by the Government of India’s Department of Telecom (DoT) to implement mobile number portability in Zone 1 across 11 circles, including Delhi, Mumbai, Maharashtra and Gujarat, which it successfully launched in January 2011. In addition, more than 25 operators and enterprises in the country now rely on the company for a variety of mobile roaming, messaging and network solutions.
In support of this growing customer base, India is home to more than 300 Syniverse employees based in its offices in Bengaluru and Gurgaon. The company is continuing to grow its India operations, according to Sanjay Kasturia, VP, India.
“Our staff in India has a passion for making mobile work throughout the country and for Indian subscribers who travel abroad, and we will continue to grow our in-region resources to support the ever-rising demand within this market,” Kasturia said. “I look forward to joining fellow members of the Syniverse leadership team to share mobile insights at this and future customer workshops.”
Syniverse president and CEO Jeff Gordon, who is visiting India this week, said the workshop is just one example of the company’s dedication to help India’s operators prepare for the future of mobility.
“The Indian market is fiercely competitive, and we are deeply committed to making mobile work for operators across the region, regardless of size, technology or network roadmap,” Gordon said. “Whether helping mobile operators make the transition to new network technologies or implementing mobile number portability, our in-region teams understand the specific demands of the Indian mobile landscape and have a strong vision for its future growth.”
During the workshop, Syniverse thought leaders from around the globe will discuss a diverse array of topics ranging from the latest industry developments affecting roaming to new opportunities for enhancing the subscriber experience via real-time intelligence and next-generation services like mobile video. Representatives from all the major Indian operators, as well as several from other countries in the region, have committed to attend.
“In-person working sessions are one of the best ways to provide relevant information targeted specifically to the operators in the Indian region, facilitating the exchange of ideas that helps us better address their needs,” Gordon said. “We had tremendous positive feedback from a similar workshop this past December and look forward to expanding on that foundation at this week’s workshop.”
Syniverse’s presence in India has been consistently on the rise. The company was selected by the Government of India’s Department of Telecom (DoT) to implement mobile number portability in Zone 1 across 11 circles, including Delhi, Mumbai, Maharashtra and Gujarat, which it successfully launched in January 2011. In addition, more than 25 operators and enterprises in the country now rely on the company for a variety of mobile roaming, messaging and network solutions.
In support of this growing customer base, India is home to more than 300 Syniverse employees based in its offices in Bengaluru and Gurgaon. The company is continuing to grow its India operations, according to Sanjay Kasturia, VP, India.
“Our staff in India has a passion for making mobile work throughout the country and for Indian subscribers who travel abroad, and we will continue to grow our in-region resources to support the ever-rising demand within this market,” Kasturia said. “I look forward to joining fellow members of the Syniverse leadership team to share mobile insights at this and future customer workshops.”
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
By end 2011 Android market will have as many users as Apple’s app store
BERLIN, GERMANY: Today, almost every third app store user owns an Android phone. Within just under a year and a half Android leapt from 2 percent to 28 percent in mid-2011. In 2008 Apple‘s users made up 74 percent of the total smartphone app store user base, however it dropped to less than 40 percent in Q2 2011.
As we can see, the smartphone app market monopoly is continuously transforming into a duopoly. Both platforms together comprise nearly two thirds of all potential smartphone application users, leaving all other platforms as niche players.
It won‘t take long for Android to catch up with Apple in terms of potential application store users. Another successful quarter for Android and both will be up to par. Developers who have to choose between the two platforms will make their decisions on more than just pure reach. They will consider more qualitative user base differences and potentials, or develop for both platforms.
For most starting developers, one of the key criteria in selection of a platform is the potential reach of an application, i.e., how many people own devices running the platform and how many users they would actually reach through a chosen app store?
Previously, Apple was the unquestionable leader, with the largest app store user base. If we count only smartphone users, Android is already far beyond: however the Apple App Store user base is fueled by millions of iPod Touch users and a successful iPad spread.
To date, Apple has shipped over 240 million smart devices (iPhones, iPod Touch and iPads) leaving Android behind with 170 million cumulative device shipments. Given the device replacement cycles and other relevant factors, actual potential user bases today are lower, but Apple still wins over Android.
As we can see, the smartphone app market monopoly is continuously transforming into a duopoly. Both platforms together comprise nearly two thirds of all potential smartphone application users, leaving all other platforms as niche players.
It won‘t take long for Android to catch up with Apple in terms of potential application store users. Another successful quarter for Android and both will be up to par. Developers who have to choose between the two platforms will make their decisions on more than just pure reach. They will consider more qualitative user base differences and potentials, or develop for both platforms.
For most starting developers, one of the key criteria in selection of a platform is the potential reach of an application, i.e., how many people own devices running the platform and how many users they would actually reach through a chosen app store?
Previously, Apple was the unquestionable leader, with the largest app store user base. If we count only smartphone users, Android is already far beyond: however the Apple App Store user base is fueled by millions of iPod Touch users and a successful iPad spread.
To date, Apple has shipped over 240 million smart devices (iPhones, iPod Touch and iPads) leaving Android behind with 170 million cumulative device shipments. Given the device replacement cycles and other relevant factors, actual potential user bases today are lower, but Apple still wins over Android.
Asia-Pacific mobile phone shipments to hit 836 million
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Asia-Pacific (AP) mobile phone shipments will hit 836 million in 2016, driven by growth in mobile users in the emerging markets and the proliferation of broadband enabled handsets, predicts Ovum.
In a new forecast, the independent telecoms analyst finds that the AP mobile handset market is set for steady growth of 2.8 per cent over the next five years, with shipments increasing by more than 128 million from 2011 to 2016. Globally, Ovum forecasts a growth of 2.5 per cent over the next five years, with shipments growing by more than 230 million from 2011 to 2016, forecasted to reach 1.77 billion in 2016.
Ovum principal analyst Adam Leach commented, “Much of the growth in AP will be fuelled by mobile connections in the emerging markets, where the number of mobile phone users continues to steadily increase.”
“Within the region, the Big Three markets of China, India and Indonesia will continue to be the growth engines for global mobile connections and handset shipments. The arrival of cheaper smartphones into these markets is boosting smartphone penetration and data ARPU for operators, while feature phones continue to remain attractive in rural communities in China, India and Indonesia.”
However, operators switching to 3G and 4G mobile broadband networks will also play a key role. Ovum’s forecast shows that shipments of mobile broadband enabled handsets will grow by a CAGR of 16.7 per cent from 2011 to 2016, to reach 372 million units in AP.
Leach added: “Increasing consumer appetite for smartphones is a major factor in driving the growth in the market for mobile broadband enabled handsets. However, smartphones are not the only story and there will still be growth in non-smart broadband phones, particularly in the emerging markets.”
In a new forecast, the independent telecoms analyst finds that the AP mobile handset market is set for steady growth of 2.8 per cent over the next five years, with shipments increasing by more than 128 million from 2011 to 2016. Globally, Ovum forecasts a growth of 2.5 per cent over the next five years, with shipments growing by more than 230 million from 2011 to 2016, forecasted to reach 1.77 billion in 2016.
Ovum principal analyst Adam Leach commented, “Much of the growth in AP will be fuelled by mobile connections in the emerging markets, where the number of mobile phone users continues to steadily increase.”
“Within the region, the Big Three markets of China, India and Indonesia will continue to be the growth engines for global mobile connections and handset shipments. The arrival of cheaper smartphones into these markets is boosting smartphone penetration and data ARPU for operators, while feature phones continue to remain attractive in rural communities in China, India and Indonesia.”
However, operators switching to 3G and 4G mobile broadband networks will also play a key role. Ovum’s forecast shows that shipments of mobile broadband enabled handsets will grow by a CAGR of 16.7 per cent from 2011 to 2016, to reach 372 million units in AP.
Leach added: “Increasing consumer appetite for smartphones is a major factor in driving the growth in the market for mobile broadband enabled handsets. However, smartphones are not the only story and there will still be growth in non-smart broadband phones, particularly in the emerging markets.”
HTC sues Apple for patent infringement
SEATTLE, USA: HTC Corp. took legal action against Apple Inc., filing a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US District Court of Delaware for patent infringement by Apple's Mac computer product lines as well Apple's iPhone, iPad and iPod product lines.
"We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones," said Grace Lei, general counsel, HTC. "This is the third case before the ITC in which Apple is infringing our intellectual property. Apple needs to stop its infringement of our patented inventions in its products."
The patents at issue cover a range of functionality embodied in Apple's Mac computer and mobile devices that are essential to user experience, including:
1) Wi-Fi capability that allows users to wirelessly network multiple devices at home, at work, or in public, and
2) processor communication technology that enables a seamless integration of a PDA and a cellular phone into a single device providing users with a true smartphone experience. The patents at issue are US Patent Nos. 7,417,944, and 7,672,219 and 7,765,414.
The case is Certain Electronic Devices With Communication Capabilities, Components Thereof, and Related Software.
"We are taking this action against Apple to protect our intellectual property, our industry partners, and most importantly our customers that use HTC phones," said Grace Lei, general counsel, HTC. "This is the third case before the ITC in which Apple is infringing our intellectual property. Apple needs to stop its infringement of our patented inventions in its products."
The patents at issue cover a range of functionality embodied in Apple's Mac computer and mobile devices that are essential to user experience, including:
1) Wi-Fi capability that allows users to wirelessly network multiple devices at home, at work, or in public, and
2) processor communication technology that enables a seamless integration of a PDA and a cellular phone into a single device providing users with a true smartphone experience. The patents at issue are US Patent Nos. 7,417,944, and 7,672,219 and 7,765,414.
The case is Certain Electronic Devices With Communication Capabilities, Components Thereof, and Related Software.
Feature phone collapse and Android hurt Nokia in Q2 while Chinese vendors capitalize
NEW YORK, USA: Whether you subscribe to sell-in statistics (shipments) or sell-through (sold in-store) statistics, there simply are not enough of them to bury the fact that Nokia had a devastating Q2; falling from first to third place in smartphones does not do justice to the level of damage Nokia suffered.
While the overall handset market was essentially flat from Q1 to Q2 (0.5 percent growth), Nokia watched China-based ZTE and Huawei eat its lunch at both the high and low ends of the market, growing 28.9 percent and 26.3 percent QoQ, respectively, in overall handsets sales.
“Despite being the number one OEM for more than a decade, this quarter shows Nokia’s position in the top five is the one most at risk,” says Kevin Burden, vice president and practice director, mobile devices.
Nokia’s 88.5 million handsets ‘sold-in’ during Q2 are 20 million units less than it sold in its previous quarter. It equates to 7.5 million fewer smartphones and 12.5 million fewer feature phones shipped for a crushing 18.4 percent sequential drop for the former leader of the mobile device industry.
Nokia’s share of smartphone shipments into the channel was halved over the past year and it lost a third of its market share in Q2 alone. Although Nokia remains the top overall handset manufacturer with 24.6 percent of the 359.7 million mobile phones shipped in Q2, Apple now leads in smartphones with 20.3 million iPhones shipped, with Samsung in second with 18.7 million.
Jake Saunders, VP of forecasting, says, “Nokia’s only response has been to lower handset prices, cut profitability and personnel, and blame an overstocked channel as its shipments to China dropped 51 percent in Q2.”
Nokia’s financials and inventory levels indicate a lack of demand in a number of regional markets was the problem, not overstock. In Nokia’s European home field, shipments dropped 21 percent, as more nimble players like HTC (12.1 million) and LG (24.8 million) used Android to capture Symbian customers leaping off the burning platform before Nokia opens its Windows Phone strategy.
While the overall handset market was essentially flat from Q1 to Q2 (0.5 percent growth), Nokia watched China-based ZTE and Huawei eat its lunch at both the high and low ends of the market, growing 28.9 percent and 26.3 percent QoQ, respectively, in overall handsets sales.
“Despite being the number one OEM for more than a decade, this quarter shows Nokia’s position in the top five is the one most at risk,” says Kevin Burden, vice president and practice director, mobile devices.
Nokia’s 88.5 million handsets ‘sold-in’ during Q2 are 20 million units less than it sold in its previous quarter. It equates to 7.5 million fewer smartphones and 12.5 million fewer feature phones shipped for a crushing 18.4 percent sequential drop for the former leader of the mobile device industry.
Nokia’s share of smartphone shipments into the channel was halved over the past year and it lost a third of its market share in Q2 alone. Although Nokia remains the top overall handset manufacturer with 24.6 percent of the 359.7 million mobile phones shipped in Q2, Apple now leads in smartphones with 20.3 million iPhones shipped, with Samsung in second with 18.7 million.
Jake Saunders, VP of forecasting, says, “Nokia’s only response has been to lower handset prices, cut profitability and personnel, and blame an overstocked channel as its shipments to China dropped 51 percent in Q2.”
Nokia’s financials and inventory levels indicate a lack of demand in a number of regional markets was the problem, not overstock. In Nokia’s European home field, shipments dropped 21 percent, as more nimble players like HTC (12.1 million) and LG (24.8 million) used Android to capture Symbian customers leaping off the burning platform before Nokia opens its Windows Phone strategy.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Google’s Motorola acquisition was for patents, not mobile phones
Craig Cartier, analyst, Frost & Sullivan
USA: Last week, Frost & Sullivan commented on the recent intellectual property (IP) battles within mobile ecosystems. Industry giants including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and Google have taken the battle from the marketplace to the courtroom with a host of suits and counter-suits against one another.
Directly or indirectly, Google and its Android operating system has been a popular target recently. As Frost & Sullivan commented, Google and CEO Larry Page have been at an IP disadvantage compared to their peers.
Apparently Larry Page felt the same.
On Monday, Google announced its intended acquisition of Motorola, and the blogosphere was buzzing. Much of the commentary revolved around the potential for Google to adapt to the mobile handset industry. Can a creative software giant like Google handle the low-margin world of hardware? What will this mean to Android’s other hardware partners like HTC and Samsung? What about Motorola’s contingent of 19,000 employees?
The answer to all these questions is the same: The Google-Motorola deal is not about hardware—it is about patents.
Google’s business model—offering a free platform as a route to advertising and application revenue—depends on that platform being, well, free. That status has been threatened as a result of the aforementioned flurry of recent patent litigation. It is rumored that HTC, one of Androids main OEM partners, settled a suit with Microsoft by agreeing to pay $5 for every Android device it sells. Other Android manufacturers have also been under attack.
Google responded.
Motorola has a portfolio of 24,500 patents and patent applications that instantly bolsters Google’s strength in the IP war. Looking at some recent patent auctions and using some simple math can show why these patents were indeed the target of Google’s acquisition.
Using one of the industries recent patent auctions as a baseline, in December of 2010, Novell sold off its portfolio of 882 patents for $450 Million. A simple division calculation leads us to a value of $510,204.08 per patent. Why not round that figure off you ask?
Well, let’s look at the patent value of the Motorola acquisition. Forgetting that Motorola also makes mobile phones, let’s say the entire value of the acquisition was in their 24,500 patents and applications. At a $12.5 billion price tag, that equates to…drum roll please…$510,204.08 per patent. Can anyone guess what heuristic they used in the board room in valuing the deal?
In the Motorola acquisition, Google bought a patent portfolio and got a mobile phone business thrown in for free.
USA: Last week, Frost & Sullivan commented on the recent intellectual property (IP) battles within mobile ecosystems. Industry giants including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and Google have taken the battle from the marketplace to the courtroom with a host of suits and counter-suits against one another.
Directly or indirectly, Google and its Android operating system has been a popular target recently. As Frost & Sullivan commented, Google and CEO Larry Page have been at an IP disadvantage compared to their peers.
Apparently Larry Page felt the same.
On Monday, Google announced its intended acquisition of Motorola, and the blogosphere was buzzing. Much of the commentary revolved around the potential for Google to adapt to the mobile handset industry. Can a creative software giant like Google handle the low-margin world of hardware? What will this mean to Android’s other hardware partners like HTC and Samsung? What about Motorola’s contingent of 19,000 employees?
The answer to all these questions is the same: The Google-Motorola deal is not about hardware—it is about patents.
Google’s business model—offering a free platform as a route to advertising and application revenue—depends on that platform being, well, free. That status has been threatened as a result of the aforementioned flurry of recent patent litigation. It is rumored that HTC, one of Androids main OEM partners, settled a suit with Microsoft by agreeing to pay $5 for every Android device it sells. Other Android manufacturers have also been under attack.
Google responded.
Motorola has a portfolio of 24,500 patents and patent applications that instantly bolsters Google’s strength in the IP war. Looking at some recent patent auctions and using some simple math can show why these patents were indeed the target of Google’s acquisition.
Using one of the industries recent patent auctions as a baseline, in December of 2010, Novell sold off its portfolio of 882 patents for $450 Million. A simple division calculation leads us to a value of $510,204.08 per patent. Why not round that figure off you ask?
Well, let’s look at the patent value of the Motorola acquisition. Forgetting that Motorola also makes mobile phones, let’s say the entire value of the acquisition was in their 24,500 patents and applications. At a $12.5 billion price tag, that equates to…drum roll please…$510,204.08 per patent. Can anyone guess what heuristic they used in the board room in valuing the deal?
In the Motorola acquisition, Google bought a patent portfolio and got a mobile phone business thrown in for free.
ip.access passes half million milestone in 3G small cells
CAMBRIDGE, UK: UK-based small cell technology developer and manufacturer, ip.access, confirmed that its Oyster 3G femto technology is powering more than 500,000 Access Points deployed live in homes, offices and mobile network hotspots worldwide.
Such is the rate of growth and deployment of the company’s small cell technology; it expects to pass the one million milestone next year. The announcement comes after recent independent market analysis from Infonetics Research confirmed that ip.access has the leading market share of femtocell units deployed.
Oyster 3G technology from ip.access is used in its femtocell and picocell deployments worldwide. The company numbers more than 60 operator partners for its 3G and 2G small cell technology. Major customers include Cisco, which uses Oyster 3G core technology in its 3G MicroCell solution for AT&T in America – the world’s largest consumer femtocell roll-out.
Making the announcement, Simon Brown, ip.access CEO said: “The 3G small cell market is now really accelerating – consumer femtocells, enterprise and retail picocells, public hot-spots and the move towards metro-zones on 3G and 4G networks are all driving the adoption of small cell technology.
“Nothing gives a bigger coverage and capacity boost – or delivers more from the available radio spectrum – than the move to small cell technology. At ip.access, we are firmly in the vanguard of both the deployment and the development of small cell solutions."
ip.access' Oyster 3G system was among the earliest commercial femtocell solutions when it was first launched in 2007. Today, as the company expects to see deployments more than double in the next 12 to 18 months, Oyster 3G technology is integral to the company’s full product line which includes C-class residential units, S-class Access Points for shops and small offices, and the E-Class enterprise picocells for larger offices and public locations.
Recently, ip.access also announced the OysterCatcher solution, a remote diagnostics and management tool which can fine tune deployed femtocells and picocells to help improve performance and adapt to changing radio environments.
“Our experience of mass market deployment and the ability to scale up product solutions give us an undoubted edge in the market," said Brown. “We have learned, for example, that even apparently quite small changes – such as new software release on a smartphone handset – might require changes to femtocell radio parameters. With OysterCatcher, we can capture this information, process it and remotely fine tune the small cell to cope with any changes.
“It is developments such as these that have fuelled our growth to the half million milestone and will continue to enable ip.access to successfully deliver market scale and grow past one million deployments next year."
Such is the rate of growth and deployment of the company’s small cell technology; it expects to pass the one million milestone next year. The announcement comes after recent independent market analysis from Infonetics Research confirmed that ip.access has the leading market share of femtocell units deployed.
Oyster 3G technology from ip.access is used in its femtocell and picocell deployments worldwide. The company numbers more than 60 operator partners for its 3G and 2G small cell technology. Major customers include Cisco, which uses Oyster 3G core technology in its 3G MicroCell solution for AT&T in America – the world’s largest consumer femtocell roll-out.
Making the announcement, Simon Brown, ip.access CEO said: “The 3G small cell market is now really accelerating – consumer femtocells, enterprise and retail picocells, public hot-spots and the move towards metro-zones on 3G and 4G networks are all driving the adoption of small cell technology.
“Nothing gives a bigger coverage and capacity boost – or delivers more from the available radio spectrum – than the move to small cell technology. At ip.access, we are firmly in the vanguard of both the deployment and the development of small cell solutions."
ip.access' Oyster 3G system was among the earliest commercial femtocell solutions when it was first launched in 2007. Today, as the company expects to see deployments more than double in the next 12 to 18 months, Oyster 3G technology is integral to the company’s full product line which includes C-class residential units, S-class Access Points for shops and small offices, and the E-Class enterprise picocells for larger offices and public locations.
Recently, ip.access also announced the OysterCatcher solution, a remote diagnostics and management tool which can fine tune deployed femtocells and picocells to help improve performance and adapt to changing radio environments.
“Our experience of mass market deployment and the ability to scale up product solutions give us an undoubted edge in the market," said Brown. “We have learned, for example, that even apparently quite small changes – such as new software release on a smartphone handset – might require changes to femtocell radio parameters. With OysterCatcher, we can capture this information, process it and remotely fine tune the small cell to cope with any changes.
“It is developments such as these that have fuelled our growth to the half million milestone and will continue to enable ip.access to successfully deliver market scale and grow past one million deployments next year."
Google has announced its intention to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion
Tim Renowden, Analyst, Ovum
AUSTRALIA: This move brings Google significantly closer to Ovum’s hypothesis of a “managed device platform” where a vendor controls all aspects of a platform, including hardware, software, content and online services.
Google’s rhetoric about “supercharging” the Android ecosystem implies that Google plans to work extra closely with the Motorola team. This is a delicate balancing act for Google; any hint of favoritism or signs that Motorola is getting an unfair advantage, and other key Android vendors will not be pleased.
We may see Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony Ericsson and others reinvest in alternative mobile platforms, most likely Microsoft’s Windows Phone ecosystem, to keep Google honest.
The acquisition will significantly strengthen Google’s patent portfolio, an important move in light of ongoing patent litigation across the mobile industry, particularly litigation aimed at Android and its vendor partners.
Motorola has a strong patent portfolio and a long history of producing advanced devices and technologies, but has been struggling financially for a number of years, making it an attractive target.
AUSTRALIA: This move brings Google significantly closer to Ovum’s hypothesis of a “managed device platform” where a vendor controls all aspects of a platform, including hardware, software, content and online services.
Google’s rhetoric about “supercharging” the Android ecosystem implies that Google plans to work extra closely with the Motorola team. This is a delicate balancing act for Google; any hint of favoritism or signs that Motorola is getting an unfair advantage, and other key Android vendors will not be pleased.
We may see Samsung, HTC, LG, Sony Ericsson and others reinvest in alternative mobile platforms, most likely Microsoft’s Windows Phone ecosystem, to keep Google honest.
The acquisition will significantly strengthen Google’s patent portfolio, an important move in light of ongoing patent litigation across the mobile industry, particularly litigation aimed at Android and its vendor partners.
Motorola has a strong patent portfolio and a long history of producing advanced devices and technologies, but has been struggling financially for a number of years, making it an attractive target.
Half of all femtocell security gateway revenue will come from enterprise by 2016
LONDON, UK: Consumer femtocells are expected to account for the bulk of the market. But in the femtocell core network, enterprise will play a bigger role, according to a new study from ABI Research. Femtocell core networks are based on user capacity rather than access point deployments, and the number of enterprise femtocell users is expected to be far greater than consumer femtocell users.
Aditya Kaul, practice director, mobile networks, says: “While the femtocell access point vendors are concentrating on the consumer femtocell market (driven by access point volumes), the femtocell gateway vendors need to focus on the enterprise market. They should consider building partnerships that focus on that segment and allow them to tune and enhance their products’ capabilities for the enterprise.”
Of the current 70+ contracts, ABI Research has counted at least 15 pure enterprise femtocell contracts, with 25 contracts being a mix of residential and enterprise femtocells. Enterprise femtos are to make up 36 percent of shipments by 2016, which relates to 50 percent of security gateway revenues.
Those revenues will be garnered by Genband, Acme Packet, Stoke, Intellinet, Huawei, Alcatel Lucent, Cisco and other key security gateway vendors who make up the market. Some of the larger end-to-end femto suppliers are starting to consider partnering for security gateways. This is beneficial for independent vendors such as Genband, Acme Packet, Stoke and IntelliNet.
Aditya Kaul, practice director, mobile networks, says: “While the femtocell access point vendors are concentrating on the consumer femtocell market (driven by access point volumes), the femtocell gateway vendors need to focus on the enterprise market. They should consider building partnerships that focus on that segment and allow them to tune and enhance their products’ capabilities for the enterprise.”
Of the current 70+ contracts, ABI Research has counted at least 15 pure enterprise femtocell contracts, with 25 contracts being a mix of residential and enterprise femtocells. Enterprise femtos are to make up 36 percent of shipments by 2016, which relates to 50 percent of security gateway revenues.
Those revenues will be garnered by Genband, Acme Packet, Stoke, Intellinet, Huawei, Alcatel Lucent, Cisco and other key security gateway vendors who make up the market. Some of the larger end-to-end femto suppliers are starting to consider partnering for security gateways. This is beneficial for independent vendors such as Genband, Acme Packet, Stoke and IntelliNet.
Fast facts on Google’s purchase of Motorola Mobility
EL SEGUNDO, USA: The Motorola Mobility acquisition puts Google Inc. in a stronger position in any potential patent dispute with Apple Inc. “From an intellectual property (IP) standpoint, the acquisition bolsters Google’s negotiating position with Apple, in the event that Apple goes after Android-based products the same way it did with Samsung in Europe,” said Francis Sideco, principal analyst, wireless communications, for IHS.
“If nothing else, Google will be able to assert Motorola’s IP for the 3GPP and 3GPP2 cellphone specifications, which are used in both the iPhone and iPad.”
Motorola’s product development capabilities also may have made it an attractive acquisition target for Google. “Motorola has been closely following Google Android's operating system release schedule,” said Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for IHS. “Whenever Google releases a new version of Android, Motorola almost immediately has a device ready with the latest revision of the software, reflecting the company’s prodigious product development capabilities.”
Google previously has used new HTC and Samsung products to demonstrate the latest capabilities of the Android operating system. For example, the HTC MyTouch and Samsung Nexus S served to show off the operating systems’ capabilities so other OEMs could follow the example. Now, Motorola is the company that will set the example.
“Motorola can serve as Google's product R&D department as Android spreads into new markets,” Teng added. “Motorola has engineering expertise in a wide range of products where Android will be used, including set-top boxes and televisions. The addition of Motorola’s engineering and intellectual property will accelerate Android’s time-to-market in these areas and potentially revitalize the Google TV business, which so far has met with little success.”
The acquisition could prompt some Android licenses to increase their focus on alternative operating systems, such as Windows Phone. “Although Google has said Motorola will continue to operate as a separate company, this development has to raise questions among the other Android licensees as to the level of support they will get from Google in the future. Even before this announcement, Motorola already had gotten preferential treatment, receiving first access to Honeycomb on the tablet side. While it’s unlikely that the other licensees will abandon Android, they could shift their priorities and focus more R&D toward Windows Phone from Microsoft.”
Motorola ranked sixth in the global smartphone business in the second quarter. The company held a 4 percent share of global unit shipments. Company shipments amounted to 4.4 million, up 7.3 percent from 4.1 million in the first quarter, as shown in the table attached.
Since hitting bottom in the first quarter of 2009, Motorola has been experiencing nearly uninterrupted quarterly growth in smartphone shipments. Quarterly company shipments have expanded sequentially for the past nine consecutive quarters, with the exception of the first quarter of 2011.
Motorola once was the world’s No. 2 cellphone maker. As recently as the first quarter of 2007, Motorola was the world’s second-largest cellphone shipper after Nokia on the strength of its stylish RAZR product line. However, because of its difficulties in offering compelling new models following the success of the RAZR, Motorola’s share of global cellphone shipments went into decline. Following a precipitous and sustained drop in shipments and market share, the company made a strategic decision to shift its focus away from low-margin, mass-market cellphones and toward higher-profit smartphones based on the Android operating system, like the Droid and Backflip.
Motorola Inc.’s XOOM media tablet introduced early this year represented the first legitimate match for Apple Inc.’s iPad 3G, in terms of features and pricing. The IHS iSuppli Teardown Analysis service’s dissection of the device determined the Motorola XOOM carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $359.92, based on pricing in March 2011, compared to approximately $320 for a 3G iPad with 32GB of NAND flash memory, based on pricing from April 2010.
“If nothing else, Google will be able to assert Motorola’s IP for the 3GPP and 3GPP2 cellphone specifications, which are used in both the iPhone and iPad.”
Motorola’s product development capabilities also may have made it an attractive acquisition target for Google. “Motorola has been closely following Google Android's operating system release schedule,” said Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for IHS. “Whenever Google releases a new version of Android, Motorola almost immediately has a device ready with the latest revision of the software, reflecting the company’s prodigious product development capabilities.”
Google previously has used new HTC and Samsung products to demonstrate the latest capabilities of the Android operating system. For example, the HTC MyTouch and Samsung Nexus S served to show off the operating systems’ capabilities so other OEMs could follow the example. Now, Motorola is the company that will set the example.
“Motorola can serve as Google's product R&D department as Android spreads into new markets,” Teng added. “Motorola has engineering expertise in a wide range of products where Android will be used, including set-top boxes and televisions. The addition of Motorola’s engineering and intellectual property will accelerate Android’s time-to-market in these areas and potentially revitalize the Google TV business, which so far has met with little success.”
The acquisition could prompt some Android licenses to increase their focus on alternative operating systems, such as Windows Phone. “Although Google has said Motorola will continue to operate as a separate company, this development has to raise questions among the other Android licensees as to the level of support they will get from Google in the future. Even before this announcement, Motorola already had gotten preferential treatment, receiving first access to Honeycomb on the tablet side. While it’s unlikely that the other licensees will abandon Android, they could shift their priorities and focus more R&D toward Windows Phone from Microsoft.”
Motorola ranked sixth in the global smartphone business in the second quarter. The company held a 4 percent share of global unit shipments. Company shipments amounted to 4.4 million, up 7.3 percent from 4.1 million in the first quarter, as shown in the table attached.
Since hitting bottom in the first quarter of 2009, Motorola has been experiencing nearly uninterrupted quarterly growth in smartphone shipments. Quarterly company shipments have expanded sequentially for the past nine consecutive quarters, with the exception of the first quarter of 2011.
Motorola once was the world’s No. 2 cellphone maker. As recently as the first quarter of 2007, Motorola was the world’s second-largest cellphone shipper after Nokia on the strength of its stylish RAZR product line. However, because of its difficulties in offering compelling new models following the success of the RAZR, Motorola’s share of global cellphone shipments went into decline. Following a precipitous and sustained drop in shipments and market share, the company made a strategic decision to shift its focus away from low-margin, mass-market cellphones and toward higher-profit smartphones based on the Android operating system, like the Droid and Backflip.
Motorola Inc.’s XOOM media tablet introduced early this year represented the first legitimate match for Apple Inc.’s iPad 3G, in terms of features and pricing. The IHS iSuppli Teardown Analysis service’s dissection of the device determined the Motorola XOOM carries a bill of materials (BOM) of $359.92, based on pricing in March 2011, compared to approximately $320 for a 3G iPad with 32GB of NAND flash memory, based on pricing from April 2010.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Motorola Mobility reveals Motorola DEFY+
LIBERTYVILLE, USA: Live life to the fullest with the latest life proof smartphone from Motorola Mobility, Inc., Motorola DEFY+.
Building on the Motorola DEFY’s life proof heritage, Motorola DEFY+ offers exceptional protection from whatever life throws your way with its water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof design (IP67). In addition, Motorola DEFY+ has a 1GHz processor that runs 25 percent faster and is more fun with the latest version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) delivering a smarter operating system and better battery life to fully enjoy your experiences. Motorola DEFY+ will be available in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting in early fall.
Water resistant, dust proof, and featuring scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, Motorola DEFY+ can survive a sudden rain shower, a day on the beach, an all-night party – or even a tough workout with the pre-loaded CardioTrainer application, which transforms the device into the perfect running mate. Its brilliant 3.7-inch high-resolution touch-screen display enables you to easily view and track your workout progress. Wherever your days – or nights – take you, Motorola DEFY+ is the life proof device that can keep up with your toughest demands and wildest adventures.
Motorola DEFY+ is faster than ever, keeping up with your on-the-go lifestyles so you can effortlessly browse the Web, stay updated with social networking sites on your homes screens and stream and download rich media content more quickly than before. Motorola DEFY+ offers an Adobe Flash 10-enabled browser for a rich web experience that allows users to watch their favorite movies or view videos on the Web.
Powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Motorola DEFY+ is smarter than ever. This new version of Android boasts a better battery life, a more intuitive user interface and improvements on the features you use most – including enhanced calendar and email features and home screen options. Users can make Motorola DEFY+ their own by organizing and personalizing their Application trays for easy and quick access to their most used tools, games and content.
Boredom proof your life; the richest experiences in entertainment and social media are always within reach with Motorola DEFY+. The Music Player lets you access and share your favorite music. You can also stream your favorite music straight from your desktops at home or work, with Motorola Media Link.
Motorola DEFY+ also features Google Talk to keep you connected with friends and colleagues, while built in apps like the *Zinio e-magazine service allow you to keep up with favourite publications on-the-go. Entertainment doesn’t stop there: Motorola DEFY+ also features a 5MP camera with flash, digital zoom and auto focus, letting users capture the best of their social life and create their very own entertainment whatever the conditions.
Building on the Motorola DEFY’s life proof heritage, Motorola DEFY+ offers exceptional protection from whatever life throws your way with its water resistant, scratch resistant and dust proof design (IP67). In addition, Motorola DEFY+ has a 1GHz processor that runs 25 percent faster and is more fun with the latest version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) delivering a smarter operating system and better battery life to fully enjoy your experiences. Motorola DEFY+ will be available in Asia, Europe and Latin America starting in early fall.
Water resistant, dust proof, and featuring scratch resistant Corning Gorilla Glass, Motorola DEFY+ can survive a sudden rain shower, a day on the beach, an all-night party – or even a tough workout with the pre-loaded CardioTrainer application, which transforms the device into the perfect running mate. Its brilliant 3.7-inch high-resolution touch-screen display enables you to easily view and track your workout progress. Wherever your days – or nights – take you, Motorola DEFY+ is the life proof device that can keep up with your toughest demands and wildest adventures.
Motorola DEFY+ is faster than ever, keeping up with your on-the-go lifestyles so you can effortlessly browse the Web, stay updated with social networking sites on your homes screens and stream and download rich media content more quickly than before. Motorola DEFY+ offers an Adobe Flash 10-enabled browser for a rich web experience that allows users to watch their favorite movies or view videos on the Web.
Powered by Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), Motorola DEFY+ is smarter than ever. This new version of Android boasts a better battery life, a more intuitive user interface and improvements on the features you use most – including enhanced calendar and email features and home screen options. Users can make Motorola DEFY+ their own by organizing and personalizing their Application trays for easy and quick access to their most used tools, games and content.
Boredom proof your life; the richest experiences in entertainment and social media are always within reach with Motorola DEFY+. The Music Player lets you access and share your favorite music. You can also stream your favorite music straight from your desktops at home or work, with Motorola Media Link.
Motorola DEFY+ also features Google Talk to keep you connected with friends and colleagues, while built in apps like the *Zinio e-magazine service allow you to keep up with favourite publications on-the-go. Entertainment doesn’t stop there: Motorola DEFY+ also features a 5MP camera with flash, digital zoom and auto focus, letting users capture the best of their social life and create their very own entertainment whatever the conditions.
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