Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Toshiba offers IPedge application server for Strata CIX

USA: Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division announced the availability of IPedge Application Server for users of Toshiba's Strata CIX IP business telephone systems.

Adding IPedge to the Strata CIX brings IPedge unified messaging, mobility, unified communications, and meeting collaboration applications to Strata CIX users. Applications include IPedge Unified Messaging, IPMobility for mobility and single-number reach, IPedge Call Manager on PC for unified communications, and IPedge Meeting for audio, Web, and video collaboration.

Users of Toshiba's legacy Strata CTX digital business telephone systems can also upgrade to Strata CIX and add IPedge as an application server to enable these advanced solutions.

"By making IPedge available as an application server to Strata CIX and Strata CTX users, we at Toshiba are bringing the latest IP unified communications and mobility solutions to our legacy users," said Brian Metherell, VP and GM of Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Telecommunication Systems Division.

"Using IPedge as an app server gives users of Strata CIX and Strata CTX systems all the application benefits of the IPedge without entirely moving to IP, an affordable solution that lets them mix-and-match digital and IP endpoints as necessary for their businesses. It also focuses and streamlines our application server portfolio across our CIX, IPedge, and VIPedge product lines for our Authorized Toshiba Dealers."

Sycamore expands packet capabilities of SN 9000

USA: Sycamore Networks Solutions, Inc., a Marlin Equity Partners portfolio company, announced the introduction of Layer 2 packet switching capabilities for its SN 9000 Intelligent Multiservice Switching platform.

The new Integrated Packet Exchange (IPX) solution extends the packet-optimized service features of the SN 9000 with node- and network-wide Ethernet switching capability, enabling service providers to more efficiently and cost-effectively deliver carrier-class Ethernet services while simultaneously supporting traditional TDM-based revenue traffic.

The SN 9000 Intelligent Multiservice Switch consolidates multiple network functions into a compact network element that enables end-to-end service provisioning and optical mesh protection via an industry-leading GMPLS control plane. Building upon the SN 9000’s versatile systems architecture, the IPX solution supports node-wide packet switching and is central to the establishment of an efficient and reliable network-wide packet layer.

The packet-optimized enhancements allow carrier-class Ethernet services to be efficiently aggregated and switched both locally and network wide. In addition, by enabling the economic aggregation of Ethernet and TDM service traffic on the same platform, the IPX solution eliminates the need for costly overlay aggregation networks.

ROAM releases RP350x -- world’s first PCI-PTS certified chip and signature mobile card reader

USA: ROAM, an Ingenico company and the leading mobile commerce platform provider, announced the release of the RP350x, the world’s first ever PCI-PTS and SRED-certified Chip and Sign mobile card reader.

The release of this EMV-approved device is part of ROAM’s broader strategy to provide merchants of all sizes, industries and geographical regions with innovative mobile point of sale (mPOS) solutions that comply with the latest global payment standards.

Today, approximately 1.5 billion EMV cards have been issued globally and 21.9 million POS terminals accept EMV cards. In the United States, card brands have set aggressive deadlines for the conversion to EMV chip–based cards and ROAM is ahead of the game by making sure the US market is ready for this transition.

The reader provides a low cost solution for enabling Chip and Sign payment acceptance, as the device is only a fraction of the cost of standard EMV-enabled terminals.

Redpine Signals rolls out industry's first 5 GHz CCX certified Wi-Fi RTLS tag and location system

RFID Journal Live! USA: Redpine Signals Inc., a leading developer of ultra-low-power and high-performance multi-standard wireless chipsets and systems, announced the availability of a comprehensive set of RTLS hardware and system components that include the industry's first 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual band Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) certified RTLS tag – the WiSeMote WM1-50 device.

The company also extended its Cloud-based Location as a Service (CLaaS) offerings by adding SuperMote and NetworkMote.

The complete RTLS solution from Redpine Signals includes a location engine that provides accurate locationing in beaconing, associated and CCX mode of operation. With Redpine Signal's proprietary algorithms and its SuperMote augmentation devices, the RTLS solution enables unsurpassed locationing accuracy in diverse environments.

The WiSeMote tag family provides two-way messaging, with simultaneous multi-mode capability. They can also work with standard off-the-shelf access points for locationing through their associated mode of operation. Unique to these tags in this mode is the ability to work in Wi-Fi infrastructures with enterprise security using built-in 802.1X capability.

This will pave the way for application in hospitals, industrial setups, and enterprise environments with the same level of secure authentication as other Wi-Fi devices deployed. The WiSeMote tags also can wake up from a sleep state to an active, beaconing state spending less energy than any other Wi-Fi tag available in the market today.

Redpine Signal's SuperMote and NetworkMote devices allow creation of a Wi-Fi RTLS infrastructure even in environments with limited or no previous Wi-Fi deployment at vastly reduced cost than installing a standard Wi-Fi infrastructure first.

m2fx reaches major milestone with 25,000 FTTP installs

USA & ENGLAND: Demonstrating its increasing success, m2fx  announced that its patented Miniflex fibre cable, microduct and protection tube has now been successfully deployed in 25,000 Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) installations around the world.

Champaign Telephone Co. in Illinois recently achieved the milestone, having now used m2fx’s pushable technology to connect over 150 buildings to its Metro Ethernet network.

The innovative Miniflex product range combines toughness and lightness with ultra flexibility, making it ideal for the last 200 metres of fibre installations. Its unique design and patented pushable technology dramatically reduces the time and cost of installations by removing the need for specialist equipment or skills. FTTP customers in the developed world report savings of up to 50 percent compared to traditional installation methods.

Since 2012 Champaign Telephone Company has deployed 100,000 feet of Miniflex products to connect and network inside commercial businesses, factories and hospitals and other public buildings. Since switching to m2fx it has seen a 40 percent reduction in labour costs combined with faster installation time – technical crews can now complete a 500 feet run of cable in just half a day, allowing next day installations for new connections.

Reliance Communications unveils large-scale network expansion plan

INDIA: Reliance Communications, India’s fully integrated telecommunications service provider, announced ambitious plans to expand its pan-India network significantly through strategic 2G GSM intra-circle roaming agreements with existing operators, offering its customers wider coverage and uninterrupted service across the country. Once in place, RCOM’s 2G GSM customers will be able to roam seamlessly on all partner networks, free of any additional cost.

These ICR agreements will increase RCOM’s national 2G GSM network footprint by 10,000 base stations and bring in an addressable market of over 150 million customers, adding up to a market opportunity of over Rs 10,000 crore. All agreements with existing telecom operators are likely to be completed by the end of the second quarter of the ongoing financial year.

The innovative 2G GSM ICR arrangements with various other operators will see a fast-paced expansion of RCOM’s GSM network footprint at no extra cost, optimize Capex and Opex spends and allow the company’s customers a seamless roaming experience on partner networks. In addition, increased capacities will significantly improve both outdoor and in-building coverage, providing RCOM customers with an enriched mobility and data experience.

The first such arrangement with Aircel offers RCOM customers seamless mobility and a wider footprint, while providing an impetus to the Company’s yields, both in terms of revenue market share and customer market share. The strategic alliance will energize RCOM’s already extensive GSM network footprint in the country, significantly boosting the company’s addressable market.

To begin with, the two companies will offer the 2G ICR advantage to its customers in some key circles, with the agreement being periodically expanded, thereby taking this progressive offering to customers on a pan-India basis.

BeyonDSL markets SES Broadband to consumers in the UK and Ireland

LUXEMBOURG: SES has signed an agreement with BeyonDSL for the distribution of SES Broadband in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The new satellite internet service is marketed by BeyonDSL under the brand name “Satellite Internet” and offers download speeds of up to 20 Mbit/s.

Satellite Internet can be ordered on www.satelliteinternet.co.uk . The service uses Ka-band capacity on SES’ ASTRA 2F satellite located at the orbital position 28.2 degrees East. The end-user terminals are provided by Gilat Satellite Technologies.

“We are delighted to extend our new high-speed satellite internet service to consumers in the UK and Ireland together with our long-standing partner BeyonDSL,” said Patrick Biewer, MD,of SES Broadband Services. “We are convinced that our new Ka-band solution presents a great alternative to users who do not have access to terrestrial broadband offers.”

“Our service, ‘Satellite Internet’, with up to 20 Mbit/s download speeds is another step in our continuing mission to offer competitive and affordable high-speed satellite internet packages for customers throughout the UK and Ireland,” said Mike Locke, MD of BeyonDSL. “Both SES Broadband Services and BeyonDSL are committed to the further development of high-speed satellite internet for customers with limited or no access to this indispensable technology.”

Monday, April 29, 2013

Ethertronics EtherModule 1.0 finalist in 2013 CTIA awards

USA: Ethertronics EtherModule 1.0 was named a finalist in the “Enterprise Solution – M2M, Sensors, RFID & NFC” category of CTIA’s annual Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Awards competition.

The CTIA E-Tech Awards  honor the industry’s most innovative new wireless products and services in mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and vertical markets, and networks. Winners will be announced at CTIA 2013™, taking place May 21-23, 2013 at the Sands Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas.

Ethertronics’ EtherModule 1.0 offers a highly modular and optimized wideband self-tunable antenna solution for wireless vendors designing M2M products. As a turnkey, plug-and-play, active antenna system module, EtherModule 1.0 combines Ethertronics’ advanced antenna architecture with its EtherChip 1.0 tunable capacitor for easy integration by wireless product designers –  minimizing the need for additional engineering design and getting products to market faster.

Its compact size and ability to cover a wide range of frequency needs – from 100 MHz up to several GHz covering 2G, 3G, 4G cellular as well as Bluetooth, ISM, WiFi and ZigBee bands – make it ideal for M2M devices.

Easynet first out of the blocks with fast fourth generation access

ENGLAND: For the first time in the UK, businesses can order and experience 4G in as little as two days, as Easynet Global Services launches Rapid Deployment 4G, which fuses the immense power of fourth generation mobility with the speed of rapid provision.

Another industry first from Easynet, Rapid Deployment 4G is an enhancement to its range of Rapid Deployment access services, which can quickly connect customers or provide network back-up to their corporate MPLS networks using either DSL, 3G and now 4G access wherever they are located.

To gain a competitive edge in their markets and outperform rivals, businesses must respond quickly to change. An organisation’s communications infrastructure drives its ability to react swiftly and take advantage of opportunities. Often restrictive and a barrier to change, long installation times and complex order processes for telecoms service can hold back a dynamic business and have a stranglehold on progress.

Rapid Deployment 4G addresses these challenges head-on, with high priority service delivery, fast installation and Easynet’s stringent Service Level Agreement, SLA 3.0, which includes guarantees on both provisioning lead time and time to fix.

‘Perfect Partnership’ delivers IVR with intelligent, personalised call steering and self-service to Belgium’s bpost

IRELAND: Leader in phone-based and mobile customer service, SpeechStorm, in co-operation with Genesys and NextiraOne, has completed the implementation of a new interactive voice response (IVR) solution for bpost (Belgian Post Group) at their Centre Monnaie HQ in Brussels.

The flexible new IVR implementation of SpeechStorm, re-sold by Genesys as ‘Conversation Manager Applications, powered by SpeechStorm’, was successfully integrated into the current contact centre infrastructure by NextiraOne. It will enable bpost to respond quickly to changing business needs and guide customers more efficiently through their inbound contact-centre calls by routing them to best suit each individual customer’s needs.

One of the largest civilian employers in Belgium, bpost provides a wide range of services across postal and financial services and the new IVR will be experienced by the company’s residential customers and those of bpost bank.

The implementation was completed in six weeks and was live at the start of February. The SpeechStorm application replaced a less flexible bespoke, IVR installation, previously requiring a technically complex, time consuming and costly ‘change’ process before the solution could then, itself, be adapted, technically, to meet new business demands.

This latest application, however, makes it much easier for corporate users to adapt the IVR system themselves without involving IT departments and other resources.

ZTE Q1 net profit rises 35.9 percent as operational review drives rebound

CHINA: ZTE Corp. reported a 35.9 percent increase in net profit in the first-quarter, as the company’s operational review continued to deliver improvements in cash flow and profitability.

Net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company rose to RMB205 million in the first quarter, and basic earnings per share increased to RMB0.06. Operating cash flow in the first quarter significantly improved compared to a year earlier. ZTE’s gross profit margin has expanded for two consecutive quarters, as the company strengthened efforts to control costs. Revenue dropped 2.8 percent to RMB18.09 billion.

Since the second half of 2012, ZTE has stringently enforced measures to focus resources on key products and markets, target higher-margin contracts, improve cash flow management and reduce costs, under the company’s operational review. This has helped the company achieve a more optimal product and customer mix, and an improved cost structure.

The company achieved combined savings of RMB 350 million in selling, administration and research costs in the first quarter compared with a year earlier. The results of the operational review, combined with the disposal gain, allowed the company to overcome the negative effects from currency fluctuation and asset write-downs to record higher net profit.

Looking ahead to the next reporting period, equipment investment by the telecommunications industry is expected to be focused on broadband conversion of wireless and wireline networks and the construction of ancillary facilities. The Group will commit its efforts to product innovation and solution-based operations with a strong focus on mainstream products and improve R&D efficiency.

The strategy for populous nations and mainstream carriers will be re-inforced, as we seek to concentrate on markets in which we claim strengths while vigorously expanding in the government, enterprise and service segments. The Group will continue to implement the settlement system to facilitate resource management and control, so as to refine cost management and enhance operating efficiency.

Friday, April 26, 2013

GL announces traffic generation for analog, TDM, IP, and wireless networks

INDIA: GL Communications Inc. announced its latest testing tool traffic generation software for analog, TDM, IP and wireless metworks.

Vijay Kulkarni, CEO, said: "As traffic intensity increases, network elements (including switches and transmission) can impart various impairments such as errors, excessive delay, congestion, blocking, loss, and degraded quality. Simulating traffic can be valuable to characterize the impairment as a function of traffic intensity and traffic type (e.g. voice, fax, data, video).

GL's Protocol Emulator platform MAPS (Message Automation and Protocol Simulation) performs signaling and traffic generation for a vast array of communication protocols covering IP, analog, TDM, and wireless networks.

Examples include testing legacy networks (which use conventional signaling such as CAS, SS7, ISDN..), newer generation IP networks (using SIP, MGCP, MEGACO, SIGTRAN, Diameter), and wireless networks (using GSM, GPRS, UMTS, and LTE)."

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Microsoft and Airtel launch the ultimate #Airtel #Xbox combo entertainment offer in India

INDIA: In a first of its kind partnership, Airtel and Microsoft have launched a unique Xbox 360 + Airtel Broadband offer for Indian consumers.

Starting today, the offer is available for consumers across Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Chennai, and Mumbai and is valid until 30th June, 2013. Free Xbox games, attractive offers on Airtel High Speed Broadband connections and free Xbox LIVE gold memberships – these are just some of the goodies available for consumers looking for super sensational entertainment deals this summer.

As part of this Microsoft-Airtel entertainment offer, consumers in India can take advantage of amazing offer in two great combinations tailored just for them.

Consumers buying an Xbox 360 4GB Kinect console plus upgrading or taking a new Airtel High Speed Broadband connection can save up to Rs. 15,500 as this combo includes 10 Xbox 360 games, 12-month free Xbox LIVE gold membership and up to Rs. 4,888 offer on the existing or new Airtel broadband connection.

Current Xbox 360 console owners who buy a High Speed Airtel Broadband connection can save up to Rs. 4,888/-  and also get a free Xbox LIVE gold membership for three months.

Open Mobile Alliance elects board leaders from Deutsche Telekom/T-Mobile, AT&T, Telecom Italia

USA: The Open Mobile Alliance announced the election of Gary Jones of Deutsche Telekom/T-Mobile as Chairman of OMA’s Board of Directors.

Bryan Sullivan of AT&T and Cecilia Corbi of Telecom Italia have been elected Vice-chairs. The election of the officers brings continuity to the ongoing work of promoting innovation in standards-setting processes, as well as market-driven perspectives on areas of engagement for new technical work items.

Newly elected to the position of Chairman of the Board at OMA, Gary Jones brings a wealth of mobile industry and standards experience.  Mr. Jones is Senior Director and Head of Technical Standards Policy for T-Mobile USA, and along with his work at OMA, he directs and coordinates the efforts of the T-Mobile Standards Group in worldwide standards fora such as 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the ITU.

Jones has held multiple management positions within the wireless industry at companies including Millicom International, Omnipoint and VoiceStream.  In addition, Mr. Jones has held leadership roles in standards development organizations (SDOs) including Treasurer at OMA, Chairman of various wireless standards groups within ATIS, and Vice-chairman of the 3GPP Core Network and Terminals Technical Specification Group (TSG CT).

He is currently Chairman of GSMA North America Standards Working Group and Vice-chairman of 3GPP Service & Systems Aspects Technical Specification Group (TSG SA).  Deutsche Telekom/T-Mobile also contributes a number of members of its technical staff to leadership positions in OMA’s working groups including the Chair of OMA’s Location working group.

“OMA is a well-run and entrepreneurial organization with a long history of developing successful specifications, and I am honored to be chosen as Chairman of the Board of Directors,” said Jones.  “As smartphones, mobile computing and the associated mobile applications become ubiquitous, I look forward to driving innovation in OMA’s work program and operations that result in specifications that bring value to our members and the mobile industry at large.”

Also newly elected, Bryan Sullivan of AT&T has accepted the position of Vice-chair of the OMA Board. Sullivan is Director of Service Enabler Standards for AT&T, and leads a team representing AT&T in a diverse set of standards-defining organizations, which along with OMA includes the W3C, GSM Association (GSMA), Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) and Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

AT&T has been a long time contributor to OMA and has headed a number of successful initiatives including OMA’s API program begun in 2010.

LAVA launches mini portable wireless router W200

INDIA: LAVA International Ltd has extended its portfolio, launching the W200 router.

W200 is a mini portable wireless router that creates WIFI hotspot and can support up to 32 users. It has an inbuilt battery of 1800mAh that can be used to charge mobile devices anywhere anytime ! The portable wireless router that creates wifi hotspot plus power bank through which mobile device can be charged.

The W200 also supports EVDO and 3G dongles. Other features include Ethernet support (RJ45), multi user support up to 32 users on local LAN, and plug-and-play. It is priced at Rs. 2,499.

Market for mobile health sensors will grow to $5.6 billion by 2017

GERMANY: The revenue generated with sensors connecting to an app will reach $5.6 billion by 2017. The market will grow by 69 percent (CAGR) over the next five years. Sixty-one million sensors will be shipped to mHealth app users in 2017.

In 2017, more than 61 million external sensors will be shipped to smartphone and tablet users. Ralf-Gordon Jahns, gead of Research at research2guidance, explains, “The majority of sensors will track health parameters for sports and fitness purposes just as the existing hundreds of ANT+ sensors today.”

There are approximately 200 external sensors that connect to a smartphone app today. The majority of these sensors is priced between $20 and $200 and is usually charged as one-off-payment or included in a subscription model.

Today’s app-connecting sensors are more consumer products than medical products. Ralf-Gordon Jahns points out that “with the boom of the smartphone app market, sensors which link to an app became fashionable products. They have got nothing to do with the grey and clumsy sensors that really looked like medical devices and that you would hestitate to show in public. Today’s app-related sensors are very designed just like the corresponding apps”.

The sensor business model will shift from proprietary solutions, which are only working with a single app to open systems, which allow connections to multiple apps (e.g HxM BT by Zephir, Withing).

mHealth app based business models, which rely on sensors sales will play a major role in the mHealth market, says the new “Global Mobile Health Market Report 2013-2017” by research2guidance.

mHealth apps make more and more use of external sensors. Sensors can track a range of health metrics, such as blood pressure, heart rate, glucose level, medication compliance and more. They connect with the corresponding app via Bluetooth, WiFi or USB. The app analysis, displays and shares the data that is being monitored by the sensors.

The market today is dominated by small tech companies that have been first to enter the market in 2009 and 2010. With the growing market potential, big brands from sport like Nike or technology giants (e.g. Samsung) have entered the mHealth sensor market as well.

First market exits (e.g. Zeo) indicate that the market will become tough for small tech companies that do not have the financial muscle to increase their customer base fast enough and to keep track with the innovation speed in the smartphone/app/sensor market.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

ZTE gains no. 2 world ranking for WLANs shipped

CHINA: ZTE Corp. announced that it has been ranked No. 2 in the world in WLAN access point shipments.

According to the March 19 Gartner-published, “Market Share: Enterprise WLAN Equipment, Worldwide, 4Q12 and 2012,” ZTE held No. 2 world market share in the WLAN “coordinated access point” category at 12 percent after it shipped 1 million units during the year.

The rapid development of ZTE’s WLAN solution is a benefit of its long-term focus on R&D and in-depth understanding of customer requirements. The explosive growth of mobile Internet has aided the application of Wi-Fi from enterprise networks to carrier networks. In turn, China Mobile has defined WLAN as its fourth network. To date, more than 3.7 million APs have been deployed, and in some provinces, WLAN bears nearly 80 per cent of the total data traffic. ZTE now accounts for approximately one-third of these.

Based on its leading-edge data network technologies and 3G/LTE technologies, ZTE has created innovative solutions to provide radio backhaul for WLAN by using 3G/LTE networks. It also provides Wi-Fi signals to users through TD-SCDMA or TD-LTE transport networks. This solution has been deployed by China Mobile in buses and subways and allows mobile phones with different systems to utilize a converged TD-SCDMA network.

To date, ZTE has obtained hundreds of WLAN-related patents, over ten WLAN prototype systems and created more than 100 WLAN solutions, covering radio, core network and services.

ip.access upgrades VIVACOM small cell network to 3G

UK: Leading small cell systems vendor and manufacturer ip.access has signed another small cell network supply contract – with VIVACOM, Bulgaria’s leading converged communications service provider.

At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, ip.access announced it had signed 40 small cell customer contracts in the previous 12 months. The new contract with VIVACOM is evidence of that market success continuing, according to the company’s CEO Simon Brown.

“Our end-to-end approach to the small cell layer – comprising access points, gateways and network management systems is resonating with network operators and capturing market share.

“We are the only significant independent small cells vendor,” he added, “with live deployments across more than 100 networks with an approach that has been proven to help operators to integrate and manage the small cell solution regardless of their macro network equipment vendor.”

For VIVACOM, ip.access will be providing an indoor public access 3G small cell solution for SoHo, Enterprise, and also some rural applications requiring satellite backhaul. The ability to deploy the 3G solutions using ip.access nanoConverge gateways which reduces infrastructure costs, and extend the life of existing 2G network equipment was a significant factor in the award of the contract according to VIVACOM’s Technical Director Emil Georgakiev.

“By enabling our existing 2G Gateway to be upgraded to support the new 3G small cell layer, ip.access offered us a greater return and a faster time to market than other providers. We are also able to install new 3G Gateways in the busiest areas that will be LTE-ready, further saving on network infrastructure investment.

“These represent significant benefits in terms of network deployment,” he added.

Brown added: “The nanoConverge gateway solution enables our existing mobile operator customers to expand their investment in existing and planned network infrastructure without a forklift upgrade and is a key part of our portfolio. By looking at the small cell layer, both as an end-to-end service and as a key part of the network, we are able to help operators deliver an enhanced integrated mobile network with significantly improved levels of coverage and capacity.”

NextiraOne fuels Murco's Communications with new LAN core infrastructure

UK: NextiraOne UK, Europe’s leading expert in communication services, has deployed a Core LAN Replacement at Murco’s Oil Refinery in Milford Haven.

It includes upgrading core and key switches throughout the Refinery using Cisco technology that provides a platform for the company’s networking needs for the future. This will give Murco room to expand and the ability to implement additional services to the network.

NextiraOne undertook the physical work required to interconnect new and existing copper and fibre links and new cabinets as part of the distinct project to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ approach.

Implemented over two weekends, NextiraOne deployed a resilient and flexible solution to improve the network infrastructure currently in place as Murco’s existing equipment was End of Life (EoL). Operating in a 24/7/365 environment, failure of core or key switches would have caused major system disruption.

MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS links up with Tata Communications

USA & INDIA:  Tata Communications is pleased to confirm a new partnership with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS which will see the delivery of world-class trackside connectivity for the team at all Formula One race locations using the Tata Communications global network.

With the new partnership, Tata Communications becomes the ‘Official Managed Connectivity Supplier’ to the team.

Tata Communications, a leading global provider of ‘a new world of communications’, will work closely with MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS to deliver high-speed, high quality and secure trackside connectivity, enabling the team to transfer vital real-time data from the Silver Arrow cars at any Grand Prix location to its headquarters in the UK, three times faster than at present.

The improved trackside connectivity will enable the team to react more quickly to developments at the track and help to increase car performance.

Nokia Nearby to feature premium listings from Getit

INDIA: Nokia Nearby, the innovative location-based web app that allows consumers to discover, search, explore and share places of interest near them, will now feature premium listings from Getit, India’s leading digital platform for local search, classifieds, micro communities and deals.

Through Nokia’s collaboration with Getit Infoservices, people will be able to access even more comprehensive business listings on Nokia Nearby, which is available to users of Nokia Xpress Browser.

Getit will sell premium listings to businesses, which will appear as paid content on top of Nokia Nearby organic search results, which are organized by proximity to the user. The potential reach for these businesses includes the millions of people who use Nokia Xpress Browser on their Nokia Asha smartphones.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Contactless card shipments break all records

USA: Contactless payment card shipments are growing at the fastest rate since the technology was introduced in the early 2000s, according to figures released today by the Smart Payment Association (SPA) at the CARTES America  conference, in its annual review of the smart payment card market.

Highlighting the growing enthusiasm of banks and payment providers in offering faster and more convenient ways to pay, contactless technologies were present on almost a quarter (23 percent) of all smart payment cards shipped in 2012. Western Europe and Asia Pacific regions saw the largest increases in contactless shipments with increases of 106 percent and 111 percent respectively compared with 2011.

Shipments of dual interface cards, incorporating both chip and PIN and contactless technologies, are now are growing at 77 percent year on year.

The data, collated by the SPA - whose six members represent more than 85 percent of the total available market - also confirmed a 9 percent growth in the total number of smart payment cards shipped in 2012.

More than 975 million cards were shipped last year, with the highest climb recorded in the Asia Pacific region. China’s migration to chip-based payment cards heavily influenced the region’s 24 percent growth rate. Europe returned a buoyant 8 percent growth rate, but the major trend in this mature market was the move to contactless. Contactless card shipments in North America only increased by 1% with Canada representing most of that increase, as the U.S. continues the transition to EMV into 2014.

The focus on increased card security continued through 2012, with 56 percent of global shipments featuring Dynamic Data Authentication (DDA) or Combined Data Authentication (CDA) mechanisms - up from 47 percent in 2011. With attempts to combat card fraud always high on the agenda and the increasing adoption of contactless payments, the move to DDA/CDA technology in the more mature markets is a significant step in increasing payment security.

CISMEA & Eastern Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific registered increases of 69 percent, 60 percent and 45 percent respectively in DDA/CDA-enabled card shipments.

SPA’s review of the smart payment market also highlights the growing importance of inter-agency collaboration to deliver the necessary convergence of contactless standards to support and accelerate the adoption of Near Field Communication (NFC) across markets. The SPA believes the harmonization of ISO, SEPA and EMVCo standards is critical to ensuring the global interoperability of new NFC contactless services for consumers.

According to Andreas Strobel, president of Smart Payment Association: “The data from this annual review points to a rapidly-changing payment marketplace. NFC contactless payment is becoming a priority, but without effective collaboration between global and regional standards bodies, the ability to deliver on consumer expectations will be constrained. SPA’s role is to help facilitate these discussions and support innovative new approaches to assure the industry is able to realize the tremendous opportunities that new technologies can bring.”

Openwave Messaging joins Open Mobile Alliance to help advance mobile messaging

USA: Openwave Messaging, Inc., a leading global provider of innovative messaging software solutions, has joined the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), the leading industry forum for developing market driven, interoperable mobile service enablers.

As an Associate Member of the Open Mobile Alliance, the Company will participate in the technical work of the OMA, contribute to technical work items relating to IP based messaging initiatives, and have the opportunity to lead working groups.

OMA was formed in June 2002 by the world’s leading mobile operators, device and network suppliers, information technology companies and content and service providers. OMA is the focal point for the development of mobile service enabler specifications, which support the creation of interoperable end-to-end mobile services.

OMA drives service enabler architectures and open enabler interfaces that are independent of the underlying wireless platforms. Over the years, OMA has delivered over 200 successful enabler specifications for topics spanning messaging, device management, location-based services, augmented reality, federated mobile social networks and network APIs, among others.

Android devices better protected from malware and spam with free version of Sophos mobile security app

INDIA: Android is the world’s most popular smartphone operating system (OS), and according to comScore, it claims more than 50 percent of the market. With that kind of user base, it’s no wonder that Android is an increasingly popular target for malware and SMiShing (SMS phishing).

To help combat this growing threat, Sophos has introduced the latest version of its free Android security app, Sophos Mobile Security. Sophos Mobile Security now includes SPAM filter capabilities for text messages and calls.

The filter rules can block specific phone numbers and calls with a hidden caller ID, as well as text messages with potential malicious URLs. Every incoming call or text message is scanned by the app’s Spam Protection feature and the active filter rules are applied successively. Blocked calls and text messages are logged in the Quarantine folder, where they can be restored as needed.

Sending unsolicited commercial text messages is illegal under civil law and anyone who receives a spam text message should neither click on a link nor reply to a message. According to the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, about 60 percent of mobile phone users have received at least one or more spam text messages during the past year, with about 15 percent clicking on the link included in the message

Reliance Communications partners with Twitter in India

INDIA: Reliance Communications has announced a partnership with Twitter in India to launch a first of its kind bundled prepaid plan ‘Reliance Twitter Access Pack’ for all Reliance GSM subscribers in the country.

Through this partnership, Reliance Communications becomes the first telecom operator in the country to partner with Twitter in India on the new ‘Twitter Access’ program. Reliance GSM prepaid customers across the country can now follow friends, family, news, cricket, entertainment and all their interests with unlimited Twitter access without paying any extra data consumption charges.

Reliance GSM prepaid subscribers can now receive live updates and express their reactions on every ball bowled through their tweets during this T20 cricketing season with unlimited Twitter access across the country.

‘Reliance Twitter Access Pack’ is a promotional offer for a period of 90 days during this T20 cricketing season, which comes bundled for all new Reliance GSM prepaid subscribers with unlimited Twitter access without paying any extra data consumption charges. Subscribers may connect to “Twitter Access” by simply visiting twitter.com or mobile.twitter.com on their Reliance GSM prepaid device.

As part of the new “Twitter Access” program, Twitter has customized the Twitter app wherein, every customer who has subscribed the ‘Reliance Twitter Access Pack’ will be able to view a message on the header and footer of the app mentioning Twitter is free of charge with Reliance Mobile. This Twitter app will pop up a message of additional data consumption charges only if any Reliance GSM prepaid subscriber chooses to visit an external link while browsing updates on Twitter.

Bharti and Reliance Jio announce agreement for international data connectivity

INDIA: Bharti Airtel Ltd and Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd have signed an Indefeasible Right to Use (IRU) Agreement, under which Bharti will provide Reliance Jio data capacity on its i2i submarine cable.

i2i connects India to Singapore and is wholly owned by Bharti. The state-of-the-art cable consists of eight fiber pairs using DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing), capable of supporting multiple terabits of capacity per fiber pair. Its landing points are at Chennai in India and Tuas in Singapore.

Reliance Jio will utilize a dedicated fiber pair on i2i. The high speed link will enable Reliance Jio to extend its network and service reach to customers across Asia Pacific region. It will connect Reliance Jio directly to the world’s major business hubs and ISPs, thereby, helping the operator to meet the bandwidth demand and provide ultra fast data experience to its customers.

The deal marks Reliance Jio’s continued efforts to rapidly grow and expand both its international and domestic network and infrastructure by building an ecosystem with multiple carriers and service providers.

Bharti and Reliance Jio will continue to build on this strategic framework and consider other mutual areas of cooperation and development to leverage their respective assets towards offering their customers a much richer experience.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Tata Communications launches HD voice compatible voice network

USA & INDIA: Tata Communications has launched its international HD voice termination service.

The new service enables MNOs to route international HD calls via end-to-end IP, without transcoding, ensuring that HD customers calling HD-compatible destinations internationally will receive the full HD experience.

The launch will become the platform that enables a broad community of HD destinations as a result of Tata Communications’ network which is connected to 210 mobile network operators via IP voice interconnect. Twenty-six of these operators are HD-ready with 4 operators already in deployment for HD Voice on Tata Communications’ network.

HD voice service ensures that calls are clearer and background noise is significantly reduced, leading to longer calls and increased revenues for MNOs. HD voice will play a critical role in enabling MNOs to increase customer satisfaction and reduce churn on premium international calling and high-margin roaming.

The improved quality of HD voice simulates a sense of being in the same room during a telephone conversation; hence, users are likely to spend longer on calls. A better calling experience also gives mobile operators a competitive advantage over OTT providers in terms of quality of service.

1Q13 Samsung takes 30 percent of global smartphone market; Lenovo sees disappointing results in China

TAIWAN: According to DRAMeXchange, a division of global research firmTrendForce , in the first quarter of 2013 smartphone shipments increased steadily worldwide, with total shipments reaching 216.4 million units, 9.4 percent QoQ growth.

Since the beginning of 2012, smartphone shipment figures have been up every quarter despite seasonality, indication the electronic device is here to stay.

Samsung takes 30 percent of global market, iPhone losing ground
Looking at first-tier manufacturers’ shipment volumes, Samsung continues to take the lead in the first quarter as the maker uses its vertically integrated supply chain, global marketing, and various sales channels to its advantage. Samsung’s smartphones series is expected to see 65 million units shipped this quarter, which accounts for 30 percent of the global market.

As for Apple, the iPhone 5 has been unable to satisfy consumers’ desire for innovation, and shipments were unsatisfactory as Android manufacturers have stepped up to the plate. The Cupertino company shipped a mere 37.5 million units in the first quarter, giving them 17.3 percent market share, a decrease of 1.2 percent from the previous quarter.

Currently, circumstances surrounding the announcement of Apple’s new device are unclear, while Samsung, HTC, Sony, and other global corporations are planning product unveilings for the second quarter, which will likely lead to another dip in Apple’s shipments.
Samsung takes all in China as Lenovo’s results disappoint
Turning to China’s smartphone market, Samsung is the leading brand in terms of both reputation and image, a fact reflected in the manufacturer’s sales figures. Initial estimates place Samsung’s smartphone shipments in China at 11.7 million units, giving the Korean maker a wide lead over other brands with approximately 17 percent of China’s smartphone market.

Other leading brands in China like Huawei, ZTE, and Lenovo were all affected in varying degrees, but on average China’s domestic brands saw a 5-15 percent decrease in sales in the first quarter. Lenovo, who had nearly caught up to Samsung in market share in the second half of 2012, experienced weaker sales than expected in the first quarter; at 7.6 million units, actual shipments were 15 percent less than projected.

As for the second quarter, although smartphone shipments will continue to grow, manufacturers are facing problems with component supply; for instance, the shortage of memory products like eMCP. Therefore, smartphone makers’ relationships with their suppliers will determine how strong their shipment volumes will be in the second quarter. Those with the best supplier ties will have an advantage going into the next quarter, while other makers will be left dealing with shortages.

Reliance Globalcom delivers first circuit to Mobily on newly launched Hawk cable system

INDIA: Reliance Globalcom, a leading global provider of managed network and communication services for multinational enterprises and carriers announced that Mobily, a leading mobile communications and technology provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is its first customer to be activated on the newly launched Hawk submarine cable system in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mobily had signed a 15 year IRU agreement with Reliance Globalcom, for purchase of multiple 10Gs of international bandwidth capacity, connecting Saudi Arabia to Europe and the United States. Reliance Globalcom last week activated its Hawk submarine cable system in Egypt and seamlessly integrated it with the Reliance Global Network, to enable an additional capacity of 20 Tbps in the Mediterranean region.

Using the newly activated Hawk cable system, Reliance delivered capacity for Mobily’s bandwidth requirements between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Europe.

The 4-fiber pair submarine Hawk cable system, built by Reliance Globalcom last fiscal to initially set up the world’s first Mediterranean Gateway and Hub at Cyprus, has demonstrated its strong resilience as it carried 180 Gbps of data during the recent cable cut off Egypt and India.

Hawk has been designed with two routes – one express route connecting Marseille in France and Alexandria in Egypt and another local route, with a spur to Yeroskipos in Cyprus meant for establishing a low latency, high-speed diverse alternate route on the Europe - Middle East segment, complementing Reliance Globalcom’s Falcon and FEA cable systems.

LTE World Summit 2013 to set future of 4G LTE

THE NETHERLANDS:  LTE leaders from around the globe will gather this June for the world’s leading 4G LTE event, LTE World Summit . As 4G LTE networks drive mobile data capabilities and the delivery of services that mobile has been envisioning for years, the event provides the perfect platform for visitors to explore the future of LTE and the growth opportunity it presents.

Now in its ninth year, the conference and exhibition intends to address several key themes; Service Innovation; LTE Roaming and Spectrum Management, Hetnets; Handling the Mobile Data Explosion; Monetising LTE; Voice and Device Developments; LTE-Advanced; and Network Optimisation.

These themes are echoed by a stellar speaker line-up that will give visitors exclusive insight into understanding the future of LTE and the opportunities that exist within the ecosystem.

Day one will see Erik Hoving, chief Strategy, Innovation and Technology officer at KPN Group, deliver a conference welcome that explores LTE within The Netherlands. This will be followed by Dr. Jae W. Byun, CTO at SK Telecom, South Korea, who will focus on first mover perspectives, and a panel discussion that addresses ‘diversifying business models and optimising content delivery with digital innovation’.

Hoving says: “We officially launched LTE in the Netherlands on 4 February, just six weeks after the end of the 800 MHz auction. We’re in the middle of a huge roll-out scheme in the Netherlands, increasing coverage every week. The LTE World Summit is a valuable opportunity for us to get together with other leading operators to exchange frank views on LTE.”

The event provides a truly global representation and will include an exceptional number of speakers, made up of a record breaking number of C-level executives from the industry’s global leaders.
Andreas Lieber, director of Mobile Partnerships at Groupon, USA; Iain Dendle, Business Development director of Shazam, UK; Chang Feng, VP Technology and Innovation at ooVoo, USA; Roxanna Zea, CSO at Tele2, Sweden; Rob Shuter, CEO of Vodafone, Netherlands; and Yoshiharu Shimatani, Board Member, senior VP and GM of Technology at KDDI, Japan; are all confirmed to deliver presentations and case studies on the first day.

Friday, April 19, 2013

LTE radio access network (RAN) CAPEX to soar by 82.4 percent in 2013

SINGAPORE: The spending on Long-Term Evolution (LTE) base stations will hit $12.3 billion in 2013 as countries around the world join the high-speed club. Membership is not exclusive to the developed economies as emerging markets close the digital divide by aggressive network roll-out.

Some of these emerging market LTE deployments are government-sponsored initiatives as in Rwanda while others are private ventures as in Sri Lanka. LTE has helped to reverse the downward trend in RAN expenditure in Western Europe last year and will do the same in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Middle East in 2013 and Africa in 2014.

“There are, however, differences in the type of capital expenditure (CapEx) incurred in different regions. Operators in the developed markets are already taking steps to upgrade their networks to LTE-Advanced this year. Going forward, amidst skyrocketing data traffic, they will also invest a larger proportion of their RAN spend on LTE small cells, which will yield significant savings on CapEx in addition to increased capacity for wireless operators,” noted Ying Kang Tan, research associate at ABI Research.

Besides tangible infrastructure, intangible LTE spectrum licenses also have cost operators dearly. For example, the 4G mobile spectrum license acquired by France’s SFR constituted 38.9 percent of its CapEx last year. Mobile carrier CapEx can be quite ‘lumpy’.

Year 2013 will see a sharp reduction in China Mobile’s 3G investments in TD-SCDMA. In other markets, 3G equipment spend has already declined. “4G equipment spend is taking up some of the slack but there will still be a 6 percent drop this year,” commented Jake Saunders, VP and practice director of core forecasting. “2014 should see rising wireless investment as 4G deployment and capacity build-up gain momentum.”

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Investment in copper Ethernet access devices (EADs) challenges claim that copper is ‘dead’

USA: Infonetics Research released excerpts from its latest Ethernet Access Devices market share, market size, and forecasts report, which tracks revenue, units, and ports for copper and fiber Ethernet access devices (EADs).

“People keep saying that copper’s dead, but it’s not—it has a limited but important role for Ethernet services, as evidenced by the continued growth of EFM (Ethernet in the first mile) bonded copper,” notes Michael Howard, principal analyst for carrier networks and co-founder of Infonetics Research. “EFM’s high capacities and reach make it a useful and effective alternative where fiber isn’t justified.”

Continues Howard, “While fiber EADs represent the majority of the EAD market, we expect operators to spend a cumulative $1.5 billion on EFM bonded copper EADs over the next 5 years (out of a cumulative $5.8 billion total for all EADs) as they increase the capacity and efficiency of mobile backhaul networks and business connections.”

EAD market highlights
* For the full year 2012, the global Ethernet access device (EAD) market grew 3.5 percent, to $860 million, with growth hesitating as a result of economic conditions and a lull in carrier spending in the 2nd half of 2012.

* 10/100M copper and 1G fiber dominate EAD ports today, but 10G fiber is growing fast, forecast by Infonetics to grow at a 117 percent CAGR through 2017.

* Though in slow decline, Ethernet over TDM (EoTDM) bonded circuits will remain a niche market, providing an inexpensive way to combine several E1s or T1s.

* For the second consecutive year, the top five revenue share leaders in the EAD market are (in alphabetical order) Actelis, ADVA, Ciena, Overture, and RAD.

LiquidPlanner releases upgraded iOS app for iPhone and iPad

USA: LiquidPlanner — the industry’s cutting-edge scheduling engine — released an upgraded iOS app for iPhone and iPad that lets customers manage the important details of their projects away from their desktops.

Now, task managers have substantially more active control over how they update plans and schedules, and stay connected with teammates on their mobile devices.

“The era of managing a portfolio of projects from the palm of your hand is here,” said Charles Seybold, LiquidPlanner’s chief product officer. “Anytime, anywhere project management is where we’re headed.”

Customers can now create, edit and prioritize projects – and all their related tasks – to do almost all their project management work from their mobile devices. While the previous version of the app supported updating tasks and adding comments, it was generally used to check in on a project’s status.

The new version lets team members have a mobile experience that rivals the powers of the web tool, with features that include: a complete edit panel with accessible custom fields, drag-and-drop prioritization, checklists, attachment capabilities, Box integration and the ability to create packages, projects and folders, and more.

This iOS update has the look and feel of the online LiquidPlanner service, and delivers what managers and team members need: the ability to keep complex projects in motion, from wherever their job takes them.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

APCON 40G options help enterprises streamline growing network traffic

USA: APCON, the industry leader in intelligent network monitoring and security support solutions, announced the release of its embedded switch software, which includes a new 40G inter-switch trunk solution to help enterprises support security and performance monitoring tools in the 40G network environment.

The increased surge of traffic driven big data presents challenges for enterprises to manage, monitor and analyze the large volume of information with their existing network monitoring tools and infrastructure. APCON is one of the only network monitoring aggregation providers offering 40G trunking today.

40G trunking enables companies to efficiently and effectively move much larger sets of data, in some cases the entire network, across a simple link. This can be used to expand the virtual capability and capacity of an aggregation switch.  Before 40G trunks, network operators would need to spend precious operational time, money and effort routing numerous 1G and 10G links to different aggregation switches and network analyzer tools in different locations.

APCON’s trunking solution combines 40G blades, ports and trunking.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Symtavision adds Ethernet timing analysis to SymTA/S

GERMANY: Symtavision has announced the addition of Ethernet timing analysis to its SymTA/S tool for the design and verification of embedded real-time systems. The new Ethernet timing analysis targets the automotive market and integrates seamlessly with the existing in-vehicle network timing analyses for CAN and FlexRay as well as with scheduling analysis for AUTOSAR-based ECUs.

 “We have added Ethernet timing analysis to SymTA/S in response to the automotive industry’s introduction of Ethernet to meet growing in-vehicle network bandwidth requirements,” said Dr Marek Jersak, CEO of Symtavision.

“Over the past two years, we have collaborated tightly with premium automotive OEMs and leading universities to create an Ethernet timing analysis solution that enables OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to plan, optimize and verify timing when introducing Ethernet. A unique capability of Symtavision’s solution is the integration of our new Ethernet timing analysis with our well-established analyses for CAN, FlexRay and AUTOSAR-based ECUs. This enables end-to-end timing analysis for distributed functions via Ethernet, as well as connecting Ethernet to legacy CAN and FlexRay networks via gateways”.

The SymTA/S Ethernet analysis capability focuses on timing design and verification for both standard IP Ethernet (Layer 3) and Audio Video Bridging (AVB). The SymTA/S Ethernet model covers entire Ethernet networks including ECUs, switches, ports, messages, PDUs and links which can be directly combined with other bus systems like FlexRay and CAN, in addition to white box or black box gateways.

Furthermore, the model supports the co-existence of internal ECU scheduling and Ethernet communication, including any triggering and synchronization requirements. The model can also be scripted for easy tool chain integration and model transformation of existing Ethernet communication matrices.

The SymTA/S Ethernet analysis capability covers different communication priorities, MTU sizes, scheduling strategies, and transmission rates as individual rates per port as well as automatic end-to-end hop resolution, static routes, traffic classes, and single cast, broadcast and multicast communication, including multiple hops over switches for star or other topologies.

Statistical metrics are provided for load and load-over-time of each port or on a switch as well as buffer fill levels as absolute or as over-time values for each port and switch. In addition, response times are provided for each Ethernet message and data communication paths can be observed for different end-to-end scenarios. Each result can be validated against constraints and the timing can be debugged individually through Gantt chart visualization, including point-of-interest functions such as deadline violations.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Samsung’s Galaxy S IV gains ample pre-launch momentum

TAIWAN: The "Samsung Galaxy SIV China Market Report" from Avanti, a research division of TrendForce, reveals that Chinese consumers are closely following the Galaxy SIV's development and are highly interested in purchasing the device.

The overall interest in the handset has apparently become so high that more than half of the iPhone users surveyed are considering making a switch to Samsung. With the help of the Galaxy SIV, the Korean tech company looks poised to increase its dominance within the Chinese regions, and is in good shape to continue chipping away at Apple's existing China market share.
Samsung's promotional efforts for the Galaxy SIV, in a way, can be said to have gone reasonably well; of the Chinese participants surveyed by Avanti, roughly 61.2 percent claim that they've been aware of the SIV handset since its initial announcement. The high extent of the consumers' awareness is not only an indication of the Galaxy S series' growing reputation, but also evidence of their potential to take on the iPhone in any market.
Of the participants who are currently aware of the launch of the Galaxy SIV, 39.6 percent reveal that they are "highly interested" in keeping track of its related news and development; Another 39 percent--from the same group of people--admit to being only "moderately interested" in following such news. A positive correlation is implied to exist between the number of “highly interested" participants and the number of "moderately interested" ones, given the nearly identical set of percentage figures.

Looking at the different gender and age groups surveyed by Avanti, it turns out that the majority of the participants concerned about the Galaxy SIV are either male or above the age of 30. Among the 44.9 percent of the participants who show willingness to purchase the Galaxy SIV, the proportion accounted by the two said segments also appears to be noticeably large.
In the "pricing preference" department, a good majority of the participants reveal that they would be willing to pay between 3000 to 3999 RMB for the Galaxy SIV; Approximately 23.3 percent are willing to pay between 4000 to 4999 RMB, while close to 20 percent are willing pay over 5000 RMB.

Interestingly, both male and female participants from Avanti's sample show varied levels of preferences for smartphone features. Although the two gender groups are generally interested in a smartphone's "display resolution," male participants show higher preferences for features such as "processor type," "screen display effects," and "remote control capability."
Female participants, on the other hand, prefer "local network sharing," "simultaneous front and back camera use," and "automatic photo organization." Whereas the male participants have more of an obvious liking for hardware-related features, the female group's preference tends to revolve around a smartphone's overall software capability.

With respect to the specific Galaxy SIV features, the male segment shows a high degree of interest in super AMOLED display, processing unit, and front and back camera. The female segment also exhibits a strong liking for the AMOLED display, but ranks the importance of the SIV's camera features over that of its processor.
Compared with their female counterparts, male participants show a greater concern for "4G Connectivity" and "multi sim card" Female participants, on the contrary, generally like the "automatic photo organization" and "instant translation" features more than the males participants do.

Nearly 58.4 percent of the existing Samsung users from Avanti's sample are currently interested in purchasing the Galaxy SIV; The proportion of the iPhone users thinking of getting the new Samsung smartphone is also alarmingly large--at 52.4 percent. Aside from Xiaomi, more than 40 percent of the users for brands like Nokia, HTC, Huawei, Lenovo, and ZTE are contemplating on giving the Galaxy SIV a try.

The fact that more than 50 percent of the surveyed iPhone users are thinking about switching to the SIV should to be a concerning sign for Apple, whose China market share is only 9.6 percent. In the event that the Cupertino company is unable to come up with something remarkably unique or innovative following the SIV's release, its gap with Samsung, according to TrendForce, is only likely to become more and more apparent.

INSIDE Secure NFC solution supported in Linux Kernel 3.9 release

FRANCE: INSIDE Secure announced that its award-winning MicroRead near field communication (NFC) controller chip is supported in the Linux kernel 3.9 release.

The new MicroRead Linux kernel driver, which was developed by Intel at its Open Source Technology Center with support from INSIDE and other community members, significantly simplifies and speeds the integration of the MicroRead chip into a broad range of Linux-based TVs, set-top boxes, GPS devices, in-vehicle infotainment systems, electronic toys, industrial machines or medical devices by effectively eliminating the need for manufacturers to write any software to use it.

“We worked closely with Intel and the Linux NFC project to improve this core component of the Linux kernel, which will help encourage the development of NFC-enabled devices and improve NFC interoperability among them,” said Loic Hamon, VP of product management for the NFC Division at INSIDE Secure.  “This MicroRead driver simply plugs into the Linux NFC subsystem, enabling designers to integrate the chip without the need to port any software stack or write any software interface.”

The MicroRead Linux kernel driver is host controller interface (HCI)-based and supports two physical interfaces – I2C and the Intel® Management Engine Interface (Intel MEI).  NFC tag read, write and format, as well as several peer-to-peer mode functions are currently supported, and additional functionality such as card emulation and secure element access will be implemented when they are supported by the Linux NFC subsystem.

Friday, April 12, 2013

Gemalto launches private file storage and sharing app for mobile operators

THE NETHERLANDS: Gemalto has extended its portfolio of end-user cloud services solutions for mobile network operators with an innovative private file storage and sharing application.

LinqUs CloudnShare offers mobile network operators a fast-track to launch their own fully branded and secure OTT (Over-The-Top) application, or complement their existing cloud backup services in the fast-developing personal cloud market.

A recent Gemalto end-user survey highlights the untapped demand for mobile operator branded secure Personal Cloud services and reveals that 80 percent of mobile users would use cloud-based data backup & sharing services if offered by their mobile network operator.

With LinqUs CloudnShare, mobile operators can quickly realize the potential of the personal cloud market and deliver more choice with higher service quality within a secure environment for customers’ personal data. LinqUs CloudnShare contributes to positioning operators at the forefront of a high profile online consumer market.

Accessed direct from either a mobile phone or PC, Gemalto’s sharing application is unique in giving users the opportunity not only to store files and share them directly with any phonebook contact, but also to post and exchange comments. Users sign up to the service by simply entering their mobile number and a password, and can start sharing files and messages with any of their mobile contacts regardless of their operator.

The app leverages the user’s phonebook, so file sharing can begin immediately, just by clicking on a chosen contact’s name.The result is a highly viral service, inviting new users to join in via standard SMS text.

Diametriq, TNS and ClearSky announce LTE roaming trial

USA: Transaction Network Services (TNS), a leading global provider of data communications and interoperability solutions, Diametriq, a leader provider of LTE signaling solutions, and ClearSky Technologies, a leading provider of mobile data services to regional wireless carriers, jointly announced that they successfully completed interoperability testing for LTE roaming.

The collaboration interconnects ClearSky's hosted LTE Service Suite with TNS's recently announced Data Services Hub IPX service while using Diametriq's Diameter Edge Appliance to manage traffic at the edge of the IPX network and to simulate third party roaming partners. The objective of the trial was is to simulate various elements in the visited network that would enable TNS to exercise roaming test scenarios with its operator clients, enabling smooth on-boarding of new operators. Trial results will be made available to the clients of ClearSky and TNS.

While LTE (Long Term Evolution) is now the worldwide standard for 4G networks, there is almost no roaming between network operators. This lack of interoperability between networks creates islands of service with limited coverage, frustrating consumers and hindering the widespread adoption of LTE. The dearth of LTE roaming is partially due to technical complexities.

LTE standards require the use of Diameter signaling over IP to connect networks - a completely new approach not compatible with 2G/3G roaming networks. LTE roaming also requires an operator's Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Mobility Management Entity (MME) and Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) to connect to the roaming partner's MME, HSS and PCRF, creating an unmanageable number of individual connections as the number of roaming partners increase.

The 3GPP standards bodies have recognized these limitations, defining the role of centralized IPX networks to carry the Diameter signaling and Diameter Edge Agents to manage multiple connections while insulating LTE core network components from direct connections.

Endorsed by the Competitive Carrier Association, TNS's Data Services Hub performs all the necessary IPX functions in a package designed specifically to speed LTE roaming deployment among regional operators and provide connectivity to Tier 1 operators. Using the Diameter Edge Appliance as a platform, Diametriq offers a cost-effective edge agent to isolate carrier's LTE network components and has also developed simulators for each of the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network elements used in LTE roaming, including the HSS, MME and PCRF.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Huawei launches Ascend G510 and Y300 smartphones

INDIA: Huawei has launched the Ascend G510 and Y300 smartphones. Running on Android 4.1 JellyBean platform, with Dual-core processors, mega screens(4.5 and 4 inch), good in-built memory and 5-megapixel auto focus (AF) cameras, Ascend G510 and Y300 come with Huawei’s new Emotion UI (UI) has been developed keeping people before technology to let the users do more with their smartphones with ease.

Huawei Emotion UI offer a series of unique and new features to consumers - the Huawei Me Widget allows users to better utilize their Huawei smartphones screens by combining favorite contacts, Gallery, Audio Player, Weather and Clock in a single customizable widget.

With five preloaded themes, users can customize their UI with themes, wallpaper and fonts to truly express their personality. The Emotion UI also features a “Smart Tutorial” that offers comprehensive assistance to help entry-level users to learn and get the most out of their smartphone experience in the shortest time. With Profiles, users can select a profile that is most suited to their current context of use. And finally, a Special dialer combines Call Log and Dialer for users’ convenience.

Deploying wireless Internet failover as part of managed security service

USA: Internet connectivity is becoming an essential component of business. Even the smallest of outages can negatively impact operations and public perception. To avoid a failure organizations often implement redundant internet services as a precaution.

Wireless Internet services have wide coverage areas and are less susceptible to service interruptions making them a very attractive failover technology. However, companies trying to deploy wireless backup across many sites are faced with challenges managing and supporting this technology. Many organizations are turning to an outside provider to manage the network failover, backup and primary connection restoration.

"Many businesses are quickly adopting this technology as a crucial part of their technology plans," said Dan Hoban, director of Business Development. "The ability to have a reliable backup or short-term option for internet connectivity is essential for business.  Many organizations are turning to Nuspire to include this technology in their managed network security solution. Nuspire has developed a great solution to help organizations use wireless internet to help manage, monitor, and secure their back up networks."

Nuspire has integrated 3G/4G wireless internet into its NuSecure Managed Security Services offerings. The addition of wireless internet capabilities provides an added layer of network redundancy that is flexible and economical for customers.

The integration of wireless service into a managed security service is a new concept.  By integrating these solutions customers are provided high availability rates and continuous 24x7 network security coverage. This approach is unique in the managed security services industry.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

ZTE passes 100 million unit milestone in broadband CPE shipments

CHINA: ZTE Corp. has been ranked No.1 for both FTTH CPE revenues and shipments for 2012 by telecommunications market research firm Infonetics.

According to an Q4 2012 Infonetics market share and forecast report entitled, “Broadband CPE and Subscribers: PON, FTTH, Cable, and DSL,” ZTE ranked No.1 for both FTTH CPE revenue and shipments in the past year, with a global share of 19.8 percent and 30.9 percent, respectively.

ZTE also shipped more than 100 million broadband CPE devices by the end of 2012, the achievement cements ZTE’s place as a global leader in fixed network operations and large-scale FTTH applications.

Broadband proliferation and rapid Internet development has led to a surge in user demand in recent years. ZTE is dedicated to cooperation with operators to provide home users with end-to-end service platforms, management platforms, access networks and home terminals. The company’s products offer carrier-class QoS assurance, decrease TCO, reduce energy consumption and ensure superior user experiences.

Mobile backhaul market passes $8 billion, driven by HSPA/HSPA+ and LTE deployments

USA: Infonetics Research released excerpts from its latest Macrocell Mobile Backhaul Equipment and Services market share and forecast report, which ranks mobile backhaul equipment vendors, identifies market growth areas, and provides analysis of equipment, connections, cell sites, and service charges.

“While its revenue growth rate is slowing, macrocell mobile backhaul equipment remains a huge market, with annual spending up in the $8 to $9 billion range over the next years. Just a few years ago in 2009, the market was worth under $5 billion,” notes Michael Howard, principal analyst for carrier networks and co-founder of Infonetics Research.

Howard adds: “When we add to the picture small cell backhaul equipment (which we track in another report), which we believe will total a cumulative $5 billion over 5 years, it becomes clear that the backhaul market is massive. The key drivers are the ongoing HSPA/HSPA+ onslaught across the 3GPP world and growing LTE deployments by 3GPP2 players. If you don’t have packet backhaul, there’s no way to handle HSPA and HSPA+. Ethernet and microwave backhaul spending are fueling the whole market.”

Highlights from the report include:

* The global macrocell mobile backhaul equipment market rose 7 percent in 2012 from 2011, to over $8 billion.

* Microwave, the largest spending segment in 2012, is on an upward trajectory even as fiber increases, growing to 56 percent of mobile backhaul revenue by 2017.

* Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent are in a virtual tie for the Ethernet access device/gateway and Ethernet router revenue market share lead; meanwhile, Ericsson is #1 in mobile backhaul microwave equipment.

* Subscribers are growing fast: mobile broadband subscribers are expected to outnumber fixed broadband subscribers by a factor of 3 by 2014.

Sycamore scales KT’s intelligent optical mesh network

USA: Sycamore Networks Solutions Inc., a Marlin Equity Partners portfolio company, announced that KT (formerly Korea Telecom), the largest communication service provider in South Korea, has enhanced their intelligent optical mesh network with the deployment of terabit-level switching capacity in additional core sites in their nationwide backbone network.

The Sycamore solution, offered through the company’s valued-added partner FO&T, enables KT to reduce operational expenses while improving service performance and reliability for the benefit of its end-user customers.

“We are pleased to continue to support KT as their critical infrastructure needs evolve,” said John Scully, president and CEO, Sycamore. “As media-rich subscriber traffic places increased demands on core networks, the ability to efficiently scale and intelligently manage service capacity has become increasingly critical to our Tier 1 customers.”

Consistently recognized worldwide for their leading-edge broadband services, KT relies on Sycamore’s scalable SN 16000 intelligent optical switching platform and intelligent control plane software to increase the performance and scalability of their broadband communications infrastructure.

Sycamore’s dynamic, GMPLS-based control plane solution enables service providers to simplify end-to-end provisioning and create a resilient and scalable foundation for the delivery of a broad range of value-added voice, video and data services.

Digi launches rugged, enterprise-class cellular router for on-board train connectivity

USA: Digi International introduced the Digi TransPort WR44 RR, an enterprise-class cellular router designed specifically for rugged on-board rail environments.

The router provides connectivity to equipment on the train and the wayside via a reliable primary, high-speed cellular network connection, or can create a secure back-up connection to the existing railroad data network.

With locomotive industry certifications, flexible communications and state-of-the-art security, the Digi TransPort WR44 RR is ideal for on-board rail applications such as locomotive communications and monitoring, passenger Internet access and Positive Train Control (PTC), a system for monitoring and controlling train movement to increase railway safety.

The Digi TransPort WR44RR features an optional, integrated Wi-Fi access point allowing rail lines to offer their customers Internet access and improve passenger convenience, which can lead to increased ridership. It also offers flexible communications with 3G/4G Qualcomm Gobi multi-carrier cellular connectivity, GPS, a serial port and a four-port Ethernet switch.

The Digi TransPort WR44 RR features rail industry certifications including AREMA C/H, AAR S-5702 and EN50155. The router also features advanced dynamic routing, state-of-the-art security with firewall features including stateful packet inspection and integrated IPSec VPN.

Vodafone to enable connectivity in Mahindra Reva’s e2o

INDIA: Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt. Ltd., a part of the $15.9 billion Mahindra Group, and Vodafone Business Services (VBS), the enterprise arm of Vodafone India Ltd - one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, announced a strategic technology partnership.

This partnership will enable Vodafone to provide Machine-to-Machine (m2m) communication services to power the recently launched electric vehicle, Mahindra e2o. The e2o which has just been launched in India is a truly ‘connected car’ and is among a select few in the world to support telematics.

Using their smart phones or any internet connected computer, e2o owners can, with Vodafone’s connectivity, access the following services:

* Know the state of charge in the battery of their car and how far they can travel with the available charge.

* Remotely control its air-conditioning and set schedules to pre-heat or pre-cool the car before they use it.

* Lock or unlock the car doors.

* Find the nearest charging stations.

* Receive alerts on various events with the car such as a disruption in charging due to power cuts, safety related reminders such as a door being left unlocked or a parking brake not applied.

* Get an emergency boost charge with a command on the smart phone to go an extra 8-10 kms.

* Have the Mahindra Reva Tech Help Desk remotely do prognosis and diagnostics of the car.

The e2o uses Vodafone’s m2m services for this connectivity and provides a holistic and cutting edge experience including many other useful and innovative features.

Vodafone India partners with Aepona for API monetization and partner management system

UK & INDIA: Aepona has been chosen by Vodafone India, one of India’s leading telecommunications service providers, for the launch of a new platform that will serve as a central access point for Vodafone’s business partners such as independent software vendors, application developers, web-based service providers and enterprises.

The solution, based on Aepona’s award-winning API Monetization Platform (AMP), will provide these partners with access to Vodafone’s nationwide telecom and IT capabilities via APIs, enabling the external partner ecosystem to deliver smarter and more contextually relevant services to Vodafone’s subscribers.

The new platform will allow Vodafone India to develop and implement new business models by exposing its core network, informational and billing assets as web-based APIs, allowing partners to create and enrich a wide variety of business solutions, consumer applications and content-based services.

In addition to exposing and monetizing API services, the Aepona platform will also be used as a centralized settlement system for existing subscription-based Value-Added Services.

This central platform will connect to Vodafone’s network services across all 23 Circles in India, allowing partners to reach and bill all of Vodafone’s 147 million-plus mobile subscribers.

OSPT Alliance named as finalist at 2013 contactless and mobile awards

GERMANY: The Open Standard for Public Transport (OSPT) Alliance today announced that it is a finalist in the Transportation and Ticketing category for the 2013 Contactless & Mobile Awards.

“We are pleased to be named as a finalist for this prestigious award,” said Laurent Cremer, executive director of the OSPT Alliance. “Acceptance as a finalist validates the importance of open standards and demonstrates that the CIPURSE™ open security standard is seen as a credible contribution to the industry.”

The winner of the 2013 Contactless & Mobile award for transportation and ticketing will be based on the judges’ estimation of the best use of contactless/NFC technology within public transport or event ticketing applications. Winners will be announced at a gala dinner in London on April 30, 2013.

The CIPURSE open security standard addresses transit authorities’ need for future-proof fare collection systems with advanced security. As an open standard, CIPURSE promotes vendor neutrality and cross-vendor system interoperability with reduced technology adoption risks, higher quality and improved market responsiveness—all of which can result in lower operating costs and greater flexibility for transport system operators.

CIPURSE also offers a global basis for rapidly migrating transit fare systems to NFC-enabled mobile phones and other devices, and the standard supports the adoption of NFC transit applications for a truly future-proof solution.

Tata Communications delivers unified communications for Mott MacDonald

USA & INDIA: Tata Communications, a leading provider of A New World of Communications, has been selected by Mott MacDonald as its global telecommunications partner for the next five years in a deal worth over $20 million.

Tata Communications was chosen as a result of its comprehensive range of integrated and unified communications solutions – solutions that will allow the diverse global management, engineering and development consultancy to consolidate its multiple regional systems onto a single platform. The move will create new levels of global collaboration as well as a solid competitive advantage.

The deal marks a strategic alliance between the two companies which will provide renewed centralised communications for Mott MacDonald. The significant investment by the consultancy will further enhance project collaboration between nearly 15,000 employees across 50 countries worldwide.

Tata Communications’ redesign of its WAN environment and infrastructure for global unified communications will enable Mott MacDonald to centralise business collaboration tools such as document management systems into the cloud, allowing enhanced accessibility for projects requiring real-time international collaboration.

It will also create new levels of communication throughout the organisation, optimising Mott MacDonald’s investment in Microsoft Lync as the common global communications tool for both internal and external communication.

Smart remote control enables two-way communication

SINGAPORE: What if you only needed a single compact remote control for all the appliances in your home – a “smart” remote control which displays current settings, and tells you if an appliance is consuming too much power or needs maintenance?

NXP Semiconductors has introduced a smart remote control demonstrator, featuring the JN5161 wireless microcontroller using ZigBee RF4CE, as well as a capacitive touchscreen that can be used to control and display information about multiple home appliances.

For applications ranging from home entertainment to residential air conditioning systems, the demonstrator shows how bi-directional communication can transform the remote control into a truly “smart” device that can also help consumers monitor and manage their total energy consumption in real time.

“Touchscreens and low-power wireless communications are redefining how we interact with nearly everything. Our smart remote control demonstrates how appliance manufacturers can take advantage of the two-way communication enabled by RF4CE, by displaying real-time information about environmental conditions in the home, about power consumption levels, or about the appliance itself, said Jan Willem Vogel, senior director, Appliances, Energy and Automation segment, NXP Semiconductors.

"We also offer a straightforward migration path to more sophisticated remote controls or smartphone- and tablet-based systems using ZigBee PRO and JenNet-IP. For heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in particular, better information can help consumers and facilities managers to optimize usage, for tremendous energy savings.”

Reliance Industries strikes another deal with Reliance Communications

INDIA: In yet another breakthrough to launch its high speed and voice services over fourth generation (4G) telecom networks - Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) hired 32,000 towers from Reliance Communications' (Rcomm) kitty of 45,000 towers.

Mukesh Ambani led RIL is setting up the basic infrastructure for Reliance Jio Infocomm - the 4G arm of the country's biggest private sector company. This deal is set to get the final nod in this month. Reliance Jio Infocomm will supposedly sign an agreement to lease the 32,000 towers on an annual rent of Rs 1,000-1,200 crore.

Reliance Infratel - the subsidiary arm of RComm was looking for a perspective deal since 2010, as the towers are over capacitated. Prior to this deal, RComm was considering selling its stake in tower business to stakeholders spread across the globe. Also, in 2010, it was in talks with GTL Infrastructure to merge their tower business, but the deal did not see the light of the day.

Earlier this month, RIL has signed a deal with RComm on using the latter's fibre-optic cable network spread in 1.2 lakh kilometers across the country. As a part of this deal, Reliance would have to pay Rs 1,200 crore once the fibre optic network is customized to work in tandem with Jio Infocomm.

Apart from depending on this fibre-optic network solely, Reliance is also planning to come up with its own fibre-optic network that will be used by RComm vice-versa. Starting the infrastructure from scratch for 4G services was delaying the launch of 4G services in India. So it was a wise move by Mukesh Ambani to spearhead the fibre-optic deal between RIL and RComm

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

IPv6 adoption critical for preservation and growth of the Internet

USA: The number of available Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) addresses is declining rapidly and will soon leave businesses and individuals worldwide who have not yet adopted the new IPv6 protocol with limited options for connecting new devices to the global Internet.

To help ensure this does not happen, the Internet Society Colorado Chapter and the Rocky Mountain Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) Task Force (RMv6TF) have joined forces to advance deployment of IPv6. On April 17, 2013, the Internet Society-organized INET Denver will co-locate with the 2013 North American IPv6 Summit in Denver, Colorado, creating the largest IPv6-focused event in North America this year.

United in the goal to preserve the growth and development of the global Internet, the world’s largest platform of global communication and commerce, the Internet Society and the RMv6TF will leverage both events in Denver to spread awareness and educate the industry on the importance of the adoption of IPv6.

“As IPv4 is rapidly running out of IP addresses to support the explosive number of devices connecting to the Internet, it is critical that the world embrace IPv6 as the new normal,” said Scott Hogg, Chair-Emeritus, RMv6TF. “IPv6, unlike its predecessor IPv4, essentially has an unlimited number of IP addresses available, so businesses across the globe can continue to use the Internet as a primary vehicle for collaboration, commerce, and innovation.”

INET Denver: IPv4 Exhaustion and the Path to IPv6 brings together top industry experts with professionals in the networking field to discuss the depletion of IPv4 in the market and the TCO of IPv6. A compelling variety of sessions and panels will give industry professionals a chance to understand why the time to move to IPv6 is now.

Speakers at INET Denver feature a wide range of organizations successfully deploying IPv6, including Richard Jimmerson, Director of the Internet Society’s Deploy360 Programme, which provides real-world deployment information for key Internet technologies such as IPv6 and DNSSEC.

Remarking on the importance of deploying new technologies such as IPv6, Jimmerson said, "In the last 15 years, the Internet has completely changed the way the world conducts business. Nothing is more important to your business continuity than paying attention to changes in the core Internet protocols."

About 1.4 billion HTML5-capable mobile devices likely in 2013

ENGLAND: Mobile devices with HTML5-compatible browsers will total 1.4 billion at end-2013, following an annual increase of 87 percent, according to new forecasts from ABI Research. Although the installed base of this size represents a very potent market for mobile application developers, in practice the vast majority of them continue to choose the native model over the web for their releases.

Senior analyst Aapo Markkanen sums up: “While some two years ago it still looked like 2013 could be the Year of Web App, it’s now looking like that this will prove more like the Year of Hybrid. HTML5 is making strides, but mainly through developers that take advantage of increasingly capable cross-platform development tools. Meanwhile, there aren’t many signs of full-blown web apps effectively challenging the native way.”

However, ABI Research’s view is that two parallel trends will help the web to catch up further. First, it’s expected that the support for HTML5 features and browsers will be gradually baked deeper into operating systems, making the web apps speedier and more responsive. This will be partially driven by the upcoming wave of open-source platforms – Firefox OS, Sailfish, Tizen, and Ubuntu – but at the end of the day the most significant factor may turn out to be Android’s eventual convergence with Chrome.

Second, there are the hardware vendors. “There’s a lot of scope to achieve a more robust HTML5 support already in the chip level,” says Markkanen. “Especially Intel has lately displayed strategic interest in pushing the envelope here. Also Samsung’s collaboration with Mozilla to develop a whole new browser engine, dubbed Servo, is worth following. A truly ground-up mobile browser could certainly ease the bottleneck that currently holds back the mobile web.”

Millimeter wave market set to double in 2013, fueled by LTE backhaul

ENGLAND: Infonetics Research released excerpts from its latest Millimeter Wave Equipment market share, size, and forecasts report, which tracks unlicensed E-band, licensed E-band, and W-band millimeter wave equipment by network application (access, backhaul, and transport).

“An increasing number of mobile operators are deploying millimeter wave to augment their existing microwave macrocell backhaul deployments,” notes Richard Webb, directing analyst for microwave and carrier WiFi at Infonetics Research. “The enhanced capacities made possible by millimeter wave are proving to be a viable solution for backhaul in metro areas where range limitations aren’t always problematic.

“The market is on track to more than double this year, followed by continued healthy growth going forward, powered by the increased use of millimeter wave for LTE macrocell backhaul and small cells—most of which use the unlicensed 60 GHz band.”

Highlights
* Infonetics expects the global millimeter wave equipment market to grow to just under $600 million by 2017.

* BridgeWave retains its overall market share leadership, capturing just under a third of total millimeter wave revenue in 2012.

* A market share shakeup is expected over the coming months as major microwave vendors including Aviat Networks, Ericsson, Fujitsu, and Huawei launch millimeter wave products.

* In the early years of the millimeter wave market, most deployments were for access-based applications for enterprise and fixed operator customers, whereas mobile backhaul is now and will remain the predominant driver of the market going forward.

Eurochannel picks EUTELSAT 16A to extend reach in sub-Saharan Africa

FRANCE: The range of channels broadcasting across sub-Saharan Africa via the EUTELSAT 16A satellite further increased with the launch of Eurochannel, the international TV channel dedicated to European films and series.

Eurochannel’s selection of EUTELSAT 16A marks the latest step in its international expansion and comes three months after its launch into all Europe via Eutelsat. The channel has signed a new five-year contract for capacity and services with Eutelsat Communications

Leveraging EUTELSAT 16A’s powerful Ku-band footprint that sweeps across Africa, from Senegal in the West to Madagascar in the East, Eurochannel has joined a digital platform uplinked by Eutelsat and comprising over 20 TV channels.  Eurochannel is broadcasting programmes subtitled in English, French and Portuguese, with terrestrial headends its principal target.

NextiraOne Poland to build multimedia communications system for police in Podkarpackie region

POLAND: NextiraOne, Europe’s leading communications experts, has announced the signing of the agreement with the Regional Police Headquarters in Rzeszów to build an IP telephony and multimedia information system, which will include connecting 24 police stations in Podkarpackie.

The project, which will replace the traditional telephony system, will be co-financed from EU funds raised by the Regional Police Headquarters in Rzeszów.

Under the agreement, the project is for the "Construction of a communications system for voice, data and video information as well as alarm systems in Podkarpackie police stations and equipment for regional network management centres."

It will include the design, supply and implementation of IP telephony systems and a network of information kiosks and multimedia monitors in police stations in Podkarpackie. This innovative communications system will be developed in close collaboration between NextiraOne experts and the staff of the Communications and Information Technology Department of the Police HQ in Rzeszów, which created the overall project investment. This system will be the most extensive IP telephony system in the Polish Police service so far.

NextiraOne experts, working in cooperation with ZETO Rzeszów, have built a Cisco-based end-to-end IP telephony system in the regional police headquarters, city police stations and in the district offices in Podkarpackie region. The system will be based on a call-processing server cluster at four locations in the cities of Rzeszów, Tarnobrzeg, Przemysl and Krosno.

Each cluster will manage phone calls, IP phones, VoIP gateways and servers handling voice services in the subordinate counties. The whole implementation covers the operation of IP phones, switches, the local area network, video telephony, servers, voice messages and central phonebook applications.

Within the same project, NextiraOne will also implement a network of info kiosks that will allow access to information concerning the activities of the Police, including access to information on tenders and job vacancies. Shown on large multimedia monitors, the display will provide visitors with efficient information about current events and - through access to selected RSS feeds – will also generate threat alerts, weather conditions, traffic information, amongst others.

ISBT to go live with Tikona

INDIA: The Maharana Pratap Inter-State bus terminus (ISBT) one of the biggest terminuses of India which operates bus services from Delhi and seven (7) states will now be enabled with Tikona Digital Networks (TDN) secured wireless broadband Wi-Fi connectivity.

Commuters from surrounding states can browse at the terminus with high speed Wi-Fi free of charge for the first 30 minutes, adding a whole new dimension of convenience and experience to their journey. This initiative also underscores the need for deeper penetration of broadband among general public. Institutions like ISBT deploying next generation high speed secured wireless broadband is a welcoming initiative.

Sridhar Krish, COO, Tikona Digital Networks said: “We are happy to associate ourselves with ISBT India’s oldest and biggest Inter State bus terminus’s in the country. This deployment will enable lakhs of commuters to browse internet during transit and experience Tikona’s next generation high speed secured wireless broadband.”