NEW YORK, USA: Today, most mobile applications for smartphones are downloaded from “app stores.” According to ABI Research data, last year consumers downloaded some 2.4 billion applications from such stores, and the download rate will accelerate over the next few years until in 2013 smartphone downloads are expected to peak at just below seven billion. Apple’s app store will continue to lead the field.
That will be the high point, however, and in the years that follow, smartphone download rates from app stores will start a slow decline (although total downloads from all sources will probably continue to grow.)
According to senior analyst Mark Beccue, “App stores aren’t going away: following the 2013 peak in demand, the number of downloads in 2015 will have decreased only seven or eight percent. But as our use of the mobile Internet evolves, demand will increasingly shift elsewhere.”
Why? The mobile web is getting more and more sophisticated, says Beccue, so that more subscribers will use the functionality on mobile websites themselves rather than dedicated apps.
He added: “We see two emerging trends: first, many applications (increasingly built on web standards) will migrate from app stores to regular websites, and for some sites you won’t need an app at all. In addition, more and more popular applications will be preloaded on mobile devices. Social networking apps in particular will be pre-loaded on new products.”
This discussion has centered on smartphones and other high-end devices that allow optimized mobile web experiences, which effectively means that we’re talking about mature markets.
However, another development may change that: mobile network operators (MNOs) will increasingly launch their own app stores, and these outlets may extend the principle of downloadable apps to feature phones, which means access to many newer and developing markets where smartphone penetration is lower.
Friday, May 7, 2010
CCIA applauds FCC’s light-touch approach to broadband
WASHINGTON, USA: The FCC took steps today toward clarifying its authority to protect open Internet access. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski took a middle ground approach to narrowly reclassify the transmission component of broadband Internet access as a telecommunications service. Under this moderate “third way,” the FCC would excuse Internet Access Providers (IAPs) from price regulation, wholesale unbundling and other traditional mandates.
“The FCC is trying to preserve Internet freedom and minimize Internet regulation.”
Based on actions by the FCC under the Bush administration, Genachowski was left with two unappealing choices following a recent court decision in the Comcast case. Either the FCC could continue trying to rely on Title I of the Communications Act to preserve the open Internet or rely on full Title II common carrier provisions that give the Commission authority over telecommunications services.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association represents a diverse array of communications and tech companies that all have an interest in the FCC’s handling of broadband Internet access.
“The FCC is trying to preserve Internet freedom and minimize Internet regulation.”
Based on actions by the FCC under the Bush administration, Genachowski was left with two unappealing choices following a recent court decision in the Comcast case. Either the FCC could continue trying to rely on Title I of the Communications Act to preserve the open Internet or rely on full Title II common carrier provisions that give the Commission authority over telecommunications services.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association represents a diverse array of communications and tech companies that all have an interest in the FCC’s handling of broadband Internet access.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Cisco delivers borderless mobility experience with latest wireless innovation: CleanAir technology
INDIA: Following key announcements of its Borderless Networks architecture in the areas of security, network access and network services, Cisco today announced new products and network and support services that accelerate the transition to the mobile workplace.
Cisco’s Borderless Mobility solutions, including the new Cisco Aironet 3500 Series Access Points with CleanAir technology, allow companies to deliver a seamless mobility experience by providing anywhere, anytime access to information.
As more employees go mobile, the wireless network must perform on a par with the most critical networks. In a recent Cisco survey of more than 600 U.S. companies, 78 percent considered all or part of their wireless network to be mission-critical to their business operations.
Yet, the same group identified wireless interference as one of the top causes of wireless performance issues. With its new CleanAir technology, Cisco is the first to solve the challenge of wireless interference by combining a patented CleanAir ASIC in the access point with system-level intelligence to detect, classify, locate and mitigate the impact of wireless interference.
An industry first, CleanAir technology is the only solution that can completely address the interference challenge of delivering business-critical applications over wireless networks.
* The Cisco Aironet 3500 Series with CleanAir technology is scheduled to be available in May 2010. Pricing ranges from $1,095 to $1,495.
* The Cisco Aironet 1260 Series (non-CleanAir), with external antennas, dual band and full 802.11n performance with standard Power over Ethernet, is scheduled to be available starting in May 2010 with prices starting at $995.
Cisco’s Borderless Mobility solutions, including the new Cisco Aironet 3500 Series Access Points with CleanAir technology, allow companies to deliver a seamless mobility experience by providing anywhere, anytime access to information.
As more employees go mobile, the wireless network must perform on a par with the most critical networks. In a recent Cisco survey of more than 600 U.S. companies, 78 percent considered all or part of their wireless network to be mission-critical to their business operations.
Yet, the same group identified wireless interference as one of the top causes of wireless performance issues. With its new CleanAir technology, Cisco is the first to solve the challenge of wireless interference by combining a patented CleanAir ASIC in the access point with system-level intelligence to detect, classify, locate and mitigate the impact of wireless interference.
An industry first, CleanAir technology is the only solution that can completely address the interference challenge of delivering business-critical applications over wireless networks.
* The Cisco Aironet 3500 Series with CleanAir technology is scheduled to be available in May 2010. Pricing ranges from $1,095 to $1,495.
* The Cisco Aironet 1260 Series (non-CleanAir), with external antennas, dual band and full 802.11n performance with standard Power over Ethernet, is scheduled to be available starting in May 2010 with prices starting at $995.
Prepaid mobile business increases in Hong Kong, but to a limited extend
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Hong Kong is one of the most competitive and mature telecoms markets in the world. Although Hong Kong operators have traditionally received more revenues from post-paid services, prepaid is becoming increasingly important as competition increases and subscribers become more stringent on communication expenses.
Ovum forecasts that the prepaid ratio of total mobile connections in Hong Kong will grow slowly to 48.1 percent in 2010. It will then decline slowly to 45.6 percent in 2014. Prepaid connections are expected to increase to almost 6.7 million in 2010.
“With total mobile connections to reach over 14 million in 2014 in Hong Kong alone, it is surprising to reveal that 45.6 percent of the connections are prepaid”, said Sherrie Huang, Analyst based in Hong Kong. Table 1 below shows the Hong Mobile forecast from 2009-2014.
Source: Ovum
“Prepaid will continue to grow steadily however considering the maturity and limited size of the market there is limited room for new user growth outside attracting existing post-paid subscribers or providing new prepaid services such as high-speed mobile broadband”, said Sherrie Huang. “We see visitors and foreign domestic helpers (FDH) are the main segments of prepaid business in Hong Kong.”
Prepaid becomes increasingly important as competition increases and the attitudes of operators and consumers change towards prepaid mobile services in traditionally strong postpaid markets such as the US and Hong Kong.
“Operators are realizing the important role of prepaid services in competitive differentiation and revenue generation as the Hong Kong market becomes more saturated and the competition gets increasingly intense”, adds Huang. “This can be seen from the increasing number of prepaid offerings and market promotions, emerging prepaid price wars and falling prepaid ARPU”.
Domestic operators are also facing retail competition from operators in other countries, such as China Mobile and China Unicom from Mainland China, and Smart and Globe from the Philippines. Moreover, subscribers have become more cost conscious with communication expenses as the Hong Kong economy has been negatively affected by the global financial crisis.
“Considering the maturity and limited size of the Hong Kong mobile market, prepaid connections will still grow but at a lower speed going forward than in 2010”, comments Sherrie. More prepaid mobile broadband services will be available in the market and there will be more high-speed prepaid mobile broadband services as operators upgrade their networks.
Sherrie Huang concludes that Ovum also expect the demand for communication services from Greater China travellers will continue to increase as the economic ties are growing among Greater China areas.
Ovum forecasts that the prepaid ratio of total mobile connections in Hong Kong will grow slowly to 48.1 percent in 2010. It will then decline slowly to 45.6 percent in 2014. Prepaid connections are expected to increase to almost 6.7 million in 2010.
“With total mobile connections to reach over 14 million in 2014 in Hong Kong alone, it is surprising to reveal that 45.6 percent of the connections are prepaid”, said Sherrie Huang, Analyst based in Hong Kong. Table 1 below shows the Hong Mobile forecast from 2009-2014.
Source: Ovum“Prepaid will continue to grow steadily however considering the maturity and limited size of the market there is limited room for new user growth outside attracting existing post-paid subscribers or providing new prepaid services such as high-speed mobile broadband”, said Sherrie Huang. “We see visitors and foreign domestic helpers (FDH) are the main segments of prepaid business in Hong Kong.”
Prepaid becomes increasingly important as competition increases and the attitudes of operators and consumers change towards prepaid mobile services in traditionally strong postpaid markets such as the US and Hong Kong.
“Operators are realizing the important role of prepaid services in competitive differentiation and revenue generation as the Hong Kong market becomes more saturated and the competition gets increasingly intense”, adds Huang. “This can be seen from the increasing number of prepaid offerings and market promotions, emerging prepaid price wars and falling prepaid ARPU”.
Domestic operators are also facing retail competition from operators in other countries, such as China Mobile and China Unicom from Mainland China, and Smart and Globe from the Philippines. Moreover, subscribers have become more cost conscious with communication expenses as the Hong Kong economy has been negatively affected by the global financial crisis.
“Considering the maturity and limited size of the Hong Kong mobile market, prepaid connections will still grow but at a lower speed going forward than in 2010”, comments Sherrie. More prepaid mobile broadband services will be available in the market and there will be more high-speed prepaid mobile broadband services as operators upgrade their networks.
Sherrie Huang concludes that Ovum also expect the demand for communication services from Greater China travellers will continue to increase as the economic ties are growing among Greater China areas.
Market for preloaded software in cell phones hits $7.7 billion in 2014
EL SEGUNDO, USA: Driven by soaring shipments of smart phones, the global market for preloaded applications and other software for cell phones is set to more than double from 2008 to 2014, according to iSuppli Corp.
Preloaded software represents applications that are already included in cell phones when consumers buy them—as opposed to programs later purchased by users. This market will expand to $7.7 billion in 2014, up from $3.3 billion dollars in 2008. At the same time, shipments of smart phones are set to rise to 497.4 million units in 2014, up from 161.1 million in 2008.
The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of global revenue from preloaded applications on cell phones. Preloaded software is paid for by OEMs, either by buying it from third parties or by internal development efforts.
Source: iSuppli, USA.
“For years, the wireless communication industry has evaluated cell phones primarily on the basis of hardware specifications, such as processor speed, connectivity standard, cellular technology, display size, resolution and aesthetic appeal,” observed Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli.
“However, with the proliferation of smart phones, attention now is being focused squarely on software and user interfaces, leading to rapidly rising penetration of preloaded applications.”
There are three major categories of preloaded applications in general: native applications that come with the mobile platform, carriers’ branded applications and third-party applications requested by carriers or OEMs.
The native applications include a growing list of functions like settings, dialer, address book, messaging and multimedia player. The list of carrier-branded applications varies according to the capabilities of the supporting devices and service promotion. With the increasing adoption of data usage, most commonly added third-party software includes browsers, message interface and navigation applications.
The smart phone is the dominant platform for such preloaded software, accounting for 68.4 percent of revenue in 2014, up from 48.6 percent in 2008. However, preloaded software is found in all types of cell phones, including feature phones, entry-level phones and Ultra Low Cost Handsets (ULCHs).
“iSuppli expects the average number of paid or internal developed preloaded software in mobile phones will at least double by 2014,” Teng said. “As the smart phone becomes a portal to the cloud computing service, security anti-theft issues will be more prominent and trigger the penetration of backup software in the preload package.
Despite the growth of the overall market, iSuppli expects growth in preloaded games will be minimal during the next five years since both operators and device OEMs are directing applications sales to app stores.
Source: iSuppli, USA
Preloaded software represents applications that are already included in cell phones when consumers buy them—as opposed to programs later purchased by users. This market will expand to $7.7 billion in 2014, up from $3.3 billion dollars in 2008. At the same time, shipments of smart phones are set to rise to 497.4 million units in 2014, up from 161.1 million in 2008.
The figure presents iSuppli’s forecast of global revenue from preloaded applications on cell phones. Preloaded software is paid for by OEMs, either by buying it from third parties or by internal development efforts.
Source: iSuppli, USA.“For years, the wireless communication industry has evaluated cell phones primarily on the basis of hardware specifications, such as processor speed, connectivity standard, cellular technology, display size, resolution and aesthetic appeal,” observed Tina Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli.
“However, with the proliferation of smart phones, attention now is being focused squarely on software and user interfaces, leading to rapidly rising penetration of preloaded applications.”
There are three major categories of preloaded applications in general: native applications that come with the mobile platform, carriers’ branded applications and third-party applications requested by carriers or OEMs.
The native applications include a growing list of functions like settings, dialer, address book, messaging and multimedia player. The list of carrier-branded applications varies according to the capabilities of the supporting devices and service promotion. With the increasing adoption of data usage, most commonly added third-party software includes browsers, message interface and navigation applications.
The smart phone is the dominant platform for such preloaded software, accounting for 68.4 percent of revenue in 2014, up from 48.6 percent in 2008. However, preloaded software is found in all types of cell phones, including feature phones, entry-level phones and Ultra Low Cost Handsets (ULCHs).
“iSuppli expects the average number of paid or internal developed preloaded software in mobile phones will at least double by 2014,” Teng said. “As the smart phone becomes a portal to the cloud computing service, security anti-theft issues will be more prominent and trigger the penetration of backup software in the preload package.
Despite the growth of the overall market, iSuppli expects growth in preloaded games will be minimal during the next five years since both operators and device OEMs are directing applications sales to app stores.
Source: iSuppli, USA
Icera well positioned for LTE success
BOSTON, USA: Icera could quickly emerge as the third most successful supplier of LTE basebands and chipsets after Qualcomm and ST-Ericsson, as described in the latest Strategy Analytics RF & Wireless Components and Handset Component Technology service report, “Icera's Reconfigurable Baseband Solution Well Positioned for LTE Success.”
This report notes that through its lead in soft modems, and the progress it has already made with OEMs in W-CDMA/HSPA embedded data modems and USB dongles, it appears that Icera is well placed for LTE success, ahead of Infineon, Broadcom, MediaTek, the Japanese suppliers and a host of start-ups.
Christopher Taylor, Director of the RF & Wireless Components service and main author of the report, said: “In terms of size, power, consumption and reconfigurability, Icera appears to have a one to two year technology lead on mainstream suppliers Qualcomm, ST-Ericsson and Infineon in the slim modem space. This should help the company win LTE share as volumes ramp up in 2011. Icera’s basebands and chipsets have already received positive attention from Nokia, Samsung and LG.”
“Strategy Analytics believes that the growth of the mobile broadband/data segment of the market will attract new players such as Infineon, Broadcom and potentially Intel,” commented Sravan Kundojjala, co-author of the report and analyst on the company’s Handset Component Technologies service.
“Icera has the right technology to maintain and improve its current position in embedded and detachable modems; and to address smartphones in the future.”
This report notes that through its lead in soft modems, and the progress it has already made with OEMs in W-CDMA/HSPA embedded data modems and USB dongles, it appears that Icera is well placed for LTE success, ahead of Infineon, Broadcom, MediaTek, the Japanese suppliers and a host of start-ups.
Christopher Taylor, Director of the RF & Wireless Components service and main author of the report, said: “In terms of size, power, consumption and reconfigurability, Icera appears to have a one to two year technology lead on mainstream suppliers Qualcomm, ST-Ericsson and Infineon in the slim modem space. This should help the company win LTE share as volumes ramp up in 2011. Icera’s basebands and chipsets have already received positive attention from Nokia, Samsung and LG.”
“Strategy Analytics believes that the growth of the mobile broadband/data segment of the market will attract new players such as Infineon, Broadcom and potentially Intel,” commented Sravan Kundojjala, co-author of the report and analyst on the company’s Handset Component Technologies service.
“Icera has the right technology to maintain and improve its current position in embedded and detachable modems; and to address smartphones in the future.”
StarHub expands mobile TV service for 3G and iPhone with Envivio 4Caster C4
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Envivio Inc. announced that StarHub has installed the Envivio Mobile TV head-end featuring the 4Caster C4 Three Screens encoder/transcoder, from Envivio, to extend the reach of the “StarHub TV on Mobile” service to more 3G mobile customers, including those using the iPhone.
The encoding solution has also enabled StarHub to further enhance the efficiency of network resources in delivering its mobile TV service, which offers 25 premium branded channels of news, lifestyle, documentary and entertainment programs.
“To support hundreds of different 3G handsets for the streaming of 25 cable TV channels on mobile, it is important for us to make TV-viewing on mobile devices as seamless as that on television for customers,” said Ms Yeong Mun Ling, Vice President, Business Development and Integrated Applications, StarHub.
“After deploying Envivio’s 4Caster C4 encoder, we are able to greatly reduce the complexity at our headend, using a single platform to encode signals for both 3G and HTTP content streaming. In addition, the H.264 Extreme Compression from Envivio ensures high picture quality, so our customers can enjoy the best mobile TV viewing experience even on the most sophisticated playback devices such as the iPhone.”
The 4Caster C4 encoder/transcoder encodes and protects the content in multiple profiles to enable Apple’s http live streaming technology. The adaptive live streaming combined with Envivio’s H.264 Extreme codec enables the delivery of the best picture quality regardless of fluctuations in network bandwidth.
At the same time as it is encoding for iPhone users, the 4Caster C4 system also streams the same content directly to other 3G handsets. Advanced features such as network-aware rate control and video display aspect ratio management help to ensure the best quality of experience for customers. StarHub subscribers with a 3G device access the mobile TV channels via StarHub’s mobile TV client installed on their phone or through a designated portal in their phone.
“StarHub is setting a compelling example for service providers operating in competitive markets,” said Envivio CEO Julien Signès. “The fact that they have chosen the 4Caster C4 attests to the value service providers place on the flexibility our solutions offer. StarHub is able to immediately satisfy its existing 3G customer base with a high quality TV service and at the same time provide a top quality service for its iPhone customers.”
The 4Caster C4 convergence encoding platform provides video compression for all Three Screens of consumer video – TVs, PCs and mobile devices – from a single platform. Designed to enable fixed line and mobile network operators to deliver content simultaneously across the full range of consumer devices, the 4Caster C4 is able to take multiple channels of content and encode them simultaneously to deliver multiple mobile TV profiles, multiple Internet TV profiles, or SD and HD IPTV profiles.
The encoding solution has also enabled StarHub to further enhance the efficiency of network resources in delivering its mobile TV service, which offers 25 premium branded channels of news, lifestyle, documentary and entertainment programs.
“To support hundreds of different 3G handsets for the streaming of 25 cable TV channels on mobile, it is important for us to make TV-viewing on mobile devices as seamless as that on television for customers,” said Ms Yeong Mun Ling, Vice President, Business Development and Integrated Applications, StarHub.
“After deploying Envivio’s 4Caster C4 encoder, we are able to greatly reduce the complexity at our headend, using a single platform to encode signals for both 3G and HTTP content streaming. In addition, the H.264 Extreme Compression from Envivio ensures high picture quality, so our customers can enjoy the best mobile TV viewing experience even on the most sophisticated playback devices such as the iPhone.”
The 4Caster C4 encoder/transcoder encodes and protects the content in multiple profiles to enable Apple’s http live streaming technology. The adaptive live streaming combined with Envivio’s H.264 Extreme codec enables the delivery of the best picture quality regardless of fluctuations in network bandwidth.
At the same time as it is encoding for iPhone users, the 4Caster C4 system also streams the same content directly to other 3G handsets. Advanced features such as network-aware rate control and video display aspect ratio management help to ensure the best quality of experience for customers. StarHub subscribers with a 3G device access the mobile TV channels via StarHub’s mobile TV client installed on their phone or through a designated portal in their phone.
“StarHub is setting a compelling example for service providers operating in competitive markets,” said Envivio CEO Julien Signès. “The fact that they have chosen the 4Caster C4 attests to the value service providers place on the flexibility our solutions offer. StarHub is able to immediately satisfy its existing 3G customer base with a high quality TV service and at the same time provide a top quality service for its iPhone customers.”
The 4Caster C4 convergence encoding platform provides video compression for all Three Screens of consumer video – TVs, PCs and mobile devices – from a single platform. Designed to enable fixed line and mobile network operators to deliver content simultaneously across the full range of consumer devices, the 4Caster C4 is able to take multiple channels of content and encode them simultaneously to deliver multiple mobile TV profiles, multiple Internet TV profiles, or SD and HD IPTV profiles.
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