HOUSTON, USA: Voxofon –- a leading provider of mobile IP-based communication services – is extending its communication platform with support for the new Windows Phone 7 by Microsoft when it becomes available later this year, allowing users of the new smartphone to make long distance calls directly from their smartphones at up to 98 percent savings over traditional telecom prices.
Voxofon has been consistently out front in identifying and addressing communication needs. Its technology augments mobile convergence, bringing mobility to a whole new level by allowing a mobile device to optimize call costs and ensure security on-the-go.
A leader in providing convenient mobile applications for its VoIP service, Voxofon pioneered similar applications for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and the Palm Pre and Pixi smartphones. Users have praised its service as "by far the best, cheapest and easiest to use," "flawless," and a "must-have application."
Voxofon's website has a special section on the new application. "VoIP for smartphones is a relatively new and welcome development, since mobile phone users have traditionally paid a premium for long-distance service," says Voxofon CEO Alexey Goloshubin. "The rapidly expanding demand for smartphones for both personal and business use has increased demand for cost-saving applications such as Voxofon Call Abroad."
Voxofon's international calling services allow customers to call using their smartphone, computer, land line, or a cell phone. All Voxofon services are available under a single account, providing customers with the flexibility to use the service they find most convenient.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
mimoOn makes first delivery of LTE mi!TestMOBILE for femtocell development and testing
DUISBURG, GERMANY: mimoOn GmbH, a pioneer in end-to end LTE software solutions for programmable Software Defined Radio (SDR) platforms, announced the first commercial shipments of its advanced LTE Test-Mobile, mi!TestMOBILE, to a major infrastructure manufacturer in the Asia Pacific region.
The customer will use mi!TestMOBILE to test their Femtocell designs initially in the lab, and later for field trials.
mi!TestMOBILE is a small and low-cost, fully featured test mobile for the rapid deployment and optimization of LTE networks, products and applications. With its SDR based platform, mi!TestMOBILE is able to evolve to the emerging 3GPP standards, enabling customers to upgrade and test their network, devices and eNB solutions in a low cost, fast and effective manner, ensuring quality of service to their end customers. mi!TestMOBILE relies on mimoOn’s terminal software product mi!Mobile, which is also available for licensing on different chip platforms.
mi!TestMOBILE offers advantages for the entire mobile ecosystem. It enables infrastructure OEMs to test their base-station equipment prior to deployment, and handset and semiconductor OEMs can benchmark their reference designs prior to general availability.
With its small form factor and battery pack option, mi!TestMOBILE is also suited to field and drive testing. In addition, mi!TestMOBILE is not tied to any particular base-station or core network design, so it offers operators a neutral way to compare vendor capabilities and test actual network performance prior to switching on LTE.
According to Brian Robertson, VP Sales & Marketing of mimoOn: “This is a major milestone for mimoOn as it validates our belief in SDR enabling low cost, flexible and scalable platforms for LTE. With our first commercial deliveries, miTestMOBILE can also start to enable our customers to test, mature and evolve their own solutions for the explosive growth that will happen in LTE over the next years.”
The customer will use mi!TestMOBILE to test their Femtocell designs initially in the lab, and later for field trials.
mi!TestMOBILE is a small and low-cost, fully featured test mobile for the rapid deployment and optimization of LTE networks, products and applications. With its SDR based platform, mi!TestMOBILE is able to evolve to the emerging 3GPP standards, enabling customers to upgrade and test their network, devices and eNB solutions in a low cost, fast and effective manner, ensuring quality of service to their end customers. mi!TestMOBILE relies on mimoOn’s terminal software product mi!Mobile, which is also available for licensing on different chip platforms.
mi!TestMOBILE offers advantages for the entire mobile ecosystem. It enables infrastructure OEMs to test their base-station equipment prior to deployment, and handset and semiconductor OEMs can benchmark their reference designs prior to general availability.
With its small form factor and battery pack option, mi!TestMOBILE is also suited to field and drive testing. In addition, mi!TestMOBILE is not tied to any particular base-station or core network design, so it offers operators a neutral way to compare vendor capabilities and test actual network performance prior to switching on LTE.
According to Brian Robertson, VP Sales & Marketing of mimoOn: “This is a major milestone for mimoOn as it validates our belief in SDR enabling low cost, flexible and scalable platforms for LTE. With our first commercial deliveries, miTestMOBILE can also start to enable our customers to test, mature and evolve their own solutions for the explosive growth that will happen in LTE over the next years.”
Starhome files patent infringement lawsuit
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: Starhome, the leading provider and acknowledged driving force of roaming services for mobile network operators, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Roamware, Inc., AT&T Mobility LLC and T-Mobile USA, Inc., in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Starhome’s Complaint alleges infringement of Starhome’s patents by defendants’ provision of international roaming wireless telephone services to subscribers and telecommunications companies. The Complaint accuses the defendants of infringing United States Patents 6,920,487 and 7,231,431, each entitled “System and Methods for Global Access to Services for Mobile Telephone Subscribers.” Starhome is seeking damages and a judgment enjoining further infringement.
“Starhome’s products and services provide innovative wireless mobility solutions to enhance international roaming,” said Neta Bloch, General Counsel of Starhome. “Starhome appreciates the significant value our patents confer to our business and intends to aggressively protect our rights.”
The Patents cover the core technology of the Starhome Intelligent Call Assistant (ICA) solution and the Starhome Home Short Code (HSC) solution, among other services.
The Starhome HSC solution is one of the first and most fundamental roaming solutions of the VHE (virtual home environment) concept. The seamless, feature-rich solution can convert unrecognized home short codes into valid phone numbers and provide mobile operators with a basis to increase their revenue potential from both the inbound and outbound international roaming market.
The Starhome ICA supplements the HSC solution. ICA overcomes international dialing difficulties by automatically correcting or completing misdialled numbers. As the majority of these calls are never redialed, ICA significantly increases roaming revenues for operators.
ICA has a rich user interface that, among other capabilities, can allow combinations of seamless call completion, native-language voice interaction and post-dialing SMS notification, and support for prepaid or postpaid communities with respect to both inbound and outbound roamers.
Eitan Achlow, CEO of Starhome explained: “Over the course of the last 10 years, Starhome has spent a considerable amount of time and resources in developing the Home Short Code and the Intelligent Call Assistant solutions, both of which are included in our patent-protected portfolio. Starhome invests heavily in intellectual property and realizes the importance of protecting these innovations and technology.”
Starhome’s Complaint alleges infringement of Starhome’s patents by defendants’ provision of international roaming wireless telephone services to subscribers and telecommunications companies. The Complaint accuses the defendants of infringing United States Patents 6,920,487 and 7,231,431, each entitled “System and Methods for Global Access to Services for Mobile Telephone Subscribers.” Starhome is seeking damages and a judgment enjoining further infringement.
“Starhome’s products and services provide innovative wireless mobility solutions to enhance international roaming,” said Neta Bloch, General Counsel of Starhome. “Starhome appreciates the significant value our patents confer to our business and intends to aggressively protect our rights.”
The Patents cover the core technology of the Starhome Intelligent Call Assistant (ICA) solution and the Starhome Home Short Code (HSC) solution, among other services.
The Starhome HSC solution is one of the first and most fundamental roaming solutions of the VHE (virtual home environment) concept. The seamless, feature-rich solution can convert unrecognized home short codes into valid phone numbers and provide mobile operators with a basis to increase their revenue potential from both the inbound and outbound international roaming market.
The Starhome ICA supplements the HSC solution. ICA overcomes international dialing difficulties by automatically correcting or completing misdialled numbers. As the majority of these calls are never redialed, ICA significantly increases roaming revenues for operators.
ICA has a rich user interface that, among other capabilities, can allow combinations of seamless call completion, native-language voice interaction and post-dialing SMS notification, and support for prepaid or postpaid communities with respect to both inbound and outbound roamers.
Eitan Achlow, CEO of Starhome explained: “Over the course of the last 10 years, Starhome has spent a considerable amount of time and resources in developing the Home Short Code and the Intelligent Call Assistant solutions, both of which are included in our patent-protected portfolio. Starhome invests heavily in intellectual property and realizes the importance of protecting these innovations and technology.”
Meego battles the odds in platform war
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Announced in February, MeeGo will effectively combine Intel’s netbook-focused Moblin platform with Nokia’s cross-platform application framework, Qt, and the cellular integration work Nokia has done in its own Maemo Linux flavour.
It represents the first concerted effort to create a complete, robust, and scalable device and application platform that spans an array of device categories** while offering original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and service providers complete freedom to modify the platform and user experience as desired.
Its flexibility means MeeGo devices will likely become commonplace in a short space of time. However, Ovum doubts Meego’s short-term ability to upset the increasingly vertically integrated, vendor-driven offerings from Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
Tony Cripps, principal analyst at Ovum and report author, said the volume and variety of devices on which MeeGo is deployed may prove meaningless unless the consistency in the underlying OS is not matched by its ability to provide a true multi-screen application platform for developers.
He added, “The reality is that Nokia and Intel need to sell more Meego devices if they want access to the potentially lucrative seam of tools, consulting, and systems integration surrounding cross-platform, multi-screen application development that Qt offers.
“For the wholesale leveraging of Qt to become a reality, developers must ultimately be persuaded that it is a better cross-platform, cross-device application and UX platform than the alternatives.
“This is a big ask. From the perspective of most third-party developers, MeeGo remains an unknown and unproven quantity that is entering an already highly competitive and crowded landscape.”
In the short term, Ovum believes Nokia and Intel should ignore smartphones and push the case for cross-platform Qt development in other devices, then capitalise on any successes to “cross-sell” the benefits of Qt development onto Nokia’s Qt-enabled feature and smartphones.
“Doing so may not prove easy, and will require considerable investment”, said Cripps. “We have yet to see whether MeeGo and its backers have the stomach for the fight, but it would be wrong to write off its chances until we see the merchandise.”
It represents the first concerted effort to create a complete, robust, and scalable device and application platform that spans an array of device categories** while offering original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and service providers complete freedom to modify the platform and user experience as desired.
Its flexibility means MeeGo devices will likely become commonplace in a short space of time. However, Ovum doubts Meego’s short-term ability to upset the increasingly vertically integrated, vendor-driven offerings from Apple, Google, and Microsoft.
Tony Cripps, principal analyst at Ovum and report author, said the volume and variety of devices on which MeeGo is deployed may prove meaningless unless the consistency in the underlying OS is not matched by its ability to provide a true multi-screen application platform for developers.
He added, “The reality is that Nokia and Intel need to sell more Meego devices if they want access to the potentially lucrative seam of tools, consulting, and systems integration surrounding cross-platform, multi-screen application development that Qt offers.
“For the wholesale leveraging of Qt to become a reality, developers must ultimately be persuaded that it is a better cross-platform, cross-device application and UX platform than the alternatives.
“This is a big ask. From the perspective of most third-party developers, MeeGo remains an unknown and unproven quantity that is entering an already highly competitive and crowded landscape.”
In the short term, Ovum believes Nokia and Intel should ignore smartphones and push the case for cross-platform Qt development in other devices, then capitalise on any successes to “cross-sell” the benefits of Qt development onto Nokia’s Qt-enabled feature and smartphones.
“Doing so may not prove easy, and will require considerable investment”, said Cripps. “We have yet to see whether MeeGo and its backers have the stomach for the fight, but it would be wrong to write off its chances until we see the merchandise.”
Aava Mobile's 'Virta Android SDK' speeds development of Android apps for x86 smartphones and tablets
FINLAND: Just in time for Computex 2010, Aava Mobile has announced the Virta Android, a hardware-enhanced software developer kit (h-SDK) for Android developers wishing to write applications for smartphones and tablets running the newest Intel Atom Z6xx Series processors (previously codenamed "Moorestown").
The Virta Android is a fully functioning x86 smartphone that comes pre-loaded with a tailored Android SDK ported to Intel Atom processors.
Aava Mobile created Virta Android to give application developers a real-world device for development and testing. Virta Android is cross-compatible with all current Android SDK software and comes with a capacitive touch screen, accelerometer, GPS, haptic feedback, and video/still camera.
Virta Android includes a GSM/EDGE quad band and WCDMA triple-band (band I, II and V) modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and all antennae connectivity for complete platform and application testing. The Virta Android is the only phone factor SDK for developing and testing Android platforms and applications to run on Intel Atom based devices.
The Virta Android h-SDK was created in cooperation with Intel and has been validated and hardened for Android by Wind River. Application developers Ixonos and Teleca are already using a beta version of Virta Android.
Aava Mobile's Virta Android h-SDK for developing 'Android on Intel Atom Processors' can be pre-ordered by visiting Aava's website. The h-SDK is slated to ship in Q3 of 2010.
The Virta Android is a fully functioning x86 smartphone that comes pre-loaded with a tailored Android SDK ported to Intel Atom processors.
Aava Mobile created Virta Android to give application developers a real-world device for development and testing. Virta Android is cross-compatible with all current Android SDK software and comes with a capacitive touch screen, accelerometer, GPS, haptic feedback, and video/still camera.
Virta Android includes a GSM/EDGE quad band and WCDMA triple-band (band I, II and V) modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and all antennae connectivity for complete platform and application testing. The Virta Android is the only phone factor SDK for developing and testing Android platforms and applications to run on Intel Atom based devices.
The Virta Android h-SDK was created in cooperation with Intel and has been validated and hardened for Android by Wind River. Application developers Ixonos and Teleca are already using a beta version of Virta Android.
Aava Mobile's Virta Android h-SDK for developing 'Android on Intel Atom Processors' can be pre-ordered by visiting Aava's website. The h-SDK is slated to ship in Q3 of 2010.
Industry leaders debut next-generation MasterCard-approved mobile payment sticker
LITTLETON, USA & AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE: CPI Card Group and INSIDE Contactless have introduced a next-generation, MasterCard-approved payment tag that continues to pave the way for mobile commerce adoption by enabling any mobile device to be used to make payments anywhere using the worldwide contactless MasterCard PayPass standard.
Containing all the functionality of a traditional MasterCard PayPass credit, debit or prepaid debit card, the new sticker is based on INSIDE’s proven MicroPass 4003 contactless payment processor and manufactured and pre-personalized by CPI Card Group.
“CPI deployed more contactless payment cards last year than any other company in the market, and now we are firmly in the mobile payment arena with an enhanced sticker product that brings greater choice to card issuers,” said Tom Waters, vice president of sales and marketing at CPI Card Group. “With CPI’s efficient and highly scalable manufacturing and pre-personalization systems, we believe we can offer this product at very competitive price levels.”
CPI has already established a scalable operational process for producing these payment stickers using prelams delivered from INSIDE. The stickers will be delivered from CPI already pre-cut from ID1 card devices and pre-personalized to allow for personalization and fulfillment using traditional card processing equipment.
“We are very excited by today’s announcement, which represents the latest result of our partnership with CPI and demonstrates our commitment to the mobile payments market,” said Charles Walton, executive vice president for INSIDE Contactless.
“These stickers have the potential to transform the mobile payment market in the US by enabling anyone to make PayPass payments with their mobile phone, thus setting the stage to ultimately achieve fully integrated NFC payment and other applications.”
In addition to MasterCard type approval, the new mobile payment sticker offers enhanced performance when compared with other sticker products on the market. Extensive accredited laboratory testing with all major mobile handsets ensures a safe and satisfying user experience.
A new, advanced adhesive backing not only adheres to mobile phones better, but also allows the sticker to be removed and reapplied multiple times without losing its grip. An innovative shielding design improves performance by protecting the chip and antenna inside the sticker from interference that might be caused by a mobile phone’s signals and metallic materials. The sticker solution is highly scalable to millions of units per month since traditional card manufacturing and personalization systems are utilized.
“We are very pleased to be able to grant type approval for this new mobile sticker product,” said Cathleen Conforti, senior vice president, Global PayPass, MasterCard Worldwide. “Vendor solutions such as this tag are an essential part of MasterCard PayPass and play an important role in advancing mobile payments by providing consumers with Tap & Go convenience using the phones they already carry everywhere.”
Since it was first launched at CARTES in November 2005, the award-winning MicroPass intelligent payment platform has achieved its unprecedented success by continuing to deliver superior performance and flexibility, and is now the platform of choice for certified contactless bank card manufacturers around the world.
The new MasterCard-approved mobile payment stickers are available now from CPI.
Containing all the functionality of a traditional MasterCard PayPass credit, debit or prepaid debit card, the new sticker is based on INSIDE’s proven MicroPass 4003 contactless payment processor and manufactured and pre-personalized by CPI Card Group.
“CPI deployed more contactless payment cards last year than any other company in the market, and now we are firmly in the mobile payment arena with an enhanced sticker product that brings greater choice to card issuers,” said Tom Waters, vice president of sales and marketing at CPI Card Group. “With CPI’s efficient and highly scalable manufacturing and pre-personalization systems, we believe we can offer this product at very competitive price levels.”
CPI has already established a scalable operational process for producing these payment stickers using prelams delivered from INSIDE. The stickers will be delivered from CPI already pre-cut from ID1 card devices and pre-personalized to allow for personalization and fulfillment using traditional card processing equipment.
“We are very excited by today’s announcement, which represents the latest result of our partnership with CPI and demonstrates our commitment to the mobile payments market,” said Charles Walton, executive vice president for INSIDE Contactless.
“These stickers have the potential to transform the mobile payment market in the US by enabling anyone to make PayPass payments with their mobile phone, thus setting the stage to ultimately achieve fully integrated NFC payment and other applications.”
In addition to MasterCard type approval, the new mobile payment sticker offers enhanced performance when compared with other sticker products on the market. Extensive accredited laboratory testing with all major mobile handsets ensures a safe and satisfying user experience.
A new, advanced adhesive backing not only adheres to mobile phones better, but also allows the sticker to be removed and reapplied multiple times without losing its grip. An innovative shielding design improves performance by protecting the chip and antenna inside the sticker from interference that might be caused by a mobile phone’s signals and metallic materials. The sticker solution is highly scalable to millions of units per month since traditional card manufacturing and personalization systems are utilized.
“We are very pleased to be able to grant type approval for this new mobile sticker product,” said Cathleen Conforti, senior vice president, Global PayPass, MasterCard Worldwide. “Vendor solutions such as this tag are an essential part of MasterCard PayPass and play an important role in advancing mobile payments by providing consumers with Tap & Go convenience using the phones they already carry everywhere.”
Since it was first launched at CARTES in November 2005, the award-winning MicroPass intelligent payment platform has achieved its unprecedented success by continuing to deliver superior performance and flexibility, and is now the platform of choice for certified contactless bank card manufacturers around the world.
The new MasterCard-approved mobile payment stickers are available now from CPI.
Movial launches end-to-end MeeGo services and apps for next generation devices
2010 COMPUTEX TAIPEI, TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Movial has announced its end-to-end MeeGo Services for cross device and cross architecture development.
Movial leverages its domain proficiency in Maemo, Moblin and Qt to offer device manufacturers immediate and unparalleled design and integration expertise for fast and easy commercialization of compelling devices and applications on MeeGo.
Movial also announced its versatile Qt WebKit based IXS Browser, multiplatform widget runtime IXS Widgets, and award-winning Movial Communicator applications on the newly released MeeGo 1.0. Movial will showcase the applications at Computex on a touch screen netbook.
With a track record of over 100 successful Maemo, Moblin and Qt projects, and extensive experience in user interface design, Movial has the know-how and expertise to deliver on all aspects of MeeGo-based device development.
“MeeGo is a game changer, and as a multi-architecture open platform covering the broadest range of device segments, it presents intriguing opportunities for device manufacturers who want to reach millions of users with new, innovative next gen devices," said Tomi Rauste, president, Movial Creative Technologies.
“Competitive netbook, tablet, mobile devices, in-vehicle infotainment, connected TV and media phone manufacturers requiring MeeGo design and integration support, need look no further than Movial’s highly skilled and experienced designers and engineers.”
In addition to unparalleled MeeGo services, Movial offers customizable touch screen optimized white label applications – a versatile browser, multiplatform widget runtime and rich communications enabler – enabling OEMs and ODMs to quickly and cost-effectively develop next gen devices on MeeGo.
“Our OEM and ODM clients are excited to know they can leverage our proven and familiar applications running on MeeGo 1.0 immediately for touch screen netbook creation,” added Rauste.
Movial leverages its domain proficiency in Maemo, Moblin and Qt to offer device manufacturers immediate and unparalleled design and integration expertise for fast and easy commercialization of compelling devices and applications on MeeGo.
Movial also announced its versatile Qt WebKit based IXS Browser, multiplatform widget runtime IXS Widgets, and award-winning Movial Communicator applications on the newly released MeeGo 1.0. Movial will showcase the applications at Computex on a touch screen netbook.
With a track record of over 100 successful Maemo, Moblin and Qt projects, and extensive experience in user interface design, Movial has the know-how and expertise to deliver on all aspects of MeeGo-based device development.
“MeeGo is a game changer, and as a multi-architecture open platform covering the broadest range of device segments, it presents intriguing opportunities for device manufacturers who want to reach millions of users with new, innovative next gen devices," said Tomi Rauste, president, Movial Creative Technologies.
“Competitive netbook, tablet, mobile devices, in-vehicle infotainment, connected TV and media phone manufacturers requiring MeeGo design and integration support, need look no further than Movial’s highly skilled and experienced designers and engineers.”
In addition to unparalleled MeeGo services, Movial offers customizable touch screen optimized white label applications – a versatile browser, multiplatform widget runtime and rich communications enabler – enabling OEMs and ODMs to quickly and cost-effectively develop next gen devices on MeeGo.
“Our OEM and ODM clients are excited to know they can leverage our proven and familiar applications running on MeeGo 1.0 immediately for touch screen netbook creation,” added Rauste.
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