KENYA: Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of the mobile HD voice service for its subscribers in Africa. The development comes as the first step in Airtel’s ambition to make mobile HD voice accessible in all its operations across the continent.
HD voice is the most significant improvement in voice communications in the past two decades. Mobile HD voice offers crystal clear audio quality and will enhance user experience on Airtel mobile networks. “Surveys confirm that customers place a high value on HD Voice”, explains Andre Beyers, the Chief Marketing Officer, Airtel Africa. “The new service will enrich end-user experience for Airtel subscribers”.
Mobile HD Voice enables high-quality voice calls because it reduces background noise often heard on a regular call. Airtel customers on 3G networks will experience a significant improvement in their voice communications as the new service will enable them to hear better in noisy environments.
To enjoy the maximum benefits of this new technology, both the calling and the called party need an HD-Voice compatible mobile phone. However, improvements in call quality are also perceived when using an HD voice-enabled phone to call a non-HD Voice phone.
Mobile HD Voice based on AMR (Adaptive Multi Rate) Wideband technology (W-AMR) operates with nine different bit rates, providing high-quality voice calls. Compared to the current narrowband speech codec, the W-AMR speech-compression algorithm doubles voice bandwidth and produces better results.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
DSP Group and Lightspeed deliver DECT-based multimedia classroom audio solution
USA: DSP Group Inc. announced that Lightspeed, a leading provider of classroom audio solutions, has chosen DSP Group's XceedR DECT CAT-iq 2.0 platform to deliver crystal clear HD audio for its new classroom audio products, Topcat and Flexcat.
The Lightspeed solutions enable wireless connection of all classroom audio speakers, media adapters and microphones using DECT 6.0 technology, creating a seamlessly integrated audio learning environment.
DSP Group's XceedR DECT CAT-iq 2.0 platform enables Lightspeed to deliver richer audio experience, providing the market's most complete and affordable classroom audio experience and markedly impacting the learning environment.
With XceedR DECT CAT-iq 2.0, the new Lightspeed audio systems benefit from field-proven DECT wireless RF technology in the interference-free, DECT-dedicated 1.9GHz frequency band. Easy to install, XceedR offers best in class HD voice clarity for richer and more natural-sounding conversations.
The Lightspeed solutions enable wireless connection of all classroom audio speakers, media adapters and microphones using DECT 6.0 technology, creating a seamlessly integrated audio learning environment.
DSP Group's XceedR DECT CAT-iq 2.0 platform enables Lightspeed to deliver richer audio experience, providing the market's most complete and affordable classroom audio experience and markedly impacting the learning environment.
With XceedR DECT CAT-iq 2.0, the new Lightspeed audio systems benefit from field-proven DECT wireless RF technology in the interference-free, DECT-dedicated 1.9GHz frequency band. Easy to install, XceedR offers best in class HD voice clarity for richer and more natural-sounding conversations.
Sprint 4G LTE now available in nine new markets
USA: Sprint announced that it is launching 4G LTE in Altoona, Pa., Asheville, N.C., Columbus, Ind., Elkhart/Goshen, Ind., Hammond, La., La Crosse, Wis., San Juan, Puerto Rico, Statesville, N.C., and Temple, Texas. Customers in these areas will now be able to experience faster speeds for uploading photos, surfing the Web and streaming videos.
Sprint 4G LTE service has also expanded in San Germán, Yauco, Salinas and Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico. Through its Network Vision program, Sprint is continuing to bring a better wireless experience to more customers every day as it builds out its all-new 3G and 4G LTE network.
“With this announcement, Sprint is enabling even more customers to sample the power of 4G LTE on their smartphones, tablets and wireless hotspots,” said Bob Azzi, senior VP, Network, Sprint. “The network team continues to build and test the new network across the country, including areas like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Customers report they are already finding a 4G LTE signal in these places, and we look forward to providing even more reliable access to the data they need with our official launches.”
Customers can expect to experience the following improvements once 3G upgrades and 4G LTE service come to their area:
* Faster data speeds to enable instant Web access for news updates, HD viewing and game-playing, quicker video downloads and clearer video chats.
* Better signal strength when accessing the Web.
* Fewer dropped calls for peace of mind when talking to friends, family or colleagues.
Customers in 4G LTE service areas will be able to use their smartphones – such as Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Note II or LG Optimus G – to share a picture of their favorite band performing at a local arena or to check the Web for basketball scores with greater speed. When you combine the power of 4G LTE with an Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime, which includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, Sprint becomes the best choice in wireless.
Through April 11, with Switch to Sprint save $100 instantly on the Samsung Galaxy S II or the Galaxy S III1.
The strength and abilities of Sprint’s 4G LTE network can also be experienced through two of its no-annual contract brands2, Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile. Virgin Mobile now offers the Galaxy Victory 4G LTE, from Samsung along with its No Contract Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans3. On March 7, Boost Mobile will begin to sell the HTC One SV and Boost Force – paired with Boost Mobile’s no-annual contract $55 Android Monthly Unlimited with Shrinking Payments plan. These smartphones will operate on Sprint’s 3G and 4G LTE networks.
Sprint’s network buildout, known as Network Vision, not only delivers 4G LTE but also is expected to provide 3G customers better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage, and fewer dropped/blocked calls. All Sprint 3G customers, including the company’s prepaid customers on Assurance Wireless, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA can expect to see better coverage and improved network reliability and voice quality once the improvements come to their areas.
Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and now offers service in 67 markets.
Sprint 4G LTE service has also expanded in San Germán, Yauco, Salinas and Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico. Through its Network Vision program, Sprint is continuing to bring a better wireless experience to more customers every day as it builds out its all-new 3G and 4G LTE network.
“With this announcement, Sprint is enabling even more customers to sample the power of 4G LTE on their smartphones, tablets and wireless hotspots,” said Bob Azzi, senior VP, Network, Sprint. “The network team continues to build and test the new network across the country, including areas like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. Customers report they are already finding a 4G LTE signal in these places, and we look forward to providing even more reliable access to the data they need with our official launches.”
Customers can expect to experience the following improvements once 3G upgrades and 4G LTE service come to their area:
* Faster data speeds to enable instant Web access for news updates, HD viewing and game-playing, quicker video downloads and clearer video chats.
* Better signal strength when accessing the Web.
* Fewer dropped calls for peace of mind when talking to friends, family or colleagues.
Customers in 4G LTE service areas will be able to use their smartphones – such as Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Note II or LG Optimus G – to share a picture of their favorite band performing at a local arena or to check the Web for basketball scores with greater speed. When you combine the power of 4G LTE with an Everything Data plan with Any Mobile, Anytime, which includes unlimited Web, texting and calling to and from any mobile in America while on the Sprint Network, Sprint becomes the best choice in wireless.
Through April 11, with Switch to Sprint save $100 instantly on the Samsung Galaxy S II or the Galaxy S III1.
The strength and abilities of Sprint’s 4G LTE network can also be experienced through two of its no-annual contract brands2, Virgin Mobile USA and Boost Mobile. Virgin Mobile now offers the Galaxy Victory 4G LTE, from Samsung along with its No Contract Beyond Talk unlimited data and messaging plans3. On March 7, Boost Mobile will begin to sell the HTC One SV and Boost Force – paired with Boost Mobile’s no-annual contract $55 Android Monthly Unlimited with Shrinking Payments plan. These smartphones will operate on Sprint’s 3G and 4G LTE networks.
Sprint’s network buildout, known as Network Vision, not only delivers 4G LTE but also is expected to provide 3G customers better wireless signal strength, in-building coverage, and fewer dropped/blocked calls. All Sprint 3G customers, including the company’s prepaid customers on Assurance Wireless, Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA can expect to see better coverage and improved network reliability and voice quality once the improvements come to their areas.
Sprint introduced its all-new 4G LTE network in July 2012 and now offers service in 67 markets.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Swisscom signs NetCracker to long-term maintenance agreement for IP service fulfillment solution
USA: NetCracker Technology has signed a long-term software maintenance agreement to support Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd’s IP Service Fulfillment solution.
NetCracker has been a strategic partner with Swisscom on a number of complex transformation projects over the years, most recently designing and deploying their Fiber and Copper IP Service Fulfillment and Assurance solution. Under the terms of the current contract, NetCracker will provide comprehensive support for this system, which delivers next-generation, converged, IP-based services.
Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd is Switzerland’s largest telecom operator and service provider. Swisscom offers customers throughout the country a full range of products and services including Internet, TV, mobile, landline, and IP-based voice and data communication.
Swisscom utilizes NetCracker Telecom Operations and Management Solution (TOMS)-based fulfillment and assurance capabilities to support the company’s strategic All-IP program. Specifically, the solution provides service and resource provisioning and activation, network management, and day-to-day assurance of all IP-based services. The agreement with NetCracker will help Swisscom to monetize its investment in this solution, lower the total cost of ownership, and deliver a quality customer experience.
NetCracker has been a strategic partner with Swisscom on a number of complex transformation projects over the years, most recently designing and deploying their Fiber and Copper IP Service Fulfillment and Assurance solution. Under the terms of the current contract, NetCracker will provide comprehensive support for this system, which delivers next-generation, converged, IP-based services.
Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd is Switzerland’s largest telecom operator and service provider. Swisscom offers customers throughout the country a full range of products and services including Internet, TV, mobile, landline, and IP-based voice and data communication.
Swisscom utilizes NetCracker Telecom Operations and Management Solution (TOMS)-based fulfillment and assurance capabilities to support the company’s strategic All-IP program. Specifically, the solution provides service and resource provisioning and activation, network management, and day-to-day assurance of all IP-based services. The agreement with NetCracker will help Swisscom to monetize its investment in this solution, lower the total cost of ownership, and deliver a quality customer experience.
Android will account for 58 percent of smartphone app downloads in 2013
ENGLAND: The annual volume of smartphone app downloads will reach 56 billion this year, show ABI Research’s updated market forecasts.
Of different OS platforms, Google’s Android will account for 58 percent of the total, with Apple’s iOS commanding an annual share of 33 percent. Microsoft’s Windows Phone will finish the year with a slice of slightly smaller than 4 percent, with BlackBerry trailing it with 3 percent.
In the meantime, mobile users will download around 14 billion tablet apps during the year. In the tablet segment, iPad’s lead as a development platform remains formidable, as 75 percent of the amount will be apps running on iOS. For comparison, Android will represent an annual share of 17 percent, excluding Kindle Fire. Downloads to Amazon’s tablets will warrant a market share of 4 percent, while around 2 percent of the total will be for Windows tablets.
With its vast installed base and the generally improved conditions for app building, ABI Research expects a growing number of smartphone-focused developers to adopt an Android-first strategy within the year.
Senior analyst, Aapo Markkanen, however, reminds: “Arguably, the most pressing issue for Google is how much of this handset momentum will ultimately trickle down to tablets, where Apple is holding the fort remarkably well. We would argue that in this context Google will actually benefit from the efforts by Amazon, since the presence of Kindle Fire adds a lot of critical ‘code mass’ to Android’s proposition as a platform for tablet applications. It is worth remembering that Android’s so-called fragmentation problem isn’t only a problem, but that it has a certain upside as well.”
Of different OS platforms, Google’s Android will account for 58 percent of the total, with Apple’s iOS commanding an annual share of 33 percent. Microsoft’s Windows Phone will finish the year with a slice of slightly smaller than 4 percent, with BlackBerry trailing it with 3 percent.
In the meantime, mobile users will download around 14 billion tablet apps during the year. In the tablet segment, iPad’s lead as a development platform remains formidable, as 75 percent of the amount will be apps running on iOS. For comparison, Android will represent an annual share of 17 percent, excluding Kindle Fire. Downloads to Amazon’s tablets will warrant a market share of 4 percent, while around 2 percent of the total will be for Windows tablets.
With its vast installed base and the generally improved conditions for app building, ABI Research expects a growing number of smartphone-focused developers to adopt an Android-first strategy within the year.
Senior analyst, Aapo Markkanen, however, reminds: “Arguably, the most pressing issue for Google is how much of this handset momentum will ultimately trickle down to tablets, where Apple is holding the fort remarkably well. We would argue that in this context Google will actually benefit from the efforts by Amazon, since the presence of Kindle Fire adds a lot of critical ‘code mass’ to Android’s proposition as a platform for tablet applications. It is worth remembering that Android’s so-called fragmentation problem isn’t only a problem, but that it has a certain upside as well.”
Smartphones expected to outship feature phones for first time in 2013
USA: More smartphones are forecast to be shipped globally than feature phones in 2013, the first such occurrence in the mobile phone market on an annual basis. According to the International Data Corp. (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, vendors will ship 918.6 million smartphones this year, or 50.1 percent of the total mobile phone shipments worldwide.
Smartphone prices have fallen globally, the smartphone strata are wider than ever, and the roll-out of data-centric fourth-generation (4G) wireless networks are three factors that have made these "do-it-all" devices an increasingly attractive option for users. By the end of 2017, IDC forecasts 1.5 billion smartphones will be shipped worldwide, which equates to just over two-thirds of the total mobile phone forecast for the year due to these primary factors.
To date, much of the world's smartphone shipments were a direct result of demand in mature economies such as the US. The balance of smartphone demand is gradually shifting, however, to emerging markets where smartphone user bases are still relatively small and economic prospects are considerably higher.
Smartphone shipments to China, Brazil, and India will comprise a growing percentage of the device type's volume in each forecast year. Smartphone demand is burgeoning in these large, populous nations as their respective economies have grown; this has made for a larger middle class that is prepared to buy smartphones. China, which supplanted the US last year as the global leader in smartphone shipments, is at the forefront of this shift.
"While we don't expect China's smartphone growth to maintain the pace of a runaway train as it has over the last two years, there continue to be big drivers to keep the market growing as it leads the way to ever-lower smartphone prices and the country's transition to 4G networks is only just beginning," said Melissa Chau, senior research manager, IDC Asia/Pacific. "Even as China starts to mature, there remains enormous untapped potential in other emerging markets like India, where we expect less than half of all phones shipped there to be smartphones by 2017, and yet it will weigh in as the world's third largest market."
Brazil is another market where smartphone growth will remain high over the course of the forecast as its economic fortunes improve. "Brazilians have yet to turn in their feature phones for smartphones on a wholesale basis," said Bruno Freitas, Consumer Devices Research Manager, IDC Brazil. "The smartphone tide is turning in Brazil though, as wireless service providers and the government have laid the groundwork for a strong smartphone foundation that mobile phone manufacturers can build upon."
Top five markets for smartphone shipments
China will easily remain the world's largest market for smartphones, specifically low-cost handsets based on the Android operating system and to a lesser degree iOS. While shipment volume to the country will remain at the top, growth will slow towards the end of the forecast period. Also, smartphone prices are expected to fall amid increased competition. Consequently, China's share of the global smartphone market will be diluted somewhat as more smartphones are shipped to India, Brazil, and other emerging markets.
Now that smartphone users constitute the majority of all mobile phone users in the United States, IDC expects slower growth in the years ahead. Underpinning its growth is the constantly shifting operating system landscape, in which resurgent BlackBerry and Windows Phone aim to gain salience against incumbents Android and Apple iOS.
India's year-over-year smartphone shipment growth will be the highest among the top countries by a wide margin as the vast majority of the country's wireless subscriber base currently use feature phones. The smartphone market will grow due to a variety of factors including greater availability of low-cost devices and additional sales emphasis by top-flight vendors on less populous parts of the country. In addition, 3G network coverage will continue to expand while 4G networks are expected to stimulate smartphone growth from 2015 onwards.
Brazil's smartphone market rise is driven by a confluence of circumstances, such as tax breaks for vendors that create jobs via local mobile phone production. Wireless service providers are offering greater subsidies to drive smartphone sales with an eye on higher data revenue streams in the future. The successful rollout of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks in Brazil is key to the country's smartphone market growth.
Growth of the United Kingdom smartphone market has slowed considerably in recent quarters as penetration has risen and economic growth remains minimal at best, which has led to consumer trepidation. The size of the market and its wealth relative to much of Western Europe will make it a smartphone volume leader over the forecast given the ongoing transition to LTE networks and continued high carrier subsidies.
Smartphone prices have fallen globally, the smartphone strata are wider than ever, and the roll-out of data-centric fourth-generation (4G) wireless networks are three factors that have made these "do-it-all" devices an increasingly attractive option for users. By the end of 2017, IDC forecasts 1.5 billion smartphones will be shipped worldwide, which equates to just over two-thirds of the total mobile phone forecast for the year due to these primary factors.
To date, much of the world's smartphone shipments were a direct result of demand in mature economies such as the US. The balance of smartphone demand is gradually shifting, however, to emerging markets where smartphone user bases are still relatively small and economic prospects are considerably higher.
Smartphone shipments to China, Brazil, and India will comprise a growing percentage of the device type's volume in each forecast year. Smartphone demand is burgeoning in these large, populous nations as their respective economies have grown; this has made for a larger middle class that is prepared to buy smartphones. China, which supplanted the US last year as the global leader in smartphone shipments, is at the forefront of this shift.
"While we don't expect China's smartphone growth to maintain the pace of a runaway train as it has over the last two years, there continue to be big drivers to keep the market growing as it leads the way to ever-lower smartphone prices and the country's transition to 4G networks is only just beginning," said Melissa Chau, senior research manager, IDC Asia/Pacific. "Even as China starts to mature, there remains enormous untapped potential in other emerging markets like India, where we expect less than half of all phones shipped there to be smartphones by 2017, and yet it will weigh in as the world's third largest market."
Brazil is another market where smartphone growth will remain high over the course of the forecast as its economic fortunes improve. "Brazilians have yet to turn in their feature phones for smartphones on a wholesale basis," said Bruno Freitas, Consumer Devices Research Manager, IDC Brazil. "The smartphone tide is turning in Brazil though, as wireless service providers and the government have laid the groundwork for a strong smartphone foundation that mobile phone manufacturers can build upon."
Top five markets for smartphone shipments
China will easily remain the world's largest market for smartphones, specifically low-cost handsets based on the Android operating system and to a lesser degree iOS. While shipment volume to the country will remain at the top, growth will slow towards the end of the forecast period. Also, smartphone prices are expected to fall amid increased competition. Consequently, China's share of the global smartphone market will be diluted somewhat as more smartphones are shipped to India, Brazil, and other emerging markets.
Now that smartphone users constitute the majority of all mobile phone users in the United States, IDC expects slower growth in the years ahead. Underpinning its growth is the constantly shifting operating system landscape, in which resurgent BlackBerry and Windows Phone aim to gain salience against incumbents Android and Apple iOS.
India's year-over-year smartphone shipment growth will be the highest among the top countries by a wide margin as the vast majority of the country's wireless subscriber base currently use feature phones. The smartphone market will grow due to a variety of factors including greater availability of low-cost devices and additional sales emphasis by top-flight vendors on less populous parts of the country. In addition, 3G network coverage will continue to expand while 4G networks are expected to stimulate smartphone growth from 2015 onwards.
Brazil's smartphone market rise is driven by a confluence of circumstances, such as tax breaks for vendors that create jobs via local mobile phone production. Wireless service providers are offering greater subsidies to drive smartphone sales with an eye on higher data revenue streams in the future. The successful rollout of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks in Brazil is key to the country's smartphone market growth.
Growth of the United Kingdom smartphone market has slowed considerably in recent quarters as penetration has risen and economic growth remains minimal at best, which has led to consumer trepidation. The size of the market and its wealth relative to much of Western Europe will make it a smartphone volume leader over the forecast given the ongoing transition to LTE networks and continued high carrier subsidies.
3D priinting transforms popular mobile app into real pottery workshop
POLAND: Infinite Dreams, award-winning games publisher announced the revolutionary possibilities of the world popular Let’s Create! Pottery mobile application, downloaded more than 5 million times. Thanks to Sculpteo’s innovative 3D printing technology, smartphone and tablet users can make their own digital pieces of art and create real pottery themselves which they can display at home.
Let’s Create! Pottery is a unique application which enables people to de-stress whilst also stimulating their imagination. Anyone can become a real artist and create "one of a kind" pottery objects. Users can throw the clay on the virtual wheel, release all artistic talents and benefit from dozens of materials available on the app in order to create their own designs. When players glaze and fire their very first pot, they feel a sense of satisfaction and relaxed as pottery is the best way to relieve everyday stress and find ones own inner peace.
Infinite Dreams decided to move forward with the visualization process by integrating a 3D printing feature into the Let’s Create! Pottery app. Thanks to the partnership with the French online 3D printing service Sculpteo, users of the Let’s Create! Pottery application are given the option to convert virtual pots into real objects which can be displayed on a shelf or be given to family or friends.
Clément Moreau, CEO and co-founder of Sculpteo, said: “By integrating our 3D printing platform into applications such as Let’s Create! Pottery shows how the magic of 3D printing can be applied in a number of different ways. This partnership demonstrates how ineluctably the division between the digital world and real world is disappearing, thanks to 3D printing technology.”
The process of creating and ordering objects is intuitive and doesn't require users to have any technical knowledge. The application offers a huge library of colors, patterns and materials which are ready to use during the creation of unique objects.
Users of the Let's Create! Pottery app can upload and view other people's creations on the community portal. So far, users of the application shared more than quarter of the million virtual pots which have been created, each with unique patterns and shapes.
The Let's Create! Pottery application together with the website is incredibly therapeutic and an uplifting experience that everyone can enjoy.
When the creation process is done, the virtual pot is published on the user’s private account on the Pottery Portal (the login system is based on the Facebook Connect feature) where it can be sent to Sculpteo the 3D printing service to be manufactured.
To order a pot created in the Let's Create! Pottery application, users choose the size of the model and decide which payment method they prefer (PayPal, credit card or bank transfer) to finalize the order. The delivery time depends on the complexity and size of the order. Most of the orders are shipped within 2 working days.
Let’s Create! Pottery is a unique application which enables people to de-stress whilst also stimulating their imagination. Anyone can become a real artist and create "one of a kind" pottery objects. Users can throw the clay on the virtual wheel, release all artistic talents and benefit from dozens of materials available on the app in order to create their own designs. When players glaze and fire their very first pot, they feel a sense of satisfaction and relaxed as pottery is the best way to relieve everyday stress and find ones own inner peace.
Clément Moreau, CEO and co-founder of Sculpteo, said: “By integrating our 3D printing platform into applications such as Let’s Create! Pottery shows how the magic of 3D printing can be applied in a number of different ways. This partnership demonstrates how ineluctably the division between the digital world and real world is disappearing, thanks to 3D printing technology.”
The process of creating and ordering objects is intuitive and doesn't require users to have any technical knowledge. The application offers a huge library of colors, patterns and materials which are ready to use during the creation of unique objects.
Users of the Let's Create! Pottery app can upload and view other people's creations on the community portal. So far, users of the application shared more than quarter of the million virtual pots which have been created, each with unique patterns and shapes.
The Let's Create! Pottery application together with the website is incredibly therapeutic and an uplifting experience that everyone can enjoy.
When the creation process is done, the virtual pot is published on the user’s private account on the Pottery Portal (the login system is based on the Facebook Connect feature) where it can be sent to Sculpteo the 3D printing service to be manufactured.
To order a pot created in the Let's Create! Pottery application, users choose the size of the model and decide which payment method they prefer (PayPal, credit card or bank transfer) to finalize the order. The delivery time depends on the complexity and size of the order. Most of the orders are shipped within 2 working days.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
