JAPAN & FRANCE: Alcatel-Lucent has announced that Japan's NTT Communications Corp. (NTT Com) has chosen its advanced Edge Router systems to dramatically boost speed, performance and cost-efficiency within in its VPN enterprise services.
NTT Com will introduce Alcatel-Lucent's Multi-service Edge Router, the 7750 Service Router (7750 SR) as part of business services available in Japan and worldwide.
Previously such services were supported by independent networks, but the move to a single, converged IP infrastructure provided by Alcatel-Lucent will simplify and streamline network management, cut the cost of network operations and help lower NTT Com's operational expenditure through a measurable decrease in energy consumption.
Alcatel-Lucent's 7750 Service Router is designed to offer high performance and availability to differentiate it from the competition. The 7750SR supports platform capacities ranging from 40Gb/s to 2Tb/s, and has a processing structure adapted to the carrier's service, quality-of-service provision, and a wide range of protocols and interfaces such as Ethernet and multi-service.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
PrecisionMatch mobile handset market insights
INDIA: PrecisionMatch released the first-of-its kind ‘Mobile Handset Market Insights’ for India for the period December 2012-February 2013.
The consumer data in the mobile handset market suggests that Samsung, Nokia, Micromax, Sony and HTC are the five most researched brands on the Internet, and Samsung Galaxy S3 with its unique features is the most researched handset model.
A key insight gathered from the data is the increasing consumer interest in Micromax phones. Micromax was the second most researched handset brand after Samsung in Feb 2013 while Micromax A110 Canvas 2 was the most researched handset model in January 2013.
The data also suggests the increasing popularity of Nokia, with its range of Nokia Asha and Nokia Lumia models that are competing with the likes of HTC, Apple and Sony Mobile. Another interesting revelation is Sony’s consistent performance making Sony Mobile the fourth most researched handset brand.
The consumer data in the mobile handset market suggests that Samsung, Nokia, Micromax, Sony and HTC are the five most researched brands on the Internet, and Samsung Galaxy S3 with its unique features is the most researched handset model.
A key insight gathered from the data is the increasing consumer interest in Micromax phones. Micromax was the second most researched handset brand after Samsung in Feb 2013 while Micromax A110 Canvas 2 was the most researched handset model in January 2013.
The data also suggests the increasing popularity of Nokia, with its range of Nokia Asha and Nokia Lumia models that are competing with the likes of HTC, Apple and Sony Mobile. Another interesting revelation is Sony’s consistent performance making Sony Mobile the fourth most researched handset brand.
Intertrust sues Apple for patent infringement
USA: Intertrust Technologies Corp. has filed a lawsuit for patent infringement against Apple Inc. in US Federal Court in the Northern District of California.
The lawsuit accuses Apple of making products and services that infringe on 15 Intertrust patents on security and distributed trusted computing. The lawsuit covers a broad range of key Apple products and services including iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad, Mac computers and laptops, Apple TV, and services including iTunes, iCloud, and the Apple App Store.
“Apple makes many great products that use Intertrust’s inventions,” said Talal Shamoon, Intertrust’s CEO. “Our patents are foundational to modern Internet security and trusted computing, and result from years of internal research and development. We are proud of our record of peaceful and constructive licensing with industry leaders. We find it regrettable that we are forced to seek Court assistance to resolve this matter.”
The lawsuit accuses Apple of making products and services that infringe on 15 Intertrust patents on security and distributed trusted computing. The lawsuit covers a broad range of key Apple products and services including iOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad, Mac computers and laptops, Apple TV, and services including iTunes, iCloud, and the Apple App Store.
“Apple makes many great products that use Intertrust’s inventions,” said Talal Shamoon, Intertrust’s CEO. “Our patents are foundational to modern Internet security and trusted computing, and result from years of internal research and development. We are proud of our record of peaceful and constructive licensing with industry leaders. We find it regrettable that we are forced to seek Court assistance to resolve this matter.”
ZTE attains no. 1 position in world PON market
CHINA: ZTE Corp. is pleased to achieve the global No. 1 ranking for shipments of PON (passive optical networking) products in a report compiled by industry consulting firm Ovum, as the company leveraged its market-leading technologies to win contracts and outperform competitors in this segment.
According to Ovum’s Market Share Report: 2012 FTTx, DSL, and CMTS Units, ZTE was the world’s leading vendor with 42 percent market share globally in shipments of PON optical line terminals (OLTs) in 2012, after the company shipped 1.72 million lines.
Based on Ovum’s data, ZTE also ranked first globally in shipments of optical network terminals (ONTs) and optical network units (ONUs) with 32 percent market share, after the company achieved shipments of more than 13 million lines. Ovum’s data showed that ZTE attained market leadership while the total number of OLT ports shipped declined between 2011 and 2012.
For many years, ZTE has been able to maintain annual growth rate of more than 30 percent in its PON business, thanks to the company’s commitment to technology innovation and the growth in investment in FTTx networks globally.
ZTE’s strong understanding of the market and superior technology has helped the company win contracts from the world’s main telecommunication operators as they build and optimize their optical networks, especially in the important markets of China, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America.
“ZTE’s leading position in the PON market is the result of broad recognition of our work from across the global telecommunications industry,” said Zhu Yongxing, GM of ZTE’s fixed-network products. “We will continue our efforts in innovation and service to develop our PON business, to support operators globally in building high-speed and intelligent broadband optical networks.”
According to Ovum’s Market Share Report: 2012 FTTx, DSL, and CMTS Units, ZTE was the world’s leading vendor with 42 percent market share globally in shipments of PON optical line terminals (OLTs) in 2012, after the company shipped 1.72 million lines.
Based on Ovum’s data, ZTE also ranked first globally in shipments of optical network terminals (ONTs) and optical network units (ONUs) with 32 percent market share, after the company achieved shipments of more than 13 million lines. Ovum’s data showed that ZTE attained market leadership while the total number of OLT ports shipped declined between 2011 and 2012.
For many years, ZTE has been able to maintain annual growth rate of more than 30 percent in its PON business, thanks to the company’s commitment to technology innovation and the growth in investment in FTTx networks globally.
ZTE’s strong understanding of the market and superior technology has helped the company win contracts from the world’s main telecommunication operators as they build and optimize their optical networks, especially in the important markets of China, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America.
“ZTE’s leading position in the PON market is the result of broad recognition of our work from across the global telecommunications industry,” said Zhu Yongxing, GM of ZTE’s fixed-network products. “We will continue our efforts in innovation and service to develop our PON business, to support operators globally in building high-speed and intelligent broadband optical networks.”
Samsung turns up pressure on competition with pressure sensor in Galaxy S4
USA: With the introduction of the Galaxy S4, Samsung Electronics continues to lead the market in the adoption of pressure sensors in smartphones, paving the way for massive growth in the market for these devices in the coming years.
Global shipments of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors in cellphones are set to rise to 681 million units in 2016, up more than eightfold from 82 million in 2012, according to the IHS iSuppli MEMS & Sensors Service.
Shipments this year are expected to double to 162 million units, as presented in the attached figure, primarily due to Samsung’s usage of pressure sensors in the Galaxy S4 and other smartphone models.
“Samsung is the only major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) now using pressure sensors in all its flagship smartphone models,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, director and senior principal analyst for MEMS & sensors at IHS.
“The company appears to be slightly ahead of its time in its adoption of pressure sensors, even though the most compelling application—indoor navigation—is still not ready for deployment. However, Samsung seems to want to anticipate the start of this market and get a jump on the competition for pressure sensors. The pressure device represents just one component among a wealth of different sensors used in the S4.”
Pressure’s rising
Besides Samsung, few other OEMs have been using pressure sensors in smartphones. The only other smartphone OEMs to use pressure sensors in their products are Sony Mobile in a couple of models in 2012, and a few Chinese vendors, like Xiaomi.
Apple Inc., which pioneered the use of MEMS sensors in smartphones, does not employ pressure sensors at the moment in the iPhone. However, IHS expects Apple will start them in 2014, which will contribute to another doubling of the market in 2014 to 325 million units.
Applying pressure
Although pressure sensors aren’t very useful currently in the smartphones, they hold strong potential for the future.
The most interesting application now is the fast Global Positioning System (GPS) lock, wherein the GPS chipset can lock on to a satellite signal and calculate positions more quickly by using the pressure sensor to determine the smartphone’s altitude.
However, the most exciting use for pressure sensors in the future will be indoor navigation, an area with massive potential growth in retail and travel applications. Pressure sensors will provide the floor accuracy required to determine which level a user is on within a structure.
While the ecosystem is not yet fully in place for indoor location/navigation, IHS anticipates this market will reach a breakthrough in growth during the next 12 to 18 months. By this time, Samsung will have a considerable lead over Apple and other competitors in the installed base of pressure sensors in smartphones.
Samsung takes lead in smartphone MEMS sensors
Although Apple pioneered the usage of MEMS sensors in smartphones, and was the top consumer of these devices for many years, Samsung in 2012 took the lead from Apple for the first time. With Samsung expected to maintain hegemony in smartphone shipments in 2013 and the company loading up on the number of MEMS and other sensors in each smartphone that it ships, its lead in this area is is likely to continue to grow.
Given its emphasis on detecting and adapting to consumer lifestyles, the Galaxy S4 integrates a wealth of different sensors, including the accelerometer, RGB light, geomagnetic, proximity, gyroscope, barometer, gesture and even temperature and humidity varieties.
Sensor suppliers
While IHS has not yet conducted a physical teardown of the Galaxy S4, the IHS iSuppli MEMS & Sensors Service is able to anticipate the likely suppliers of these devices for the smartphone.
The pressure sensor in the S4 is made either by STMicroelectronics, as it was in the Galaxy S III; or by Bosch, like what was used in the Galaxy Note 1 and 2. Both companies are the only mass producers of these devices today for handsets.
And just as in the Samsung Galaxy S III, STMicroelectronics and yet another supplier, InvenSense, are expected to share the supply of the S4’s inertial measurement unit (IMU), which combines the accelerometer and gyroscope.
Meanwhile, the S4’s compass could be supplied by any one of three entities: by AKM—the same as the Galaxy S III; or by Yamaha—as was used in a previous member of the Galaxy smartphone line; or by Alps—which is an up-and-coming manufacturer in this area.
Maximum RGB
IHS expects that Samsung will continue to use an RGB sensor in the S4, as part of a combo device that aggregates RGB, proximity, and IR LED emitter, as it did in the Galaxy Note 2 and the Samsung S III. Samsung was the only user of such combo sensors in smartphones in 2012.
If the RGB sensor is installed on the side of the S4 display, it will be used to sense the color temperature of the room where it’s located, and adapt the contrast and colors on the display to enhance the viewing experience. Such RGB sensors are useful for high-end displays. Since the Galaxy S4 is expected to have full high-definition display—unlike the S3—the added value of having an RGB sensor might be more obvious and noticeable in the S4.
The RGB sensor also could be installed on the back the Galaxy S4 in conjunction with the camera module. This can help in taking better pictures by correcting the white balance.
Capella Microsystems is likely to be the RGB supplier, just as in the Galaxy S III. Other potential suppliers are ams-TAOS, Maxim and Hamamatsu.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Global shipments of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors in cellphones are set to rise to 681 million units in 2016, up more than eightfold from 82 million in 2012, according to the IHS iSuppli MEMS & Sensors Service.
Shipments this year are expected to double to 162 million units, as presented in the attached figure, primarily due to Samsung’s usage of pressure sensors in the Galaxy S4 and other smartphone models.
“Samsung is the only major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) now using pressure sensors in all its flagship smartphone models,” said Jérémie Bouchaud, director and senior principal analyst for MEMS & sensors at IHS.
“The company appears to be slightly ahead of its time in its adoption of pressure sensors, even though the most compelling application—indoor navigation—is still not ready for deployment. However, Samsung seems to want to anticipate the start of this market and get a jump on the competition for pressure sensors. The pressure device represents just one component among a wealth of different sensors used in the S4.”
Pressure’s rising
Besides Samsung, few other OEMs have been using pressure sensors in smartphones. The only other smartphone OEMs to use pressure sensors in their products are Sony Mobile in a couple of models in 2012, and a few Chinese vendors, like Xiaomi.
Apple Inc., which pioneered the use of MEMS sensors in smartphones, does not employ pressure sensors at the moment in the iPhone. However, IHS expects Apple will start them in 2014, which will contribute to another doubling of the market in 2014 to 325 million units.
Applying pressure
Although pressure sensors aren’t very useful currently in the smartphones, they hold strong potential for the future.
The most interesting application now is the fast Global Positioning System (GPS) lock, wherein the GPS chipset can lock on to a satellite signal and calculate positions more quickly by using the pressure sensor to determine the smartphone’s altitude.
However, the most exciting use for pressure sensors in the future will be indoor navigation, an area with massive potential growth in retail and travel applications. Pressure sensors will provide the floor accuracy required to determine which level a user is on within a structure.
While the ecosystem is not yet fully in place for indoor location/navigation, IHS anticipates this market will reach a breakthrough in growth during the next 12 to 18 months. By this time, Samsung will have a considerable lead over Apple and other competitors in the installed base of pressure sensors in smartphones.
Samsung takes lead in smartphone MEMS sensors
Although Apple pioneered the usage of MEMS sensors in smartphones, and was the top consumer of these devices for many years, Samsung in 2012 took the lead from Apple for the first time. With Samsung expected to maintain hegemony in smartphone shipments in 2013 and the company loading up on the number of MEMS and other sensors in each smartphone that it ships, its lead in this area is is likely to continue to grow.
Given its emphasis on detecting and adapting to consumer lifestyles, the Galaxy S4 integrates a wealth of different sensors, including the accelerometer, RGB light, geomagnetic, proximity, gyroscope, barometer, gesture and even temperature and humidity varieties.
Sensor suppliers
While IHS has not yet conducted a physical teardown of the Galaxy S4, the IHS iSuppli MEMS & Sensors Service is able to anticipate the likely suppliers of these devices for the smartphone.
The pressure sensor in the S4 is made either by STMicroelectronics, as it was in the Galaxy S III; or by Bosch, like what was used in the Galaxy Note 1 and 2. Both companies are the only mass producers of these devices today for handsets.
And just as in the Samsung Galaxy S III, STMicroelectronics and yet another supplier, InvenSense, are expected to share the supply of the S4’s inertial measurement unit (IMU), which combines the accelerometer and gyroscope.
Meanwhile, the S4’s compass could be supplied by any one of three entities: by AKM—the same as the Galaxy S III; or by Yamaha—as was used in a previous member of the Galaxy smartphone line; or by Alps—which is an up-and-coming manufacturer in this area.
Maximum RGB
IHS expects that Samsung will continue to use an RGB sensor in the S4, as part of a combo device that aggregates RGB, proximity, and IR LED emitter, as it did in the Galaxy Note 2 and the Samsung S III. Samsung was the only user of such combo sensors in smartphones in 2012.
If the RGB sensor is installed on the side of the S4 display, it will be used to sense the color temperature of the room where it’s located, and adapt the contrast and colors on the display to enhance the viewing experience. Such RGB sensors are useful for high-end displays. Since the Galaxy S4 is expected to have full high-definition display—unlike the S3—the added value of having an RGB sensor might be more obvious and noticeable in the S4.
The RGB sensor also could be installed on the back the Galaxy S4 in conjunction with the camera module. This can help in taking better pictures by correcting the white balance.
Capella Microsystems is likely to be the RGB supplier, just as in the Galaxy S III. Other potential suppliers are ams-TAOS, Maxim and Hamamatsu.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Samsung gets personal with Galaxy S4—boosting market share in 2013
USA: With a focus on lifestyle enhancement, the Galaxy S4 from Samsung Electronics transcends the smartphone’s traditional role as a mobile device and places it squarely in the realm of providing personal experiences, a development that stands to boost Samsung’s standing in the worldwide cellphone market.
In 2013, Samsung will extend its mobile handset market share lead over its nearest competitor to 11 percentage points compared with 2012, according to information and analytics provider IHS. In 2012, Samsung accounted for 29 percent of global mobile handset shipments.
“By describing the Galaxy S4 as a ‘Life Companion,’ Samsung is demonstrating awareness of a fundamental truth about the mobile market: Smartphones are all about personal experiences that stay with people throughout the day, not only mobile ones,” said Ian Fogg, director for mobile and telecommunications research at IHS.
“Making extensive use of Samsung’s technological prowess, the S4 can monitor events in users’ lives—and then react accordingly. From health features to an eye-, gesture- and voice-controlled user interface; to automotive, entertainment and financial characteristics, Samsung has designed the S4 to pervade and enhance every aspect of users’ lives. Combined with a massive worldwide rollout through almost every operator, the lifestyle focus of the S4 will help drive Samsung’s market share sharply in 2013.”
Starting at the end of April, the S4 will be sold by 327 operators and 155 countries.
Vertically unchallenged
Samsung has made extensive innovations with the software on the S4 in order to fully leverage the company’s vast portfolio of innovative hardware components.
Despite using Google's open-source Android operating system as a basis, Samsung's smartphones increasingly are becoming vertically integrated in terms of their software, hardware and services. Samsung combines components that it designs and manufactures, along with its optimized version of Android that takes advantage of new sensors and input mechanisms.
In the S4, this combination also offers superior security, with Samsung Knox security system, and connects with Samsung's own app store, wallet, video, music and games hubs.
“Samsung’s vertical integration of hardware and its own software services increasingly places it in competition with Google's own services such as Google Wallet and the Google Play app and digital content store,” Fogg said.
Health check
The S4 includes an extensive array of sensors to track user health and activity, a feature branded S Health.
These sensors include an accelerometer, RGB light, geomagnetic, proximity, gyroscope, barometer, gesture and even temperature and humidity.
S Health uses a combination of the sensors within the device to systematically and automatically monitor a user’s health, surroundings and other parameters to help improve quality of life. Also, users can easily check their health conditions using a food diary, an exercise diary and a sleep monitor to stay fit and healthy. Certain S Health functions are enabled by specific accessories.
Sensors and sensibility
Other S4 features that use these sensors include Samsung Smart Pause, which enables users to control the screen based on where they are looking. Another feature is Samsung Smart Scroll, which allows users to scroll the browser or to check emails up and down without touching the screen. Samsung Smart Scroll recognizes users’ faces and the movement of their wrists, and then scrolls the pages up or down accordingly.
Yet another sensor-enabled feature, Air View, allows users to hover with their fingers to preview the content of an email, the S Planner note-taking system, an image gallery, or video without having to open it. Finally, Air Gesture allows users to change the music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of their hand.
Lifestyle lineup
Additional lifestyle-oriented features in the S4 include VoiceTM Drive, which enables users to activate commands via voice control for optimization when driving.
Meanwhile, Samsung Optical Reader automatically recognizes text, a business card or QR code information, and provides useful functions such as translation, call, text message and search.
With Samsung WatchON, the GALAXY S4 will transform into an IR remote to control home entertainment systems, including a TV, set-top box, DVD player and even the air conditioner.
For its part, Samsung Adapt Display provides an optimal viewing experience, customized for each type of application.
Samsung Adapt Sound offers an optimal level and type of sound, personalized for each user.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
In 2013, Samsung will extend its mobile handset market share lead over its nearest competitor to 11 percentage points compared with 2012, according to information and analytics provider IHS. In 2012, Samsung accounted for 29 percent of global mobile handset shipments.
“By describing the Galaxy S4 as a ‘Life Companion,’ Samsung is demonstrating awareness of a fundamental truth about the mobile market: Smartphones are all about personal experiences that stay with people throughout the day, not only mobile ones,” said Ian Fogg, director for mobile and telecommunications research at IHS.
“Making extensive use of Samsung’s technological prowess, the S4 can monitor events in users’ lives—and then react accordingly. From health features to an eye-, gesture- and voice-controlled user interface; to automotive, entertainment and financial characteristics, Samsung has designed the S4 to pervade and enhance every aspect of users’ lives. Combined with a massive worldwide rollout through almost every operator, the lifestyle focus of the S4 will help drive Samsung’s market share sharply in 2013.”
Starting at the end of April, the S4 will be sold by 327 operators and 155 countries.
Vertically unchallenged
Samsung has made extensive innovations with the software on the S4 in order to fully leverage the company’s vast portfolio of innovative hardware components.
Despite using Google's open-source Android operating system as a basis, Samsung's smartphones increasingly are becoming vertically integrated in terms of their software, hardware and services. Samsung combines components that it designs and manufactures, along with its optimized version of Android that takes advantage of new sensors and input mechanisms.
In the S4, this combination also offers superior security, with Samsung Knox security system, and connects with Samsung's own app store, wallet, video, music and games hubs.
“Samsung’s vertical integration of hardware and its own software services increasingly places it in competition with Google's own services such as Google Wallet and the Google Play app and digital content store,” Fogg said.
Health check
The S4 includes an extensive array of sensors to track user health and activity, a feature branded S Health.
These sensors include an accelerometer, RGB light, geomagnetic, proximity, gyroscope, barometer, gesture and even temperature and humidity.
S Health uses a combination of the sensors within the device to systematically and automatically monitor a user’s health, surroundings and other parameters to help improve quality of life. Also, users can easily check their health conditions using a food diary, an exercise diary and a sleep monitor to stay fit and healthy. Certain S Health functions are enabled by specific accessories.
Sensors and sensibility
Other S4 features that use these sensors include Samsung Smart Pause, which enables users to control the screen based on where they are looking. Another feature is Samsung Smart Scroll, which allows users to scroll the browser or to check emails up and down without touching the screen. Samsung Smart Scroll recognizes users’ faces and the movement of their wrists, and then scrolls the pages up or down accordingly.
Yet another sensor-enabled feature, Air View, allows users to hover with their fingers to preview the content of an email, the S Planner note-taking system, an image gallery, or video without having to open it. Finally, Air Gesture allows users to change the music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with a wave of their hand.
Lifestyle lineup
Additional lifestyle-oriented features in the S4 include VoiceTM Drive, which enables users to activate commands via voice control for optimization when driving.
Meanwhile, Samsung Optical Reader automatically recognizes text, a business card or QR code information, and provides useful functions such as translation, call, text message and search.
With Samsung WatchON, the GALAXY S4 will transform into an IR remote to control home entertainment systems, including a TV, set-top box, DVD player and even the air conditioner.
For its part, Samsung Adapt Display provides an optimal viewing experience, customized for each type of application.
Samsung Adapt Sound offers an optimal level and type of sound, personalized for each user.
Source: IHS iSuppli, USA.
Halton Housing chooses 1st Touch
UK: Halton Housing Trust has chosen mobile workforce software from 1st Touch. The not-for-profit housing association, which was formed when Halton Borough Council transferred its housing stock in 2005, manages 6200 homes in the Cheshire Towns of Widnes and Runcorn.
By enhancing their customer interface and responsiveness, Halton Housing Trust believes that mobile workforce software can help them to meet their main objective of ‘Improving People’s Lives’. The intention is to roll the new mobile software out across all customer facing areas of the Trust. 1st Touch is already being used by approximately 25 of the responsive repairs maintenance technicians at the Trust.
Identifying new mobile solution
Prior to choosing 1st Touch, the Trust already had experience of mobile technology from a previous system they had used. However, the earlier software had a number of limitations. The decision was taken to identify a more flexible and scalable mobile solution that could grow with the Trust’s requirements and which was capable of being used across the organisation.
1st Touch was chosen as it has the ability to be deployed across different areas of the organisation as required. In addition, 1st Touch had already developed integration with the Trust’s new Aareon QL housing management system.
By enhancing their customer interface and responsiveness, Halton Housing Trust believes that mobile workforce software can help them to meet their main objective of ‘Improving People’s Lives’. The intention is to roll the new mobile software out across all customer facing areas of the Trust. 1st Touch is already being used by approximately 25 of the responsive repairs maintenance technicians at the Trust.
Identifying new mobile solution
Prior to choosing 1st Touch, the Trust already had experience of mobile technology from a previous system they had used. However, the earlier software had a number of limitations. The decision was taken to identify a more flexible and scalable mobile solution that could grow with the Trust’s requirements and which was capable of being used across the organisation.
1st Touch was chosen as it has the ability to be deployed across different areas of the organisation as required. In addition, 1st Touch had already developed integration with the Trust’s new Aareon QL housing management system.
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