October 31, 2008
Intel has announced plans to back Taiwan's WiMax network with an investment of NT$386 million ($11.7 million). The venture capital arm of Intel will invest the money in Taiwan-based network operator VMAX, one of a number of companies in the country building the new 4G WiMax infrastructure. With Intel's investment, VMAX plans to become the first company in Taiwan to offer 4G ...
Intel back WiMax as wireless broadband standard
by David MastersIntel has announced plans to back Taiwan's WiMax network with an investment of NT$386 million ($11.7 million). The venture capital arm of Intel will invest the money in Taiwan-based network operator VMAX, one of a number of companies in the country building the new 4G WiMax infrastructure. With Intel's investment, VMAX plans to become the first company in Taiwan to offer 4G ...
O2 redesigns retail stores
by David MastersO2 has announced plans to revamp its retail outlets to make them more customer friendly. The Retail Transformation Programme will enable the operator to improve customer service in its stores and offer a wider variety of products, including netbooks and laptops. O2 said the aim of the programme is to change the public's perception of mobile retailing, making it convenient, accessible, and ...
Vodafone agrees partnership with Russian network
by David MastersTelecoms giant Vodafone plans to enter the Russian market through a new partnership with the country's largest mobile operator. UK-based Vodafone and Moscow-based Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) will work together developing new technologies. In addition, MTS will be granted exclusive access to Vodafone branded products, services and devices in the regions where it operates. These include Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Armenia. Handsets ...
Go Green with Unified Communications
by Alan HartenSlowly but surely IT companies are finding that other companies they wish to do business with, want to know their green credentials before entering into agreements. The computer world is not known for its environmentally friendly credentials but many other UK companies are moving towards a more carbon neutral way of doing business. Part of this greener business model is to know ...
October 30, 2008
Taiwan-based Asustek, makers of the popular Asus Eee netbook, have revealed plans to release a smartphone running Google's Android operating system in early 2009. The device will initially be released in Taiwan, with Asustek aiming for an optimistic 20% share of the Taiwanese market by the end of 2009. Asustek will use hardware from Qualcomm and Marvell to build the handset, phasing ...
Asustek to release Android smartphone
by David MastersTaiwan-based Asustek, makers of the popular Asus Eee netbook, have revealed plans to release a smartphone running Google's Android operating system in early 2009. The device will initially be released in Taiwan, with Asustek aiming for an optimistic 20% share of the Taiwanese market by the end of 2009. Asustek will use hardware from Qualcomm and Marvell to build the handset, phasing ...
October 29, 2008
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been investing complaints about Vodafone adverts which claim that the company’s mobile broadband service is the most reliable and fastest available and is light years ahead of the competition. The adverts generated complaints from the general public and also from mobile operators 3 and T-Mobile. The complaints were upheld by the ASA, although ...
Vodafone reveals basis for mobile broadband ad
by Jan HarrisThe UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has been investing complaints about Vodafone adverts which claim that the company’s mobile broadband service is the most reliable and fastest available and is light years ahead of the competition. The adverts generated complaints from the general public and also from mobile operators 3 and T-Mobile. The complaints were upheld by the ASA, although ...
October 28, 2008
iSuppli this week released its teardown data for the new Blackberry Bold, revealing that the $300 smartphone costs around $170 to make. After dismantling the handset, iSuppli estimates that parts, labour and testing cost around 57% of the phone's sale price. iSuppli calls this a healthy margin for Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM). However, the cost of the Bold is significantly higher ...
iSuppli teardown reveals Blackberry Bold costs $170
by David MastersiSuppli this week released its teardown data for the new Blackberry Bold, revealing that the $300 smartphone costs around $170 to make. After dismantling the handset, iSuppli estimates that parts, labour and testing cost around 57% of the phone's sale price. iSuppli calls this a healthy margin for Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM). However, the cost of the Bold is significantly higher ...
October 27, 2008
Network operator Orange has sold out of 'free' laptops in stores across the UK. The company's retail director said sales of the subsidised laptops that come with Orange USB mobile broadband dongles have been 'amazing'. Orange started selling subsidised laptops in August. The first model it sold was the Asus Eee PC netbook, which came free on Orange's 24 month Internet ...
‘Free’ Orange laptops sold out
by David MastersNetwork operator Orange has sold out of 'free' laptops in stores across the UK. The company's retail director said sales of the subsidised laptops that come with Orange USB mobile broadband dongles have been 'amazing'. Orange started selling subsidised laptops in August. The first model it sold was the Asus Eee PC netbook, which came free on Orange's 24 month Internet ...
Vodafone calls for 3G delay in India
by David MastersVodafone has requested that the upcoming auction for 3G operating licenses in India be put on hold because of the credit crunch. The world's largest private telecoms group is putting pressure on the Indian government to postpone the auction until early 2009 so that it is able to raise adequate funds. Neil Gough, Vodafone's director of public policy in emerging markets, said ...
MediaTek opens US HQ
by David MastersFabless integrated circuit (IC) designer, MediaTek, has opened its new US wireless headquarters in Woburn, near Boston, USA. The Taiwan-based company has been expanding its international operations in recent years to boost growth and attract world class talent. Its new facility in Boston will house staff that have moved to the company from recently acquired units bought from Analog Devices Incorporated ...
October 24, 2008
A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application has been released for Google's Android operating system. The software, called iSkoot for Skype, means that owners of the new T-Mobile G1 Android handset can make low-cost international telephone calls. iSkoot calls can be made whether or not Wi-Fi or 3G network access is available. Calls via iSkoot over standard networks do use up some airtime ...
VoIP software released for Android
by David MastersA Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application has been released for Google's Android operating system. The software, called iSkoot for Skype, means that owners of the new T-Mobile G1 Android handset can make low-cost international telephone calls. iSkoot calls can be made whether or not Wi-Fi or 3G network access is available. Calls via iSkoot over standard networks do use up some airtime ...
USwitch highlights broadband usage confusion
by Jan HarrisA new survey carried out by consumer group USwitch has found that one million UK consumers have either exceeded or nearly exceeded their broadband usage limit. Most ISPs set a cap on the amount of monthly bandwith available, depending on which package a customer chooses. However, the research found that this causes confusion as some services which are actually advertised ...
October 23, 2008
Network operator Orange is offering free broadband to small businesses signing up to its Orange Solo mobile phone tariff. The Solo tariff, designed for self-employed workers, costs £30 per month and will now come with free unlimited 8Mbps fixed-line broadband for business. A 24-month contract on the Solo tariff includes 600 minutes of calls per month and unlimited texts. Customers signing up ...
Free Orange broadband for business customers
by David MastersNetwork operator Orange is offering free broadband to small businesses signing up to its Orange Solo mobile phone tariff. The Solo tariff, designed for self-employed workers, costs £30 per month and will now come with free unlimited 8Mbps fixed-line broadband for business. A 24-month contract on the Solo tariff includes 600 minutes of calls per month and unlimited texts. Customers signing up ...
Altran Will Use Rhino for Telco Apps
by Alan HartenPerson-to-person communication and multimedia platform, Rhino from OpenCloud, is to be utilized by Spanish company Altran to aid in its development of telecommunication applications. Once developed, Altran will then provide both reseller services and systems integration to both companies’ customers. The arrangement should benefit both companies by giving them new options in sales of person-to-person communications. Altran has the expertise to develop ...
October 22, 2008
India-based telecoms software provider, Tech Mahindra, has reported its quarterly results, with profits up 67% on year. The company, whose biggest customer is BT, reported net profit for the three months ending 30th September of 3.03 billion rupees on revenue of 11.65 billion rupees. Business from Europe contributed to 69% of the revenues, whilst US business contributed 23%. Chief Financial Officer, Sonjoy Anand, ...
Tech Mahindra profits up 67%
by David MastersIndia-based telecoms software provider, Tech Mahindra, has reported its quarterly results, with profits up 67% on year. The company, whose biggest customer is BT, reported net profit for the three months ending 30th September of 3.03 billion rupees on revenue of 11.65 billion rupees. Business from Europe contributed to 69% of the revenues, whilst US business contributed 23%. Chief Financial Officer, Sonjoy Anand, ...
October 21, 2008
British Telecom has teamed up with mobile operator Vodafone to offer its small business customers mobile broadband internet access. BT Business Mobile Broadband is available as a stand alone package for £17.50 + VAT per month, or bundled for free alongside BT Business Total Broadband package options 2 and 3. Option 2 costs £26.99 + VAT per month, whilst Option 3 costs ...
BT launches mobile broadband
by David MastersBritish Telecom has teamed up with mobile operator Vodafone to offer its small business customers mobile broadband internet access. BT Business Mobile Broadband is available as a stand alone package for £17.50 + VAT per month, or bundled for free alongside BT Business Total Broadband package options 2 and 3. Option 2 costs £26.99 + VAT per month, whilst Option 3 costs ...
iPhone subsidies damage operator profits
by David MastersSubsidising the Apple iPhone to sell for just $200 has taken its toll on US network operator AT&T, with profit margins expected to drop significantly when it announces its third quarter results later this month. Other US networks, including Verizon and Sprint, have also felt the pinch as they were forced to increase subsidies on high-end smartphones to compete with AT&T's ...
Sony Ericsson reports difficult Q3
by David MastersHandset maker, Sony Ericsson, has reported its results for the third quarter, revealing the worst quarterly performance for five years. Worldwide sales of Sony Ericsson's handsets fell 10% on year, resulting in a quarterly net loss of €25 million. This is compared to quarterly profit of €267 million in the third quarter of 2007. The loss was not as bad as analysts had ...
Logia Asia Signs New Exec for Asia Expansion
by Alan HartenIndia is now largest mobile market in the rapidly expanding Asian Pacific region. A quarter of a billion subscribers use their mobiles every day including more than 10 million who access the Internet via handheld devices. Over the next 2 1/2 years that market is expected to double in size to 500,000,000. Alongside this, the Mobile VAS market is predicted ...
October 20, 2008
Sweden-based telecoms manufacturer, Ericsson, is working with chipset provider, Intel, to put cutting edge mobile broadband technology into handheld devices. The two companies are collaborating to put HSPA mobile data solutions inside Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), expanding Ericsson's 3.5G mobile broadband product range. MIDs are pocket sized devices that offer a PC style internet experience. They incorporate entertainment and media with GPS navigation, ...
Ericsson and Intel to release cutting edge MID
by David MastersSweden-based telecoms manufacturer, Ericsson, is working with chipset provider, Intel, to put cutting edge mobile broadband technology into handheld devices. The two companies are collaborating to put HSPA mobile data solutions inside Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), expanding Ericsson's 3.5G mobile broadband product range. MIDs are pocket sized devices that offer a PC style internet experience. They incorporate entertainment and media with GPS navigation, ...
