Wireless Asia articles from July 2006

Wireless Asia archives from July 2006

Emerging markets, global players.(UNWIRED)
July 1, 2006... For vendors wondering about the success of China's equipment makers, or service providers looking at new rivals emerging from India, a new study by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) might help. The "New Global Challengers" report is a...

RBT brings digital music revolution to next level.
July 1, 2006... Even more than the iPod and similar MP3 digital music players, the mobile phone has now become the major driving force behind the ongoing digital music revolution. According to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry...

Local vendors lose out again as eMobile signs Huawei.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
July 1, 2006... The rollout of Japan's newest W-CDMA nationwide mobile network by eMobile, the new mobile subsidiary of leading DSL wholesaler eAccess Ltd, is gathering pace and causing not a few surprises and disappointments among vendors. eMobile...

HSDPA to hit stride by 2008.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S WIRELESS RESEARCH)
July 1, 2006... From a small base of less than one million at the end of 2006, the number of HSDPA connections in Western Europe is seen hitting 16.5 million by the end of 2008. Ovum says more UMTS operators will start deploying the high-speed wireless...

IMS not to take off until 2009.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S WIRELESS RESEARCH)
July 1, 2006... The lack of standards for IMS phones is seen further slowing the mass-market adoption of IMS functionality, allowing SIP-enabled handsets to penetrate the market faster. According to Disruptive Analysis, mass-market penetration, more than 20o,...

Limited viable mobile broadcasting options.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S WIRELESS RESEARCH)
July 1, 2006... While expectations are high for mobile TV and radio services, consumers are unlikely to spend a substantial amount on such services, significantly limiting the number of financially viable mobile broadcasting options. Analysys says mobile...

Navigation solutions migrate to handsets.(INSIGHT: ONE MONTH'S WIRELESS RESEARCH)
July 1, 2006... As more personal navigation devices (PND) become available, the handset-based personal navigation solutions market is expected to expand to 12 million units in Europe and the US by 2009. According to Berg Insight, PND shipments of on-board and...

3G sub base expands, but Aussie cellcos face margin squeeze.(NEWS ANALYSIS)
July 1, 2006... The number of Australian 3G and mobile subscribers is gaining momentum, and the revenues of the leading companies are up but tighter margins, a saturated market and strong competition have stalled profit growth in the country's mobile sector....

Mobile games come of age.(METRICS / Inside the wireless data numbers)
July 1, 2006... From merely being seen as the mobile version of console and PC games, mobile games have finally found a distinct identity and are expected to evolve even further in the coming years. According to Juniper Research, global revenue from mobile...

PCs vital to full-track music downloads.(METRICS / Inside the wireless data numbers)
July 1, 2006... While the advent of 3G has increased the download penetration of full-track music to mobile phones, UK users still prefer to transfer music from their PCs to their handsets instead of downloading over the air from an operator or a...

Nokia posts 43% growth in Q2 earnings boosted by rising sales of high-end phones and a settlement related to the sale of a Turkish operator.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Nokia posts 43% growth in Q2 earnings, boosted by rising sales of high-end phones and a settlement related to the sale of a Turkish operator. Net profit for the April-June period was 1.14b euros ($1.42b), up from 799m euros ($1b) last year.

Motorola's Q2 earnings jump 48% on the strength of record handset sales and shipments.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Motorola's Q2 earnings jump 48% on the strength of record handset sales and shipments. Net income was $1.38b, up from $933m a year earlier.

Ericsson posts a 2% drop in Q2 profits as it struggled to integrate the recent acquisition of Marconi.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Ericsson posts a 2% drop in Q2 profits as it struggled to integrate the recent acquisition of Marconi. Net profit was 5.71b kronor ($781m), down from 5.84b kronor ($767m) in the second quarter of 2005.

Sony Ericsson's Q2 earnings almost doubled largely due to continued strong sales of its popular Walkman music phones, and it raised its global market forecast for 2006.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Sony Ericsson's Q2 earnings almost doubled, largely due to continued strong sales of its popular Walkman music phones, and it raised its global market forecast for 2006. Net profit rose 91% to $182m in the three months ending June 30, up from...

The US International Trade Commission launches an investigation into whether Nokia and its US unit engaged in unfair trade practices and infringed.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... The US International Trade Commission launches an investigation into whether Nokia and its US unit engaged in unfair trade practices and infringed upon six Qualcomm patents.

Verizon Wireless obtains a permanent injunction blocking a Miami telemarketer from making automated calls to its customers.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Verizon Wireless obtains a permanent injunction blocking a Miami telemarketer from making automated calls to its customers. The injunction comes after Verizon Wireless reached an agreement with All Star Vacations and Marketing Group, which...

Vodafone Group plans to increase its 10% equity stake.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Vodafone Group plans to increase its 10% equity stake in Bharti Tele-Ventures.

The European Commission grants French telecoms authorities the right to regulate the wholesale price of mobile text messages.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... The European Commission grants French telecoms authorities the right to regulate the wholesale price of mobile text messages. The EU has approved a request to set the prices for SMS between the main mobile providers in France.

BenQ will cut 527 jobs in Germany.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... BenQ will cut 527 jobs in Germany as part of a restructuring to streamline its production and improve its competitiveness in the industry.

The number of HSDPA networks planned, in deployment or launched has reached 108 in 51 countries according to new survey data released the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA).(Movements)
July 1, 2006... The number of HSDPA networks planned, in deployment or launched has reached 108 in 51 countries according to new survey data released the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA). The GSA survey confirms 45 commercial HSDPA networks have been...

Toshiba will begin mass-production of microSD memory cards, the world's smallest, in September.(Movements)
July 1, 2006... Toshiba will begin mass-production of microSD memory cards, the world's smallest, in September, aiming to take market share amid strong demand for smaller cards.

The Ministry of Information Industry accuses 102 companies of illegal behavior in the country's wireless value-added services industry.(BEIJING)
July 1, 2006... The Ministry of Information Industry accuses 102 companies of illegal behavior in the country's wireless value-added services industry, the latest step in a renewed campaign to clean up the unruly sector.

China Mobile and China Unicom announce new billing rules for value-added services such as text messaging on a monthly basis rather than a per-message basis.(BEIJING)
July 1, 2006... China Mobile and China Unicom announce new billing rules for value-added services such as text messaging on a monthly basis rather than a per-message basis, a move which analysts say "will improve industrial competency"

Huawei Technologies and Motorola announce a new collaboration to bring UMTS and HSPA infrastructure equipment to customers worldwide.(SHENZHEN)
July 1, 2006... Huawei Technologies and Motorola announce a new collaboration to bring UMTS and HSPA infrastructure equipment to customers worldwide. Part of the venture includes the creation of a joint R&D center in China.

Telecom regulator OFTA issues a consultation paper to propose the elimination of regulations on fixed-mobile interconnection charges.(HONG KONG)
July 1, 2006... Telecom regulator OFTA issues a consultation paper to propose the elimination of regulations on fixed-mobile interconnection charges, which are currently imposed on mobile operators only.

Research In Motion expands its Hong Kong office as part of a major push into the Asia-Pacific region.(HONG KONG)
July 1, 2006... Research In Motion expands its Hong Kong office as part of a major push into the Asia-Pacific region, which will see the company add approximately ten more carrier partners in the region by the end of this year.

The National Telecommunications Commission rejects a request by True to provide 3G services via subsidiary .(BANGKOK)
July 1, 2006... The National Telecommunications Commission rejects a request by True to provide 3G services via subsidiary Samut Prakan Media on grounds that it has no network of its own with which to provide such a service.

DTAC reports a Q2 net profit of 1.2b baht ($31.6m), an increase of 11.3% from the previous year.(BANGKOK)
July 1, 2006... DTAC reports a Q2 net profit of 1.2b baht ($31.6m), an increase of 11.3% from the previous year. Service revenues in the Q2 rose 8.2% year-on-year to ll.3b baht ($300m), while EBITDA rose 6.1% to 4.4b baht ($60m).

The Energy, Water and Communications Ministry cancels a tender for WiMAX licenses, citing the lack of a provision calling for a nationwide rollout as a pre-requisite.(KUALA LUMPUR)
July 1, 2006... The Energy, Water and Communications Ministry cancels a tender for WiMAX licenses, citing the lack of a provision calling for a nationwide rollout as a pre-requisite. As such, the government will call for a new tender after consulting with...

Maxis plans to spend between $110m and $165m on capex for its 3G network next year.(KUALA LUMPUR)
July 1, 2006... Maxis plans to spend between $110m and $165m on capex for its 3G network next year. The investment will be used primarily for expanding Maxis' 3G network coverage and enhance quality of service.

LG Telecom loses its 3G license after the company opts not to develop the technology.(SEOUL)
July 1, 2006... LG Telecom loses its 3G license after the company opts not to develop the technology. The decision deals a blow to government plans to launch 2-GHz 3G wireless communication services based on CDMA technology this year.

SK Telecom plans to invest 193.5b won ($201m) from July to December.(SEOUL)
July 1, 2006... SK Telecom plans to invest 193.5b won ($201m) from July to December to enhance service quality for customers of its CDMA and WiBro services.

Chunghwa Telecom plans to invest NT$8b to NT$10b ($244m to $305m).(TAIPEI)
July 1, 2006... Chunghwa Telecom plans to invest NT$8b to NT$10b ($244m to $305m) in its 3G business over the next two to three years.

Far EasTone is testing an HSDPA card supplied by Option NV and Sierra Wireless.(TAIPEI)
July 1, 2006... Far EasTone is testing an HSDPA card supplied by Option NV and Sierra Wireless through technological cooperation with Ericsson.

KDDI profits climb 44% in the April-June quarter on rising sales, but the company forecasts overall earnings to slide this year due to its weak fixed-line business.(TOKYO)
July 1, 2006... KDDI profits climb 44% in the April-June quarter on rising sales, but the company forecasts overall earnings to slide this year due to its weak fixed-line business. Net income jumped to 75.65b yen ($652.2m) in the three months ended June 30,...

Motorola joins forces with Softbank to hunch 2.5-GHz WiMAX mobility trials in Japan.(TOKYO)
July 1, 2006... Motorola joins forces with Softbank to hunch 2.5-GHz WiMAX mobility trials in Japan. Under the deal, Motorola is supplying an end-to-end trial system including access points, an access network and prototype WiMAX mobile handheld devices.

Mobile Broadcasting and Sapporo-based taxi company Daikoku Kotsu unveil MobaHO!(TOKYO)
July 1, 2006... Mobile Broadcasting and Sapporo-based taxi company Daikoku Kotsu unveil MobaHO!, the world's first satellite digital multimedia broadcasting service for personal and mobile device use, for taxi customers.

TelstraClear is planning to spend NZ$50 m ($31m) to develop its 3G network.(WELLINGTON)
July 1, 2006... TelstraClear is planning to spend NZ$50 m ($31m) to develop its 3G network. The company will begin building a 3G network in the provincial town of Tauranga on New Zealand's North Island early next year, with an eye to rolling out a national...

Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, plans to step down as group CEO of SingTel once a successor is found.(SINGAPORE)
July 1, 2006... Lee Hsien Yang, the younger brother of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, plans to step down as group CEO of SingTel once a successor is found. The company gives no reason for Lee's resignation.

M1 awards Nokia a S$41m ($26m) contract to upgrade its W-CDMA network to HSDPA.(SINGAPORE)
July 1, 2006... M1 awards Nokia a S$41m ($26m) contract to upgrade its W-CDMA network to HSDPA. Nokia will also expand M1's 3G network coverage.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) orders all telecom operators.(NEW DELHI)
July 1, 2006... The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) orders all telecom operators to comply with the national numbering plan and stop using prohibited levels for short codes for SMS.

TRAI proposes a new plan for SMS interconnect usage charges, under which an operator from whose network the SMS originates is required to pay a charge to the operator hosting the receiving subscriber.(NEW DELHI)
July 1, 2006... TRAI proposes a new plan for SMS interconnect usage charges, under which an operator from whose network the SMS originates is required to pay a charge to the operator hosting the receiving subscriber. Most operators, however, opposed the new...

Watching mobile TV: service providers worldwide are gearing up to offer mobile TV, but they face a plethora technology choices that are ultimately going to be determined more by market forces and spectrum availability than by technological merit.(Cover story)
July 1, 2006... Mobile TV services may still be in the early adopter phase, but service providers around the world are scrambling to map plans to capitalize on the latest developing revenue opportunity. At the vanguard of the mobile TV push is South Korea,...

Service assurance from the customer POV: increasing service complexity and competition are driving the need for cellcos to adopt a customer--centric service assurance process to differentiate themselves and reduce churn.(SERVICES)
July 1, 2006... As Asia's mobile markets continue to grow and become increasingly competitive, cellcos are faced with the challenge of increasing revenues via new next-generation services while differentiating themselves in a way that increases customer...

Making the internet "to go": Padmasree Warrior, Motorola's executive vice president and CTO, directs the company's $3.5 billion RE&D efforts and Motorola Labs, the global software group and emerging early-stage businesses. She tells Wireless Asia SEA bureau chief Raymond Tan about how she is driving innovation and technology commercialization for the company.(1-2-1)
July 1, 2006... Wireless Asia: What are the main drivers of Motorola's technology strategy? Padmasree Warrior: There are several trends driving change in the communications industry. The first is digitization. It is now easy to packetize information, be...

3G builds momentum.(WIRELESS)
July 1, 2006... More rapid migration to 3G services is a now global phenomenon, with many of positive underlying trends, such as 3G-based packages forming a greater percentage of the overall mix, 3G handsets continuing to improve and certain services such as...

New BlackBerry service for SMBs.(tools)
July 1, 2006... Research In Motion has launched the Hosted BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which enables service providers to offer a hosted, managed version of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution. Hosted BlackBerry Enterprise Server incorporates complete...

Converged VAS solution.(tools)
July 1, 2006... Telenity has added video services to its Canvas Converged Value Added Services Solution, which includes enhanced multimedia content as well as integrated messaging and location-based services. According to Telenity, it provides enhanced...

OMA approves PoC standard.(tools)
July 1, 2006... The Open Mobile Alliance has announced the availability of OMA Push to Talk over Cellular 1.0 as an Approved Enabler Release (OMA PoC 1.0). The spec cooperates mainly with two other Enabler Release specifications: OMA XML Document Management...

MobiForms certified for IBM 19.(tools)
July 1, 2006... The latest release of the mobile development tool MobiForms (v.3.02) is certified with the IBM J9 lava environment - alternatively known as the WebSphere Everyplace Micro Environment. J9 gives Java support for MobiForms on Pocket PC, Windows...

Skype: now with SMS.(out now)
July 1, 2006... Skype users can now send SMS messages to mobile phones directly from their keyboard, via a deal between Skype and Mobile 365. Skype SMSs are sent via Mobile 365's global inter-operator network to over 60 countries. Users can pay for SMSs they...

Singapore's first mobile gaming competition.(out now)
July 1, 2006... Mobile and online entertainment content aggregator WooWorld has chosen Spin3's SpinFone system to offer the first mobile gaming competition in Singapore. Mobile gainers can download WooWorld's WowBoss casino games via premium SMS and compete...

ZTE chooses Bitfone device management suite.(deals)
July 1, 2006... ZTE has chosen Bitfone's Device Management Client Suite to fulfill its device requirements from both domestic and international operators. The suite, which comprises Bitfone's mProve and MVA solutions, allows users of ZTE's mobile devices to...

Integrated mobile phone platform.(deals)
July 1, 2006... KDDI and Qualcomm are jointly developing an integrated mobile phone platform that will encourage commonality among handset manufacturers. The new platform is not limited to basic applications, but expands the range of commonality for mobile...

Boosting content uptake, consumption.(deals)
July 1, 2006... Glenayre Messaging has teamed up with End2End for the Active Messaging content offering, which will enable mobile operators to transform voice or video mailboxes into a marketing and distribution channel. Active Messaging provides operators...

Keyword search for i-mode.(out now)
July 1, 2006... Starting in October, users of NTT DoCoMo's i-mode service can perform keyword searches from the top page of the Japanese iMenu portal, giving them convenient access to official i-mode sites. The search results page will also provide links to...

Web site for best roaming tariffs.(out now)
July 1, 2006... GSM Europe, the European arm of the GSM Association, has launched a Web site showing European mobile phone users the best up-to-date voice and SMS roaming tariffs from 75 operators across the European Union when traveling abroad. Available in...

Globe G-Cash goes regional.(out now)
July 1, 2006... The Bridge Mobile Alliance and Globe Telecom's GXchange have collaborated to develop a regional mobile payment service based on Globe's GCash solution will enable overseas Filipino workers in Bridge Mobile Alliance member-operator territories...

Indonesian mobile gaming community.(out now)
July 1, 2006... Nextnation Communication subsidiaries Ozura and Nextnation Prisma have partnered with telco Indosat to launch GameWar, Indonesia's first mobile gaming community, where mobile users can download games, compete in game tournaments and win...

'3' Group teams up with Yahoo.(deals)
July 1, 2006... 3 Group has forged an alliance with Yahoo! to offer key Internet services such as Yahoo! Search, Yahoo! Mobile Web, Yahoo! Messenger, Yahoo! Mail and Yahoo! Go for Mobile on 3's networks around the world. The companies also plan to make...

UMA-enabled handset partnership.(deals)
July 1, 2006... Shanghai Simcom and Kineto Wireless have joined forces to develop Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA)-enabled mobile handsets. Under the partnership, Simcom will integrate Kineto Wireless' UMA client software into dual-mode (GSM/EDGE and Wi-Fi)...

China's first NFC trial.(deals)
July 1, 2006... Philips, Nokia, China Mobile's Xiamen office and Xiamen eTong Card have launched China's first near field communication (NFC) trial. One hundred participants have been selected to use a Nokia 3220 mobile phone to conduct secure electronic...

There's always time for laundry.(this month's model)
July 1, 2006... Six years ago, everyone was making jokes about Internet refrigerators. Today, the first Internet washing machines are-being put through their paces. Whirlpool launched a trial last month of "smart" washing machines and dryers in a pilot...

HSDPA turns cellcos into dumb-pipe ISPs.(STREETWISE)
July 1, 2006... Despite the fact that many operators only started their 3G services last year, many have already upgraded their capabilities to HSDPA, allowing enhanced mobile data access of up to 1.8 Mbps. That is quite an accomplishment given the fact that...

Too much of a good thing.(SHORT MESSAGE: Around the wireless industry)
July 1, 2006... Korean handset makers Samsung and LG Electronics are reportedly losing their respective bids for world handset domination as their overseas market shares decline. The latest figures from IDC show Samsung's Q2 market share slipping from 12.5% to...

Be my hero.(SHORT MESSAGE: Around the wireless industry)
July 1, 2006... Short massage's new favorite handset is a new model from Samsung India touted as India's first "Anti-theft Mobile Tracker and Emergency SOS Alert CDMA phone." If phone is stolen, and the number replaced, the handset automatically and...

Broken phones and faulty users.(SHORT MESSAGE: Around the wireless industry)
July 1, 2006... More evidence that mobile handset makers aren't keeping it simple enough for the end-users: the majority of mobile devices that customers return as faulty are in fact in perfect working order. That's according to a report from WDS Global,...

SMS goes to war.(SHORT MESSAGE: Around the wireless industry)
July 1, 2006... At press time, Israel's offensive against Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon was still ongoing. And as the conflict has unfolded, text messaging has been playing a key role for foreign nationals caught in the crossfire. According to Swedish...