- Week summary
- General wireless data market related news
- Carriers news
- Wireless data related middleware vendors news
- Terminal development for mobile data
- Vendors of software for client wireless devices news
- Mobile application related news
- Application outsourcing and hosting news
- News about financing for wireless data businesses
- News about trade shows and conferences
| * - Star sign marks especially important (from the editor's point of view) news items and is also a link to the next important news item. |
Week summary |
- Quite a lot of announcements during CES but not so many interesting ones related to mobile. Yahoo! strongly advances its' mobile push. Skype says that it will sincerely work on mobile networks only when there will be an era of flat rate data and meanwhile confirms that on 3 it is working on phone through voice channel.
- Visa launches mobile payment platform.
- And a lot of new device announcements. Of notice - new model from OQO, a pioneer in pocketable Windows-capable PCs. New music phones from Motorola. New Windows-based UMTS Treo 750 - though with roughly same capabilities as previous ones. Phone-embeddable projectors from
Microvision. Updated versions of N7x and N9x phones from Nokia - plus new Internet tablet N800 that has videophone camera, two SD slots and is not fast enough to support Skype.
- And - finally - Apple iPhone. Essentially - a nicely designed music player with which you will not miss your phone calls. Nothing less, not much more and not really expandable for now. I'd not buy one but I look at it from phone side. Oh, yes - and you do not need a stylus, but e.g. Nokia Internet Tablet provides a similar finger-based player interface.
- Meanwhile mdog.com, featured in previous issue, now offers not only blog-posting but also access to transaction sites such as eBay and MySpace. Probably their transaction engine is good, at least it works for me.
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This section lists all breaking wireless data related news that do not belong to any particular section (or should belong to multiple) as well as to general reviews of interest.
| PELORUS Group: Contactless Cards, m-Payments, And Biometric Payments To Enjoy Solid Growth Original news source |
| Three emerging payment alternatives to the traditional magnetic stripe credit/debit card payments regime, when combined, hold the potential to significantly alter the payment landscape. Contactless credit and debit card payments (sometimes called proximity payments), mobile payments (m-Payments) and biometrically authenticated payments will each levy its own unique impact over the next five years. Together, they could garner over $400 billion in revenue by 2011.
According to a new report from The PELORUS Group entitled "Alternative Payments: Changing The Rules", several drivers are converging to increase the demand for new payment alternatives. Whether with brick and mortar or Internet payments, the speed and convenience needs of consumers, and their need and desire for alternative payment form factors, and merchant needs to retain customer loyalty are important drivers altering payment habits and methods. Moreover, the continuing need for security when making payments is driving both technical and payments innovation, as is the need by a large segment of the population for more real-time information on balances. Payments other than by cash are being made across increasingly diverse payments applications, such as for parking, vending, mass transit and other micropayments. Finally, the large number of unbanked and underbanked consumers in the U.S. and worldwide have payment needs not being fully met by traditional card based payment systems. |
| Acacia Research Group: Global Mobile Media Spending Will Approach $100 Billion By 2011 Original news source |
| Media for mobile devices will generate $98.6 billion worldwide by 2011, according to Acacia Research Group’s latest market study Mobile Media 2006: The Future of Personal Media Distribution. That is larger than 2006 worldwide box office receipts, packaged audio sales, or basic pay TV subscriptions.
By 2011, the number of media-capable mobile devices worldwide - including media phones, personal media players, and handheld gaming devices - will have grown to more than 3.2 billion. Total device shipments will near a record 1.1 billion that year.
Media-enabled phones will lead the way, with more than 2.2 billion handsets capable of advanced audio playback, 1.2 billion video-capable handsets, and 1.1 billion 3D-enabled handsets in use worldwide by 2011. Personal audio and video players will reach more than 835 million and handheld gaming devices will top 239 million that year. |
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This section lists news about innovative and competitive usage of wireless data by network carriers.
| Verizon Revolutionizes TV at Home and on Mobile Phones Original news source |
| Verizon Telecom introduced FiOS digital media new interactive program guide and a platform that offers the company's growing base of FiOS TV customers a myriad of multimedia applications linking television, the Internet, personal computers and phones. Both will be available in the first half of 2007. At the same time, Verizon Wireless raised the curtain on V CAST Mobile TV, unrivalled as the first true mobile TV service in the nation, which is expected to be available in the first quarter of 2007. |
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This section lists breaking news from companies which provide middleware used by carriers and software developers to offer access to diversified corporate data.
| Cardinal and SafeNet Partner for Secure Mobile TV Original news source |
| SafeNet, Inc.,specialist in information security, and Cardinal Information Systems, Ltd., provider of software-based digital broadcasting solutions, announced the availability of a complete solution for secure mobile TV. The combination of Cardinal's Playout broadcasting system and SafeNet's DRM Fusion Toolkit4TV will enable end-users to access on-demand broadcast content on mobile devices while securing rights and revenue for the content owners. By providing immediate delivery, and supporting tests and trials, as well as operational deployment, the integrated solution offered by SafeNet and Cardinal addresses the before-mentioned demands of both operators and phone manufacturers. |
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This section lists breaking news from companies which manufacture actual end user wireless devices (phones, pagers, PDAs etc.), as well as other information relevant to such companies.
| * Palm Delivers the Treo 750 Smart Device Original news source |
| Palm, Inc. and Cingular Wireless announced the first Palm Treo smart device running on Cingular's 3G/UMTS network, providing mobile professionals with an exceptional phone experience and blazing-fast download speeds in U.S. markets and in dozens of countries around the world. The highly anticipated Treo 750 five-band world phone running Windows Mobile 5.0 with Direct Push Technology offers Palm's exclusive usability improvements with powerful business features, including email, security, and web access on the go. The Treo 750 combines the Palm experience of a multifunction mobile phone with email, messaging, web browsing, organization software and a robust application portfolio with Cingular's next-generation 3G network. Its new compact design features an internal antenna, soft-touch finish, and contoured edges to make it comfortable in the hand. The Treo 750 also has a full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a bright 240x240 touch screen and support for Bluetooth stereo headsets. The built-in 60MB of user-available storage can be enhanced by using the miniSD slot to add memory cards of up to 2GB, which are great for storing data, photos, music and video. |
| * Microvision To Demonstrate Breakthrough Ultra-Miniature ''Thin Mint'' Candy Sized Projection Display for Mobile Devices Original news source |
| Microvision, specialist in light scanning technologies for display and imaging products, announced that it will unveil an ultra-thin, miniature full-color projection display that is small enough to be embedded in portable hand-held devices including mobile phones. The miniature projection display prototype, based on Microvision's proprietary Integrated Photonics Module (IPM), has been developed to deliver mobile users worldwide a large screen viewing experience inside a thin and sleek portable package. |
| * OQO unveils the model 02 ultra mobile PC Original news source |
| Weighing a mere one pound and small enough to fit in a pocket, the model 02 is the world’s smallest Windows Vista capable computer. The model 02 is up to four times faster and has a display more than six times brighter than its groundbreaking predecessor, the model 01+. Redesigned from the ground up, the model 02 features a new ergonomic backlit keyboard and capacitive TouchScrollers for easy input and navigation. The model 02 incorporates complete wireless connectivity – including EV-DO Wireless WAN, WiFi, and Bluetooth – ensuring the user has high speed and uncompromised access to the internet, email, and networked applications. With prices starting at just $1,499, the model 02 lineup can be customized to fit the needs of each user or organization. The model 02 is available with a 1.5GHz processor, 60GB hard disk drive, 1GB of RAM, and integrated mobile broadband data capability. Every model 02 is configured with OQO’s software that provides one touch access to many of the computer’s settings and functions including the ability to change screen resolution on-the-fly with dedicated zoom keys. |
| Walkman phone for everyone Original news source |
| The appeal of the Sony Ericsson Walkman phone broadens with the introduction of the W200; a blend of easy-to-use mobile phone and the key features needed to make a first step into ‘music on your mobile’.
With the W200 Walkman phone you can store up to 37 full length tracks (or about four albums) and it’s easy to replace them when it’s time for a change. Simply transfer music from your PC with the Disc2Phone music management software supplied. This latest addition to Sony Ericsson’s musical family will be available in two renowned Walkman phone colours (Rhythm Black & Pulse White) and has stamina for up to 18 hours of music listening. |
| * Motorola Launches Latest Innovations Uniting Music, Media and Mobility Original news source |
| From music-optimized devices and accessories to new services that help you discover your next must-hear, must-have and must-share tune, Motorola brings the latest innovations in the union of music, media and mobility with its new MOTOMUSIC platform including new Linux-based devices. Also new phone-based navigation and location-based services and products are announced. |
| * Nokia Shares Vision of Convergence with New Internet Collaborations, New Products Original news source |
| Nokia Nseries gets trimmer in 2007 with the Nokia N76. Take the internet to new places - the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet</strong>. Skype and Nokia to develop novel Internet-calling experience. Unleash your story in video with the Nokia N93i. Nokia 6131 NFC phone taps into mobile payment, ticketing and local sharing. |
| * Apple Reinvents the Phone With iPhone Original news source |
| Apple introduced iPhone, combining three products-a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and an Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps-into one small and lightweight handheld device. iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting users control iPhone with just their fingers. iPhone also ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones. |
| Skype Advances the Future of Internet Communications Original news source |
| Skype, the global Internet communications company, is setting conversations free at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show with the announcement of new devices and accessories that improve the Skype experience for consumers and small business users regardless of where they’re located – at home, at work or on the move.
As part of Skype’s efforts to bring more flexibility to communications, the company unveiled twelve new Skype Certified devices and accessories in a press conference today, many of which eliminate the need for a PC to make Internet-based Skype calls. The new devices and accessories, from leading consumer electronics manufacturers ASUS, IPEVO, NETGEAR, Philips and TOPCOM add to the more than 150 Skype Certified products already available worldwide.
The latest hardware announcement comes on the heels of the company’s release last month of its new Skype 3.0 software, which provides Skype users with even simpler and easier ways to talk to one another, as well as new range of richer communications features designed to bring together users who share similar interests. Some of these new features include community-led text chat and discussion (Public Chats), live moderated conversations (Skypecasts) and the ability to play games and collaborate with other Skype users (Skype Extras). Skype is debuting two new wirelss phones, including: NETGEAR’s Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) – This dual-mode DECT cordless phone simultaneously connects to a user’s home network router and phone line wall jack, enabling users to place and receive both traditional phone calls and Skype Internet calls from a single cordless handset without needing to be tethered to a PC. Philips’ VoIP841 Cordless Phone – This advanced DECT cordless phone harnesses the power of Internet calling via Skype without requiring a PC. Winner of a CES Innovation Award for its outstanding design and best-in-class feature set, the VoIP841 allows users to make and receive both free Skype Internet calls and traditional landline calls simply by connecting an Ethernet cable and phone line to the phone’s base. |
| Infineon and Global Locate Develop World’s Smallest GPS Receiver Original news source |
| Infineon Technologies AG and Global Locate, Inc. announced the successful development of the industry’s smallest Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver chip for mobile telephones, smart phones and personal navigation devices.
Based on the successful Hammerhead chip, the new Hammerhead II chip is optimized for cellular handsets and mobile devices requiring high performance, low power and an extremely small footprint. The diminutive single-die chip measures only 3.74 mm x 3.59 mm x 0.6 mm, for a total footprint of less than 14 mm², resulting in the world’s smallest GPS receiver.
The Hammerhead II GPS receiver includes LNA, RF down-converter and signal processing baseband technology on a single RFCMOS die. The device utilizes state-of-the-art chip scale packaging technology, resulting in the most compact dimensions. The package features a 49-contact Ball Grid Array, further simplifying layout and assembly. |
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This section lists breaking news from companies which provide client software that runs in end user wireless devices (phones, pagers, PDAs etc.).
| * Yahoo! Ushers in New Era in Mobile Internet Services With Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 Original news source |
| Yahoo! Inc. launched a beta version of Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2007 in Las Vegas. Yahoo! Go 2.0 is an innovative new application that redefines the mobile Internet experience for consumers through a unique product design, ability to personalize with content from the entire Internet and a reinvention of mobile search. With this launch Yahoo! expands its mobile Internet leadership.
The Yahoo! Go 2.0 beta is available for consumers to download today . Beginning in the first half of 2007, Yahoo! Go 2.0 will be pre-loaded on select new mobile devices from Motorola. Consumers can also download Yahoo! Go 2.0 on more than 70 other mobile devices from major manufacturers worldwide and use it on most wireless networks. Additionally, Yahoo! expects to distribute Yahoo! Go 2.0 through mobile operators worldwide.
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| Samsung and Google Align to Create Rich Experience for Mobile Phone Users Worldwide
Original news source |
| Samsung and Google Inc. announced a global cooperation to enable mobile phone users worldwide with quick and easy access to Google products and services - directly from their Samsung mobile phones.
Samsung mobile phones equipped with Google applications will enable consumers to search information, find locations, and manage their email on the move. Samsung's mobile phones offer today's latest technologies with unique applications and mobile designs. Now, the combination of Google applications and Samsung's advanced mobile devices represents two companies' dedication to offering a hassle-free mobile Internet experience for consumers world-wide. |
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This section lists news that describe innovative and competitive implementation of wireless data applications.
| Leiki launches new Mobile News Reader Original news source |
| Leiki and the Financial Times have launched the FT Mobile News Reader, a free application that gives FT.com users access to FT content whilst on the move via their mobile phones and PDAs. With Leiki's adaptive personalisation technology the service will learn the users' interests from what they read and deliver relevant content into the personalised 'My FT' section. FT Mobile News Reader also allows users to look up stock prices, access premium content if they are subscribers, and load stories onto their phone or PDA for reading when a mobile signal is unavailable. The software is compatible with nearly all types of mobile phones including Nokia, BlackBerry and Motorola handsets, adjusting automatically to different mobile screen sizes and device configurations. |
| * Visa Launches Mobile Platform Original news source |
| Delivering on its global mobile strategy, Visa launched a mobile platform that lays the foundation for the commercial availability of mobile payments and services to millions of mobile users around the world. The new platform is designed to foster collaboration between the financial services and mobile telecommunications sectors for the delivery of mobile payment applications and payment related services. The platform is a comprehensive suite of technology tools and applications, security standards, and business models that will enable Visa issuers and mobile operators to engage in market trials to drive product development and commercialization of mobile payment services. Informed by years of experience in the mobile payments market and developed in partnership with mobile technology companies, including handset manufacturers, chip suppliers, mobile applications developers, over-the-air (OTA) service providers and mobile messaging providers, the platform is both flexible and complementary to existing technologies so that it can seamlessly integrate with global wireless technology and payments infrastructures. The platform is designed to make it easier for Visa issuers, mobile operators and technology providers to deliver an intuitive and integrated consumer experience across a range of compelling services such as mobile contactless payments, remote payments, person-to-person payments, and mobile coupons, as well as account management services that enable consumers to better monitor account activity and manage their funds. |
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This section lists news about outsourcing/hosting of mobile corporate/enterprise applications by e.g. software developers, network carriers, and consulting companies. News about mobile access to portals are also included here.
| mFoundry Releases Mobile Banking Product Offering Banks Full Online Banking Functionality Securely via Mobile Devices Original news source |
| mFoundry, mobile application platform provider, announced the formal release of its mobile banking product. Offering rapid deployment and broad device coverage, the mBanking product provides financial institutions with the most flexible and comprehensive mobile banking solution in the industry, effectively setting the stage for mainstream adoption of mobile banking solutions in the coming year.
The mBanking product enables full online banking functionality with security fully comparable to mainstream Web banking best practices. mFoundry is currently working with some of the largest banks in the world, including Citibank North America. |
| * Skype says time is not ripe for cellphone version Original news source |
| EBay Inc's Skype believes the cell phone world is not ready for a version of its Internet telephone service that can be downloaded on any mobile phone, because of high carrier charges, the company's hardware and software business development chief said on Wednesday.
Skype uses a broadband Internet connection to place a voice call, cutting out the telephony network for which telecoms operators charge by the minute. Skype calls to other broadband-connected Skype users are free, and Skype calls to normal phones are inexpensive.
If a cell phone customer had an inexpensive data connection, then using Skype to make long distance calls, especially, could be at substantial savings -- but so far there are few such cheap data plans. The company recently unveiled a version of Skype, running on a Nokia phone, that works on the third generation wireless broadband network that is owned by 3, heightening anticipation that Skype would soon become available for more mobile phones. But
while development work is being carried out, most of the other telecoms network operators had not yet created attractive flat-fee wireless broadband packages that are needed to take full advantage of Internet calls. |
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This section lists news about new financing opportunities for and in the wireless data industry.
| Mobile VoIP start-up Truphone secures European tech sector’s largest Series A funding of 2006 Original news source |
| Mobile Internet telephony start-up Truphone announced a funding round of £12.5 million ($24.5m). The round is the European technology sector’s largest Series A venture funding of 2006. It was led by Wellington Partners (a leading pan-European VC), with Independent News & Media (a global media group) and Burda Digital Ventures (a global media group) joining existing investors Eden Ventures and business angels.
In 2006 Truphone introduced internet telephony (‘VoIP’) to mass market mobile phones, enabling users to make free calls from their handsets to other Truphone users and low internet-rate calls to any telephone worldwide. In late 2006 this was extended to free phone calls to a range of VoIP services.
The new funding will provide Truphone with resources to execute its vision of fundamentally changing the economics of mobile communications and providing revolutionary new services to mobiles, increasing the base of handsets it supports and launching the Truphone service across the globe. This will create a worldwide Mobile Internet Network Operator providing a critical mass of customers with a free/low-cost alternative to conventional cellular network service providers. |
| Mobile Ad Technology Developer Amobee Raises Capital Original news source |
| Amobee Media Systems, a developer of mobile phone advertising technology, has raised between $15 and $20 million in its second round of venture capital financing, Israeli business news site Globes.co.il reported.
Investors participating in the round included Sequoia Capital, Accel Partners and Globespan Capital Partners. Founded in 2005 as Upsteed, the company is developing mobile ad technology that it says will lower service charges for users. The company raised $5 million from Sequoia Capital and Accel Partners last year. Globes reported that Amobee, which maintains a research and development facility in Herzliya, Israel, has conducted trials of its technology with France Telecom and Vodafone, with participating advertisers including Adidas and Unilever. |
| Avaya Announces Tender Offer to Acquire Ubiquity Software Original news source |
Avaya Inc. announced a tender offer by its wholly-owned subsidiary to acquire Ubiquity Software Corporation plc. Ubiquity's core software product is one of the leading software platforms for the development and delivery of SIP end-user applications.
The offer price is 37.3 pence in cash for each Ubiquity share. This values the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Ubiquity at approximately GBP 74.3 million (approximately $144 million)1 after adjusting for the assumed proceeds from the exercise of options over Ubiquity shares.
Ubiquity develops and markets SIP-based communications software for fixed and mobile communications service providers, systems integrators, independent software vendors and channel partners. Ubiquity's range of products has been developed to take advantage of the telecom-munications industry's migration toward all-IP networks. |
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This section lists the trade shows and conferences which are relevant to wireless data from either participation or exhibiting point of view.
| Deutsche Messe AG expects losses due to CeBIT crisis Original news source |
| Deutsche Messe AG of Hanover, Germany expects to post a loss this year due to the crisis of computer trade fair CeBIT. The local daily Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung is reporting that the company expects a loss of almost 6 million euros. Only a few months ago, management had announced a target profit of almost 11 million euros.
Unfortunately, the CeBIT crisis will detrimentally affect 2007. Among others, Nokia, Motorola, BenQ, Konica Minolta, and Lenovo have said they will not be attending the world's largest IT trade fair. Based on information provided by company employees, the newspaper is reporting that the floor space for exhibitions will probably shrink by 15 percent to less than 280,000 square meters, with the number of visitors also falling by almost 15 percent to 370,000. |
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A recommended introductory reading that may be helpful in understanding the scope of this publication is the Wireless Data Forum's Wireless Data Primer.
A glossary of wireless industry terms and acronyms can be found at the Wireless Week site.
Disclaimer: The information presented is personal opinion of Leonid Iakovlev (the editor) and does not necessarily represent the opinion of any company with which he may be affiliated or of any referred third party. All information in this report is NOT guaranteed to be accurate. The information and links were however verified at the time this text was created. Editor does not take responsibility for any actions you may take based on the information you find here. Editor accepts no liability to any party for loss or damage caused by errors or omissions or by statements of any kind in this publication, whether such errors result from accident, negligence, or any other cause. Editor assumes no liability for incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of information in this publication. Editor provides no warranties regarding the information contained in this publication, whether expressed, implied, or statutory, including implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Editor also does not assume any liability for links from this publication to publications from other companies, organizations, or individuals. Editor does not imply endorsement of any specific company, organization, or individual through offering links to this content. All information provided within this publication is subject to change at any time and is provided for informational purposes only by the editor. All products and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
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