- 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 |
- NTT DoCoMo offers flat rate data.
- u-blox offers gps that can be easily embedded into any mobile phone, is compatible with Galileo and works indoors.
- In case you have not yet noticed, DEMO conference just proved that mobile Web 2.0 has arrived. It's a potential paradise for both consumers and developers - multi-user collaboration, AJAX applications on your mobile phone, customizable and expandable mobile web sites, free ad-supported mapping services and universal vpn access. Visitors' tracking is provided as well.
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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.
| Informa Telecoms & Media predicts that the mobile web will herald dramatic growth in revenues in the mobile content and services market Original news source |
| Despite falling average revenues per user (ARPU) for mobile operators, the mobile content and services market will continue to grow dramatically as services and applications reach maturity and new services begin to gain traction, according to Informa Telecoms & Media. The latest edition of Informa's "Mobile Content and Services" report reveals that the introduction of a whole host of new players into the value chain presents new opportunities for growth in the mobile content and services market, whilst simultaneously posing a threat to mobile operators who face losing control of the billing relationship with their customers. Mobile handset and network technology has now evolved to a point where true mobile web access is possible. Informa anticipates that by 2011, just under half of all mobile subscribers worldwide will use mobile browsing. Despite this, messaging, headed by SMS will continue to dominate the overall revenues for the market, generating over half the total revenue in 2011 (from 67% in 2006). |
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This section lists news about innovative and competitive usage of wireless data by network carriers.
| T-Mobile Austria Launches Consumer Mobile Email Solution from O3SIS Original news source |
| O3SIS Information Technology AG,
provider of personal mobile applications and Over-the-Air data synchronization (DS)
technology for first tier mobile network operators and internet service providers,
announced that T-Mobile Austria, the Austrian network of the international T-Mobile
Group, has launched the O3SIS Mobile Mail platform for its consumer customers.
O3SIS Mail allows consumers to read and respond to emails directly from their handset in
real time. |
| * NTT DoCoMo to Offer New Flat-Rate Data Communications Billing Plans Original news source |
| NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced it will offer the new flat-rate data communications billing plans "Pake-hodai full" and "Biz-hodai".
Beginning March 1, Pake-hodai full will enable FOMA i-mode subscribers with full-browser handsets to view not only i-mode but also PC websites and videos in Windows Media format (compatible with P903iX HIGH-SPEED) for a flat monthly rate of 5,985 yen (including tax). Applications will be accepted from February 21. The billing plan will be applicable for 15 FOMA handsets already on the market, and for seven others to be marketed soon |
| AxisMobile Selected by E-Plus for hosted mobile email solution
Original news source |
| AxisMobile PLC, the hi-tech specialist in consumer mobile email,
announces that it has been selected by E-Plus, Germany's third largest
mobile network operator, to provide a hosted consumer mobile email solution.
This is one of the eight new customers announced recently to select Axismobile's
push mobile email solution. |
| Ericsson delivers HSPA network for DNA Finland Original news source |
| Ericsson announced the successful completion of DNA Finland's 3G network upgrade - a move that will provide end users with a true mobile-broadband solution.
Signed in late December 2006, the contract includes a commercial High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) software upgrade, as well as deployment, integration and support services.
The completion of the network follows Ericsson's earlier installation of HSPA-capable base-station hardware.
Ericsson's HSPA solution enables mobile broadband, boosts internet speeds, and decreases uplink and downlink delays, providing the springboard to future multimedia services. |
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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.
| Reality Mobile Launches RealityVision Original news source |
| Reality Mobile LLC announced the general release of its RealityVision software product. RealityVision allows organizations to respond immediately to critical events by remotely and proactively enabling live video streams and other data to be created and shared using devices as simple as common mobile phones and networks as prevalent as the cellular networks.
The RealityVision system includes server software to receive and process the data traffic, a management console to control and visualize the data traffic and client software that turns a Palm OS, Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, or Win32 device into a participant in the system. RealityVision also lets the customer make available any of its existing fixed cameras for remote viewing and control by its users. |
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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.
| * u-blox to unveil new Galileo-ready GPS chip Original news source |
| u-blox AG, Swiss provider of GPS receiver technology, will unveil u-blox 5, a GPS and Galileo-ready chip featuring an acquisition performance of less than one second, at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona. u-blox will be promoting its u-blox 5 chip at the event. The new technology boasts an acquisition and tracking sensitivity of -160 dBm that enables indoor coverage, a 50-channel engine and a power consumption of less than 50 mW. Its energy efficiency and tracking sensitivity make it ideal for GPS-enabled mobile phones and other battery-operated portable devices that operate in difficult indoor environments like shopping malls, train stations and urban canyons. |
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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.).
| Punchkick Interactive Sees Mobile Marketing as the Future of Advertising Original news source |
| Mobile technology is the newest media channel of advertising, say market researchers. And with over 200 million mobile phone users in America, today's mobile phones have become capable of much more than flashy ringtones. The possibilities for creative marketing and product branding are limitless -- and innovative design firms are taking notice.
Cleveland-based design firm Punchkick Interactive recently made the leap to mobile when it shifted gears from Web design to working exclusively with mobile devices. |
| Lenovo Mobile Selects Esmertec’s Jbed Software Solution to Power Major Platforms for Mobile Handsets Original news source |
| Esmertec, a focused provider of software and services to communications device manufacturers and mobile telecom operators , is pleased to announce that Lenovo Mobile, a world-wide leading Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in China, has selected Esmertec's Jbed solution as the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), for its major commercial TI -based and Broadcom-based platforms. The first Jbed-powered handsets under the Lenovo P768 “Victory” brand, are expected to hit the Chinese market in Q1 2007. |
| Skype Licenses HelloSoft's Internet-Telephony Technology Original news source |
| HelloSoft, Inc., provider of VoIP products, announced that Skype has licensed HelloSoft's Internet-Telephony technology which will be incorporated into Skype's communication software. HelloSoft's technology will allow consumers to enjoy free, high-quality voice calls anywhere their smartphones and Pocket PCs can connect to the Internet. |
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This section lists news that describe innovative and competitive implementation of wireless data applications.
| * Bling Software Launches Ajax Client for Mobile Handset Original news source |
| Bling Software, Inc. unveils Ajax-based (Asynchronous, JavaScript, XML) Web client for the mobile handset. With this announcement, Bling Software enables companies to build and deliver the most visually stunning and data-rich applications ever available on the mobile handset. Consumers can already enjoy dynamic mobile applications from Bling Software’s early customers including Jay-Z, Barry Bonds, Ninja Mobile, The Onion, Amp’d Mobile and GoTV Networks. Bling Softwareprovides fully extensible, cross-platform, JavaScript-enabled client (the Bling Player) for the mobile handset that is small enough to be distributed over the air to consumers. Mobile content owners can now create truly fast and dynamic mobile applications in a matter of days and then mass distribute them to mobile consumers. The Bling Player reduces the time, cost and complexity of developing state of the art mobile applications. |
| * Positive Networks Delivers Secure Remote Access via Handhelds, PDAs, Cell Phones Original news source |
| PositivePRO 3.5’s handheld access provides true Web-based VPN service anywhere wireless service is offered and is now able to work on handheld devices such as a Sprint 3G device, a Windows Mobile 5 device, Treo 750w, Blackberry, and any cell phone from T-Mobile, Cingular, Motorola Razr, or any phone with a web browser for greater access options. The Web-based VPN service, WebTop, automatically adapts to handheld device browsers to deliver secure access to email, file shares, and intranet sites for mobile workers. |
| QTech Launches reQall, Innovative Voice-activated Memory Solution Original news source |
| QTech Inc. announced reQall, its flagship voice-based tool that helps you remember.Acting as your virtual personal assistant, reQall enables you to easily record and conveniently retrieve your reminders and notes based on your contextual preferences. reQall is patent-pending software technology that uses a combination of voice interface and speech-recognition technology to record, log and retrieve your tasks, meetings and voice notes. The service can be used via any phone and does not require any software downloads. Instead, a user accesses the reQall service by calling a toll-free number. |
| Clickatell Delivers Breaking News to European Commission Original news source |
| The European Commission's Joint Research Centre has selected Clickatell, mobile messaging operator, to run its EMM (European Media Monitoring) SMS alert service. The real-time service informs Commission Spokespersons and nominated EC VIPs, of important breaking news detected by the EMM.
The EMM monitors some 15 news agencies, more than 900 online media and all daily press reviews from the 27 capitals of the EU and beyond.In the event of a global emergency, the relevant EU commissioner would be one of the first to be alerted to the news. The news would be identified by EMM from the point of origin, translated into Unicode and subsequently delivered by SMS to the relevant commissioner in their respective language. |
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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.
| Introducing Twango Mobile: Enjoy Your Twango Media on the Go Original news source |
| Twango, provider of next generation media sharing services, announced "Twango Mobile," a free service which enables consumers to access their photos, videos, audio and other media on Twango from their mobile devices. Now, anyone can access their personal media content without the need for a PC. |
| * GoWare Launches DoMo Mobile Portal Original news source |
| GoWare is pleased to announce the launch of DoMo (Do More with your mobile), a revolutionary service that lets mobile phone users create personalized mobile portals for convenient delivery of all their content through a single page on their mobile browsers. Using any browser, DoMo makes it possible for users to access a mashup of Web content (news, blogs, podcasts), PC files (documents, photos), and application data (email from Outlook, financial data from QuickBooks, for example), quickly and easily from their mobile phone. In addition, DoMo's open architecture lets third-party developers create plug-ins to applications and Web services, such as online banking, for even greater customization. |
| * Mobio Unveils Mobile Lifestyle Portal Original news source |
| Mobio Networks announced its flagship product GetMobio, the first mobile lifestyle portal that offers consumers over 50 dynamic applications and widgets that work together and are based on mash-ups of web services. GetMobio allows people to use their mobile phones to locate the hottest nightclubs, call a cab, find alternative flights, book a table at the latest restaurants or reserve tee times. |
| * Free Mapping and Navigation Service "amAze" Launched to Mobile Consumers Original news source |
| LocatioNet Systems Ltd., provider of mobile mapping and location applications, announced that it has launched 'amAze', a new free mobile mapping, navigation and local search solution for regular mass-market mobile phones. amAze is the first mapping and navigation application of its kind for mobile phones and it is totally free to use for consumers. The application provides any regular, Java-enabled mobile phone with mapping, navigation and local search information to anywhere in Central and Western Europe and North America. An additional voice-guided navigation feature can be accessed using any bluetooth GPS device. |
| * Bango Lets Marketers “See” Visitors to Mobile Internet Sites and Track Success of Marketing Campaigns Original news source |
| Bango introduced the new Bango Vision package with tracking and analytics capabilities that enable brands and content providers to see and understand visitors to their mobile internet sites. Bango Vision provides detailed and accurate insights into a mobile customer base, across hundreds of mobile networks worldwide.
Bango has tens of millions of mobile user profiles in the Bango’s global platform, each profile contains data on spending behavior, user history, lifetime value plus the user’s country, network and handset. In addition to this data profiling, Bango Vision provides a “digital fingerprint” of each mobile visitor so businesses can track individual users visiting their mobile internet sites and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. |
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This section lists news about new financing opportunities for and in the wireless data industry.
| IDG Ventures Boston Leads New Investment in ZING Original news source |
| ZING Systems Inc. announced it has raised $13 million of additional funding, in a round that was led by IDG Ventures Boston. IDG Ventures Boston was joined by Redpoint Ventures, which previously led ZING’s financing rounds. The new round also included funding from Camp Ventures, a Silicon Valley VC. ZING is working in partnership with leading consumer products companies such as SIRIUS Satellite Radio and SanDisk to create a new class of portable entertainment players.
ZING-based devices are distinguished by their ability to connect, download, manage and exchange entertainment content directly from the player through WiFi or other wireless protocols, without requiring a PC. |
| Fireswirl Technologies Completes Definitive Agreement to Acquire Intellectual Property for Translating Mobile Text Messages Original news source |
| Fireswirl Technologies Inc. has entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement with Living Stone Consultants Limited to acquire certain intellectual property assets, and a 51% interest in M-Lingo Limited. The IP enables real-time translation between multiple languages on and between virtually any type of mobile phone (packet based and non-packet based). M-Lingo is a joint venture with MHL Consulting Ltd., a Hong Kong based company that will retain a 49% interest. It is intended that MHL will market the IP to its extensive business network of mobile carriers in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. |
| NTT DoCoMo to Invest in Corporate Mobile Solutions Business in China Original news source |
| NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced that the company and UFIDA Software Co., Ltd., the leading Chinese supplier of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, will enter the corporate mobile solutions market in China through a joint investment in Fidatone Mobile Technology and Service Co., Ltd. DoCoMo will invest US$5 million (roughly 600 million yen) to acquire an approximately 33.3% equity stake in March 2007. A corporate mobile-solution subsidiary to be established by Fidatone in February will utilize DoCoMo's expertise and UFIDA's ERP software and customer base to develop and market the solutions in China. |
| Airborne Gets $7 Million Original news source |
| Wellington Financial LP, a privately held specialty finance firm, announced the fifth investment of its recently closed and oversubscribed $400 million investment program. The $7,000,000 financing with Montreal-based Airborne Entertainment Inc. provides management with the growth capital required to pursue select strategic acquisitions and manage their growing working capital requirements. |
| MobileMail to Aggressively Enter Into the Mobile Content Industry Original news source |
| MobileMail (US) Inc. announces the signing of a share purchase agreement for the completion of the acquisition of Oy Tracebit AB, an established and well regarded mobile content developer and seller of leading edge mobile multimedia content.
The completion of the acquisition is irrevocable, not subject to any conditions and will take place within 5 business days. |
| * Motorola Invests in DARTdevices Original news source |
| Motorola, Inc. and DARTdevices Corporation, a developer of a disruptive software technology for consumer devices, announced that Motorola Ventures, the strategic venture arm of Motorola, has made a Series A investment in the company. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Founded in 2003, DARTdevices has developed software that lets multiple consumer devices directly access the combined content and applications of any Dart-enabled device such as mobile phones and PCs. DART software seamlessly addresses the software distribution, versioning, security, hardware compatibility and synchronization issues typically associated with device-to-device interaction. |
| Aperto Networks Raises $19 Million in Follow-on Series E Financing Original news source |
| Aperto Networks, builder of advanced WiMAX base stations and subscriber units, announced that it had completed a follow-on Series E financing round of $19 million, bringing the company’s total capitalization to $139 million.
The financing round, the third tranche in the series, was led by GunnAllen Venture Partners and included participation from all of the existing investors including JK&B Capital, Canaan Partners, Alliance Ventures, Innovacom, JAFCO, Labrador Ventures, and Tyco. |
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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.
| * DEMO 07 Conference Explores Mobile Computing Original news source |
The DEMO 07 conference
wrapped up following a full day of live product demonstrations,
industry trend analysis, one-on-one meetings between demonstrating
companies and attendees, and the bestowing of the DEMOgod awards. The
conference program also included a highly anticipated and entertaining
media panel, moderated by The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg, which
evaluated the state of the entrepreneurial economy and placed bets on the
most promising products launched at DEMO. The program focused on mobility -- both on the
infrastructure and support services required to enable a mobile culture and
on new services and trends that transform a regular mobile phone into the
most versatile computing tool in your arsenal. |
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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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