[telecoms.com] The European arm of Chinese carrier China Telecom will name the host of its forthcoming UK MVNO play before September, managing director Ou Yan told Telecoms.com. China Telecom Europe, which focuses predominantly on international backbone and enterprise and carrier services, will be launching a UK MVNO before the end of Q112, targeting the half a million Chinese living in Britain with a SIM-only, Chinese content offering, Ou said.
The firm has received bids from host networks in the UK, Ou said, and will be making its selection in less than a fortnight. Key criteria include coverage, 3G network performance and price, Ou said.
“We are the world’s largest Chinese content provider and we know how to deliver this kind of content,” he said. “I have been living in the UK for six years now, and it’s not very easy for the Chinese community here to get Chinese language content, so this could be our entry into the consumer market.”
If successful, Ou plans to replicate the MVNO in other European markets, including France, Germany and Italy, where there are substantial Chinese communities. France has the largest Chinese population in the region, Ou said, with more than 600,000 resident Chinese. The firm also plans to target Chinese tourists visiting the region. But China Telecom Europe is not looking for a single host operator across Europe, Ou said, arguing that this might limit the firm’s expansion.
China Telecom to name UK MVNO host by end August
Thursday, August 18, 2011
USA - More than 33 million Americans used their mobile phones for shopping
[prnewswire] Marketers attempting to understand consumer habits that influence mobile marketing can get a revealing glimpse into the mindset of the mobile consumer through the newly released 2011 Mobile Consumer Report from Experian Simmons.
According to exclusive research from Experian Simmons, a part of Experian Marketing Services, 29 percent of cell phone owners today believe their phone will be the primary device for their entertainment needs in the future. The report provides marketers with vivid insights that they need to prepare for the mobile revolution, including how consumers use their phones to manage social connections, consume media, get information, plan shopping trips, interact with mobile advertising and more.
"The explosion in usage of mobile technologies is an industry game-changer, and marketers need reliable insights to better understand this rapidly changing landscape," said Ken Wollenberg, general manager of Experian Simmons. "This report will help them devise plans that are timely, relevant and more effective in driving incremental sales and building brand awareness in the mobile space."
Other findings from the report include:
More than nine out of 10 adults, seven out of 10 teens and one out of five kids own a mobile phone
Fifty-six percent of smartphone owners access the Internet from their phone; 27 percent watch video
Thirty percent of iPhone owners want to make purchases in stores using their phone
Twenty percent of social networkers access their account from their phone
Sixteen percent of mobile owners downloaded a mobile app last month
More Than 33 Million Americans Use Their Mobile Phone for Shopping-Related Activities
According to exclusive research from Experian Simmons, a part of Experian Marketing Services, 29 percent of cell phone owners today believe their phone will be the primary device for their entertainment needs in the future. The report provides marketers with vivid insights that they need to prepare for the mobile revolution, including how consumers use their phones to manage social connections, consume media, get information, plan shopping trips, interact with mobile advertising and more.
"The explosion in usage of mobile technologies is an industry game-changer, and marketers need reliable insights to better understand this rapidly changing landscape," said Ken Wollenberg, general manager of Experian Simmons. "This report will help them devise plans that are timely, relevant and more effective in driving incremental sales and building brand awareness in the mobile space."
Other findings from the report include:
More than nine out of 10 adults, seven out of 10 teens and one out of five kids own a mobile phone
Fifty-six percent of smartphone owners access the Internet from their phone; 27 percent watch video
Thirty percent of iPhone owners want to make purchases in stores using their phone
Twenty percent of social networkers access their account from their phone
Sixteen percent of mobile owners downloaded a mobile app last month
More Than 33 Million Americans Use Their Mobile Phone for Shopping-Related Activities
Mobile - NG-M2M and connected device market growing at 25% per annum
[prnewswire] Compass Intelligence, a global consulting and market analytics firm, has released its first study on the M2M market: The Next-Generation M2M and Connected Device Business Market - A Paradigm Shift: From Connecting Millions of People, to Connecting Billions of Things - Part I.
Findings from the research, which is part of Compass Intelligence's new Connected Worlds subscription service indicates that the next-generation M2M and connected device market will reach 87 million endpoints by 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of over 25%.
"We have entered an era where every device that can benefit from being connected via a cellular connection to the internet will be connected to the internet; and that this hyper-connectivity coupled together with emerging cloud services will propel society into new ways of interacting with the world around us," explains James Brehm, Senior Strategist of Compass Intelligence."
"Much confusion exists around what makes up M2M. In defining the market, the GSMA includes devices like connected iPads and other media tablets, some Tier-1 MNOs include connected CE like picture frames, PNDs, and the like, while others including M2M specialists and M2MVNOs look solely to B2B applications," states Brehm.
The subscription will provide clarity around the definition, size, and forecast on the next-generation M2M and connected device market, explore the dynamics of the business and consumer next-generation M2M and connected device market, discuss how business models, industries, and markets are changing as a result of anytime anywhere connectivity, and examine new and innovative high-bandwidth M2M services that will shape the world in which we live.
Key findings of our most recent M2M research include the following:
The largest B2B vertical market is the transportation and distribution vertical, with over 30% market share.
Growth will come from areas where there is a demonstrable ROI and that are easiest to measure increased productivity and efficiency.
Cloud computing and cookie cutter hosted applications will drive M2M adoption.
Industry consolidation will occur rapidly over the next twelve to eighteen months.
By 2015 more than 40 percent of M2M connections in the U.S. could be running on 3G, 3.5G, or 4G networks.
Compass Intelligence Research Predicts Tremendous Growth for the Next-Generation M2M and Connected Device Market; U.S. to Reach 87 Million Endpoints by 2015
Findings from the research, which is part of Compass Intelligence's new Connected Worlds subscription service indicates that the next-generation M2M and connected device market will reach 87 million endpoints by 2015, with a compound annual growth rate of over 25%.
"We have entered an era where every device that can benefit from being connected via a cellular connection to the internet will be connected to the internet; and that this hyper-connectivity coupled together with emerging cloud services will propel society into new ways of interacting with the world around us," explains James Brehm, Senior Strategist of Compass Intelligence."
"Much confusion exists around what makes up M2M. In defining the market, the GSMA includes devices like connected iPads and other media tablets, some Tier-1 MNOs include connected CE like picture frames, PNDs, and the like, while others including M2M specialists and M2MVNOs look solely to B2B applications," states Brehm.
The subscription will provide clarity around the definition, size, and forecast on the next-generation M2M and connected device market, explore the dynamics of the business and consumer next-generation M2M and connected device market, discuss how business models, industries, and markets are changing as a result of anytime anywhere connectivity, and examine new and innovative high-bandwidth M2M services that will shape the world in which we live.
Key findings of our most recent M2M research include the following:
The largest B2B vertical market is the transportation and distribution vertical, with over 30% market share.
Growth will come from areas where there is a demonstrable ROI and that are easiest to measure increased productivity and efficiency.
Cloud computing and cookie cutter hosted applications will drive M2M adoption.
Industry consolidation will occur rapidly over the next twelve to eighteen months.
By 2015 more than 40 percent of M2M connections in the U.S. could be running on 3G, 3.5G, or 4G networks.
Compass Intelligence Research Predicts Tremendous Growth for the Next-Generation M2M and Connected Device Market; U.S. to Reach 87 Million Endpoints by 2015
India - GSM operators claim 10% more mobile broadband would add USD 80 billion to education, healthcare and transport sectors
[prnewswire] The GSMA today announced that a 10% increase in broadband penetration in India will contribute a combined US $80 billion (INR 3,506 billion) of net revenues across the country's transport, healthcare and education sectors by 2015. The figures come from a new study, commissioned by the GSMA and conducted by analyst firm Analysys Mason, on the economic impact of Mobile Broadband growth on these key industry sectors.
Broadband connectivity is a driver of socio-economic improvement, fuelling economic growth across all industry sectors and contributing to enhanced GDP. According to Analysys Mason, a 10% increase in broadband penetration will lead to net growth revenue increases of 42% in the healthcare sector (equating to an additional INR 1,215 billion or US$ 27.4 billion), 36.8% in education (an extra INR 1,402 billion or US$ 31.2 billion) and 18.8% in the transport sector (an additional INR 889 billion or US$ 20 billion).
Currently broadband penetration in India is 1.7%(1), and is forecast to rise to 12.5% by 2015. However, to achieve this it is essential that additional spectrum is released quickly, most notably the 700MHz and 2.6GHz bands, so that mobile operators can roll out next-generation Mobile Broadband networks and services and meet demand.
As of Q2 2011, there were 3.5 million HSPA Mobile Broadband connections(2) in India and this figure is expected to rise exponentially to 225.5 million by the end of 2015(3), but only if the right amount of spectrum is allocated for mobile services. According to previous Analysys Mason research(4), allocation of an additional 5MHz of 3G spectrum will lead to a 3.3% increase in Mobile Broadband penetration by population, enhancing GDP by US$ 12.1 billion (INR 538 billion)by 2015.
Robindhra Mangtani, Senior Director, GSMA, commented: "Simply put, if the Indian government allocates sufficient spectrum in the near future, it will open up a staggering economic opportunity. However, the current lack of spectrum remains a formidable obstacle to India benefiting from Mobile Broadband services and the government meeting its stated broadband connectivity target of 160 million Internet connections by 2014. India's government must act quickly if it is to enact the proposed National Spectrum Act, which was announced by Communications Minister Kapil Sibal in April, and quickly allocate the urgently required spectrum to meet the high demand for Mobile Broadband services."
Mangtani continued: "India is the second largest mobile market in the world and a vibrant and exciting growth market for Mobile Broadband – it has an opportunity to shape the mobile industry of the future. By acting now, India's hardware manufacturers and software companies have a huge opportunity to build a lead in developing supporting elements, which will not only transform Indian society but also, through a thriving export market, bring the power of Mobile Broadband to countries across the world."
A 10% Increase in Mobile Broadband Penetration Will Generate US $80 Billion (INR 3,506 Billion) in Extra Revenue for India's Transport, Healthcare and Education Sectors, Says GSMA
Broadband connectivity is a driver of socio-economic improvement, fuelling economic growth across all industry sectors and contributing to enhanced GDP. According to Analysys Mason, a 10% increase in broadband penetration will lead to net growth revenue increases of 42% in the healthcare sector (equating to an additional INR 1,215 billion or US$ 27.4 billion), 36.8% in education (an extra INR 1,402 billion or US$ 31.2 billion) and 18.8% in the transport sector (an additional INR 889 billion or US$ 20 billion).
Currently broadband penetration in India is 1.7%(1), and is forecast to rise to 12.5% by 2015. However, to achieve this it is essential that additional spectrum is released quickly, most notably the 700MHz and 2.6GHz bands, so that mobile operators can roll out next-generation Mobile Broadband networks and services and meet demand.
As of Q2 2011, there were 3.5 million HSPA Mobile Broadband connections(2) in India and this figure is expected to rise exponentially to 225.5 million by the end of 2015(3), but only if the right amount of spectrum is allocated for mobile services. According to previous Analysys Mason research(4), allocation of an additional 5MHz of 3G spectrum will lead to a 3.3% increase in Mobile Broadband penetration by population, enhancing GDP by US$ 12.1 billion (INR 538 billion)by 2015.
Robindhra Mangtani, Senior Director, GSMA, commented: "Simply put, if the Indian government allocates sufficient spectrum in the near future, it will open up a staggering economic opportunity. However, the current lack of spectrum remains a formidable obstacle to India benefiting from Mobile Broadband services and the government meeting its stated broadband connectivity target of 160 million Internet connections by 2014. India's government must act quickly if it is to enact the proposed National Spectrum Act, which was announced by Communications Minister Kapil Sibal in April, and quickly allocate the urgently required spectrum to meet the high demand for Mobile Broadband services."
Mangtani continued: "India is the second largest mobile market in the world and a vibrant and exciting growth market for Mobile Broadband – it has an opportunity to shape the mobile industry of the future. By acting now, India's hardware manufacturers and software companies have a huge opportunity to build a lead in developing supporting elements, which will not only transform Indian society but also, through a thriving export market, bring the power of Mobile Broadband to countries across the world."
A 10% Increase in Mobile Broadband Penetration Will Generate US $80 Billion (INR 3,506 Billion) in Extra Revenue for India's Transport, Healthcare and Education Sectors, Says GSMA
USA - Study show differing levels of satisfaction with mobile operators depending on the consumer channel and transaction type
[prnewswire] Overall satisfaction with the wireless purchase experience differs across contact channels stemming from consumer channel expectations and the transaction type, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Full-Service Wireless Purchase Experience Study(SM)—Volume 2 and the 2011 U.S. Wireless Non-Contract Purchase Experience Study(SM)—Volume 2, both released today.
Now in their eighth year, the semiannual studies have been expanded in 2011 to collect evaluations from customers who recently had a wireless purchase experience using any of three contact methods: telephone calls with sales representatives; visits to a retail wireless store; and on the Web. Overall customer satisfaction with both full-service and non-contract branded carriers is based on six factors (in order of importance): store sales representative; website sales; phone sales representative; store facility; offerings and promotion; and cost of service.
The study finds that overall customer satisfaction varies widely by the type of channel used for their wireless sales transaction. Satisfaction is lowest among customers who most recently conducted a Web sales transaction (738 on a 1,000-point scale, on average), compared with retail (walk-in) and telephone channels (753 and 752, respectively). Customers who purchased through the Web channel, where finding information quickly is more challenging, tend to rate their experience lower based on the general lack of personal assistance, compared with either in-person or over the phone.
In addition, the study finds that satisfaction with cost of service and offerings and promotions is lower when purchases are made over the phone than when made online or in stores. For example, satisfaction with cost of service among purchases occurring over the phone averages 626, compared with 653 and 652 when purchases occur online and in stores, respectively. Similarly, satisfaction with offerings and promotions for purchases made over the phone averages 12 points lower than for online purchases and 17 points lower than for in-store purchases. Customers making purchases online and in stores have the opportunity to view all product offerings and see the pricing associated with each one, which is not always possible over the phone.
"Within the past year, there have been a number of new product and service plan innovations where, in most cases, relatively detailed information needs to be provided to customers in a logical and cost-effective manner," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "Being able to provide a seamless experience across multiple sales channels is key for service carriers, particularly as devices and plans become more complex. Providing up-to-date product and service information is becoming increasingly critical to exceeding customer expectations."
Overall satisfaction also differs by the method of purchase, as expectations are set by the type of purchase being made. For example, satisfaction is 775 among full-service customers who change their service plan via the phone, compared with just 716 among those opting to do so online. However, overall satisfaction scores do not vary by channel when purchasing a new device.
According to Parsons, full-service carriers that provide an exceptional purchase experience (receiving ratings of 10 on a 10-point scale) may earn $4 more per customer each month, compared with full-service carriers that do not provide a satisfactory experience.
Sprint and T-Mobile rank highest, in a tie, in customer satisfaction among major full-service wireless carriers with a score of 755 each. Sprint performs well among the website sales, offerings and promotions and cost of service factors. T-Mobile performs particularly well in the cost of service factor.
Boost Mobile ranks highest in overall purchase experience satisfaction among non-contract service carriers with an overall score of 766. Boost Mobile performs particularly well in phone sales representative, offerings and promotions and cost of service. MetroPCS (760) and Virgin Mobile (753) follow Boost Mobile in the non-contract service carrier rankings.
The study also finds the following key retail wireless sales transaction patterns:
Sixty-two percent of full-service customers indicate that their most recent purchase experience occurred in a retail store location, while 19 percent say that their most recent sales transaction occurred via the telephone or online channel. This differs considerably from non-contract branded customers—26 percent say their most recent purchase transaction occurred online, and only 13 percent indicate that it was over the telephone.
The average total time customers spent in the full-service retail store to complete the sales transaction is approximately 53 minutes—a decrease of more than three minutes, compared with six months ago. In comparison, customers making purchases from non-contract carriers indicate spending just 44 minutes in the retail store.
Satisfaction with the overall purchase experience among other retailers, such as Apple, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack and Wal-Mart, averages 740 index points—18 points lower than among stores owned by full-service wireless carriers.
The 2011 Wireless Full-Service Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 9,190 wireless customers. The 2011 Wireless Non-Contract Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 1,767 wireless customers. Both studies are among current subscribers who report having a sales transaction with their current carrier within the past six months. The study was fielded from January through June 2011.
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Satisfaction with the Wireless Purchase Experience Differs Considerably Among Sales Channels
Now in their eighth year, the semiannual studies have been expanded in 2011 to collect evaluations from customers who recently had a wireless purchase experience using any of three contact methods: telephone calls with sales representatives; visits to a retail wireless store; and on the Web. Overall customer satisfaction with both full-service and non-contract branded carriers is based on six factors (in order of importance): store sales representative; website sales; phone sales representative; store facility; offerings and promotion; and cost of service.
The study finds that overall customer satisfaction varies widely by the type of channel used for their wireless sales transaction. Satisfaction is lowest among customers who most recently conducted a Web sales transaction (738 on a 1,000-point scale, on average), compared with retail (walk-in) and telephone channels (753 and 752, respectively). Customers who purchased through the Web channel, where finding information quickly is more challenging, tend to rate their experience lower based on the general lack of personal assistance, compared with either in-person or over the phone.
In addition, the study finds that satisfaction with cost of service and offerings and promotions is lower when purchases are made over the phone than when made online or in stores. For example, satisfaction with cost of service among purchases occurring over the phone averages 626, compared with 653 and 652 when purchases occur online and in stores, respectively. Similarly, satisfaction with offerings and promotions for purchases made over the phone averages 12 points lower than for online purchases and 17 points lower than for in-store purchases. Customers making purchases online and in stores have the opportunity to view all product offerings and see the pricing associated with each one, which is not always possible over the phone.
"Within the past year, there have been a number of new product and service plan innovations where, in most cases, relatively detailed information needs to be provided to customers in a logical and cost-effective manner," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "Being able to provide a seamless experience across multiple sales channels is key for service carriers, particularly as devices and plans become more complex. Providing up-to-date product and service information is becoming increasingly critical to exceeding customer expectations."
Overall satisfaction also differs by the method of purchase, as expectations are set by the type of purchase being made. For example, satisfaction is 775 among full-service customers who change their service plan via the phone, compared with just 716 among those opting to do so online. However, overall satisfaction scores do not vary by channel when purchasing a new device.
According to Parsons, full-service carriers that provide an exceptional purchase experience (receiving ratings of 10 on a 10-point scale) may earn $4 more per customer each month, compared with full-service carriers that do not provide a satisfactory experience.
Sprint and T-Mobile rank highest, in a tie, in customer satisfaction among major full-service wireless carriers with a score of 755 each. Sprint performs well among the website sales, offerings and promotions and cost of service factors. T-Mobile performs particularly well in the cost of service factor.
Boost Mobile ranks highest in overall purchase experience satisfaction among non-contract service carriers with an overall score of 766. Boost Mobile performs particularly well in phone sales representative, offerings and promotions and cost of service. MetroPCS (760) and Virgin Mobile (753) follow Boost Mobile in the non-contract service carrier rankings.
The study also finds the following key retail wireless sales transaction patterns:
Sixty-two percent of full-service customers indicate that their most recent purchase experience occurred in a retail store location, while 19 percent say that their most recent sales transaction occurred via the telephone or online channel. This differs considerably from non-contract branded customers—26 percent say their most recent purchase transaction occurred online, and only 13 percent indicate that it was over the telephone.
The average total time customers spent in the full-service retail store to complete the sales transaction is approximately 53 minutes—a decrease of more than three minutes, compared with six months ago. In comparison, customers making purchases from non-contract carriers indicate spending just 44 minutes in the retail store.
Satisfaction with the overall purchase experience among other retailers, such as Apple, Best Buy, Costco, RadioShack and Wal-Mart, averages 740 index points—18 points lower than among stores owned by full-service wireless carriers.
The 2011 Wireless Full-Service Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 9,190 wireless customers. The 2011 Wireless Non-Contract Purchase Experience Study—Volume 2 is based on responses from 1,767 wireless customers. Both studies are among current subscribers who report having a sales transaction with their current carrier within the past six months. The study was fielded from January through June 2011.
J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Satisfaction with the Wireless Purchase Experience Differs Considerably Among Sales Channels
Pakistan - Parliamentary Cttee accused mobile operators of plundering with corrupt employees of the regulator
[pakistan tribune] Standing Committee of the Senate on Telecommunications and Information Technology has said mobile companies are plundering the people with both hands in collaboration with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), "whose corrupt employees are taking their share from these companies".
The committee meeting was held at the Parliament House on Wednesday. Chairman of the committee Senator Idrees Khan presided.
He constituted an eight-member sub-committee under the chairmanship of Senator Zahid Khan which would submit its report to the committee after making an inquiry into the billions of rupees of corruption in the Universal Service Fund.
Chairman PTA Muhammad Yaseen told the committee that at present only 13 operators are allowed to bring international traffic of telecom signals to Pakistan. He said in 2008 a system was installed to check unauthorized signals, but only 30 percent international calls are being monitored as the system has not been upgraded till date. An amount of $10 million would be required o improve the monitoring system.
He informed the committee that Rs64 billion revenue was collected on account of international call traffic, which was given to Universal Service Funds. On the occasion the chairman standing committee pointed out that illegal international call traffic is on the rise as it shares 25 percent of the total telecom traffic.
Senator Faisal Raza Abdi said a fraud of Rs4 billion occurred in Universal Service Fund. He said several illegal telephone exchanges have been running in the country under the supervision of dishonest officers of FIA. The member board of director of Universal Service Funds is himself working as a contractor.
He said the role of PTA is almost nil and its staff is getting heavy salaries and perks for doing nothing. "One minute call drops after a few seconds, but the consumer has to pay full dues". The committee has decided to call representatives of the mobile companies in the next meeting.
Senate body flays mobile companies for illegal profits
The committee meeting was held at the Parliament House on Wednesday. Chairman of the committee Senator Idrees Khan presided.
He constituted an eight-member sub-committee under the chairmanship of Senator Zahid Khan which would submit its report to the committee after making an inquiry into the billions of rupees of corruption in the Universal Service Fund.
Chairman PTA Muhammad Yaseen told the committee that at present only 13 operators are allowed to bring international traffic of telecom signals to Pakistan. He said in 2008 a system was installed to check unauthorized signals, but only 30 percent international calls are being monitored as the system has not been upgraded till date. An amount of $10 million would be required o improve the monitoring system.
He informed the committee that Rs64 billion revenue was collected on account of international call traffic, which was given to Universal Service Funds. On the occasion the chairman standing committee pointed out that illegal international call traffic is on the rise as it shares 25 percent of the total telecom traffic.
Senator Faisal Raza Abdi said a fraud of Rs4 billion occurred in Universal Service Fund. He said several illegal telephone exchanges have been running in the country under the supervision of dishonest officers of FIA. The member board of director of Universal Service Funds is himself working as a contractor.
He said the role of PTA is almost nil and its staff is getting heavy salaries and perks for doing nothing. "One minute call drops after a few seconds, but the consumer has to pay full dues". The committee has decided to call representatives of the mobile companies in the next meeting.
Senate body flays mobile companies for illegal profits
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Social Networking - LinkedIn.com has launched a mobile app for Apple, Android and the mobile Web
[ny times] LinkedIn hopes to capture some of the frenzy surrounding social networking on smartphones with a series of major updates announced Tuesday on the company’s Web site.
The company’s mobile offerings, which have grown relatively stale, have been completely redesigned for Apple iOS, Google Android and the mobile Web with a slick and simple interface and a batch of new features.
Joff Redfern, mobile product director at LinkedIn, said in a phone interview that the new apps were meant to make the service more attractive to mobile users. Mr. Redfern said that the company hoped to engage people who used LinkedIn primarily on the Web and rarely used its mobile products.
LinkedIn Targets Mobile Users
The company’s mobile offerings, which have grown relatively stale, have been completely redesigned for Apple iOS, Google Android and the mobile Web with a slick and simple interface and a batch of new features.
Joff Redfern, mobile product director at LinkedIn, said in a phone interview that the new apps were meant to make the service more attractive to mobile users. Mr. Redfern said that the company hoped to engage people who used LinkedIn primarily on the Web and rarely used its mobile products.
LinkedIn Targets Mobile Users
UK - One Scottish police force will accept reporting of crimes using Facebook
[bbc] Criminals can now be reported to the police on Facebook under a new scheme launched by Lothian and Borders Police.
The 'Made From Crime' initiative will allow internet users to report their concerns online, anonymously if they wish, through an advert on the site.
It is the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, and has the backing of the Scottish government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
It makes use of the Proceeds of Crime Act, allowing officers to seize assets.
Crime to be reported to police on Facebook
The 'Made From Crime' initiative will allow internet users to report their concerns online, anonymously if they wish, through an advert on the site.
It is the first scheme of its kind in Scotland, and has the backing of the Scottish government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
It makes use of the Proceeds of Crime Act, allowing officers to seize assets.
Crime to be reported to police on Facebook
USA - Online privacy policies can be made more consistent to help in presenting them to customers
[NY Times] For many Internet users, online privacy policies are long and difficult to read. Transfer those same policies to a mobile device, where users can find themselves clicking through multiple screens often with tiny type, and the policies can become almost useless to the average consumer.
Yet those same policies govern how much user data is collected through mobile applications and how that data is shared with advertisers and other third parties. And with growing concern over data collection, including proposed legislation to more closely protect consumers, one company is trying to make privacy policies that are both easy for consumers to read and easy for mobile application developers to create.
“Everybody complains that no one reads privacy policies and that privacy policies are too long and too difficult,” said Jim Brock, the founder of PrivacyChoice, a company that has analyzed and indexed the data in hundreds of privacy policies across the Web. “The mobile environment requires you to say things very succinctly, and it requires you to say things in layers.”
Using the data collected from hundreds of online privacy policies, Mr. Brock and his team devised a tool to help mobile application developers create basic policies without the help of a lawyer. Developers who want to use the tool can select answers to basic questions about how they collect data, how that data is used and whether it can be deleted.
The resulting policy boils complicated policy language down to a few sentences like “We collect or share your location only with your permission” or “We keep personal data until you delete it.”
“If you have 10 minutes, you can get on the right side of privacy rules,” said Mr. Brock, who estimates that the vast majority of applications that mobile phone users download don’t have privacy policies at all. Policies that do exist can be challenging for users to read without having to click through multiple screens. Adding to the confusion, many application developers are small businesses that make revenue off customized advertising, but don’t have a consistent approach to making policy.
Morgan Reed, the executive director for the Association for Competitive Technology, a trade organization that supports mobile application developers, said more than 80 percent of developers are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Many of the apps they create collect data on users — including their location — that can be sent to advertising networks, which in turn show users ads based on the data that has been collected.
Without advertising revenue, app developers would have to charge more for their apps — which typically sell for 99 cents to a few dollars each — and some might find it difficult to stay in business. “Solving this privacy problem is absolutely critical for us,” Mr. Reed said. “We want to make sure this revenue stream continues.”
The cost for a legal consultation, which can range from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands, can also be a deterrent for small app developers looking to create privacy policies. But Christopher Wolf, a partner at the Hogan Lovells law firm and a co-chairman of the Future of Privacy Forum, said app developers should not claim cost as an excuse.
“I think it’s a cop-out for app developers to say they don’t have the budget for it,” Mr. Wolf said. “It’s an investment for any business that deals in consumer data. They ought to build it into the development cost.”
Andrew Binkowski, a researcher at the University of Chicago and an app developer, said allowing advertising on his baby name app, Stork Drop, doubled his revenue. Mr. Binkowski said the app drew advertisements for items like diapers or cord blood banks (facilities that store umbilical cord blood for future use).
As for privacy policies, Mr. Binkowski said he wasn’t sure if it was necessary to have one given that his apps did not collect personally identifiable data and in some cases, did not collect any data at all. The cost and expertise needed to create a privacy policy were also a concern. “I’m still not certain about what needs to go in there,” he added.
Forrester Research predicts that by 2015, 36 percent of consumers in the United States will use mobile Internet services, with spending on mobile advertising expected to increase to $2.8 billion.
In June, Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, proposed legislation along with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, that would require mobile companies to obtain a user’s consent before collecting location-based data and before sharing that data with third parties.
Recent efforts to increase the availability of mobile privacy policies, like Mr. Brock’s policy generator, “is a good first step in informing consumers,” Mr. Franken said in an e-mail. “But it alone will not address the majority of privacy threats that consumers face on their mobile devices.”
Another tool to manage tracking by advertisers and ad networks is being developed by Evidon, the company that provided the technology behind an icon-based online self-regulatory program supported by the Digital Advertising Alliance.
Scott Meyer, the company’s chief executive, said work is under way on a tool that would allow users to opt out of being served targeted advertising across multiple providers, similar to the way the icon program works. Mr. Meyer said the company had already signed contracts with multiple ad networks and agencies and expected to announce the new tool by the end of the year.
“The point of this is to build a more trusted environment,” Mr. Meyer said.
Industry Tries to Streamline Privacy Policies for Mobile Users
Yet those same policies govern how much user data is collected through mobile applications and how that data is shared with advertisers and other third parties. And with growing concern over data collection, including proposed legislation to more closely protect consumers, one company is trying to make privacy policies that are both easy for consumers to read and easy for mobile application developers to create.
“Everybody complains that no one reads privacy policies and that privacy policies are too long and too difficult,” said Jim Brock, the founder of PrivacyChoice, a company that has analyzed and indexed the data in hundreds of privacy policies across the Web. “The mobile environment requires you to say things very succinctly, and it requires you to say things in layers.”
Using the data collected from hundreds of online privacy policies, Mr. Brock and his team devised a tool to help mobile application developers create basic policies without the help of a lawyer. Developers who want to use the tool can select answers to basic questions about how they collect data, how that data is used and whether it can be deleted.
The resulting policy boils complicated policy language down to a few sentences like “We collect or share your location only with your permission” or “We keep personal data until you delete it.”
“If you have 10 minutes, you can get on the right side of privacy rules,” said Mr. Brock, who estimates that the vast majority of applications that mobile phone users download don’t have privacy policies at all. Policies that do exist can be challenging for users to read without having to click through multiple screens. Adding to the confusion, many application developers are small businesses that make revenue off customized advertising, but don’t have a consistent approach to making policy.
Morgan Reed, the executive director for the Association for Competitive Technology, a trade organization that supports mobile application developers, said more than 80 percent of developers are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Many of the apps they create collect data on users — including their location — that can be sent to advertising networks, which in turn show users ads based on the data that has been collected.
Without advertising revenue, app developers would have to charge more for their apps — which typically sell for 99 cents to a few dollars each — and some might find it difficult to stay in business. “Solving this privacy problem is absolutely critical for us,” Mr. Reed said. “We want to make sure this revenue stream continues.”
The cost for a legal consultation, which can range from a couple of hundred dollars to thousands, can also be a deterrent for small app developers looking to create privacy policies. But Christopher Wolf, a partner at the Hogan Lovells law firm and a co-chairman of the Future of Privacy Forum, said app developers should not claim cost as an excuse.
“I think it’s a cop-out for app developers to say they don’t have the budget for it,” Mr. Wolf said. “It’s an investment for any business that deals in consumer data. They ought to build it into the development cost.”
Andrew Binkowski, a researcher at the University of Chicago and an app developer, said allowing advertising on his baby name app, Stork Drop, doubled his revenue. Mr. Binkowski said the app drew advertisements for items like diapers or cord blood banks (facilities that store umbilical cord blood for future use).
As for privacy policies, Mr. Binkowski said he wasn’t sure if it was necessary to have one given that his apps did not collect personally identifiable data and in some cases, did not collect any data at all. The cost and expertise needed to create a privacy policy were also a concern. “I’m still not certain about what needs to go in there,” he added.
Forrester Research predicts that by 2015, 36 percent of consumers in the United States will use mobile Internet services, with spending on mobile advertising expected to increase to $2.8 billion.
In June, Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota and the chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy, technology and the law, proposed legislation along with Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, that would require mobile companies to obtain a user’s consent before collecting location-based data and before sharing that data with third parties.
Recent efforts to increase the availability of mobile privacy policies, like Mr. Brock’s policy generator, “is a good first step in informing consumers,” Mr. Franken said in an e-mail. “But it alone will not address the majority of privacy threats that consumers face on their mobile devices.”
Another tool to manage tracking by advertisers and ad networks is being developed by Evidon, the company that provided the technology behind an icon-based online self-regulatory program supported by the Digital Advertising Alliance.
Scott Meyer, the company’s chief executive, said work is under way on a tool that would allow users to opt out of being served targeted advertising across multiple providers, similar to the way the icon program works. Mr. Meyer said the company had already signed contracts with multiple ad networks and agencies and expected to announce the new tool by the end of the year.
“The point of this is to build a more trusted environment,” Mr. Meyer said.
Industry Tries to Streamline Privacy Policies for Mobile Users
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Netherlands - Dutch competition authority blocked the sale of CAIW a cable operator to KPN
[dutch news] The Dutch anti-cartel authority NMa has blocked the sale of a small cable service provider to KPN, saying it would 'strongly' limit competition, and calling for more research.
KPN said in May it planned to take over CAIW (known as Caiway), which has 143,000 clients mainly in the west of the country.
'The takeover would lead to both the cable and the copper network in the west being owned by the same firm, the NMa said in a statement. 'This will limit consumer choice in terms of television services, internet access and fixed link telephony.'
The NMa will now carry out a more detailed investigation into the takeover. In addition, KPN will have to apply for a licence to acquire CAIW if it decides to press ahead.
According to the Financieele Dagblad, KPN plans to press ahead with the purchase, despite NMa opposition.
Cartel body blocks KPN's acquisition of cable firm Caiway
KPN said in May it planned to take over CAIW (known as Caiway), which has 143,000 clients mainly in the west of the country.
'The takeover would lead to both the cable and the copper network in the west being owned by the same firm, the NMa said in a statement. 'This will limit consumer choice in terms of television services, internet access and fixed link telephony.'
The NMa will now carry out a more detailed investigation into the takeover. In addition, KPN will have to apply for a licence to acquire CAIW if it decides to press ahead.
According to the Financieele Dagblad, KPN plans to press ahead with the purchase, despite NMa opposition.
Cartel body blocks KPN's acquisition of cable firm Caiway
Greece - Spectrum auction is pitched at higher prices to help pay off its deficit
[ny times] This November, the Greek government hopes to raise as much as €300 million by auctioning some of the best parts of its broadcast spectrum to three mobile network operators. Proceeds from the sale would help Greece weather its financial crisis.
But Greece, despite its grave fiscal problems, is by no means acting like a distressed seller. The country is planning to sell 14 units of prime 900-megahertz spectrum. At current prices, a block of 10 megahertz could cost as much as €46.6 million, or $66.2 million. One operator, Wind Hellas, says that is twice as much as other European sellers are asking in similar sales.
“The approach used to set the price for the renewal of mobile spectrum is driven solely by short-term revenue gains and disregards the need for Greece to create a positive investment climate,” Nassos Zarkalis, the chief executive of Wind, the No. 3 operator, said after the government set the auction’s terms in late July. “This sends the worst signal possible to international investors.”
The price demands are particularly galling to Wind, whose owners, a group of five U.S and British investment funds, recently paid €420 million to acquire the company in December, the largest single investment by a foreign company in Greece so far.
Terms of Spectrum Auction in Greece Rankle Operators
But Greece, despite its grave fiscal problems, is by no means acting like a distressed seller. The country is planning to sell 14 units of prime 900-megahertz spectrum. At current prices, a block of 10 megahertz could cost as much as €46.6 million, or $66.2 million. One operator, Wind Hellas, says that is twice as much as other European sellers are asking in similar sales.
“The approach used to set the price for the renewal of mobile spectrum is driven solely by short-term revenue gains and disregards the need for Greece to create a positive investment climate,” Nassos Zarkalis, the chief executive of Wind, the No. 3 operator, said after the government set the auction’s terms in late July. “This sends the worst signal possible to international investors.”
The price demands are particularly galling to Wind, whose owners, a group of five U.S and British investment funds, recently paid €420 million to acquire the company in December, the largest single investment by a foreign company in Greece so far.
Terms of Spectrum Auction in Greece Rankle Operators
USA - Verizon ranked top mobile carrier by Strategy Analytics
[fierce wireless] Strategy Analytics ranked US mobile carriers
1 Verizon Wireless
2 AT&T Mobility
3 Sprint Nextel
4 T-Mobile USA
5 MetroPCS
6 Clearwire
7 U.S. Cellular
8 Leap Wireless
9 Cellular South
10 ATN
11 Cincinnati
12 Ntelos
Grading the top 10 U.S. carriers in the second quarter of 2011
1 Verizon Wireless
2 AT&T Mobility
3 Sprint Nextel
4 T-Mobile USA
5 MetroPCS
6 Clearwire
7 U.S. Cellular
8 Leap Wireless
9 Cellular South
10 ATN
11 Cincinnati
12 Ntelos
Grading the top 10 U.S. carriers in the second quarter of 2011
Mobile handsets - Gartner estimates Nokia share has slipped from 30.1 to 22.8%
[NY Times] Nokia is about to drop from its position as the leading cellphone maker in the world, according to the latest sales estimates made by the technology analysts at Gartner.
Nokia was still No. 1 in the second quarter of the year, but its worldwide market share slipped to 22.8 percent from 30.1 percent in the same quarter a year ago.
The rest of the horse race goes as follows: Samsung at 16.3 percent, down from 17.8 percent, and LG at 5.7 percent, down from 8 percent.
Hugues De La Vergne, the author of the report, said sales of cellphones and smartphones were starting to slide in Europe, where those three makers are strong. He also said that Nokia appears to have stuffed the sales channels to get rid of inventory, which it won’t be able to do in the current quarter.
Gaining strength was Apple in the No. 4 slot with 4.6 percent, up from 2.4 percent, followed by ZTE with 3 percent, up from 1.8 percent.
Research in Motion, to no one’s surprise, also slipped. Its market share is about 3 percent, down from 3.2 percent.
Cellphone Market Share Shifting
Nokia was still No. 1 in the second quarter of the year, but its worldwide market share slipped to 22.8 percent from 30.1 percent in the same quarter a year ago.
The rest of the horse race goes as follows: Samsung at 16.3 percent, down from 17.8 percent, and LG at 5.7 percent, down from 8 percent.
Hugues De La Vergne, the author of the report, said sales of cellphones and smartphones were starting to slide in Europe, where those three makers are strong. He also said that Nokia appears to have stuffed the sales channels to get rid of inventory, which it won’t be able to do in the current quarter.
Gaining strength was Apple in the No. 4 slot with 4.6 percent, up from 2.4 percent, followed by ZTE with 3 percent, up from 1.8 percent.
Research in Motion, to no one’s surprise, also slipped. Its market share is about 3 percent, down from 3.2 percent.
Cellphone Market Share Shifting
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Iraq - Parliament wants USD 2.85 Bn from mobile operators
Iraq's parliament has ruled that three mobile operators must pay $2.85 billion in licence fees and fines within a month, overturning a deal allowing them to pay over five years, lawmakers and officials said on Thursday.
The ruling late on Wednesday could reinforce investor worries about unclear regulations over who controls the telecommunications sector, one of the fastest growing industries in a country pulling back from years of war.
Iraq's Ministry of Communications and the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), an independent body linked to parliament, both oversee the telecoms sector, but they are usually at odds over who has the final word on regulation.
Iraq's parliament voted late on Wednesday to recommend Kuwait operator Zain (ZAIN.KW), Asiacell, an affiliate of Qatar Telecom (QTEL.QA) (Qtel), and Korek, part-owned by France Telecom SA (FTE.PA), pay all the $2.85 billion within a month.
But in a reflection of the murkiness of regulations, officials and lawmakers gave conflicting interpretations on whether the vote was binding because the companies had struck a deal with the previous government to pay that amount over five years.
The payment covers the cost of their operating licences in Iraq, interest for delayed payments and fines.
Iraqi lawmakers seek $2.85 bln from telecom firms
The ruling late on Wednesday could reinforce investor worries about unclear regulations over who controls the telecommunications sector, one of the fastest growing industries in a country pulling back from years of war.
Iraq's Ministry of Communications and the Communications and Media Commission (CMC), an independent body linked to parliament, both oversee the telecoms sector, but they are usually at odds over who has the final word on regulation.
Iraq's parliament voted late on Wednesday to recommend Kuwait operator Zain (ZAIN.KW), Asiacell, an affiliate of Qatar Telecom (QTEL.QA) (Qtel), and Korek, part-owned by France Telecom SA (FTE.PA), pay all the $2.85 billion within a month.
But in a reflection of the murkiness of regulations, officials and lawmakers gave conflicting interpretations on whether the vote was binding because the companies had struck a deal with the previous government to pay that amount over five years.
The payment covers the cost of their operating licences in Iraq, interest for delayed payments and fines.
Iraqi lawmakers seek $2.85 bln from telecom firms
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thailand - Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap is the new Minister of ICT, promises to sort out concessions
[Bangkok Post] The new Information and Communications Technology (ICT) minister says reorganising all mobile concessions will be one of his first tasks aimed at addressing past illegal concession amendments.
Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap was royally endorsed on Tuesday to head what he admitted is a ministry of choice.
He said he would make a nationwide broadband network a top priority in order to narrow the digital divide so that the technology is available to urban and rural communities alike.
"Under my leadership, a level playing field will be created for all telecom companies in terms of regulatory framework and concession terms so that ICT is accessible and affordable to all Thai citizen, serving the nation's interests," he told the Bangkok Post.
"I will not take sides with or favour any company, even the mobile leader AIS. Any company found guilty of wrongdoing will be subjected to the same rule and law.
"I have no particular loyalty or agenda with any company."
Gp Capt Anudith also said the probe into DTAC's nationality, initiated by its rival True Move during the previous government, would continue.
"If the country's second-largest mobile operator is found guilty of using nominees, an act in violation of the Foreign Business Alliance Act [action must be taken]. [Investigation into the shareholder structure of] AIS would be no exception either."
Gp Capt Anudith, former leader of the Royal Thai Air Force's F-16ADF squadron, has the full backing of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan - a former key member of Thai Rak Thai who retains a strong influence in Pheu Thai though she is currently banned from politics.
Bangkok MP Anudith also said that he wanted to erase the negative image of the two state telecom enterprises, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, by restructuring and reorganising them to make them fit for the highly competitive telecom market.
He indicated that the ministry would complete and announce key plans next week to drive ICT expansion, strengthen the ICT master plan, as well as a policy and legislative framework aimed at addressing the sector's problems by creating a level playing field for everyone.
New ICT minister vows to sort out concession mess
Gp Capt Anudith Nakornthap was royally endorsed on Tuesday to head what he admitted is a ministry of choice.
He said he would make a nationwide broadband network a top priority in order to narrow the digital divide so that the technology is available to urban and rural communities alike.
"Under my leadership, a level playing field will be created for all telecom companies in terms of regulatory framework and concession terms so that ICT is accessible and affordable to all Thai citizen, serving the nation's interests," he told the Bangkok Post.
"I will not take sides with or favour any company, even the mobile leader AIS. Any company found guilty of wrongdoing will be subjected to the same rule and law.
"I have no particular loyalty or agenda with any company."
Gp Capt Anudith also said the probe into DTAC's nationality, initiated by its rival True Move during the previous government, would continue.
"If the country's second-largest mobile operator is found guilty of using nominees, an act in violation of the Foreign Business Alliance Act [action must be taken]. [Investigation into the shareholder structure of] AIS would be no exception either."
Gp Capt Anudith, former leader of the Royal Thai Air Force's F-16ADF squadron, has the full backing of Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan - a former key member of Thai Rak Thai who retains a strong influence in Pheu Thai though she is currently banned from politics.
Bangkok MP Anudith also said that he wanted to erase the negative image of the two state telecom enterprises, TOT Plc and CAT Telecom, by restructuring and reorganising them to make them fit for the highly competitive telecom market.
He indicated that the ministry would complete and announce key plans next week to drive ICT expansion, strengthen the ICT master plan, as well as a policy and legislative framework aimed at addressing the sector's problems by creating a level playing field for everyone.
New ICT minister vows to sort out concession mess
Thursday, August 11, 2011
South Africa - ISPA argues for the importance of optical fibre as backhaul for other networks
[news24] Despite the exponential growth of wireless internet connectivity, cable broadband remains relevant in SA, the Internet Service Providers' Association (Ispa) said.
"The fibre is critical somewhere in the network, so even if I'm now getting an LTE 42mbps service from Vodacom, you're accessing the internet through that; you're getting to the closest base station. What happens once it gets to the base station? Fibre," Dominic Cull, Ispa regulatory advisor told News24.
Cull said that despite the rise in mobile wireless devices, broadband would continue to rely on cable for the foreseeable future.
"There's got to be fibre in your core network, even if your last mile is wireless," he said.
SA has seen an explosion of wireless devices and access to the internet via the wireless networks. Mobile operators have been racing to upgrade their networks as consumer demand for web access has expanded.
SA cable broadband still relevant - Ispa
"The fibre is critical somewhere in the network, so even if I'm now getting an LTE 42mbps service from Vodacom, you're accessing the internet through that; you're getting to the closest base station. What happens once it gets to the base station? Fibre," Dominic Cull, Ispa regulatory advisor told News24.
Cull said that despite the rise in mobile wireless devices, broadband would continue to rely on cable for the foreseeable future.
"There's got to be fibre in your core network, even if your last mile is wireless," he said.
SA has seen an explosion of wireless devices and access to the internet via the wireless networks. Mobile operators have been racing to upgrade their networks as consumer demand for web access has expanded.
SA cable broadband still relevant - Ispa
Computing - The PC is going the way of typewriters, vinyl records and vacuum tubes
[bbc] PCs are going the way of typewriters, vinyl records and vacuum tubes, one of the engineers who worked on the original machine has said.
The claim was made in a blog post commemorating 30 years since the launch of the first IBM personal computer.
No longer, said Dr Mark Dean, are PCs the leading edge of computing.
No single device has taken the PC's place, he said, instead it has been replaced by the socially-mediated innovation it has fostered.
While IBM was not the first to produce a personal computer, the launch of the 5150 on 12 August 1981 established standards and a design around which many desktop machines have since been built.
Era of the PC 'coming to a close'
see also original blog
The claim was made in a blog post commemorating 30 years since the launch of the first IBM personal computer.
No longer, said Dr Mark Dean, are PCs the leading edge of computing.
No single device has taken the PC's place, he said, instead it has been replaced by the socially-mediated innovation it has fostered.
While IBM was not the first to produce a personal computer, the launch of the 5150 on 12 August 1981 established standards and a design around which many desktop machines have since been built.
Era of the PC 'coming to a close'
see also original blog
Cameroon - 6,000km of optical fibre as part of the Central African Backbone linking to Chad, Cameroon and CAR
[cameroon tribune] Cameroon now counts close to six thousand kilometres of active optical fibre planted across the national territory, thanks to the Central African Backbone (CAB) project which went underway in 2010. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jean-Pierre Biyiti bi Essam, also President of the national steering committee of the sub-regional project, has said.
Mr Biyiti bi Essam was speaking at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel yesterday August 10 while chairing the first national steering committee meeting of the project. The meeting, he said, was meant to evaluate the path covered thus far and chart the way forward.
Since launching the sub-regional project in Yaounde on August 5, 2010, the government of Cameroon went down to work, through the country's telecommunications outfit, Camtel, through whom the over 5,000 km optical fibre cables have been planted. The minister disclosed that the project endorsed by the CEMAC Head of States seeks to decrease prohibitive telecommunication costs in landlocked countries, improve quality, route diversification and coverage of telecommunication services and enable regional integration through public-private partnership implementation.
The ongoing phase one of the CEMAC/World sponsored project covers Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic while phase two will include other African countries like, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. "While Cameroon is already fully engaged with the planting of the optical fibre cables, other countries are still being awaited to bring onboard their backbone for interconnection so as to render effective the CAB project," Nana Yomba Lucien, Director of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, said.
Telecommunications - Cameroon Assesses CAB Project
Mr Biyiti bi Essam was speaking at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel yesterday August 10 while chairing the first national steering committee meeting of the project. The meeting, he said, was meant to evaluate the path covered thus far and chart the way forward.
Since launching the sub-regional project in Yaounde on August 5, 2010, the government of Cameroon went down to work, through the country's telecommunications outfit, Camtel, through whom the over 5,000 km optical fibre cables have been planted. The minister disclosed that the project endorsed by the CEMAC Head of States seeks to decrease prohibitive telecommunication costs in landlocked countries, improve quality, route diversification and coverage of telecommunication services and enable regional integration through public-private partnership implementation.
The ongoing phase one of the CEMAC/World sponsored project covers Chad, Cameroon and the Central African Republic while phase two will include other African countries like, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others. "While Cameroon is already fully engaged with the planting of the optical fibre cables, other countries are still being awaited to bring onboard their backbone for interconnection so as to render effective the CAB project," Nana Yomba Lucien, Director of Infrastructure in the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, said.
Telecommunications - Cameroon Assesses CAB Project
Amazon - Launch of the "Kindle Cloud Reader" for Apple products to bypass its hefty retail margin
[bbc] Amazon has launched a browser-based version of its Kindle eBook application called the Kindle Cloud Reader.
The software is optimised for iPad tablets, but directs customers to Amazon's own eBook store instead of using Apple's purchasing system.
This avoids the 30 percent charge on in-app purchases levied by Apple.
The launch follows recent changes to Apple's terms that forced Amazon and others to remove direct purchasing links in their native iPad programs.
Kindle Cloud Reader can run on PCs, Macs and mobile devices using the Apple Safari or Google Chrome web browser.
The application is not regarded as a 'native' program because it runs in a web page, and therefore isn't subject to Apple restrictions.
However, using the latest HTML5 web technology, Cloud Reader looks like a native app - and even saves books onto the user's device for reading offline.
A button on the web page takes users to Amazon's Kindle Store where they can purchase new items.
Amazon dodges iPad rules with a web-based Kindle reader
The software is optimised for iPad tablets, but directs customers to Amazon's own eBook store instead of using Apple's purchasing system.
This avoids the 30 percent charge on in-app purchases levied by Apple.
The launch follows recent changes to Apple's terms that forced Amazon and others to remove direct purchasing links in their native iPad programs.
Kindle Cloud Reader can run on PCs, Macs and mobile devices using the Apple Safari or Google Chrome web browser.
The application is not regarded as a 'native' program because it runs in a web page, and therefore isn't subject to Apple restrictions.
However, using the latest HTML5 web technology, Cloud Reader looks like a native app - and even saves books onto the user's device for reading offline.
A button on the web page takes users to Amazon's Kindle Store where they can purchase new items.
Amazon dodges iPad rules with a web-based Kindle reader
Australia - Cisco predicts 84 million network-connected devices by 2015, three times the population
[cisco] Cisco predicts that the number of network-connected devices in Australia will be more than 84 million, more than triple Australia's population, by 2015. In the Australia-specific projections from its fifth annual global Cisco® Visual Networking Index Forecast (2010-2015) released today, the company also said the total amount of Australia's consumer and business Internet (IP) traffic will grow six-fold by 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41%.
When coupled with the Government's National Digital Economy Strategy, the results reveal that Australia is on the verge of a substantial evolution in how new jobs, businesses and even new public services will be enabled by a broadband-enabled economy. According to Cisco, the four key factors that will drive this evolution in Australia are:
1. More Internet users:By 2015, there will be 20 million Internet users – up from 14 million in 2010. The average Internet user will generate 19.5 gigabytes of Internet traffic per month in 2015, up 562% from 3.0 gigabytes per month in 2010, a CAGR of 46%.
2. Higher demand for broadband: IP traffic will reach 22 gigabytes per capita in Australia in 2015, up from 4 gigabytes per capita in Australia in 2010. In 2015, IP traffic will be the equivalent of 2 billion DVDs per year, 128 million DVDs per month or 175,885 DVDs per hour.
3. An increasing number of devices: The proliferation of tablets, mobile phones, connected appliances and other smart devices is driving up the demand for connectivity. By 2015, in Australia there will be 3.6 networked devices per capita, up from 2.1 per capita in 2010.
4. More video: By 2015, 15 billion minutes (27,716 years) of video content will traverse the Internet every month. Internet video traffic will be 81% of all consumer Internet traffic in 2015, up from 50% in 2010.
Today's research reinforces the need for Australian businesses to prepare for the next wave of productivity, collaboration and the stimulation of innovation that can be gained from the forthcoming NBN, one of the key platforms for Australia's economic future. The increase in Internet video traffic highlights that Australians are seeking more visual, virtual and mobile Internet experiences. This has implications for key industry sectors such as education, retail and entertainment and how they may consider creating more interactive, engaging learning, shopping and social experiences for Australians.
The research also predicts that Australian Internet-video-to-television traffic will be 14% of consumer Internet video traffic by 2015, up from 7% in 2010. This projection will be of interest to Australian employers who may choose to offer Web-based video conferencing to teleworkers as a means of maintaining the same collaborative work culture and productivity levels while saving the employee from commuting during peak hours and reducing transport congestion
Australia to See Internet Grow Six-Fold by 2015 – What's the Productivity Payoff?
When coupled with the Government's National Digital Economy Strategy, the results reveal that Australia is on the verge of a substantial evolution in how new jobs, businesses and even new public services will be enabled by a broadband-enabled economy. According to Cisco, the four key factors that will drive this evolution in Australia are:
1. More Internet users:By 2015, there will be 20 million Internet users – up from 14 million in 2010. The average Internet user will generate 19.5 gigabytes of Internet traffic per month in 2015, up 562% from 3.0 gigabytes per month in 2010, a CAGR of 46%.
2. Higher demand for broadband: IP traffic will reach 22 gigabytes per capita in Australia in 2015, up from 4 gigabytes per capita in Australia in 2010. In 2015, IP traffic will be the equivalent of 2 billion DVDs per year, 128 million DVDs per month or 175,885 DVDs per hour.
3. An increasing number of devices: The proliferation of tablets, mobile phones, connected appliances and other smart devices is driving up the demand for connectivity. By 2015, in Australia there will be 3.6 networked devices per capita, up from 2.1 per capita in 2010.
4. More video: By 2015, 15 billion minutes (27,716 years) of video content will traverse the Internet every month. Internet video traffic will be 81% of all consumer Internet traffic in 2015, up from 50% in 2010.
Today's research reinforces the need for Australian businesses to prepare for the next wave of productivity, collaboration and the stimulation of innovation that can be gained from the forthcoming NBN, one of the key platforms for Australia's economic future. The increase in Internet video traffic highlights that Australians are seeking more visual, virtual and mobile Internet experiences. This has implications for key industry sectors such as education, retail and entertainment and how they may consider creating more interactive, engaging learning, shopping and social experiences for Australians.
The research also predicts that Australian Internet-video-to-television traffic will be 14% of consumer Internet video traffic by 2015, up from 7% in 2010. This projection will be of interest to Australian employers who may choose to offer Web-based video conferencing to teleworkers as a means of maintaining the same collaborative work culture and productivity levels while saving the employee from commuting during peak hours and reducing transport congestion
Australia to See Internet Grow Six-Fold by 2015 – What's the Productivity Payoff?
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