Microsoft takes another crack at retail.

Source: InformationWeek.

Microsoft is preparing to open new retail stores in Mission Viejo, California, and Scottsdale, Arizona. Both will be in malls, and the California store will be near a store run by Apple.
Microsoft’s stores are expected to sell laptops and maybe mobile devices, software, Zune media players and the Xbox 360 and are intended to make customers associate Microsoft with entertainment rather than software for businesses.
The last time the company tried this strategy, in 1999, it flopped.

Posted by Judith — 3:14 AM

Cut in SAT-3 cable disrupts traffic to West Africa .

Source: Converge.

A fiber cut was reported on the SAT-3 cable, currently the major undersea network serving west Africa. The cut, which is believed to have occurred with the Benin landing cable, disrupted 70% of traffic to Nigeria.
The SAT-3 system, which was inaugurated in May 2002, links Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola and the Republic of South Africa.

Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM

China Unicom will expand trials of its WCDMA netwwork to 168 more cities in August.

Source: Telecompaper.

China Unicom will expand trials of its WCDMA netwwork to 168 more cities in August. The company has continuing trials in 100 cities at present. The newly added cities are in eighteen provinces, including Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Hunan, Liaoning, Sichuan and Yunnan. The company has earmarked CNY110bn. (US$16.1bn.)for network expansion this year.

Posted by Judith — 1:53 AM

AT&T makes unique WiFi deal with Barnes & Noble.

Source: FierceWireless.

AT&T has announced a new WiFi agreement with retailer Barnes & Noble to offer free WiFi to all of the store’s shoppers, not just AT&T customers. The deal also includes an ebook component whereby WiFi users, along with iPhone and BlackBerry users, will be able to access 700,000 Barnes & Noble ebooks.

Posted by Judith — 10:11 AM

Globalive awards second rollout contract, Alca-Lu benefits.

Source: TeleGeography.

Alcatel-Lucent has been awarded a ‘multi-million dollar’, three-year contract to help build Globalive Wireless’ new nationwide 3G/3.5G mobile network in Canada. Under the agreement Alca-Lu will supply Globalive with LTE-ready 3G radio access network. Earlier this month Globalive Wireless, which is part-owned by Egypt’s Orascom Telecom, awarded Nokia Siemens Networks a turnkey contract to build its W-CDMA/HSDPA network covering every Canadian province except Quebec.

Posted by Judith — 4:39 AM

Telenor set for clearance to increase Unitech stake.

Source: TeleGeography.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs is reported to be planning to recommend security clearance that will allow Norwegian telecoms group Telenor to increase its stake in Unitech Wireless to 74%.
Telenor already holds a 49% stake in Unitech Wireless and is planning to increase its stake to 69% as the third stage of a four step investment plan. It hopes to have completed the acquisition of a 74% stake in the cello by the end of 2009, which would give it management control of four out of seven seats on the board of directors.

Posted by Judith — 3:51 AM

VoIP in Europe: Its bite is worse than its bark.

Source: TeleGeography.

New data reveals that VoIP subscribers have grown from just over six million in 2005 to 34.6m. at year-end 2008. VoIP now accounts for more than 24% of fixed line telephone subscribers in Europe.
VoIP service revenues of EUR4.1bn. are still dwarfed by the nearly EUR36bn. generated by traditional switched fixed-line services. However, the impact of VoIP on the European fixed-line market is greater than its relatively modest subscriber and revenue share would suggest, due to the strong downward pressure VoIP-based competitors place on voice service prices.

Posted by Judith — 2:42 AM

Yahoo! and Microsoft to seal deal to rival Google.

Source: TimesonLine.

Microsoft and Yahoo! have finally agreed an online search and advertising partnership in a bid to rival Google.
The revenue sharing deal is expected to be announced later today, more than a year after Yahoo! rejected a US$47.5m. takeover bid from Microsoft and Yahoo!’s attempt to strike a search advertising deal with Google fell apart under regulatory scrutiny.
Under the deal, Microsoft’s new Bing search engine will power Yahoo!’s searches while Yahoo! will handle advertising sales. The companies will use Microsoft’s advertising technology to deliver appropriate ads alongside search results.

Posted by Judith — 4:23 AM

Verizon, Qualcomm form JV to offer M2M services.

Source: TelecomPaper.

US-based mobile semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm and Verizon Wireless have entered into a contract to provide machine-to-machine wireless communications and smart services offerings across different market segments. The joint venture (name still to be determined) will be equally owned by Qualcomm and Verizon.

Posted by Judith — 3:54 AM

Alcatel-Lucent acquires Velocix for multi-source Content Delivery Network .

Source: Converge.

Alcatel-Lucent has acquired Velocix (formerly known as CacheLogic), a leading global provider of Content Delivery Network infrastructure and services, for an undisclosed sum.
Velocix, which is based in the UK, provides expedited Internet delivery for digital assets such as video, music, software and games.

Posted by Judith — 3:00 AM

Sprint Nextel buys Virgin Mobile USA.

Source: Cellular-news.

Sprint Nextel is buying the US MVNO, Virgin Mobile for a total equity value of approximately US$483m., which includes the value of Sprint’s existing 13.1% stake in the company. Following the closing of the transaction, Sprint’s prepaid business, which includes its Boost Mobile brand, will be led by Dan Schulman, current Virgin Mobile USA chief executive office.

Posted by Judith — 7:30 AM

IBM to acquire software maker for US$1.2bn.

Source: NYT.

IBM has announced that it has acquired a maker of analytics software maker, SPSS, in an all-cash transaction of $50 a share for a deal valued at about US$1.2 bn.
I.B.M. said the acquisition of SPSS, which is based in Chicago, was expected to strengthen its information-agenda initiative, which helps companies turn information into a strategic asset.

Posted by Judith — 6:25 AM

Verizon Wireless seeks U.S. court judgment on ads.

Source: Reuters.

Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Verizon and Vodafone Group PLC, has asked a U.S. court for a judgment that its advertising claims to be “America’s Most Reliable 3G Network” were truthful, which rival AT&T called “misleading”.

Posted by Judith — 5:13 AM

Orange and Blyk ink mobile advertising deal.

Source: TeleGeography.

British mobile network operator Orange UK has announced an agreement with Finnish mobile advertising company Blyk, Reuters is reporting. The partnership, which was rumoured earlier this month, will see Orange customers offered the option of receiving specifically targeted adverts via SMS and MMS in exchange for access to specially-created tariffs.

Posted by Judith — 4:02 AM

Time Warner completes AOL transaction.

Source: TeleGeography.

In a regulatory filing yesterday Time Warner revealed that it has completed the purchase of a 5% stake in its ISP subsidiary AOL from Google. The firm paid US$283m. for the stake, meaning that it now holds 100% of AOL shares.

Posted by Judith — 2:56 AM

EU frees 900MHz spectrum blocks.

Source: BWCS.

The EU has finally agreed to release the 900MHz spectrum for wider use. Until now, the spectrum band had been reserved exclusively for GSM mobile. The move will allow other technologies to begin using some of the spectrum, once local regulators give the go-ahead.

Posted by Judith — 2:27 AM

Ontario urges PM to block foreign Nortel sale.

Source: The Globe and Mail.

The Harper government is facing growing pressure to intervene in the liquidation of Nortel, but shows no signs of supporting an effort by RIM to keep assets of the company in Canadian hands.
In a highly unusual move, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan joined federal opposition parties in urging Ottawa to act on the Nortel sale, with Mr. Duncan arguing the proposed US$1.13bn. foreign acquisition of its wireless division should be blocked.

Posted by Judith — 1:11 AM

Senate confirms Baker, Clyburn for FCC posts.

Source: FierceWireless.

The Senate has confirmed Meredith Attwell Baker and Mignon Clyburn for the last two FCC seats on the five-member commission, putting the FCC at full strength for the first time in months. The vote came by unanimous consent.

Posted by Judith — 9:54 AM

EU clears directive on UMTS in 900MHz band.

Source: Telecompaper.

The EU Council of Ministers has given final approval to changes to the GSM Directive. The move allows mobile operators to roll out UMTS services in the 900MHz band, which had previously been reserved exclusively for GSM. The use of the 900MHz band is expected to help mobile operators expand 3G coverage more quickly and at a lower cost.

Posted by Judith — 8:30 AM

Nokia acquires Cellity’s social network and shuts it down.

Source: mocoNews.

Nokia has agreed to acquire certain assets of Hamburg, Germany-based cellity, a social networking software company. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Nokia said it will acquire the company’s 14 employees to “strengthen its competencies in the area of social networking,” but will discontinue the service.

Posted by Judith — 3:12 AM

Ericsson wins auction for Nortel’s wireless assets.

Source: Reuters.

Sweden’s Ericsson has won an auction for the wireless assets of bankrupt Nortel Networks Corp in a deal valued at $1.13bn.
The proposed sale, announced by Nortel in a news release, means Ericsson will own the Canadian company’s key CDMA and next-generation LTE wireless technologies, which it put on the block after filing for creditor protection in January.

Posted by Judith — 5:31 AM

Vodafone targets O2 in new assault on home market.

Source: The Independent.

Vodafone is upping its assault on O2, its largest rival in the UK, by overhauling its strategy and targeting the iPhone in an attempt to win back its share of the home market.

Posted by Judith — 5:29 AM

Microsoft in new EU browser offer.

Source: BBC.

Microsoft has made a new proposal to European competition regulators that it hopes will end their row over the firm’s Internet Explorer web browser.
It proposes that European buyers of its new Windows 7 operating system will be offered a list of potential browsers when they first install the software.

Posted by Judith — 4:10 AM

EDC says it won’t favour any bidder vying for Nortel acquisitions.

Source: The Globe and Mail.

Ottawa’s Export Development Canada will finance foreign or domestic acquisitions of Nortel’s assets, so long as the deal benefits the country’s economy.
The Crown corporation said it wasn’t discriminating against any party when it agreed to provide a US$300m. loan to finance Nokia Siemens Networks’ US$650m. bid for Nortel’s wireless assets.

Posted by Judith — 3:22 AM

SEACOM enters service with terabit capacity for East Africa.

Source: Converge.

SEACOM’s 17,000 km, submarine fiber optic cable system entered into commercial service, linking south and east Africa to global networks via India and Europe with 1.28 Tbps of capacity.

Posted by Judith — 1:39 AM

Oracle to buy GoldenGate Software.

Source: cnet.

Oracle has announced that it’s buying San Francisco-based GoldenGate Software, a provider of real-time integration software, for an undisclosed amount.
GoldenGate and Oracle, which have been partners for more than a decade, will continue to operate independently until the deal closes.

Posted by Judith — 1:39 AM

PayPal opens door to developers.

Source: NeyworkWorld.

PayPal has opened its online payments system to third-party developers so they can embed a variety of PayPal payment mechanisms into Internet-based services.
Adaptive Payments includes a variety of tools for creating new payment tools. For example, it allows one payee to take its cut of a customer’s payment and then split the rest among partner companies.

Posted by Judith — 1:35 AM

Virgin commits to independent speed trials.

Source: TeleGeography.

British triple-play provider Virgin Media is partnering with SamKnows, the technical partner for broadband performance testing of regulator Ofcom, as it looks to conduct trials of its fibre-optic broadband services. The twelve-month trial will examine the connections of 750 Virgin Media broadband subscribers, and is specifically aimed at analysing the actual download speeds that customers receive.

Posted by Judith — 1:01 AM

$4 Billion Available in Broadband Stimulus Funding

Source: RCR Wireless

Applicants trying to score a piece of the $4 billion available in the first round of broadband stimulus funds face an Aug. 14 deadline to request funding. The majority of the $7.2 billion available to improve the nation’s access to broadband telecom services is set to be given away either as loans or grants in this round of funding. Two more funding rounds will follow. All of the $7.2 billion set aside to help bring broadband access to more Americans must be awarded by Sept. 30, 2010.

Posted by Penny — 1:46 PM

South Korea slaps US$208m. fine on Qualcomm.

Source: Reuters.

South Korea’s anti-trust agency has imposed a US$208m. fine on Qualcomm and ordered the U.S. wireless chip and technology firm to end discriminatory licensing practices and rebates.
The ruling deals a blow to Qualcomm, which counts Korean mobile phone makers Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and LG Electronics Inc — the world’s No. 2 and 3 respectively — as its major clients.

Posted by Judith — 3:57 AM

Verizon Wireless proposes roaming rule change.

Source: Reuters.

Verizon Wireless would be willing to make a compromise on roaming service agreements with smaller mobile operators, according to a letter it sent after pressure from U.S. lawmakers.
The venture of Verizon and Vodafone said it was proposing a new rule in response to lawmakers’ concerns that current roaming regulations put small service providers at a disadvantage.

Posted by Judith — 2:20 AM

Blyk to pass MVNO subscribers on to Orange.

Source: New Media Age.

Ad-funded MVNO Blyk has agreed a partnership deal with Orange, which will see it close its direct-to-consumer business on 31 August.
Blyk’s 200,000 subscribers will be given four weeks’ notice from next Friday that the service is terminating and urged to sign up to an as yet undecided contract with Orange directly.

Posted by Judith — 1:11 AM

MatlinPatterson bids US$725m. for Nortel’s CDMA/LTE, topping NSN .

Source: Converge.

MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners III has announced a bid to acquire substantially all of Nortel’s CDMA and LTE Access assets for US$725m. The bid effectively tops the US$650m. acquisition proposal from Nokia Siemens Networks submitted last month.

Posted by Judith — 3:52 AM

IBM boosts Juniper pact, plays down Cisco rivalry.

Source: Reuters.

IBM has announced it was stepping up its partnership with Juniper Networks, but said it was also boosting ties with other equipment vendors including Cisco Systems, playing down suggestions it was aiming to keep an increasingly competitive Cisco at bay.
IBM said it had agreed with Juniper on an original equipment manufacturing partnership, under which IBM would rebrand Juniper’s switches and routers as its own and sell them as part of its family of products.

Posted by Judith — 3:21 AM

Vodafone to take over BT customer base in Ireland.

Source: Cellular-News.

BT and Vodafone have signed a cooperation agreement in Ireland, where BT will transfer its consumer and small business broadband and voice customer base to Vodafone, and will also provide wholesale network services to underpin Vodafone’s business over a seven-year period. Over 84,000 consumers and 3,000 small businesses currently with BT will transfer to Vodafone over the next several months.

Posted by Judith — 3:09 AM

DoT opens bids for fixed line and satellite broadband exchanges.

Source: TeleGeography.

India’s Department of Telecommunications has invited bids from both private and state-owned operators to roll out around 28,000 fixed line broadband exchanges and 6,000 satellite broadband sites as part of efforts to increase broadband penetration across the country, particularly in rural regions.

Posted by Judith — 1:57 AM

Yahoo set to unveil new homepage.

Source: Reuters.

Yahoo Inc said it is itroducing a major overhaul of its Internet home page, as the company strives to make itself more relevant to Web surfers and create new ways to sell advertising.
The new homepage blends Yahoo’s collection of online content and products with popular social networking services like Facebook and Twitter, representing what a Yahoo official called the most “radical” make-over of the site since its inception more than a decade ago.

Posted by Judith — 4:37 AM

RIM cries foul over Nortel auction.

Source: The Globe and Mail.

In a stunning display of industrial brinkmanship, RIM is alleging that Nortel Networks shut it out of the bidding for the distressed telecom giant’s nationally sensitive wireless assets.
It has thrown down a gauntlet to the federal government to review the auction for Nortel’s assets - or lose technology considered vital for Canada’s national security and industrial competitiveness.

Posted by Judith — 3:43 AM

NTT Com to offer wide-area ethernet via broadband.

Source: Converge.

NTT Communications is launching a wide-area Ethernet service for enterprise customers across Japan that uses inexpensive broadband IP access lines. The service, named Group-Ether, is a best-effort service offering low-cost nationwide network coverage by taking advantage of broadband access lines that NTT Com’s sister companies NTT East and NTT West provide with certain versions of their FLET’S-branded Internet access services.

Posted by Judith — 2:53 AM

Globalive Wireless selects Nokia Siemens Networks for 3G rollout.

Source: TeleGeography.

Canadian mobile start-up Globalive Wireless has awarded NSN a turnkey contract to build a 3G network based on W-CDMA/HSPA technology. NSN will provide a range of services including turnkey site acquisition and construction, network integration and implementation, optimisation and managed services.

Posted by Judith — 2:03 AM

Lycamobile teams up with Vodafone to launch low-cost Dutch SIM.

Source: TeleGeography.

International mobile telecoms provider Lycamobile has launched a low-cost pay-as-you-go SIM card via a partnership deal with Vodafone Netherlands. Lycamobile has said that its new pre-paid SIM cards and top-ups will be available from over 30,000 retail outlets. The MVNO is rebranding its operations in the Dutch market and to this end, has introduced what it calls ‘improved product functionality for Lycamobile customers’.

Posted by Judith — 1:24 AM

Nortel sells division to Avaya.

Source: The Globe and Mail.

Nortel Networks is selling its last remaining large business unit.
The telecom equipment maker has announced that Avaya would be buying its enterprise solutions business for US$475m.
The enterprise unit supplies phone systems and other communications equipment to businesses and large organizations around the world.

Posted by Judith — 11:09 AM

Oi awards five-year network deal to NSN.

Source: TeleGeography.

Brazilian telecoms operator Telemar Norte Leste (Oi) has signed a EUR1.1bn. (US$1.55bn.) five-year contract with Nokia Siemens Networks, the vendor announced in a statement. Under the deal, NSN will be the sole provider of operations and maintenance for all of Oi’s internal plant operations across 17 Brazilian states.

Posted by Judith — 4:58 AM

Vodafone selects Tele Atlas digital maps for LBS, navigation.

Source: TelecomPaper.

Vodafone Group has signed an agreement with global digital maps developer Tele Atlas whereby Vodafone will use Tele Atlas digital maps and location-based content across its global footprint for the company’s location-based services and navigation offerings.

Posted by Judith — 3:53 AM

BT works with Microsoft to offer large organisations cloud and unified communications services.

Source: BTplc.

BT has announced an agreement with Microsoft Corp. to market and deliver Microsoft Online Services to business customers, giving them access to integrated cloud computing and collaboration services.

Posted by Judith — 3:20 AM

Nokia sells its Symbian Services Unit.

Source: CellularNews.

Nokia has announced that it is to sell its Symbian Professional Services unit responsible for Symbian OS customer engineering and customer support to consulting firm, Accenture. The unit provides engineering consulting and product development services on a global basis to mobile phone manufacturers, as well as chip manufacturers and mobile operators.

Posted by Judith — 7:03 AM

FT fails with latest MobiNil bid.

Source: TeleGeography.

France Telecom has failed with its latest offer for MobiNil after the Cairo-based Financial Supervisory Authority said the value of the proposed deal was still less than the price set by an arbitration ruling for the majority of the company.

Posted by Judith — 6:55 AM

Apple blocks rival smart phones.

Source: BBC.

The latest update of Apple’s iTunes has included a fix to block devices such as the Palm Pre that use the program for synchronising music and content.
The Palm Pre smartphone is seen by many as a direct rival to Apple’s iPhone because of its innovative interface and web based software.

Posted by Judith — 5:44 AM

Facebook ‘breaches Canadian law’.

Source: BBC.

Popular social networking site Facebook is breaching Canadian law by holding on to users’ personal information indefinitely.
An investigation by Canada’s privacy commission found the US-based website also gave “confusing or incomplete” information to subscribers.

Posted by Judith — 3:53 AM

Ericsson and O2 ink managed services deal.

Source: TeleGeography.

Swedish vendor Ericsson has announced that it had signed a multi-year deal with British mobile operator O2 UK to provide the cellco with a range of services for both its 2G and 3G networks.
While the two companies already have a separate deal under which Ericsson supplies the cellco’s mobile core network technology, this agreement marks the first time that the vendor has taken on day-to-day duties for O2.

Posted by Judith — 4:08 AM

Telenet to become full MVNO.

Source: TeleGeography.

Belgian quad-play operator Telenet has awarded a new contract to Alcatel-Lucent to deploy mobile network elements that it says will make it the first European cable operator to become a full mobile virtual network operator.

Posted by Judith — 3:19 AM

RIM pays US$267m. to settle patent lawsuit.

Source: Cellular-News.

BlackBerry manufacturer, Research in Motion is to make a payment of US$267.5m. to settle a patent lawsuit with mobile e-mail provider, Visto. The payment settles all outstanding worldwide patent litigation between the companies.

Posted by Judith — 1:36 AM

Vodafone drops Live brand in bid to open internet.

Source: NewsMediaAge.

Vodafone is to abandon its Vodafone Live brand as it moves its 18m. UK subscribers to an open mobile internet portal dubbed My Web.
The operator has soft-launched the customisable portal and will gradually drive traffic to it before starting to phase out Vodafone Live over the summer. A debut UK switch-over will initially be followed by rollouts in 11 international markets.

Posted by Judith — 4:35 AM

Government issues notice of privatisation for BTC.

Source: TeleGeography.

In an advertisement published today in several domestic and international publications, the government of The Bahamas has announced the launch of the process to sell a 51% stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). According to the advert, BTC currently provides services to over 334,000 wireless, 132,000 fixed line and 18,500 broadband customers across The Bahamas.

Posted by Judith — 3:07 AM

Nortel and Microsoft expand Innovative Communications Alliance.

Source: Converge.

Nortel and Microsoft have expanded their Innovative Communications Alliance (ICA) with five new commercial offerings in unified communications. New solution bundles include:
* SIP Contact Center 7.0 + Microsoft Office Communications Server.
* Web Service.
* Enterprise Lighthouse.
* Enterprise Mini Lighthouse.
* UC Conferencing.

Posted by Judith — 2:08 AM

Ericsson completes live network upgrade for Vodafone Essar.

Source: Converge.

In what is described as the world’s largest upgrade of a live mobile network, Ericsson has helped Vodafone Essar to replace more than 10,500 GSM radio sites. The pace of replacement reached a peak rate of one site every minute.
Vodafone Essar serves 13m. subscribers in India’s four key zones, including three large cities (Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata). Uninterrupted network services were maintened during the upgrade.

Posted by Judith — 2:05 AM

Nuance’s expansion continues with Jott acquisition.

Source: TelephonyOnLine.

Nuance Communications has announced its latest acquisition of consumer voice-to-text provider Jott. Nuance already provides the majority of voice-recognition technologies that application providers use in their mobile software, but its acquisition of Jott will allow it to scale a popular consumer service and expand its own services portfolio in speech and input technologies.

Posted by Judith — 1:53 AM

Genachowski appoints FCC Managing Director and General Counsel.

Source: Converge.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski has announced two senior staff appointments:
Managing Director — Steven VanRoekel and General Counsel — Austin Schlick.

Posted by Judith — 1:03 AM

India’s rural mobile phone users hit 100m.

Source: NetworkWorld.

India had 109.7m. rural mobile subscribers at the end of the first quarter, up by 18% from 93.2m. users in the fourth quarter of last year.
The country’s 282m. urban wireless subscribers accounted for 72% of all mobile users at the end of the first quarter.

Posted by Judith — 6:18 AM

Facebook gets US$6.5bn. valuation with share sale.

Source: Reuters.

Facebook has netted a US$6.5bn. valuation for its common shares, further underscoring the fast-growing Internet social networking site’s high rank among technology and media industry heavyweights.

Posted by Judith — 4:13 AM

Chinese companies win Chinese contracts .

Source: BWCS.

China Mobile has announced the end of the third phase of bidding for its TD-SCDMA equipment contracts. The third-phase bidding, which began in March of this year, covers network equipment to be installed in over 200 Chinese cities.
The major winner appears to be Chinese vendor ZTE, which garnered 34% of the market. Huawei reaped 22% and Datang Mobile 16%. The remaining five companies, including Ericsson, FiberHome, New Postcom, Nokia Siemens Networks and Potevio, gained market shares of 5% to 6% each.

Posted by Judith — 3:40 AM

Ericsson clarifies South Korean investment plans.

Source: TeleGeography.

Swedish vendor Ericsson has moved to clarify its intention regarding investment in South Korea, following reports yesterday that it was planning to spend around US$1.5bn. on building a research and development centre in the country. It is reported that the president of Ericsson in Korea said that the figures mentioned in earlier reports were purely speculative, noting however: ‘We see this as a very positive indication that they have high expectations for our involvement in the market.’

Posted by Judith — 2:34 AM

Cisco replaces Nortel in 2012 Summer Olympics.

Source: FierceTelecom.

One of the disappointing side effects of a corporate break-up is that you miss out on all kinds of opportunities for high-profile promotions. The committee organizing the 2012 Summer Olympics in London has announced that it is jettisoning telecom partner Nortel Networks for Cisco Systems.

Posted by Judith — 9:50 AM

Ericsson denies US$1.5bn. Korean investment.

Source: Light Reading

Ericsson has denied reports it is set to invest US$1.5bn. in R&D in South Korea during the next five years and increase its headcount in the country by more than 1,000 percent.
The two sides met in Sweden and agreed on areas of collaboration to develop technologies that would create a green ecosystem in Korea. These include mobile broadband technologies, such as LTE and 4G solutions, and machine-to-machine applications.
In an official statement from the Presidential office, the Korean government states that Ericsson plans to invest US$1.52bn. during the next five years, and increase its headcount in South Korea from 80 to 1,000. This has been denied outright by Ericsson.

Posted by Judith — 9:43 AM

Ericsson to expand research in South Korea.

Source: TeleGeography.

Swedish vendor Ericsson has revealed it will invest US$1.5bn. in South Korea over the next five years as it builds a new research and development centre focused on next-generation wireless technology. As part of its plans to expand its cooperation with the South Korean government on the development of LTE technology, Ericsson will reportedly increase its number of staff in the region from 80 to around 1,000.

Posted by Judith — 5:20 AM

Deutsche Telekom announces VDSL wholesale deal.

Source: Converge.

DT has reached a wholesale agreement for 1&1 and Vodafone to offer VDSL connections over its network in Germany. 1&1 and Vodafone will be the first competitors to use the wholesale service for VDSL Double Play, which will offer customers transmission speeds of up to 50 Mbps while surfing the Internet. Deutsche Telekom has already expanded its VDSL network in 50 German towns and cities.

Posted by Judith — 3:50 AM

EC launches digital dividend roadmap consultation.

Source: TelecomPaper.

The EC has launched a consultation to determine how to better work together at EU level to get the most from the change from analogue to digital TV, which will free up radio frequencies for use by new services.

Posted by Judith — 3:37 AM

DoCoMo to push ahead with LTE.

Source: BWCS.

NTT DoCoMo has announced it will stick to its plans to introduce a fourth-generation mobile-phone network next year, in spite of some delays by other mobile phone companies in this area.
The LTE, or fourth generation mobile phone, standard is set to greatly increase data download speeds for mobile phones. In addition,for the first time it will enable Japanese phones to be compatible with the rest of the world.

Posted by Judith — 3:03 AM

BT speeds up super-fast-fibre plans.

Source: BTplc.

BT has revealed the next locations where it will make super-fast fibre broadband available . The new locations cover more than a million homes and businesses across the UK.

The acceleration of BT’s plans will see 1.5m. homes have access to such services by early summer 2010 . A million of those homes will have access by March, which is a doubling of the original pace of deployment.

Posted by Judith — 3:45 AM

Sprint inks US$5bn. network outsourcing deal with Ericsson.

Source: FierceTelecom.

Sprint Nextel and Ericsson announced a seven-year outsourcing deal valued at up to US$5bn. and involving 6,000 Sprint employees. Under the agreement, Ericsson assumes responsibility for the day-to-day services, provisioning and maintenance of Sprint’s CDMA, iDEN and wireline networks, though Sprint made sure to point out that it “retains full ownership and control of its network assets, and solely owns network strategy and investment decisions.”

Posted by Judith — 4:01 AM

Russian government, Sistema reach deal on Svyazinvest stake.

Source: TelecomPaper.

Russia’s government and CIS holding AFK Sistema is reported to have agreed on the acquisition of Sistema’s stake in Russian state-owned telecommunications operator Svyazinvest. The letter mentioned that Sistema will hand over a 25% stake plus one share of Svyazinvest and a 50% stake in mobile operator SkyLink to the Russian government in exchange of a 23% stake in fixed-line operator MGTS.

Posted by Judith — 3:33 AM

Verizon scores US$245m. HHS contract.

Source: NetworkWorld.

Verizon Business has stated that itwill make as much as US$245m. providing the Department of Health and Human Services with telecom services through 2015.Under the contract Verizon will supply the HHS with voice and data services, dedicated voice mail, and audio, video and Web conferencing.
Verizon’s US$245m. deal is the third major government contract that the company has won this year.

Posted by Judith — 4:03 AM

Vodafone Germany campaign promotes new single brand.

Source: Telecompaper.

Vodafone Germany has announced a single, new branding strategy as it completes the integration of its Arcor fixed-line unit. A single, common brand will now be presented to customers and partners, with the individual needs of customers put at the centre of this strategy.

Posted by Judith — 3:44 AM

EMC wins Data Domain with a US$2.4bn. offer.

Source: NYT.

Waving US$2.4bn. in cash, EMC finally beat out NetApp, its archrival in the storage business, for the right to acquire Data Domain and its data deduplication technology. On Wednesday, NetApp dropped out of the bidding, and Data Domain’s board approved EMC’s offer.

Posted by Judith — 2:42 AM

Google plans to launch operating system for PCs .

Source: WSJ.

Google is preparing to launch an operating system for personal computers, a direct assault on the turf of software giant Microsoft, which has long dominated the market for software that runs PC applications.
The internet company said the software, which will initially target low-end portable PCs called netbooks, would be based on its Chrome Web browser and available to consumers in the second-half of 2010.

Posted by Judith — 4:51 AM

UK competition is healthy says watchdog.

Source: BWCS.

UK telecoms watchdog, Ofcom, has said it has no plans to launch formal review of the British mobile market. In fact, the regulator said it believes the sector is healthily competitive. The announcement comes as it nears the end of its second phase of market consultation and as rival mobile companies circle T-Mobile UK, which is said to be up for sale.

Posted by Judith — 4:43 AM

Bell Aliant to saturate two cities with fibre.

Source: TeleGeography.

Bell Aliant has earmarked CA$6m. (US$52m.) to connect 70,000 homes and businesses in Fredericton and Saint John with direct fibre-optic access technology by mid-2010. The project will be the most comprehensive fibre rollout yet seen in any Canadian city.

Posted by Judith — 3:58 AM

TalkTalk drops ad tracking firm.

Source: BBC.

UK internet service provider TalkTalk has pulled the plug on its agreement with online behaviour tracking firm Phorm.
It follows news earlier in the week that BT had no immediate plans to use the service.

Posted by Judith — 3:40 AM

BT decides not to adopt internet-based ad system.

Source: NYT.

Amid rising concern about privacy, BT has announced that it would not adopt a technology that lets advertisers tailor their pitches to consumers based on interests revealed by their Internet use.
The news was the latest in a series of setbacks for Phorm, the company that developed the technology, causing its stock to plunge more than 40%.

Posted by Judith — 4:19 AM

O2, Movistar win exclusive European Palm Pre deals.

Source: Reuters.

Telefonica’s O2 and Movistar have won exclusive deals to sell Palm’s new Pre smartphone — regarded as the closest rival to Apple’s iPhone — in Britain, Ireland, Germany and Spain.
O2 already has exclusive British rights to the iPhone including the newly available 3GS version, giving it an edge over rivals Vodafone, Orange, T-Mobile and 3.

Posted by Judith — 3:17 AM

BT begins FTTC trials in London and Cardiff.

Source: TeleGeography.

BT, has begun pilots of its new fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband services in two areas of the country; Muswell Hill in London and Whitchurch in Cardiff. Approximately 15,000 properties are covered in each of the regions, and other ISP’s, including BSkyB, TalkTalk and O2, are reportedly participating in the trials. BT has said it expects to have up to 29 exchanges enabled with FTTC technology by early 2010, and is aiming to provide fibre connectivity to approximately 40% of the population by 2012.

Posted by Judith — 3:08 AM

Ericsson wins FTTH deals in China.

Source: FierceTelecom.

Ericsson has announced that it has earned fiber-to-the-home equipment supply deals from China’s three leading telcos, China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom. The announcement comes not long after Alcatel-Lucent said it was involved in a gigabit passive optical networking FTTH trial. These deals and others may show that China will be the next fertile territory for GPON FTTH to take root.

Posted by Judith — 2:58 AM

DoCoMo acquires 35% PacketVideo stake for US$45m.

Source: Telecompaper.

NTT DoCoMo has acquired a 35% stake in US-based mobile video company PacketVideo for US$45.5m. Via this acquisition, DoCoMo plans to strengthen its position on the Japanese advanced music and video services market.

Posted by Judith — 3:12 AM

TelstraClear signs 3G MVNO agreement with Vodafone.

Source: TeleGeography.

Australian-owned cellco TelstraClear has agreed a new deal with Vodafone New Zealand which will allow the company to offer W-CDMA based services across Vodafone’s network.

Posted by Judith — 3:05 AM

3 Italia, Telecom Italia sign mobile site-sharing deal.

Source: Telecompaper.

Telecom Italia and 3 Italia have signed a co-siting agreement for sharing access sites for the radio mobile network. The agreement applies to both existing and future sites. The deal includes sharing passive infrastructures such as poles, cables, electricity supply and air conditioning systems as well as other civil infrastructure.

Posted by Judith — 2:54 AM

BT offers workers more free time for pay cuts.

Source: Independent.

BT employees have been offered the chance of long-term holidays if they agree to huge pay cuts.
One option available to staff is taking a year off with a 75% drop in salary, in return for receiving the remainder of their wages as an up-front payment.

Posted by Judith — 4:33 AM

Vodafone agrees new Carphone deal.

Source: BBC.

Carphone Warehouse is to restart selling Vodafone mobile phone contracts, three years after Vodafone pulled the products from the retailer.
Vodafone stopped allowing Carphone Warehouse to sell its range of pay monthly deals in 2006 after a dispute over how much commission it had to pay.

Posted by Judith — 3:54 AM

Bell gets fresh Virgin blood.

Source: TeleGeography.

Bell Canada has revealed a new retail strategy targeting the youth market following the conclusion yesterday of two previously announced acquisitions, the CA$135m. (US$117m.) purchase of retail chain The Source and the 50% that it did not already own of MVNO Virgin Mobile Canada, costing CA$142m.
The incoming president of Virgin Mobile Canada, Robert Blumenthal, said that ‘Virgin Mobile’s youth-oriented brand fits very well with The Source’s focus on young and tech-savvy consumers.’

Posted by Judith — 2:49 AM

AT&T, BT, Tata dial up first inter-carrier telepresence call.

Source: FierceTelecom.

AT&T, BT, and Tata Communications have conducted the first international, inter-carrier, inter-company multi-point telepresence call. The call involved telepresence systems at AT&T locations in Bedminster and Morristown, N.J., and Chicago, Ill.; a BT location in Colorado Springs, Colo.; a Cisco site in San Francisco; and Tata sites in Boston and London.

Posted by Judith — 1:44 AM

Telekom Austria to invest EUR1.5bn. in broadband upgrades.

Source: Telecompaper.

Telekom Austria has announced plans to invest EUR1.5bn. over the next four years to modernise the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, including EUR1bn. on a next-generation fixed-line network and EUR500m. to meet growing demand for mobile internet access.

Posted by Judith — 1:11 AM

Millicom attracts bidders for Asian operations.

Source: Telecompaper.

Mobile operator Millicom announced that several parties have expressed interest in acquiring its Asian operations up for sale. The Asian operations, which include operators in Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, generated revenues of US$68m. and net profit of US$4m. in the first quarter.

Posted by Judith — 4:28 AM

U.S. gov’t to release US$4bn. for broadband.

Source: Reuters.

The U.S. government will soon release US$4bn. of loans and grants aimed at expanding broadband access to underserved areas across the United States.
The funds are part of a US$7.2bn. program to build an affordable high-speed Internet structure in rural areas. The project is being pushed by President Barack Obama, in part, to shore up the U.S. economy with job creation in the telecommunications sector.

Posted by Judith — 3:37 AM

Terrestar-1 — world’s largest commercial satellite — enters orbit.

Source: Converge.

Terrestar-1, the largest and most powerful commercial satellite to date, was successfully launched into geostationary orbit aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from the spaceport in French Guiana.
TerreStar-1 will be located at an orbital position of 111 deg. West, offering integrated satellite and terrestrial mobile services across the United States and Canada using conventionally-sized dual mode handsets.

Posted by Judith — 2:43 AM

Freedom4 reveals reverse takeover plans.

Source: TeleGeography.

UK-based Freedom4 Group, the cash shell left following the disposal of Pipex’s internet hosting business, has unveiled plans for a reverse takeover. Under the proposed deal Freedom4 has conditionally agreed to acquire Daisy Communications as well as the assets of Vialtus. It is understood that the enlarged unit will be renamed as Daisy Group.

Posted by Judith — 2:36 AM

EU travellers get mobile phone price cut.

Source: TimesOnline.

Millions of travellers will pay much less to use their mobile phones while abroad within the European Union after new regulations came into force today. Under the new limits there is a single tariff covering all 27 EU member states.

Posted by Judith — 5:59 AM

NTT beefs up in Europe.

Source: Light Reading.

NTT has reminded its international business services rivals such as AT&T Global Network Services , BT Global Services , Orange Business Services , and Verizon Business that it’s a force to be reckoned with, by bolstering its physical presence in Europe and the U.S., offering new service guarantees, and announcing a security services-oriented acquisition.
The Japanese giant has agreed to buy Integralis AG , a German firm specializing in IT security services, for EUR75m. (US$105.5m).

Posted by Judith — 3:36 AM

Ofcom confirms 800MHz spectrum plans.

Source: TeleGeography.

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced proposals for the 800Mhz spectrum that is currently being used by the country’s analogue TV signal. Ofcom has confirmed it will clear the entire band, noting that it ‘believe(s) that freeing-up the whole 800MHz band for new uses will provide large benefits to citizens and consumers’.

Posted by Judith — 2:40 AM

FT balks at multi-fibre plan.

Source: TeleGeography.

France Telecom has reportedly applied the brakes to its fibre-optic network deployment programme saying it cannot ‘take the risk’ of continuing to roll out optical lines under the country’s proposed multi-fibre solution. Last week the telecoms regulator Arcep decided not to back FT’s proposal for a mono-fibre solution, whereby one fibre is used for all operators to connect individuals in one building. Arcep instead announced its backing for Iliad’s plan to allow two solutions for operators wishing to share the last part of the telecoms network.

Posted by Judith — 2:13 AM