3wan

removed

2004-09-01T18:00:00.000+02:00

Blog entries from September 2004 onwards are now at http://3wan.net/v-web/b2

Airbus may allow mobile phone use

2004-08-28T23:55:00.000+02:00

Airbus may allow mobile phone use: "

AIRBUS said it is collaborating with the German aerospace centre DLR, to try and come up with a system which would allow passengers to use their mobile phones in-flight without interfering with the plane's navigation systems. Airbus and DLR were 'working very intensively' to try and develop such a system, spokesman David Voskuhl said. But he refused to confirm or deny a report in the Thursday edition of the Financial Times Deutschland which said the first tests would be carried out on September 3. 'That depends on the weather and a number of other factors,' he said.
By coming up with such a system, Airbus is trying to out-do arch rival Boeing which has come up with a system allowing high-speed internet access on board its aircraft, enabling passengers to consult their email and surf the world wide web in-flight. "

From Australian IT News

Australia - Net gambling operator hits hurdle

2004-08-28T23:54:00.000+02:00

Net gambling operator hits hurdle:

"WHEN two Australian Federal Police officers knocked on Mark Davies's door in April, the former stockbroker wondered what he had done wrong. The Australian head of the UK internet gambling outfit Betfair, who lives in Mosman, on Sydney's north shore, was relieved when the two officers, after a brief set of questions, decided he had no case to answer - their tip-off that Davies was running an illegal online gambling operation from home was wide of the mark. Davies is philosophical about the AFP visit, writing it off as yet another strange twist in a fierce campaign waged against his company. He says he doesn't know who provided the tip-off to the AFP, but 'it was clearly someone opposed to us operating here'. "

From Australian IT News

Mobile - Lost? Your phone knows a way uut

2004-08-28T23:37:00.000+02:00

Lost? Your Phone Knows a Way Out:

"Route finders, once the realm of $100,000 executive cars, have been part of advanced handsets since this summer. This feature is available from Netherlands-based Route 66, one of several companies, including U.S.-based Teletype and Germany's Navigon, that brought navigation software to handheld computers over the last two years. But some have been looking for simpler and more ubiquitous devices to tap into a potential market of tens of millions of customers. 'You can't explain a Pocket PC to your mother,' said Job van Dijk, founder of Route 66, one of the market leaders in CD-ROM-based maps. That device requires a desktop computer to install maps and a tech-savvy mindset. "

From Reuters.com

USA - Homegrown satellite radio software draws XM fire

2004-08-28T23:35:00.000+02:00

Homegrown Satellite Radio Software Draws XM Fire:

"Catching Blondie's reunion tour broadcast at 4 a.m. wasn't an option for XM satellite radio subscriber and single father Scott MacLean. 'I was missing concerts that were being broadcasted when I was asleep or out,' he said. So the 35-year-old computer programmer from Ottawa, Ontario, wrote a piece of software that let him record the show directly onto his PC hard drive while he snoozed" The software, TimeTrax, also neatly arranged the individual songs from the concert, complete with artist name and song title information, into MP3 files. Then MacLean started selling the software, putting him in the thick of a potential legal battle pitting technically savvy fans against a company protecting its alliance -- and licensing agreements -- with the music industry.

From Reuters.com
See also XM Radio

USA - Almost half of video gamers cutting TV Use

2004-08-28T23:33:00.000+02:00

Almost Half of Video Gamers Cutting TV Use --Study:

"Nearly half of video game players watched less television last year or plan to cut their viewing time this year, according to a report issued on Thursday that lends credence to industry fears that young men are switching off the tube. The Ziff Davis Digital Gaming in America survey found that 26 percent of gamers had cut their TV watching over the last year, and a further 20 percent expect to do so this year. Television ratings provider Nielsen Media ignited a storm of controversy among network executives last fall when it reported a 7.7 percent decline in prime-time viewing by men aged 18 to 34."

From Reuters.com
See also Ziff Davis press release

USA - McCaw's Clearwire launches wireless broadband service

2004-08-28T23:30:00.000+02:00

McCaw's Clearwire Launches Wireless Broadband Service:

"The launch is the first of two expected this summer. The company has said it also will launch service in St. Cloud, Minnesota, although it has not provided a specific timetable for that launch. The company has indicated it intends to launch service in 20 markets in the next year. The company's coverage, which is aimed at consumers and not businesses, covers about 120,000 homes in Jacksonville, the company said in a statement. The company claims its speed delivers speeds as high as 1.5 Mbps. The company uses pre-standard WiMAX equipment to provide the service. "

From Yahoo! News
See also Clearwire

Hong Kong - 'Virtual girlfriend' demands gifts

2004-08-28T23:29:00.000+02:00

'Virtual Girlfriend' Demands Gifts:

"She needs to be coddled with sweet talk and pampered with gifts, but you'll never see her in the flesh. A Hong Kong company has developed a 'virtual girlfriend' for new cell phones with video capability. Artificial Life Inc.'s electronic love interest — sort of a Tamagotchi for adults — will appear as an animated figure on a telephone screen and respond by voice to text messages you send. But she'll require a lot of attention, involving virtual flowers and diamonds, company spokeswoman Ada Fong said. Though gifts are nothing but data, suitors will have to pay cold, hard cash. Fong said prices have yet to be determined. "

From Yahoo! News:

Mobile - Phone personalisation worth EUR 1.9bn by 2008

2004-08-28T18:55:00.000+02:00

Digital Media Europe: News - Phone personalisation worth €1.9bn by 2008:

"Mobile handset personalisation is to be worth €1.2bn in Western Europe this year, accordign to new figures from telecoms consultancy Ovum, with that figure slowly climbing to €1.9bn by 2008. Master-tones, the next generation of mobile phone personalisation, are expected to supersede polyphonic ring-tones. Personalisation presents a powerful way of communicating one's identity through the mobile phone. According to the analysts, personalisation 'is a means of delivering a clear, strong message about tastes, preferences and even lifestyle.' "

From Digital Media Europe: News:

Mobile - UK girls use camera-phones to check their hair - poll

2004-08-28T18:53:00.000+02:00

UK girls use camera-phones to check their hair - poll:

"Vodafone UK has updated its Vodafone Live service with the addition of a new 'For Girls' section. The new mobile content section in the Vodafone Live portal will offer, amongst other things, fashion news, health advice, recipes and celebrity gossip. The operator's new female-targeted product comes in the wade of a poll by Vodafone of 3,500 female picture messaging customers. According to the operator, some 20 per cent of mobile users send snaps of themselves in new outfits to friends to see if they like them. Another 18 per cent take pictures of shoes or clothes on display for the same reason"

From Digital Media Europe: News

Mobile - Ringback tone market worth EUR 600 by 2008 - report

2004-08-28T18:52:00.000+02:00

Ringback tone market worth €600 by 2008 - report:

"The Western European market for ringback tones could reach €600 by 2008, according a new report from telecoms consultancy Ovum. Ringback tones are the sounds a caller hears when he or she calls someone. Recently, telcos and mobile operators have begun to offer choices of song clips or other audio to replace the usual 'ring, ring' ringback tone one hears"

From Digital Media Europe: News:
See also Ovum

Mobile - Cosmote Olympic network traffic surpasses 2m minutes a day

2004-08-28T18:50:00.000+02:00

Cosmote Olympic network traffic surpasses 2m minutes a day:

"Greek mobile operator has announced that mobile traffic on its Olympic network has been exceeding 2m minutes daily. On Saturday 21 August, one of the peak days of the Games with seven popular sporting events being held simultaneously at the OAKA Olympic Complex and Greek athletes participating and winning medals, the number of calls made in the area exceeded 400,000. The peak traffic period at Olympic Venues occurs during the spectators' arrival and departure. Very high mobile usage is also evidenced in areas where media representatives are gathered, as well as at the Olympic Village, where 16,000 athletes and their escorts generate on the network traffic equal to that generated in a city with a population five times larger. "

Digital Media Europe: News

Mobile - UK firm launches handset for kids

2004-08-28T18:49:00.000+02:00

UK firm launches handset for kids:

"A UK firm has launched a mobile handset aimed at children between the ages of four and eight. The handset, branded 'Mymo', can make calls to five pre-set numbers and includes an embedded tracking service, which enables parents to locate their child's handset. "

From Digital Media Europe

USA - Website offers Caller I.D. falsification service

2004-08-28T18:46:00.000+02:00

Website offers Caller I.D. falsification service:

"Overdue debtors beware: You may not be able to rely on Caller I.D. to screen out those annoying bill collectors much longer. A California entrepreneur has a plan to bring the hacker technique of Caller I.D. spoofing to the business world, beginning with collection agencies and private investigators. Slated for launch next week, Star38.com would offer subscribers a simple Web interface to a Caller I.D. spoofing system that lets them appear to be calling from any number they choose. 'It creates an extra avenue for them to have someone pick up the phone,' says founder Jason Jepson."

From SecurityFocus

USA - Surviving to download another day

2004-08-28T18:27:00.000+02:00

Surviving to Download Another Day:

After an Appeals Court win by file-sharing services Grokster and Streamcast, the entertainment industry vows to keep up the pressure. The ghost of Betamax continues to haunt Hollywood and music producers. America's entertainment industry has been fighting fiercely to rein in companies like Groskter and StreamCast Networks that provide software that computer users often use to download illegal music, films, and TV shows from the Internet. But on Aug. 19, the San Francisco-based U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed at least part of their argument, citing the landmark 1984 U.S. Supreme Court decision that it's O.K. for consumers to tape movies and TV shows for their personal use. "

From BW Online

France - unbundling creates new regional disparities

2004-08-28T18:25:00.000+02:00

ADSL: le dégroupage crée de nouvelles disparités entre régions:

"Selon l’Observatoire des télécommunications, le taux de couverture de la population en ADSL a atteint 75% fin 2003. Seuls six départements ont un taux inférieur à 40%. Mais d’autres disparités importantes apparaissent avec le dégroupage. Va-t-il falloir revoir la définition de la "fracture numérique" en France? C’est ce qui se dégage en filigrane de l’édition 2003 de l’Observatoire régional des télécommunications (Ortel), réalisée conjointement par le cabinet de conseil Tactis et l'institut d'études Idate.

From ZDnet
see also l’Observatoire régional des télécommunications (Ortel)

Mobile - Nokia, Pointsec team on mobile data security

2004-08-28T18:17:00.000+02:00

Nokia, Pointsec team on mobile data security

The Espoo, Finland, manufacturer has teamed with Stockholm-based Pointsec Mobile Technologies AB to develop encryption technology for smart phones based on its Nokia Series 60 and Series 80 design platforms, which run on the Symbian Ltd. operating system, Nokia announced earlier this week

From InfoWorld
See also Pointsec

Consultant - USA - WISP outlook dark

2004-08-28T18:07:00.000+02:00

WISP outlook dark, guru Andy Seybold says:

"Wireless veteran and straight-shooter Andy Seybold last week presented his no-nonsense take on the state of the industry to the Wireless Communications Alliance, a Silicon Valley group that meets monthly to discuss industry goings-on. Seybold predicted that in two to three years, wireless ISPs (WISP) 'will go out of business in droves, helped along by the WiMAX threat and [continued] 3G network rollouts.' "

From Network World Fusion

USA - A look at 3G's impact

2004-08-28T18:04:00.000+02:00

A look at 3G's impact:

"Mark Lowenstein of Mobile Ecosystems tells why 3G should bring about change to enterprise remote-access strategies. The much-anticipated launch of 3G in North America will usher in the first stage of what I call "the mobile broadband era. Previous improvements in WAN data speeds have been in modest increments. But 3G represents enough of a great leap forward that users should begin the process of re-thinking their remote-access strategies. Let's look at this from performance and ROI perspectives.

From Network World Fusion

Mobile - Nokia and Vodafone In Java push

2004-08-28T18:02:00.000+02:00

Nokia And Vodafone In Mobile Java Push:

"In a move that is intended to deliver benefits for the mobile industry and for mobile customers, Nokia and Vodafone announced the formation of a mobile service architecture initiative. The aim of the initiative is to simplify mobile Java standards by defining the next generation, open standards-based mobile Java services architecture specifications. It will serve and represent the mobile value chain, including other leading mobile device manufacturers, mobile operators and IT companies."

From ChannelMinds

France - Broadband - NC Numéricâble launches 8 Mbit/s with telephone line

2004-08-28T15:06:00.000+02:00

Haut-débit : NC Numéricâble surenchérit avec du 8 Mbit/s

Le câblo-opérateur crève le plafond du haut-débit avec un forfait à 8 Mbit/s, à 59,90 euros par mois. Mais sans service de téléphonie associé. A quelques jours de la rentrée, les hostilités reprennent entre fournisseurs d'accès à Internet. Et pour une fois, l'offensive n'est pas menée par l'un des acteurs du dégroupage, mais par un câblo-opérateur. NC Numéricâble commercialise depuis ce lundi 16 août un forfait Internet à 8 Mbit/s (512 kbit/s en voie montante), quand la meilleure des offres ADSL plafonne à 5 Mbit/s, à l'instar de celle d'AOL annoncée le 9 août dernier. « Au mois de mai dernier, nous avons multiplié par quatre la capacité de notre réseau, en portant à 2,5 Gbit/s nos principales liaisons télécoms , précise le câblo-opérateur. C'est ce qui nous permet aujourd'hui de garantir à nos clients du 8 Mbit/s . »

From 01net
See also NC Numéricâble

Belgium - Belgacom savours suprise profit boost

2004-08-28T10:19:00.001+02:00

Belgacom Savours Suprise Profit Boost:

"The Belgian incumbent has posted a 10% rise in H1 2004 net income, confounding predictions of a profit decline. Belgacom surprised investors yesterday, reporting a 1.3% turnover increase to 2.75bn euro (US$3.33bn), as it successfully fended off competition in both the fixed-line and mobile markets. However, the most startling achievement was a 10.3% rise in H1 net profit to 506m euro; market watchers had pencilled in a near-equal rate of decline. Confident that it will translate its strong six-month showing into a favourable full-year performance, the Belgian incumbent has decided to cancel 70% of its treasury shares - representing 6.4% of the company's share capital - in a move seen as a sign of a potential share buy-back to return cash to shareholders."

From PWC Telecom Direct News
See also Belgacom results

Liberia - Mobile - Telecom gets boost as new company pledges support

2004-08-28T10:19:00.000+02:00

Liberia: Telecom Gets Boost as New Company Pledges Support:

"The advent of GSM cellular phone Company - the LoneStar Communications Corporation, has significantly affected the operations of the nation's telephone company, the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC)."

From AllAfrica.com

Consultants - Analyzing Europe's IT Governance

2004-08-28T10:18:00.000+02:00

Analyzing Europe's IT Governance:

"European IT spending has returned to health in 2004, with companies planning to dedicate an average of almost 5% of their total revenues to IT. A first look at IT budgets for 2005 indicates further IT spending upside. Centralization of IT departments and vendor management groups has spread across Europe's IT organizations: French companies exemplify this shift, with three-quarters of companies surveyed operating centralized IT groups. The role that business units and IT departments play in the technology purchasing process has found a new balance: 60% of European companies involve business units in the early stages of enterprise app purchases."

From Forrester

India - Worth more than outsourcing

2004-08-28T10:11:00.000+02:00

India Worth More Than Outsourcing :

"Vendors pursue a burgeoning market for products and services while mindful that some hurdles remain."

From Internet news

UK - Price hike for business broadband

2004-08-28T10:05:00.000+02:00

Price hike for business broadband: "Small net firms warn they could be hit hard by BT's decision to raise prices for business broadband."

USA - Broadband - The future of speed

2004-08-28T10:03:00.000+02:00

The Future of Speed:

"Cable? Fiber? ADSL2+?. With SBC trialing 24Mbps ADSL2+ in Missouri, Verizon offering 30Mbps Fios Fiber in Texas, and Cable providers exploring bandwidth expansion via Ultra-Wideband, the quest for the next generation of speed should evolve into an interesting battle."

From Broadband Reports

USA - FTC probes Norvergence

2004-08-28T10:02:00.000+02:00

FTC Probes Norvergence:

"Equipment leasing scandal continues.... Last month's Norvergence bankruptcy left 11,000 small businesses not only out of service, but owing money for hardware leases as well. Norvergence allegedly leased small businesses a piece of unneeded hardware dubbed 'Matrix' for between $15-25,000 .."

From Broadband Reports

UK - Small ISPs 'face ruin' over BT price hikes

2004-08-28T10:01:00.000+02:00

Small ISPs 'face ruin' over BT price hikes:

"Many small ISPs face ruin in the face of BT's proposed price hikes, meaning less choice for customers"

From ZDnet

OSCE experts favor free Internet with wider access

2004-08-28T10:00:00.000+02:00

OSCE Experts Favor Free Internet With Wider Access :

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says it wants to see maximum freedom of expression on the Internet, as well as wider access worldwide. OSCE officials say the organization is beginning to worry about restrictions it says have been imposed by some governments on the Internet. Media and legal experts from the United States, the Council of Europe and the United Nations agreed at the Amsterdam meeting that, without proper care, the Internet could be abused as a technology of control.

From Baku Today
See also Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)

UK - T-Mobile to catch up with 3G data speeds

2004-08-28T09:59:00.002+02:00

T-Mobile to catch up with 3G data speeds :

T-Mobile reckons users will be able to get 384kbps over its 3G network by Christmas, bringing it up to speed with its competitors. The company hopes that its bundled 'all-you-can-eat' WiFi will make it a tasty alternative. T-Mobile plans to boost speeds for its 3G datacard to 384kpbs during the fourth quarter, the company said on Thursday. This will put the company on par with rivals Orange and Vodafone as far as speed is concerned, and the company hopes that its bundled WiFi access will help attract customers.

From ZDNet UK

Vodacom to introduce prepaid GPRS Aug. 30

2004-08-28T09:59:00.001+02:00

Vodacom to introduce prepaid GPRS Aug. 30 :

Leading South African cellco Vodacom is set to offer a prepaid GPRS package commencing August 30. Up until now, only contract subscribers had access to GPRS content, with the operator reporting over 35,000 GPRS subscribers about a year ago. Accessing GPRS as a prepaid subscriber is set to cost in the region of Rand25 (US$3.76) per Mb, which is around half the current cost being paid by contract subscribers for unbundled access to GPRS. The cost of accessing GPRS as a contract subscriber is also set to be reduced. Vodacom is also understood to be preparing to launch a revamped portal next month.

From Telecoms.com

Syria - 30 lawyers call for cellular boycott

2004-08-28T09:59:00.000+02:00

30 Syrian lawyers call for cellular boycott : "

Some thirty Syrian lawyers have called for a cellular boycott on Sept. 6, exactly three years after former deputy Raid Seif was arrested for denouncing in Parliament a mobile phone contract. The lawyers hope mobile phone users will turn off their phones on that date for three hours from 3pm to 6pm to protest the high cost of monthly charges. "All citizens, civil associations and organizations for the defense of human rights should stand together and send out a strong message to annul the monthly charges and an amend mobile phone contracts to safeguard the rights of the state and citizen," said Me Anouar Bounni, a human rights activist. Two similar cellular boycotts were organized in Lebanon since July and a third boycott is planned for Aug. 16.

From MENAFN

Nigeria - Lagos restates commitment to telecom law

2004-08-27T18:00:00.000+02:00

Nigeria: Lagos Restates Commitment to Telecom Law:

"Lagos State government has condemned the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) for what it described as an unwarranted campaign of disinformation and calumny against the state's newly enacted law."

From AllAfrica.com

Olympics diary - Stressed to the limits

2004-08-27T17:57:00.000+02:00

Olympics diary: Stressed to the limits:

"Can the system withstand the busiest day of competition?"

From ZDnet

Wrong numbers? Why BT is removing one-fifth of payphones in Scotland

2004-08-27T17:54:00.000+02:00

Wrong numbers? Why BT is removing one-fifth of payphones in Scotland

The news from BT that it plans to axe close to one-fifth of payphones in Scotland is the last phase of a rolling review that will eventually see around 10,000 payphones disappear across Britain in the coming 18 months. In its heyday the red call box was a British icon as famous as the red double-decker bus, red postbox, or The Beatles.

From BBC News

Orange ranked best mobile operator in Switzerland - survey

2004-08-27T17:53:00.000+02:00

Orange ranked best mobile operator in Switzerland - survey :

Orange Switzerland for the second time in a row has been named the top telecom company in Switzerland, according to the latest survey published by Switzerland’s business journal Bilanz.

From DMeurope.com
See also Bilanz article

Telekom Austria eyes Bulgarian expansion

2004-08-27T17:10:00.000+02:00

Telekom Austria eyes Bulgarian expansion:

"Telekom Austria's chief executive officer Heinz Sundt has confirmed that his company is expanding its presence in Eastern Europe with a key focus on the markets of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Montenegro. According to the Financial Times, Mr Sundt has said that the Austrian incumbent is interested in Bulgarian wireless operator MobiTel, although he declined to comment on the progress of talks between the two. MobiTel is the country's biggest cellco with more than 2.8 million customers and annual revenues in 2003 of EUR432 million and EBITDA of EUR272 million. It is currently controlled by western investors, comprising the Austrian shareholders of Mobitel Holding and seven private equity investors."

From Primetrica

France - Free.fr moves up to 6Mbits/s ADSL

2004-08-27T17:08:00.000+02:00

Free, seul FAI à proposer un accès à Internet à 6Mbit/s pour seulement 29,99€/mois

Free propose à tous ses abonnés ADSL dégroupés (anciens comme nouveaux) dont les caractéristiques de ligne le permettent, de bénéficier d’un accès internet à très haut débit de 6 Mbit/s en réception et 512 kbps en émission, pour seulement 29,99 Euros par mois, sans frais d’accès ni engagement de durée, et quel que soit leur modem.

From Free.fr

UK - Alternative solutions for UK number portability

2004-08-27T17:04:00.000+02:00

An assessment of alternative solutions for UK number portability:

"Number portability is the facility which allows consumers to change their mobile or landline communications provider without having to change their telephone number. It was introduced in the UK by the former telecommunications regulatory authority, the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel), between 1996 and 2000. Oftel introduced number portability because many consumers, especially businesses, were reluctant to change their communications provider if this meant having to suffer the inconvenience and costs of a new telephone number. Millions of numbers have been transferred under the current number portability solution providing a boost to the introduction and growth of competition in the UK telecommunications market.

From Ofcom

Czech Republic - The country could become a destination of choice for cross-border outsourcing

2004-08-27T16:48:00.000+02:00

The country could become a destination of choice for cross-border outsourcing

Cleverlance, a local outsourcing firm, was just a year old when it reached a 100 percent peak in foreign outsourcing services. That was in 2001. Last year the firm's total foreign outsourcing activities declined to just 8 percent. Today, in the wake of the dot-com implosion, the company is now struggling to bring back its foreign clients. "What we want to do is focus on the markets of the European Union next year, but the issue with such cooperation is that Western European countries still don't trust the Czech Republic and Slovakia," says Jakub Dosoudil, the youthful long-haired co-founder of Cleverlance who says Dutch clients often call to ask if credit cards can be used in the Czech Republic.

From Praguepost
See previous entry report nearshore call centres emerging

India to conduct IT security audit

2004-08-27T16:47:00.000+02:00

India to conduct IT security audit

India's IT industry body, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), is preparing a security audit of its 860 member companies to ensure that the flow of outsourcing work from the UK and US isn't halted by fears over privacy and data protection.

From vnunet.com
See also Nasscom (press release)

Internet - IAB Concerns and Recommendations Regarding Internet Research and Evolution - RFC 3869

2004-08-27T16:44:00.000+02:00

Internet - IAB Concerns and Recommendations Regarding Internet Research and Evolution - RFC 3869:

"This document discusses IAB concerns that ongoing research is needed to further the evolution of the Internet infrastructure, and that consistent, sufficient non-commercial funding is needed to enable such research."

From Internet Architecture Board

Corporate - Customer relations - Will new security fears drag e-commerce down?

2004-08-27T16:41:00.000+02:00

Customer Relations - Will New Security Fears Drag E-Commerce Down?

Most identity-theft crimes occur when employees steal records from employers, not when consumers type credit-card numbers on a secure Web site. That is why this type of crime is just as likely to affect victims who never shop online as those who do.

From CIO Today

Nigeria - Masts, towers - Lagos battles telecom operators

2004-08-27T16:09:00.000+02:00

Nigeria - Masts, Towers: Lagos Battles Telecom Operators:

"Telecommunications service providers' gear up for big fight with the Lagos State Government over the state Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency Bill."

From AllAfrica.com

Zambia - Regulator investigates anti-competitive cellco conspiracy

2004-08-27T15:52:00.000+02:00

Regulator investigates anti-competitive cellco conspiracy

The Zambian Competition Commission (ZCC) believes it has discovered a plan to block the entrance of a potential fourth operator to the country’s mobile market. The ZCC released a statement yesterday saying that they had received intelligence reports that two unnamed cellcos had plans to collude in anti-competitive practices to block newcomers. The authority is now conducting a full investigation.

From Primetrica
See also Zambia Competition Commission

USA - VeriSign's antitrust suit against ICANN dismissed

2004-08-27T15:50:00.000+02:00

VeriSign's antitrust suit against ICANN dismissed

Internet domain name registry VeriSign just can't seem to convince anyone that redirecting misspelled Web addresses to its own site is a good thing. A federal district court judge on Thursday threw out VeriSign's legal arguments that ICANN's ban on this tactic amounted to a violation of U.S. antitrust law

From CNET News.com

Greece - OTE reports 62 percent drop in net profits

2004-08-27T15:43:00.000+02:00

Greek Telecoms Group OTE Reports 62 Percent Drop in Net Profits:

Greece's largest telecoms group, OTE, reported Thursday that its second-quarter net profit slid 62 percent, mainly due to a continuing fall in fixed-line revenues and further increases in operating expenses. Higher depreciation and amortization charges also burdened the bottom-line.

From PWC Telecom Direct News
See also OTE financial results

USA - Feds wrap up online-crime dragnet

2004-08-27T15:39:00.000+02:00

Feds Wrap Up Online-Crime Dragnet:

"The Department of Justice says dozens of people have been arrested or convicted for online crimes this summer, as part of its effort to show that the internet is not 'off-base for law enforcement,' according to Attorney General John Ashcroft."

From Wired

France - We have developed the fibre channel to satisfy the needs of SMEs

2004-08-27T15:38:00.000+02:00

Greg Scherer "Nous avons fait évoluer le fibre channel pour satisfaire les besoins des PME"

From 01net

Consultants - What CIOs need to succeed

2004-08-27T15:37:00.000+02:00

Meta Group Quarterly: What CIOs need to succeed:

"Meta Group senior vice president Luis Leamus looks at the most important issues facing CIOs this past quarter, from SOX compliance to staff retention, and offers best practices for running a successful IT organisation during the coming years. Many users (and some auditors) are still searching for greater clarification and instruction on exactly what organisations must do to exhibit compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX). For the most part, they will age and wither before this will occur. SOX is a concept-based - not rules-based - regulation. The onus is on executive management and boards of directors to interpret SOX mandates - with the help of auditors and other third-party risk professionals - and then promote and document a controls environment that meets the spirit, if not the letter, of the law.

From ZDnet

USA - Fight over ultrawideband standards turns into morass

2004-08-27T15:36:00.000+02:00

Fight over ultrawideband standards turns into morass:

"USATODAY.com - In February 2002, federal regulators approved a breakthrough wireless technology called ultrawideband (UWB) that was heralded as the next big thing in consumer electronics. But UWB remains lost in a black hole known as standard-setting, the process by which the industry agrees on a common standard so devices from different makers work with each other. For nearly a year, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has been locked in a debate over which of two technologies should be the standard for UWB. While standards battles are not new, the UWB shootout has taken on the aura of a backroom political brawl, with charges of vote-buying, of bias by IEEE officials and of violations of non-disclosure deals.

From Yahoo! news

USA - 6% fewer call centres by 2008

2004-08-27T15:26:00.000+02:00

6% Fewer Call Centers By 2008: "UK shares US fate in losing support jobs. According to a new study released today (CNET), the number of American call centers will decline 6 percent by 2008, from 50,600 to 47,500. The CNET article links the decline to the passage of the Do Not Call Registry, but doesn't support the connect.."

From Broadband Reports
See also Cnet article and Call Center Outsourcing in the IT Services and Outsourcing Landscape

Consultants - 3G service strategies risk limiting long-term growth and profitability

2004-08-27T15:22:00.000+02:00

3G Service Strategies Risk Limiting Long-term Growth and Profitability

As the pace of 3G deployments accelerates around the world, many mobile operators are at last launching services or committing to bringing services to market. In doing so, operators need to beware of simply following the launch strategies of others, some of which risk serious consequences, according to a new report, 3G Launch Strategies: critical decisions on services and technology, published this week by Analysys Research.

From 3G
See also Analysys

Poland - British Telecommunications ventures into CEE

2004-08-27T11:02:00.000+02:00

British Telecommunications ventures into CEE via Poland :

BT's offer in Poland will include a variety of services including application management and call center servicing. BT is already operating HP's call center in Poland. "We are entering this market for the same reasons as other foreign companies: the first are low costs and the second is fast economic growth. Our ambition is to penetrate the Polish market more deeply," said Aad van Waveren, vice-president of BT Global Services. Aside from servicing corporate clients, BT is also interested in government tenders for providing e-government platforms. According to IDC, the value of the Polish telecoms market exceeded $8.14 billion in 2003. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 21; Rzeczpospolita, p. B1) T.J.

From Warsaw Business Journal

South Africa sees 3G future

2004-08-27T10:51:00.000+02:00

South Africa sees 3G future : "

Now South Africa's biggest mobile phone company, Vodacom, is preparing to roll-out a 3G service which could rival much of what Europe has to offer.

From BBC News

Hungary - Tender for 3G licenses slated for Aug 31

2004-08-27T10:50:00.000+02:00

Tender for 3G licenses slated for Aug 31 :

The Ministry for Information Technology and Communications will call a tender for frequency bands for 3G mobile services on August 31, Kálmán Kovács, who heads the ministry, said yesterday. Kovacs would not disclose any details of the tender invitation, but suggested that at most four licenses would be for sale. In answer to a question, he said that none of Hungary's three mobile phone operators would be excluded from the tender, but this did not mean that the winners would be among these three. (Econews; Ng 4, Nv 5)

From Budapest Business Journal

Broadband - ADSL routers on fire

2004-08-26T13:55:00.000+02:00

ADSL Routers On Fire:

"DSLAM market slows in Asia and Europe, grows in North America and CALA. “A regional market correction is taking place in Asia Pacific and to a lesser extent in Europe in the DSL aggregation hardware market, with ports down 11% in the first quarter and another 27% in the second quarter in Asia Pacific, and down 15% quarter-over-quarter in EMEA, but ADSL deployments are still growing in North America and Latin America, and will resume slow growth overall in the fourth quarter this year,” said Michael Howard, principal analyst of Infonetics Research and lead author of the DSL Aggregation Hardware report."

From Channelminds
See also infonetics

UK - ISPs feeling frustrated with Ofcom's BT price hike 'support'

2004-08-26T13:54:00.000+02:00

ISPs feeling frustrated with Ofcom's BT price hike 'support':

"'It looks like they've made up their mind already'. The UK Internet Federation (UKIF) - which represents UK ISPs - has registered its objections to BT's price hikes with Ofcom but still fears the regulator is going to rubberstamp the changes this Thursday."

From ZDnet
See also UKIF

India - direct interconnection of mobile operators

2004-08-26T12:51:00.000+02:00

Reliance, Bharti JV on inter-circle connectivity:

"Telecom operators Bharti and Reliance have petitioned the government to stop any proposed move to allow cellular operators direct connectivity between two circles by-passing the national long distance operators saying this could result in a whopping Rs 1,800 crore loss annually to the two rendering their businesses 'unviable'. On the other hand, the Cellular Operators Association of India, minus these two operators, have strongly favoured the direct connectivity between two operators in two circles."

From Business Standard

India - Two illegal international gateways for incoming telephone calls bused in Chandigarh

2004-08-26T12:47:00.000+02:00

Two illegal international gateways for incoming telephone calls bused in Chandigarh:

"On the tips of vigilance unit of the Department of Telecommunication, the team of Chandigarh Police and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited have busted two illegal Telephone Exchanges in Chandigarh for receiving international voice calls through internet and distributing to the various phones of Chandigarh and nearby area. Four persons in this connection have been arrested. "

From Press Information Bureau - PIB

Ghana - New Internet pre-paid card out

2004-08-26T09:04:00.000+02:00

Ghana: New Internet Pre-Paid Card Out:

"Ghanaian Internet users would soon be enjoying the use of Pre-Paid Internet cards. This has became possible, thanks to the innovative ideas of Mr. Bernard Okyere Mensah, Managing Director of Fruit of the Spirit Limited, an Accra-based telecommunication technology company, who returned to Ghana after 27 years' sojourn in Europe."

From AllAfrica.com

Pakistan - ISPs licensed to provide DSL services

2004-08-26T09:03:00.001+02:00

ISPs Licensed To Provide DSL Services in Pakistan

In a bid to improve service quality and coverage in Pakistan's fledgling broadband market, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has licensed all ISPs to provide DSL services over their own equipment.

From PWC - Telecom Direct News

South Africa - ISOC-ZA wants bandwidth Indaba

2004-08-26T09:03:00.000+02:00

South Africa: ISOC-ZA Wants Bandwidth Indaba:

"The Internet Society of SA (ISOC-ZA) has aligned itself with the Online Publishers' Association's (OPA) call for an urgent meeting with government to discuss the high cost of bandwidth in the country."

From AllAfrica.com
See also Internet Society - South African Chapter

Council of Europe - Self-regulation and user protection against illegal or harmful content

2004-08-26T09:02:00.001+02:00

CoE - Self-regulation and user protection against illegal or harmful content:

"Information on initiatives undertaken in nineteen of the fourty-four member States of the Council of Europe, as well as Canada, in the field of regulation of illegal and harmful cyber content.

From Council of Europe
See also Summary & analyses. Synthesis of replies to a questionnaire on self-regulation and user protection against illegal or harmful content on the new communications and information services."

A Clear Strategy Will Help IT Effectively Support Remote Workers

2004-08-26T09:02:00.000+02:00

A Clear Strategy Will Help IT Effectively Support Remote Workers: "Large-scale telecommuting programs that require IT to provide remote support to hundreds or thousands of remote workers create big challenges that aren't likely to get easier with the proliferation of new telecom technologies and increasing network security threats. To ensure a successful telecommuting program, enterprises should develop a clear and comprehensive remote support strategy that defines the different levels of IT support that will be provided to different kinds of telecommuting employees. Other best practices include a formal, written telecommuting policy; standardization of supported technologies; a telecommuting lab; remote worker training; and a self-help telecommuting reference manual."

The Next Wave Of Mobile Devices

2004-08-26T09:01:00.001+02:00

The Next Wave Of Mobile Devices: "Tomorrow's mobile gadgets will differ in form factor, packaging, and software — all of which combine to match the device much better to the demands and attitudes of a richer set of consumer segments. Enterprise segments will benefit from better text input, integration with productivity tools, and multiple radios to provide optimal connectivity in every environment. Consumers will see a much richer ecology of gizmos. Messaging fiends get fast text entry and push-to-talk, household managers get PIM tools they can actually use, and mobile couch potatoes get a panoply of entertainment options, including TV tuners and music players."

Europeans Love Online Music � As Long As It's Free

2004-08-26T09:01:00.000+02:00

Europeans Love Online Music � As Long As It's Free: "Increasing numbers of consumers across Western Europe are downloading music; their activity levels vary significantly by country. We are also starting to see music downloaders buying fewer CDs. Their underlying attitudes about paying for downloads illustrate the uphill struggle that record companies and legitimate online music stores face."

DOJ Raids Private P2P Operation

2004-08-26T08:58:00.000+02:00

DOJ Raids Private P2P Operation: "Search warrants issued for network members sharing up to 100 gigs of
copyrighted music, software and movies."

Red Roof Inns Selects T-Mobile for Broadband Service (NewsFactor)

2004-08-26T08:57:00.000+02:00

Red Roof Inns Selects T-Mobile for Broadband Service (NewsFactor): "NewsFactor - Building on its strategy to push its service into hotels, T-Mobile will be making its HotSpot wireless-broadband service available throughout the Red Roof Inn chain, owned by Accor. Under the agreement, guests at the Red Roof Inns can access the network in the common area and in individual rooms."

Cisco, Microsoft merge IP telephony with CRM

2004-08-26T07:41:00.000+02:00

InfoWorld: Cisco, Microsoft merge IP telephony with CRM

Cisco Systems Inc. is set to offer starting Monday a tool to help small and medium-sized businesses use Microsoft Corp. CRM (customer relationship management) software in combination with a Cisco IP (Internet Protocol) communication system.

Amazon to sell AT&T's Net phone service

2004-08-26T07:40:00.000+02:00

Amazon to sell AT&T's Net phone service | CNET News.com

From CNET News.com

India's mobile services market to grow at 28.3% CAGR through 2009

2004-08-26T07:39:00.000+02:00

India's mobile services market to grow at 28.3% CAGR through 2009

Revenues from cellular data services will account for 20.5% of the total cellular services revenue, says Gartner. Overall, India's mobile services market will grow by a compound annual rate of 28.3% during the next five years.

Europe opens Microsoft, Time Warner deal probe. EU probes ContentGuard deal

2004-08-26T07:38:00.000+02:00

Europe opens Microsoft, Time Warner deal probe. EU probes ContentGuard deal

The European Commission on Wednesday opened a probe into Microsoft's and Time Warner's plans to buy ContentGuard, citing concerns Microsoft could take a dominant position for digital rights management with the deal. Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft and New York-based Time Warner agreed in April to buy out most of Xerox's stake in ContentGuard, an anti-piracy software maker. Terms haven't been disclosed.

From Alwayson

Sweden - Ultra-fast broadband hits Europe

2004-08-26T07:35:00.000+02:00

Ultra-fast broadband hits Europe

For Rainer Kinnunen, life has been a bit of a blur since he signed up for a superhigh-speed Internet service three years ago. The 31-year-old Swedish student's computer has supplanted the television as the most vital link between his home and the outside world. He watches television shows and movies, makes phone calls, surfs the Web and plays multiplayer shoot-'em-up games through his high-speed connection -- often doing one or more activities at once. His 10-megabit-per-second service from telecommunications company Bredbandsbolaget is up to 20 times faster than conventional cable modems, enabling a user to download a two-hour movie in a matter of minutes rather than hours.

From Reuters

France - New mobile service

2004-08-26T07:34:00.000+02:00

New French mobile service

Bouygues Telecom and Vivendi Universal have launched a new mobile phone service in an attempt to boost their market share and increase revenue from younger customers. The new service called "Universal Mobile", which uses high-speed GPRS technology, targets customers under 25 years of age, offering them services that include personalised ring tones and access to hit music singles.

From Reuters

TELUS blocks long distance direct-dialed calls to four countries to help reduce ‘modem hijacking'

2004-08-25T20:37:00.000+02:00

TELUS blocks long distance direct-dialed calls to four countries to help reduce ‘modem hijacking'

Nigeria - A channel for telecom network

2004-08-25T17:31:00.000+02:00

Nigeria - Channel for Telecom Network:

"There is no doubt that the recent proliferation of telecommunication outfits has brought much development to the Nigerian Telecommunication Industry. But this development also brought, in its trail, worrisome developments that concern the entire citizenry, including those in authority. The internal conflicts that almost tore apart one of the famous network companies over some flaws in the management as well as the grievous attitudes of some other network companies are good examples."

From AllAfrica.com

Nigeria - 14 companies receive licences to print GSM cards

2004-08-25T17:30:00.000+02:00

Nigeria; 14 Companies Receive Licences to Print GSM Cards

"The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on 23 August granted licences to 14 indigenous companies to print recharge cards used by Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) service providers."

From AllAfrica.com

Nigeria - BPE moves to privatise Nitel

2004-08-25T17:29:00.001+02:00

Nigeria; BPE Moves to Privatise Nitel - Hits Market With 20%:

"THE Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) is set to commence fresh efforts to privatise the National Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) after a botched attempt in 2002 and six companies have already indicated interest in acquiring 51 per cent equity in the national carrier."

From AllAfrica.com

Kenya - 'Telecare' Telkom's late response to mobiles

2004-08-25T17:29:00.000+02:00

Kenya -'Telecare' Telkom's Late Response to Mobiles:

"Telkom has posted staff at various public telephone booths in Nairobi to assist callers"

From AllAfrica.com

USA - Justice Dept. to announce cyber-crime crackdown

2004-08-25T17:17:00.000+02:00

Justice Dept. to Announce Cyber-Crime Crackdown

From washingtonpost.com

Corporate - IP migration imminent for financial services industry

2004-08-25T17:04:00.000+02:00

IP Migration Imminent For Financial Services Industry:

"Frost & Sullivan analysed the drastic move for many financial services companies to IP telephony in its latest research."

From Channelminds

Embedded WiFi market to grow at 66% CAGR till 2008

2004-08-25T17:01:00.000+02:00

Embedded WiFi market to grow at 66.2% CAGR till 2008:

"The market for embedded Wi-Fi clients (including mobile PCs, PDAs and phones) will grow at a 66.2% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) to 226.0 mln units shipped in 2008. After five years of healthy growth since its mainstream commercialization, the worldwide Wi-Fi hardware market (i.e. network infrastructure and adapters) finally surpassed $1.0 bln in (4Q 2003) quarterly revenues. There has been a significant growth in Wi-Fi-enabled notebook PCs, as 55.0% of the 32.1 mln notebook PCs shipped..."

From AlwaysOn-network

Brazil - Telefonica Moviles, Portugal Telecom seek to consolidate business

2004-08-25T16:24:00.000+02:00

Telefonica Moviles, Portugal Telecom seek to consolidate Brazilian business

Spanish mobile telecommunications operator Telefonica Moviles and Portugal Telecom (PT) said they were launching cash offers for some of the outstanding shares in four subsidiaries of their 50-50 Brazilian joint venture. The operation represented an investment of 400 million euros (483 million dollars) if the offers were accepted in their entirety, a Telefonica Moviles spokesman said.

From Servihoo.com

Australia - Information Economy - Consultation on Internet governance

2004-08-25T16:08:00.000+02:00

Information Economy - International dimensions

Consultations on The views of any interested parties are sought on the general issue of Internet governance, and in particular:

(a) The composition of the Secretary General's Working Group on Internet Governance

(b) The scope of the Group's work and its method of operations

(c) The adequacy of existing international arrangements in facilitating deployment and use of the Internet in a transparent and accountable manner

(d) The respective roles of governments, the private sector, academic and technical experts and civil society

(e) Any barriers to participation by developing countries in the Internet governance framework.

Comments should be sent by cob 28 August 2004

From DCITA

USA - Wi-Fi brings broadband to rural Washington

2004-08-25T15:34:00.000+02:00

Wi-Fi brings broadband to rural Washington

Technologies that extend the range of Wi-Fi wireless LANs are making that low-priced technology an option for broadband Internet access in U.S. rural areas with limited broadband options.

From infoworld

Mobile - Wireless data revenues to grow to US$ 130 billion

2004-08-25T15:32:00.000+02:00

Wireless data revenues to grow to US$ 130 billion

The ARC Group predicts that by 2009, wireless data access will be a $130 billion dollar industry, with cellular networks taking the lion's share. A new study by the ARC Group predicts that by 2009, wireless data access revenues will have grown to $130 billion USD world-wide, including both WAN cellular networks and hotspots. More than 72% of that will be from wide-area networks (GPRS, WCDMA, etc.) with $34 billion USD of that from laptop users on 2.5G and 3G networks.

Infosyncworld

Motorola i833 by Ferrari designers

2004-08-25T15:28:00.000+02:00

Motorola i833 by Ferrari designers

Motorola's latest Special Edition phone is the i833, an i830 that's been given a make over by design firm Pininfarina of Ferrari fame. Targeting fashion-minded buyers, Motorola has given their i830 phone to Italian design firm Pininfarina, the design company behind such iconic cars as Ferrari and Maserati. The result is the special edition i833, complete "industrial" looks.

From infosyncworld

SLAs come to mobile

2004-08-25T14:58:00.000+02:00

SLAs come to mobile

Fixed-line operators have long given business customers some comfort with service level agreements (SLAs). Their mobile cousins have been a bit more reticent — until now. written by Ouida Taaffe

From Telecommunications Online

Microsoft quits a U.N. standards group

2004-08-25T14:53:00.000+02:00

Microsoft Quits a U.N. Standards Group:

Earlier this year, Microsoft's participation had created controversy within the group, which is attempting to define standards for creating a new generation of Internet services to automate buying and selling through networks of computers. Advocates of proprietary and open approaches to software technology standards had clashed within the organization, which is known as the United Nations Center for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, or U.N./Cefact. Microsoft, a maker of proprietary software, opposes the use of open-source software, which is freely shared.

From NY Times

Internet file sharing; the evidence so far and what it means for the future

2004-08-25T14:52:00.000+02:00

Internet File Sharing; The Evidence So Far and What It Means for the Future

A heated public debate started when the original "file-sharing" service, Napster, went on-line in 1999. Napster was shut down in 2001, but the debate raged on as other file-sharing services--commonly referred to as peer-to-peer (P2P) networks--took its place. Advocates of file sharing argue passionately that the practice has not harmed album sales, and opponents argue with equal vehemence that it has. Despite both sides' positions, the research thus far does not show a clear effect on record sales from file sharing. Does this mean that P2P is harmless? Not necessarily. There are many reasons why P2P's impact may not have appeared in empirical data, and there are valid reasons why P2P remains a threat to the music industry. This paper provides a brief discussion of these issues and explains why the music industry's long-term viability is endangered by P2P file sharing.

From Heritage

USA - Verizon and Qwest seek to overturn FCC rate freeze

2004-08-25T14:39:00.000+02:00

Verizon and Qwest Seek to Overturn FCC Rate Freeze

From washingtonpost.com

See also USTA Statement on Writ of Mandamus Petition

For nearly a decade, we have waited for the FCC to put lawful rules in
place for the telecom industry. Unfortunately, after four attempts, missed
deadlines, instability and delay, we are again forced to ask the court to
intervene to bring certainty and clarity to the industry. The Commission
must put lawful, permanent rules in place by the end of this year so that
all providers can move forward on a competitive basis.

From USTA

UK - Ringtone chartshow to air on British TV

2004-08-25T10:52:00.000+02:00

Ringtone chartshow to air on British TV:

"FT.com - A new weekly music television show that will showcase charts for mobile phone ringtones and music downloads is to be aired on ITV1 in a sign of the growing influence of both the mobile phone and the internet on music sales."

From FT.com from Yahoo!:

AT&T cell-phone brand will live on

2004-08-25T10:51:00.000+02:00

AT&T Cell-Phone Brand Will Live On:

"AT&T Wireless and Cingular unveiled a road map for their complicated branding and provisioning agreement."

From Yahoo! news

USA - FCC freezes discounted wholesale access rates to Baby Bells' networks

2004-08-25T10:48:00.001+02:00

FCC Freezes Discounted Wholesale Access Rates to Baby Bells' Networks: "No abstract available."

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to extend discounted wholesale access fees to the Baby Bells' networks into 2005 when new rules governing access will come into place.

From PWC Telecomdirectnews

Australia - WISPs may be out of luck

2004-08-25T10:48:00.000+02:00

Aussie WISPs May Be Out Of Luck:

It appears that the Australian Communications Authority may have backed wireless ISPs into a corner when it comes to being able to obtain more spectrum for growing wireless broadband needs. There is some spectrum in the 2 GHz range down under, but because it had initially been set aside for mobile communications usage, there could be a bidding war this year or next involving established celcos that are feeling the congestion pinch and the newer WISPs. If that happens, says research group IDC Australia, there are two scenarios: the WISPs will be priced out entirely or the celcos and the WISPs both will end up with spectrum but at extremely high prices. If the latter happens, costs undoubtedly will be passed on to subscribers, and WISPs very well may have spend everything on spectrum, leaving nothing with which to build and offer new services.

Telecom Direct News

Embedded Wi-Fi Market Undergoing Major Shift

2004-08-25T10:47:00.001+02:00

Embedded Wi-Fi Market Undergoing Major Shift: "No abstract available."

Zambian Regulator Changes Stance on International Gateway Licensing

2004-08-25T10:47:00.000+02:00

Zambian Regulator Changes Stance on International Gateway Licensing: "No abstract available."

Telenor Acquires Tiscali's Norwegian Unit

2004-08-25T10:46:00.000+02:00

Telenor Acquires Tiscali's Norwegian Unit: "No abstract available."