The website of Alex Kinch, live from London
Archive for October, 2007
Garmin launches phone-based satnav
Oct 4th
The satellite navigation company, Garmin has launched a unique, all-in-one software solution that turns selected smartphones with internal GPS into high-end navigators. Garmin Mobile XT is a mobile phone software application that seamlessly pairs the phone’s built-in GPS with Garmin’s software so that customers have the benefits of navigation anywhere in Europe or North America. Unlike other mobile phone applications, Garmin Mobile XT offers convenient preloaded maps and includes access to dynamic content like premium real-time traffic alerts and weather reports but does not require any monthly fees.*
“Garmin Mobile XT is easy-to-use and affordable, with no monthly charges to get navigating straight away” says Garmin’s Mobile Product Manager, Greg Stephenson. “It’s a one-time investment that gives customers full-featured GPS sat-nav on their smartphone whenever and wherever they need it, including areas outside of wireless network coverage.”
Garmin Mobile XT is preloaded on a microSD card (with miniSD and standard SD card converter) that includes Garmin navigation software for UK and Ireland, Europe, or the United States and Canada. Once the card is inserted into a compatible smartphone with embedded GPS, the Garmin Mobile XT application will launch automatically. Customers are then greeted with Garmin’s intuitive “Where to?” and “View map” welcome screen. With a few screen or button taps, customers can easily route to a specific street address or choose from millions of points of interest – such as restaurants, hotels, ATMs, and petrol stations. In addition to turn-by-turn, voice prompted directions, users will also see their exact position on a detailed moving map. If a turn is missed along the way, a new route will be recalculated automatically.
Thanks to Garmin’s vast product line and ability to leverage technology from the other GPS markets Garmin serves, Garmin Mobile XT builds in unique features such as support for travel guides, topographical maps and custom points of interest, as well as advanced features such as route planning with saved routes, custom avoidances and visible trip logs. Garmin Mobile XT users also have the benefit of routing to the location of a contact in their phone’s address book or to a calendar appointment (on supported platforms).
Garmin Mobile XT also includes PeerPoints, a powerful feature enabling users to send their position to any other phone as well as view and navigate to the location of other Garmin Mobile XT users. PeerPoints is the perfect way to keep track of friends and family and navigate to them with the touch of a button.
In addition to navigation, Garmin Mobile XT includes free access to Garmin Online so that customers have useful, constantly-updating information at their fingertips like real-time traffic and weather forecasts. The real-time traffic service identifies accidents, road construction or other incidents affecting traffic, and routes users around the congestion. Real-time weather information lets users see forecasts at their current location or anywhere in the world. Garmin Online is accessed through the phone’s wireless data service.
Garmin Mobile XT is available now for a recommended retail price starting from £59.99 for UK and Ireland mapping.
Garmin Mobile XT is compatible with a wide range of smartphones including models by Sony Ericsson, HP, Nokia, HTC and Samsung. It works with operating systems such as Windows Mobile, Palm and S60 v3.
*safety camera alerts free for first three months. For updates subscription charges then apply.
Orange World Eat for England
Oct 4th
In a unique collaboration between Orange World and the 5th Estate mobile portal, Nigel Slater fans will now be able to interact with his new book Eating for England whilst on the move.
The site is being promoted across Orange’s Orange World portal throughout October and is designed to specifically target mobile users that fit Nigel Slater’s target audience. It will also be tagged on the forthcoming Underground poster campaign for Eating for England.
By texting NIGEL to 80880, mobile users will be able to access extracts from the book, recipes, wallpapers, mobcasts and an exclusive interview with Nigel. They will be given the opportunity to click through to amazon.co.uk and buy the book directly from their mobile as well as entering a competition to win a free copy.
“Everyone talks about innovation the whole time, but few people actually get on with it and dip their toe in the water. Nigel’s brilliant new book provides us with the perfect opportunity to launch this exciting new collaboration” John Bond, MD Press Books, HarperCollins Publishers
Written in Nigel Slater’s trademark style, Eating for England is an entertaining, detailed and somewhat tongue-in-cheek observation of the British and their food, their cooking, their eating, how they behave in restaurants and their idiosyncratic attitude towards the fine art of dining. It is a celebration of the glory, humour, eccentricities and embarrassments that are The British at Table.
This new innovation is a first for HarperCollins Publishers and we are very excited to have this recognised brand working in conjunction with one of our major authors.
Ted Baker to launch mobile handsets
Oct 4th
Goodness me…
Link: Ted Baker heads into mobile phone market – Telegraph
Fashion retailer Ted Baker has revealed plans to strut down the high-street into the doors of a very different outfit.
The group has announced it is to team up with The Carphone Warehouse to launch two Ted Baker branded mobile phones next month – with Samsung Electronics and High Tech Computer Corporation.
I did some enquiries. Apparently Ted Baker is hot at the moment.
So I’m going to phone them and see what they’re going to come out with. I hope it’s NOWHERE NEAR any of that Cath Kidson stuff.
Incidentally here is a story about me being nailed-to-the-wall by a Cath Kidson fan.
Cath Kidson = hawker of frilly and flowery stuff.
Huwaei to build GSM on top of the world
Oct 4th
Next generation telecommunications network solutions provider Huawei has has been selected by China Mobile to install a new generation GSM Base Station on Mount Everest. The base station will provide mobile network coverage for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Team that plans to reach the summit in time for the Olympic Games.The base station will be positioned at an altitude of 6,500 meters creating a mobile telecommunications network that will cover the base camp on Everest and the main route to the mountain’s summit. In addition to benefiting the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Team the base station is expected to benefit Natural Extreme Challenge Events, one of China Mobile’s partners, and other mountaineers wishing to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
China Mobile selected Huawei’s new generation GSM Base Station, because it is built on 3G and IP technologies, and is equipped with many advanced capabilities such as a solar power supply, satellite communications system and Ethernet fiber transmission.
The equipment complies with the European ROHS (The Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) environment protection standard which means it is able to adapt to the extreme environment and weather conditions on Mount Everest.
‘We are delighted to cooperate with China Mobile to build the highest mobile telecommunication network in the world and to help the 2008 Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Team reach the summit of Everest safely,” stated Mr. Yu Chengdong, President of Huawei Mobile Networks. ”As an industry-leading mobile network equipment supplier, Huawei has a lot of experience in network construction, and the company remains committed to taking mobile networks to ALL-IP FMC.”
THQ games coming to 3
Oct 3rd
Leading games publisher THQ has signed a co-marketing agreement with 3 – which gives the 3G mobile operator a unique branding opportunity in some of THQ’s upcoming games titles.
The 3 agreement allows for the company to be included in THQ’s video game Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights scheduled to release later this Autumn for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, Nintendo DS and Windows PC.
‘To be able to offer 3 the ideal position between mobile and console games with Juiced 2 – THQ’s sequel to a two-million selling Juiced franchise is very exciting for mobile entertainment, ” said Adam Comiskey, International Vice-President, THQ Wireless.
“This is yet again an original marketing move for THQ Wireless. Through this integration, thousands of gamers around the world will potentially see the 3 logo within the Juiced 2 video game,” said James Scalpello, Director of Marketing, THQ Wireless.
“Juiced 2 is a great opportunity to reach out to a significant segment of our customers,” said Fergal Walker, Director of products, 3UK. ’3′s prominent positioning within this video game enhances our credentials as the market-leader in mobile gaming.”
Under the new agreement, the 3 brand will be fully integrated into the mass market console video games. In addition, the Juiced 2 mobile game will be available for download directly from the 3 portal. In the game, players can create and customize a 3 branded car, designing everything from hot hatches to super cars. They can spray paint, choose modifications and race the 3 car to stunning effects.
About Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights
Juiced 2: HIN evolves the current street racing scene, letting players experience the culture of the real-life HIN tour, the nation’s largest lifestyle custom car show in an intense racing experience. Featuring track and drift racing at real-world locations around the globe, next-gen AI and unparalleled vehicle customization, Juiced 2: HIN brings street racing to life, allowing players to test their skills at live street racing events against a back-drop of DJs, fashion, models and musicians. Groundbreaking new features include addictive drift/ powersliding races and ‘Driver DNA” that tracks gamers’ personal driving traits. These profiles, along with the profiles of select celebrities will be available for download across all online gaming systems. Elite racing developer Juice Games has evolved the game-play that revolutionized online racing, giving players the power to create their car, assemble their crew and put it all on the line in intense pink slip and crew races. Gamers will also be able to bet cash on each event, bringing a gambling element to the game that greatly increases the importance of each race.
Avaya and Nokia bring FMC to business
Oct 3rd
Avaya and Nokia today announced the next phase of their strategic collaboration with a solution that provides users of Nokia Eseries business devices with one number access and advanced enterprise telephony capabilities as they travel across private Wi-Fi and public mobile networks. With a single mobile device, workers can ‘handoff” phone calls at the click of a button, using dual mode communications, as they travel from inside a company building (Wi-Fi) to the outside environment (mobile) – and vice versa. This gives workers a more convenient and productive way to manage their communications, while giving organisations a more cost-effective approach to enterprise mobility.
The solution – Avaya one-X Mobile Dual Mode Edition – combines Internet protocol (IP)-based applications with Nokia Eseries business devices – the Nokia E60, Nokia E61 and Nokia E70 models – to deliver the full benefits of FMC. The offering includes a dual-mode device with Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) capabilities that can make and receive calls over both mobile and wireless local area networks (WLAN), both on and off a company campus.For example: when a worker is communicating while roaming inside company walls, the solution uses the company’s communications system and a secure Wi-Fi network. This drives cost savings by eliminating the need to use cellular minutes while at work. When the worker travels outside a company’s Wi-Fi network, they can handoff their Wi-Fi call to the cellular network outside by pressing a button, keeping their conversation going uninterrupted.
An organisation that is using Avaya mobility solutions to keep employees connected wherever they go is CNIPA, the Italian National Centre for Information Technologies in Public Administration.
“We recently planned to introduce VoIP technologies which would see the migration of a million desk phones to IP mode over three years,” said Stefano Paolucci, CNIPA CIO manager, the Italian National Centre for Information Technologies in Public Administration. “We are enthusiastic about the possibility of collaborating with Avaya to provide access to mobility services in our headquarters in Rome. With an easy and quick installation system we are currently using WLAN and GSM dual-mode technologies to provide mobile access to PBX services such as call transfer, call registration and conference calls. Despite the complexity of our building – Mr. Paolucci continues – the communication through the continuous coverage of the Wi-fi network is secured thanks to the various access points located on all floors and the connection from one point to another does not cause any sort of interference during the conversation. Not only has this resulted in increased mobility, but we have also reduced costs.”
‘We’re finding that more and more businesses are using mobile devices in their telephony evolution cycle to deal with an increasingly virtual workforce,” said Nathan Dyer, Yankee Group senior analyst, Enterprise Mobility. ‘Apart from cost-savings, integrated Wi-Fi and cellular devices enable simplified management and greater enterprise control over wireless voice devices.”
Avaya one-X Mobile Edition and Nokia Eseries business devices deliver greater convenience, enhanced functionality, and improved security by giving workers one device for business and personal use, one number call access, and one voicemail message interface. Enterprise telephony features available with the dual mode solution include conferencing, transfer, and extension dialing – key capabilities enabling more productive communications for mobile workers. Security benefits include the ability to authenticate the Nokia Eseries device to a PBX, giving businesses greater control over wireless communications by allowing only authorised users to access the company’s systems.
‘Bringing the functionality of the IP PBX to mobile devices over cellular and Wi-Fi to employees both inside and outside the office is one of the ways mobility is transforming the way business is done,” said Tom Furlong, vice president, Security & Mobile Connectivity, Nokia. ‘Working with a leading IP telephony provider like Avaya to extend their solutions to Nokia Eseries business devices is a key element to realizing the Nokia vision of connecting people using virtually any device over any network to any corporate application or data source.”
‘Embedding Avaya mobility applications with Nokia dual mode technology represents a core part of Avaya’s vision of delivering Intelligent Communications to every worker, regardless of the network they’re on,” said Geoffrey Baird, Avaya vice president and general manager of Appliances, Mobile and Small Systems Division. ‘This unifies a business’ voice applications, devices and networks to simplify communications for enterprise users wherever they go. Greater productivity and savings are just the beginning of the benefits gained with dual mode mobility.”
Avaya will sell the mobile application as part of its IP telephony portfolio through its enterprise channels; Nokia will sell the solution through its operator and other channels. Both companies are investing research, development and marketing resources to realise the enterprise fixed mobile convergence market.
MAXroam is officially launched
Oct 3rd
We bought you the news first a few weeks ago, but now it’s official. Cubic Telecom have officially announced the launch of their much-awaited MAXroam SIM card, which will dramatically reduce costs for people roaming internationally. MAXroam cuts call charges for both the caller and the call recipient by up to 95% – no matter where they are. In the first weekend of pre-sale, Cubic Telecom has sold MAXroam SIM cards to consumers in more than 30 different countries around the world from its website at www.maxroam.com.
The MAXroam SIM is the result of years of negotiations with traditional mobile phone companies around the world. It was designed by a team with extensive knowledge of the mobile market and years of experience in running consumer mobile and wireless networks.
The SIM card allows users to allocate up to fifty local landline numbers from around the world to the user’s phone. A businessman based in Dublin who travels regularly to the USA and Canada can allocate landline numbers from Dublin, New York and Toronto to his MAXroam SIM, meaning that he can be contacted cheaply and directly by colleagues and customers at any time. His Canadian customers simply call a Toronto number, and his mobile phone will ring wherever he is. His Irish colleagues simply call a Dublin number, and get connected straight to him – whether he’s in Dublin, New York, Toronto or elsewhere.
Cubic designed the product for several large markets of consumers who are looking for ways to reduce the cost of international telephony: (1) the growing population of émigrés who buy pre-paid calling cards to call friends and family overseas; (2) travellers who are looking for ways to reduce the costs of roaming on traditional packages; and (3) globally distributed teams – commercial, not-for-profit, and governmental organisations – that are seeking better ways to manage the cost of global calls.
“It’s great that we’ve now reached the stage where we can start selling our MAXroam SIM,” says Pat Phelan, CEO of Cubic Telecom. “The response from consumers has been massive. Within a few hours of setting our website into pre-sale mode, we were selling hundreds of SIM cards. 75% of enquiries so far have been from small business owners, and we’ve also had interest from a few Fortune500 companies, as well as many individuals who have family living abroad or spend a lot of time travelling. This is a great product because it’s not only good for your pocket as the user, it’s also good for those who are calling you from overseas. There are no more massive bills for calling mobiles across borders with MAXroam in your phone.”
MAXroam, which operates on any unlocked* GSM phone, can be purchased for £20 (EUR29.99) (with an initial £3.50 (EUR5) calling credit) and is available now at www.maxroam.com.
WIN buy Quattrocomm
Oct 3rd
UK mobile messaging aggregator and content provider WIN have recently announced they’ve taken over Swiss mobile content enabler Quattrocomm.
Quattrocomm delivers and manages portal solutions for thirty European MNOs; most significantly T-Mobile Germany, Vodafone Germany, debitel, O2 Germany, eplus, Mobilkom and the TeliaSonera Group. For T-Mobile Germany, for example, Quattrocomm manages its video download storefront and video aggregation as well as designing and operating its ‘Street Gigs’ live music promotion wap site.
Additionally, Quattrocomm works with leading rights holders to leverage their brands through mobile channels; including the distribution of FA Premier League alerts and video services through ten MNO portals across Northern Europe.
Graham Rivers, Chief Executive of WIN commented: ‘Quattrocomm is an exciting addition to the WIN family, and the first acquisition in our strategy to extend our skills into fulfilling market needs for managing interactive media. We are now able to reach thirty European MNOs with our value proposition; with access to rich media content skills and assets that can be put to work immediately in our existing markets. In Bjørnar and Lasse, we are bringing in international managers with a proven track record in the European mobile content market over the last seven years. Quattrocomm has an outstanding low-cost, high-quality development centre in Hungary that can be leveraged into a global resource for the Group as we expand internationally. Its front-end technical solutions, including a powerful mobile portal engine that has already been integrated with the WIN platform, are state-of-the-art.”
Bjornar Jensen, managing director and co-founder of Quattrocomm commented: ‘The future for MNOs and their core partners lies in rich media content, which requires them to bring on board partners with a strong content sourcing, adaptation and merchandising skill set. As we have built our business it has become increasingly clear that our MNO partners look for end-to-end solutions combining technical delivery platforms as well as content. Our skill set lies within the content area; we not only benefit from access to the robust platform technology WIN provides us, but we expect to add value to existing WIN client relationships through our expertise.”
Xiam sign personalisation deal with Vodafone
Oct 3rd
Hot on the heels of their recent deal with Orange for the provision of it’s targeting and advertising solution to power the operator’s My Personal Offers System, Irish company Xiam Technologies have just announced a deal with Vodafone Ireland.
Vodafone Ireland is using MPOS technology to serve interactive third party advertisements on their newly revamped Mobile Internet portal. “We see mobile advertising as a significant opportunity to augment revenues whilst improving the portal offering” says Chris Handley, Head of Mobile Internet and Content at Vodafone Ireland. “Xiam’s proven commercial and technical know-how will bring the best to the channel for both
advertisers and subscribers.”
The two deals come as a ringing endorsement of Xiam’s leadership position in the market. As Colm Healy CEO at Xiam explains, “The mobile phone is a uniquely personal device and mobile marketing must be personalized. As a high reach, low noise channel the mobile experience must deliver individual relevance if it’s to succeed. Xiam’s solutions focus on treating each customer as an individual, dramatically improving both the users experience and the uptake of operator services”.
Nokia add new video content partners
Oct 3rd
Nokia‘s new partnerships with world-leading content brands brings a huge range of high-quality mobile videos into the hands of compatible Nokia Nseries device owners. The new partners announced today are to join YouTube and Reuters in providing mobile video content for the Nokia Video Center.
The Nokia Video Center offers Nokia Nseries users one simple place to discover and access the best choice of mobile video content via 3G, WiFi or PC. Users can switch easily between a range of different video services choosing from branded on-demand video, internet video podcasts and their own favorite videos. The Nokia Video Center is available on the Nokia N95 and Nokia N95 8GB.
New partners and their services:
CNN – Provides comprehensive international news coverage, as well as business, sports and entertainment updates from around the world.(i)
IBN News – Download the latest news and features to your phone from the leading English news channel in India.(ii)
Jamba – offers free videos from three categories, music videos, cartoons and fun.
Sony Pictures – Inside Sony Pictures is your free all-access pass to trailers and added value content for current and upcoming movies, TV, games and more from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
RooftopComedy – Stand-up and sketch comedy clips from around the world.
ROK, FreeBeTV – Celebrity TV, Sports, Classic Commercials and Fun Little Movies.
Versaly Entertainment, FAST LANE – The premier mobile video channel for the male lifestyle: through its video business unit Vmbc.tv, programming includes intense action sports, hilarious comedy, full contact fighting, the best mobile user-generated content, and much more!
“The new partnerships expand the scope of quality mobile videos available to Nseries device owners. The new content ranges from movies, trailers and comedy to more informative videos such as international news.” said Harri Mannisto, Director, Multimedia, Nokia. “Consumer desire to watch internet videos on mobile devices is growing all the time and we want to help users discover and access the best content in the simplest way possible.”
CNN(i), IBN(ii), Jamba and Sony Pictures will join YouTube and Reuters and will appear in the main menu of the Nokia Video Center. RooftopComedy, ROK and Versaly Entertainment will be found in the Internet Videos category of the menu.
(i) The service is currently available in APAC region.
(ii) The service is available in APAC region only.
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