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Archive for April, 2009
Some detailed iPhone app store stats
Apr 8th
To say the iPhone App store is growing fast is somewhat of an understatement. With over 25,000 applications and over 800 million downloads, it’s quite a success story. But amongst all the ‘fart’ applications and other useless junk, what are the real stats? Who’s got the most popular apps?
Step forward comScore. They’ve just released their latest report breaking down these figures into something meaningful. For instance, Tap Tap Revenge has been installed by nearly one in three iTunes users. The report also shows US penetration rates for the top 25 applications based on number of installs.
via Behold, marketers — some iPhone numbers you can work with, finally » VentureBeat.
Fabric Technologies Named as IP Trade Global Partner of the year FY08
Apr 7th
London based UC specialist commended by leading IP Dealerboard vendor
Fabric Technologies has been named as IP Trade Global Partner of the Year for FY08, recognising significant achievements in market penetration, project-management and technical delivery.
IP Trade’s partner programme is formed of a global network of integrators spanning three continents. The company’s range of IP based dealer turret solutions have been adopted by financial services institutions in 21 countries.
Fabric was an early adopter of the IP Trade dealer board solution in the UK, combining their expertise in Financial Services and Unified Communications. They were awarded IP Trade Gold Partner status in July 2008, recognising investment in engineering and support resources.
Since then, Fabric has seen their unified communications practise go from strength to strength, even in the face of challenging trading conditions.
Misha Gopaul, CEO of Fabric comments: “By combining IP Trade’s technology with a company’s investment in Unified Communication, we are seeing our customers realise significant savings in operational expenditure, whilst simultaneously benefiting from advanced features such as video and CRM integration. We are extremely proud to have been named as Global Partner of the Year.”
The success and growth has also been attributed to the market understanding and accepting that traditional dealer telephony can be delivered via a Unified Communications platform. IP Trade have also worked hard to deliver advanced dealer features which in turn are driving interest from potential clients.
Latest innovations in the development of the platform include IP Trade Connect, a sophisticated disaster recover model which enables both turret users on the trading floor and non-turret using colleagues in the middle or back office, to access and share private wire connections using a standard IP phone or mobile device.
2009 has already seen some significant IP Trade projects including larger deployments in excess of 100 positions, demonstrating the strategic value and stability of the solution.
Gopaul comments: “We are at an exciting time in trading technology. Much of the low hanging fruit has gone and technology companies are having to work harder than ever to deliver innovative solutions with measurable business value. The unique nature of the partnership we have with IP Trade allows us to be responsive to new ideas and innovation which really make a difference to our customers’ business.”
At a challenging time in financial services, successful organisations are challenging norms, changing the way they do business and adopting technologies that differentiate them in the market place.
Chris Bates, IP Trade’s VP of Sales and Marketing concludes: “Fabric has demonstrated mastery of the IP Trade product set, and a complete understanding of Cisco’s Unified Communication suite. This technical know how combined with a proven delivery process and practical approach to doing business, has allowed them to gain a premiere position in delivering IP Trade products to multiple markets.”
-ends-
Note to Editors
About Fabric
Thinking laterally and imaginatively, Fabric integrates best of breed technologies, creating business solution for customers in demanding environments that provide them with competitive advantage.
The company has a strong track record of work across many verticals including finance, legal, professional services and education.
Fabric is a Cisco Premier Partner with Unified Communications Specialisation and a Microsoft Gold Certified partner.
For more information, please contact Nick Hardy on 0207 841 6752 or email: nickh@fabrictechnologies.com. To visit Fabric's website, please click here.
About IP Trade
IP Trade was originally founded in 2005 by a group of four senior engineers with 40 years experience in the telecommunications, IT and banking industries.
Amid a global transition towards IP-based converged networks integrating data, voice and video, financial institutions were left with a missing link in the trading floor. Prior to IP Trade, no trading turrets were available in the market that didn’t require the use of a proprietary TDM voice switch.
After recognising that ongoing deficiency in the trading floor offerings, IP Trade was formed to specifically address these trading communication requirements.
For more information, please contact Chris Bates on 0203 178 4448 or email: cbates@iptrade-networks.com. To visit IP Trade’s website, please click here.
World’s First Femtocell Standard Published By 3GPP
Apr 7th
Three-way cooperation between 3GPP, Femto Forum and Broadband Forum creates new standard in record time enabling operators to deploy standards-based femtocells
London, UK –7th April 2009 – The Femto Forum, 3GPP and the Broadband Forum today announced that the world’s first femtocell standard has been officially published by 3GPP, paving the way for standardised femtocells to be produced in large volumes and enabling interoperability between different vendors’ access points and femto gateways. The new standard, which forms part of 3GPP’s Release 8, and interdependent with Broadband Forum extensions to its Technical Report-069 (TR-069), has been completed in just 12 months following close cooperation between 3GPP, the Femto Forum and the Broadband Forum.
The new femtocell standard covers four main areas: network architecture; radio & interference aspects (both completed last December); femtocell management / provisioning and security (finalised this month). In terms of network architecture, the crucial interface between potentially millions of femtocells and gateways in the network core has been called Iuh. This re-uses existing 3GPP UMTS protocols and extends them to support the needs of high-volume femtocell deployments.
The new standard has adopted the Broadband Forum’s TR-069 management protocol which has been extended to incorporate a new data model for femtocells developed collaboratively by Femto Forum and Broadband Forum members and published by the Broadband Forum as Technical Report 196 (TR-196). TR-069 is already widely used in fixed broadband networks and in set-top boxes and will allow mobile operators to simplify deployment and enable automated remote provisioning, diagnostics-checking and software updates. The standard also uses a combination of security measures including IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange v2) and IPsec (IP Security) protocols to authenticate the operator and subscriber and then guarantee the privacy of the data exchanged.
“In just 12 months we’ve gone from initial discussions to publication of the world’s first femtocell standard. Operators can now deploy femtocells in the knowledge that their vendors are working to the 3GPP standard.” said Adrian Scrase, the 3GPP’s Project Coordination Group Secretary. “Considerable effort was expended in 2008 with 3GPP meeting a very demanding schedule for the availability of 3GPP approved specifications.”
“Our operator members have been insistent that the dozens of approaches to integrating femtocells with mobile operators’ core networks had to be filtered down to a single standard. This new standard is crucial in turning the many femtocell operator trials taking place around the world into mass market commercial deployments,” said Simon Saunders, Chairman of the Femto Forum.
“All technologies require standards in order to make the transition from niche application to wide scale adoption. By employing and extending best of breed standards, such as TR-069 for management of the Femto Access Point as part of the home network, this new femtocell standard has the best possible chance of succeeding. We are pleased to have collaborated on this new converged service with 3GPP and the Femto Forum” said George Dobrowski, the Broadband Forum’s Chairman.
Building on this success, work is already being done to further incorporate femtocell technology in the 3GPP’s release 9 standard, which will address LTE femtocells as well as support more advanced functionality for 3G femtocells. Femtocell standards are also being developed for additional air interface technologies by other industry bodies.
About The Femto Forum
Femtocells are low-power wireless access points that operate in licensed spectrum to connect standard mobile devices to a mobile operator’s network using residential DSL or cable broadband connections. The Femto Forum (www.femtoforum.org) has been set up to promote the wide-scale adoption of femtocells. The Forum supports and drives the adoption of industry wide standards and common architectures to enable the widespread adoption & deployment of femtocells by operators around the world. It directs and implements a multi-faceted marketing campaign to raise the profile, drives technology development & deployment and promotes the potential of femto solutions among industry stakeholders, journalists, analysts, regulators, special interest groups, standards bodies and consumers.
About the Broadband Forum
The Broadband Forum mission is to develop the full potential of broadband. Focused on home-to-core network and management solutions, our standards empower providers to achieve more with their broadband deployment. Established in 1994 as the ADSL Forum and later as the DSL Forum, the Broadband Forum has seen its work over the past 15 years evolve from addressing physical layer ADSL transport specifications to advanced transport and management specifications for all forms of broadband. The Broadband Forum’s formal BroadbandSuite™ Release Program and all technical reports are publicly available at www.broadband-forum.org.
About the Standards
3GPP Technical Specifications, all available from www.3gpp.org:
|
Number |
Title |
|
22.220 |
Service requirements for Home Node B (HNB) and Home eNode B (HeNB) |
|
23.830 |
Architecture aspects of Home Node B (HNB) / Home enhanced Node B (HeNB) |
|
23.832 |
IMS aspects of architecture for Home Node B (HNB) |
|
25.367 |
Mobility procedures for Home Node B (HNB); Overall description; Stage 2 |
|
25.467 |
UTRAN architecture for 3G Home Node B (HNB); Stage 2 |
|
25.469 |
UTRAN Iuh interface Home Node B (HNB) Application Part (HNBAP) signalling |
|
25.820 |
3G Home Node B (HNB) study item Technical Report |
|
25.967 |
FDD Home Node B (HNB) RF Requirements |
|
32.581 |
Telecommunications management; Home Node B (HNB) Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P); Concepts and requirements for Type 1 interface HNB to HNB Management System (HMS) |
|
32.582 |
Telecommunications management; Home Node B (HNB) Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P); Information model for Type 1 interface HNB to HNB Management System (HMS) |
|
32.583 |
Telecommunications management; Home Node B (HNB) Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Provisioning (OAM&P); Procedure flows for Type 1 interface HNB to HNB Management System (HMS) |
|
32.821 |
Telecommunication management; Study of Self-Organizing Networks (SON) related OAM Interfaces for Home Node B (HNB) |
|
33.820 |
Security of Home Node B (HNB) / Home evolved Node B (HeNB) |
Iuh specific specifications
|
Number |
Title |
|
25.468 |
UTRAN Iuh Interface RANAP User Adaption (RUA) signalling |
|
25.469 |
UTRAN Iuh interface Home Node B (HNB) Application Part (HNBAP) signalling |
Harris Stratex Networks Awarded $1.9M Deal with Lintel to Expand Network Backbone for Africell in Gambia and Sierra Leone
Apr 6th
Deployments to extend the reach of networks into remote areas across the two countries, as well as increase network reliability
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, North Carolina – April 6, 2009 – Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSTX), a leading specialist in backhaul solutions for mobility and broadband networks, today announced it was selected by Africell Holding, a subsidiary of Lintel Holding, to expand its GSM networks in Africa. Harris Stratex Eclipse™ radios provide backhaul for next-generation, IP-enabled mobile base stations to support increased reach and capacity for Africell networks in Gambia and Sierra Leone. Deployments began in December for a contract valued at $1.9 million. With more than 1.3 million subscribers, Africell Gambia and Africell Sierra Leone lead their respective markets with 67 and 45 percent market share.
Lintel deployments include 90 links of Eclipse high-capacity radios, which are optimised for networks with flexible, high-bandwidth capabilities and native gigabit Ethernet interfaces. The links extend network reach into remote areas across the two countries, as well as increase network reliability. The Eclipse platform, well known for a number of market firsts for TDM wireless transport, including Super-PDH™ transport and compact nodal networking, will enable Africell to achieve a stable, nationwide, independent backbone in both countries. To learn more about the Eclipse platform, please visit the Eclipse product page on the Harris Stratex Web site.
Harris Stratex also will supply its advanced ProVision® Element Management System. The ProVision system was developed specifically for managing microwave radio networks, and delivers advanced features for monitoring and controlling TDM and Ethernet traffic. It also provides a number of advanced features for monitoring and controlling TDM and Ethernet transport, such as end-to-end circuit provisioning, Ethernet utilisation reporting and RMON performance monitoring. For more information on the ProVision system, please visit the product page on the Harris Stratex Web site.
Elias Arwadi, chief operations officer, Africell Holding, commented, “As the dominant market leader in Gambia and Sierra Leon, Africell is committed to expand into all rural areas and provide the same quality of service through a state-of-the-art national backbone. This investment, especially in the current economic climate, as part of a bigger ongoing expansion, is again a vote of confidence in the market potential of both Sierra Leone and Gambia.”
As an Eclipse customer for more than three years, Africell was quick to embrace Harris Stratex’ comprehensive solutions because of the company’s proven track record of providing high standards for customer service, technical expertise and reliable products.
“We look forward to expanding our relationship with Lintel. Harris Stratex is fully committed to the African market with our local presence for both technical and post-sales support. Further, our Eclipse technology provides the ideal platform to support Africell as it rolls out new services to these two key markets,” said Harald Braun, Harris Stratex president and CEO.
Harris Stratex Networks has an extensive presence in Africa, providing on the ground technical support for the region's operators from its regional headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, and satellite offices across Africa. Deep knowledge of the local market and in-market technical support has been a key factor in developing Harris Stratex' close partnerships with the region's operators.
###
About Harris Stratex Networks, Inc.
Harris Stratex Networks, Inc. is a leading specialist in backhaul solutions for mobility and broadband networks. The company offers reliable, flexible and scalable wireless network solutions, backed by comprehensive professional services and support. Harris Stratex Networks serves all global markets, including mobile network operators, public safety agencies, private network operators, utility and transportation companies, government agencies and broadcasters. Customers in more than 135 countries depend on Harris Stratex Networks to build, expand and upgrade their voice, data and video solutions. Harris Stratex Networks is recognised around the world for innovative, best-in-class wireless networking solutions and services. For more information, visit www.HarrisStratex.com.
About Lintel Group
The Lintel group of companies is engaged in the provision of GSM telecommunications services in West Africa since 2001. The group provides capital, management advice, marketing and partnering support, as well as other services. Africell Holding, Africell Gambia, Africell Sierra Leone, Africell RDC (Congo DRC), and Linfra are among its subsidiaries.
www.lintel.com
About Africell Sierra Leone
Africell Sierra Leone has achieved the first position in terms of market share in a record time and facing multinational operators. Plans are underway to achieve the country’s widest coverage footprint by the second quarter of 2009. Africell Sierra Leone was awarded the very prestigious AWOL (All Walks Of life) Telecoms company of the year award for 2008.
The secret recipe behind this success was a strategy of aggressive marketing and network roll-out. Aside from the growth in the subscriber base, Africell Sierra Leone major success was in winning the hearts and minds of the people in a record time and to become an inherent part of the Sierra Leonean society through a very active social agenda.
www.africell.sl
About Africell Gambia
Africell Gambia has held the first positioning in terms of market share since 2006 and has consolidated this positioning since with a large spread. This positioning was done through an aggressive and consistent marketing effort that is well adapted to the country’s social settings in a way that Africell has become the nation’s trend setter.
Africell Gambia has won for two consecutive years (2006 and 2007) the GCCI (Gambia Chamber Of Commerce) award for Best Service provider and is also nominated for 2008; that in addition to many other awards including Best Customer Service.
www.africell.gm
Trademarks
ProVision® is a registered trademark of Harris Stratex Networks. Eclipse™ and Super-PDH™ are trademarks of Harris Stratex Networks. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
For more information:
James Delves/Lauren Wood
+44 (0)1628 628080
hsx@noiseworks.com
Android heading for a home near you
Apr 6th
The New York Times reports that T-Mobile have plans to bring Google’s phone operating system to the home early in 2010.
According to confidential documents obtained from a T-Mobile partner, plans are afoot to bring an Android-based home phone to the market next year, followed shortly after by a tablet computer.
T-Mobile spokesman Peter Dobrow refused to elaborate, but did confirm that the company have plans for several Android-powered devices.
via T-Mobile to Use Google Software in Devices for Home – NYTimes.com.
Reallymoving.com launches leads by text
Apr 6th
Reallymoving.com the leading comparison site for home movers has launched a new service for its partners. From today, reallymoving.com partners – removals firms, chartered surveyors, Home Information Pack Providers, Domestic Energy Assessors (who provide Energy Performance Certificates) and Home Report providers in Scotland – can opt to receive their leads instantly by text from reallymoving.com as well as by email.
Reallymoving.com is the market leader in instant quotes for all services required when moving home; conveyancing fees, house surveys, house removals, Home Information Packs, EPCs and Home Reports. This new text based lead system means that reallymoving partners who are out on the road can respond quickly and more efficiently to enquiries for their services.
This service will be of particular advantage to building surveyors, domestic energy assessors and removals firms, many of whom are run from small offices without continual office support.
Partners can log into their administration pages and simply opt in and opt out of the service, so they do not need to pay for text leads when they are at their desks, but can be assured they will not miss opportunities whilst they are on the road.
Rosemary Rogers, Marketing Manager of reallymoving.com, commented: “It is essential that every lead we generate is followed up as efficiently as possible by our partners. This will enable some of the smaller companies out on the road to act quickly and convert the leads. The firms that respond quickly to open a dialogue with potential customers are noticeably those that convert the most leads.”
Sun Dial uses mobile phones to alert Muslims to prayer
Apr 6th
Sun Dial is a mobile application that uses images to alert users to the five daily prayers of Islam.
Religious technology may seem like an oxymoron, but as more people obtain mobile phones, iPhones and other devices to help them manage their lives, it’s only natural that many of them will be using their gadgets to help them enrich their spiritual life as well. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a mobile application known as Sun Dial, which alerts Muslim users when it’s time to perform the five daily prayers known as salat. The device is currently being discussed this week at the human-computer interaction conference, CHI, in Boston.
“We have to understand religion because it’s such a central part of peoples lives,” explained Susan Wyche, doctoral candidate in the College of Computing and GVU Center at Georgia Tech. More >
Moreminutes becomes Spain’s first prepaid long distance MVNO using DIGITALK
Apr 6th
Milton Keynes, 06 April 2009. Moreminutes, one of the leading prepaid service providers in Spain, has launched a new Prepaid Mobile service on the DIGITALK Multiservice Platform. The Spanish provider is the first full MVNO to collaborate with a leading European Mobile Network Operator to offer international mobile calling.
Moreminutes has been offering prepaid calling cards to its domestic and international markets using DIGITALK since 2001. The Moreminutes team were looking to offer their existing customers the same cheaper call rates whilst recognising the convenience and increasing use of prepaid mobile telephony, including support for mobile messaging and roaming.
As part of the overall solution, Moreminutes are able to exploit the Least Cost Routing capabilities of their DIGITALK Multiservice Platform to support international call routing and so maximise call margins while offering a competitively priced service.
The service will operate under the LlamayA movil brand.
Hector Najjar, Sales and Marketing Director of Moreminutes explained that other solutions were considered, but based on the existing relationship and the success of the calling card solution’s proven reliability made for a clear choice. Najjar elaborated “DIGITALK proved that their prepaid solution for mobile was as suited to our market as is the DIGITALK prepaid calling card platform, which they are well known for in Spain. Ultimately, the DIGITALK solution had the exact features we needed for our service, and the rating engine is key to our success to offer our customers a competitive rate for international mobile calls.”
Mark Ashdown, Sales and Marketing Director of DIGITALK explained the significance of the development: “It is important to note that this is the first fully integrated MVNO working with a leading European Mobile Network Operator. The DIGITALK Prepaid Mobile solution enables service providers to differentiate themselves from resellers that do not have any control over rates and charging. Moreminutes now have the ability to respond very quickly to their customers which is distinct advantage.”
For more information: http://www.moreminutes.es
ENDS
About Moreminutes
Since 1999 Moreminutes uses the latest telephone and computer technologies with one goal: to provide low cost high quality telephone services worldwide to more than half a million of users. We have pioneered the international calling card services in Spain and we continue our innovations by keeping up with most current trends in SMS, VoIP and mobile to mobile calls to offer best value for our customers and unbeatable prices.
For more information: http://www.moreminutes.es
Hector Najjar
Moreminutes
Tel: + 34 902 902 909
Email: hector@moreminutes.es
About DIGITALK
DIGITALK is a leading independent communications platform and applications vendor that enables service providers to roll out enhanced services rapidly and profitably. Service-ready applications include; Prepaid Calling Card, Broadband Telephony, IP Virtual Office, Service Numbers and Prepaid Mobile.
Founded in the UK in 1996, DIGITALK has installed more than 1200 service platforms worldwide, and has over 400 customers, ranging in scale from smaller service providers to national incumbent operators.
The success of DIGITALK and its customers is based on a suite of pre- and post-paid applications built on a platform that offers NGN and TDM deployment options, integral network, operations and business support capabilities, and a service creation environment for service innovation.
DIGITALK customers are supported world-wide by comprehensive 24x7 SLAs backed by full on-line case management.
For further information: www.digitalk.com
Kate Cash
+44 (0)1908 425000
kate.cash@digitalk.com
Could you live without your mobile?
Apr 6th
According to Reuters, roughly half the world’s population – that’s more than 3.3 billion of us – now own a mobile phone. It’s become an essential tool for daily life, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels lost when on the odd occasion I forget to take my mobile out with me.
With this in mind, consider this thought: could you live without your mobile?
The Sydney Morning Herald asked this question – and found four people who reckon they can go about their daily life without the constant interruption of calls and texts.
via Switching off: life without mobile phones – Management – Executive Style.
Brits don’t mind mobile ads
Apr 6th
Us Brits are an easy bunch to keep happy – by all means flog your wares to us but we want something in return.
In a recent survey by consultants KPMG, 40% of those polled said they’d be quite happy to watch advertising on their mobiles – as long as they got free music out of the deal. 28% said they’d settle with free instant messaging.
Only 16% said they’d rather pay a subscription fee and have no ads.
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