The website of Alex Kinch, live from London
Archive for November, 2009
MoZoop launches free phone book transfer app
Nov 16th
Nottingham-based MoZoop think they’ve found the reason why most people don’t upgrade their mobiles very often – the thought of losing all your contacts. To combat this, they’ve launched a new contact transfer service.
The free online service allows you to ‘zoop’ your contacts from your old handset and ‘zoop’ them to a new one. It promises to be – easy to use – taking just five steps, and compatible with most phones.
According to Neil Kilbride, Lead Developer for MoZoop, “Many people struggle to get their valuable contacts onto their new phone, instantly creating a disappointing experience and making the new phone suddenly seem less exciting and usable”.
“We’ve launched MoZoop as a free service simply because we think that it’s so useful – it fixes a real problem for thousands of users and we want as many people as possible to be able to use it,” Kilbride continued.
To ‘zoop’ your contacts visit http://www.mozoop.com
Beware of Vodafone and Verizon ‘your credit balance is over its limit’ emails
Nov 15th
There’s a deluge of scam emails doing the rounds at the moment, purporting to be from Vodafone or Verizon with a subject of ‘your credit balance is over its limit’ – and containing a dangerous looking file purporting to be a balance checker that it says you should run.
Of course it’s not a genuine email, and the attached executable is malware – so you SHOULD NOT open the attachment, or click on any links.
The text of the ‘Vodafone’ email is similar to this:
Dear Vodafone customer,
Your credit balance is over its limit. Please use the attached Vodafone Balance Checker Tool to review and analyze your payments.Yours sincerely,
Vodafone Customer Services
And the ‘Verizon’ version:
Dear Verizon customer,
Your credit balance is over its limit. Please use the attached Verizon Balance Checker Tool to review and analyze your payments.Yours sincerely,
Verizon Customer Services
Telmap’s latest patented technologies boost mobile location applications development and search functionality
Nov 11th
Telmap, the world leader in mobile location solutions, today announces the availability of two new patented technologies, which will improve the application design process for developers and search experience. The approval of these patents proves once again that Telmap is at the forefront of location related innovation.
The first patent exclusively makes native mobile operating systems’ functions accessible for mobile application developers. Native functions are those that are unique to a specific mobile operating system, such as Windows Mobile, Symbian, BREW, etc. Previously, developers using platform-independent programming languages were unable to embed native functions into their applications because access to the native functions was often not supported by the programming languages’ standard APIs. This meant that an application could not be written entirely in the platform-independent programming language. Telmap’s patented technology resolves this access problem so now the native functions are accessible to developers using such programming languages, enabling mobile applications that provide a richer user experience and enhanced features and capabilities that can be designed more easily and quickly, across different operating systems.
The second patented technology is a geometry-based search engine, which uses an algorithm to optimize search engines for navigation systems. It is specifically designed to improve the mobile navigation search-related experience, whereby the results of a search query automatically provides associated information to the user. For example, a user can enter a query as free text then receive a number of location-related informational options, such as the requested map location or recommended driving routes. This new technology minimizes the amount of input the user should enter while also increasing the tolerance to spelling mistakes and data entry errors. It also makes the integration of many data layers (i.e., search for streets, cities, parks, Points of Interest etc.) possible, and enables the user to search for a location, based on its proximity to another location.
These two patents, integrated into Telmap’s solution, reinforce Telmap’s commitment to expand industry openness by providing tools for both developers and end-users; tools that will make the development and usage of location-based application and services seamless, smooth and as intuitive as possible.
“These new patented innovations once again prove Telmap’s technological leadership and its significant role in advancing navigation as well as other location based applications, making them more accessible and useful to the end-user.” said Telmap’s CEO Oren Nissim. “It is another step in our journey to leverage the unique attributes of mobile devices to develop services and experiences that best serve people while on the go.”
Mobile Device with Local Server: United States Patent number: US 7,568,203 B2
Geometry-based Search Engine for Navigation Systems: United States Patent number: US 7,574,428 B2
Cellcrypt expands support for BlackBerry
Nov 10th
Secure mobile voice calling provider Cellcrypt have today announced support for the recently launched BlackBerry Bold 9700, as well as older models from the Curve and Pearl series.
The requirement for secure voice calling is now greater than ever. Recent media coverage of well-known individuals having their mobile phone security compromised, and of a hacker organisation’s detailed plans for cracking standard GSM cell phone call encryption, demonstrate an increasing need for organisations to ensure sensitive information remains secure.
Cellcrypt Mobile delivers end-to-end, real-time encryption to protect private conversations from being compromised; enabling individuals within corporations and governments to converse in a highly secure manner without the need for specialised equipment and by using a standard software application that makes highly secure calling as easy as making a normal mobile phone call.
“Cellcrypt has seen incredible interest from the global BlackBerry community since we announced its availability on the BlackBerry Bold 9000 smartphone in May,” said Simon Bransfield-Garth, CEO of Cellcrypt. “Now, not only are we supporting the latest devices such as the BlackBerry Bold 9700, but the application is also available on a wide range of BlackBerry smartphones found in the market, allowing more users to secure their sensitive voice calls.”
Cellcrypt uses the latest Internet technology to provide unmatched voice call quality, international calling capability, high reliability across wireless networks and real-time encryption. The Cellcrypt Mobile for Blackberry application uses Government-grade encryption certified to the FIPS 140-2 standard approved by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and is presently undergoing certification with a number of Governments world-wide. The product operates on all major wireless networks including 2G and 3G cellular, Wi-Fi® and satellite networks.
For more information, please search Cellcrypt on the BlackBerry Solutions Catalog microsite.
Operator 3UK Is First To Launch Flexion Discovery In The UK
Nov 10th
Accumulate UK Limited, the company that provides flexible pricing and retailing solutions for mobile retailers, today launches it latest release of Flexion with 3UK. The operator has successfully been using Flexion for its Try’n'Buy and preload programmes and will now extend the use to all its new games and top titles on Planet 3.
This release of Flexion will not only provide flexible pricing but also includes a fully dynamic store front with every wrapped game. This new feature – Flexion Discovery – will let the operator distribute its games shop with every downloaded or preloaded game.
The idea with Discovery is to make it easier for consumers to access new games directly on their devices and to increase the retailer’s reach through maximised distribution of the store. This drives increased uptake and penetration of games and reduces the dependence on traditional on-deck promotion. Flexion Discovery contextualises promotion to the point in time where it makes the most sense – promoting games to customers when they are actually playing.
Accumulate’s MD Jens Lauritzson comments: “3UK was the first operator to launch Flexion in the UK and we have seen great results from it so far – upgrading them to Flexion Discovery was a natural next step. We believe it will help 3UK to significantly increase games distribution and uptake as this release effectively opens up a new store front. We also look forward to enabling Flexion Discovery within 3UK’s preload programme, where the current Flexion wrapper is already driving a significant contribution towards overall games revenues. With the release of Flexion Discovery we expect to grow even further.”
The service is available now on Planet 3 and is fully integrated with Buongiorno who provides and manages the games service for 3UK.
Jens Lauritzson concludes: “On-device portals have become increasingly popular with operators and device manufacturers, but they are often costly and difficult to support. We believe Flexion Discovery is the ultimate solution as it can be distributed to most devices with any game. We are obviously delighted that we can continue to push the boundaries of games retailing together with 3UK and Buongiorno.”
Nimbuzz launches low-cost international calling!
Nov 10th
Nimbuzz, the new-generation mobile VoIP operator, has today announced the launch of NimbuzzOut, offering great value international calls at the lowest possible rates, to complement its multi award-winning mobile application offering free VoIP calls, SIP calls and social IM aggregation.
From today, NimbuzzOut Credits will be available for purchase at www.nimbuzzout.com, enabling users to save up to 95% on the cost of a traditional international mobile call.
Nimbuzz’ free to download, free to use mobile IM and VoIP application, launched in May 2008, already enables millions of users worldwide to enjoy free calls and instant messaging with friends across both its own network, and users’ favourite online social communities (Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk (Orkut), AIM, Facebook, MySpace and many more)
The launch of NimbuzzOut, starting with Symbian, iPhone and iPod Touch handsets and rolling out to others later this year, adds great value and great quality calling from mobiles on 3G or Wi-Fi to any other mobile or landline worldwide.
Nimbuzz technology has pioneered next-generation mobile calling, with over 3million Nimbuzz calls made every single week! NimbuzzOut represents the company’s first revenue-generating feature, launched in direct response to user requests of whom 69% recently surveyed* said they expect to use mobile VoIP more than ever in the coming 12 months.
NimbuzzOut comes at a time of phenomenal growth for Nimbuzz, with more than 10million registrations of the application since launch, a current growth rate of more than a million new registrations each month (that’s a new Nimbuzz user every 3 seconds!), a daily active user base of over 30% and an international user footprint covering every corner of the globe.
Nimbuzz founder & CEO, Evert-Jaap Lugt said of the NimbuzzOut launch: “High value, high quality voice calling is positioned at the heart of our value proposition, making NimbuzzOut the most natural commercial extension of our product. This offers fantastic value to our users, especially those who wish to communicate regularly with friends and family abroad at the lowest possible prices. This is all part of our strategy to give Nimbuzz users control of their mobile lives and the freedom they want and deserve.”
Adopting a standard pay-as-you-go model, NimbuzzOut credits will be sold in bundles of 10, 20 and 40 Dollars or Euros. Users can learn more and check call savings per country via the rate calculator on the Nimbuzz web and wap sites.
ZAIN chooses AIRCOM to boost 2G and 3G in Nigeria
Nov 9th
AIRCOM International, the leading independent network planning and optimisation consultancy, today announced that it has been chosen by ZAIN Nigeria to manage the operator’s transformation services project for its 2G and 3G networks. AIRCOM will provide consultancy that will improve network performance and boost the quality of mobile voice and data services for Zain’s subscribers.
As part of the agreement, AIRCOM consultants will audit the performance of ZAIN’s 2G and 3G networks, in order to reach agreed key performance indicators (KPI). The AIRCOM team will also play a pivotal role in helping the ZAIN management team with its ongoing business strategy, as well as assisting with CAPEX optimisation and OPEX reduction plans, estimated to save circa £6m during 2010 alone.
“ZAIN Nigeria’s main priority is to provide the best, most effective and most efficient mobile service to its customers, at the most affordable tariff,” said John Farhat, CTO at ZAIN Nigeria. “Following AIRCOM’s successful service project with ZAIN Saudi Arabia earlier this year, we’re delighted to welcome AIRCOM’s trusted team of experts on board. AIRCOM’s expertise is invaluable in attaining and exceeding network KPIs for both our 2G and 3G services, to boost the performance of network in the most cost-effective way possible, and so maintain our market leadership for mobile services in Nigeria.”
“Having already successfully worked with ZAIN in both Ghana and Saudi Arabia, we welcomed the opportunity to develop our relationship further by extending our support to ZAIN in Nigeria.” said Graham Kemp, MD Africa. “Our ongoing relationship with ZAIN and the positive results we deliver in terms of cost savings and network quality are testament to AIRCOM’s ability to maximise a mobile operator’s existing infrastructure assets – which will in turn deliver a more positive mobile user experience for ZAIN subscribers.”
Show Us Your Stuff! MSearchGroove Holds London MEET MSG DAY to Connect With Companies, Agencies, Brands & Start-Ups
Nov 3rd
MSearchGroove, the source of analysis and commentary on mobile advertising, mobile search and social media, today announces the first “Meet MSG Day” to be held on November 5th in central London. The event will provide an opportunity to connect with Peggy Anne Salz, mobile thought leader and MSearchGroove Founder and Chief Analyst, and learn about upcoming opportunities with MSearchGroove.
Taking place at Villandry, an elegant French restaurant located on Great Portland Street in the heart of London, the MSearchGroove team will welcome an eclectic mix of vendors, enablers and agencies including Adfonic, Alcatel-Lucent, comScore, Netsize and Smaato, to name a few. Attendees will have the opportunity to brief MSearchGroove on their company offering, in addition to learning about upcoming opportunities such as MobileAd World Focus, a mobile advertising business ecosystem eBook, and new media solutions that provide unprecedented access to industry executives and influencers. Other sponsorship opportunities available include a choice of media solutions, such as podcasts, webinars and branded microsites called “Briefing Rooms’.
Created in partnership with Convergence World, MobileAd World Focus is endorsed by leading global mobile organisations including the Association for Interactive Media & Entertainment (AIME), the Mobile Entertainment Forum (MEF), the Mobile Data Association (MDA) and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA). The eBook, which will be available from a global network of media partners, aims to educate the marketplace on the mobile advertising opportunity, highlight growth opportunities and expertly document the best practices that make business sense.
Chapters will cover a wide range of topics, including:
• The pivotal importance of engagement and social media marketing
• The tools/technologies available (SMS, MMS, idle screen, mobile coupons, 2D barcodes, sponsored mobile search, location-awareness and multi-modal interfaces) and the business objectives they can achieve.
• The role of mobile analytics to measure success, or failure
• The new opportunities around app stores and branded content storefronts
• The potential for Augmented Reality in mobile marketing campaigns
The work has the broad support of the mobile industry. Paul Palmieri, President and CEO of Millennial Media, the largest and fastest growing mobile advertising networks company in the U.S, is the first member of the MobileAd World Focus advisory board. Additional appointments will be announced in the next weeks.
Limited appointments are still available and companies should contact MSearchGroove’s Stuart Willett to reserve an appointment.
About MSearchGroove
At the intersection of content and context
Peggy Anne Salz is the Chief Analyst and Founder of MSearchGroove (MSG), an online network specializing in analysis and commentary on mobile search, mobile advertising, and social media. Her drive to spark debate about issues impacting the industry at all levels has won her international recognition as a brave new voice in the mobile content market. Her report, “Mobile Search & Content Discovery,” was regarded as the first in-depth study of its kind, establishing Peggy as an authority on mobile search and content discovery technologies, enabling media companies and mobile operators to monetize content and services. Her most recent series of practical how-to white papers covers the basics of mobile advertising and mobile analytics, earning her a reputation as a leading mobile advertising expert. She has established a successful writing and consulting career based on vision, insight, versatility, and more than 15 years of industry experience. For more information, please visit www.msearchgroove.com.
About Convergence World
Convergence World has expertly documented news and developments in the telecommunications and IT industries since 2004. After building a loyal following in the global operator community, its broke new ground in 2007 when it launched a fully-interactive online magazine. Today their readership relies upon its commentary to keep informed on the latest happenings in the telecommunications and IT industries. For more information, please visit www.mcubedigital.com .
More than 3 Million SIM Cards Activated by Evolving Systems’ Dynamic SIM Allocation™ as Solution Gathers Momentum
Nov 3rd
Evolving Systems, Inc. (NasdaqCM-EVOL), a leading provider of software solutions and services to the wireless, wireline and cable markets, today announced that the company’s pioneering Dynamic SIM Allocation™ solution has activated more than 3 million prepaid SIM cards worldwide, underlying its success in delivering a compelling alternative to the traditional pre-provisioning model.
“Evolving Systems’ Dynamic SIM Allocation solution not only provides significant cost savings by simplifying the SIM supply chain and optimising network capacity, it can also be a new revenue stream for operators looking to enhance the customer experience and provide a competitive edge” said Stuart Cochran, CTO of Evolving Systems. “By allowing for a massive increase in SIM card supply, without the normal costs and complexity, operators benefit from a more flexible supply chain, quicker launch of tariffs and other promotions, better utilisation of numbers, differentiation through number selection and more effective dealers.”
“Three of our Dynamic SIM Allocation solution customers are already in production, including Telefónica Móviles México and MTN South Africa, with the remaining African and Southeast Asian operators due to go live next year,” commented Thad Dupper, President and CEO of Evolving Systems. “Dynamic SIM Allocation provides a simple, efficient and cost-effective solution helping operators make better use of network capacity and build a competitive edge in a crowded marketplace. Our rapidly expanding customer base highlights the solution’s appeal to wireless operators worldwide.”
Sony Ericsson: Xperia X10 versus Satio
Nov 3rd
Sony Ericsson unveiled its first Android-based handset today – the Xperia X10. Due out in the first quarter of 2010, analysts will be closely watching the sales performance and market response. But with Sony Ericsson’s other brand new handset – the Satio – in stores before Christmas, is it worth the wait til after the festive period for the Xperia?
Let’s compare the two side by side. Operating system aside, here’s a quick run-down of the key features.
Physical:
Satio: dimensions 112 x 55 x 13mm, 126g weight
Xperia: dimensions 110.5 x 52.6 x 17mm, 145g weight
Winner: The Satio – whilst it’s slightly bigger than the Xperia it weighs less and is nearly half a centimetre slimmer.
Battery life:
Satio: Standard battery (Li-Po 1000 mAh) gives up to 360 hours (2G) up to 340 hours (3G) standby, and up to 11 hours (2G) and up to 4 hours 50 minutes (3G) talktime.
Xperia: Standard battery (Li-Po 1500 mAh) gives up to 833 hours (2G) up to 640 hours (3G) standby, and up to 10 hours (2G) and up to 6 hours (3G) talktime.
Winner: The Xperia – although it has a battery 1.5x the capacity of the Satio, it gives considerably longer standby time and 3G talktime – although 2G talktime is less.
Camera:
Satio: 12 megapixels, 4000×3000 pixel resolution. Autofocus, xenon flash, LED lighting for video
Xperia:3.15 megapixels, 2048×1536 pixel resolution. Autofocus, LED flash.
Winner: The Satio – not just based on the resolution, but a xenon flash is a lot better for taking pictures in low-light situations than a LED flash.
Data:
Both handsets have GPRS, EDGE, 7.2Mbit/s HSDPA and 3.6Mbit/s HSUPA for 2G/3G data, plus 802.11b/g Wi-Fi. However the Satio can also do HSCSD for slightly faster data on traditional 2G non-EDGE networks and is DLNA certified allowing easier sharing of media with other home entertainment devices on your local network.
Winner: Not much in it, but if you want to share media easily on the phone’s Wi-Fi connection and might occasionally be in an area with only a 2G non-EDGE network available, the Satio edges (no pun intended!) ahead.
Display:
Satio: TFT touchscreen, 16M colours, 3.5 inch size, 360×640 pixel resolution.
Xperia: TFT resistive touchscreen, 65K colours, 3.0 inch size, 800×480 pixel resolution.
Winner: Whilst the Xperia has a higher resolution screen, the Satio wins with a larger screen and higher colour depth.
Available apps:
Satio: Running the Symbian Series 60, 5th edition operating system the Satio also gives you access to the Sony Ericsson PlayNow Arena app store.
Xperia: As with all Android phones, the Android Marketplace is the first stop for applications for your Xperia.
Winner: It’s close, although initial thoughts are the Xperia has the lead with access to Android applications.
The overall result:
If you’re a non-tech user, and want a phone that’s not only reliable for everyday phone calls, texts and the like, but also comes with a great camera and half-decent features like GPS, go for the Satio. However if you’re seriously into smartphones, want to be with the ‘cool crowd’ by carrying an Android handset, but don’t mind having a frankly terrible camera, the Xperia is probably right at the top of your shopping list. You’ll just need to be patient, as it’s not due out until Q1 2010, whilst the Satio is in stores now.
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