The website of Alex Kinch, live from London
Posts tagged Three
Skype launch mobile with 3
Oct 29th
Although not officially unveiled until later today, we’ve got all the details of the new Skype mobile – launched in conjunction with mobile operator 3. Ewan will be at the press launch later, so expect pictures soon!
The 3 Skypephone is a fully-featured 3G Internet phone with Skype built-in. In addition to Skype calls the phone makes conventional calls and can be used to access 3′s broad range of other internet services.
The handset was developed by Skype and 3 in partnership with Qualcomm, using Qualcomm’s BREW platform to enable Skype to work with core handset features such as address book and messaging. It’s got 3G, a 2-megapixel camera, mp3 player, mobile TV and internet access.
According to the information available, it’s a “small and shiny” handset, weighing in at a tiny 86 grams, and comes in black or white, with a blue or pink trim. Standby time is 320 hours, with a talk time of 270 minutes or 170 minutes of video calling. The screen is a 176 x 220 2.0″ QCIF 262K colour display, and the handset itself has 16MB of external memory plus room for up to 1GB of microSD memory card (it comes with a 256M card as standard).
Price-wise, the 3 Skypephone will be available from 3Stores or on the web from 2nd November, at £49.99 on pay-as-you-go or free with a contract. You get free Skype to Skype calls included (as expected) as long as you’re on a contract or you top up your credit monthly.
More news as it comes in..
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.
3 launch mix-and-match tariffs
Oct 1st
Mobile network 3 have “called time on ‘one-size-fits-all’ call plans” today, with the announcement of their new customisable tariff concept.
According to the operator, Mix & Match has been designed to be completely flexible and to appeal to both value seekers and fans of the latest handset. For the first time ever, 1 minute is equivalent to 1 text. There are five options in the new tariff range, from £15 a month for 300 minutes and texts, plus 300 minutes of free 3 to 3 mobile calls, to £27 for 1100 minutes and texts per month. You can add an extra 200 minutes/texts to your plan at any time you want for just £3 a month up to a maximum of 1100 minutes/texts, avoiding any hidden, pricey penalties.
Once you’ve tailored your price plan, you match it to your choice of up to 20 handsets – including the rather in demand Nokia N95. You also get free voicemail, 300 free 3-to-3 minutes (including sister networks abroad), and it costs just 12p a minute to any network outside of your allowance.
On the data side, 3 are chucking in free Windows Live or Yahoo! Messenger services, free Skype calling, and free eBay bidding and buying.
T-Mobile could purchase 3
Sep 16th
Link: T-mobile in Talks with Hutchison 3g over Network Sharing
T-Mobile and 3 are reportedly in discussions over sharing parts of their 3G network, according to the Financial Times (via Cellular News).
There’s also rumours that should this deal go through, the next logical step would be that T-Mobile purchase 3. James Barford, analyst at Enders Analysis, told the FT: “This deal, if concluded, would leave T-Mobile as the most obvious potential buyer of 3.”
Radio sharing agreements are not uncommon, with Vodafone and Orange agreeing a 3G network sharing deal back in February. The benefits for the operators are easy to see – with the amount of money saved in duplicate infrastructure, planning permission, etc, quite worthwhile in the fight to make the huge amount of money they spent on the 3G radio auction worthwhile.
Unsurprisingly, T-Mobile and 3 declined to comment on the FT article – which usually means something’s brewing..
3 Sweden Launches 3G Push-to-Talk Service
Sep 4th
Link: 3 Sweden Launches 3G Push-to-Talk Service
3 have launched a 3G push-to-talk and presence service in Sweden, with the platform provided by Nokia Siemens Networks.
The solution includes network monitoring, operations and systems integration services – as well as a presence service that enhances the whole user experience.
Jan Blom, 3 Sweden’s Director of Business Marketing and Sales, says: “Following our successful trial and considerable research into this market, now is the perfect time to launch our 3Push-to-Talk service. The solution and services from Nokia Siemens Networks mean that we are able to focus fully on promoting new, value-added services to our customers.”
3 launch £10/month mobile broadband
Aug 20th
Link: 3 launches tenner-a-month data | The Register
The Register are reporting that 3 are about to launch 3G mobile broadband from just ten quid a month.
At £10 a month, the basic Mobile Broadband package (“Light”) gets you 1GB of data, while £15 gets you 3GB, and £25 up to 7GB. Data usage outside these buckets is charged at 10p/MB. 3 will throw in a free USB modem to existing customers, or £29 if you sign up for eighteen months.
By comparison, T-Mobile’s web’n'walk Plus deal, which today offers the best value, permits 3GB for £24.68 (incl. VAT) and 10GB for £37.45 – which means that the “Plus” and “Max” offerings from 3 work out at a lower minimum price per MB. Vodafone offers 3GB for £25 per month, and a curious deal where you get £8.50 for 500MB in a twenty four hour period.
So there you go. Another good reason for T-Mobile customers to jump ship to 3.
3.5G to get upgrade by end of 2007
Jul 21st
UK mobile operators T-Mobile, 3 and Vodafone have confirmed plans to begin rolling out the High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) standard in the UK by the end of the year.
The technology - which uses packet scheduling – takes the performance enhancements found in the High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) standard and brings them to the upload side of a data connection. The net effect is a balancing of the theoretical maximum upload and download speeds.
Vodafone have already launched the technology in Germany, and will begin rolling out their UK service later this year. Rivals T-Mobile and 3 will also be aiming to start upgrading their network by the end of the year, with Orange planning to introduce the HSUPA service in 2008.
The only UK operator not figuring in these plans is O2 – who have at present not announced plans for HSPA enhancements to their network.
(Thanks to SMS Text News reader Mike for providing additional information to correct this article)
How to break a Nokia E61
Jul 16th
I think it’s time for a new handset. My poor E61 is trying to run Jaiku, Good Mobile Messaging, and Truphone – all at the same time. It’s crashing about every two minutes at the moment – which is not so good.
I’m thinking of keeping the E61 for email with Good, and going to an N95 for my general usage. There’s a few issues though, which I’m still yet to figure out.
Firstly, I’m getting a bit peeved with T-Mobile. Web’n'Walk on 3G is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard of late, so I’ve switched it to GSM. It’s slow, constantly breaks, and is generally flakey.
Second, I’d like to try Three, but the N95 isn’t available yet.
Third, I’ve got about another 11 months left on an 18 month contract with my E61 on T-Mobile.
Fourth, the number everyone uses to reach me goes to my E61 via T-Mobile.
Any suggestions on how to fix this pickle appreciated 
New Vodafone data tariffs ‘slash mobile internet charges by half’
Jun 18th
Link: Vodafone slashes mobile internet charges by half – Independent Online Edition > Business News
This interesting news appeared on UK newspaper The Independent website today. Vodafone have apparently kicked off a ‘price war’ by introducing a flat-rate mobile broadband tariff of £25/month. Although the article says that the ‘fair use’ limit has been raised, it doesn’t say exactly what the new limit is.
There’s also news on a new tariff for roaming data users.
In order to capture more roaming revenue, the company has also introduced a tariff that charges contract customers £8.50 for a 24-hour session to use data cards abroad. It has also doubled the amount of data that subscribers to its £95-a-month Mobile Broadband Travel tariff can use, while increasing the number of networks on to which those customers can roam.
Will be interesting to see the response in the coming weeks from the other mobile operators, especially T-Mobile and Three.
Three appeal against termination charge cut
May 29th
Link: Hutch 3G UK Appeals over Termination Cuts
Hutchison 3G UK has filed an appeal against a regulatory decision to reduce its termination charges by 45 percent, calling the ruling “absurd” and “‘anti-competitive,” the Financial Times has reported. The company has lodged the appeal with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Meanwhile they’re planning to start charging for SMS termination here in the UK from 1st July. A source tells me that certain operators will be paying 4.3p for deliverying texts to Three customers – which is considerably higher than the usual 3p for Vodafone, O2 and Orange.
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