MWC – Fraunhofer IIS, a specialist in audio and multimedia technologies, is presenting HD communication over an LTE-A (Long Term Evolution Advanced) 4G cellular network, featuring low delay, CD quality audio and HD video at Mobile World Congress 2011. Fraunhofer’s technology allows users to experience completely natural mobile phone conversation, just as if the participants were sitting in the same room.

Fraunhofer’s solutions for high quality HD communication over LTE includes its Audio Communication Engine, which combines several components to vastly improve the sound quality and clarity of mobile phone calls.  This audio package includes high-quality, low-delay audio codecs, robust acoustic echo control and a low delay IP streaming system. Fraunhofer also shows its matching low delay video solution based on PC hardware. This combination of technologies delivers the highest audio and video quality along with imperceptible latency, enabling 4G network operators to provide a dramatically improved communications experience compared to current network technologies.

“As next generation networks roll out, Fraunhofer provides a next generation communication experience by combining its low delay video technology and Audio Communication Engine to deliver a much more enjoyable and productive experience while on the phone,” said Harald Popp, head of the department Multimedia Realtime Systems, at Fraunhofer IIS. “With consumers’ increasing demand for HD quality, Fraunhofer is meeting expectations by delivering a new communication experience to mobile subscribers who can forget about distance, as voices sound as clear and natural as if talking to someone in the same room.”

Fraunhofer’s low delay video technology consists of low delay, high-quality video encoding and decoding based on H.264. This enables high quality HD video at 4G compatible bit-rates.

Fraunhofer’s Audio Communication Engine includes the MPEG audio communication codec “AAC Enhanced Low Delay” to ensure CD quality audio at very low coding delays and bit rates. Second, robust, multi-channel echo control software reliably removes echoes, providing hands-free convenience and complete freedom to move around a room. Finally, a specially matched IP streaming stack and error concealment tools allow for high-quality audio even under adverse network conditions.

Fraunhofer will demonstrate its HD communication technologies for CD-quality phone calls over a LTE-A network at the Fraunhofer IIS Stand 2E41 in Hall 2 at Mobile World Congress 2011.

MWC – Aircom International, the independent network planning and optimisation solutions provider, today launched I-View. Aircom’s I-View framework enables mobile network operators to enhance visibility and control of their entire network, enabling radical shifts in mobile operator business dynamics to become more efficient, more agile and more profitable.

Mobile operators have multi technology, multi vendor, siloed, rapidly scaling networks that must support a large number of diverse devices while handling huge quantities of data. Under this strain mobile operators struggle to correlate, analyse and use the network data they have to effectively plan optimise and manage their networks. A different approach is required for mobile operators to increase margins, improve customer experience and identify new areas for margin improvement and service consolidation.

Combining Aircom’s proven product portfolio, complementary third party products and service expertise, the I-View framework provides a single, seamless and comprehensive end-to-end view of the network. Irrespective of vendors, technology layers or generations (2G, 3G, LTE), I-View can maximise the power of existing network tools creating an ‘evergreen’ strategy and evolving framework, to minimise investment loss.

“Mobile operators face increasing costs and margin pressure, high rates of churn related to quality of experience, competitive ‘internet’ players and shareholders demanding growth in profit. At the same time their networks are becoming increasingly fragmented and complex. Operators are losing visibility, and thus control in overcoming these challenges,” said Darryl Edwards, CEO, Aircom International. “I-View will allow mobile operators to enhance visibility and centralise control of their networks creating significant cost and efficiency savings.”

MWC – Movius Interactive Corporation – a global specialist in unified communications solutions – today unveiled the latest version of Side-Line Service, its solution which allows operators to significantly increase ARPU and reduce churn by offering multiple lines on a single device without needing an additional SIM.

With the latest release, Side-Line Service not only supports separate voice calls but also separate SMS messages. Now a subscriber can have one line for all their business calls and related messaging and another for their personal calls and associated voice and text messages, all on one phone with any SIM.

The demand for this solution is growing as carriers on multiple continents have begun trialing or rolling out this service including the previously announced multi-country initiative by Telefonica. The adoption of Side-Line Service follows major market research across the United States by leading research firm Frost and Sullivan, which showed that nearly a third of mobile phone users were interested in second line capability and for those already owning two devices the interest level rocketed to more than 60%.

“There is a really strong momentum building from people who not only want to carry just a single device with them but want to be able to control different facets of their lives – for example keeping business and home life apart,” said Movius President and CEO Dominic Gomez.

“Our application provides the most complete second line service including the ability to have separate billing and voicemail for each number as well as supporting both voice and SMS communications. All of which can be deployed on any mobile device.”

Demand and interest in Side-Line Service has largely been fueled because, while the mobile phone has made connecting to individuals much simpler, it has created new issues for all types of users. These problems include:

Business User: With just one mobile, it is difficult to “turn off” personal calls when at work – or vice versa. Also it is virtually impossible to segment business and personal calls expenses.

Entrepreneur: A small multi-business person cannot differentiate calls for each business or prioritize them based on customer type. With multi-line capability entrepreneurs can manage all their requirements much more easily.

Personal: Again, there is no opportunity to segment calls or to identify a type of call coming in or prioritize, for example, one’s own children or family.

The new version of Side-Line Service is being demonstrated for the first time at the Movius stand in Hall 1(F24).

MWC – Gemalto, a specialist in digital security, has announced Facebook for SIM, which enables anyone to enjoy the service on all handsets, even if without a data connection or data subscription. With this announcement, Gemalto brings Facebook to millions of mobile phone users regardless of their handset type. 

“Increasingly people want to be able to stay connected and communicate with their friends on Facebook anytime, anywhere,” said Henri Moissinac, Head of Mobile Business, Facebook. “Gemalto has developed a creative solution in Facebook for SIM that enables people without mobile data plans to stay connected to their friends on Facebook in an affordable way.”

Gemalto’s software development team has embedded the software application into the SIM. This ensures the Facebook application is compatible with 100 per cent of SIM-compliant mobile phones.

The solution provides mobile subscribers with simple and convenient access to core Facebook features such as friend requests, status updates, wall posts or messages. It also offers unique functions: people can sign up for this service and log in directly from the SIM application. Interactive Facebook messages pop-up on the phone’s screen so people can always share up-to-the-minute posts and events. One can also automatically search their SIM phonebook for other friends and send them requests.

Facebook for SIM is extremely easy to use and is available to everyone. No data contract or application download is needed, because the software is embedded in the SIM and it uses SMS technology. As a result, it works for prepaid as well as for pay-monthly customers. Following an initial limited free trial period, Facebook for SIM then operates on a subscription model via an unlimited pass for a given period of time.

“Facebook for SIM enables operators to leverage two of their main assets: the SMS to communicate with the web application and the SIM for application distribution to the masses,” added Philippe Vallée, Executive Vice President, Gemalto. “Over 200 million people already use Facebook on handsets and those are twice as active as non-mobile users[i]. By providing anytime, anywhere availability to the social network, Gemalto delivers on the growing demand for mobile connectivity all over the world.”