Muzicall, European provider of Ringback Tone (RBT) services, has announced a new strategic partnership with IMImobile, a global technology partner for operators, media providers and enterprises. Muzicall and IMImobile say they will join forces to foster new Ringback Tone business opportunities and accelerate the growth of RBT consumer services throughout Europe.

The partnership is said to draw upon the two companies’ expertise to provide a fully managed service to mobile operators through a mix of technology and marketing. It is said that the aim will be to maximise consumer adoption as well as facilitate improved discovery through new channels such as enabling off-deck sales of Ringback Tones.

IMImobile will draw from its experience in delivering RBT technology in Asia-Pacific and Africa where Ringback Tones are highly popular. Muzicall will use its best practice framework developed through its Centre of Excellence for Ringback Tone marketing which has a proven track record of significantly increasing RBT consumer adoption rates for leading mobile operators in Europe.

“In many ways Muzicall and IMImobile offer complementary RBT services so it makes sense for the two companies to work together to grow the European Ringback Tone market,” said Patrick Allainguillaume, CEO of Muzicall. “IMImobile has excellent experience in developing successful Ringback Tone technology. There is a huge opportunity in Europe, with only two percent of mobile phone users owning Ringback Tones whereas in regions such as India that number is above 25 per cent.”

“We look forward to partnering with Muzicall to repeat the success in Europe that RBT services have had across the rest of the world. With the right focus, IMImobile believes RBT services can be a valuable revenue generator for European operators as a standalone service or as part of a complete music lifestyle solution encompassing full-track music, social networking and personalisation content,” said Vishwanth Alluri. CEO and Chairman of IMImobile. “IMImobile’s flexible technology and experience, gained from over 21 RBT deployments, alongside Muzicall’s fully managed RBT service expertise and marketing knowledge, will prove a compelling proposition for operators keen to explore new revenue sources.”

In the past 12 months Muzicall says it has grown the number of Ringback Tone subscribers across its managed services by more than 300 per cent. This success is said to be in part due to the expertise Muzicall has gained from managing Ringback Tone services with numerous operators across Europe.

Sagem Wireless and ST-Ericsson are to partner on the development of multimode LTE/HSPA+ reference designs, devices and modules. The two are collaborating on a multimode platform, which can connect to LTE, HSPA+, 3G and GSM networks, to develop a mobile broadband modem to be launched before the end of 2010.

Supporting downlink speeds of up to 100 Mbps via LTE and 21 Mbps via HSPA+, Sagem Wireless says its dongle modems will enable Internet Gateways to offer ultra high speed wireless access. The modems will also enable laptops to get online wherever there is mobile coverage, giving end-users a high level of flexibility.  Sagem Wireless says it also plans to use the multimode platform to produce versatile modules that can bring high-speed mobile connectivity to laptops, netbooks, tablet computers, Machine to Machine (M2M) applications and other devices.

“Working with ST-Ericsson on LTE will enable Sagem Wireless to be at the forefront of the development of state-of-the-art devices and modules modems that can connect to the world’s fastest mobile networks,” said Yves Portalier, EVP, Strategic Planning of Sagem Wireless. “ST-Ericsson’s single family of platforms will also enable Sagem Wireless to produce a wide range of devices faster and more cost-effectively than if we had to juggle multiple incompatible platforms.”

“We have developed our multimode platform to enable people to connect to the best available mobile network wherever they are, whether that be with LTE, HSPA+, 3G or GSM, switching between different access technologies effortlessly and seamlessly,” said Pascal Langlois, Senior Vice President Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of ST-Ericsson. “The fact that the platform is ready to make its debut in commercial devices in 2010 further underlines ST-Ericsson’s strong position in the development of LTE device platforms and to Sagem Wireless’ system-level and RF integration expertise.”

Synchronoss Technologies, a global provider of on-demand transaction management software platforms, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire privately-held FusionOne, a specialist in mobile content transfer and synchronization technology.

Upon closing of the acquisition, Synchronoss will pay approximately $40 million, consisting of approximately $32 million in cash and $8 million in Synchronoss stock. Synchronoss may also pay up to an additional $35 million in cash and stock based on FusionOne’s business achieving certain performance targets through 2011. Synchronoss expects the transaction to close during July 2010.

Stephen G. Waldis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Synchronoss, said “As connected devices continue to become a more important part of everyday life for consumers and business professionals, OEMs and carriers need to address the challenge of mobile content transfer and synchronization at the point of activation in order to retain and grow their subscriber base and revenue streams. The combination of FusionOne’s capabilities with Synchronoss’ industry leading ConvergenceNow Plus+ platform creates the most comprehensive and powerful mobility customer experience available in the market.”

FusionOne specialises in mobile content transfer and synchronization software enabling end users the ability to make their content truly mobile across different types of devices. FusionOne launched the industry’s first fully automated mobile content backup service and has automated the mobile data synchronization process for millions of subscribers on a global basis. The company’s technology vision and leadership is reinforced by over 40 issued and pending patents related to mobile content transfer and synchronization services, and it has built out support for over 600 handset models ported across all major mobile platforms. FusionOne has sold subscription services and licenses to many communication service providers, including Verizon Wireless, Cellular South, CenturyLink, Bell Mobility and AT&T among others.

Mike Mulica, Chief Executive Officer of FusionOne, said, “Our customers and prospects have increasingly shared their desire to have mobile content transfer and synchronization technology as a core and integrated component of their activation process. We are at the early stages of rapid growth in the connected device market, and our combined organization and platform capabilities position us well to capitalize on this tremendous opportunity. Today’s announcement is great news for our respective customers, prospects and employees, and I look forward to helping our combined organization realize its full potential.”

Mentum, a wireless access and backhaul network planning and optimization company, has announced the release of Mentum Planet 5.2.

Mentum Planet is a Windows-based software solution that helps wireless operators, integrators, and equipment vendors plan, manage and improve the performance of wireless access networks. The latest release of the network planning platform supports all major Radio Access Network technologies in a single environment, providing network operators with the ability to plan and implement new technology overlays onto existing networks. The architecture of the new platform enables users to model multi-band and shared antennas, including MIMO and smart antennas, between different technologies.

“The Mentum Planet 5 development project began with two key drivers: a strong focus on advanced technologies and a drive to improve ease-of use. Our commitment to quality and innovation has solidified Mentum’s position as an industry leader in 4G network planning. Mentum Planet 5.2 is a critical milestone of this development project offering support for all major wireless standards in a single, next-generation platform,” said Bernard Breton, Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Mentum.

Mentum Planet 5.2 adds several new features such as the Automatic Site Placement tool that allows users to generate new network plans with a few clicks of the mouse thus fast tracking the deployment of new networks and the ability to investigate various potential deployment scenarios. The integration of MapInfo Professional version 10.0 offers new capabilities including a new interactive layer control, a modern new interface as well as dockable menus and toolbars. Mentum Planet 5.2 now includes complete support for GSM, GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+, LTE, WiMAX, cdma2000, EVDO, TDMA, FDMA, DVB-H, MediaFlo and Simulcast wireless standards.

“Mentum Planet continues to lead the industry in accuracy, performance and innovation,” commented Gregory Donnard, Product Manager at Mentum. “With its support for all wireless technologies, Mentum Planet 5.2 is the right solution for network operators overlaying broadband wireless technologies and refarming spectrum from legacy networks.”

The European Payments Council (EPC), the coordination and decision-making body of the European payments industry, today published the EPC White Paper on Mobile Payments. The White Paper highlights the EPC’s initiatives for mobile payments in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) designed to facilitate implementation and interoperability of user-friendly mobile payment solutions across the 32 SEPA countries. The white paper explores how mobile payment services can be delivered through cooperation between service providers active in the banking industry and the new players emerging in the mobile ecosystem.

The EPC White Paper on Mobile Payments is said to offer an informative read to any party interested in mobile payments, and aims to foster a common understanding between payment service providers and bank customers by using non-technical language. The document predominantly focuses on mobile contactless card payments, where the mobile device needs to be in close proximity to a point-of-sale terminal, while also addressing some aspects of mobile remote payments, where two parties are able to send and receive funds irrespective of where they are located.

Given the proliferation of mobile phones and related service levels throughout the European Union (EU), the EPC recognises that the mobile channel is an ideal launch pad for SEPA payment instruments. Many consumers are already using mobile phones for services beyond the traditional voice calls and short messaging services due to the introduction of packaged offers, including internet access provided by the mobile network operators. As a result, consumer expectations with regard to mobile phone functionality have increased dramatically, with many users eager to embrace new service solutions based on this delivery platform, such as payments. The availability of practical SEPA mobile payments, either account or card-based, would provide a realistic alternative to cash and cheques.

At the same time, merchants demand that new technology translates into cost savings, increased business volume and reduced exposure to security threats such as cash thefts or illicit payments, as well as enhanced marketing opportunities and brand recognition. Mobile phone initiated payments, in particular those using the contactless approach, are very well positioned to generate these benefits for merchants and other stakeholders who are directly providing services to consumers, says the EPC.

Gerard Hartsink, Chairman of the EPC, comments: “The EPC, working together with other stakeholders such as, for example, GSMA, the organisation representing the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, is in the process of establishing the necessary standards and business rules with regard to the initiation and receipt of SEPA payments by mobile. The aim is to develop proposals that support collaboration and standardisation and which form the basis for interoperability. Our intention is to establish a service framework sufficient to reach potentially all payers and payees in the European Economic Area and to create a trusted and secure environment for the multiple stakeholders active in the field.”

Dag-Inge Flatraaker, Chairman of the EPC M-Channel Working Group, adds: “The EPC White Paper on Mobile Payments responds to changing customer requirements in the payments market and demonstrates how mobile payments can increase efficiency, effectiveness and convenience. This paper creates awareness on how to best combine the benefits of state-of-the art SEPA payment instruments for credit transfers, direct debits and card payments handled through one of the most popular and versatile devices introduced in the past two decades – the mobile phone.”

The EPC White Paper on Mobile Payments is available for download on the EPC web site http://www.europeanpaymentscouncil.eu/news_detail_preview.cfm?news_id=117

The EPC plans to publish a second edition of the white paper in 2011 that will focus further on mobile remote payments.

A new report published today by Juniper Research is said to have found that a surge in applications which can take advantage of the increasing availability of free WiFi services are set to boost a mobile TV industry with anticipated revenues of nearly $7 billion by 2015.

According to the report, mobile TV traffic over WiFi is expected to increase by 25x over the 2010-2015 period as streamed service penetration and usage levels – also fuelled by consumer smartphone adoption – rise sharply. However, the report notes that despite the capacity relief that WiFi offers to cellular networks, greater mobile TV usage will still place the 3G and 3.5G networks under stress.

As report author Dr Windsor Holden pointed out, “Cellular networks are finding it increasingly difficult to deliver high quality mobile TV services at times of peak usage: thus, the World Cup has posed particular problems with large spikes in viewing figures. WiFi can ameliorate this in the short term, but this is only a partial remedy.”

The report suggests that while the deployment of LTE networks should reduce congestion, the use of unpaired spectrum – as in the forthcoming IMB trials by Vodafone, Orange and O2 – might be an alternative or complementary solution.

However, Juniper is less sanguine about the prospects for dedicated mobile broadcast technologies such as DVB-H, citing the availability of handsets capable of receiving analogue or digital terrestrial signals, the economic downturn and changing consumer viewing habits among the reasons why such networks are widely perceived as being financially unviable.

According to a new research report from the analyst firm Berg Insight, HSPA/LTE accounted for 17.3 percent of the total number of broadband connections in Europe at the end of 2009. The number of HSPA/LTE mobile broadband subscribers (connected PCs) grew by 71 percent year-on-year in 2009 to reach 25.0 million and is forecasted to continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.6 percent to 81 million by 2015. The North American market has so far evolved at a slower pace, with mobile broadband accounting for just 7.1 percent of the total number of connections. Between 2009 and 2015, the North American market is forecasted to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.8 percent to reach 42 million subscribers at the end of the period.

The levels of adoption of mobile broadband vary significantly across Europe. “Austria is the most advanced market with a penetration rate of over 15 percent, corresponding to 40 percent of all broadband connections in the country. Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Ireland and Portugal have also penetration rates above 10 percent. Belgium, Netherlands and Greece have on the other hand penetration rates of less than 3 percent”, said Marcus Persson, Telecom Analyst, Berg Insight. He predicts that mobile broadband connectivity will eventually become a standard feature in portable PCs which will have integrated wireless modems, enabling them to connect to the best available network. “The attach rate of embedded mobile broadband in notebooks was less than 5 percent in both Europe and North America last year. This will change as prices for the embedded modules decrease and an attach rate of almost 45 percent is expected already in 5 years”, Marcus concludes.

Huawei has established itself as the world’s largest supplier of mobile broadband terminals holding a market share of 53 percent and has a particularly strong foothold in Europe. ZTE is the second largest vendor with clear margins capturing a market share of 30 percent. Berg Insight estimates the total global number of shipped external mobile broadband devices in 2009 to 66 million, with Europe and North America accounting for 24.3 million units and 5.6 million units respectively.