Momail has announced its forthcoming Virtual App Store for release in Q3 2010, specially developed for emerging markets, where feature phones are dominant and the lack of infrastructural capacity causes problems for always online devices.

Momail’s Virtual Application Store will be made available through the company’s Digital Content Delivery (DCD) platform, which enables users to subscribe or connect to their favorite social community or internet service through a variety of channels including Momail’s mobile email solution or through any browser, without requiring any sort of download.

Momail will also streamline the user experience of its Virtual Application Store by incorporating its Zero Logon Technology. This feature allows the user to maintain his connection to any service or information and without needing to log-in again, while also knowing such information will remain secure. No information transmitted through Momail’s Zero Logon Technology is stored on the device and connected devices can be disabled with the push of a button.

Roger Grönberg CEO of Momail said, “Momail’s DCD platform continues to gain traction in the APAC and African markets and we will be releasing specific partner information as it becomes public throughout the coming year. Due to our unique perspective with local presence in these regions, we have a unique understanding of market needs. The fact that our system is built from the mobile phone, with PC access coming second, rather than the opposite, the development roadmap for Momail reflects the reality in the emerging markets and our partners appreciate our focus on addressing their needs.”

Jasper Wireless and VimpelCom (Beeline) today signed a partnership agreement that will bring the first machine-to-machine (M2M) global solution to the Russian market. Beeline’s M2M offering will be enabled by Jasper Wireless’ complete service platform to profitably connect and manage consumer electronics as well as enterprise solutions.

Beeline’s M2M Control Center will enable businesses to design and service embedded mobile devices. The partnership will accelerate market entry for a new generation of electronic devices, including e-Readers, digital photo frames, cameras, personal navigation, mobile internet and gaming devices, but will also bring automation and advanced control to key verticals such as transport and logistics, banking and payment, security and tracking, telemetry and monitoring or e-health care.

“There is a growing demand from international device manufacturers for tailored M2M management solutions so they can easily expand into new markets with high-performing solutions. The Russian M2M market is at an early stage of development and VimpelCom is revolutionising this space by combining its nationwide wireless Beeline network with the Jasper Wireless platform, allowing its customers to profitably connect and manage a new generation of devices and offer value added services,” said Cindy Patterson, executive vice president, worldwide sales and marketing, Jasper Wireless.

“Embedded mobile devices in the consumer and enterprise segments represent a vast growth opportunity for our existing and prospective customers. By partnering with Jasper Wireless, VimpelCom wants to capitalise on this market opportunity, offering customers tailored M2M services that are unique in the industry and accelerate market entry of connected devices – including innovative and flexible business models, automated operations, real-time monitoring and diagnostics as well as enhanced customer support,” according to Andrey Patoka, vice president corporate business development at VimpelCom.

Deep Packet Inspection will lead the field of mobile network test and optimization solutions by 2013 and is expected to generate equipment revenues of $1.3 billion in 2015, according to a new study from ABI Research. Other approaches include client applications on handsets, radio test equipment and radio probes, routing/transport equipment, operation support software, and network-based offloading. Growth rates for all are forecast in the new study.

Mobile operators' network capacity woes have garnered much public attention, and according to mobile networks practice director Aditya Kaul, they will get worse before they get better. "Brute force won't solve this problem," he says. "If you double the number of smartphone users, you can't just spend $10 billion to double the capacity of your infrastructure."

The answer lies in making existing networks more efficient, says ABI. A growing arsenal of equipment and techniques from a variety of vendors aim to optimize different parts of the network and base station (some OEMs are starting to build these tools right into the network's central processing functions, but they are outside the scope of the report, says ABI.)

"These solutions are relatively inexpensive and cost-effective," notes Kaul.

Each operator may have a different set of needs. AT&T, the most publicized example, has two problems: too much data traffic (iPhone video, for example) and also too much signaling traffic – the mechanics of running the network. So, says Kaul, they would need DPI, routing/transport optimization, and maybe some UE client software installed on the smartphone. Other operators may have very different challenges.

To meet those needs, solutions are arriving from a variety of vendors including Tektronix Communications, Anritsu, Agilent, EXFO, Astellia, and a large "other" group of vendors that collectively command a 28% share of the market. It is from that "other" group that much of this segment's innovation will flow. Says Kaul: "This is a wide-open market. It's anybody's game at the moment. There are a lot of small companies with new ideas and a lot of ‘crosstalk' between them."

"Mobile Network Optimization" explores the market drivers and end-user demand for monitoring and optimization equipment related to 3G and 4G networks. It highlights market dynamics leading to new operator business strategies, and includes detailed forecasts.

Redknee, a provider of billing and charging software and solutions for communications service providers, has announced the launch of its data charging and policy solution, NGRC, at VivaCell-MTS in Armenia. VivaCell-MTS is part of the MTS Group, which serves more than 100 million subscribers across seven countries.

Supporting the launch of VivaCell-MTS' 3G network, Redknee's data monetization platform has enabled it to develop and launch mobile broadband service offerings to suit the different usage habits and needs of its subscribers as it strives to drive revenue and increase its 80 per cent market share against the incumbent and new competitors entering the market.

An example of its targeted mobile broadband services includes the ‘MTS Connect' prepaid and postpaid bundles, which provide the subscriber with a high quality, transparent user experience and allows VivaCell-MTS to provide flexible tariffs and differentiated and targeted price plans according to the subscriber's spend and network usage. Redknee's real-time data rating, charging and policy is enabling VivaCell-MTS to provide transparent and two-way communication with customers so that it can always be assured of the charges that will be incurred, the status of their tariff threshold and also receive real-time promotions, leading to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Ralph Yirikian, VivaCell-MTS General Manager, commented: "The number of VivaCell-MTS' wireless broadband subscribers has grown tremendously since the Company launched its HSPA/UMTS-based 3.5G network, reflecting the intensifying demand for wireless broadband access in Armenia. Therefore, the priority for VivaCell-MTS now is to be able to support future data traffic growth. Due to our extremely competitive market, we are focused on always outstripping our competitors by providing differentiated products that appeal to our customers. Redknee's support has been instrumental to our successful launch of the most innovative mobile broadband services to the people of Armenia."

Lucas Skoczkowski, Redknee's CEO, commented: "The successful launch of VivaCell-MTS' mobile broadband services further proves Redknee's real-time personalization and monetization solutions are driving profitability, growth and market differentiation for our customers. At Redknee, we continue to invest in real-time monetization solutions to support the growth of mobile data and content for wireless subscribers around the world."

SPB Software, a mobile software developer, has updated the Windows Mobile version of its application SPB TV to version 2.0. Due to advertising revenues support the program is now free-of-charge and subscription-free. Ads featured in SPB TV only last as long as channel buffering takes and therefore preserve the best user experience, says SPB.

In addition to the existing features that include quick channel previews, a TV guide for more than 150 offered channels in more than 20 languages, picture-in-picture mode, fast channel launching and switching, the new version offers also a video on demand (VOD) option. With this new feature the users can control what they are watching and when.

Another significant enhancement, says SPB, is the Advanced Video Codec (H.264) support which improves video quality. As a result even with substantial lower bitrates the resolution is strongly improved, it's claimed. SPB TV 2.0 also allows to watch TV with low speed mobile network connections.

SPB TV works on iPhone, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry and WebOS smartphones as well. Last month SPB TV has reached one million users milestone and, according to SPB, mobile TV watching behaviour is different in different countries. For example 71% of US users use SPB TV via 3G while in Greece and Poland only 10% of users use 3G and others use WiFi.

"Taken into consideration all the statistics and feedback collected from our users, we created the new version of SPB TV, which can not only offer our users better video quality but can be also available to all Windows Mobile users absolutely for free", said Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, CEO of SPB Software.

SPB TV is also available as a solution for mobile operators.  SPB TV Mobile Operators Solution allows carriers to couple SPB's solution with their own infrastructure and various subscription models. Three mobile operators world-wide are said to have already deployed SPB TV based mobile TV solutions.

A new report published today by Juniper Research forecasts that, the combined revenues from apps funded by pay-per-download (PPD), value-added services (VAS, including freemium and subscription) and advertising is expected to rise from just under $10 billion in 2009 to $32 billion in 2015.

However, says Juniper, while Apple's App Store has achieved app downloads on an unprecedented scale – 4 billion by April 2010 – the report cautions brands and developers against ignoring users of other platforms/handsets. According to Juniper, such a move could be counterproductive, particularly in developing markets, where the user base of iPhones (and indeed smartphones per se) is extremely low.

"If the mobile industry wishes to introduce a model based on applications, then it must ensure that those applications are accessible by a wide range of handsets ranging from smartphones to mass market devices," said report author, Dr Windsor Holden.

Furthermore, uplift in download volumes does not necessarily equate to an uplift in industry revenues. The majority of application downloads from the App Store are free; other storefronts launched in the wake of the App Store also report that comparatively small proportions of apps (typically 5-15%) are paid for. Thus, building a business model aimed at both maximizing consumer adoption of applications and at maximizing content revenues can be extremely problematic.

The mobile app stores report finds that an app store-centric model presents a number of challenges, including:

• The Need for Scale
• Monetising the Mass Market
• App Store Overload
• The Content Legacy

WIN, a provider of interactive information and entertainment to mobile phones, today announced the launch of content services for Planet 3, the mobile portal for Hutchison 3G Austria. The new and fully managed services are live and available to subscribers beginning today.  

The announcement marks the start of a new relationship between WIN and Hutchison 3G Austria which will see Hutchison 3G Austria outsourcing parts of its content offering to WIN. The aim of the revamped portal is to drive Hutchison 3G Austria's data traffic and to create a strong, distinctive brand differentiator in a very competitive market.  

WIN will be providing Hutchison 3G Austria with: SMS and MMS alerts service including news, sports, weather and horoscopes; Content delivery mechanism from Planet 3 allowing content to be categorised and delivered via frequency, price, type as well as terms and conditions; Sourcing and provision of mobile content including SMS, MMS and video as well as premium content; Managing the alerts store front on Planet 3 including the promotion of alerts; and back-end integration including reporting and billing

The platform will simultaneously allow Hutchison 3G Austria to create its own bespoke interactive marketing campaigns, promotions and competitions and incorporates a range of features to measure campaign effectiveness. Also, content services such as alerts helps to maintain customer loyalty by delivering relevant mobile information and entertainment to subscribers based on their preferences.   

"These services provided by WIN will help utilise the investment Hutchison 3G Austria has made in its mobile broadband networks by delivering  rich and sophisticated content to our consumers", says Fabian Seydewitz, Head of Products&Services at Hutchison 3G Austria. "We have acknowledged subscribers' rising expectations for a compelling user experience and have therefore chosen WIN based on its technological capabilities, knowledge and expertise in delivering innovative mobile information and entertainment.  

Graham Rivers, CEO of WIN commented: "As smartphone penetration increases globally, mobile users are feeling more empowered and their demand for sophisticated multimedia via their mobile is intensifying."  

According to research conducted by IDC (2010), the global smartphone market grew by more than 50 percent year-on-year in the first quarter. In agreement, Rivers added, "The continued growth and investment in mobile networks presents us (WIN) with the opportunity to demonstrate the business case for operators to deliver more dynamic mobile entertainment and information service offerings."  

WIN's partnership with Hutchison 3G Austria to providing and managing an alert service will be the first of its kind outside the UK.  

ASC, a provider of solutions to record, analyze and evaluate communications, today announced certification for connection to the EADS TETRA Network of its integrated communications recording solution, Marathon Evolution.

The certification was provided after a thorough testing at the TETRA Application Test Center in Helsinki, Finland. TETRA, an interoperability standard for professional mobile radio communications, was delineated by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to allow interaction among professional mobile radio equipment from multiple vendors. Its flexible digital addressing helps diverse organizations communicate during emergency situations.  

The efficient handling of emergency calls is crucial for an effective response. ASC's communications platform provides secure recording, as well as fast and efficient playback, of all voice and data communications, including VoIP, trunked radio and analog or digital technology, with a single scaleable recording system. 

ASC's Marathon Evolution records both, individual and group calls as well as short data services (SDS) within a TETRA network. The system provides fail-safe operation and redundancy through a mirrored hard disk. ID and time stamps are tagged to each recording to facilitate analysis of incidents and provide protection from liability.

The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has published an update to its Evolution to LTE report which confirms 110 operators in 48 countries are currently investing in LTE networks.

80 operators have made firm commitments to deploy LTE networks in 33 countries (compared to 64 network commitments identified two months ago). LTE networks are now being installed or planned for commercial service in Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, The Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Taiwan, UAE, USA, and Uzbekistan.

GSA anticipates that up to 22 LTE networks will be in service by end 2010, and at least 45 are expected to be in service by end 2012. The first LTE networks entered commercial service in December 2009 in Norway and Sweden.

The Evolution to LTE report confirms there are an additional 30 pre-commitment pilot LTE networks, technology trials and studies in 15 more countries.

Governments in Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands have all completed auctions of spectrum in recent weeks including 2.6 GHz, which is targeted for LTE systems. Germany has also completed Europe's first auction of 800 MHz (digital dividend) spectrum in which the winning operators also plan to deploy LTE systems. Further auctions of spectrum suitable for LTE are anticipated in the coming months.

LTE is the natural evolutionary step for GSM/WCDMA-HSPA operators and many leading CDMA operators around the world. A leading WiMAX operator has also recently announced the company has decided to shift to LTE.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: "The success of recent LTE systems launches, newly completed spectrum auctions in 2.6 GHz and 800 MHz bands, and the continuing strong upsurge in mobile broadband worldwide are combining to produce the huge momentum for LTE we see right now. LTE is essential to take mobile broadband to the mass market".

The GSA report notes that in addition to the well established commitment to new 2.6 GHz and digital dividend spectrum (800 MHz in Europe, 700 MHz in the Americas) for LTE, a number of operators are considering deploying LTE in the 1800 MHz band, which may typically provide the necessary amount of bandwidth to fully exploit the potential of LTE systems.

The eco-system for LTE is now rapidly establishing. LTE dongles which are also compatible with legacy 2G/3G systems including WCDMA-HSPA are expected to be introduced into the market shortly and a number of smartphones are anticipated to be launched in the next 6 – 12 months.

Telmap, a specialist in mobile location solutions, providing white-label, fully hosted and managed search, mapping and navigation solutions to mobile operators, today announced the first commercial launch of Telmap5 Mobile Location Companion together with Pelephone, Israeli specialist in cellular communication.

Telmap5, a solution for location based services, is the world's first personalized location companion, accompanying users throughout their on-the-go experience, going beyond in-car and pedestrian navigation. The solution will be known to Pelephone users as "Navigator GPS+".

Navigator GPS+ features several new content layers, enabling users to search for and access up-to-date information from a variety of content providers. Content layers integrations are server-based and can be easily expanded and modified, allowing the addition of endless sources of content without the need to update the client application. Another way for Navigator GPS+ users to explore their surroundings is through Telmap5's unique widgets carousel that includes a rich library of useful location-enabled widgets for quick and focused access to nearby information.

Some of the new features and content integrations included in Navigator GPS+ include:

  a.. WOZZON – a local event guide for extensive events information
  b.. Rest – Israel's leading restaurant guide
  c.. Golden Pages – Israel's local yellow pages directory
  d.. Pango widget – allowing in-application, one-click payment for parking through Israel's most popular cellular parking service
  e.. Traffic on map – presenting in-the-vicinity traffic loads (color-coded for heavy, medium, and light traffic conditions) right on the map
  f.. Hebrew-spoken street names as part of voice instructions -optimizing user experience

Navigator PGS+ is launched across a broad portfolio of devices using a wide range of operating systems such as BlackBerry, Symbian and Java. The service is included in several of Pelephone's tariff plans and is also available through a monthly subscription option.

"Pelephone is an innovative operator who fully understands the power of location-based services, and successfully leverages it for differentiation, increased customer loyalty and generation of new revenue streams. We are sure that this launch will provide Pelephone users with an upgraded, unique and comprehensive experience serving all their on-the-go needs", says Oren Nissim, Telmap CEO.

"GPS Navigator is one of Pelephone's most growing and successful services. The launch is a result of a lot of hard work over many months, leveraging the accumulated experience of both companies in defining customer needs while on-the-go", says Ziv Kessleman, Head of Products and Value Added Services, Pelephone. "GPS Navigator+ will enable Pelephone to constantly add new content and widgets; and these will be automatically updated on users' devices. In addition the user experience is now much more interactive, and encourages daily use of the service. GPS Navigator+ also includes a web interface, allowing address search on the Pelephone website and sending the results directly to the user's device or to other subscribers. We expect that Telmap's GPS Navigator + will help us achieve the very important milestone: half a million subscribers, by the end of the year", added Kesselman.