The latest version of the mobile development tool, MobiForms 5.0, is now said to offer support for Google Android smartphones. MobiForms is claimed to be the first rapid application development tool in the world specifically designed for Google Android.

Up until now, says MobiForms, developing for Android required in depth professional programming skills with mandatory learning of Java, the Eclipse IDE (Integrated Development Environment) and the Google Android SDK (Software Development Kit).  MobiForms says it replaces all of these tools with one simple, intuitive, drag and drop interface, and no Java or XML programming is required.

MobiForms now makes it possible for novice or experienced programmers alike to quickly create mobile business applications for Android Google smartphones.  Additionally, the same app can be run on other platforms like Windows Mobile.

MobiForms for Google Android supports JDBC database connectivity to a range industry standard databases including Oracle and SQL Server.  MobiForms also includes a free copy of the JDBC compliant HSQLDB database engine for off-line mobile database storage.

MobiForms offers all the tools in one "box" for the creation and deployment of any type of mobile application – from surveys to field service, from signature capture to bar coding.

One MobiForms application supports multiple device types including Tablet PC, Pocket PC, Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Symbian and now Google Android.  One MobiForms licence includes an unlimited runtime licence for any number of mobile devices.

ADC, a global supplier of network infrastructure solutions, and Altobridge, a provider of solutions for mobile network operators, have announced that Altobridge has acquired ADC's portfolio of GSM base station and switching products.

The ADC GSM base station and switching product portfolio supports applications such as remote wireless and small national networks, as well as government, emergency and private network communications. The products are said to complement Altobridge's in several markets, including its Fully Managed Service business for meeting the growing communication needs of emerging markets, and solutions for optimising voice and data transmission for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).   

As part of the transaction, Altobridge is acquiring ADC's existing GSM base station and switching product customer base and retaining all of the employees necessary to support the business.  In addition, Altobridge is acquiring certain assets and intellectual property related to the product portfolio.

"The sale of our GSM base station and switching technology to Altobridge is a positive development for our respective customers, employees, shareowners and companies," said Dick Parran, president of Network Solutions business unit for ADC. "ADC maintains a strong commitment to expanding our leadership position in providing in-building and outdoor wireless solutions that are increasingly essential in meeting the coverage and capacity challenges of 3G and 4G networks, while Altobridge is well positioned to build on the strong foundation established by both companies in the remote and specialty network market."

"Mobile Network Operators face a major challenge to deliver accelerating voice and data traffic for declining returns. Altobridge will continue to innovate and deliver further solutions that drive down these underlying communication costs," said Mike Fitzgerald, CEO of Altobridge. "This acquisition will enable Altobridge to broaden our Intellectual Property portfolio and grow our Fully Managed Service business as we work hand in hand with MNOs striving to connect their subscriber groups at lower costs."

Both companies say they are committed to ensuring a smooth transition for existing customers, and contracts and warranties with existing and pending customers will continue to be supported by Altobridge.

Orange today revealed it will be launching HD Voice nationwide for customers on its mobile network in 2010 – the first such announcement by a UK operator.

HD Voice is said to deliver excellent audio quality to mobile calls and will be available to Orange customers with a HD Voice enabled handset. Orange says it is already working with handset manufacturers on the development of devices to be rolled out next year.

The 2010 launch follows two years of considerable investment in the Orange mobile network with expansion and technology upgrades across large areas of the UK.

Tom Alexander, CEO of Orange UK, said: "Orange is proud to be leading the industry into the next decade by announcing a new standard in voice innovation that will transform the mobile experience for customers in the UK. HD Voice really does inject a level of innovation into mobile phone calls, making it sound as if callers are actually in the same room. Once people have tried it, they won't want to go back."

HD Voice uses the WB-AMR (Wideband Adaptive Multi-Rate) speech codec, said to provide excellent audio quality due to a wider speech bandwidth of 50-7000 Hz compared to the current narrowband speech codec of 300-3400 Hz. The WB-AMR (Wideband Adaptive Multi-Rate) delivers significantly enhanced sound quality whilst utilising the same network resources, says Orange.

Further details on the Orange HD Voice roll out will be made during 2010.

After much speculation in recent months, Nuance Communications has announced that it has acquired SpinVox, a provider of voice-to-text services to telecommunications companies across five continents. By integrating SpinVox's carrier services with Nuance's speech recognition platform, Nuance says it will further accelerate the growth of its voice-to-text business and scale to meet the needs of a growing, global customer base.

The two companies' solutions utilize speech recognition and transcription workflow solutions to convert voicemails into text that can be sent to users as SMS or email messages. According to Nuance, this transaction marries speech solutions and robust carrier-grade infrastructure to accelerate innovation, and deliver these voice-to-text services to global subscribers.

"Around the world, the voice-to-text market has experienced tremendous growth over the last year, with a variety of innovative services being delivered by carriers and unified communications providers," said John Pollard, vice president, Nuance Voice-to-Text Services. "With SpinVox's robust infrastructure, language support and operational experience, we will broaden the reach and capabilities of our platform."

Under the terms of the agreement, consideration for the transaction is approximately $102.5 million, comprising $66 million in cash and $36.5 million, or approximately 2.3 million shares, in Nuance common stock.

Orga Systems, the provider of convergent real-time billing, has announced that it will deliver its prepaid top-up solution Virtual Voucher to a leading European mobile network operator. Orga Systems' Virtual Voucher enables mobile network operators to sell prepaid airtime and communication services in real time. The sales and distribution system is designed to support a hierarchical network of distributors and retailers, and it provides comprehensive functionality for all aspects of sales and channel management in real time.
 
Orga Systems' Virtual Voucher uses standard GSM mobile handsets as vending devices and provides the sales person with a convenient means for direct recharge of a subscribers' account. It allows the sale of prepaid communication services anytime and anywhere. The system supports sales and distribution channels in retail/high-street shop environments as well as in so-called street seller scenarios. Compared to other recharge and top-up systems, Virtual Voucher provides immediate ROI advantages and superior operational benefits for launching, monitoring and controlling dedicated prepaid recharge strategies. It is ideally suited to target new and existing customer segments in rural as well as in highly populated metropolitan areas, says Orga.

The solution has been awarded the TMForums 2008 Excellence Awards and the Global Telecoms Business Innovation Awards 2008. More than 20 installations of Virtual Voucher in the Americas and in Europe underline the solution's high scalability and robustness, making it the perfect alternative to common top-up solutions, claims Orga.

A leading Asian mobile network operator has chosen Orga Systems' convergent real-time rating, charging and billing system OPSC Gold.  The system is said to offer true prepaid/postpaid and service convergence, supporting mixed or hybrid payment methods. The 'unique' combination of convergent real-time rating, charging and billing in one modular system is said to provide the operator with many advantages for profitable and sustainable growth.

The network operator will be able to launch new services, products and related campaigns in a short time frame, while keeping operational expenditures for the comprehensive solution at a minimum. The charging, rating and balance management for all types of subscribers reduces fraud risk significantly. The enhanced flexibility to combine products and services for future marketing and promotion activities will increase revenues. Also, says Orga, the operator will achieve comprehensive reduction of CAPEX and OPEX due to using one single system instead of using two separate systems.

The high performance rating functionalities of the OPSC Gold system enable the operator to provide complex, innovative tariff and price models in combination with flexible payment methods. Real-time capabilities ensure transparent cost-control, avoid leakage and optimize revenue management processes while subscribers benefit from accurate spending control and instant account information. OPSC Gold consolidates all services used by a subscriber or a group of subscribers – regardless of the payment method – and charges them in one single bill.

Vodafone will launch the iPhone on its UK network on January 14.

£30, plus £59 for the phone, will get you 300 minutes a month plus 1Gb of data on a 24 month contract.  Deals then vary up to £80 a month over an 18 month contract, which will gain subscribes the phone free – with 3,000 call minutes and the same1Gb data.

Business customers will also be offered the phone, with deals not too far removed from the equivalent consumer offerings.

All the deals are more expensive at the monthly contract level than the Tesco Mobile price plan, which starts at £20 per month, and operates on the O2 network.

But Vodafone's tariff plans perhaps show that operators are not yet prepared to race each other to the bottom on the iPhone. Although the devices offer a great customer acquisition tool for operators, many question their profitability overall – given the deals operators have to strike with Apple, and the potential loss of control over the content that consumers access.

New owners pay a 23% premium on yesterday's stock price – Battat and Verma get equity in the acquirer

Airvana has entered into a definitive agreement with a newly formed company to be owned by affiliates of S.A.C. Private Capital Group, LLC, GSO Capital Partners LP, Sankaty Advisors LLC and ZelnickMedia, in a transaction valued at approximately $530 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, at closing, each share of Airvana common stock will be exchanged for $7.65 cash, representing a premium of approximately 23% over the closing share price on December 17, 2009.  Certain members of management of Airvana, including Randy Battat, President and CEO, and founders Vedat Eyuboglu and Sanjeev Verma, will exchange a portion of their shares for an equity interest in the acquirer.  Merle Gilmore, former President of Motorola’s Communications Enterprise, will serve as Chairman of the Company following the closing.

“As we transition to a private company, Airvana will continue to focus on its two major mobile broadband product lines, EV-DO software and femtocells,” Battat said.  “Our customers should expect the same great products delivered by the same great team.”

“We are enormously excited about the opportunity to work with such a strong management team and talented group of employees to build on Airvana’s impressive track record,” said Gilmore.

72 Mobile Holdings, LLC, the entity formed to acquire Airvana, Inc., has secured committed financing, consisting of a combination of equity to be provided by the investor group and debt financing led by GSO Capital Partners LP on behalf of funds managed by it and its affiliates.  There is no financing condition to the obligation of the investor group to consummate the transaction.

The transaction was unanimously approved on December 17, 2009 by Airvana’s Board of Directors (other than Mr. Battat and Mr. Verma, who abstained) and by a Special Committee of independent directors.  The Special Committee, which did not include any member of management, was established to undertake a review of Airvana’s strategic alternatives. 

Completion of the transaction is subject to approval of Airvana shareholders, regulatory approvals and other closing conditions and is expected to occur by the end of the first quarter of 2010.