Birds Eye, the privately-held UK frozen foods company, has selected InTechnology's Push To Talk (PTT) mobile communications service to help the business improve both the speed and efficiency of peas processing at its plant in East Yorkshire.

With three main locations in East Yorkshire – office, processing plant and fields – processing time is crucial to the Birds Eye team.  All of the peas must be shelled, blanched and frozen within two-and-a-half hours of picking to maintain best quality freshness.

The Birds Eye plant is situated in a 30-mile radius of 800 fields where peas are grown and then transported and frozen in the shortest possible timescale.  Communication between the plant and fields is crucial to the operation.  Information about loads received must be fed back to the harvesting team and loads altered accordingly.  If the produce is not frozen quickly it cannot be used in the Birds Eye pack, criteria set by the company to maintain its high standards.

"Our plant based staff need to collaborate with the field workers to produce the optimum results, and communication is key," explains Brian Wheatley, Agricultural Manager, Birds Eye Ltd.   "This is why we have chosen InTechnology's PTT service which means that information from the factory can be broadcast to many other workers, at the push of a button, greatly reducing the time spent calling each worker separately."

The practical communications challenges that face Birds Eye include a wide and undulating geographic area to cover, meaning that it has not always been possible to know the location of harvesters if out of range.   

Furthermore, where many workers needed to be contacted with the same message, this would result in a high call volume and expensive call charges.

InTechnology's Push To Talk service works in a similar way to the ‘walkie-talkies', but uses mobile handsets instead of mobile radios, benefiting from all the advantages of mobile phone technology.

With PTT, Birds Eye staff can communicate with each other easily at the push of a button, on a one-to-one or one-to-many basis.  And by using additional PTT handsets for the summer season, Birds Eye can free up resources for the rest of the year, taking full advantage of the flexible pay monthly service from InTechnology to best suit their business requirements.

The PTT solution for Birds Eye includes: compact handsets that can be used either as a mobile phone or a walkie-talkie; coverage is extensive as PTT uses the worldwide network for mobile phones (GSM); there is no number to dial, the user simply pushes a button and talks for instant communication; information from the factory can now be broadcasted to many, and harvesting amounts can be changed to suit optimum production levels; users can have a one-to-one conversation or a wider team discussion across the site at the push of a button.

Another benefit is that Birds Eye will only pay for the data used when someone is talking, which will help to reduce costs.

"We have very high standards to maintain and PTT will help us to communicate more efficiently and save money along the way," says Brian Wheatley.

OnRelay, a cellular Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) provider, today announced the carrier-grade release of its mobile PBX software, Unified MBX. 

Unified MBX (UMBX) is a software-only Cellular IP PBX and FMC system, or Mobile PBX.  It provides complete business telephony with the mobile phone as the primary office extension. The software includes a feature-rich open source IP PBX to offer companies IP telephony without the expense of proprietary hardware, IP PBX or OS licenses.  Service providers can deliver the solution as Software as a Service (SaaS).

The UMBX 4.1 release is said to introduce multitenancy, carrier-grade high availability 99.999%, and high scalability of 25,000 users per hosted server instance, hundreds of thousands with distributed architecture.  Significantly, the release's new SIP call flows remove the "call tromboning" barriers to support for on-premises equipment, by keeping the voice media stream in the mobile operator network. 

"IDC believes that mobility should be seen as part and parcel of Unified Communications (UC), which is all about business benefits and device independence. There is clearly a lot of interest in UC in the service provider community, including mobile operators", notes Chris Barnard, Research Director,  IDC EMEA.

"We forecast the worldwide Mobile PBX extension market to grow at a CAGR of 66.5% between 2008-2013, when the market will be worth more than US $700 million," continues Barnard.

"Advanced FMC solutions offer compelling value propositions. However cost, complexity and feature limitations have hindered adoption," says Rob Arnold, Senior Enterprise Communications Analyst at Current Analysis. "UMBX with sipXecs takes proprietary PBXs and soft switches out of the equation, lowering cost and complexity barriers yet delivering robust mobile business communications capabilities.  With it service providers can roll out FMC services with less risk, with more functionality and at price points that SME customers are looking for."   

UMBX 4.1 can be hosted by operators to address the SME market, or managed on-premises to meet enterprise requirements. SIP desk phones and softphones are fully supported, and the software can also be used to mobilise any existing legacy PBX.

UMBX 4.1 is also claimed to offer Mobile UC with cost-efficient, fast deployment.  The server component is delivered as software in a single install shield, which includes the open source IP PBX, FMC server and a Linux OS.  The mobile client is provisioned over the air (OTA) and requires no user configuration.  Centralised web based service management and full JMX based network management integration is provided as standard.

The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has confirmed that there are now 1,739 HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) user devices launched in the market by 190 manufacturers. According to the latest HSPA Devices survey just published by GSA, the number of HSPA products announced has increased more than 80% in the past 12 months. The number of suppliers has grown from
139 companies to 190 in the same period.

The survey also confirms that more than 1,000 new HSPA devices were introduced onto the market since July 2008. Today the majority of HSPA devices (51%) support a peak downlink data speed of 7.2 Mbps or higher, says the GSA.

The GSA states that there is also an evolution in uplink speeds and performance. 344 HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access) devices have been launched, which is an increase of 175% year on year. 125 HSUPA devices (over 36%) support, or are upgradeable for, 5.76 Mbps peak operation (compared to 33 devices in October 2008).

Twelve HSPA+ devices have been launched by 6 suppliers, supporting peak data speeds up to 21 and 28 Mbps.

Key findings:

329 HSPA network commitments in 135 countries/territories

283 commercial HSPA operators in 119 countries/territories

More than 150 million HSPA customers/subscriptions

144 commercial HSPA networks (almost 51%) support 7.2 Mbps or higher peak downlink speed

92 HSUPA operators commercially launched in 46 countries

26 HSPA Evolution (HSPA+) networks in commercial service in 19 countries, supporting peak downlink speeds up to 28 Mbps

SLA Mobile has unveiled details of a mobile advertising solution said to be specifically-designed to help mobile operators maximise their advertising revenue potential.

Said to be one of the first interactive ‘interstitial' advertising solutions for mobile or 3G data card users, the SLA Mobile advertising campaign manager product integrates with wireless carriers' existing capability to track users' browsing behaviour and provides a dedicated server to coordinate targeted advertising delivery and report on specific campaign penetration.

Based on a user opt-in model, the closed-loop interstitial advertising solution analyses individual users' browsing habits to define unique interests and load specific advertising tailored to their preferences between webpage loads.

The SLA Mobile product is being deployed under licence by policy and charging  company Volubill to enable an Indonesia-based operator offer its 25 million subscription base mobile internet services at a reduced rate.

Nic Stirk, SLA Mobile Chief Executive and co-founder of the Mobile Advertising Alliance, which represents leading mobile software vendors, said the application would bring greater revenue to operators:

"The mobile sector continues to command an ever-growing share of the global advertising spend. New opportunities to grow relationships between brands and consumers offer more exciting ways for advertisers to talk directly to their markets with huge benefits for operators, advertisers and consumers alike.

"Through our pioneering advertising solution, operators can offer advertisers added value and claim a larger slice of advertising revenues."

John Aalbers, CEO at Volubill said the link up with SLA Mobile would help operators to provide new tariff options for end users and increase their ability to cash in on greater advertising opportunities:

"We are committed to providing our customers with the best technology solutions available and SLA Mobile's technology allows us to offer new opportunities and help claim a larger share of advertising revenue. Integrating with our data policy control and charging software, the advertising campaign manager analyses user trends and delivers targeted adverts that do not detract from the mobile user's experience.  Additionally it enables us to track and evaluate how successful each campaign has been."

Cisco and Openet today announced that Turkcell, Turkey's communications and technology company, has deployed a combined solution to provide a flexible charging system for its general packet radio service (GPRS) mobile data network.

The joint solution from Cisco and Openet, which went live at mobile operator Turkcell in June 2009, introduces intelligence into the network to enable the real-time packet inspection, rating and billing of individual customers' mobile data usage. It helps the operator deliver and charge for pre- and post-paid data and next-generation services.

As a result, Turkcell, which has a subscriber base of more than 36 million, is able to provide subscribers with several billing options: by application used, for combined services or by data bandwidth consumed.

Openet's FusionWorksTM Convergent Charging solution deployed at Turkcell is combined with the following Cisco technologies: Cisco Enhanced Gateway GPRS Support Node (eGGSN), based on the high-performance Service Application Module for IP (SAMI) technology in the Cisco 7600 Series Router;
Cisco Service Control Engine; Cisco Access Register.

The combined solution was selected to help prepare Turkcell for a surge in data traffic from the launch of its 3G network in July 2009.

The Cisco eGGSN solution is said to provide advanced processing of Internet Protocol (IP) flows for content-aware billing, filtering, management and analysis in a highly scalable, fault-tolerant package. The solution helps Turkcell to deliver personalized mobile data services to its customers.

Openet's FusionWorks Convergent Charging product verifies the subscriber identity, the type of service and the authorization to use the service; advises on charge and session management; and charges for the service. These capabilities provide the transactional intelligence that Turkcell requires for the accurate delivery of, and charging for, 3G services. 

As a complementary technology with the Service Control Engine, Cisco is providing content inspection capabilities that enable Turkcell to control network traffic and monetize subscriber use. Currently, there are servers deployed in Istanbul, with plans to roll out additional servers in Ankara and to augment the existing hardware in Istanbul as more subscribers begin to use Turkcell's 3G network for data services.

The joint solution was previously deployed to handle data on Turkcell's 2G network and was selected for its ability to scale exponentially as 3G data use grows and delivery speeds rise as high as 1,500 transactions per second. Turkcell's 2G customer base consists predominantly of consumers using voice and SMS services. 

The ability to handle real-time GPRS transactions now allows Turkcell to maximize profitability from data services, thereby creating a commercially viable proposition to take to the enterprise market. The solution is  also said to be a 3rd Generation Partnership Project initiative that is IMS-standard-compliant and device-agnostic, so Turkcell can now handle the growing demand for next-generation services such as mobile TV and mobile Internet.

Ilker Kuruoz, Chief Technology Officer, Turkcell commented: "For Turkcell's 3G launch, we needed a data-charging solution implemented by vendors who were able to bring their international experience in that space to the dynamic Turkish market.  The solution developed by Cisco and Openet is a big benefit for Turkcell. It not only provides for today's needs, but also supports flexible future scenarios. Following the 3G launch, we are pleased to observe the reliability and flexibility of the solution."

Anite, a specialist in testing technology for the wireless industry, and LG Electronics have announced the successful verification of the industry's 'first' LTE protocol conformance test cases.  Anite and LG have made the results from their work available to the members of the 3GPP standards body, so that the entire mobile industry may benefit from the achievement.

According to Anite, conformance testing is fundamental in leading-edge technologies, such as LTE, because it ensures that new handsets and data cards deliver both the applications and services anticipated by the end user and the ability to work seamlessly with existing users and networks. LG uses Anite's LTE solution – which provides a suite of development tools for UE designers – to develop their devices in advance of LTE networks being available, ensuring these meet the industry's rigorous certification requirements during the earliest stages of their development cycle.

The new tests are said to build upon Anite's comprehensive portfolio for all leading 3GPP protocol technologies from GSM through EDGE and WCDMA to the latest HSPA+ standards. Anite's blend of software-only host and target test solutions for 2G, 3G and LTE technologies are claimed to allow developers to adopt a total end-to-end test philosophy for all of their wireless testing needs, reducing both their time and cost to market.

"LTE device certification is essential in ensuring that next generation LTE wireless devices meet customer expectations. Working with LG is speeding the availability of the first LTE test cases to LTE developers, enabling the wireless industry to deploy the technology successfully and more quickly," said Paul Beaver, 3GPP Director, Anite. "Our customers can be confident that investing in Anite's products will meet their conformance testing needs, maximising their test system utilisation and return on investment."

Sicap is deploying the VNC Mobile Solution to enable mobile operator customer care agents to remotely control previously inaccessible settings and features on mobile devices.

Sicap Device Management Center (DMC) is said to provide automated management and customer care /self-care solutions on 80 mobile networks Worldwide, managing 800 million handsets.  It now integrates the VNC OEM package, offering access to VNC remote control technology, and the VNC Mobile Solution supports multiple platforms including Windows Mobile, Symbian and Blackberry, and already has development versions for iPhone, Android and Linux Mobile with Palm Pre coming soon.

Using VNC Mobile Solution, customer care agents can remotely access the mobile device in use, to help customers with configuration, diagnose problems, and give advice on the installed applications.  The solution is calimed to bring significant savings, both in the duration of helpdesk calls, and in the handling of returns of non-faulty devices. A tier-one operator in Europe for example, has reduced the number of returned handsets by 10 percent, claims Sicap.

"VNC Mobile Solution provides us with a strategically significant and market-leading solution that can be easily integrated into our existing systems." said Stéphane Jayet, Head of SIM and Device management at Sicap.  "The combined device management solution creates significant savings, reduces customer care call handling times, improves service availability and delivers increased levels of customer satisfaction. Above all it will deliver significant return on investment and improve the customer experience."

Tom Blackie, Vice President Business Development of RealVNC added, "We are delighted to establish an agreement with Sicap to facilitate the adoption of VNC in mobile handsets.  Their reputation, global reach and impressive mobile operator customer base is proof that Sicap is clearly an innovative leader in the Device Management market."

Flash Networks, a global provider of intelligent mobile Internet solutions, announced today that Network Norway has implemented Flash Networks' data optimisation which is claimed to provide smoother and faster browsing to boost user adoption, while reducing network load to free up network capacity to meet the growing demand for data services.

"Both businesses and consumers are demanding mobile access to bandwidth-intensive applications and services. In order to keep up with this growing demand while keeping our CAPEX and OPEX in check, we deployed Flash Networks' data optimisation solution," said Tor Anders Braun, Head of VAS & Core Networks at Network Norway. "With Flash Networks' solution, we can provide the best possible mobile Internet experience by boosting data speeds for multi-media traffic and increase adoption rates for mobile data services while delaying our need to add costly capacity by improving data traffic efficiency." 

Unlike traditional optimisation solutions, which typically cover less than 30% of Internet traffic, Flash Networks' says its data optimization solution is capable of addressing approximately 90% of traffic, reducing data for web, peer-to-peer, and digital media applications. Such data reduction dramatically reduces network load, resulting in lower operating expenses, it says.

As part of Flash Networks' Harmony mobile Internet services gateway, the data optimization solution is strategically located on the main traffic route and applies a variety of optimisation mechanisms on the transport, application, and content layers. Harmony serves as a central gateway for rationalising the multi-service proxy applications currently in use, and facilitates timely implementation of new services with minimal integration efforts. The company says that the gateway meets the strategic objectives of mobile and converged operators who want to increase ARPU through mobile data services, generate new revenue streams from current infrastructure, and improve operational efficiency and time to market when introducing new services.

"We are proud to partner with Network Norway, a leading market innovator in Norway. Network Norway's vision and focus on mobile data makes it ideally suited to be our partner to bring better connectivity and advanced revenue-generating services to this rapidly growing market," said Merav Bahat, Vice President of Marketing at Flash Networks. "With Flash Networks' data optimization solution, Network Norway can increase its mobile data services customer base while keeping costs to a minimum."