Quiconnect, a provider of connectivity management solutions for wireless broadband, and BT Openzone, the UK and Ireland wireless broadband supplier, have extended their current partnership for another three years.

Quiconnect will continue to link the BT Openzone network with wireless broadband networks across the globe, operating an 'interconnection hub.' This is said to boost the number of international public hotspots BT Openzone users can access and allows other operators to provide their customers with access to the BT Openzone Wi-Fi network.

BT provides Wi-Fi access at 3,500 UK & Ireland locations including 12 major city centres, the Hilton, Thistle and Ramada Jarvis hotel chains, BA and Skyteam lounges, Caffe Nero and Starbucks coffee stores, motorway service areas and marinas. The service is also available at 55,000 international hotspots through roaming agreements with other global network operators facilitated by Quiconnect.

Quiconnect and BT Openzone have been partners since 2005. Quiconnect has since established a live interconnection with over 20 carriers in 14 countries. It will continue to develop partnerships, providing BT Openzone users with an even better choice of locations, it says.

Jeff Mabe, Quiconnect's Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing, says, "We are delighted to continue our partnership with BT Openzone as a wireless broadband leader and innovator.  Quiconnect continues to provide a similar service to over 40 partners worldwide.  BT Openzone's renewed commitment allows Quiconnect the opportunity for continued development and testing of new and exciting tools, technology and processes that demonstrates our credibility in all areas of wireless connectivity. 

Marjorie Leonidas, head of BT international roaming and wholesale partners, explains "Through Quiconnect we've added more international hotspots to our network in places where our customers want access. Our partnership allows us to provide an even better choice of locations.  We look forward to announcing more partner interconnections and hotspots this year."

Nortel has received court approval for Ericsson's bid for its wireless assets, a company statement has claimed.

Although there is still some discussion in Canada that the government should step in and allow RIM to make a counter-bid, to keep the business Canadian, Nortel said that a joint hearing yesterday, it obtained orders from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware approving the sale agreement with Ericsson for Nortel's CDMA business and LTE Access assets for a purchase price of US$1.13 billion.  

After Nokia Siemens Networks made the first public offer for the assets, RIM expressed an interest in tabling a bid of US$1.1 billion, but withdrew from the auction as it refused to sign up to a condition preventing it from bidding for any further Nortel assets. 

Jim Balsillie, RIM's co-chief executive officer (pictured above) stated, "RIM is extremely disappointed that Nortel's world leading technology, the development of which has been funded in part by Canadian taxpayers, seems destined to leave Canada and that Canada’s own Export  Development Corporation is preparing to help by lending $300 million to another bidder.  RIM remains extremely interested in acquiring Nortel assets through a Canadian ownership solution that would serve the dual purpose of keeping key wireless technologies in Canada and extending RIM’s leadership in the research, development and distribution of leading edge wireless solutions, but RIM has found itself blocked at every turn."

The court clearance now means that, as announced on July 25, 2009, under the asset sale agreement, Ericsson will purchase Nortel's CDMA business, which is the second largest supplier of CDMA infrastructure in the world, and substantially all of Nortel's LTE Access. Also as part of this agreement, a minimum of 2,500 Nortel employees supporting the CDMA and LTE Access business will receive offers of employment from Ericsson.

3ple-Media today announced the results from its annual survey, carried out among global respondents, which is said to show the top multimedia issues facing mobile operators are subscriber perceptions of cost and the relevance of multimedia content services on offer.

According to the survey, 78% of subscribers say they see their mobile operator as most like an ISP Provider (trusted with connectivity issues). This represents a 12% increase on last year's findings, and the growing public perception of the operator evolution towards multimedia service providers is in line with operators' own perceptions: 82% of AsiaPac operators and 72% of EMEA operators see themselves as most like ISP Providers.

The emergence of mobile multimedia has clearly made itself felt in the last twelve months with 45% of all survey participants saying they already receive free, relevant mobile multimedia on their phones, says 3ple. This marks a significant leap up from last year's figure of 15% saying the same. Year-on-year, the EMEA region registered the strongest growth with a 36% increase. The enthusiasm for mobile multimedia is unquestionably strong, claims 3ple, but the spectre of global recession has modified the conditions in which the opportunity can thrive. The issue of cost, or more specifically, the perception of cost, is highlighted as one of the central challenges.

According to the survey, 58% of subscribers believe that receiving mobile multimedia content will be too expensive – a considerable rise on last year's figure of 32% thinking the same. 65% of operators agree that the issue of expense is the biggest barrier to subscribers receiving multimedia content. In this case operators are dealing with two issues, says 3ple. The first is educating the subscriber base as to real, rather than perceived costs. The second is implementing business models and solutions that can protect and grow their ARPU margins in the wake of flat rate data charging.

StJohn Deakins, Chief Commercial Officer for 3ple-Media said: "The survey findings this year are indicative of the rapid changes occurring in the industry. The focus for operators is on becoming smart enablers of mobile multimedia services. They can achieve this by providing a better understanding of services, reducing market costs, ensuring relevance and aligning themselves to a rapid service integration strategy."  

The cost conscious mindset amongst subscribers can be seen in their attitude to mobile advertising incentives: 43% of subscribers say they would be ‘most likely' to forward mobile advertising if the incentive was free talk-time minutes. Here the value of the incentive is both quantifiable and useful, and so most desirable. Operators may be undervaluing the incentive as only 35% thought this incentive the ‘most likely' to prompt subscribers to forward mobile advertising. 41% of subscribers said they were ‘quite likely' to forward mobile ads in exchange for free downloadable music tracks – up from the 30% who said the same last year. 55% of operators agree; an increase of 10% on last year's findings. The finding suggests operators need to forge new relationships with other industries or leverage local user generated content to make offerings like this work. The overall upward trend on these findings suggest subscribers are willing to embrace mobile advertising so long as incentives are in line with their expectations of what is equally valuable in the trade off.

72% of subscribers agree that multimedia services related to local information will be the most popular type of content in 3 year's time. Last year, only 12% thought the same. This gives weight to the notion that personally relevant content on the mobile device is one of the most fundamental concepts to making mobile multimedia work and awareness of this has resonated strongly with the majority of subscribers in the last year. 70% agree news based services will be the most popular – a significant rise from the 15% who thought the same last year. Music and sport based content gained an equal 3rd place in terms of agreement with 61% – last year they scored 10% and 11% respectively. The substantially higher figures this year suggest subscribers are becoming more aware of the value they place on specific types of content as experience of real services begins. Results from 12 months ago saw comparatively flat agreement across most content types.

Findings related to behavioural targeting are very encouraging for operators and show a far more accepting and compliant subscriber base than existed 12 months ago, says 3ple. 37% of subscribers expressed concerned but acceptance that this was part of the mobile multimedia process and an implicit means of delivering consistently personally and relevant content, including proactive recommendations. Last year only 15% of subscribers accepted this to be true. 

Globally the respondents reach spans USA, South America, Europe, Russia, India, Middle East, and much of Asia including China, Hong Kong Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia.

New data from Juniper Research is said to show that WiMAX 802.16e broadband subscribers will approach 50 million globally by 2014, driven by the need to provide broadband to underserved areas.

The new WiMAX broadband report found that WiMAX will provide easier and more cost effective broadband connectivity in areas where it is logistically challenging and therefore expensive to install wired networks.

WiMAX 16e has however been faced a number of well publicised delays which have handicapped network operators resulting in slower subscriber growth than anticipated previously. Nonetheless there are examples of successful service providers in a range of countries from Pakistan to the USA.

Report author Howard Wilcox explained: "WiMAX 16e will have opportunities not just in developing countries but also areas of developed countries where the DSL coverage is weak or non-existent. The key for the industry ecosystem now is to overcome the challenges and ensure trials evolve into commercial services quickly."

The report also found that some network operators are targeting specific niches such as high end business broadband, or cable modem customers in addition to DSL metro and rural applications.

Further findings include:

• The highest number of subscribers will be in the Far East & China region largely due to the region's status as an early adopter.
• Western Europe and, to a lesser extent, North America, are forecast to be driven by DSL churn – broadband provision in underserved areas.
• Africa & Middle East is set to exceed Western Europe with in excess of 15% of the subscriber base in 2014. , this region is driven largely by growth of broadband connectivity to underserved and unserved areas, rather than faster connections.

Lattelecom, a provider of electronic communications services in Latvia, and Valimo, a specialist in Mobile ID solutions, have commercially launched Mobile ID services in Latvia. Jointly deployed based on Valimo Mobile ID technology, the services are claimed to offer Lattelecom's customers a convenient and secure way for online authentication and transaction confirmation.

Using Valimo's technology, Lattelecom offers the Mobile ID service platform to Latvian service providers and mobile operators. Mobile ID users are able to securely sign in to online services and sign documents and transactions, simply by using their mobile phone. As mobile phones are typically always at hand, a legally binding digital signature can be created regardless of time or place.

Lattelecom launched the service with nine service providers, including Latvijas Krajbanka bank, Riga city council, Lattelecom's and Latvijas Mobilais Telefons' (LMT) online customer service, along with local enterprises and universities. Mobile ID technology can be integrated in all services that require strong authentication or a legally binding signature, while Lattelecom handles user and transaction validation, making it easier for other service providers to join in.

"Lattelecom gains a new competitive edge with Mobile ID as they can help their corporate clients cut costs of their existing businesses and launch new business concepts that require authentication," said Juha Murtopuro, CEO, Valimo. "Currently, Valimo Mobile ID is used in a variety of services throughout the world, including mobile banking and payments, governmental services, e-commerce and m-commerce applications, along with enterprise access management."

"On average, an active Latvian internet user has 11 electronic password-protected accounts. Majority of (84%) internet users have had difficulties accessing their important information, due to forgotten passwords," explained Rinalds Spro?is, the Chairman of the Board, Lattelecom Technology. "Mobile ID is a simple, easy to use solution to prove your identity and get an easy access to your accounts. The user doesn´t have to remember separate passwords, just one PIN code is enough."

"Latvijas Mobilais Telefons' subscribers are the first in Latvia to use Mobile ID," said Andris Forstmanis, Vice-President of Latvijas Mobilais Telefons. "More and more LMT customers browse the internet on their mobile phones and we expect to see rapid growth in mobile signing in the coming years, as the method is secure, legally binding and easy to use. Convenience of Mobile ID makes it appealing for both service providers and end-users."

At launch, Mobile ID can be used to access internal portals of University of Latvia and Riga Technical University, LMT's and Lattelecom's online customer service centres, authorised pages of Latvijas Krajbanka, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD), Gulbja laboratorija and Riga City Council. Lattelecom offers the Mobile ID service to third-party service providers in a variety of industries, including other Latvian mobile operators, and the number of services utilizing Mobile ID is expected to expand.

Valimo Mobile ID can be used all services that require personal authentication, identification or a legally binding signature. It is based on Wireless Public Key Infrastructure (WPKI). Valimo is the global market leader in Mobile ID solutions in terms of both installation base and number of active users. Valimo solutions are used by operators, banks, enterprises, public sector, e-commerce and other service providers throughout the world.

Valimo mobile signature can be used with all mobile phones and devices with a SIM card or other secure storage inside. The resulting safe and reliable digital authentication replaces various tokens, password and code lists. When using an online service requiring authentication or digital signing, the request is sent to the user's mobile phone using secured SMS technology. The message pops up on the phone screen, asking the user to confirm his or her identity or approval by entering his or her personal PIN code. If the device is lost or stolen, the services cannot be accessed without re-entering the PIN.

Half of the HSPA networks in commercial service globally are capable of peak downlink data speeds of 7.2 Mbps or higher, according to research just published by the Global mobile Suppliers Association.

GSA's newly released HSPA Operator Commitments Survey is said to confirm 316 HSPA network commitments in 129 countries. A total of 274 operators have commercially launched HSPA mobile broadband services in 115 countries, with around half of them supporting a peak downlink data speed of 7.2 Mbps or higher.

WCDMA has over 73% market share of commercial 3G networks worldwide. Almost 95% of WCDMA operators have now launched HSPA, says GSA.

A related survey by GSA is also said to confirm that 1,605 HSPA devices have been launched by 183 manufacturers. The number of products announced increased by over 121% year-on-year. The number of HSPA-enabled notebooks tripled year-on-year, with the number of phones and smartphones rising by more than 88% in the same period.

Excluding notebooks, a total of 595 HSPA products (over 46%) support peak downlink data speeds of 7.2 Mbps or more.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: "With 135 commercial HSPA networks supporting peak downlink data throughputs of at least 7.2 Mbps, and almost 600 user devices launched in the market which are capable of operating at 7.2 Mbps or higher, clearly a new baseline for mobile broadband service and capabilities has been established using HSPA."

According to GSA, evolved HSPA (HSPA+) is the next step on the roadmap for many operators, which increases data rates by using higher order modulation schemes and multiple antenna technology (MIMO). 3GPP Release 7 introduced 64 QAM modulation, increasing the downlink peak data bit rate by 50% to 21 Mbps. In the uplink, 16 QAM doubles the peak data bit rate from 5.76 Mbps to 11.5 Mbps. Release 8 allows for combining 64 QAM with 2×2 MIMO for peak rates up to 42 Mbps downlink and 11.5 Mbps uplink (per 5 MHz carrier). Further evolution of HSPA will utilize combinations of multi-carrier and MIMO to reach peak rates of 84 Mbps downlink and 23 Mbps uplink. Almost 40 operators have committed to HSPA+ network deployments, says GSA.

The world's first HSPA+ network was launched in February 2009.  According to GSA, the number of HSPA+ networks in commercial service has now reached double figures. 10 HSPA+ systems are commercially launched which are using 64QAM modulation to deliver 21 Mbps peak data throughput on the downlink, for a typical user experience up to 8 Mbps, depending on device availability. The world's first HSPA+ system utilizing MIMO technology has also been launched, in Italy, boosting peak downlink data throughput up to 28 Mbps. The recent GSA HSPA devices survey confirmed that 8 HSPA+ user devices are already launched in the market.

Uplink data speeds are also increasing. 98 operators have committed to HSUPA, with 87 networks now commercially launched, and an increasing number of these networks support 5.8 Mbps peak data throughput. The number of HSUPA user devices announced by manufacturers has more than quadrupled over the past 12 months, and now stands at 305 products. More than a third (102 devices) support, or are upgradeable for 5.8 Mbps peak operation, compared to only 14 products in July 2008.

GSA earlier announced that 31 operators are committed to LTE network deployments, which will significantly further boost network throughputs, improve spectrum and operational efficiencies and performance, and reduce latency for the next step in the user experience. GSA anticipates that up to 12 LTE networks will be in commercial service by end 2010.

Intec, a global provider of business support systems (BSS) solutions, has announced a significant contract extension with Polkomtel, the operator behind Poland's largest GSM network, PLUS, for Phase 2 of its NBS (New Billing System) project.   In a multi-million Euro deal the contract involves the extension of Intec's Convergent Billing solution (Singl.eView), to service Polkomtel's post-paid customer base.

The announcement comes twelve months after Polkomtel went live with Intec's Singl.eView platform for pre-paid subscribers.  This deployment will enable Polkomtel to launch even more innovative, new products and services at a rapid rate, to both pre- and post-paid subscribers all on a single charging engine. 

Since completion of Phase 1 Polkomtel has launched a number of unique new services including, for example, ‘Chill Bill'; subscribers receive a monthly account top-up, to spend on any Polkomtel 36.6 service tariff, in exchange for receiving three, one-and-a-half minute advertisements which they connect to via a freephone IVR number.  Polkomtel is one of the first operators, worldwide, to have successfully launched a ‘Chill Bill' style service.

"Intec's fully convergent billing platform enables us to realise the full potential of next generation services from service launch and delivery, to multi-layered marketing campaigns and cross-discounts for customers," commented Jaroslaw Bauc, Polkomtel's CEO.  "Critically, in a highly competitive market, Intec's technology also enables us to reinforce our competitive edge."

"It is three years since we started working with Polkomtel and we are delighted to be extending our relationship as a long-term, valued supplier," added Gary Burch, VP for Intec EMEA.   "Phase 1 of Polkomtel's convergent billing programme has been a spectacular commercial success, and we look forward to helping them deliver higher levels of revenue, increased efficiencies and significantly improved levels of customer satisfaction."

For the first time, Opera Mini users viewed more than 10 billion pages in one month according to the State of the Mobile Web report by Opera. The report provides information on the top global trends affecting the mobile Web and, in addition to the top global trends and country snapshots, the report highlights trends in North America and the Caribbean.
 
According to the report, in June 2009, Opera Mini had nearly 26.5 million unique consumer users, a 4.2% increase from May 2009 and more than 143% compared to June 2008. The numbers are said to reflect only the Opera Mini users who have specifically chosen to install the browser on their phone. Those 26.5 million people also viewed more than 10.4 billion pages in June 2009, which means that Opera Mini servers were processing more than 346 million pages per day. Since May, page views have gone up 8.4%. Since June 2008, page views have increased 224%.
 
Also in June, Opera Mini users generated more than 168.4 million MB of data for operators worldwide. Since May, the data consumed went up by 5.6%. Data in Opera Mini is compressed up to 90% and, if this data were uncompressed, Opera Mini users would have viewed almost 1.7 PB of data in June. Since June 2008, data traffic is up 236%.
 
The top 10 countries for Opera Mini usage this month are (in order): Russia, Indonesia, India, China, Ukraine, South Africa, U.S., U.K., Poland, Nigeria. In the top 10 list of countries, India continued to move up the rankings overtaking China for third place.
 
According to the report, Nokia phones continue to be the handsets of preference for Opera Mini users, with Sony Ericsson claiming second place. BlackBerry and Samsung phones are the preference in the United States.
 
"More than 10 billion page views in one month underscore that the Web is already the platform of choice for mobile devices," said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. "Web standards provide a more efficient way to create flawless sites across all devices. This strategy, called 'One Web', is more important than ever before as more people will view more pages on all manner of mobile phones."

Nokia and cellity today announced an agreement for Nokia to acquire certain assets of cellity. cellity is a privately owned mobile software company which employs 14 people in Hamburg, Germany.
 
Nokia will acquire the cellity team to strengthen its competencies in the area of social networking. cellity's current service will not transfer to Nokia and the service will be discontinued. cellity currently offers a solution to collect and securely store users' contacts in one place. The service is an easy way to connect people on the mobile and the web.
 
"cellity has a very talented and innovative team, which we are very happy to have on board at Nokia. With this acquisition, we can accelerate our service development in some of our core areas," said Christof Hellmis, Vice President, Services, Nokia.
 
"We are excited that Nokia has chosen our team and technology. With our experience from building social networking solutions, we can help Nokia further develop their services offering," said Nils Weitemeyer, CEO of cellity.
 
The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2009. After closing, cellity staff will become part of Nokia's Services unit.