IMImobile, a global provider of converged mobile and online technology platforms and managed services, has today announced the acquisition of Mobytec, the technology platform which enables the Mobyko social aggregation service. As a result of the deal, Mobytec will be offered by IMImobile as a revenue-generating fully managed, white label service for mobile network operators (MNOs). Mobyko Ltd will continue as an independent company offering mobyko.com branded services.

Mobytec users are able to synchronise and store social media content (contacts, photos, texts and videos) from their mobile phones in a single, secure online hub and share rich media content with friends across online and mobile ecosystems. The platform integrates with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter; aggregating live feeds, synchronising events, downloading profile photos to the contact address book and displaying latest Tweets from friends. 

For operators, Mobytec is a carrier-grade fully managed service, and a ‘sticky' interface between online and mobile activities in the expanding consumer social aggregation sector. By positioning the mobile address book as the natural hub for consumers' online and mobile activities, Mobytec is claimed to present a 'compelling revenue-generation, and customer retention proposition'.

Vishwanath Alluri, CEO and founder, IMImobile comments: "We believe that social aggregation tools are going to play an increasingly important role in the operator/consumer relationship. Applications that add value to the customer and provide operators with a converged service, bridging the gap between online social networks and the mobile phone, are vital. Mobytec's proven ability to deliver a world class user experience combined with IMImobile's robust and scalable back-end infrastructure provides a powerful proposition within the market."

Julian Saunders, co-founder of UK-headquartered Mobyko, adds; "Becoming a part of IMImobile's worldwide offering means we can take the Mobytec platform to the next level in terms of market presence. IMImobile's impressive technology and experience in the mobile operator space brings the required scalability and expertise as we take the service to new markets."

The acquisition is said to represent another step in IMImobile's organic and inorganic growth plans following the acquisition of dx3 technologies, the M2Y platform from Nokia Siemens Networks and the recent launch of IMEXmobile in the U.K.

Interxion, a European provider of carrier-neutral data centres, today announced that it has been selected by The Cloud, claimed to be Europe's largest independent provider of mobile WiFi broadband, to provide colocation services in both London and Stockholm. The Cloud has signed an agreement for colocation space with a power configuration of 5kW per cabinet, to support its customer requirements and international expansion programme.
 
Founded in 2003, The Cloud WiFi network in Europe operates across 12 markets, serving millions of mobile broadband connections through laptops and smartphones with broadband multimedia.
 
The Cloud needed colocation facilities that could deliver high-density power configurations as well as a connectivity-rich environment. Interxion provides 5kW per cabinet as standard and, across its 24 European carrier-neutral data centres, it provides direct access to well over 500 carriers and ISPs. Interxion also provides its customers with access to 15 of Europe's leading Internet exchanges, including LINX in London and NETNOD in Stockholm. Customer equipment is monitored 24/7 by expert local staff, as well as Interxion's ISO 27001-accredited European Customer Service Centre, which monitors all customer equipment and connections across Europe from an advanced Network Operations Centre in London.
 
"Interxion's infrastructure is designed to support the current and future power and connectivity requirements of ambitious service providers like The Cloud," said Greg McCulloch, Interxion Managing Director UK. "We have structured our services across Europe to deliver SLA-driven operational resilience, giving fast-growing customers peace of mind as they scale their services to meet demand."
 

The latest survey of GSM/EDGE network deployments by the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) is said to highlight the continuing globalization of GSM/EDGE. The new EDGE Fact Sheet published today by GSA confirms that 443 EDGE networks are now commercially launched in 181 countries, compared to 313 commercial networks in 147 countries reported by GSA one year ago.

GSA says that operators in all regions have made significant investments to enhance the capacity and coverage of existing networks, often extending EDGE capabilities to their full GSM coverage area. The commercial availability of EDGE-enabled services was expanded to an additional 34 countries/territories in the past year, and to an additional 68 countries/territories in the past two years.

This latest GSA survey identified 478 EDGE network operator commitments in
189 countries (compared to 363 commitments in 165 countries a year ago). The number of operators committing to EDGE network deployments has increased 66% over 2 years. EDGE became commercially available on almost twice the number of networks over the same period (there were 223 commercial EDGE networks in May 2007)

GSM/EDGE, a software enhancement to GPRS networks, is a mature global technology which is supported by a well developed ecosystem. There are many thousands of EDGE-capable user devices in the market today, extending to all but the lowest cost segments. Mobile broadband WCDMA-HSPA user devices usually also combine with quad band GSM/EDGE
(850/900/1800/1900) capabilities. Over 83% of WCDMA-HSPA user devices, including USB modems, modules for PCs, Mobile Internet Devices, PC card modems, phones, routers, etc. also support EDGE, with new products arriving every month.

The first commercial EDGE network was launched in June 2003, and GSA estimates that around 80% of GPRS operators have since committed to the EDGE enhancement, delivering significant data traffic and revenue growth. A major driver for EDGE deployments is the capability provided to network operators to offer high speed Internet access to their customers. Around two-thirds of HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network operators have also deployed EDGE for service continuity and the best user experience of mobile broadband services.

GSA says that EDGE network capabilities are evolving as part of completed 3GPP Release 7 specifications. EDGE Evolution promises to deliver benefits including higher peak downlink and uplink speeds, and reduced latency for an improved user experience.

RoadPilot has announced it has signed a three-year collaboration agreement with Nokia to supply safety camera location data for the firm's latest generation of GPS-enabled mobile devices.

The new contract will see RoadPilot data included in a 'combined safety camera and traffic alert' application for the latest version of Ovi Maps, which will be available to Nokia customers in major European markets immediately.  Roll-out across other regions will follow later in the year.

James Flynn OBE, CEO of RoadPilot, comments:  "Nokia is the world's leading manufacturer of mobile phones, and recognised as a pioneer in the converging communications and location-based services industries. This agreement consolidates RoadPilot's position as Europe's leading provider of GPS safety camera data, established through our existing data provision agreements with many leading firms in the automotive satellite navigation industry."

Dr Vesa Luiro, Director, Nokia Social Location services, adds, "This agreement is part of a broader initiative to keep Nokia at the forefront in the delivery of new technologies and applications for mobile phone users.  We are confident that the breadth, quality and reliability of RoadPilot's data will help improve driver awareness and road safety."

Established in 2000, RoadPilot is claimed to have produced the world's first GPS safety camera location device, and today its database stretches from Tromsø in Norway to Taranto in Italy, and from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lublin, in Poland.

Wyless, a specialist Global Network Enabler (GNE), and Telefónica O2 UK have announced an agreement that will increase Wyless' footprint and enable the company to provide additional global connectivity to existing and potential customers.

With presence in Europe, Latin America and worldwide roaming agreements, Telefónica has one of the most international profiles in the telecoms industry, with more than 60% of its business outside its home market and a reference point in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets.

The deal with Wyless is said to be built on a 'mutual go-to-market approach' and will enable both companies to offer a joint solution, combining the footprint and roaming capabilities of O2 with Wyless's Global Managed Services.

Wyless says customers will benefit from a wider range of reliable and secure connectivity solutions for their M2M connectivity, and will also have access to Wyless's next-generation SAAS-based management platform, Porthos, which allows real-time visibility, control and management of their network.

Working with O2, Wyless will continue to offer customers and partners a "GNE in a box", essentially enabling them to become a GNE and offer the Wyless value-added services to their customers without the cost and complexity of implementing a managed global wireless network.

Dr Mike Short, Vice President Telefónica Europe, stated:  "Today more and more businesses are implementing wireless networks and our joint go-to-market approach means we have combined forces to offer the most flexible, reliable and manageable solution, with a global footprint, wide roaming capabilities, and complete network visibility. We look forward to strengthening this relationship with Wyless worldwide."

Rami Avidan, CEO, Wyless, stated: "We offer customers and partners a "one-stop-M2M-shop" that enables online management and automated provisioning of assets quickly and easily, removing the complexities of system configuration and substantially improving time-to-market for the customer thus improving their TCO and ROI. Our agreement with O2 is valuable as a substantial building block in our Partner EcoSystem"

The number of LTE next generation networks is set to grow significantly with the number of subscribers exceeding 100 million by 2014, according to a new report from Juniper Research.

The LTE report found that these market numbers will be buoyed by the embedding of broadband capabilities within consumer electronics devices such as MP3 players, Netbooks and digital cameras.

Juniper forecasts that whilst subscribers will largely use handsets such as smart phones, and laptops, consumers will be motivated to connect devices in the home by LTE.    

Report author Howard Wilcox commented: "There is intense activity in the LTE market right now, with in excess of 30 network operator commitments. Operators and vendors alike are moving rapidly to jump on the road to LTE, attracted by the connectivity-based opportunities that the technology offers. Sony, for example, announced that network connectivity is one of 3 top priority actions."

However, the report determined that there are still several open issues that need addressing before the market takes off. One of these is the issue of device convergence: what will a smart phone look like, and be capable of, in three years' time?

Further report findings include:

• Whilst early LTE adopters will be enterprise subscribers, consumers will begin to take up LTE based services towards 2012/2013.
• There will be multiple millions of LTE subscribers as early as 2011.
• Embedded LTE chipsets will become the second most popular means of access behind SIM cards by 2014.

Icomera, a provider of cellular broadband gateways, has announced that Stagecoach Group, one of the UK's largest transport operators, has expanded its in-vehicle Wi-Fi services for passengers across multiple fleets in Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Wales. Stagecoach already utilizes Icomera's Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway to provide mobile Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity to passengers at speeds up to several megabits per second on bus services in London, Oxfordshire and Scotland.

As part of a Government-funded £116m scheme to bring better transportation to Cambridgeshire, Stagecoach has launched a fleet of twenty new state-of-the-art vehicles to operate on the 'longest and greenest guided busway in the world'. Commissioned by Cambridgeshire County Council, the 25km (16 mile) guided busway will provide a frequent, reliable, sustainable and attractive public transport alternative to driving between St Ives and Cambridge.

"This is a major investment by Stagecoach in a project that we believe will bring significant economic, transport and environmental benefits to the Cambridgeshire region," said Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus. "The Cambridgeshire Guided Busway will improve access to jobs, education, healthcare and shopping for local people. By using 100% biofuel and equipping the vehicles with hi-spec features such as leather seats and Wi-Fi, we believe we will be able to attract current car users to a significantly greener, smarter travel option."

Concurrently Stagecoach has invested over £3.5m in seventeen new Moovbox-equipped coaches on the X5 route servicing towns between Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Oxford. "The new coaches boast greener engines, leather seats, free Wi-Fi, power sockets, air-conditioning and access for wheelchair users", said Tony Cox, Managing Director of Stagecoach East. "Commuters will love the free Wi-Fi and power sockets, meaning they can start work as soon as they get on the coach."

In South Wales, Stagecoach has launched a new £2m fleet equipped with Wi-Fi Internet access to allow passengers to check their e-mails and surf the web. The seventeen ADL/MAN Enviro 300 buses hi-tech buses will operate the X4 service from Hereford to Cardiff via Abergavenny, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil and Pontypridd, with Internet access provided by the Icomera Moovbox available throughout the journey.

The Moovbox M200 Mobile Broadband Gateway acts as a bridge between a vehicle and high-speed cellular data networks including 3G/HSPA, EV-DO and WiMAX, providing Wi-Fi access and an Ethernet-based local area network (LAN) for connecting on-board systems such as CCTV and passenger information systems. The M200 also has integrated GPS receiver for real-time automatic vehicle location (AVL) via the web-based MoovManage service. Stagecoach will be utilizing the Vodafone's next-generation HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) 3G network to provide Moovbox connectivity.

Telefónica and Palm have announced an exclusive agreement to sell the Palm Pre phone initially in Spain, United Kingdom, Ireland and Germany when the device is launched in Europe in time for the winter holidays.  

"We are fast becoming the home of the smartphone with the addition of the hotly-anticipated Palm Pre to our already extensive portfolio," said Matthew Key, chairman and chief executive officer, Telefónica Europe. "Our customers will be the first outside of North America to experience one of the most successful mobile devices of the year."  

"Europe continues to be an important region for Palm, and we're proud to work with O2 and Movistar to spread the excitement Palm Pre has already ignited in North America," said Jon Rubinstein, Palm chairman and chief executive officer. "Since we showed Palm Pre at Mobile World Congress in February, there's been a great deal of anticipation for an announcement about European availability, and that day is here."  

Palm Pre is the first phone based on the new Palm webOS mobile platform.