Mobile Content Networks, a provider of mobile search management and search revenue solutions, today announced that its mobile content merchandising program, allwords, is launching globally following its success in Japan.

Initial allwords distribution partners will include Thailand's AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove, Avea of Turkey, Scandinavia's Tele2, and myGamma.com, BuzzCity's fast growing mobile social network. MCN also confirmed that it will launch allwords in the U.S. as part of a commercial trial it is conducting with a leading mobile operator.

"With more than 25 operator and portal partners in eight countries, MCN is uniquely positioned to understand and lead trends in mobile content discovery and promotion," said MCN CEO Marc Bookman "In Japan we've proven that MCN-powered Search Merchandising solutions provide the fastest, most profitable connections between mobile users and digital content and commerce items they can consume via their phones and now we are taking the allwords(sm) value proposition global."

In 2007 allwords was launched by MCN in Japan as an outgrowth of its mobile search applications on NTT DoCoMo's iMode portal and with Yahoo! Mobile Japan.  allwords enables mobile content providers to purchase all keywords in popular vertical content categories, such as music, images, games and shopping – to bring mobile users directly to the content item – not a link or a page -that they can click on and purchase. Mobile content providers and their agencies directly manage advertising budgets and content category promotions, measure user response directly, and adapt quickly to changes in user interests to maximize sales.

"Mobile operators and portals, and the content providers who depend on them, are constantly searching for the most direct, cost-effective, and profitable way to promote digital content discovery and transactions," said leading mobile advertising industry analyst Chetan Sharma, president, Chetan Sharma and Associates. "With allwords I think they've found it. allwords looks like a win-win, generating new revenue for operators and higher conversions for content providers."

"allwords is the highest performing mobile content promotion program in Japan." said Mr. Hirotaka Fukuoka, Senior Vice President of Opt, one of Japan's leading interactive advertising firms and an MCN allwords sales partner. "Content providers are getting higher click-throughs and conversions and a significantly better cost of acquisition with allwords than with any other paid search or advertising program, and we are adding new partners weekly as they continue to shift marketing spend to the direct value that allwords delivers."

MobiTV, a provider of managed TV and video content over mobile and broadband networks, today announced the immediate availability of its standards-based Optimized Delivery Server (ODS) in Europe. MobiTV's ODS system is claimed to provide a scalable, secure and optimised method for the distribution of enhanced live, clip-linear, VOD and downloadable media over broadband and wireless networks. ODS is available for licensing to partners and customers across Europe looking for systems that will deliver high-quality video and rich media over existing wireless and broadband network ecosystems.

Currently over four million mobile subscribers worldwide access programmes via MobiTV's managed network platform that delivers live television, video on demand and digital music services. The availability of ODS comes at a time when consumer demand for access to wireless video and TV services is growing substantially. The analyst house Strategy Analytics, has reported that the global media market will double between 2008 and 2011 from $32 billion to more than $64 billion. This growth has been attributed to the increase in global service provider video offerings.

"Our Optimized Delivery Server technology represents decades of best practices coming into focus around issues including bandwidth adaptability, full redundancy and carrier-grade reliability," said Anders Norström, European Managing Director, MobiTV. "A primary component of the end-to-end managed hosted solution offered to MobiTV customers in North America, ODS technology can now be licensed by third parties in Europe, delivering the advantages of high quality video and user experience across varying network conditions through advanced network optimisation, and efficient, effective service creation."

MobiTV's standards-based Optimized Delivery Server is RTP/RTSP and 3GPP standard compliant, and combines unicast and multicast distribution methods, creating a single delivery platform that improves video quality and decreases backhaul demands. The technology optimizes network resources by creating a distributed network, and includes comprehensive usage reporting, fully redundant architecture and support for all types of devices.

By utilising bandwidth smoothing, seamless network handover and bandwidth adaptation that includes stream switching, stream thinning and rate shaping, MobiTV's Optimized Delivery Server also enables significant improvements channel change and session start-up capabilities.

For licensees based in Europe, the Optimized Delivery Server system can grow with the needs of customers' businesses. Partners and customers can start with a single cluster in a data centre and then deploy additional clusters at the network edges as their business needs demand. Providing low latency and secure media distribution through a scalable architecture, ODS also enables an interactivity layer that includes compelling, targeted advertising insertions and personalisation options.

Novarra, the Internet Mobility company, has today announced an extension
of its partnership with Yahoo! to provide its Vision web solution for
Yahoo! oneSearch. As part of the agreement, the companies deployed Novarra's Vision v7.3 platform that includes customized mobile content handling capabilities.

When consumers click on a Web link from Yahoo!'s oneSearch results,
Novarra's Vision platform is said to transform the PC content for a fast and optimal
mobile experience. Complex Web sites around the globe are automatically
optimized for thousands of unique mobile devices, says Novarra.

"Yahoo! is committed to providing the best user experience to consumers
on their mobile phones," said Steve Boom, senior vice president, Connected
Life, Yahoo! "Partnering with Novarra provides us with an effective Web
transformation solution to render Web content for mobile handsets."

"We're pleased that Yahoo! chose Novarra to adapt content with speed and
simplicity, which is critical for effective presentation," said Bruce
Simpson, chief operating officer for Novarra. "All our customers have
experienced consumer satisfaction and steady growth, enabling operators and
Internet brands to generate significant revenues."

SafeNet, a global specialist in information security, has announced the addition of SafeBSF, a carrier-grade Generic Bootstraping Architecture (GBA) solution for mobile user authentication to its industry-leading portfolio of Mobile TV Protection and DRM solutions. SafeBSF provides mobile operators and service providers with a general-purpose authentication infrastructure, which can be used for multiple services such as mobile TV and mobile payments.
 
SafeBSF performs mutual authentication of the operator network and consumers-via their SIM card-who may be accessing a multimedia application, including mobile TV, during service access initiation using the GBA standard from the 3GPP. The SafeBSF solution is a complete bundle of GBA components, including a BSF, HSS/HLR Proxy, and a Zn proxy. By using SafeBSF, mobile operators and service providers can be confident that only authenticated users with access rights to their mobile services are able to access the content.
 
"When securely deployed and managed, services such as Mobile TV and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) present mobile operators and service providers with a tremendous opportunity to grow revenue by significantly increasing average spend per subscriber," said Vikrant Gandhi of Frost & Sullivan. "SafeNet has long been a strong provider in the DRM space and with the addition of SafeBSF to their Mobile TV Protection portfolio they have once again demonstrated their ability to address important market trends and deliver complete security solutions for the protection, management, and monetisation of next-generation digital content, features, and services."

SafeBSF can plug directly into an existing HLR (or provide a stand-alone HSS), thereby allowing mobile network operators to enhance their existing authentication infrastructure. This significantly reduces development cost and time to market.
 
"Increased demand for next-generation features and services such as mobile TV and mobile payments has forced mobile operators and service providers to prioritise user and device authentication to ensure the privacy, integrity, and confidentiality of sensitive data and valuable content," said Dr. Simon Blake-Wilson, managing director, embedded security solutions, SafeNet. "With the addition of SafeBSF, SafeNet offers customers the industry's only complete, end-to-end Mobile TV Protection Solution which address rights management and authentication challenges while reducing development costs and shortening time to market."

Nokia Siemens Networks today announced that Luca Maestri is to join the Company as Chief Financial Officer and Michael Matthews is to join as Head of Strategy and Business Development as the Company prepares to move beyond its integration phase. In addition to their functional roles, both will be members of the Nokia Siemens Networks Executive Board.
 
Maestri joins from General Motors, where he most recently held the position of Chief Financial Officer, General Motors Europe, Europe’s fastest-growing automotive group in 2007. Prior to this role, Maestri served as CFO of GM’s Mercosur operations, where he helped execute a successful turnaround of the business, leading to strong revenue and profit growth, improvement in cash flow, and a strengthened balance sheet. Maestri has also held senior positions in GM operations in the United States, Brazil, Thailand, Italy and Singapore. 
 
Maestri will join Nokia Siemens Networks on 1 October 2008, and will formally assume the Chief Financial Officer role on 1 November 2008. Eric Simonsen, the outgoing CFO, will start his retirement in December 2008, following the two-month transition and hand-over period. 
 
“Eric came on board as an integration and restructuring specialist following our merger in April 2007 and his expertise and wisdom have been instrumental in the execution of a successful merger process in very tough circumstances. Nokia Siemens Networks is a stronger company as a result of his contributions,” said Simon Beresford-Wylie, Chief Executive Officer of Nokia Siemens Networks. “He has paved the way for Luca to play a key role in our continued transformation into a world-class company.” 
 
Matthews joins with a strong background in telecommunications, software, technology and innovation. He was Chief Marketing Officer at Amdocs Inc, the leading provider of software and services for many of the world’s largest communications service providers. During his 5 years at Amdocs, Matthews played a key role in leading the transformation of the company; addressing new markets, expanding the product line, and evolving the channel to address the rapidly changing needs of the telecom industry. Matthews also brings broad experience across the technology industry, having held senior positions at hardware and software companies and in both start-up and multinational companies. 
 
“Luca and Michael bring the rights skills, experience and values to help complete our integration work at Nokia Siemens Networks and take the Company to the next level,” said Beresford-Wylie. Maestri and Matthews will report to Beresford-Wylie. 
 
Pekka Soini, the current Head of Strategy and Business Development, will assume a new role heading the Corporate Development Office, with responsibility for quality, process development and information technology. All of these areas are essential to a successful conclusion of the Nokia Siemens Networks integration work and to building the Company’s competitive advantage as a globally integrated enterprise. Soini will remain a member of the Nokia Siemens Networks Executive Board and will also serve as the Executive Sponsor for the North American region, working closely with region head Susan Spradley and her leadership team.

CSR, a global provider of wireless technologies, and Rx Networks, a private mobile positioning technology and global services company, today announced a GPS solution that combines their respective eGPS(R) (enhanced Global Positioning System) and GPStream technologies. The joint solution optimally combines GPS fine time and frequency aiding with synthetic assistance, to yield mobile positioning performance that exceeds standard Assisted-GPS in unsynchronised GSM and W-CDMA networks, or in synchronised CDMA networks.

With the partnership, fine time, frequency aiding and ephemeris assistance are all generated locally in the device, and available at all times without the need for real time communication with a server. This eliminates up to 15 seconds of network latency in mobile handset applications while remaining fully compliant with A-GPS industry standards such as SUPL 1.0.

Both CSR and Rx Networks operate carrier-grade service delivery infrastructures, through which Rx Networks' GPStream extended ephemeris technologies may be delivered.  GPStream PGPS and SAGPS produce continuous satellite predictions while eGPS provides a locally generated source of fine time and frequency aiding.  Together these technologies significantly reduce time-to-fix and increase GPS sensitivity. This helps maintain optimal GPS performance, even outside of network coverage when time to fix is paramount.  As a result of this partnership, CSR and Rx Networks now offer OEM customers the lowest cost and most resilient GPS solution for Personal Navigation Devices (PND's) and mobile handsets that yield the longest battery life and the fastest, near-ubiquitous performance.

"CSR's eGPS is an important development in deeper thus more ubiquitous mobile GPS assistance, and eGPS will flourish as multiple complementary companies support eGPS.  We are happy to join the eGPS ecosystem which already includes some of our existing customers, partners and prospects," said Richard Lee, EVP Business Development of Rx Networks.

"Rx Networks' GPStream products and technology are a perfect complement to CSR's location portfolio, and provide an important element for assisting our GPS silicon and eGPS software products," said Stuart Strickland VP for CSR's LBS Business Unit.

Alcatel-Lucent has signed a turnkey equipment and services contract with 3 Italia, a 3G mobile operator in Italy and the first DVB-H mobile TV operator in the world, to expand and optimize its broadcast mobile TV network throughout Italy.

Alcatel-Lucent's solution for 3 Italia, based on its DVB-H terrestrial transmitters, its remote monitoring system and including network integration services, will enable 3 Italia to increase the indoor and outdoor coverage of its broadcast Mobile TV network, while optimizing network efficiency for enhanced mobile TV service delivery. As a result, 3 Italia's subscribers will enjoy attractive television programs – such as football matches, movies, music and reality shows – with an improved mobility and service continuity, says Al-Lu.

Alcatel-Lucent will extend and increase the density of 3 Italia's DVB-H terrestrial transmitters network across Italy, enabling 3 Italia to offer broadcast mobile TV services to its 8.45 million UMTS customers. The company also claims that the seamless integration of Alcatel-Lucent's mobile TV terrestrial transmitters into 3 Italia's existing mobile sites, as well as new sites, and a new powerful remote monitoring system, enables 3 Italia to protect its previous investments, while achieving significant savings in capital and operational expenditures.

"As end-users increasingly demand enhanced entertainment services that are on the move, operators need to transform their network while protecting their investment. By enabling 3 Italia, which is the first DVB-H mobile TV operator in the world, to expand and optimize its existing DVB-H network in Italy, Alcatel-Lucent is delivering upon its commitment to accelerate the advent of mobile TV for the mass market, whichever the mobile broadcast technology," said Pierre Barnabé, President of Alcatel-Lucent's activities in France, Iberia & Italy. "This new contract confirms Alcatel-Lucent's ability to offer and integrate innovative and future-poof wireless network solutions that can support a broad range of blended service applications including mobile TV services."

The Alcatel-Lucent solution for 3 Italia is based on its 9600 DTH, future-proof multi-standard digital terrestrial transmitter that can deliver DVB-T and DVB-H broadcast solutions, as well as a evolution to DVB-SH. The transmitters have been designed and optimized according to the specific requirements of mobile operators and can easily be integrated into their mobile sites. Alcatel-Lucent's solution also includes its remote monitoring system, as well as professional services such as network integration, project management, installation and commissioning, and repair and maintenance.

SurfKitchen, a provider of On-Device Portal (ODP) applications, has announced that its SurfKit Phonetop product suite is available on BREW and RIM BlackBerry platforms. SurfKit Phonetop product suite is now available on feature and smart phones across Symbian Series 60 and UIQ, Microsoft Mobile 5&6, Java J2ME MIDP2 and now BREW 3.1.15 and RIM BlackBerry platforms.

According to SurfKitchen, to drive the growth of mobile data services across a broadening range of devices, carriers are seeking to offer a personalized, consistent and intuitive user experience. SurfKit Phonetop is claimed to enable this by providing a single, branded and visually engaging experience that can be deployed across a broad range of feature and smart phones. This consistency allows carriers to build consumer confidence in accessing and consuming data services, while vastly simplifying service creation through a standard platform for application development, says the company.

"There are over 3 billion mobile subscribers in the world", said Michel Quazza, chief executive officer, SurfKitchen. "To significantly increase data ARPU, carriers need to be able to offer an enhanced and personalized user experience not only on high end devices, but across their entire device portfolio. This is why SurfKitchen is focused on cross-platform reach and with BREW and RIM, we now support more device platforms than any other ODP vendor." 

Ericsson has been selected as sole supplier to supply and operate a complete GSM mobile network for Cable&Wireless Europe, Asia and US as it launches its new Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) services in the UK. As Cable &Wireless' exclusive managed services partner, Ericsson will also be responsible for running the network for five years.

Under the agreement, Ericsson will supply a complete core and radio-access network, based on small and low-power GSM base stations. The solution is designed to provide indoor fixed and mobile coverage for enterprise users, and allows for seamless roaming between the Cable &Wireless GSM solution and national roaming partners when moving outdoors. Network connectivity is provided by connecting the GSM base stations directly to existing enterprise data networks, using IP network solutions provided by Cable &Wireless. Ericsson will also supply a service-layer network with solutions for service provisioning, SMS and voicemail to enable Cable &Wireless to launch complete FMC services to its customers.

Cable&Wireless has announced Tesco as its first corporate customer for its new FMC service.  FMC will enable Tesco staff to use one mobile handset for all calls, switching between mobile and fixed line calls seamlessly.

In addition to operating and managing the GSM network for five years, Ericsson will provide Cable&Wireless with a wide range of professional services, including design and systems integration.

Jim Marsh, Chief Executive Officer, Cable&Wireless Europe, Asia and the US, says: "Ericsson's proven expertise in mobile technologies and network operations will provide us with a high-performance, quality solution to control operating costs and enable us to bring compelling services for our customers, such as FMC, to market." 

Jacqueline Hey, President of Ericsson UK, says: "This agreement establishes an exciting position for Cable&Wireless and will provide its customers with innovative and attractive solutions. The deal also reflects the close strategic partnership between Cable&Wireless and Ericsson, and we are proud to be selected as the supplier for this network and managed services contract."

DragonWave, a global supplier of next-generation point to point microwave radio systems, has announced that Altitude Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Altitude Group, has selected DragonWave products to provide high capacity Ethernet backhaul as part of its rollout of WiMAX broadband services across France.

Altitude has helped WiMAX service introduction in France, and its first deployments took place in 2004. To date, DragonWave's Ethernet backhaul solution has been selected for four regional deployments in the Département de la Haute Garonne, Département des Deux Sèvres, Département du Jura and Département des Pyrénées Atlantiques.

"WiMAX has matured beyond the developmental stage. Today it is being selected as a legitimate broadband access option by more and more French customers. To accommodate this growth we required the highest performance IP backhaul solution available." said Fabrice Ballart, Directeur Général with Altitude Infrastructure. "A broad portfolio of frequency options provides the flexibility we need to introduce WiMAX in any region. Its superior payload-per-hertz efficiency means we can optimize our spectrum usage and overall backhaul investment without compromising the end user experience. These benefits have helped fuel our business and provide a better return on network investments."

Customer uptake in Altitude Telecom's services is said to have intensified across business and residential markets.  The operator recently announced it is accepting hundreds of new orders per month and this year plans to double the number of base stations in its WiMAX network to six hundred.

Altitude Infrastructure is deploying DragonWave's AirPair products operating in licensed frequencies between 6 and 38 GHz. The products are claimed to ensure interference-free performance, ultra-low latency to support real-time services, and scaleable Ethernet connectivity up to 800 Mbps. Said to be extremely easy to deploy and manage, DragonWave products come with a full suite of network management options, and can be engineered to provide 99.999% service availability.

The deployment expands DragonWave's growing market presence in Europe. "Operators in more and more markets are validating our IP backhaul solutions as the state-of-the-art, high-capacity transport option for 3G and 4G base stations," said Peter Allen, president and CEO of DragonWave. "We will continue to work closely with Altitude to assist in its expansion plans in France and with WiMAX operators throughout Europe and other international markets."