Mobile messaging operator TynTec has announced that it has been selected by TextMagic, the online SMS service provider, to provide the company's messaging services.  Under the deal, TynTec will provide TextMagic with incoming and outgoing SMS messaging to underpin its online SMS communications service.

TextMagic will be using TynTec for the two parts of its services.  When users send a message via TextMagic's online, API or email SMS interfaces, TynTec's high-reliability SMS sending (MT) capabilities will power the communication.  By using TynTec in this way, TextMagic can take advantage of its local time stamping capabilities, meaning the recipients of messages will always have accurate local time stamps on their received messages.  TextMagic will also use a TynTec-hosted long number to manage incoming reply messages.  As well as offering high-reliability in message receipt, this TynTec service will give TextMagic the ability to use memorable and marketable numbers.

By deploying TynTec's services at the heart of its products, TextMagic will be able to take advantage of the company's significant geographical reach, covering 400 networks in 160 countries. In addition, the TynTec's promise of high speed (under 15 seconds) messaging transmission will further enhance TextMagic's offering to its customers. TextMagic also takes advantage of a real-time Mobile Number Portability check and reliable delivery notifications.

Priit Vaikma, TextMagic, said: "TynTec offers us everything we need in an SMS services provider – as well as a reliability promise for both sending and receiving, they can give us massive geographical reach at a competitive price point.  Our customers use TextMagic to send and receive SMS from their computers – they want their text messaging to be quick, cost-effective, reliable and measurable.  Working with TynTec we can offer all of this and more."

Michael Kowalzik, CEO of TynTec, said: "TextMagic has been providing SMS services since 2002, and by using TynTec,, TextMagic are getting the best of both worlds – they get the speed, reliability and reach that we can offer through our unique technical infrastructure combined with a great price point that means that they can maintain their margins in a competitive market."

A new analysis of the Near Field Communications mobile payments opportunity has forecast that the gross transaction value of payments made via NFC contactless technology, for relatively low value purchases (such as refreshments, tickets and food), will exceed $75bn globally by 2013.  

In the second report in its Mobile Payment Markets series, Juniper Research says it has found that there is a significant opportunity for NFC mobile payment services, chips, phones and supporting services as the market reaches its tipping point over the 2011 to 2013 period.  The study is said to explore how NFC will transform the mobile phone into a mobile wallet payment tool that will be used by more and more people, more and more often in future.

Report author Howard Wilcox said: "NFC will achieve traction initially in developed countries and regions, with Japan already leading the way with FeliCa-enabled phones. North America, Western Europe and countries such as Korea, Singapore and Australia are likely to see service take-up."

According to Juniper, highlights from the report include:

• Global annual gross transaction value will grow over 5 times between 2011 and 2013
• 2009 will see limited numbers of NFC devices shipped (except in the Far East & China region) but the market will begin to ramp up from 2010 onwards and by 2013 20%, or 1 in 5 phones shipped, will possess NFC capability.
• The top 3 regions (Far East & China, North America and W. Europe) will represent nearly 90% of the $75bn p.a. market (by gross transaction value) by 2013.

However, Howard Wilcox cautioned: "Whilst trial results so far have been encouraging, the industry as a whole will need to convince both consumers and merchants of the merits of yet another payment mechanism on top of cash, cheques, credit and debit cards, and to allay understandable (even if unfounded) fears and scepticism about the security of The Mobile Wallet." 

The report provides six year regional forecasts of NFC mobile payments for physical goods, providing data on device shipments, subscriber take-up, transaction sizes and volumes as well as detailed case studies from companies 'pioneering' in the market.

Opera Software today announced that Swisscom, Switzerland's leading telecoms provider, has selected the Opera Mini browser to deliver a 'better' Web experience to its mobile phone customers. Opera Mini will be available for download over the air (OTA) on most Swisscom-operated phones in the near future.

With Opera Mini, Swisscom customers can take advantage of the full Web on their mobile phones. Opera Mini's compression technology is said to mean that the content that users are viewing will be delivered faster and more cost efficiently by reducing the amount of data transferred to the phone.

"We are the leaders in providing the Internet to Switzerland. We are proud of our advanced HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network that currently covers 90 percent of the Swiss population," says Thomas Hüter, Head of Internet Experience, Swisscom. "We wanted the most feature-rich and fast browser available that will work on all the Swisscom mobile phones on the market today. Opera Mini has proven its value to millions of users all over the world, and we want to offer our customers a great mobile browsing experience."

US research  company, comScore, has reported that iPhone users surpass all others in mobile media usage, with more than 80 percent of iPhone users in France, Germany and the UK using the device to browse news and information on the mobile Web, compared to 32 percent of other smartphone users. 

As the market anticipates the launch of the 3G version in Germany and the UK today, comScore M:Metrics says it confirms that even on the slower 2.5G mobile network, the iPhone has increased mobile Internet consumption by a factor of 13 times in the case of a category such as social networking sites.  The study also found that 42 percent of iPhone users visited a social networking site on their device in May compared to the market average of 3 percent and 10 percent of smartphone owners.  E-mail is another popular feature, with nearly 70 percent of iPhone users sending and receiving e-mail with the device, compared to just 26 percent among other smartphones users and 7.6 percent of the cell phone market overall. 

"Our data confirm that the iPhone and its requisite data plan have succeeded in drawing consumers to the mobile Web," said Paul Goode, senior analyst, comScore M:Metrics, "Even without 3G networking, users are happy to browse and consume as much content as they can, and as soon as the data speeds improve, these figures will likely continue to increase."

The improvement in iPhone handset features and reduced pricing should have a significant impact on uptake, especially in the European markets where, according to comScore M:Metrics data, the UK has 3G penetration at 26 percent, Germany at 23 percent and France at 17 percent. 

comScore M:Metrics also found that while smartphones are adopted by a higher proportion of men than mobile phones overall, iPhones have an even stronger skew to men in the U.K. and Germany.  In the U.K for example, 75 percent of iPhone users are male, while men account for about 68 percent of smartphone users. In contrast, in France, 67 percent of iPhone users are men compared to a higher 71 percent of smartphone users 

"It is worth noting that the Nokia N95 8GB with high speed 3G and significant handset subsidies now has over twice as many users as the iPhone across the UK, Germany and France," observed Goode. "Yet the iPhone, despite its small user-base, is already in the top 10 handsets for online browsing in the UK and in the top 5 in France and Germany.  It is giving devices like Nokia's N Series and Sony Ericsson K and W Series a definite run for their money."

Mobile payments specialist Dialogue Communications has announced more Payforit developments with the launch of Payforit single click payments.  Dialogue says this latest feature will significantly improve Payforit's usability and revenue generating potential.

The Payforit payment mechanism allows consumers to pay for content, goods or services purchased on the mobile internet or web via their mobile phone, currently up to the value of £10. Although the Payforit system is said to have been well received, mobile users have complained that going through the full payment cycle for every purchase is monotonous.

As a result of the feedback, Dialogue looked to create Payforit single click and made a proposal to the operators in March 2008. The new single click feature will allow customers to buy from an internet page with one easy click, without having to additionally click-thru the standard Payforit pages on every occasion.

Guiom Peersman, Dialogue's MD, introduced the idea of integrating single click purchases into the Payforit framework to mobile operators earlier this year, and he believes it will further enhance the payment mechanism: "Single click purchases are widely available on the web, on sites such as Amazon and iTunes, so there is no reason why mobile internet services should be any different and I think it is something mobile users are also starting to demand. The single click option will not only improve the user's experience of Payforit but it will also encourage repeat purchases and give users the power to tailor their buying preferences.

"Dialogue is proud to be driving Payforit innovation forward and that its single click proposal has been approved to be included in the next version of the Payforit framework."

The single click function works from the Payforit pages once the user has selected the item they wish to buy. Initially users will be required to go through the normal payment flow for their first purchase but once they are comfortable with Payforit, they will be given the opportunity to use the single click version of Payforit in the future.

Vodafone Ireland has selected Ericsson to be the systems integrator of a real-time charging and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) solution, including upgrading and expanding the operator's network.

Under the agreement, Ericsson will be responsible for systems integration of existing solutions into the next-generation IMS environment. Ericsson will also upgrade and expand network capacity, enable real-time charging and underpin demanding multimedia functionality.

Ericsson's real-time charging solutions provide operators with a flexible, secure and efficient revenue management system, and enable consumers to better manage their spending. The IMS environment and expansion of IP service capacity will support next-generation broadband multimedia applications that facilitate a richer user experience.

The deal builds upon Ericsson's long-standing relationship with Vodafone Ireland as its sole supplier of an IP-based circuit core network. Based on the Ericsson Mobile Softswitch Solution, the network will now be upgraded to support interworking with IMS.

Mats Svärdh, Chief Technology Officer at Vodafone Ireland, says: "The always-on multimedia demands of our customers challenge us to deliver consistent high quality with real-time charging at home, on the move and when traveling abroad. Ericsson's strength as an end-to-end systems integrator is helping make our multimedia vision a reality."

John Hennessy, Managing Director, Ericsson Ireland, says: "We are delighted to extend our partnership with Vodafone. The integration of this next-generation, end-to-end solution will help the operator realize new revenue opportunities and expand its multimedia offering to its customers."

According to a new study by Frost & Sullivan, the future of the mobile market in Eastern Europe rests in the growing popularity in mobile TV.  

"Mobile TV refers to the transmission of audiovisual content to mobile devices," reports Frost and Sullivan Research Analyst, Saverio Romeo.  "It means viewing any content on the move, anywhere and anytime. This concept completely changes the usage of audiovisual services, and consequently, the consumer's experience. In fact, the mobility not only allows users to view content on the move, but also to share content on the point of inspiration with other users introducing new forms of interactivity."

Eastern European countries are already tapping into Europe's success, says F&S. New technologies such as MediaFLO, T-DMB, DVB-H and TDtv are being reviewed in various countries. In Poland, the Office for Electronic Communications (UKE) has launched the tender for 38 channels to major cities within the country.  In Russia, MTS, the market leader, is ready to launch a mobile TV service offering 20 channels.  In Hungary, the four companies of Vodafone Hungary, Nokia-Siemens Networks, T-Mobile Hungary, and Antenna Hungaria together launched a trial of a DVB-H network in Budapest in January 2008.  The Czech Republic and Romania will not be left behind.  Since the end of 2006, T-Mobile Czech Republic is running DVB-H trials in Prague with the help of the media company, Radiokomunikace. Orange Romania is currently orchestrating trials in Bucharest.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the success story of the Italian mobile operator, 3 Italia, commanded the attention of western and eastern European countries alike. "In 2006, 3 Italia launched its mobile TV (DVB-H) service.  3 Italia started the service in time for the football world cup and so had an astonishing take-up rate. The reason for this success was quite simple," says Saverio. "Football supporters do not really care about technologies. They want to view their teams when they are not at home at a good quality and at a package, which meets the needs of their wallets. 3 Italia managed to do all of this. The Italian mobile operator gained 400,000 subscriptions in 10 months. At the end of 2007, almost 900,000 Italians used 3 Italia's mobile TV platform. At the beginning of June 2008, 3 Italia launched a mobile TV service out of charge and ad-based."

The 2.6 million current European consumers are driven by three major factors: content quality, cost of service, and cost of mobile device. Satisfying the target consumers, in Eastern Europe, brings challenges for the operators and providers.  Success depends on having 3G and beyond 3G network coverage for unicast (streaming video to a mobile device via the cellular networks) and on-demand solutions.  Operators and providers must also establish and pay for the high cost of quality network infrastructures like DVB-H. The regulatory framework should be established to allocate spectrum.  Along with this, handsets with sufficient audiovisual functionalities and easy-to-use interface must be readily available. Finally, the price must be attractive enough to draw in a vast audience.

F&S says that the evident success of this new mobile service offers an exciting opportunity for mobile operators and providers in Eastern European countries, as they jump on the mobile TV bandwagon.

free-hotspot.com, said to be the world's largest free Wi-Fi Internet service provider, announced today that it has successfully installed its service in two Brittany airports, Quimper Cornouaille and Lannion – Côte de Granit. The installations are said to reflect a commitment by free-hotspot.com to provide its free Wi-Fi service in regional as well as international airports. The company plans further airport installations in the UK and the rest of Europe in the near future.

Equipped for several months now, the Quimper Cornouaille airport was the first to benefit from the free Wi-Fi service offered by Irish company free-hotspot.com. Within just a few months, passengers have quickly adopted the new service that allows them to stay connected and to work using their own laptops whilst waiting for flights. Use of the free Wi-Fi service has increased month on month, and now one in every 20 passengers passing through Quimper airport are said to benefit from the free Wi-Fi offering.

Lannion – Côte de Granit airport has also just partnered up with free-hotspot.com to offer free Wi-Fi to its passengers. The installation was undertaken recently, but initial feedback is claimed to already suggests that the service will be at least as successful as the HotSpot in Quimper.

Joe Brunoli, Vice President, Business Development at free-hotspot.com comments: "We are delighted to be providing our service to regional airports such as Quimper and Lannion. The increasing demand for free Wi-Fi by air passengers of all types means that our service is a must-have for all airports, and not just the major hubs."

"Airports are well suited for providing free Wi-Fi services," explained Brunoli. "Offering free Internet access means that the passengers are likely to spend more time at the airport, and may even arrive earlier to go online while in the gate area. The result is less congestion through security, a better customer experience, and more terminal revenue thanks to increased per-passenger spend," concludes Mr. Brunoli.

Allround has announced that it has been selected as vendor for Near Real-Time Roaming Data Exchange (NRTRDE) solution by MagtiCom, the growing mobile operator in Georgia. Allround says its in-house NRTRDE approach has been selected many times instead of outsourced services mainly by those operators who focus on long-term benefits.

NRTRDE (Near Real-Time Roaming Data Exchange) is a new method for reporting the subscribers' roaming activities that enables operators to detect high network usage and other fraud issues in near-real time. Since roaming fraud is a serious global concern for mobile operators, the implementation of the NRTRDE system for all GSMA members shall be done by 1 October 2008, according to the GSMA recommendation.

Answering the increasing need for high quality NRTRDE solutions Allround claims to offer a solution to GSM operators to comply with the NRTRDE requirements in a cost-effective way.

"Allround has been selected because it is proven partner of MagtiCom, being the supplier of the roaming management solution, AllRoamer. We were also impressed by the in-depth expertise that Allround showed in the roaming and NRTRDE area."  – says Nino Avaliani, Director of Customer Care Department at MagtiCom.

"We are glad that MagtiCom selected us. We are always looking for building a strategic cooperation with our customers offering the best solution that perfectly fits their business needs. Incorporating 10+ years experience in roaming and fraud detection area we strongly believe that operators will pioneer the long-term benefits of in-house NRTRDE solutions." – says Lilla Csókási, Head of Marketing & Sales at Allround.