A leading group of mobile operators have today unveiled a new initiative to create a blueprint and roadmap for opening up mobile functionality to encourage the development of exciting mobile applications without compromising customer security. The new initiative will be known as BONDI.

Supported by the OMTP members including 3 Group, AT&T, T-Mobile, Telenor, Telefonica, Telecom Italia and Vodafone, BONDI will provide a consistent and secure web services interface that can be used by all web developers across multiple device platforms. This will provide the opportunity for web developers to address a mass market of consumers and to drive the use of data services on mobile.

BONDI will harmonise the various open and proprietary ongoing initiatives and this cooperative work will minimise the potential for technology fragmentation in this exciting area. BONDI, under the OMTP umbrella, will contribute towards ongoing standardisation work to help create a new rich web experience for mobile while also ensuring an appropriate degree of protection that will maintain the current high level of trust by mobile phone users.

BONDI will expose key handset features to web developers to help them develop more function-rich, user friendly and relevant applications. The new handset software will be engineered in such a way as to prevent fraudulent and malicious activity through unauthorised access to functions or sensitive personal information.

Colibria, the provider of new generation mobile instant messaging (MIM) and Presence-enabled solutions, has announced the availability of its SIP IM Server. Designed to enable the convergence of voice, media and text based communication across mobile, fixed and converged networks in both IMS and pre-IMS networks, the product offering is said to include many of the features of Colibria's MIM solutions.
 
According to Colibria, the SIP IM Server is said to plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the concept of ‘rich communication', as set out in the Rich Communication Suite (RCS) initiative, becomes a reality for communication service providers (CSPs) and end-users alike. RCS is a joint effort of key telecom industry players to speed up the evolution of mobile phone communication towards ‘rich communication', including features such as a Presence-enabled address book, with the introduction of new IMS-based interoperable services.
 
Colibria's SIP IM Server provides a base upon which CSPs can introduce new service packages and deploy integrated communication services that not only greatly enhance the consumer experience, but also open up new revenue opportunities. For example, by deploying the Colibria SIP IM Server new ‘Communicator' solutions can be created which are access type independent and combine MIM, VoIP, file and video sharing within a single package.
 
Colibria's SIP IM Server supports Session Mode Messaging with MSRP (Message Session Relay Protocol) reducing signalling network load when transporting media whilst simultaneously increasing reliability and allowing tighter integration of services. In addition, a deferred messaging capability ensures that whilst the user is offline all messages are captured, with the option of waiting MIM alerts for the user via SMS.
 
As a fundamental element of the IMS framework, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is perceived to be an emerging market technology, but the potential for future growth is already being heralded, with analysis firm ABI Research predicting that SIP services will generate $150 billion in annual revenue by 20121.
 
Lars Kristian Roland, Chief Technology Officer at Colibria, commented, "Previously SIP IM products have originated from the fixed environment, bringing with them poor interworking across platforms. With our heritage and expertise in the mobile instant messaging market, we have developed a ‘best-in-breed' SIP IM solution that boasts SMS, MMS and IMPS interworking and ultimately enables CSPs to offer their customers a truly converged communication service."
 
The Colibria SIP IM Server complies with IETF, 3GPP and OMA standards, and has proven interoperability with major IMS vendors, where it performs as an IMS application server, and is ideally placed to be deployed in multi-vendor IMS and pre-IMS environments. It will interface to any SIP compliant 3rd party client enabling the CSP to choose the best solution to support their mobile and fixed terminal requirements. As a key component of the Colibria Evolve Solution, Colibria SIP IM Server can be deployed with Colibria's SIP Presence and XDM Server offerings, or with 3rd party Presence products.

Damovo UK, an enterprise ICT provider, and Red-M, a wireless professional services company, have today announced a partnership agreement designed to meet the growing demand for wireless connectivity across a number of large-scale and diverse business locations.

The partnership is said to combine Damovo's experience delivering and supporting enterprise-wide ICT deployments, with Red-M's expertise in designing and implementing large and complex wireless networks. It is claimed that this will enable both companies to offer leading-edge wireless solutions to large-scale UK companies in the private and public sector.

Damovo chose to work with Red-M due to its specialisation deploying a variety of wireless technologies, including in-building radio, 3G, WiFi and WiMAX.  Red-M has extensive expertise in WLAN surveys, whereby it audits existing or potential wireless coverage at a range of challenging and diverse locations – these include campus sites, airports, shopping centres and hospitals.  Based on the audit results, the most appropriate wireless solution can then be designed and implemented to meet the customer's specific needs. Damovo will also be offering Red-M's Radio Extension Service (RES), which provides organisations with a cost-effective wireless alternative to fibre-based data networks, allowing multiple buildings on a campus site to connect seamlessly.

Voice-over WiFi and location-based asset tracking are currently two of the main drivers for wireless infrastructure.  For example, in the healthcare sector hospitals are deploying WLANs as part of their asset tracking strategy, whereby valuable equipment and even patients are tagged with RFID chips.  This enables hospitals to locate their assets much more effectively and prevent the theft of expensive equipment or loss of blood samples.   Voice-over WiFi also has potential benefits for the healthcare sector, as it allows greater mobility for hospital staff.  By enabling staff to speak to each other wherever they are on campus, hospitals stand to significantly increase efficiency and productivity.

Nick Dean, Managing Director of Damovo UK, said: "We are seeing a considerable demand across many sectors for wireless solutions.  By partnering with specialist technology partners such as Red-M we can ensure that both existing and potential clients optimise their wireless capability.  Through having the appropriate infrastructure these organisations can then deliver business critical services to their employees and customers."

Steve Leach, CTO of Red-M, commented: "Working with Damovo is a key part of our channel strategy.  Damovo has enormous experience in the enterprise ICT arena, particularly in the public sector, and this partnership will open up a number of opportunities for both companies in the delivery of wireless infrastructure solutions."

Vodafone and MySpace have today announced the launch of an online global interactive platform, "Vodafone Music Reporter", which will expand Vodafone's music activity and continue to deliver a music experience to Vodafone customers. The "Vodafone Music Reporter" interactive profile, hosted on MySpace, builds on the collaboration of both companies which began in 2007 with the launch of MySpace on Vodafone mobile internet.

Vodafone will use the profile to share its existing music initiatives, including summer festivals such as Music Unlimited Cologne in Germany and Vodafone TBAs in the UK. The "Vodafone Music Reporter" profile will also feature user generated content to help create communities for all music fans initially in Germany, Spain and the UK with Italy to follow in the next few days.

Music fans in the UK, Italy, Germany and Spain can click and start sharing their music experiences, upload and download content including pictures and videos related to Vodafone Music Unlimited events. Members of the "Vodafone Music Reporter" community will be able to interact with their fellow users through a blog featuring regular updates on Vodafone Music Unlimited activities. 

iPoint-media, a video calling specialist and provider of interactive video application delivery platforms for web, 3G mobile and media, has announced the signing of a reseller agreement with Consort NT S.A., a French systems integrator. Consort NT will resell and integrate iPoint-media's Vitrage 3G video calling application platform in France with a focus on French mobile operators and value added service providers.

As the take up of 3G mobile phones increases, mobile operators and service providers are looking for new interactive services to offer their customers to generate new revenue streams. The Vitrage 3G video calling application platform enables the deployment of a wide range of interactive video services such as entertainment, interactive video chat, video dating, video call centres and participation TV. The platform's development environment speeds up time to market of new mobile video services and reduces operational expenses.

Marc Fesler, Consort NT's Director of Telecom Business Unit, commented: "There is a growing interest in 3G video calling services in the French mobile telecom market. iPoint-media's Vitrage platform will enable us to work with our customers to deliver the richest visual experience for French mobile subscribers. We believe there will be significant interest in the Vitrage solution and hope to generate significant revenues as a result."

Joseph Daniel, iPoint-media VP Sales & Marketing, commented: "We've seen a growing number of system integrators interested in offering our Vitrage 3G video calling application platform to telecom operators. With the rapidly increasing number of 3G mobile phones in France, we believe this market offers good potential for video calling services. We look forward to working closely with Consort NT as we believe that it is well positioned to finalise transactions with French operators and to deliver our leading 3G video calling solutions in France."

iPoint-media's Vitrage 3G video calling service platform offers a platform for delivering interactive video calling services. The company's platforms are currently used by leading mobile operators, service providers and broadcasters in Europe and Asia Pacific.

Telefónica and IODA, specialist in digital distribution, marketing, and technology solutions for the independent music industry, today announced a worldwide partnership with Telefónica. The
agreement will enable Telefónica to make IODA's catalog of independent music available to its users in 24 countries.
 
Telefónica will make IODA's more than one million tracks available to consumers as ringtones, mastertones and full tracks, as well as video tones and album art for wallpapers. IODA content will also be available via Telefónica's subscription services.
 
"IODA is a pioneer in the mobile industry and holds a unique position as a conduit between thousands of independent labels and fans around the world. We believe our partnership will help satiate the growing thirst for independent music among our customers, and look forward to a fruitful relationship," said Antonio Santacruz, director of music products and services for Telefónica.
 
"IODA's partnership with Telefónica reflects both our commitment to mobile as a growing part of our business, as well as our passion for Spanish, Latin and World music. In the last four years, we have built the largest roster of independent Latin music labels available in the industry," commented Kevin Arnold, founder and CEO of IODA. "Telefónica's commitment to independent music and video is opening up an enormous opportunity for labels to connect with their fans. We look forward to an exciting partnership."

NEC has announced a definitive agreement to acquire NetCracker Technology, a US based software and solutions company delivering Operations Support Systems (OSS).

With the acquisition, NEC says it adds a key element of software and services to its portfolio of mobile and fixed infrastructure products. NetCracker's products, services and domain expertise will be integral to leveraging complementary assets within both companies.

"NetCracker has distinguished itself with a record of successful OSS transformations and exceptional software solutions and professional services for leading communications service providers," said Mr. Kaoru Yano, President of NEC. "The acquisition of NetCracker strengthens NEC's offerings and brings even greater value to the global communications industry."

"NEC and NetCracker share a vision of operations and business support systems being critical to communications service providers, enabling them to build a sustainable competitive advantage," said Andrew Feinberg, CEO of NetCracker. "NEC's scale and solution offering will help us extend our core application and services footprint and continue to broaden the solutions we offer to our global customers."

NEC says it will now leverage the acquisition of NetCracker to strengthen its existing business foundations and to provide total solutions for communications businesses whose IP and service diversification needs continue to grow. The company anticipates that Operations Support Systems will represent a key element to new international growth that is expected to generate approximately 200 billion yen over the next 5 years.

Sony Ericsson, the 50/50 joint venture between Ericsson and Sony Corporation, has announced that the company sees continued market challenges impacting sales and profit in the second quarter 2008.

Sony Ericsson expect to ship approximately 24 million phones during the second quarter of 2008 with an estimated ASP (Average Selling Price) of EUR 115. Gross margin is expected to decline both year over year and sequentially. Net income before taxes is estimated to be about break-even for the second quarter of 2008.

Fresh off the launch of 7.2 Mbps HSDPA, Swsscom sees 3G as an opportunity to launch a unifying network strategy. Tellabs is helping them get there.