LiveWire Mobile, a subsidary of NMS Communications, and a provider of managed personalization services for mobile operators, has announced that its managed ringtone service has launched on 3 UK.

The new service is integrated as part of the new 3MusicStore and features Web and WAP storefronts which provide access to full-track music downloads, music video downloads, and ringtone services.

The 3MusicStore currently features more than 1.5 million tracks and 10,000 music videos. LiveWire Mobile's service will add an additional 25,000 ringtones — all available for purchase on customers' mobiles or online at www.three.co.uk/music/.

As part of the launch, LiveWire Mobile has revamped the 3MusicStore to provide a truly integrated user experience. The result enables 3 customers in the UK and in Ireland to shop for their favorite mobile music content under one central storefront. From there, customers can shop for specific content, select different music genres, or focus on particular artists and quickly see all available content regardless of content type. Other key features of the new service include an integrated search engine and the addition of AMG editorial content for enhanced music discovery with artist images, biographies and album reviews.

LiveWire Mobile's Achieve marketing team will provide day-to-day support of the storefront including music programming, store merchandising, cross-content promotion and up-selling campaigns.

"LiveWire Mobile's ability to provide music, video and now ringtone services to 3 underscores operators' growing demand for a portfolio of personalization services delivered through an integrated storefront," said Joel Hughes, president, LiveWire Mobile. "In our offering, we have consolidated the service silos that exist today to create an integrated and compelling offer which will lead to higher levels of service adoption, usage and operator profits."

Comptel, the vendor of dynamic Operations Support System (OSS) software, has announced that it will deliver Comptel Roaming Management Solution for COSMOTE Romania, member of COSMOTE Group. COSMOTE Romania selected Comptel to deploy the solution's Near Real Time Roaming Data Exchange (NRTRDE) functionality, aimed at preventing mobile roaming fraud. 

With over 3.6 million subscribers, COSMOTE is the fastest growing mobile operator in Romania. Driven by the significant growth of its customer base and continuous network expansion, COSMOTE selected Comptel's solution to implement the NRTRDE standard, which is promoted by the GSM Association (GSMA), and has been specifically designed to close the time-window in which roaming fraud can occur undetected.

Mr. Christos Christopoulos, COSMOTE Group IT Director stated: "Respecting GSMA deadlines for the implementations of NRTRDE, COSMOTE selected a reliable partner that can deliver a highly effective solution, rapidly and reliably".

With its NRTRDE capability, Comptel Roaming Management Solution offers mobile service providers an efficient system which enables them to monitor subscribers' activity in both home and visited networks, in near real-time. The GSMA is recommending that all mobile service providers across the world should implement NRTRDE by 1 October 2008 in order to combat fast-growing incidents of global roaming fraud.

Ms. Arnhild Schia, Comptel's Senior Vice President South and West Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas, commented: "We are delighted to be strengthening further our partnership with COSMOTE Group. We are very pleased to support COSMOTE Romania with our Comptel Dynamic OSS."

Companies providing device and service management solutions for femtocell networks will garner $360million in revenue within the market by 2013, according to a new research brief from ABI Research.
 
According to ABI, critical functions that need to be supplied by network management and integration vendors include performance management, remote configuration, security provisioning, timing, traffic routing and management, update management, access control and authentication, and accounting. The increasing adoption of industry standards such as TR-069 and IEE1588V.2, as well as innovative use of GPS and TV signals, are likely to simplify the situation significantly.
 
Vice president and research director Stuart Carlaw observed that, "As the market evolves in terms of RFP activity and trials, it is becoming increasingly clear that real differentiation is swinging more to how the integration and management of the femtocell network is being facilitated."

He goes on to add that, "Although they are rarely emphasized, it is clear that security and timing solutions are growing in importance. The fact that a femtocell is a very exposed network element that can be an entry point for malicious attack and timing in a heavily distributed network is challenging, and could cause catastrophic disruption. It is imperative that carriers and vendors address these issues in conjunction with more traditional management tasks."

Forget Cannes – the big names were in Munich recently for the WiMax World EMEA event and, if you missed the show or want to find out more about some of the key exhibitors, go to MobileEurope.tv, or simply click here

Comstar, the integrated telecommunications operator in Russia and the CIS, has announced that it has signed a strategic agreement with FON Wireless, a developer of a shared wireless internet access network based on Wi-Fi technology.

The FON network currently covers approximately 230,000 Wi-Fi hot-spots around the world, and any internet user with unlimited broadband internet access is able to use FON's Wi-Fi router, La Fonera. This router is a part of the global Wi-Fi network which can be used by anyone who has WiFi-enabled equipment for internet access. The FON shared wireless network is, therefore, created and expanded by the users installing La Fonera routers, which can also be used for connecting to personal networks.

Coral/ Sistema Strategic Fund, the venture fund set up by Sistema, is one of the owners of the FON network. The world leading companies and investments funds, such as Google, British Telecom, Skype, Neuf Cegetel, Index Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Excite and Digital Garage, are among FON's investment partners.

Under the terms of the agreement, Comstar and FON will develop a Wi-Fi internet access network. It will be created on the basis of the Comstar subscriber base in Moscow and will, therefore, enable the local customers to join the worldwide FON network. Within the framework of the project, Comstar plans to establish 30,000 Wi-Fi access points in Moscow in 2008-2009.

Broadband subscribers in Moscow will be able to rent La Fonera routers from Comstar, connect them to their ADSL or any other broadband internet access channel and join the FON network. The service will provide internet access at no extra cost in any places covered by FON, including the Comstar – FON network, using personal login and password details for the Comstar's Moscow ADSL network.

The subscriber's access point will also become "public" and might be used for internet access by both FON customers and others. The access of external clients to Comstar – FON network will be implemented with the help of pre-paid cards, SMS authorization and other means of receiving login and password details. The pre-paid cards will be sold by Comstar and FON through their sales channels.

Denis Muratov, Vice President, Head of Innovations and Science, commented: "We are very interested in global innovation projects which allow the introduction in Russia of new technologies and business development models, such as Comstar and FON's joint project to develop the worldwide Wi-Fi network in the territory of Russia. We see the global expansion of services provided by our subsidiaries as a positive development."

Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comstar UTS, commented: "Comstar is an exclusive operator of the FON network in Russia. The project with FON is an important addition to our programme of broadband access development aimed at providing our subscribers with the opportunity to be always connected. The agreement with FON will allow the users to join the global network in many places around the world, and we will be able to provide services not only to our subscribers, but also to other users in Moscow. We are planning to expand our joint project with FON to the Russian regions."

Martin Varsavsky, the founder and co-owner of FON Wireless Ltd., added: "FON is a unique network, and it is becoming exceedingly popular in many countries. We are very interested in cooperation with Comstar. This company is actively operating in the internet access market and is the market leader by subscribers in Moscow. Comstar is currently implementing a number of projects aimed at developing wireless internet access technologies, which is of great interest to us because of the potential opportunity for synergies with the FON network."

MoMac, the mobile media publisher, has today announced that it has completed a deal with KPN to facilitate the Dutch network operator's mobile internet business across all three of its portal properties including KPN, Hi and Telfort. 

The service will be delivered by MoMac's carrier grade delivery engine, GoPortal – an operator module of MoMac's multimedia delivery platform, GoMedia.

The GoPortal platform will allow KPN to dynamically manage all the content that it makes available to its customers including direct branded feeds on news, weather and traffic as well a diverse diet of third party content such as ringtones, video and via MoMac's tier one publishing partners, made for mobile content such as AutoWeek, Sport 1, Elsevier and price comparison services for consumer goods.

MoMac has also integrated the GoPortal platform with Google so that the portal includes advanced search functionality with a Google bar that searches the mobile internet and delivers results from content that is available, firstly on-portal, then sponsored links and then results from the off-portal environment. 

GoPortal's in-built functionality will enable KPN to add a further personalisation layer to the portal experience.  In the near future KPN customers will be able to book-mark their favourite mobile internet sites via a specially created ‘MySites' page as well as manage their own on-portal information and entertainment preferences.  

The deal with KPN will also see a specialist mobile advertising agency serving targeted banner advertising from brands and media companies within the highly-trafficked portals which will deliver an additional revenue stream to the operator or allow it to make content available via the ad-funded model.

Marnix Laurs, portal manager, KPN said: "Our customers increasingly demand simple access to relevant mobile internet sites and services." 

"MoMac has an excellent pedigree in this sector and demonstrated a high level of technical and creative expertise as well as an excellent operator product in its GoPortal platform which gives us the tools to dynamically manage our portals and content and scale up and manipulate content availability in real time.  Ultimately KPN customers will be receiving a portal experience that maximises the unique properties of the mobile medium."   

Sham Careem, MD, MoMac UK, said: "Consumers of mobile services need to find the content that is relevant to them quickly and easily.  The personalisation features of the GoPortal product mean that this can be effortlessly achieved, delivering a mix of branded and relevant content and services to the user whenever and wherever they want it." 

"Search on mobile is very much a part of the personalisation process and the integration with Google provides a familiar way for KPN customers to explore both what the portal has to offer as well as the D2C environment."

Soprano Design, a provider of mobile enterprise messaging infrastructure and applications, today announced that it will partner with mobile messaging services provider TynTec for the delivery of mobile financial services globally.The partnership will bring to market a joint text transmission and mobile banking applications solution to all financial institutions worldwide, say the companies.

Soprano's mobile finance product, the Soprano Mobile Financial Suite (MFS), provides financial institutions with a ready-to-use and simple-to-integrate mobile financial application suite. This includes text banking, mobile internet banking, J2ME banking, real time and configurable alerting engine, 2-factor authentication, mobile payment and P2P stored value account transaction engine.

TynTec operates an SMS transmission service using a portfolio of connections to the global telecoms infrastructure (SS7) and a purpose-built operator grade SMS-Centre. This set-up enables TynTec to offer a strict SLA to its customers, providing timeliness, quality and visibility. TynTec's infrastructure and rigorous SLAs are said to match the expectations of financial institutions seeking absolute assurance on the delivery of SMS.

Richard Favero, CEO of Soprano Design, said: "The partnership with TynTec ensures that our customers can deliver mobile messages more reliably to more locations with our proven integration and financial applications. The joint, pre-integrated and validated solution for the financial services market means financial institutions can focus on their customer value rather than the application connectivity and text delivery."

Markus Kramer, Head Enterprise Messaging of TynTec, said: "For global financial institutions the delivery and privacy of any form of personal data takes high priority.  It is absolutely crucial for these organisations to be certain that their SMS is delivered securely within a specified period of time, which TynTec can ensure thanks to our unique infrastructure. By partnering with Soprano Design we can make the most of our  high quality SMS offering by providing a complete financial services package, complete with mobile application suite."

Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) has launched the new Optimizer CELlite base station antenna (BSA) series. The slimline dual-polarised Optimizer CELlite antenna series is said to complement RFS's vertically-polarised CELlite variant, providing users with a stable and lightweight antenna solution. 

The new Optimizer CELlite antenna series supports CDMA (806-870MHz), and GSM (870 to 960MHz) frequency bands, and is claimed to exhibit the 'superior' performance of the RFS Optimizer antenna family–including upper side lobe suppression typically better than 18dB across the entire frequency range, high gain, and 'impressive' front-to-back ratio (typically around 28dB).

According to Rémi Deniel, RFS Area Product Manager Wireless Infrastructure Solutions, the latest addition to RFS's world-renowned Optimizer antenna suite features a robust microstripline power feed system constructed from monolithic aluminium, in place of the traditional cabled feed system. "This, coupled with the antenna's one-piece panel construction and reduced number of weld joints delivers advanced passive intermodulation (PIM) performance," he said. "Optimised PIM performance plays a significant role in maximising call quality and avoiding dropped calls–crucial in high-capacity networks." 

The new Optimizer CELlite antenna series is also claimed to provide network operators with new levels of deployment and operational flexibility. "The new Optimizer CELlite BSA has been designed to accommodate the rapid roll-out of wireless networks in densely populated regions," said Deniel. "Its lightweight construction makes it quick and easy to install, while its advanced RF performance makes it ideal for providing coverage in high-capacity wireless networks."

Supporting all services between 806MHz and 960MHz, the first release of RFS's new Optimizer CELlite antenna series will comprise three variants–the 2m 0-degree fixed-tilt (APX86-906515S-CT0), the 2.6m 0-degree fixed-tilt (APX86-906516S-CT0), and the 2.6m six-degree fixed-tilt (APX86-906516S-CT6). "The Optimizer CELlite antenna with six-degree downtilt is the ideal ready-made solution for networks with high levels of call traffic that require smaller coverage cells," said Deniel. "The combination of flexibility and performance of the Optimizer CELlite is synonymous with RFS's reliable Optimizer antenna range."

Dutch operator T-Mobile Netherlands has signed a four-year strategic-partnership contract with Ericsson. The agreement, which follows T-Mobile's acquisition of Orange in the Netherlands, will result in the continuation and expansion of existing contracts.

Under the contract, Ericsson will continue to manage end-to-end network operations for the former Orange network. Ericsson will also take on responsibility for streamlining T-Mobile Netherlands' overall network infrastructure by dismantling the former Orange mobile networks.

Ericsson will step up the expansion of T-Mobile Netherlands' WCDMA network, including the building and acquisition of more than 900 new sites by 2010. Ericsson will also deliver more than 2000 MINI-LINK microwave transmission units to help boost capacity and to enable the efficient handling of packet data in T-Mobile's transmission network.

Jan Kuijpers, Director of Technology for T-Mobile Netherlands, says: "We are pleased to continue and expand our partnership with Ericsson. This plays an important role in the further rollout and optimization of our network."

Nils de Baar, President of Ericsson Netherlands, says: "This strategic partnership is an important milestone in Ericsson's relationship with T-Mobile. It underlines our strong market position and means Ericsson is now a supplier to all Dutch operators."

Vodafone has today announced that, after five years in the role, Arun Sarin will be retiring as Chief Executive at the end of the Company's AGM on 29th July 2008. He will be succeeded by Deputy Chief Executive Vittorio Colao.

Sarin became Chief Executive in July 2003 and over the last five years has led the company through a period of significant change, both strategic and organisational. Under his leadership Vodafone has developed and implemented a new strategy to become a total communications company, which is already delivering results. As part of its strategy Vodafone has also expanded into emerging markets including Romania, Czech Republic, Turkey, and most recently, India where Arun Sarin led the acquisition of Hutchison Essar, which is the largest foreign investment made in the country.

In portfolio management, during this time the Company also disposed of its businesses in Japan and Sweden, together with interests in Switzerland and Belgium. In Europe the new strategy has delivered new products, improved revenue and significant cost reduction.

Organisationally the Company says it has been structured to take advantage of its significant global footprint by becoming an integrated business with a clear distinction between global and local activities.

During his time as Chief Executive the Company has also grown its proportionate customer base from 120 million to more than 260 million globally and over this period Vodafone has consistently delivered strong results. Returns to shareholders over this period have also been very positive with dividends increasing from 1.69p to 7.51p, an increase of more than 400%. Sarin also built a new senior management team and taken the lead on major industry issues, including mobile broadband and internet services.

Commenting, Chairman Sir John Bond said: "Arun has done a tremendous job as Chief Executive. He has led the Company with distinction and navigated Vodafone through a period of rapid change. He has developed a new strategy for the business and significantly expanded our footprint in emerging markets. The acquisition in India was very well timed and executed. The Board has a great deal to thank him for and I would like personally to thank him for all he has done for the business and wish him and his family all the best for the future. In Vittorio Colao we have a fine successor and I am looking forward to working with him in his new role."

Sarin commented: "It has been a privilege to lead Vodafone for the last five years and to have been involved in the company for such a long time. I feel that I have accomplished what I set out to achieve, particularly in developing and implementing a new strategy. I am very proud of what Vodafone and its 71,000 people have achieved and the good momentum we have in the marketplace. I know that the business is in capable hands with Vittorio Colao. Having worked with him for many years I know that he has the experience and vision to take Vodafone on to future success."

Vodafone Group Plc also announced today that Non Executive Directors Michael Boskin and Jürgen Schrempp will not be seeking re-election at the AGM. Michael Boskin joined the Vodafone Board in 1999 on Vodafone's merger with AirTouch Communications Inc, having served for a number of years previously on the AirTouch Board. Jürgen Schrempp became a Director of Vodafone in 2000 when Vodafone completed its acquisition of Mannesmann, having been a member of Mannesmann's Supervisory Board before then.

Sir John Bond said: "I would like to thank Michael and Jürgen for their contributions and for the different and important perspectives each has brought to our Board. Both have served with distinction and I am very grateful for their tireless work on our Board Committees, especially Michael's Chairmanship of the Audit Committee. Jürgen has, at one time or another, been a member of each of our principal Board Committees. We wish them both well in the future."

Vodafone: Arun Sarin Leaves 'em Wanting More – IDC's John Delaney Comments

This morning, Vodafone announced its results for the year ending 31 March 2008. Group revenues are up 14.1% to £35.5 billion, with operating profits up 5.7% to £10.1 billion. Revenues in Europe grew by 2.0%; revenues in EMAPA, the division that includes emerging markets such as India and Africa, grew by 45.1%. It was also announced that Vodafone Group CEO Arun Sarin intends to step down in July, to be succeeded by the CEO of Vodafone Europe and Deputy Chief Executive of Vodafone Group, Vittorio Collao. 

In the end, it turns out that Arun Sarin's forte was the long game. After five years as the frequently beleaguered CEO of the Vodafone Group, Arun Sarin goes out on a high note.

In its 2007-08 results, Vodafone has announced revenues that exceed both consensus expectations and its own guidance. Its core European operations tell a story of well-managed maturity, with modest growth in ‘old' service revenues, strong growth in ‘new' service revenues and steadily improving margins. Its ‘EMAPA' operations, where growth is driven mainly by uptake rather than usage, show strong growth in all services, and comprise a fast-increasing proportion of Vodafone's total revenues. The combination of well-managed maturity and vigorous youth in the business shows good prospects of continuing, being underpinned by a number of long-term structural initiatives that were put in place during Sarin's reign – initiatives such as network sharing, facilities outsourcing, back-office consolidation and the terminal platform programme. And to complete the picture of a well planned and confidently managed succession, Sarin announces that he will soon (but not too soon!) be stepping down as CEO in favour of the man who, as soon as he re-joined Vodafone nearly two years ago, was widely identified by external commentators as Sarin's chosen successor.

The most remarkable thing about this stately transfer of power in a well-run kingdom is that it feels entirely predictable. It's not an outcome that many people would have bet on 18 months ago.

Arun Sarin has had a torrid time of it during much of his tenure as CEO. The basic problem he has had to deal with is that it is easier to command affection and respect by building an empire, than by managing one. His predecessor Chris Gent was the empire-builder par excellence, and is still best known today as the hero of the battle of Mannesmann – nothing is more endearing to the British public than thrashing the Germans, however long ago. By contrast, Sarin's image was damaged early on by the failure of a move to extend Vodafone's reach by acquiring control of US operator AT Wireless. The nadir of his reign came in 2006, when Vodafone announced the biggest loss in UK corporate history (ironically, a delayed result of the Mannesmann acquisition) and 14% of investors failed to vote confidence in Sarin at the company's AGM.

And then, it all started to come good. The turning point was in early 2007, when Vodafone acquired the Indian operator Hutchison Essar. Sarin's reputation was enhanced greatly by both the substance and the style of this acquisition. India is the world's fastest-growing and second largest mobile market. By taking control of an operator there, Vodafone made the most convincing move possible away from the 'maturity trap'. And the stylewell, by bringing a long, complicated and nail-biting saga to a successful end, Sarin turned out to be second to none in the swashbuckling stakes. Subsequently, two well-received sets of annual results in succession, punctuated by the contemptuous swatting-away of an attempt to force the divestment of Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless, have kept Sarin's stock travelling steadily north.

Time for Sarin to leave on a high note. It's a decision that seems obvious, now that it's been announced. But it's only in recent months that having a high note to leave on looked like anything better than a very long shot.