Racal Instruments Wireless Solutions, an Aeroflex company, has announced its enhanced and upgraded 3G base station test system, the 6413A. The 6413A has been designed to help network operators rigorously test their networks prior to roll-out and to guarantee continued quality of service. It is expected to replicate the success of RIWS’ market leading 6113 base station test system used by virtually every manufacturer and operator in the world with sales standing at over 2,000 units.

Traditional base station test systems focus on transmitter testing mainly because receiver testing is inherently complex and difficult. The 6413A’s lub control is a unique feature allowing network operators to carry out both receiver and transmitter testing. Operators that conduct transmitter only tests or just use a test mobile to make test calls risk failing to meet their expected quality of service. This feature makes the 6413A unrivalled in the level of test coverage it can provide and the thoroughness with which operators can test all aspects of a base station’s performance. In addition to increasing confidence levels in the performance of 3G networks as they are rolled out, a further benefit of receiver testing is that it allows operators to identify any gradual degradation in base station performance that may be missed by conventional network monitoring tools.

Commenting on the importance of the 6413A to the industry, Stephen Hire, RIWS’ marketing manager said, “As mobile networks have matured, subscribers have become less tolerant of poor quality of service. This makes it all the more important for network operators to ensure that their base stations are properly installed and then adequately maintained on an ongoing basis.”

The new 6413A is more compact for increased portability and is even easier to use than its predecessor the 6413, incorporating embedded touch-screen technology. Orders are now being taken and the majority of initial sales are expected in Europe and APAC.

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RIWS

Mobeon, the mobile messaging software provider, has launched Creator – an SMS plug-in for Outlook. Similar to a wireless ‘instant messenger’ service, it will enable users to send SMS messages direct from their email account.

Designed for the corporate sector, the service specifically integrates telecoms messaging into desktop email, rather than the other way round. This ensures that all email stays behind the firewall, thus avoiding any security issues.
 
The Mobeon solution meets the growing demand for keeping in touch while on the move, as staff can choose the most appropriate method of communication  email or text message  to reach a colleague out of the office urgently, from one email account. Using a full-size keyboard also makes it easier to write text messages quickly and accurately.
 
For mobile working to be a viable option for businesses, employees need to be able to keep in touch wherever they are, said Robert Vangstad, vice-president of marketing at Mobeon. Our solution provides a quick link to mobile workers – its the instant messenger of the mobile world – and were confident it will be the next big thing following the initial success of SMS. This has the potential to revolutionise internal communications – office-based staff dont need to use their mobile phones to text an urgent message to colleagues; they now have access to all communication methods through one application.
 
Users are already familiar with the Outlook interface, so do not need any further training. The service is also totally secure as email stays behind the firewall while voicemail and SMS are brought into the corporate environment, which meets most company security requirements, he added.
 
Individuals can either install the software themselves from a Microsoft Outlook CD or via their mobile operators website. This creates a Send SMS function within the email application. When a message is sent via the Mobeon M3 centre installed at the mobile operator, it turns the message into SMS format, so it can be viewed on a mobile phone.
 
In addition, users can programme SMS alerts to remind them of appointments, send a calendar summary or as notification of new email. Currently available to users of Outlook XP and Exchange 2003, all the usual SMS functions exist, including the ability to resend and forward old SMS messages, as well as add in new phone numbers.

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Mobeon

In trials conducted as part of a GSM Association initiative, Vodafone, Belgacom and Cable & Wireless have demonstrated dramatic reductions in the cost, complexity and time involved in supporting cross-network MMS traffic

The new standards-based system enables payment information to be cascaded through the various networks across which MMS messages travel, allowing multiple operators involved in the delivery of a message to be recognised. The trial establishes a multilateral ‘hub’ concept whereby operators will only have to connect once to reach all the networks connected to that hub, (and through interconnect arrangements between hubs, reach operators connected to other hubs). This combined solution offers mobile operators unrivalled levels of connectivity, security, billing and settlement, while maintaining the independence of each operator to determine its own pricing structures.

Alan Harper, Head of Strategy at Vodafone Group and champion of the Initiative on the GSM Association’s Board explained, “As the system provides the ability to connect to many other operators with one connection and one agreement, we and any others that connect will be able to offer our customers seamless, global MMS services much more quickly. This is something that can benefit all mobile operators and their customers. We were looking for a global solution not just a system for Vodafone and that is why we worked with the GSMA to trial this system.”

“The MMS trial proves the concept of new structures for new data services and demonstrates that the operator community is leading the industry’s development for the benefit of all customers,” explained Rob Conway, CEO and Member of the Board, GSM Association.

The new standards-based system has been developed in direct response to a specific need amongst operators that were frustrated by the complexity of the existing processes. To date, network interconnection has been achieved bi-laterally which means, for example, that for a user on one network to have the ability to send an MMS messages to any GSM network, over 660 operators would have to create 650 bilateral connections and agreements. Without a hub, each connection would need to be implemented and tested to ensure technical interoperability and a commercial structure would need to be put in place for each.

In the trials, both Belgacom and Cable & Wireless added switching and billing functionality to their GRX networks to provide the hub function and cascade billing support and Vodafone subsequently connected a number of its member companies into the hubs. This additional capability, which builds on Belgacom and Cable & Wireless’ existing products, has provided both GRX carriers with the ability to offer mobile operators a one-stop-shop for MMS connections amongst multiple networks.

Alan Whelan, Managing Director, Carrier Services, Cable & Wireless explained, “We’re delighted to have contributed towards the establishment of a new standard for the mobile data industry. Our collaboration with the GSMA should help pave the way towards a viable one-stop-shop solution that allows mobile operators to connect into a single community, offering greater economies for operators, enhanced speed to market, and provides the mobile operators with a sustainable commercial model going forward.”

Bridget P. Cosgrave, President of Belgacom International Carrier Services concluded, “We are proud that we have succeeded to deliver the foundation for multimedia messaging inter-networking in conjunction with the GSMA and Vodafone group of operators.  We are convinced that the ability to send and receive MMS, to and from other networks is key to stimulate take-up and deliver on high expectations for these new services.”

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GSM Association

Integrated approach from LogicaCMG

LogicaCMG today launched its Direct-delivery Messaging Router (DMR), an integrated Short Message Service (SMS) solution that gives mobile operators worldwide direct, flexible and cost-efficient SMS delivery. DMR is the first solution to market that addresses the issues in deploying message routing in an integral manner.

The world of SMS has changed. Whilst factors such as performance, scalability and quality of service remain important to mobile operators; cost savings and ease of integration of new and existing solutions have become the key focus for many due to increasingly competitive mobile markets.

LogicaCMG’s DMR combines direct delivery of messages with store and forward on a single platform. This functionality can be delivered as a software option, and the ease of deployment and simple integration of LogicaCMG’s DMR into existing messaging environments ensures mobile operators don’t have to make any additional investments whilst at the same time delivering maximum cost savings and low cost of ownership.

The DMRcan also be delivered as a new standalone SMS message router and can be integrated into any messaging infrastructure that an operator may already have in place. This integrated deployment of LogicaCMG’s DMR provides optimized cost savings across the entire messaging infrastructure and flexibility in mixing all traffic types with no additional complexity.

In terms of quality of service and performance, LogicaCMG’s DMR built-in store and forward capability provides a robust, consistent service with no additional load on the operator’s network. The LogicaCMG DMR maximises performance because it works on the principle of never losing a message, whether direct or retried, providing the operator with optimal traffic management without expending valuable network capacity or compromising reliability to subscribers.

Chris McDermott, CEO of LogicaCMG’s telecoms business, said: “The addition of the DMR to our next generation messaging portfolio answers a market demand to provide a cost-effective and competitive solution for all operators that want to optimise their messaging infrastructure. Additionally it offers all our existing customers immediate access to all integrated features and benefits without introducing necessary costs.”

LogicaCMG’s DMR can be delivered in three versions:

*    Onboard: a software option that is available to customers with an existing LogicaCMG SMSC and that want to minimise their operational expenditure and capital expenditure immediately
*    Standalone with integrated retry engine: combines direct delivery and retry of messages on a single platform

*    Standalone: offers SMS direct delivery only. For retried
 messages this system is easily integrated with an existing SMSC

The LogicaCMG DMR is available for all network types – GSM, UMTS, CDMA and TDMA. It is fully integrated with LogicaCMG’s next generation messaging solution that offers an integrated environment for key data services such as SMS, MMS and WAP, as well as voice and video messaging.

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LogicaCMG

“Available soon” in the UK, Germany and Ireland

Research In Motion and O2 today introduced the new BlackBerry 7290 Wireless Handheld for mobile professionals in Europe. The Java-based BlackBerry 7290 builds upon the popular BlackBerry experience with new features including a quad-band phone, Bluetooth support, a brighter color screen and enhanced memory.

The BlackBerry 7290 is designed for customers who want a compact, all-in-one device with exceptional messaging capabilities, integrated phone, organizer and browser for all their mobile communication and information needs.  It is expected to be available from O2 in the UK, Germany and Ireland from November 2004.

“The new features of the BlackBerry 7290 further enhance the user experience for both data and voice applications, making it ideal for mobile professionals that want a best-in-class mobile solution,” said Mike Lazaridis, President and Co-CEO at Research In Motion. “The BlackBerry 7290 is an important addition to our product portfolio and will add to the success and momentum that O2 and RIM have already achieved with BlackBerry in Europe.”

Laurence Alexander, Products and Devices Director O2 UK, said:  “We are pleased to be adding the BlackBerry 7290 to our family of BlackBerry from O2 products.  We know that secure, integrated access to mobile communications is vital for our professional customers who want to remain connected and in touch when they are on the move.”

BlackBerry is an award-winning wireless solution that enhances the way people manage their information and communications.   BlackBerry provides users with easy access to their email and other communications wherever they are*, increasing response times and productivity and enabling users to get the most out of their day.

The BlackBerry 7290 features all the popular elements of existing BlackBerry 7200 series handhelds, including a compact, ergonomic handheld design, high-resolution color screen that supports over 65,000 colours, easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard, thumb-operated navigation trackwheel, excellent battery performance, plus integrated support for corporate and personal email, phone, SMS, organizer, Internet and intranet applications.

New and enhanced features for the BlackBerry 7290 include:
– Quad-band support for GSM/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900 MHz frequencies – enabling full international roaming
– Bluetooth support for Bluetooth headsets and car kits
– A brighter LED backlight – making it easy to check information anytime, anywhere
– Updated QWERTY keyboard style with highlighted number keys for easy dialling and typing
– Increased memory to 32 MB flash memory and 4 MB SRAM to further improve storage capabilities for messages, calendar appointments and applications

BlackBerry comprises hardware, software and service providing an end-to-end solution. For larger corporate customers, BlackBerry Enterprise Server software integrates with Microsoft Exchange and IBM Lotus Domino (Novell GroupWise support is expected later this year) and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based, wireless access to email and other corporate data.

For individuals and smaller businesses, BlackBerry Internet Service allows users to access multiple business and/or personal email accounts from a single mobile device and without the need for server software (includes support for Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and many popular ISP email accounts).

BlackBerry also features cradle-free wireless email synchronisation for corporate users as well as integrated attachment viewing that supports popular file formats (including: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, WordPerfect, ASCII).

Pricing information will be available through O2 at the time of product availability.

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Blackberry

Axalto today announced the launch of Casimo, a SIM-based word game application that builds on the growing popularity of mobile entertainment.

Casimo enables subscribers, regardless of their handset, to play popular word/number games like Hangman, Anagrams and Countdown found in every newspaper or magazine.  As an identifiable and huge user segment, word games followers thus represent an eminently exploitable target audience for operators. With its suite of popular, easy-to-play word games, Casimo helps operators address this audience’s specific needs via the SIM, and thus build a compelling loyalty proposition.

Applications which help operators to better target certain customer profiles and retain subscribers represent a significant operational saving on acquisition costs. Casimo, being SIM-based and handset independent, is cheap and fast to implement, enabling operators to both personalize their service portfolio based on subscriber type and widen their offer.

“As games become more elaborate, their uptake becomes limited,” said Philippe Vrignaud, Mobile Communications Director at Axalto. “It also takes time to download sophisticated games which can be an expensive proposition for the end-user. Casimo offers games with universal appeal to users and while doing so it also affords operators a cost effective and easy to implement loyalty boosting argument.”

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Axalto

Dilithium Networks, a leading provider of wireless multimedia solutions, announced today support for SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) in the DTG2000 multimedia gateway. By supporting SIP, DTG2000 enables conversational video services between SIP-enabled terminals on the packet network and 3G-324M terminals on 3G mobile networks.

SIP support complements the DTG2000 gateway’s H.323 support and allows the smooth and cost-effective introduction of new 3G capabilities in a wide variety of applications on existing networks.

The DTG2000 is compliant with SIP 2.0 standard and can support SIP and H.323 end points simultaneously on the packet networks. SIP is one of the most important signaling protocols in today’s converged wireline and wireless networks and serves as a key enabling technology for VoIP, push-to-talk, instant messaging, and presence applications.

“We have implemented SIP in a direct 3G-324M <> SIP conversion without the intermediate steps, providing a more elegant higher quality solution.” Lee Ellison, Sr. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Dilithium Networks. “The addition of SIP protocol support enables service providers to build next-generation converged voice-video networks and create revenue-generating services, including video portal, video mail, and video telephony.” 

About DTG2000

The DTG2000 multimedia gateway supports a variety of voice and video protocols, and features smart end-points capability processing to provide transcoding tailored to end-points such as mobile phones, PDAs, IP terminals, etc. The DTG2000 connects end-terminals on circuit switched, packet switched, and wireless networks and is equipped with patented technologies that provide rapid session setup, minimize media delays and skews, while ensuring the widest interoperability and unparalleled user experience.

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Dilithium Networks

The mobile phone industry in the UK is thus far missing an opportunity to capitalise on pent-up consumer demand to purchase goods and services via their mobile phone. This is the key finding of the Qpass M-commerce Consumer Survey.

More than four out of five consumers (82.5 per cent) polled said that they would be prepared to purchase items via their mobile phones but only 12.6 per cent had ever done so satisfactorily.

Qpass, the proven and preferred provider of mobile commerce software, surveyed 183 mobile phone users at Waterloo station on 20 September 2004. The survey was undertaken on the eve of Mobile Commerce World in London, UK to examine the potential opportunity for m-commerce in the UK.

“Mobile operators in the UK have not had the supporting infrastructure necessary to capture the tremendous untapped potential of m-commerce. This survey illuminates the ground swell of demand for m-commerce goods and services, and the strong desire of mobile phone users to apply their handsets as a payment mechanism,” said Ken Parkinson, sales and business development director, Europe, Qpass.

“Mobile phone penetration is almost 100 per cent in the UK, whereas internet penetration is only about 50 per cent, yet far fewer consumers are willing to purchase goods via their mobile phones than via the internet,” said Parkinson.

Mobile phone users identified with the convenience and potential of a mobile phone as a payment mechanism: 78.1 per cent said that they would use a mobile phone to pay for parking, 56.3 per cent for a newspaper or magazine and 53.0 per cent for tickets for public transport.

Additionally, 22.4 per cent of mobile users would be prepared to spend more than £2 per month on a mobile subscription for premium services whilst almost half (45.4 per cent) said they would be prepared to pay £1 to £2.

More than three times as many phone users have made purchases via the internet versus with their mobile phones, with 61.7 per cent admitting to being internet shoppers versus 20.2 per cent for m-commerce. Ring tones (62.2 per cent) and information services (43.2 per cent) were the most popular mobile purchases.

For those mobile phone users who had made a mobile transaction, the user purchasing experience was mixed. Almost two in five reported some form of error in the transaction process: 18.9 per cent said that they failed to receive the product, 16.2 per cent received multiple SMS text messages for a single purchase and 2.7 per cent didn’t understand the item when it appeared on their mobile phone bill.

The Qpass M-Commerce Consumer Survey recognises the tremendous potential for m-commerce in the UK market. The survey reinforces the key to success: the ability of mobile operators to efficiently launch and manage new mobile offers in the market and deliver them via seamless integration with their existing back office systems. Qpass Services Management software provides this solution by giving operators control over their mobile commerce business and allowing them to offer any type of premium service across any type or generation of network using multiple payment methods. Qpass today provides mobile commerce software to US operators with more than 70 million subscribers. Mobile operator sales using Qpass Services Management software are on track to exceed $200 million in 2004 and are growing at an average rate of more than 60 per cent per quarter.

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Full Qpass report findings

Customers Will Be Able To Download BlackBerry Connect Software for their existing Palm OS Device

Research In Motion today announced plans to offer an aftermarket BlackBerry Connect software download for the Palm OS from PalmSource. With the BlackBerry Connect software download, customers with existing Palm OS-based wireless devices will be able to sign up for BlackBerry wireless services.

“We are working closely with PalmSource to provide Palm OS users the power of always-on, push-based BlackBerry services,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-CEO, Research In Motion. “By making BlackBerry Connect software available as an aftermarket download, customers will be able to enjoy BlackBerry services on a much broader array of existing and future Palm OS devices.”

“Our work with RIM on BlackBerry Connect demonstrates our dedication to providing Palm OS users with leading solutions,” said David Nagel, president and CEO, PalmSource. “We believe that RIM’s innovative BlackBerry wireless platform and PalmSource’s robust operating system will enable customers with Palm Powered devices to enjoy the freedom and productivity benefits of wireless email on the go.”

The Palm OS platform powers more than 35 million mobile devices from manufacturers such as Aceeca, AlphaSmart, Fossil, Foundertech, Garmin, GSPDA, Kyocera, Lenovo, palmOne, QTech, Samsung, Sony, Symbol, and Tapwave.  Palm OS device manufacturers will also be able to ship the BlackBerry Connect solution with their hardware.

“BlackBerry is a popular solution for our customers that want to utilize always-on, wireless connectivity to email and calendar functions,” said Jim Straight, Vice President of Wireless Data at Verizon Wireless. “By making BlackBerry services easily available on a broader array of CDMA-based devices, corporate customers and small business users will have more options to utilize this powerful business tool.”

“Sprint is looking forward to making the BlackBerry service available on the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network later this year and is pleased to learn that RIM and PalmSource are taking steps to combine their powerful technologies,” said Tim Donahue, vice president, enterprise marketing for Sprint Business Solutions. “Being able to offer the BlackBerry solution on the popular Palm OS platform will allow Sprint to provide a larger base of its business customers with another option for staying productive while on the go.”

For corporate customers, BlackBerry Enterprise Server software tightly integrates with Microsoft Exchange or IBM Lotus Domino (Novell GroupWise support is expected later this year) and works with existing enterprise systems to enable secure, push-based, wireless access to email and other corporate data.

For individuals and smaller businesses, BlackBerry Internet Service allows users to access multiple existing corporate and/or personal email accounts (including Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino and many popular ISP email accounts) from a single device.

Further details and information regarding pricing and availability will be available at a later date.

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Blackberry

A team of University of Surrey scientists led by Professor Ahmet Kondoz has developed new technology which will enable companies and organisations to ensure that their GSM mobile phone conversations are totally secure and confidential.

Previous attempts to make such conversations totally secure have been successful, but relied on a special GSM data service which resulted in some operational problems. In particular these solutions require expensive dedicated handsets and subscriptions, and calls between different countries could be unreliable. The UniS system is the first true end-to-end secure GSM system which does not rely on this special GSM data service, but rather uses the standard GSM voice service.

Most people do not realise that when they use a mobile phone the wireless part of the link, which is secured by the network operators, is only between the mobile phone and the base station closest to the location of both the caller and recipient. In between, the signal travels through the ordinary phone lines. At this point it is possible for your conversation to be accessed by unauthorised parties. If you ever discuss business-sensitive or secret information on a mobile, what can you do to keep it confidential?

Encryption techniques are not new, but until now it has been impossible to use these with mobile phones. Traditional systems convert voice messages directly into digital data, which is then transmitted. However, current mobile phones have a much lower digital information transmission capacity than landlines. In order to provide good speech quality at much reduced digital information rates they assume that the signal to be transmitted is speech, and can not therefore recognise or transmit the data signals of encrypted speech.

Scientists at the University of Surrey have overcome this problem with new technology that can modulate the encrypted speech patterns into audio streams that both mobiles and landline technology will accept. The system is the first and only one of its kind in the world, and is being developed by a UniS spin-off company MulSys ltd for various customers.

Professor Ahmet Kondoz, of the UniS Centre for Communication System Research commented, “This is the first true end-to-end GSM secure voice transmission enabling technology which uses the GSM voice channel to transmit encrypted speech. By using the standard GSM voice channel, it will offer unprecedented levels of security and quality of service for mobile secure communications.”