Mobiles2day - Mobile Industry News

T-Mobile UK and 3 announced yesterday that they have signed a deal to share 3G networks. This will enable both telecomms provide fast wireless network covering 98 per cent of the population by the end of 2009.

Companies insist that this move should not be considered as prelude to merger, companies will remain competitors and will not share 2G networks. Companies will continue manage their own services and customers.

Unlike other UK operators, 3 and T-mobile did not invest in fixed line broadband service, they are trying to position themselves as promoters of wireless broadband and this deal should enforce this position. Mobile broadband that both companies provide is based on HSDPA technology, which can offer download speeds of up to 7.2 megabits per second.

T-Mobile and 3 are first to conclude infrastructure deal, previous attempt between other operators have failed (Vodafone and Orange, T-Mobile and O2). Both telecomms will save in long term on reduced radion installations and attracting more customers with broader 3G coverage.

Ofcom published second annual International Communications Market report.

Ofcom analyses trends in the global television, radio and telecommunications sectors in year 2006. It compares the UK with eleven other countries: France, Germany, Italy, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Canada and the United States.

The report also contains an insight into four countries that are at different stages of development in their communications markets: Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Interesting points to note from this report is that in UK 53% of total telecoms revenues come from mobile services.

Italy has the highest number of active mobile connections with 139 subscriptions per hundred people followed by the UK with115. The number of mobile connections is also high in Russia at 106.

Highest number of mobile connections is seen in India, Brazil, China and Russia. These four countries have in total 660 million mobile subscribers, which accounts to 40% of all global mobile users.

India alone doubled number of subscriptions in last year to 150 million subscribers, compare to 70 million in UK.

China is biggest texter - 429 billion texts were sent in China last year, making it 967 text messages per mobile user.

Mobile phones are more and more used to do other things apart from making calls and send text messages. According to report, in the UK, a quarter of users record their own video clips and listen to music through their mobile. In the UK, 33% of mobile users send picture messages on their mobile, 16 % use it to connect to the internet and 10% use their mobile for email.

France has most number of IPTV subscribers: 1.5 million, compare to 43000 in UK.

3G handsets and services are on the rise with Japan in clear lead - over 50% of all handsets are 3G enabled handsets. 3G handsets in UK are over 10% of all handsets.

Full report.

High Tech Computer Corporation announced its total revenues for November 2007 were $14,543 million, compare to November 2006, which was $10,956 million, up 32.74%” That shows how demand for innovative smart handheld devices is growing and HTC is doing a good job!

I guess new interesting handsets like HTC TyTN II, HTC Touch Dual™ and HTC Touch Cruise™ boost sales in last quarter of this year. With Christmas approaching fast, I beleive HTC will do as good in December 2007.

Historically HTC supplies it’s devices to Orange, O2 (sold as XDA) and T-Mobile UK (sold as MDA). Recently HTC started to sell it’s devices under it’s own brand name.

Source: HTC

London today started a trial scheme where passengers will be able to pay for their journey using special handsets with built in Oyster card or Credit card. Scheme will be accepted on underground and bus network.

Transport for London (TfL) has teamed up with Nokia handset producer, O2 mobile operator and Barclays Bank to try this scheme for next 6 months. When the phone is passed over a scanner in stations or shops, money is deducted from the mobile phone as payment.

Currrently users may spend up to £10 for payments in underground, bus network, selected shops and cafes, Threshers and Books etc.

If scheme is successful, it will be rolled out to accept larger payments and to a wider selection of retailers.

Those taking part will receive 50 pounds worth of Oyster journeys, 60 pounds off their O2 phone bill and 200 pounds to spend with the in-built Barclaycard.

Source: Reuters

Following european iPhone launch in UK and Germany, handset now available in France.

Image from iphoneblog.com

iPhone is available from Orange France today in 12 outlets and will be rolled out to all other Orange stores on Thursday, 29th November.

Orange France Telecom has obtained exclusive rights to sell iPhone France. iPhone is available for 749 euros (approximately £534), Orange claims that more than 50,000 orders have been placed already.