 |
Mobile Entertainment & Commerce
...the analyst view
Edition Forty One - 17th October 2007 |
| |
|
Is recession on the way?
News that mobile network technology supplier Ericsson is to miss its Q3 revenue targets not only wiped a quarter of the companies value off its stock listing, but also looks like a worrying portent of things to come.
Ericsson joins Nokia and Alcatel-Lucent in announcing lower than expected revenue forecasts as the developed markets in Europe and the US stall on network upgrades and roll out of high value services.
So what does it mean for the content market? Well, looked at one way, network operators are not spending on upgrading their networks, ergo they are not looking to push next generation mobile services as hard as perhaps we would have liked.
Ericsson believes that two big deals with AT&T and Hutchison have been placed on hold, not cancelled – and largely attributes its bad financial news to these two deferrals – but either way it is a worrying sign that, as content sales, the growth of the mobile internet and even things such as mobile TV are still likely to languish to some extent as niche services for a small clique of early adopters and network operators are likely to concentrate their efforts on voice and SMS; the real money spinners.
This in itself is nothing new, however it does look very much like the cautious approach adopted as industries ready themselves for a possible downturn.
The sub-prime lending crisis that has beset the banking world could still yet be the trigger for a domino-like series of events that will see not only the network operators temporarily retrench, but also VC dry up for mobile and Web 2.0 development.
And this could hit the content industry hard. There are already many, many players all scrabbling for a healthy, but relatively small, customer base. A downturn will not only see network operators taking their foot of the gas in marketing advanced mobile services, but also consumers not spending their hard-earned on fripperies.
On the other hand, however, the delays in network operator upgrades may only be temporary as they watch what happens globally. It could also be off set by the continuing clamour in developing markets in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia, which show no signs of slowing. The requirements of these networks are different, which may be a problem for Nokia, Ericsson and Alcatel-Lucent, but it could still be an opportunity for the content industry.
Yours
Sign up today |  |
Spectrum scarcity to block mobile TV launch in UK until at least 2010, while Western Europe motors ahead
The number of mobile broadcast TV subscribers in Western Europe is expected to pass 20 million by 2011, according to a new report from Juniper Research, but the exit of the BT/Virgin Mobile DAB-IP offering from the market, could mean that the UK is not going to see mobile broadcast TV services until 2010 at the very earliest, well behind most of its European neighbours.
According to Juniper senior analyst and the report’s author, Dr Windsor Holden, “After the successful launch of DVB-H-based services in Italy, many other Western European countries have either drawn up or are drawing up licensing procedures for mobile broadcast TV services. However, the fact that optimal UHF spectrum will not be made available in the UK for several years effectively prevents any medium-term deployment of such services.”
The report adds that while service providers could opt to utilise L-Band spectrum as an alternative, the additional infrastructure expenditure involved would probably mean that such a venture would not be cost-effective. It also recommends that, wherever possible, operators should seek to share broadcast network infrastructure as in Germany, where T-Mobile, O2 and Vodafone are planning to use a single DVB-H network.
The report also found that the largest European market at the end of the forecast period will be Italy, followed by Germany and France. However, following the European Commission’s quasi-mandation of DVB-H, it is highly unlikely that any future commercial deployments of mobile broadcast TV in this region will use an alternative standard.
 Comment |  Forward to a Friend
|  |
Symbian seeks to bring big screen effects and broadband to consumers’ pockets with new technologies
Advanced mobile operating system (OS) developer Symbian has rolled out two new technologies designed to give mobile phones better multi-network connectivity and better graphics processing, as the company targets increasingly converged mobile internet services.
Giving the keynote at the Smartphone Show in London, Symbian Chief Executive Officer Nigel Clifford articulated the trends behind convergence that are driving technology at Symbian. “Smartphones are increasingly becoming interpersonal computers with similar specifications to desktop computers but offering a more personal connected experience,” he says. “People want more from their favourite device: they want a fully interactive Internet experience, the best graphics possible, seamless access to the quickest and cheapest connection available and the ability to download, watch, create and upload high definition video content with high quality sound.”
Responding to the increased demands of convergence, Symbian has introduced new technologies that give the industry the power to create devices that can handle and store large amounts of data, provide a responsive, emotionally engaging user experience, and deliver super-fast networking within today’s power constraints.
ScreenPlay is the new graphics architecture in Symbian OS. Designed to power the richest visual experience available on a mobile phone to date, it gives users big screen effects in their pockets while ensuring long battery life. ScreenPlay is designed for mobile devices with user interfaces which integrate high definition video content, life-like games and animations. It significantly enhances content presentation in versatile, yet simple new ways - by using transparency and overlays, for example.
FreeWay is the new IP networking architecture in the OS, providing broadband speeds in the user’s pocket. On mobile broadband networks, FreeWay delivers the capability for super fast download speeds, high quality audio/video streaming and crystal-clear VoIP calls. FreeWay supplies high bandwidth that is suitable for Super3G/LTE, WiMax and beyond – ensuring performance high enough to allow users to download an MP3 file in seconds. FreeWay also guarantees users smooth switching between connection types and networks so that they can remain mobile at all times.
Comment | Forward to a Friend |  |
New Zealand’s Yellow Pages to introduce local search
Yellow Pages Group, New Zealand's leading directory publisher, is set to that launch its own WAP2.0 mobile search service in conjunction with mobilePeople and Local Matters. The new mobile offering will be based on mobilePeople's liquidTM platform and will enable New Zealanders using the Vodafone live! mobile service to benefit from a wealth of local information accessible on their mobile phones – through directory search.
Yellow Pages Group's solution will be browser based and seamlessly integrate into Vodafone live! It will combine directory listings from Yellow, a local map application and even give directions to a chosen destination.
Yellow Pages Group Marketing Director Blair Glubb believes that the mobile service would complement the company's existing range of find-it services for businesses, which already cover the print, voice (directory assistance) and online channels.
"Significantly, this development will provide businesses with a way to connect with Vodafone live! customers who want to find-it while they're on the go,” says Glubb. “We chose to work with Local Matters and mobilePeople as the companies are clearly the best of breed suppliers - and our culture, experience and vision marry up well. This is a big step for us and will help us realise our goal of being New Zealand's number one find-it resource.”
Jens Andersen, CEO and co-founder of mobilePeople, adds: "The rapid adoption of mobile search has created a huge opportunity for directory publishers in New Zealand to monetize through mobile search based advertising strategies."
|  |
Mobile content purchasing using phone bill goes live in UK
Israeli company eBIZ.mobility has reamed up with Breathe Networks to offer eBIZ.mobility's award-winning OneTouch Online Purchasing payment processing service to Breathe Network's subscribers.
The OneTouch Online Purchasing service allows consumers to pay for digital content to their mobile or PC by charging the download to an existing account at their phone company, bank, mobile operator or internet service provider. This patent-pending service gives consumers an easy, fast and secure payment option for music, videos, games, ring tones and more.
According to Marcus East, CEO of Breathe Networks, offering OneTouch Online Purchasing will help maintain Breathe’s innovative edge through value added customer services, helping to extend and deepen customer relationships.
”As our customer base continues to grow, offering services like OneTouch Online Purchasing, keeps us ahead of the pack. We are committed to improving our customers’ online experience with services that are convenient to use and that give them what they want, when they want it, without exposing them to identity theft or credit risk.” says East.
Jeremy Kagan, eBIZ.mobility’s CEO, noted that partnering with Breathe Networks represents the next milestone in the international expansion of the OneTouch Online Purchasing service. "First Spain, now the UK, and we are looking forward to announcing additional partner roll-outs in other countries soon," he says.
|  |
Emoze’s push mobile email gets the Google treatment
emoze has upgraded its free software that provides secure push email to mobile phones all over the world, to support Google Apps. This service from Google enables consumers and businesses to use their own custom domain names with several Google products through mobile channels.
Google Apps offers families, business and educational institutions the capability to create their own domain name for emails with professional addresses like johnsmith@mycompany. Emoze already supports push emails from the Gmail domain. Now, with the updated emoze version, emails can be pushed to the consumer’s mobile device even from private domains on the Google server.
In Version 1.5, soon to be released, system performance will also be enhanced in terms of battery life and data connection time. The latest version will improve battery life by almost 40% ensuring that a mobile device won’t go dead just when you most need it most. Reduced time spent on line for synchronization on mobile connections means that consumers who do not have an unlimited data plan will spend less money with emoze’s push email platform. Switching between mobile carriers and private WiFi access points will also be optimised to maintain the most efficient real-time updates of mobile emails and personal data.
“We continuously listen to our customers and develop our product to address features and enhancements they propose,” says Naftali Shani, chairman of emoze. "As communication technology continues to converge, personal and business users expect to be connected to their information even when they are on the go. Our newest features not only make that a reality, anytime, anywhere, they cost less to deliver real-time, secure connectivity."
|  |
ET phones home – well, plays the game at least
1982 interplanetary tearjerker ET has been turned in to a series of 42 mini games for mobile phones by German games developer Ojom, which is seeking to cash in on the current craze for retro arcade games on mobiles.
The game includes all the ‘favourite scenes’ from the movie that will be familiar to fans: flying BMX rides, hiding in Elliot's cupboard in a block style game, Elliot's little sister sneaking along for the adventure, and of course ET himself.
The game also features a playroom; where you can play all 42 challenging games in ET's hideout. The games include; ET dressed as a lady in the basket, Elliot's familiar red jumper, Gerti's teddies, and a game where Elliot has to lure ET into the house via a trial of sweets. There are many different types of logic, reflex, strategy, escape and action style games to test your skills.
Thomas Brockhage, Managing Director of Ojom, said: "This game encapsulates all of the great memories from the cult classic movie underpinned with challenging and exciting games. The games include many classic formats that have universal appeal, and with the addition of ET it bridges all generation gaps."
ET - The Extra Terrestrial is the latest addition to Ojom's growing repertoire of mobile games inspired by films. The game is now available on operator portals across Europe.
| |
| |
CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment 2007
San Francisco, CA USA, October 23-25, 2007
CTIA WIRELESS I.T. & Entertainment® focuses on integrating wireless data technologies into the enterprise and vertical business markets such as healthcare, government, automotive, retail etc. Additionally, the show reflects the explosive growth in wireless entertainment—encompassing everything from music downloads to digital cameras to interactive games. One Show. Two Personalities. This is wireless redefined.
| |
| |
Internet Applications Developer, Bango
Cambridge, UK £30,000 - £35,000 per annum
The successful candidate will have at least 3 years software development experience in a commercial environment, with at least 2 years experience developing customer facing Internet products, expertise in multi-technology application development (i.e. Microsoft .NET, Java, Web Services) and the ability to understand the requirements and perspectives of the customers as well as the business as a whole.
For more information and to apply please click here
| |
| |
Free Push Mail and Extended Business Services for Symbian Smartphones
With Cortado Free, a free-of-charge push mail service is now available for sending and receiving e-mails in real time. Symbian OS will also offers users to benefit from all Cortado services, which will even be extended with the new and future versions of Symbian OS.
"Symbian is pleased to see that ThinPrint has taken advantage of the rich features and capabilities of Symbian OS to deliver a standards-based push email solution," said Andrew Moran, Head of Enterprise Market Development, Symbian.
Introduction of application session controller to unlock six high growth application areas worth USD 66 billion by 2010
AppTrigger, a telecom application connectivity specialist, has launched the telecom industry’s first purpose-built Application Session Controller (ASC) to the UK and pan-European market.
Mick Reeve, the former Group Technology Officer of British Telecom and industry consultant says. "The Application Session Controller enables service providers to smoothly migrate legacy applications they wish to keep to an IMS infrastructure, reducing cost and churn by continuing with familiar applications and eliminating the learning curve of replacements, whilst still getting to the enabling infrastructure for new apps."
Price: £1490 (Single User) £1990 (Multi User) £2990 (Enterprise Wide)
This detailed report provides a complete analysis of the current and future opportunities for mobile TV. It discusses recent developments in the market for streamed and broadcast mobile TV services, focusing on the different applications and standards currently in trial across a number of markets.
The in depth study provides vital forecast data on subscriber growth, ARPU and total revenues, and also offers a series of strategic recommendations for operators, broadcasters, service providers, vendors and regulators.
| | If you would like to promote your product or service in this newsletter please email: marketing@contentfutures.com | |
ContentFutures.com is a publication of Juniper Research Limited
Sign up today: http://www.contentfutures.com/subscribe.htm
| |
| | © 2007 Juniper Research Limited ® All rights reserved |
|
