Smartphone Biz-news.com :: Voices of the Industry

Bringing the Best of the Web to the Phone: Interview with David Mannl, Mippin

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:39:00 +0100

Mippin is one such company that specializes in helping users attain access to mobile content, and helping publishers mobilize their content for easy access for their audience.

Mippin, backed by Refresh Mobile, came to life in 2007. David Mannl, Head of Creative and co-founder of Mippin, states that he and his partner said, "let's ditch the whole client business for the time being' and focus only on mobile apps and that's when Mippin got started and launched as a product."

He also notes that when they started back in 2007 there were hardly any mobile internet sites around, and left a huge need for publishers and users to have mobile versions of all the web content they could.

Continue reading Bringing the Best of the Web to the Phone: Interview with David Mannl, Mippin

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 13/11/2009

Bringing Content to Cross-Media Platforms: Interview with Thomsen Ghebresellassie, Yukoono

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:30:00 +0100

One such company that is ahead of the curve is Yukoono, a digital content portal that is as adaptable as the user is.

Sales Director of Yukoono, Thomsen Ghebresellassie states that “The idea of Yukoono came up last year in April when the CEO thought about why a user should only have access to certain types of content and certain type of media? If you are browsing on the website, you have to visit several websites in order to get news, videos on YouTube, or a different application in order to get access to content. So we came up with the idea of having one platform which you can think of a big shopping mall.”

Continue reading Bringing Content to Cross-Media Platforms: Interview with Thomsen Ghebresellassie, Yukoono

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 12/11/2009

Running Web 2.0 Campaign: Interview with Ben Self, Founding Partner of Blue State Digital

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:37:00 +0100

Blue State Digital claims itself to be “the leader in online fundraising, advocacy, social networking, constituency development for nonprofit organizations, political candidates and causes, and corporations.” Though just starting in 2004 they've been able to acquire an impressive clientele list to include President Obama, Walmart, Alliance for Climate Protection and Communication Workers of America.

When asked what separates their products and services from the rest, found partner Ben Self had this to say, “the thing that I think makes it really interesting and important is that it has been rigorously tested through our analytics department.”

Continue reading Running Web 2.0 Campaign: Interview with Ben Self, Founding Partner of Blue State Digital

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 06/11/2009

Mobile Security Solutions: Interview with Alain Rollier, President of AXSionics

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:42:00 +0100

A paradigm shift in information communication technology is set to address security threats and concerns in Africa and the world at large, a senior official has said.

In an interview, AXSionics founding president, Alain Rollier, said his company was bringing a new innovative security system aimed at addressing insecurity in technological business with respect to mobile phones, computing and financial sector (banking).

Continue reading Mobile Security Solutions: Interview with Alain Rollier, President of AXSionics

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 03/11/2009

Interview with Robert Lang of TechTour Web & Mobility Summit

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:33:00 +0100

TechTour is nonprofit organization that puts on many events and they either have a country focus or they are industry focus, but both welcome investors, startups, and innovators to come together. Each of them repeat themselves every 3 or 4 years providing a cycle between each event and summit.

"More specifically, the Web & Mobility Summit, which takes place on November 18-19, 2009. It is during these events that we pull together a committee from the industry, venture capitalists, and business angels," said Robert Lang, President of the TechTour Web & Mobility Summit, in an interview with Biz-News.com.

Continue reading Interview with Robert Lang of TechTour Web & Mobility Summit

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 28/10/2009

Mobile Internet in Africa: Interview with Jose Henriques, Vodacom

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg ) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:53:00 +0100

Mobile internet is no longer luxury in Africa as it has become a valuable tool of global development, this according to Jose Henriques, Vodacom executive head of internet services.

Henriques was speaking to Biz-News.com in Johannesburg last week during the Mobile Web Africa conference whose focus was looking at ways of harnessing the potential of internet and applications on mobile devices.

Continue reading Mobile Internet in Africa: Interview with Jose Henriques, Vodacom

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 26/10/2009

Young Entrepreneur Brings Openmoko to Africa

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:53:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. A young entrepreneur in South Africa has teamed up with Openmoko to distribute the Neo Freerunner to Africa.

Nyasha Mutsekwa spoke to Biz-News.com at the sidelines of Mobile Web Africa conference in Johannesburg of his mission.

The Neo Freerunner is an open-source phone, which allows developers and enthuasists alike access to the source code and hardware schematics to customize the device to their hearts content.

Continue reading Young Entrepreneur Brings Openmoko to Africa

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 22/10/2009

Smartphone Faces Security Threat

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:17:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. The pervasive nature of the mobile world has made it difficult to successfully curb security threats on smartphones and other mobile devices offering internet access, says Alain Rollier, founder of AXSionics.

In an interview with Biz-News.com this week, Rollier gave a detailed account of how security threat on mobile devices was shifting from the traditional devices that offer Internet Access.

Continue reading Smartphone Faces Security Threat

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 21/10/2009

Collecting Testimonies of Violence Using Mobile Internet

tomek@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze, Johannesburg) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:32:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. Kenya has taken a leading role in Africa by embarking on effective use of Mobile Internet to expose acts of political violence, murder and torture, Ory Okollo the founder of Ushahidi.com told Biz-news.com

In an interview on the sidelines of Mobile Web Africa conference in Sandton recently, executive director of Kenya’s Ushahidi, Ory Okolloh, said her organization was primarily established to expose crisis situations to empower Africa.

Continue reading Collecting Testimonies of Violence Using Mobile Internet

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 20/10/2009

Internet On The Go: Interview with Deb Hall, Managing Director at Web2Mobile

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:11:00 +0100

INTERVIEW. Web2Mobile is a company that specializes in making your content mobile ready for ease of use for your customers on the go.

In the last 12 months we seen a lot change in the mobile market with a huge transition of users putting their mobile devices ahead of their laptops and desktop computers.

Deb Hall notes that even on a personal level, using mobile devices create a difference in behavior in how we use and read content and how we interact with our devices. In the last ten months she notes that this transition has become more apparent as the iPhone, specifically, has immersed itself into the general populace.

Continue reading Internet On The Go: Interview with Deb Hall, Managing Director at Web2Mobile

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 14/10/2009

TomTom Presents Car Kit for iPhone

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:41:00 +0100

VIDEO. Biz.News.com reporters navigated to TomTom’s stand at IFA 2009, where Sarah Schweiger, PR Manager for TomTom, gave them a brief introduction to the company: their main markets, competitors and challenges as well as newly released products, including long-expected car kit for iPhone scheduled to ship in the U.S. in October.

Continue reading TomTom Presents Car Kit for iPhone

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 08/10/2009

IFA 2009: The Smallest Wireless Printer and Scanner for Smartphones

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:37:00 +0100

Biz-News.com reporters interviewed Klaus Düll, the owner of PRETIOSO, the distributor of Datomo mobile solutions for German speaking market.

Datomo provides mobile application development and marketing services and offers web to mobile content integration& adaptation. PRETIOSO localizes all the Datomo’s apps for the German language.

Klaus gave us a live demonstration on the world’s smallest wireless printer and scanner designed for smartphones and offered by PLANon. According to him, the printer is also the world’s first to have built in paper cartridge.

Continue reading IFA 2009: The Smallest Wireless Printer and Scanner for Smartphones

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 02/10/2009

IFA 2009: Menq Presents Mini GPS/GSM Tracker with GPRS

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:13:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Biz-News.com interviewed Ann Meng, Marketing & Sales Manager of Menq International. She presented the company’s star product - mini GPS/GSM tracker with GPRS.

This tiny device shows directly map location on any mobile without installing any software and transmits the SMS message of longitude, latitude and location link to cell phone. It supports indoor orientation, single location reporting and continuous tracking. In case of emergency, help message with location is send to all preset phone numbers.

Continue reading IFA 2009: Menq Presents Mini GPS/GSM Tracker with GPRS

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 29/09/2009

IFA 2009: The Magic Touch of Hero

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:23:00 +0100

Eric Matthes, Channel Manager of HTC, was interviewed by Biz-News.com reporters at IFA 2009 in Berlin. He explains the innovativeness of the two company’s handsets – Magic and Touch Diamond2 – that have been nominated for Plus X Award.

Our reporters were also one of the first to see the HTC’s Tattoo, short of the release.

Continue reading IFA 2009: The Magic Touch of Hero

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 14/09/2009

IFA 2009: IDAPT Presents Universal Desktop Charger for All Devices

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:52:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW. At IFA 2009 in Berlin, Biz-News.com reporters interviewed Jacques Giribet, CEO & Founder of IDAPT.

He showed us the company's star product – a universal desktop charger that allows to charge several portable devices (such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, PDA notebooks, GPS, Bluetooth devices, game consoles, etc.) at the same time, through a system of interchangeable tips. According to the company, it’s compatible with over 3000 devices.

Continue reading IFA 2009: IDAPT Presents Universal Desktop Charger for All Devices

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 10/09/2009

IFA 2009: the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Consumer Electronics is Coming

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:10:00 +0100

IFA 2009 - the business event no. 1 for consumer electronics - will take place in Berlin from September 4-9.

For one week international media interest will be concentrated on IFA. Also the Biz-News journalists will be reporting directly from Berlin covering the latest in CE products.

Continue reading IFA 2009: the World’s Leading Trade Fair for Consumer Electronics is Coming

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 28/08/2009

4G: Network For Real Mass Market Activity

editor@biz-news.com (Luis Sandoval) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:38:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Erik Hallberg, Senior Vice President and Head of TeliaSonera Mobility Services in Sweden, tells smartphone.biz-news how this telecom is changing the face of mobile technology with its innovative 4G network.

Continue reading 4G: Network For Real Mass Market Activity

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 21/08/2009

West & Central African Com: Infrastructure Sharing on the Sub-Saharan Market

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:56:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Fazal Hussein, CEO of Helios Towers, was interviewed at the West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.

He talks about the Sub-Saharian market and he thinks the only way for the operators to go forward is to develop a lean architecture.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: Infrastructure Sharing on the Sub-Saharan Market

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 18/08/2009

West & Central African Com: Rolling Strategies on the African Telecom Market

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:45:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Christian De Faria, Regional Vice President - WECA region of MTN Nigeria, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.

He unveils what areas MTN Nigeria will be focusing on over the next few years. He also discusses the evolution of the Nigerian telecom market.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: Rolling Strategies on the African Telecom Market

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 13/08/2009

West & Central African Com: The Complexity of African Markets

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:03:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Osondu Nwokoro, Director of Regulatory Affairs of Zain Nigeria, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.

He explains the complexity of Nigerian and other African markets.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: The Complexity of African Markets

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 11/08/2009

West & Central African Com: Global Crisis Affects African Market

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:03:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: William Saad, Managing Director of IHS Nigeria, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.

He talks about the infrastructure sharing and explains how the operators can reach the rural areas in a cost-effective way.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: Global Crisis Affects African Market

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 05/08/2009

West & Central African Com: “Customer Relationship Management is at the heart of the ...

tomek@biz-news.com (Tomasz Czech) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:47:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Abdoulaye Sarre, Chairman and co founder of PCCI Group, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.

He talks about the importance of customer relationship management and he thinks that in the near future more and more operators will outsource their CRM operations.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: “Customer Relationship Management is at the heart of the operator’s activities"

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 04/08/2009

Intel partner applies for WiMAX allocation in South Africa

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:37:00 +0100

Broadband provider, iBurst, has applied to ICASA to extend its WiMAX allocation to 30MHz of frequency spectrum in the 2.6MHz and 3.5MHz ranges. This allocation will be used to support its plans to increase download speeds and to roll out nomadic WiMAX services.

Continue reading Intel partner applies for WiMAX allocation in South Africa

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 03/08/2009

West & Central African Com: Opportunity Abounds as Nigeria Faces "Revolution" in ...

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:02:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Lanre Ajayi, managing director of PINET Informatics and president of the Nigerian Internet Group, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.
He talks about the changes coming in broadband and the need for businesses to position themselves for the opportunities they will bring. He said these will include opportunities in terms of applications, e-business, e-commerce and e-government.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: Opportunity Abounds as Nigeria Faces "Revolution" in Broadband Deployment

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 31/07/2009

West & Central African Com: MTN Nigeria Targets Customer Satisfaction to Expand Market Reach

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:50:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Ahmad Farroukh, CEO of MTN Nigeria, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.
He talks about plans for increasing market share by targeting customer satisfaction. Farroukh also discusses infrastructure sharing and MTN's Community Phone Service.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: MTN Nigeria Targets Customer Satisfaction to Expand Market Reach

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 29/07/2009

Behance iPhone App is "Twitter for Actionable Tasks"

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:37:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Scott Belsky, founder and CEO of Behance, tells smartphone.biz-news about his company's Action Method iPhone application - a free and innovative app aimed at increasing users' productivity.
He said that people focus too much on deadlines instead of what matters most - action and delegating.

Continue reading Behance iPhone App is "Twitter for Actionable Tasks"

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 27/07/2009

West & Central African Com: Market "Hungry" for Internet and Access to Real-Time ...

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:41:00 +0100

VIDEO INTERVIEW: Robert Aouad, CEO of Isocel Telecom, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria. He talks about the prospects for, and handicaps to, growth of the broadband market in Benin, where Isocel forecasts it will be providing Internet connections to 50% of the population by 2010.

Continue reading West & Central African Com: Market "Hungry" for Internet and Access to Real-Time Information

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 27/07/2009

Clearing Houses at Centre of WiMAX Hub Model

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:48:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Smartphone.biz-news spoke to John Dubois, global roaming director for the WiMAX Forum, to hear the latest on the deployment of the 4G technology's networks - and plans for operators to use a hub model for roaming agreements.
Getting underway are the first commercial global roaming trials, which will involve 14 "ecosystem leaders" carrying out end-to-end testing of roaming over live WiMAX networks.

Continue reading Clearing Houses at Centre of WiMAX Hub Model

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 22/07/2009

Wireless Broadband World Africa 2009: Neotel Showcases CDMA 2000

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:29:00 +0100

Neotel showcased and demonstrated various telecommunication products for the African market at Wireless Broadband World Africa 2009, the continent's flagship Wireless broadband event held recently.
The key technology on display at the event was the CDMA2000 1x-EvDO and is the most widely deployed of the global 3G standards today.

Continue reading Wireless Broadband World Africa 2009: Neotel Showcases CDMA 2000

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 20/07/2009

WirelessWireless Broadband World Africa 2009: Access Providers Demand Self-Regulation in South ...

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:10:00 +0100

The Wireless Access Providers Association (WAPA) is strongly urging self-regulation within the industry as a way of increasing accountability amongst operators.
WAPA is an association that is dedicated to governing the responsible use of wireless technology in South Africa.

Continue reading WirelessWireless Broadband World Africa 2009: Access Providers Demand Self-Regulation in South Africa

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 20/07/2009

US Mobile Market Ready for Location-Based Advertising

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 09:50:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Location-based advertising (LBA) is still in its early stages - and has so far mostly been rolled out in European markets, including France, Romania and Germany.
Now TechnoCom has brought a mobile advertising and marketing content delivery platform to the US where it believes the opportunities are huge.
Smartphone.biz-news spoke to Janice Partyka, vice president of external affairs at TechnoCom, about its SpotOn GPS application and plans for combining location-aware advertising with navigation.

Continue reading US Mobile Market Ready for Location-Based Advertising

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 20/07/2009

Wireless Broadband World Africa 2009: South Africa to Allocate WiMax This Month

editor@biz-news.com (Samuel Mungadze) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:41:00 +0100

Paris Mashile, chairman of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), has said that WiMax spectrum in the country will be allocated within 30 days with operators getting 30 MHz each.
ICASA published its final decision on the awarding of radio frequency spectrum.

Continue reading Wireless Broadband World Africa 2009: South Africa to Allocate WiMax This Month

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 17/07/2009

Smartphones for Business User

editor@biz-news.com (Jessica McArdle) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:06:00 +0100

The mobile phone market in the UK is unrecognisable now from what it was like two decades ago. The technology included in mobile phones changes frequently and the market has to change accordingly to include the new advances in technology, and to meet the ever-increasing demands of consumers.

Continue reading Smartphones for Business User

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 13/07/2009

Opt-In Subscriber Database "Crucial" To Mobile Operator Ad Revenues

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:55:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Mobile operators are searching for new and innovative ways to generate revenues beyond service plans.
Julien Oudart, sales and marketing director for French mobile advertising company Sofialys, tells smartphone.biz-news about the opportunities open to carriers from opt-in subscriber databases.

Continue reading Opt-In Subscriber Database "Crucial" To Mobile Operator Ad Revenues

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 09/07/2009

iPhone Wine App Points to Potential of Location-based Data

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:33:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Rick Breslin, Principal of Hello Vino, tells smartphone.biz-news how the food pairing and wine suggestion tool came about - and the team's plans for both monetising it and capitalising on location-based data.
The California-based company launched an iPhone app in June but it offers a multi-platform delivery - mobile web, Web and SMS.

Continue reading iPhone Wine App Points to Potential of Location-based Data

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 06/07/2009

MetaPlaces09: Location-Based Services Have To Earn Consumer Trust

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:45:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Tony Jebara, chief scientist for New York start-up Sense Networks and a professor at Columbia University, tells smartphone.biz-news how location-based data is being used to predict consumer behavior and preferences.
Jebara, who is delivering a keynote presentation at this year's MetaPlaces09 conference, said the results can be used to highlight hot spots where different urban "tribes" gather - but can also give advertisers a better idea of where and when to advertise to certain groups of people.

Continue reading MetaPlaces09: Location-Based Services Have To Earn Consumer Trust

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 01/07/2009

WiMAX MENA: Gulf Offers "Real Opportunity" For WiMAX

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 14:50:00 +0100

Richard Jones has just overseen the largest WiMAX deployment in Europe, Africa and the Middle East for a telecom startup in Saudi Arabia.
Yet the managing partner of Ventura Team said his biggest concern is whether WiMAX will make it as a technology.

Continue reading WiMAX MENA: Gulf Offers "Real Opportunity" For WiMAX

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 24/06/2009

WiMAX MENA: Roll-Out Strategy Key To WiMAX v LTE Debate

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:05:00 +0100

Arguing that WiMAX is a better wireless 4G system than Long Term Evolution (LTE) - or vice versa - is a waste of time.
That's the view of Dr Hans-Peter Petry, head of radio access and transport at Detecon International, who is adamant that it's pointless claiming either side in the 4G debate is superior to the other.

Continue reading WiMAX MENA: Roll-Out Strategy Key To WiMAX v LTE Debate

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 24/06/2009

HiT Barcelona: Telecoms Industry Has To "Reinvent Itself"

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:24:00 +0100

Telefónica's Carlos Domingo provided an interesting glimpse of the corporate navel-gazing underway at one of the largest fixed-line and mobile telecommunications companies in the world.
The giant Spanish giant isn't renowned - amongst its customers, anyway - for being at the cutting edge of innovation.
But Domingo, Telefónica's director of internet & multimedia and director of its R&D center, showed that it is grasping the nettle of change required if the challenges facing itself and the industry generally are to be met.

Continue reading HiT Barcelona: Telecoms Industry Has To "Reinvent Itself"

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 19/06/2009

HiT Barcelona: Android Marketplace To Overtake Apple's App Store?

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:16:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Android's Market will be at least as successful as Apple's hugely popular App Store - and could prove even more of a hit.
That's the view of Florian Seiche, vice president of HTC Europe, who believes app downloads for the open-source software platform developed by Google could well emulate Apple's success.

Continue reading HiT Barcelona: Android Marketplace To Overtake Apple's App Store?

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 16/06/2009

West&Central AfricaCOM'09: African Mobile Growth Opportunities Attract Record Numbers

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:31:00 +0100

While the African teleco market may not capture the headlines as much as other parts of the world, that's not to say it's being overlooked by the industry.
So it's good to see the organisers of West & Central Africa's largest telco event announcing record pre-registered attendance for the AfricaCOM event in Abuja, Nigeria.

Continue reading West&Central AfricaCOM'09: African Mobile Growth Opportunities Attract Record Numbers

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 16/06/2009

HiT Barcelona: Can Mobile Operators' New Openness Change Lose-Lose to Win-Win?

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:14:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Mobile network operators traditionally seem to have done their utmost to prevent developers from innovating on the mobile web.
But Michael Crossey, chief marketing officer at Aepona, tells smartphone.biz-news that barriers seem to be tumbling - and the mobile industry is steadily moving towards openness.

Continue reading HiT Barcelona: Can Mobile Operators' New Openness Change Lose-Lose to Win-Win?

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 11/06/2009

Wireless Technology Specialist Option "Optimistic" After Business Model Shift

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:55:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Known for its hardware products, wireless solutions specialists Option is transforming itself in the face of fierce competition and plunging margins.
The company's marketing director, Jan Poté, tells smartphone.biz-news how the company is expanding to offer complete end-to-end solutions - ranging from its Ucan virtual 'PC on a stick' to designing the system board for Sharp's new 3G Sidekick LX messaging phone.

Continue reading Wireless Technology Specialist Option "Optimistic" After Business Model Shift

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 02/06/2009

Optimism For WiMAX Grows - As LTE Cranks Up Network Plans

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Fri, 29 May 2009 06:12:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: With the WiMAX Forum Global Congress about to kick off in Amsterdam, smartphone.biz-news spoke to Mike Roberts, principle analyst with Informa, about the state of the emerging wireless technology.

Continue reading Optimism For WiMAX Grows - As LTE Cranks Up Network Plans

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 29/05/2009

EU Mobile Roaming Charge Caps Will "Increase Traffic and Revenue"

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:34:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: As mobile operators in Europe rush to comply with legislation to protect consumers from massive roaming and SMS/MMS bills, Amit Daniel, vice president of marketing for Starhome, tells smartphone.biz-news about the challenges - and the advantages - the new rules will bring.

Continue reading EU Mobile Roaming Charge Caps Will "Increase Traffic and Revenue"

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 27/05/2009

iPhone Has "Changed Dynamic" of US Smartphone Market

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:06:00 +0100

Worldwide smartphone shipments grew 5.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest quarterly market overview by Canalys.
However, Pete Cunningham, senior analyst with Canalys, told smartphone.biz-news the North American consumer market saw shipments rise in Q1 2009 by 22.5 per cent year-on-year.

Continue reading iPhone Has "Changed Dynamic" of US Smartphone Market

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 22/05/2009

App Store Growth Risks Confusing Consumers

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:46:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Mark Newman, Chief Research Officer at analyst house Informa, talks about some of the latest trends affecting the mobile voice and data markets.
Speaking in advance of his address to the Insights'09 conference next month in Lisbon, he discusses the impact of the iPhone, the rush to open app stores and carriers' attitude to mobile VoIP.

Continue reading App Store Growth Risks Confusing Consumers

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 14/05/2009

Customised Mobile Banking Key To Future Success

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:08:00 +0100

Lukasz Michalkiewicz, from smartphone software developer eLeader, tells smartphone.biz-news about developments in mobile banking and the importance of tailoring applications to mobile platforms.
The Polish company has developed the first mobile banking solution customised for specific mobile operating systems.

Continue reading Customised Mobile Banking Key To Future Success

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 06/05/2009

MobiTV Readies European Expansion As Momentum Grows

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:28:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Anders Norström, managing director of MobiTV Europe, talks to smartphone.biz-news about the company's expansion plans and the growing consumer appetite for mobile TV.
The California-based operation now offers content and primetime channels to over 6 million subscribers on more than 350 handset models on its managed mobile media service.

Continue reading MobiTV Readies European Expansion As Momentum Grows

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 16/04/2009

Turkish Mobile Market: Opportunity Beckons With Summer Launch of 3G Network

dave@biz-news.com (David Montgomery) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:07:00 +0100

INTERVIEW: Isik Uman, general manager of leading Turkish service provider Retromedya, talks to smartphone-biz.news about the rapidly changing mobile market in Turkey.
With 3G going live this summer, the nation's 66 million mobile subscribers are expected to take full advantage of new services - making it an appealing prospect for operators and service providers.

Continue reading Turkish Mobile Market: Opportunity Beckons With Summer Launch of 3G Network

Originally appeared on Smartphone Biz-news.com on 24/03/2009