GLG News by Wimax Experts (EU)

Peter Curnow-FordChief Executive OfficerViatec Associates Ltd

The true cost of R&D

September 19, 2008

Analysis of:Nortel 4G Plans Up in the Air | www.unstrung.com

As was the case years back when ISDN and other carrier technologies first started coming out of the factory, the vendors have always argued, - economy of scale will always bring real returns - there is always a minimum entry price - stay in or work a partnership It would seem that having exited UMTS and partnering on WiMAX, there is still not enough operating margin to generate the cash for world scale R&D. Nortel is seeing the impact of technology complexity and also a global business plan - that entry is limited to a select few.

Peter Curnow-FordChief Executive OfficerViatec Associates Ltd

Apple 3G iPhone - Power, ie battery performance dominates handheld performance

September 1, 2008

Analysis of:Power-control software blamed for iPhone 3G reception issues | news.cnet.com

The question posed at the end of the article is key:- The unanswered question--assuming this account is accurate--is why the iPhone 3G shipped with balky power-control software, something that ostensibly could have been discovered in testing? It is true this could have been discovered, but as of launch we had 1m users using the phone immediately - always a sure way to test the phone and they found the weak spot. Apple is learning very quickly what it takes to get a world class phone to market in volume across 3 continents and is responding to criticism - part of its marketing image. This response is ahead of its major competitors.

Peter Curnow-FordChief Executive OfficerViatec Associates Ltd

LTE operators hold back WiMAX or just need a decision?

August 21, 2008

Analysis of:Ofcom knocks back spectrum auction | www.theregister.co.uk

The real issue here is one of knowing what the regulatory position is going to be 3 to 4 years out. Will the mobile operators be allowed to re-farm their 2G spectrum, will they be able to use the technology of their choosing and then work the investment plans to make it happen? Is the regulator doing this deliberately - most probably not. Do the mobile operators benefit from a delayed auction - yes. Do we need to wait and see - yes.

Peter Curnow-FordChief Executive OfficerViatec Associates Ltd

WiMAX is not Cellular

August 21, 2008

Analysis of:BT Suffers as Ofcom Delays 2.6GHz Auctions | www.lightreading.com

BT has a backhaul network second to none, the mobile operators do not. It is currently spending close to £8bn on its 21CN all IP network, with this it has all the capacity needed for a data centric LTE deployment. Second LTE could serve both voice and data without cannibalising existing revenue streams. BT does not need to protect an existing cellular voice investment - it can move all its MVNO customers across to LTE. Thirdly it can satisfy its shareholders with a real significant strategic move and ensure it has a future in mobile as well as fixed. The only question does BT have the £1bn+ to make it happen.

Peter Curnow-FordChief Executive OfficerViatec Associates Ltd

4G - still one generation away

August 5, 2008

Analysis of:4G or Not 4G | www.unstrung.com

Both WiMAX and LTE are stepping stones to the "real" mobile broadband marketplace where ubiquitous, high bandwidth, quality services are available on a device independent basis. The ITU has set in motion the next step to 4G by announcing the preliminary specifications for a 4G technology solution for mobile broadband - called IMT-Advanced. WiMAX is offering up 802.16m and LTE is offering up LTE-Advanced as their initial offerings into the standards processes. It will be a 3 to 4 year process and more importantly spark of yet more demand for spectrum.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

The Hard Part is Payments

July 15, 2008

Analysis of:Mobile Payment Transactions Will Grow, Research Shows | www.billingworld.com

Whilst the US has seen an explosion in Mobile Banking it is yet to see the users trust the service for Payments. Payments needs to address not just the Banked but the Unbanked, in Africa Vodafone and MTN have  established services that allow micropayments to be made to those that have no Bank Accounts.  The ability to make person-to-person payments is something that sees the service grow. Qualcomms Firethorn service whilst signing a number of contracts is yet to launch.  This service uses a Java Applet rather than SMS and Browser based technology to allow users to access multiple banks rather than a single bank.  This thus should enable a better uptake of Payments rather than Banking Services. The Stakeholders in the Mobile Banking world are moving towards a mobile wallet that uses NFC based technology to allow users to "wave and pay".

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

Still a long way to go

July 4, 2008

Analysis of:European 3G subscriptions seen topping 100 million | www.reuters.com

The market is still fragmented. In the big five we still see a wide spread of take up as consumers are yet to be won over. The mobile networks are still to discover a range of products that make the investment pay off. This talks about terminals rather than handsets and so a slowing of sales of phones is offset by a boom in USB Mobile Broadband Devices.

Peter Curnow-FordChief Executive OfficerViatec Associates Ltd

Lets get on the treadmill and start moving

June 25, 2008

Analysis of:It’s official: First certified WiMAX gear arrives | telephonyonline.com

In a recent survey it was clear that the 'ecosystem' is the most or second most important factor behind generating momentum behind roll out of WiMAX networks. What any operator needs is the ability to deliver and bill for content & service and that means giving or selling a device to the customer to both use and access content. With this step change many more operators and would be operators can now plan for roll outs and know that users will have a choice of devices to use.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

Too Little to Late

June 25, 2008

Analysis of:Motorola Impresses With 5-Megapixel Camera Phone | www.informationweek.com

This is something that they should have launched 12 months ago.  Failing that then we should have seen it in February at GSM World. The design is dated and the technology is out of date. This new handset is not going to have Networks placing orders outside of the US.  At best this gets a C for effort.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

Is Business a core segment to Nokia?

June 19, 2008

Analysis of: Nokia unveils new business phones | news.yahoo.com

With ever more of the business done by Nokia in the Emerging Markets just how important is a handset with such a rich feature set? The Blackberry like E71 whilst attractive suffers from a limited number of Enterprise Applications. How does these handsets fit into the OVI service?

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