GLG News by Wireless Data Services Experts (EU)

Stuart NewsteadChief Executive OfficerEllare

BlackBerry Messenger - Are you Appstores in Disguise?

May 18, 2010

The BlackBerry Messenger application can become an appstore for message-based content. What could be distinct about this appstore is the way it can deliver value to a community of users through a unique combination of strengths, rather than a specific strength. And the mobile networks can get in on the act as well and breathe life back into their own assets.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

The rise of Microsoft's view on Mobile Web at Vodafone.T

September 27, 2009

Analysis of:Vodafone updates internet portal services with Vodafone 360 | www.telecompaper.com

The launch of Vodafone360 is the latest indicator of Peter Knook's influence on Vodafone since his joining from Microsoft 18 months ago.  Vodafone Internet Services are now trying to present a consumer face for Vodafone that sees it capable of utilising investment in 3G and 3.5G Mobile Broadband.The interesting element is that this will be the first two handsets in Europe that use the LiMo standard.  One from Samsung and one from Huawei.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

Has anyone bid yet?

July 7, 2009

Analysis of:Orange and even O2 may bid against Vodafone for T-Mobile UK | www.rethink-wireless.com

Whilst the UK has two more mobile networks than it needs the big three all know that they would be helping it's closest rivals in removing the two small players. If T-Mobile were to be sold to a rival the actions of the Regulator are not know at this time but some action is expected.  The best case is that the new owner would be expected to return the 3G license and spectrum the worse is that both 2 & 3G spectrum is handed over. Has T-Mobile put the business up for sale?  The present book value for the business is some €3B following the write down at the start of the year.  Since that time T-Mobile has seen a decline in revenues in the UK and a loss of business caused by the fact that they have been working without a CEO or CMO and so have been following the German strategy.  This has further lowered the value of the business.

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.

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?

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

Vodafone under the command of Colao can only be good news

June 18, 2008

Analysis of:Sarin Legacy Isn't All Aces | online.wsj.com

When Colao left McKinsey to help run Omnitel as the COO he showed that he was more that a "Strategy Man" working alongside Francesco Ciao he showed that he was someone vary capable at Operational matters.  With Cioa gone, he steppped up to the CEO role and integrated the Omnitel into Vodafone. On his return to Vodafone he has spent the last 18 months getting ready to succeed Sarin by Optimising the network. Now with an Italian at the head you can expect to see Emerging Markets take a back seat as he follows the startegy of the Spanish Subsiduary and stimulates the market.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

What Qualcomm is doing is building a Services Business

June 16, 2008

Analysis of:Qualcomm Creates Mobile Internet Strategy To Go Head-To-Head With Internet Giants | www.washingtonpost.com

Looking at the services businesses of Qualcomm and what you see is the development of a number of verticals.  One of which is BREW; the others are Location, Advertising, Payments, Video.  These services are aimed at helping to create Federations for particular services.  Having created these Federations Qualcomm will be able to influence the strategy of Mobile Networks which will lift the spend on Handsets that run Qualcomm silicon.

Ian WoodPartnerWireless Foundry

Don't panic this is not the end of the world

November 1, 2007

Analysis of:Skype and 3 launch mobile phone | www.reuters.com

What you get with a Skypephone is a service that allows another form of IM as long as you have spent a minimum of £10 per month.  This is not VoIPoM this is something aimed at retaining customers and getting them to keep the phone on so that they can recieve calls.

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