Tower companies to focus on pico-cells?
December 29, 2009
Managing the wireless data deluge | www.businessweek.com
With the increase in data usage on Smartphones, wireless carriers will have to, increase the number of cells decrease the cell sizes find new creative roll-out strategiesThe biggest impact is on where to locate the micro/pico cells. Roof tops and in-building solutions are one of the best methods of getting coverage close to the Smartphone user.This implies the traditional Tower companies will need to expand into new territories. Good news is that pico-cells are a lot cheaper than towers!
Ford takes pragmatic approach to in-car WiFi & Internet access
December 29, 2009
Ford brings Wi-Fi to the highway | www.cnn.com
While it is possible to do this yourself (eg a USB modem and WiFi router), in-car integration offers ease of use benefits.Integrating Internet access gives car manufacturers the whole solution, especially where the service is used for 'safety-of-life' applications.Here Ford has said, lets keep it simple - allowing the driver to use their own dongle and cellular plan.Cellular operators should welcome the additional take up of data services, but don't expect much when stuck in a traffic jam!
As Orange launches iPhone in UK, Apple requests marketing assistance
November 3, 2009
Orange to sell iPhone in UK from 10 Nov | www.totaltele.com
As Apple expands beyond exclusivity in markets it is using additional means to ensure it delivers high levels of service to its end customers.France Telecom - Orange UK, along with Vodafone are now selling iPhone in competition with O2 and some of the Orange dealers are looking at the detail of the marketing costs that are emerging.Dealers will need to ensure they can both make the upfront investment in 'in-store' merchandising and also staff training, this means committing to some big sales targets.
Samsung handset shipments up 15pc and aims to take 20pc market share
November 2, 2009
Samsung shipments up 16pc | www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk
Samsung continues to dominate in sales growth in the key low to mid-end markets and in developing markets where it shows how to build channel strength.Samsung is also a leader in fashion touch handsets, ie devices in the mid-sector that sell on looks and touch screens to a mainly younger audience.Growing qtr on qtr sales by 15pc, means it is bucking the annual trend which will see an 8pc drop in worldwide sales.
Orange UK sees strength while revenues suffer interim slide
October 29, 2009
Orange UK revenues down 15pc | www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk
The competitive UK mobile (cellular) market shows signs that it can weather the current financial strains.Orange (part of France Telecom group) has seen its revenues shrink 15% yet underlying margins are holding and customers, especially contract customers have increased in Q3.Orange is also in the throws of merging with T-Mobile UK, to create the UK's largest mobile operator with reach from MVNO's, low revenue SIM only customers through contract to large enterprise customers.
Deutsche Telecom T-Mobile & France Telecom Orange - UK Merger to happen
September 8, 2009
Financial Times FT.com | www.ft.com
By creating a joint venture Deustche Telecom's T-Mobile and France Telecom's Orange will aim to head off competition authority concerns over significant market power and yet reap the benefits of economy of scale. The two operators share similar spectrum and technology & have already discussed networking sharing to reduce costs and this takes it one step further. Initially both operators will continue to use their own brands but will have to consider whether to adopt an MVNO approach going forward/
Apple to penetrate last market for iPhone
August 13, 2009
China Unicom Rumoured to Have Placed Order for 5 Million IPhones | www.cellular-news.com
At last Apple gets to make a sizable entry into the Chinese mobile market and launch Chinese versions of its iTunes and Applications for the iPhone with China Unicom. It will also be a good money earner, as the models launched have already recouped their R&D costs so margins will be higher, perhaps one reason it was prepared to forgo its normal revenue sharing approach. This should add at least $13bn to Apples revenues, of which $300m will be operating margin.
T-Mobile UK - Deutsche Telekom looking for asset swap?
July 5, 2009
Financial Times FT.com | www.ft.com
Deutsche Telekom are setting the stage for the exit of its current position in the UK mobile market with either, a) an outright exit matched by an acquisition elsewhere b) merger with an existing competitor The former would mean no further brand presence in the UK, while the latter would mean brand presence but a relationship closer to that of its MVNO partner Virgin Mobile. Seeking growth in a non-UK market as a swap is a much better goal for future investment with the promise of higher growth and easier execution of the strategy.
T-Mobile - end of the road in the UK?
July 5, 2009
Telefonica, France Telecom interested in T-Mobile | uk.news.yahoo.com
T-Mobile as a brand may not wish to exit the UK market altogether, however it does not have the marketing strategy and investment needed to maintain its brand strength and more importantly ARPU growth. A merger with 3 and/or Orange of their respective networks could free up valuable funds for market/sales investment. O2 (Telefonica) would only contemplate purchase if it meant over hauling Vodafone on its home territory.
Hunt for T-Mobile UK - worthy acquisition or a spoiling game?
July 5, 2009
Orange and even O2 may bid against Vodafone for T-Mobile UK | www.rethink-wireless.com
T-Mobile UK, as the 4th largest operator has one of the lowest ARPUs and is not gaining on its competitors and its valuation at Euro3.2bn is on the low side. It has excess capacity which could be attractive but that is not the issue, this is about a single move to become the UK's No1 mobile operator overnight and never have to look back over ones shoulder again. Further all the operators are currently at each others throats over 2G Re-Farming, Digital Dividend spectrum auctions and the Digital Britain Broadband Universal Service Obligation requirement that the UK government has put on the table - all this points to a market consolidation. Observers say the UK could end up with 3 mobile operators and just 2 networks plus a couple of major MVNOs!
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