Tata Communications launches International Cloud Services in Singapore
March 8
Tata Communications, a leading provider of a new world of communications, has become the first Indian Telco to offer Cloud Computing solutions globally. After a successful launch in India in October 2010, Tata Communications launches Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) services in Singapore, also covering the neighboring countries: Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines.
InstaCompute brings scalable cloud computing services to the region’s large and medium enterprises, the gaming industry, as well as global businesses with an Asia Pacific audience. Later this year the launch will be extended to the UK, US and South African markets.
The pay-as-you-use service enables Asia Pacific businesses to quickly and easily tap into scalable, global IT infrastructure via the Internet, without the usual cost and complexities associated with IT provisioning. InstaCompute provides a delivery model that is tailored to meet both the local and global needs of Singapore and Asia Pacific businesses.
The launch of InstaCompute in Singapore joins Tata Communications’ recently launch India cloud platform and will be followed by launches in Europe, the US and South Africa by the end of the year.
Global average retail prices for 70% of mobile phones to fall under USD 100 by 2015
Evalueserve estimates that the global Average Selling Price (ASP) for approximately 70% (4.8 billion) of active mobile phones will fall under USD 100 by 2015. This can be attributed to the increased competition among manufacturers and focus of manufacturers on lower-middle income countries such as China and India that are cost-sensitive, but volume heavy.
Evalueserve estimates the global handset demand to rise to approximately 2.58 billion in 2015, with the replacement market accounting for approximately 94% of the gross demand.
According to an Evalueserve analysis, Nokia, the largest mobile manufacturer, recorded an approximately 39% fall in its ASP between 2005 and 2009. Similarly, Samsung’s ASP for mobile phones declined approximately 33% over the same period.
With the declining subscriber additions, the demand for replacement handsets is expected to become the key driver for the mobile market. Evalueserve estimates the share of handset replacement demand to the overall handset demand to increase from 73% (1.46 billion) in 2010 to 94% (2.43 billion) in 2015. Over the same period, gross handset demand is expected to increase at a CAGR of 5.1% from 2.0 billion in 2010 to 2.58 billion by 2015.
Comviva inks MoU with Inmobia to Provide Ring Back Tone Content Portfolio in Africa
March 07
Comviva, the global leader in providing mobile solutions beyond VAS, announced that it has signed an MoU with Inmobia, a leading provider of technology platforms and content for mobile operators, to provide RBT (Ring Back Tone) Content Portfolio in Africa for Comviva’s RBT platform. Comviva’s RBT platform enables operators to provide its subscribers with a wide range of personalized mobile music applications, allowing subscribers to reflect their personality and emotions using RBT.
Comviva delivers a range of applications – both home-grown and third party – that engage subscribers and provide convenience, entertainment and information services, whilst also addressing operator goals of accelerating revenue growth. Comviva’s RBT solution has witnessed huge success with over 13 million subscribers on a single operator network and deployed by over 20 operators across the globe.
Comviva has continuously enhanced its RBT offering to maintain subscriber stickiness, introducing ‘Star 2 Copy’ to simplify usage, ‘”A” Party Caller Tunes’ to provide callers with a choice of tune and AdsRBT to promote subscriber-relevant brands and enable subsidized service usage. Handset and SIM independent, RBT is available to all subscribers, whether prepaid, postpaid, fixed or wireless.
MACH appoints new Regional Vice President to lead growth in the burgeoning Asia Pacific market
March 8
MACH, the leading provider of hub-based mobile communication solutions, announced the appointment of Dennis Ng as Regional Vice President, Sales, Asia Pacific.
Mr. Ng will be leading MACH’s continued expansion across the Asia Pacific region, focusing on further growing its geographical footprint, developing new market segments and promoting a variety of new products and technologies to its core customer base in this important strategic market. He will also be seeking to build on MACH’s existing partnerships with the major players in the Asia Pacific mobile ecosystem, including Mobile Network Operators, regulatory bodies, partners and key consortiums, while continuing to deliver the high levels of customer satisfaction associated with MACH’s worldwide activities.
Mr. Ng brings with him over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications, IT, content and media sectors. His previous roles include Vice President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Syniverse Technologies and Managing Director, Asia Region at Progress Software. He has also held various senior positions at AT&T both in North America and Asia Pacific.
Mr. Ng holds a Masters of Business Administration in finance and marketing from Washington State University and a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Iowa State University.
iBuzz Mobiles Launches 6 new Mobile handsets
March 10
Vertex Management Solutions Pvt. Ltd. announced the launch of iBuzz Mobiles with the introduction of four mobile devices in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
The four models launched are the i1800 (Big Buzz), i2200 (Picture Buzz), i3300 (Multi Buzz), i4400 (Music Buzz), i4 (Slim Buzz), iQ3 (Chittchat). The price range for the handsets varies from Rs. 2200 to Rs. 4000.
All phones support key features like Dual SIM capability, color screens, multi language support and music players. Other features include security measures like phone trackers, panic button, and support for popular social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Ibibo and Nimbuzz.
While most features are standard across all models, every product subcategory comes with certain key features including Dual Memory card slots in the Multi Buzz range, 30-day standby and 15 hour talk time in the Big Buzz, Digital Camera CIF type in Picture Buzz and 40mm speaker with woofer in the Music Buzz.
Aircel launches 3G Services in India
March 1
Aircel, which made its presence felt in the year 2010 with an impressive pan India network rollout, continues its growth momentum by announcing the much awaited launch of its 3G services.
Aircel crossed an all-India subscriber base of over 50 million subscribers and was among the fastest growing mobile companies in the country last year.
Aircel, during the year made a strong commitment to the potentially fast growing data market in India, by grabbing a strong suite of 3G and BWA licenses. Aircel has already been the first Telco to get consumers to experience 3G, by creating a 3G experience zone in November, 2010.
Aircel rolled out 2G services in the shortest time frame in recent times. Aircel has recorded the fastest growth in revenue. In year 2010 revenue grew by 44% over 2009 and the incremental revenue market share grew by 19% in year 2010.
Aircel is a joint venture between Maxis Communications Berhad, a leading regional telecom group headquartered in Malaysia and the Apollo Hospitals Group.
Aircel 3G services will have something for all segments be the youth, housewives, professionals, children or even the elderly.3G will open up new vistas by speeding up access, which in itself will enhance experience.
Aircel is clear that it is not just broadening a pipe but also offering its consumers enriched content that will be special. The vibrant, colorful Aircel 3G PocketInternet portal experience will reach new heights as it hosts alluring Video entertainment such as fashion, the best in music, movies and sports; on Aircel Pocket Video consumers will get to watch their favorite movie songs or dialogues of favorite stars by dialing 56666; they will enjoy watching a plethora of TV channels live on Aircel 3G network in multiple languages.
Apart from a very robust Retail presence Aircel will provide a range of both prepaid and postpaid 3G products and services through its exclusive, vibrant flagship company outlets in Hyderabad.
Pre-load (pre-roll) ads are successful in generating viewer's interest: Nielsen
March 10
Pre-load ads—ads served while a site visitor is waiting for a chosen video to load—are successful in generating viewer interest, says a recent survey on the perception of pre-load ads by The Nielsen Company.
The survey conducted from October to December 2010 polled 424 visitors to the publisher sites that Vdopia is partnering with for pre-load ads.
58 percent of respondents recall seeing pre-load ads. 83 percent of respondents who recall seeing pre-load video ads say they have clicked at least once on a pre-load ad and a significant 54 percent of them, more than once. In addition, 78 percent of them say they have replayed a pre-load video ad at least once. Importantly, 69 percent of these respondents think pre-load video ads are interesting.
The survey also reveals heavy internet usage by online video viewers. Entertainment and movie videos were most popular. The hunger for entertainment represents the primary reason for online video viewing.
IDEA Cellular to empower the rural segment of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, UP West & AP
March 14
Idea, the pan-India telecom operator and handygo, India’s leading provider of VAS solutions, have announced the launch of ‘Behtar Zindagi’, latest bouquet of VAS offerings for customers in rural areas of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, UP West and Andhra Pradesh. This innovative product is specially designed to provide day-to-day information to Idea’s rural subscribers. The subscribers can get exhaustive and up to the mark information regarding health, education, finance, weather updates, mandi rates, livestocks, agriculture and fisheries.
To use this service Idea subscribers need to dial 556780 (tollfree) and avail the subscription pack at a minimal charge of Rs 30, 15, 7 and 2 for 30, 15, 7 and 1 day, respectively. The service is available in all the respective states regional languages along with Hindi and English.
This unique IVR based rural solution by handygo provides credible and authentic information to the rural subscribers. For latest and reliable updates handygo has partnered with various organizations such as Care India, Aviva Life Insurance, Indian Metrological Department, INCOIS, Hariyali Kisan Bazaar, Network for Fish Quality Management and Sustainable Fishing, Transparency International India, Sonalika, EKO India Financial Services and plethora of other organizations.
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