Maybe it’s not all
Apple’s fault after all. French wireless carrier Orange has admitted to capping 3G network speeds at 384Kbps for iPhone customers, AppleInsider reports. Perhaps that’s why iPhone users on Germany’s T-Mobile network were reporting speeds as high as 1800Kbps while Orange customers’ data moved at a much slower pace. As with other carriers that recently launched the new iPhone 3G, Orange’s customer care lines lit up. In some cases, representatives were able to dramatically increase specific iPhone users’ speeds to as much as 3Mbps by simply altering some technical parameters. Orange told FranceInfo that the network speeds were capped to preserve network stability, but that it intends to raise the download cap for iPhone users to 1Mbps by Sept. 15.
It’s doubtful that will resolve the concern of many Orange customers that have signed a petition saying the artificial limitation is in direct violation of Orange’s service agreement, which should allow for HSDPA speeds up to 7.2Mbps. And it’s likely to stoke the debate on whether iPhone 3G connection issues are the fault of Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) or the carriers. Is AT&T (NYSE: T) doing the same thing in the United States? Apple may not want to rustle the feathers of its carrier partners, but it would serve the company well to deflect criticism if it’s not a chipset or software problem that’s crippling iPhone 3Gs. If the blame rightfully belongs elsewhere, why hasn’t Apple said so? My guess is there’s a group of snafus gathering here, the fallout of which we’ll be seeing for some time to come.
source
Written by Maximus on August 28th, 2008 with no comments.
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There were 608.38 million subscribers of mobile communication services in China as of the end of July 2008, growing by 1.27% on month and by 19.63% on year, according to statistics published by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT, renamed from Ministry of Information Industry) on its Chinese-language web site on August 26.
The number of subscribers at the end of July accounted for 45.6% of the country's population (user density).
Also at the end of July 2008 were there 355.06 million subscribers of fixed telecommunication networks in China, translating into a user density of 27.0%.
In July 2008, mobile phone subscribers in China sent 57.76 billion short messages, averaging 3.08 short messages per phone number a day.
Written by Maximus on August 28th, 2008 with no comments.
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According to Interfax, the company VimpelCom stated that signed a formal agreement with Apple to sell
iPhone 3G in Russia. It is expected that sales will begin later this year, more exact date has not yet been named. Interestingly, the contract with Apple VimpelCom yet signed on 13 August, his company did not disclose terms. Thus, VimpelCom became the first Russian operator, officially announced the signing of a contract to sell iPhone.
Earlier already reported that other operators "big three" - MTS and MegaFon - also in August signed an agreement with Apple to sell iPhone. According to unofficial information, iPhone sales in Russia will begin in October, its cost of about 25 thousand rubles, and all three operators will be required in 2008-2009. sell an amount of 3.5 million phones. It is likely that operators will not allocate Apple monthly interest from the revenue from each subscriber, connect the iPhone, as happens in other countries, and Russian subscribers will not have to sign long-term contract with the operator.
Interestingly, the illegal sale of iPhone in Russia began shortly after the start of sales of this phone (even the first generation) in the U.S. in July last year. To date, an estimated expert on the Russian market has already sold sold more than 400 thousand devices.
Written by Maximus on August 28th, 2008 with no comments.
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Ericsson Company reported that first united the base station (BS) GSM standard with the system of satellite communications in a single mobile network infrastructure to food from solar panels. Thanks to this decision Cambodian mobile operator Star-Cell will expand its network and provide coverage in remote regions of the country. The solution, built on the basis of an autonomous base station with Ericsson made radiomodulem function of savings and electricity, would provide affordable telecommunications services to all residents of the country.
The possibility of signal transmission via satellite makes it easy to provide network coverage in remote regions where there is no possibility to use other channels to Intranet connection. This is the key to eliminating the digital barrier, as about 80% of people in Cambodia live in rural areas.
Standalone solution with GSM-made to the antenna radiomodulem has less impact on the environment than the standard base station, by reducing energy consumption by 50%. In addition, the station helps to reduce overall costs by reducing the costs of its services.
The operator Star-Cell Decision Ericsson chosen for the project to expand the network and the introduction of EDGE-applications in which it is to provide residents of rural health services to remote and distance education.
Written by Maximus on August 26th, 2008 with no comments.
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Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has been selected by Telcel - Mexico's leading mobile operator and a subsidiary of América Móvil - to provide microwave-transmission links for high-speed mobile broadband.
The agreement is the largest microwave deal in Latin America so far. Ericsson will provide Telcel with microwave-transmission links for 2G and 3G/HSPA based on the Ericsson MINI-LINK TN solution. This is a turnkey project in which Ericsson will provide full customer, equipment and field support.
Mobile penetration in Mexico is growing at a yearly rate of about 22 percent and reached an estimated 64 percent in 2007. This rapid growth has prompted Mexican mobile operators since 2003 to upgrade their networks to offer high-capacity and high-speed data services. Ericsson's microwave solution will boost the transmission capacity of Telcel's 2G and 3G networks, enabling the provision of high-speed mobile broadband based on HSPA.
The MINI-LINK TN solution will enable Telcel to increase its network coverage and subscriber base while lowering operating expenses. It also provides fast rollout capabilities and the flexibility to expand capacity according to the traffic growth.
Telcel has stated that it is looking to migrate gradually to IP its whole network, to give its customers the highest mobile broadband speed.
MINI-LINK TN will not only provide complete capacity requirements for its existing 2G/3G-HSPA network today, but also enable a smooth migration to an all-IP network in the future.
Lars Lindén, President of Ericsson Mexico, says: "This is our largest microwave contract to date in Latin America. It shows that MINI-LINK TN is the best-in-class microwave platform from both a commercial and technical point of view. It provides Telcel with all PDH/SDH and IP capacity requirements for a true high-speed mobile broadband network."
The first phase of the contract extends through the end of 2008. Rollout begins in the third quarter of 2008.
Ericsson is the undisputed market leader in microwave transmission and has delivered more than 1.5 million microwave radios around the world. The portfolio consists of the well-established MINI-LINK family, strengthened by the Marconi LH trunk radio. All products are managed by a common management system, ServiceOn.
Written by Maximus on August 25th, 2008 with no comments.
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WARREN, N.J., /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. (NYSE: VM), a leading national provider of pay-as-you-go wireless services, announced that it has completed its acquisition of Helio, a joint venture between SK Telecom and EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK) that complements Virgin Mobile USA's strengths through its specialization in highly advanced postpaid products and services. The acquisition was completed based on the terms and conditions outlined in Virgin Mobile USA's June 27, 2008 press release. All necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained.
In connection with the acquisition, Helio shareholders SK Telecom and EarthLink and have received limited partnership units and shares equivalent to 13 million shares of Virgin Mobile USA Class A common stock, with a value of $38 million based on the average closing price of Virgin Mobile USA's Class A shares, as of two trading days before and two trading days after the date of announcement. In addition, SK Telecom and Virgin Group will each invest $25 million in Virgin Mobile USA for preferred shares.
Dan Schulman, Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Mobile USA, emphasized the benefits of the transaction to Virgin Mobile USA and the new opportunities for growth it creates. "Adding Helio's differentiated postpaid offer to Virgin Mobile USA's existing portfolio will expand both our market opportunity and our ability to deliver new products and services more rapidly," he said. "We believe this transformative transaction will bolster our leading position in the wireless space, and enable us to provide customers with whatever they need in wireless, always with our focus on great value, flexibility and customer service. We look forward to revealing our roadmap for expanded, innovative offers in the near future.
"This acquisition of Helio also comes with a number of financial benefits, including improved network rates from Sprint for Virgin Mobile USA, and strategic investments by SK Telecom and Virgin Group which improve our capital structure and increase liquidity," Schulman said.
Schulman said that the transaction provides Virgin Mobile USA with:
-- a set of unique and differentiated data applications;-- entry into the postpaid market, with a sophisticated billing and customer care platform;
-- approximately 170,000 Helio customers;
-- revised terms for the Sprint PCS Services Agreement [NYSE: S], expected to result in an 8% reduction in the Company's effective cost per minute in 2009;
-- reduction in net debt of approximately $35 - $40 million, through the investments of $25 million each by SK Telecom and Virgin Group in the form of preferred mandatory convertible stock at the price of $8.50 per share;
-- an increase to Virgin Mobile USA's total revolver from $75 million to $135 million, through additional commitments of $25 million by Virgin Group and $35 million by SK Telecom; and
-- the addition of SK Telecom as a strategic shareholder with two seats on the Company's Board of Directors.
A percentage of the equity issued and issuable in the transaction will be subject to escrow for one year to secure certain indemnification obligations. Additional information is available at http://investorrelations.virginmobileusa.com/.
About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. [NYSE: VM], through its operating company Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., offers more than five million customers control, flexibility and choice through monthly Plans Without Annual Contracts, with national coverage powered by the Sprint PCS network. With its pay-as-you-go plans and the addition of Helio's postpaid offerings, Virgin Mobile USA now provides consumers with the broadest range of wireless alternatives. Virgin Mobile USA's full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets are available at approximately 40,000 top retailers nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at more than 140,000 locations. Virgin Mobile USA is known for its award-winning customer service, and its customers report a 90% satisfaction rate. Virgin Mobile USA allows customers to earn free minutes in exchange for viewing advertising content online through the innovative Sugar Mama program, and contributes a portion of profits from downloadable content to The RE*Generation, its pro-social initiative to help homeless youth.
About Helio
Helio, LLC, now part of Virgin Mobile USA, has built a reputation as the mobile brand for the Internet generation with advanced mobile services, exclusive high-end, connection devices like the Ocean, and integrated pricing on a nationwide high-speed 3G network. Helio was launched in 2006 as a joint venture between EarthLink and SK Telecom, one of the world's most advanced wireless carriers and now an investor in Virgin Mobile USA. For more information, visit http://www.helio.com/.
About SK Telecom
SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM)(NYSE: KSE:)(NYSE: 017670) is the top wireless communication provider in Korea, where it has more than 22 million subscribers taking up more than 50% of the total market. The company established in 1984, reached KRW 11.28 trillion in revenue in 2007. SK telecom was the first to launch and commercialize CDMA, CDMA 2001x, CDMA EV-DO and HSDPA networks, and it currently provides cellular, wireless internet, mobile media, global roaming service and more. For more information, please visit http://www.sktelecom.com/ or email to press@sktelecom.com.
Written by Maximus on August 23rd, 2008 with no comments.
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Affordable New Flip Phone Joins Stable of 2008 Handset All-Stars
WARREN, N.J. and SAN DIEGO, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- These days it's hard to get anything -- from a pizza pie to petroleum at the pump -- for just 20 bucks. Virgin Mobile USA is about to change all that with the introduction of its newest handset, the TNT! by Kyocera Wireless. A stylish Talk N' Text (get it?) phone in a flip form factor, the TNT! is perfect for consumers who like the simple things in phones. The TNT! is now available at major retailers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and Radio Shack, and will be available at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/ beginning August 20.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070613/VIRGINMOBILE)
The TNT! has a soft-to-the-touch feel but also conveys style and a sense of durability, a perfect on-the-go accessory, all at the powerful price point of $20.
According to Matias Monges, Virgin Mobile USA's director of mobile devices, the TNT! is designed for consumers who need a reliable and attractive phone, without blowing up their wallets. "At Virgin Mobile USA we are committed to giving our customers value, service and choice they can't find anywhere else. The TNT! is a perfect embodiment of that philosophy, and shows that we can deliver it all -- from robust gear like the Wild Card from Kyocera to less expensive devices that still excel at getting the job done with style."
This affordable mobile phone brings yet another cost-effective and attractive product to Virgin Mobile USA's lineup, again offering customers a desirable handset that comes with flexible monthly plans and no annual contract. Virgin Mobile USA customers have access to a variety of calling and messaging plans without annual contracts, including the recently introduced Totally Unlimited voice plan that provides unlimited calling for $79.99 without roaming charges, activation fees or a two-year commitment.
"When it comes to style, features and performance, people are getting more than their money's worth with the TNT!" said Tom Maguire, divisional vice president of global marketing at Kyocera Wireless Corp. "Virgin Mobile USA's commitment to providing its customers incredible value extends beyond just its service plans and into its handset lineup as well. The TNT! is the latest in a long line of Kyocera phones at Virgin Mobile that deliver on this promise."
Here are a few features of the TNT! handset:
-- Sleek and small, this flip phone measures 3.5" x 1.8" x 0.6" -- all at less than 3 ounces and about the size of half a candy bar, the phone fits perfectly in the palm of the hand.
-- Designed by Kyocera Wireless and includes an external display with illuminating external caller ID
-- Comes preloaded with an array of playful games, along with downloadable animated and Real Music ringtones.
-- Sports the powerful Virgin Mobile USA user interface and Virgin XL, which means it works as great as it looks.
-- Up to 200 minutes of talk time and 5 days of standby time on a single charge, plus room for 250 contacts ensures you'll be as connected as you can possibly need to be.
About Kyocera Wireless Corp.
Kyocera Wireless Corp. is a leading supplier of innovative, feature-rich wireless devices and accessories for customers worldwide. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyocera International Inc., which acquired QUALCOMM Incorporated's consumer wireless phone business in February 2000. Based in San Diego, Kyocera Wireless leverages Japan's history of creating advanced consumer technologies around humanism and respect for the environment and blending them with a Western entrepreneurialism and style, resulting in a unique design language and a natural, user-friendly interface. For more information, please visit http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/.
Kyocera Corporation (NYSE: KYO), the parent and global headquarters of the Kyocera Group, was founded in 1959 as a producer of advanced ceramics. By combining these engineered materials with metals and plastics, and integrating them with other technologies, Kyocera has become a leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, laser printers, copiers, solar energy systems, semiconductor packages, electronic components, and industrial ceramics. During the year ended March 31, 2008, Kyocera Corporation's consolidated net sales totaled approximately US$12.9 billion (JP 1,290,436 million yen) with net income of approximately US$1.0 billion (JP 107,244 million yen).
About Virgin Mobile USA, Inc.
Virgin Mobile USA (NYSE: VM), through its operating company Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., offers millions of customers control, flexibility and choice through monthly Plans Without Annual Contracts, with national coverage powered by the Sprint PCS network. Virgin Mobile USA's full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets, including the Wild Card, Slash and Flare, are available at approximately 40,000 top retailers nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at more than 140,000 locations. Virgin Mobile USA, known for its award-winning customer service, was recently rated the best prepaid wireless service for the second year in a row in the Annual PC Magazine Readers' Choice Survey, with 90% of its own customers reporting satisfaction with its service.
Virgin Mobile USA allows customers to earn free minutes in exchange for viewing advertising content online through the innovative Sugar Mama program and contributes a portion of profits from downloadable content to The RE*Generation, its pro-social initiative.
Written by Maximus on August 22nd, 2008 with no comments.
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Live Performances by Jack Johnson, Nine Inch Nails, Lil Wayne and Many More
LOS ANGELES, /PRNewswire/ -- A diverse line-up of artist performances from this year's Virgin Mobile Festival, including Jack Johnson, Nine Inch Nails, Lil Wayne and many more, will be available for free to millions of fans worldwide via online broadcast at music.msn.com/virgin-festival1, Control Room and MSN confirmed today. The three-part series created by Control Room, the world's leading producer and distributor of world-class entertainment content, and with event producer IMP, captures the electricity and excitement of the two-day event by Virgin Mobile USA which boasted more than 60,000 attendees and an eclectic roster representing every music genre.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070613/VIRGINMOBILE )
The three-part series can be viewed on broadcast the dates listed below and VOD for four months following the initial broadcast.
Package 1: August 21, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT
1. Jack Johnson
2. Iggy & The Stooges
3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
4. Bloc Party
5. KT Tunstall
6. The Go! Team
http://music.msn.com/virgin-festival1
Package 2: August 28, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT
1. Lil Wayne
2. Stone Temple Pilots
3. Gogol Bordello
4. Citizen Cope
5. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
http://music.msn.com/virgin-festival2
Package 3: September 4, 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT
1. Nine Inch Nails
2. The Offspring
3. Andrew Bird
4. Rodrigo Y Gabriela
5. Taking Back Sunday
http://music.msn.com/virgin-festival3
"Virgin Mobile USA provided us with an amazing opportunity to offer a wide variety of phenomenal artists performing live from Virgin Mobile Festival, one of the most popular summer festivals in the country," said Aaron Grosky, Control Room president. "Shows like Virgin Mobile Festival allow Control Room to consistently deliver the most diverse and compelling artist performances for MSN Music in Concert."
"We're delighted to extend the reach of the Virgin Mobile Festival to a whole new audience with the vibrant combination of Control Room and MSN Music," said Ron Faris, director of Brand Development and Partnerships at Virgin Mobile USA. "This year's festival was packed with so many memorable moments. We're happy to share them, especially with those who couldn't travel to be there." Virgin Mobile Festival was held on the grounds of Pimlico RaceCourse® in Baltimore, MD on August 9th and 10th.
Control Room has produced nearly 100 live shows including Madonna, Foo Fighters, Rihanna, Jay-Z, Lenny Kravitz, and more, providing exclusive music content for MSN "Music in Concert" series. In 2007, Control Room produced Live Earth, the most watched online entertainment event in history.
About Control Room
As the leading producer and distributor of world-class entertainment, Control Room's live music programming showcases the world's biggest artists from a variety of venues through multi-platform broadcasts via television, broadband and wireless platforms. Control Room has produced and distributed nearly 100 live music events delivering the highest quality productions in the industry with 8-10 camera shoots in Native HD (1080p) and using Dolby 5.1 to ensure the most compelling audience experience. In 2007, Control Room produced the largest entertainment event in history, Live Earth. On July 7, 2007, the 7-continent, 24-hour music extravaganza featured 150 of the world's leading artists to raise awareness for the Climate Crisis with a message of solutions and personal responsibility.
About MSN Video
MSN Video is one of the largest free programmed video services on the Web, watched by more than 12 million unique users per month. In addition to streaming news, entertainment and sports video clips from more than 50 content partners including "The Today Show," FOX Sports, MSNBC, Reveille, Control Room, CBS, News Corp. and Fox Entertainment Group, MSN Video presents a broad array of live events to online audiences worldwide. More than 50 top advertisers support MSN Video, which is available to consumers at no charge. MSN Video is available on the Web at http://msnvideo.com/ to consumers in the U.S. MSN Video is also live in Australia, Canada, France (English and French), Japan, Netherlands, U.K., Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Mexico, Sweden, Belgium, Taiwan, India, Vietnam, Russia and in Spanish in the U.S. MSN Video is coming soon in China, Norway, Argentina, Chile and Columbia.
Overall, MSN, Windows Live and Microsoft.com attract more than 550 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Most recently, MSN partnered with Control Room to stream Live Earth, the largest online entertainment event in history, with over 62 million streams worldwide.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Virgin Mobile USA
Virgin Mobile USA, Inc. [NYSE: VM], through its operating company Virgin Mobile USA, L.P., offers millions of customers control, flexibility and choice through monthly Plans Without Annual Contracts, with national coverage powered by the Sprint PCS network. Virgin Mobile USA's full slate of smart, stylish and affordable handsets, including the Wild Card, Slash and Flare, are available at approximately 40,000 top retailers nationwide and online at http://www.virginmobileusa.com/, with Top-Up cards available at more than 140,000 locations. Virgin Mobile USA, known for its award-winning customer service, was recently rated the best prepaid wireless service for the second year in a row in the Annual PC Magazine Readers' Choice Survey, with 90% of its own customers reporting satisfaction with its service. Virgin Mobile USA allows customers to earn free minutes in exchange for viewing advertising content online through the innovative Sugar Mama program.
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070613/VIRGINMOBILE
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Written by Maximus on August 22nd, 2008 with no comments.
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