Entries tagged with “data” from WIRELESS AND MOBILE NEWS
Mobile service revenues grew by just 3 percent in Q1 2009, down from
8 percent a year earlier, according to, "Wireless Operator Performance
Benchmarking, Q1 2009," a report from the Strategy Analytics Wireless
Network Strategies service.
Nearly 40 percent of all mobile operators
saw revenues fall in Q1 2009, compared to just 16 percent in the same
situation in Q1 2008.
Mobile data revenues increased 17 percent in the first quarter and now represent 25.3 percent of total operator revenues, up 21.9 percent year-over-year and a 24 percent increase over Q4 2008.The research, which tracks the operational and financial performance of the over 175 mobile operators who account for 80 percent of global subscribers, found that vanishing revenue growth was not just a problem in mature, saturated markets. One-quarter of the operators in emerging markets also saw service revenues fall in Q1 2009.
"Europe is seeing the greatest concentration of operators losing revenues at present," comments Phil Kendall, Director, Wireless Network Strategies. "This used to just be an issue for the more saturated, Western half, but has now extended to Central and Eastern Europe, too."
Susan Welsh de Grimaldo, Senior Analyst, Wireless Network Strategies adds, "In many other regions, operators recording revenue loss tend to be isolated cases where competitive pressure has hurt one operator more than others. However, in the Asia-Pacific, we are now seeing countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia and Thailand become tough environments for all players."
AT&TThe FamilyMap service enables users to see details such as location on a map and surrounding landmarks like schools and parks. Users can also toggle between satellite and interactive street maps. Families can customize their mapping experience by assigning a name and photo to each device within their account, and can also label places they visit frequently, like "Home" or "Soccer Field."
Through the tool's schedule checks option, parents can receive alerts at specified times via text or e-mail. For example, parents could request a schedule check every weekday at 4 p.m. to check on their child's location. In another scenario, parents of a teenager who drives could use the tool to check on their child's location instead of calling or texting the teen, which might present a distraction while the teen is on the road.
The first thirty days of the FamilyMap service is free and then after that it is $9.99 a month for two family members or $14.99 for up to five family members.
"AT&T FamilyMap is a terrific tool to help busy
families keep track of each other, as well as a great way to check up
on loved ones for any reason, such as to touch base with elderly family
members," said Mark Collins, vice president of Voice and Data Products
for AT&T
Mobility and Consumer Markets. "More than 60 percent of
AT&T wireless customers are part of a family plan or multiple line
account, so there's a considerable number of our subscribers whom we
believe will find this service beneficial."
Here are the cell phones and smartphones that go on sale today:
The Moto Q 9c from with a special package for blind and visually impared is now offered today, from Verizon. TALKS for Verizon Wireless supports audio feedback for writing and reading text messages, e-mail and notes. This is a keyboard smartphone.
Sprint begins selling the the LG Rumor2 with a full sliding QWERTY keyboard for enhanced messaging, email
and social networking as well as stereo Bluetooth, a 1.3 megapixel
camera and a lQVGA display.
Sprint is also selling the Palm Treo Pro smartphone with Wi-Fi, stereo Bluetooth and GPS.
Cricket Wireless will not have the World’s Largest Cell Phone working on display in Chicago after today. However,by Tuesday, March 17, Cricket products and services will be available in 26 retail stores and 650 dealer locations in the Chicago area.
The “Ides of March” didn’t work well for Caeser, but may be great for new phones and new services.
Google is launching its Google Voice service, only for former Grand Central users, the service it acquired in 2007, today. The free service from Google offers a lot of features. It's an IP-based phone managing service that routes home, office and mobile calls through one phone number.A phone connection is required for the service. Google Voice users call into their voice mail service from any phone. Once there, they can push a button to get a dial tone and call a different number. It doesn't require special equipment to connect to the Internet.
Google Voice features one number, screening, call-blocking, voicemail transcription, SMS support, conference calling, GOOG-411 integration, and call recording, low cost international calling. They also integrated GrandCentral with Google accounts and Google address books. Google reportedly will make their money from the fees for international calling.
The call blocking service, sends the caller "We're sorry the number that has been disconnected or no longer in service."
Verizon now offers information about its Nationwide Messaging plans in online videos in American Sign Language (ASL) to better serve customers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The videos feature Tom Boudrow of the Marlboro, Mass.-based Verizon Center for Customers with Disabilities, using American Sign Language to answer frequently asked questions about Verizon Wireless' Nationwide Messaging plans. The video clips can be viewed at http://aboutus.vzw.com/accessibility/nationwide_faq.html.
Verizon is now offering a plan that allows unlimited calling between customers’ home phones and their Verizon wireless phones, 200 wireless minutes, unlimited landline calls and other features for a $59.99 a month.
It appears that the plan is aimed at young people who don’t have a landline phone and at people who don’t have a cellphone.
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