According to Research and Markets all the major developments on a global scale relate to digital media activities. To a large extent the telecoms and media industries are now being driven by the developments in this market. BuddeComm has been talking about VoIP, VoD and IPTV for many years, but the traditional companies have failed to deliver these services. As a result, developments are now moving to the web where companies such as Google/YouTube, eBay/Skype, Amazon, Yahoo, MSN, News Corp/MySpace and so on are the leaders. Current changes in this rapidly converging industry will force the telcos to spend more on IT and, as they don’t have the necessary skills in this field, more and more of this will be outsourced. This report outlines some of the key developments occurring in the industry as we move into 2008. Examples of topics covered include the emerging Femtocell technology, Vodafone’s support of WiMAX and key trends in mobile communications and mobile data sectors. The report also provides a brief overview of some of the interesting developments taking place on a regional level.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Ringbacktones Lead Growth in Mobile Music Space; Ringtone Use Declines
Broadcast Music, the U.S. performing right organization, released its annual mobile music market projections for 2008 an figures for 2007. BMI licenses the public performing right for the musical works of its more than 375,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers.
BMI projects that ringbacktones will surpass $210 million in U.S. retail sales during calendar year 2008, up 50% from BMI’s 2007 market estimate of $140 million. A ringbacktone is a musical work that is performed to the caller when they place a call to a participating mobile subscriber.
BMI also predicted that the U.S. ringtone market will continue to decline in 2008, generating approximately $510 million in retail sales for the calendar year. This represents a $40 million or 7% reduction
from calendar year 2007, marking the second consecutive year that the U.S. ringtone market has waned. BMI pegged the 2007 market at $550 million (U.S.) in retail sales, down $50 million from the prior year. The company estimates the ringtone domain experienced sales of $600 million in calendar year 2006; $500 million in 2005; $245 million in 2004 and $68 million in 2003, respectively.
BMI’s conclusions are based on comprehensive data derived from the buying behavior of more than 200 million of the current 220 million United States mobile subscribers.
“The market for ringbacktones has grown stronger than we originally forecasted last year,” said Richard Conlon, Vice President, New Media & Strategic Development, BMI. “Its growth, coupled with the positive gains that streaming mobile media have made in 2008 alone, supports our bullish point of view on the growth of the mobile entertainment business. We see gains in mobile audio and mobile television style services in the coming years as well. As we forecasted last year, the ringtone market continues to decline as the novelty phase wears off and lower-priced substitutional products come to market.”
Cricket Launch of Two Samsung Phones
Cricket announced two new CDMA AWS handsets from Samsung, the MyShot and Spex. Starting tomorrow, the Samsung MyShot, the world’s first CDMA AWS camera phone, and the Samsung Spex mobile phone will be commercially available at Cricket retail stores in Tulsa, Okla., and will be available soon in all Cricket markets nationwide. Cricket launched its first CDMA AWS handset March 7, 2008 and these Samsung handsets further enhance the Cricket portfolio in support of upcoming AWS market launches. Designed to operate on the new AWS spectrum band, the tri-band Samsung MyShot and Samsung Spex also operate on the PCS and cellular bands, enabling them to work in all existing Cricket wireless markets stretching from California to New York. These new phones will also work in new Cricket markets slated to begin launching this year including Oklahoma City, Okla. and Las Vegas, Nev.
“As we prepare to launch the first of our AWS markets, we want to ensure that consumers have a choice of mobile devices when they sign up for Cricket’s unlimited wireless services. We are pleased to be the first operator to bring CDMA AWS devices to market including the Samsung MyShot and Spex,” said Al Moschner, Cricket’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer. “With today’s introduction, both new and existing Cricket subscribers have access to two new wireless phones that incorporate the latest AWS capability, while having the ability to operate on the PCS and cellular bands.”
The slim Samsung Spex features a sleek, modern design with an easy-to-use interface. This Bluetooth®-capable handset includes a color display, speakerphone, personal tools such as calendar, memo pad and more. Additionally, the Spex supports Cricket services such as text messaging, Mobile Web for browsing and downloading favorite ringtones and graphics, and Cricket Games & Apps. The Samsung Spex will have a retail price of $119.99.
With plans starting as low as $35 per month, Cricket provides unlimited wireless calling all day and every day – without the need for contracts or credit checks. Cricket’s highest value plan – Cricket Nation 200 – is priced at only $60 per month and includes unlimited anytime minutes, unlimited U.S. domestic long distance, unlimited coverage in all Cricket markets, free text and picture messaging, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, three-way calling and 200 nationwide roaming minutes per month.
iLoop Mobile and OpenMarket Provide Premier Services for Mobile Marketing and Content Distribution
Top mobile industry players join forces to offer an integrated, full-featured solution for the mobile channel.iLoop Mobile, the mobile technology and services company for mobile Internet, advertising, marketing, and content delivery, today announced that it has joined forces with OpenMarket, a provider of mobile messaging and financial payment processing for direct-to-consumer (D2C) mobile commerce, to provide companies with a complete solution o create, connect and manage mobile marketing, advertising and content distribution initiatives worldwide. The collaboration offers iLoop Mobile and OpenMarket customers an efficient and cost effective "one stop shop" integrated solution to launch mobile initiatives easily without the hindrance of managing multiple service and technology providers.
"iLoop Mobile has chosen OpenMarket as a connectivity provider first and foremost for the reliability and efficiency of their messaging transaction network, along with excellent customer service and responsiveness," said Matt Harris, CEO of iLoop Mobile. "We also benefit from OpenMarket's established relationships and extensive knowledge of mobile operators and their billing systems, along with the accelerated time-to-market and SAS70 compliance that our customers require. The detail and accuracy of OpenMarket's financial transaction and billing reporting is impressive. With their support for a wide range of standard and premium mobile messaging like SMS/MMS, music, games, video, subscriptions, and interactive TV campaigns, OpenMarket offers a robust solution for iLoop Mobile's connectivity offering."
Together, iLoop Mobile and OpenMarket can offer their customers a state-of-the-art mobile software solution-iLoop Mobile's mFinity Platform to create and manage mobile initiatives with OpenMarket's robust and reliable mobile transaction network. In addition to their leading application technology, iLoop Mobile also offers services and expertise in mobile campaign design, tactics and strategies.
"The combination of OpenMarket's message delivery and financial payment processing services with iLoop Mobile's content delivery and payment processing services gives customers the full package they need to create and manage complex mobile initiatives," said Steve Shivers, general manager of OpenMarket. "Both OpenMarket and iLoop are committed to making more options available to companies seeking to quickly and easily initiate or expand their mobile content offerings and revenue."
AT&T Offers More Music Choices and Customization to Mobile Music Lovers
"Music is one of the most personal forms of self-expression," said Mark Collins, vice president of Consumer Data for AT&T's wireless unit. "We want to empower our customers to use music however they wish on their mobile phones. We're constantly looking for new opportunities to meet the wireless needs and wants of our customers. We are pleased
to offer our customers more choices and flexibility in how they experience music on the go."
UIQ Releasing New Version
UIQ Technology today announced the availability of UIQ 3.3, bringing mobile phone manufacturers even more opportunities to innovate and to diversify their product portfolios.UIQ 3.3 based on Symbian OS v 9.3 builds on the success of the UIQ 3 family, making it possible for mobile phone manufacturers to produce different kinds of phones on the same software platform, on a single code line. UIQ 3.3 includes incremental enhancements in line with market requirements, including enhanced support for operator services and extensive customization for addressing different market segments.
"UIQ 3.3 will significantly enhance the options for creating differentiated mobile phones for different segments and different price ranges," said Mats Barvesten EVP Product Management and Ecosystems.
"Operators are also given the opportunity to promote their services through customized folders and a widget dashboard. We have integrated the Opera Mobile 9.5 web browser and added a number of new functions and possibilities that are in line with our strategy to enable phones with world class user experience."
With an aim to extend UIQ based mobile phones into the mass-market, UIQ's focus is to ensure a flexible and powerful open user interface and development platform that optimizes the options for mobile phone manufacturers to create higher volume phones for the market.
"The UIQ platform is a key enabler for several of Motorola's multimedia-centric devices -- including our new MOTO Z10 kick-slider handset, which offers users a host of features and applications for a unique mobile video experience," said Christy Wyatt, Vice President, Software Platforms & Ecosystem, Motorola. "We look forward to supporting UIQ 3.3 in future mobile devices, leveraging its new capabilities to further enhance customer experiences, and working closely with UIQ to provide the essential toolsets to our developer community."
"With UIQ 3.3, including a number of web based technologies, we see the platform evolving further to enable even richer user experience," said Ulf Persson, Corporate Vice President and Head of PBU Open Platforms at Sony Ericsson. "We welcome this release and are committed to developing and delivering products on UIQ 3.3."
Nokia Wins Frost & Sullivan Award for Mobile Advertising
American Mobility Award for On-deck Mobile Advertising by Frost & Sullivan, solidifying the company's position as one of the pioneers and continued leaders of the mobile advertising industry.
Nokia acquired mobile advertising leader, Enpocket, in October 2007 and continues to leverage Enpocket's ground-breaking analytics technology to optimize campaigns, improve conversions, and measure campaign performance across the network, allowing the company to provide mobile advertising solutions to some of the biggest brand advertisers around the world.
"Nokia continues to drive innovation in the U.S. Mobile Advertising industry and remains the preferred partner of mobile operators, advertisers and content publishers," said Frost & Sullivan Senior Industry Analyst Vikrant Gandhi. "The company has been a key partner of Sprint's pioneering mobile advertising initiative and plays a central role in ad-enabling Sprint's mobile properties and powering the Sprint Mobile Media Network."
Nokia enables advertisers to place ads on publisher and operator mobile Web pages, as well as Nokia properties, representing a global consumer reach of more than 100 million mobile consumers. As part of the turn-key service for advertisers, the award-winning mobile marketing team from Nokia creates mobile campaigns for hundreds of top brands.
"We're pleased to accept this award from Frost & Sullivan," said Mike Baker, VP and head of Nokia Interactive. "We are committed to building a mobile advertising ecosystem that provides advertisers with a high-performing and measurable medium for reaching their target audience while ensuring a relevant and respectful advertising experience for consumers."
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Alltel Wireless launches Alltel Social Video
Alltel Wireless announced that customers with video-capable phones now have exclusive access to Alltel Social Video, a new application that allows customers to share and rate videos from a wide range of online outlets. To deliver the application, Alltel Wireless has teamed with Transpera, a leading provider of mobile video services, which provides the first comprehensive platform to monetize Web video on mobile phones. Customers can subscribe to the service for $2.99 per month and access videos from sources such as Break.com, the leading online entertainment channel for men; AtomFilms, one of the world’s leading brands for independent entertainment; and GrindTV.com, a site widely recognized as the top online destination for action-oriented videos and content. After viewing the videos, customers have the option to rate the video or share the content via the “Send-to-Friend” feature. In addition, customers can search for videos across channels, create custom playlists and manage distribution lists.
“As the mobile phone continues to evolve into a portable entertainment device, Alltel Wireless is constantly seeking ways to engage customers through their phones, as more and more are taking advantage of the video capabilities offered on their handsets,” said Craig Kirkland, director of messaging and voice services for Alltel Wireless. “Alltel Social Video allows our customers to interact with video and lets them become part of an online video community.”
“Alltel Wireless is widely recognized throughout the industry as being a leader in wireless innovation. The launch of Alltel Social Video is the latest example of how Alltel provides customers with applications that tap into current trends and take full advantage of today’s technologies,” said Frank Barbieri, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Transpera. “The Transpera platform that Alltel Wireless chose to use for its social video application will provide its customers with seamless video and advertising delivery, while connecting them to the entertaining and social world of online video.”
Alltel Wireless continues to provide choice and control to the customer’s wireless experience by offering features such as “My Circle,” an industry-defining feature giving customers the freedom of unlimited calling to and from five, 10 or 20 numbers on any network for free; and was the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time, without extending their current contract.
Audiopoint Provides Personalized News and Information Services to EarthLink's Subscribers
Audiopoint, a speech applications company developing products for businesses that reach consumer markets, and EarthLink, one of the nation's leading Internet service providers (ISPs), announced an agreement that will give EarthLink's subscribers the ability to define their own News and Information Services leveraging Audiopoint's latest product release and speech application service. The popularity of EarthLink's Email By Phone has demonstrated that people want access to a wider range of information on the go. News and Information Services combines the existing functionality of Email By Phone with natural voice-enabled Web content. Popular content such as Local News, Weather and Stock Quotes, amongst other personalized services are now available from any telephone using simple voice commands.
uVuMobile To Provide Mobile Streaming Video And Advertising Service For Action Engine
uVuMobile announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with Action Engine, The On-Device Portal Company to provide an integrated multimedia services platform that gives media companies and wireless operators a user-friendly experience for streaming video and audio content on a wireless device. This agreement will enable Action Engine customers to enhance their on-device portals with rich, on-demand multimedia options that can be advertising enabled.Mobile multimedia continues to be one of the fastest growing services in the wireless industry. According to Research and Marketing, streaming media enterprise markets were at $230 million in 2006 and are anticipated to reach $2 billion by 2013, uVuMobile’s flexible and scalable platform for streaming video and audio can provide a presence that extends far beyond the traditional video on-demand services being offered today and provides for advertising insertion, including pre-roll, mid-roll, and post roll video commercials.
“This licensing agreement with Action Engine is another example of how uVuMobile is leveraging its mobile platform within the mobile video and audio delivery industry. Through this partnership, Action Engine will be able to deliver its customers streaming media and video advertisements and services across a wide variety of devices. This agreement also makes Action Engine the first company to integrate streaming video, mobile advertising and on-device portal technology into a single platform – offering a single source for delivering, managing and monetizing mobile multimedia services for its customers,” said Bill Loughman, President and CEO of uVuMobile.
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