GPS For Airtel Subscribers

Airtel announced the launch of GPS-based navigation application on mobile handsets in collaboration with Wayfinder Systems AB of Sweden.

To start with, the application would be available on BlackBerry 8800 and an Airtel user would be able to get map information and area coverage details of cities including - Delhi and NCR, Bangalore, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Chandigarh. The application turns the compatible mobile phone into a complete GPS-based navigation system.

Airtel is offering a 6 months free trial for all its Airtel BlackBerry 8800 users. The customer will not have to pay any subscription charges on the application during this period. However, data download charges will apply as per the subscriber's BlackBerry plan.

Source: iSource

M500 GSM Mobile Watch

Nokia N-Gage Demo Video

Source: Symbian-freak.com

Motorola- No Profit This Year

Motorola's crisis shows no sign of letting up. The world's second-biggest mobile phone manufacturer today revised down its sales forecast for the second quarter of 2007 from $9.4bn to between $8.6-8.7bn. Moto no longer expects its mobile division to make a profit this year.

So far this year, the firm has eliminated 7,500 jobs.

Source: Telecoms.com

Strong Quarter For Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson has reported another strong quarter, shipping 24.9 million units in 2007, a 59% increase on the same period in 2006. And, while the firm's average selling price (ASP) is on a downward trend, its sales for the quarter - at EUR3.1bn - were up 37% year on year.

Source: telecoms.com

Alcatel-Lucent Wins RCOM GSM and CDMA Contracts

Alcatel-Lucent bagged an IP-based CDMA and GSM network contract valued at more than US$400 million from India's Reliance Communications. This contract will enable RCOM to expand its wireless network to more than 20,000 towns and 600,000 villages.

In the framework of this contract, Alcatel-Lucent will upgrade Reliance's CDMA and GSM network with additional mobile switching centers and base stations. Alcatel-Lucent also will provide a comprehensive suite of network integration services, including network optimization, system support and general project management.

Source: Cellular News

Vodafone Messenger

Vodafone Portugal joined hands with Microsoft to launch Vodafone messenger. This application enables users to chat with the same list of contacts as on their PC, check their contacts' online status and send and receive emoticons. The service notifies users when new messages arrive, even when it is hidden. Users can chat between mobile phones and computers, provided that they have Windows Live Messenger installed.

Service is free until the end of October and Vodafone customers will be able to communicate without limits to any contact in their Windows Live Messenger list.

Source: Cellular News

Mobile Phones as Maths Instructor

Scientists in Israel have developed new applications that will help students to learn maths through their cell phones. Once installed, the applications enable mobile phones to function like computers. The scientists claimed that the applications are able to perform mathematical functions at different levels — from elementary school geometry to high school level calculus.

Source: TOI

Skype for Nokia N800

Nokia has made Skype telephone services available on the N800 Internet tablet. With Skype, Internet tablet users could make calls through a wireless Internet connection.

Nokia added Skype would be available for download for existing users. There will also be Skype download links on the latest release of Nokia N800 devices.

Source: TOI

BSNL Reduced International Roaming Tariff

BSNL has reduced international roaming tariff for foreigners using its network in the country by up to 40%, effective from July 1. For foreigners visiting India, the tariff for outgoing local/STD call is slashed to about Rs 30 per minute from Rs 49, while an ISD call will cost Rs 70 per minute from the earlier Rs 99. For an incoming call, a person has to pay Rs 50 per minute instead of earlier Rs 75 a minute.

Pre-condition for the reduced tariff is that the foreigner has to be a customer of designated operators with whom BSNL has bilateral agreement.

GSM operators earn about Rs 4,500 crore a year from tourists visiting India using local network for calls.

Source: DNA

MIH India Invests $12.3 Million in ACL Wireless

MIH India (ibibo.com), today announced a strategic investment into mobile VAS company ACL Wireless. MIH India has picked up 30% stake in mobile value added services company ACL Wireless for $12.3 million.

Source: The ET

8 Operators Summoned for Poor Quality

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India summoned 8 telecom operators for poor quality of service across the country. HFCL, MTNL, Idea, Hutch, Airtel and Aircel are among these operators.

These operators are told to meet the quality of service regulation 2005 parameters by next quarter ending September or otherwise face actions like penalty and even recommendation for cancellation of licenses.

Source: The Telegraph

500 Million Subscribers by 2010

Indian telecom operators are rushing to rural areas to add new wireless subscribers. The Indian government aims to have 500 million telephone subscribers by 2010.

"We are working on the assumption that 6million -7 million new customer additions is sustainable. This is the rate to reach our target of 500 million subscribers," Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's Nripendra Misra said.

Source: Cellular News

Mobile Checkout from PayPal

PayPal has announced the launch of Mobile Checkout, a service allowing consumers in the USA, UK and Canada to buy items securely using mobile internet sites. To use PayPal Mobile Checkout, a consumer can visit a merchant's website and purchase items by clicking on the PayPal button.

PayPal Mobile Checkout offers a simple way to accept payments for merchants with online storefronts.

Source: Cellular News

Top 10 Operators in Middle East & Africa

Source: The Mobile world

Music Portal From Airtel

Airtel has launched a music portal allowing subscribers to access a database of 10,000 songs in 17 regional languages. Simply call the toll-free line 57777 and follow the IVR directions.

The service can be accessed even through a basic mobile phone & can be heard without downloads.

Source: The Hindu

RCOM And Qualcomm- New Tie Up

RCOM and Qualcomm have announced a partnership to make available cheaper data services in India using CDMA technology. The two companies will collaborate to launch cheaper and feature-rich handsets, wireless Internet data cards and a host of data applications.

Reliance also announced plans to expand its CDMA network, covering more than 20,000 towns in India. Saturday’s announcement indicates Reliance’s strategy to stay with CDMA technology.

Source: Hindu

Zapak Slashing The Games Prices To Half

Zapak, a Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) venture company, is joining hands with 30 gaming studios across the world to create content for online games.

The company has entered into exclusive tie-ups with the US-based PopCap Games, Playfirst, and Russian game developer and distributor, Alawar, to provide content for casual games. The company is also working with 6-8 Indian studios towards this end. These games are further being localised to suit Indian users.

Zapak, will also soon be launching Disney’s downloadable games in association with Boonty — developer and distributor of online casual games — at Rs 249. These games include popular Disney series’ and movies such as Aladdin, Little Mermaid, Lion King and Kim Possible. The company is also trying to get the content of games based on Harry Potter. Zapak already has tie-ups with Adidas, Thums-Up, Ponds and a few other players for creating advergames.

The company is slashing the prices of its downloadable games to half. All the downloadable games from Zapak will be available in the range of Rs 49-249 whereas the same games are available for $20 (around Rs 800) or more in the international market.

Source: Business Standard