49% Indian Subscribers Use Mobile Banking

Mobile technology company Sybase 365 conducted a survey about Mobile Opportunities for the Financial Sector. Survey results showed 81% of 311 Indian mobile phone customers surveyed are aware of mobile banking for checking their account balance. 49% of the respondents had used the mobile banking service in the last 3 months. This is the highest figure among the five countries surveyed in the Asia Pacific.

36% of the respondents said they would move to a bank which offers free mobile banking services. Indians are very concerned about security. The survey found that 67% of the respondents expressed an interest in receiving reports about possible fraud transactions and an ability to freeze their cards through the mobile and are even ready to pay for these services.

Source: Agencyfaqs

Mobile Search On Its Way

Usable Products Company recently completed an independent user experience benchmark on Mobile Search. 80% users evaluated three text-based and one voice-enabled mobile search solution. Researchers were surprised that 79% of participants favored advertising-supported mobile search, and 37% felt that banner ads actually enhanced the mobile search user experience. Paid and sponsored text based ads proved most detrimental to user experience.

Participants initially predicted voice search would be the most difficult to use but after an hour of usage gave it higher ratings than text search. According to Scott Weiss, president of Usable Products, "Users predicted voice search would be the worst of the four search products, but in final usability, it performed better than expected. We were surprised that participants enjoyed voice search, and how much more they liked it than searching via phone keypad."

"Mobile search is in its early stages, with many opportunities for improvement. While participants averaged an impressive 88% success rate in submitting mobile search queries, only 53% found relevant results. Participants who found what they were looking for averaged 143 seconds to submit queries and find answers," said Weiss.

The four mobile search solutions benchmarked were: InfoSpace WAP, JumpTap Java (Alltel Axcess Search), Nuance Voice Control, and Yahoo! Go. Participants each used a single mobile search product to check a horoscope, weather, a stock quote, find a restaurant, check a sports core, and find a ring tone.

Source: Usable Products

User Wants Simple & Easy to Use Handsdets

According to new findings from Continental Research, Mobile phone users aren't showing interest in advanced features such as accessing the internet or downloading and watching TV on their handset. Report shows that the percentage of mobile users using advanced features has decreased in eight out of 11 activities tracked within the past 12 months.

Only the percentage of people sending photo messages and downloading games has increased.A large majority (68%) of mobile users would prefer a more basic mobile phone that was simple to use and affordable.

Only 25% of mobile users agreed to pay more for a mobile phone that looks stylish. Similarly only 25% of mobile users agreed to pay more for a mobile phone that has the latest in mobile technology.

Source: Cellular news

Vodafone Expanding Its Network Coverage in India

Vodafone is close to awarding a huge US$1.8 billion network contract to expand its network coverage in Indian subsidiary. The contract will be split between Nokia-Siemens Networks, Ericsson and Motorola.

Nokia Siemens Networks is likely to be the principal supplier of network electronics such as base tower stations (BTS), base station controllers (BSC) and transcoders in 12 out of Vodafone Essar's 16 existing circles. Motorola will supply BTSs, BSCs and transcoders in the company's Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Punjab circles. As for mobile switching centres (MSC), Nokia Siemens will supply to almost all existing Vodafone Essar circles, with the exception of Mumbai metro circle where the MSCs will be supplied by Ericsson.

Source: Cellular News

Teens- Interested in Mobile Ads

A new study from Ball State University has revealed that college students are more receptive to mobile ads through text messages.

Highlight of the survey:

- 37.4% of college students would take the offer of a free ring tone for them to accept advertisements on their cell phones.
- 21.4% preferred a discount or coupon to a restaurant, movie or grocery store.
- 20% wanted free minutes, upgrades, access to the internet or music.

Source: Mobile weblog

Omego's Kids Handset

Omego's kids handset has hit UK streets, allowing parents to control the numbers their children can dial.The free handset comes with a website where parents can set 40 "safe" numbers, and costs £15 a month on an 18 month contract.

The Omego is a GSM handset with "educational" games preinstalled and GPRS. The connections are provided by Toucan Mobile, an MVNO running on T-Mobile's network. It also comes with access to a website for managing incoming and outgoing calls, as well as a kids' page for creating ringtones and graphics, but no video camera.

Source: Cellular News

Skype For iPhones

A German firm has developed an application that brings Skype functionality to iPhone.

One of the complaints that users of the hybrid phone and MP3 player had was relating to missing instant messaging functionality. "IM+ for Skype", transforms the iPhone into a Skype handset. The web application, which works through the iPhone's Safari web browser, allows iPhones to use the Skype messaging service along with its Voice over IP (VoIP) network.

By logging on to skypeforiphone.com, users can access their Skype account, allowing them to make free Skype to Skype calls, and use their SkypeOut credits to make calls to landlines and mobile phones around the world. The application will work across different networks and does not require Wi-Fi to operate.

Source: Cellular News

Dominos Pizza Through SMS

Dominos UK has launched a text-ordering PIZZA service. The company already takes orders by phone and over the internet - as well as in-store. Customers are required to pre-register for the service, and create names for their regular orders. Billing takes place through credit card.

Source: Cellular news