Mobile Serviceswatch, issue 2008.09 snapshot
21 September 2008
ENABLERS: Sprint named the partners to power location-based services using its planned WiMAX network, stating that the user experience delivered by the technology will be “largely location-centric”. AT&T trumpeted the integration of A-GPS into its network, enabling the delivery of new location-based services. [pp.33,31.]
Issue: 2008.09
Covering: 17 August to 15 September 2008
Published: September 2008
Next issue: October 2008
Latest trends in monetising operator-centric mobile value-added services. A unique monthly report for the industry.
SUMMARY
CONSUMER: Verizon Wireless is set to partner with Google for mobile search services, although the contract is still under negotiation. Rival AT&T announced availability of Yahoo!-powered search services. Away from mobile search, Canada’s Rogers Wireless inked a services deal with Nokia, planning to offer N-Gage and Nokia Maps to customers. [pp.10,11.]
There was continued speculation about Vodafone’s content plans, with reports that it is looking to offer an integrated fixed/mobile portal that will make its current services “pale into insignificance”. Vodafone UK is offering premium-rate content barring, to prevent users from falling foul of unscrupulous content providers. [p.12]
Telefonica O2 inked a deal with content partner Buongiorno, covering the introduction of prize-awarding SMS games in Latin America. Vodafone Portugal announced availability of a portfolio of next-generation games, enabled by new device technologies. [pp.4.]
Virgin Mobile USA partnered with buzzd for the introduction of location-based services, including city guides and social-networking tools. Verizon Wireless updated its Chaperone child-tracking service, enhancing the functionality of its earlier offerings. [p.5.]
O2 UK’s trial of NFC technology indicated strong consumer demand, but commercial services are still some way from reaching the market. Telstra is also trialling NFC services, with a limited pilot in Melbourne, Australia. In Kenya, Safaricom’s money-transfer service was augmented, with customers gaining the ability to withdraw cash from ATMs. [pp.6-7,8.]
Vodafone Germany announced a new Mobile Music Client for its multimedia handsets, enabling easy access to its music services. Verizon Wireless announced a trio of ringing tone-creation tools, enabling customers to further personalise devices. [p.9.]
Vodafone UK announced a Facebook add-in that enables web-to-mobile messaging, with a free initial allowance followed by charged-for delivery. Verizon Wireless and AT&T were of similar mind, both introducing handset clients that provide access to multiple social-networking sites, and both powered by vendor Intercasting. [pp.13,14.]
Poland’s mobile operators are partnering for a DVB-H licence bid, with the issue process due to begin imminently. Verizon Wireless announced a new mobile-video service, delivering content to the HTML browser of devices. [pp.4,8.]
INDUSTRY: Vodafone Group signed a global framework agreement with Amobee Media Systems, providing another boost for the mobile advertising player. It was claimed that Apple may be willing to cede some ground to operators with regard to application branding, with a Vodafone-alliance in the works, but where there is conflict (such as for music services), Apple still appears to have the upper hand. [pp.15,17.]
The advertising-funded MVNO model made its debut in Australia, with ComTel offering a hybrid part-subscription, part-sponsored credit tariff. There were reports that in the UK, Blyk was failing to deliver promised free credit, although the company dismissed the claims. [pp.16,18.]
Nokia was rumoured to be readying a Comes With Games strategy to echo its much-discussed Comes With Music, with the possibility it will use this to drive take-up of its online gaming services. The vendor is also restructuring its Services & Software unit, with more mobile internet acquisitions on the cards. Qualcomm fell foul of the US courts again, being found in contempt of an injunction granted following the earlier Broadcom action, with push-to-talk technology at the heart of the dispute. [pp.19,22-23.]
Swisscom is disposing of its Minick mobile applications business, selling to German player net mobile. AxisMobile finally closed an M&A deal, with its operating business being acquired by Synchronica. Content-porting company Tira Wireless was reported to have shut up shop. [pp.17,21-22.]
The Broadcast Mobile Convergence Forum published whitepapers detailing regulatory and business models for mobile broadcast services, based on early deployments in this market. The Mobile Marketing Association published mobile application and mobile search briefing papers. [pp.24,25.]
The Mobile Entertainment Forum warned that consumer regulation changes in the UK could hit mobile service providers, with criminal proceedings and jail terms among the possible outcomes. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission warned customers to be “wary” of premium-phone services, stating that the sector is the subject of “ongoing complaints”. [pp.26,27.]
ENABLERS: Sprint named the partners to power location-based services using its planned WiMAX network, stating that the user experience delivered by the technology will be “largely location-centric”. AT&T trumpeted the integration of A-GPS into its network, enabling the delivery of new location-based services. [pp.33,31.]
The UK market is to see the first launch of Nokia’s Comes With Music offerings, although some important details have yet to be revealed. Sony Ericsson began the rollout of its enhanced PlayNow arena content store, initially focusing on Nordic markets. Motorola opened its MotoMusic store in Singapore. [pp.29,30,31.]
Visto updated its push-email platform with social-networking service support, while sector rival SEVEN trumpeted its integrated messaging technology. Alcatel-Lucent announced its new location-based service platform, while Motorola enhanced its push-to-talk technology. [pp.34,35,36.]
TRENDS: ABI Research said that “incentives” are key to mobile marketing acceptance, in order to overcome negative initial perceptions of advertising to mobiles. The mobile content tools market will be worth $8bn in 2008, according to INSIGHT Research, as a raft of companies look to mobilise various content types. [p.37.]
US mobile web use is nearing the volumes of the market-leading UK, according to figures from Bango, with India slipping in the rankings. A US mobile internet survey found clear and evolving content trends, with mobile operators decreasing in importance, and mobile search on the up. [pp.38,39.]
EXTRACT
LOCATION-BASED SERVICES:
Virgin Mobile USA partners with buzzd for LBS
Virgin Mobile USA announced a partnership with buzzd to launch “a mobile-enabled, location-sensitive city guide and social network”.
Called buzzd on Virgin Mobile, the service, available via Virgin’s WAP portal, will deliver “editorially driven event and venue information, along with up-to-the-minute reviews and ratings from friends and other members of the community”. It lists events and venues “across all major cities in the Unite States, Europe, and India”, although it is unlikely that the predominantly pre-paid operator will support location-based services (LBS) outside of its home market.
buzzd on Virgin Mobile will be available free-of-charge, although data charges will presumably apply. The service is opt-in, to ensure user location data is not shared if the customer does not wish to.
[Further reference: Virgin Mobile USA to provide location-based entertainment service -- Virgin Mobile USA, 3 September 2008.]
Verizon updates Chaperone child-tracking service
Verizon Wireless updated its Chaperone service, apparently “making it easier for parents to keep track of their children or for anyone to keep track of their loved ones when they are using their wireless phones”.
New features added by Chaperone 2.0 include: the ability to locate multiple Chaperone Child devices at the same time, either from a parent’s mobile phone or the Chaperone website; the introduction of family SMS messaging services, enabling messages to be sent from parent devices, or the website, to multiple devices; integration with VZ Navigator, to deliver turn-by-turn directions to the child’s location; improved “Child Zone” functionality, which sees messages sent when a child moves out of defined areas, and now supports time and date settings; and redesigned website and handset applications, to ease use.
Chaperone 2.0 costs $9.99 per line, per month, and is supported by a range of devices.
[Further reference: Chaperone 2.0 from Verizon Wireless gives parents more tools to locate loved ones -- Verizon Wireless, 18 August 2008.]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2 Consumer
2 Operator content deals
4 Advertising;
Broadcast;
Games
5 Location-based services
6 M-commerce;
Messaging
8 Multimedia
9 Music
10 Portals
13 Social networking
14 Voice services
15 Industry
15 Companies
23 Events
24 Initiatives
25 People
26 Regulation
28 enablers
28 Operator technology deals
29 Applications;
Contracts;
Services
34 Products
37 Trends
37 Markets
38 Metrics
40 INDEX
INDEX
SYMBOLS
3
- Italy, 28
60Frames, 2
724 Solutions, 28
A
ABI Research, 37
ACCC, Australia, 27
AccuWeather, 33
Acision, 18
Add2Phone, 18
Ad Infuse, 18
AdMob, 16
Adobe Systems, 2, 35
Alcatel-Lucent, 28, 35
AllianceBernstein, 15
Alltel Wireless, US, 6, 10, 28
Amdocs, 20
Amobee Media Systems, 15
AOL, 25
Apple, 17, 34
- iTunes, 17
AsianAve, 13, 14
AT&T, 2, 10, 11, 14, 21, 28, 29, 31, 34, 38
- AT&T Navigator, 31
- MEdia, 11, 29
Autodesk, 33
AxisMobile, 21, 22
B
Bango, 38
Barclaycard, 6
BlackPlanet, 13, 14
Blyk, 16, 18
Broadcast Mobile Convergence Forum, 24
Broadcom, 20
Buongiorno, 4
BuzzCity, 16
buzzd, 5
Buzzwire, 8, 28
C
Celltick, 17, 36
China Mobile, 5, 28
China Unicom, 3
Comcast, 2
Comedy Time, 2
ComTel, Australia, 16
- Empowered Communications, 16
Comverse Technology, 29
Contec Innovations, 3
Crisp Wireless, 39
Critical Path, 28
CTIA, US, 2, 25, 35, 38
D
Discovery Communications, 2
DNA
- Finland, 28
E
Electronic Arts, 3
- EA Mobile, 3
E-Plus, 21
ESPN, 2
Etisalat, UAE, 29
European Union, 26, 37
Eventful, 33
F
Facebook, 9, 13, 34
FaithBase, 13, 14
Fidelity Ventures, 16
Five Mobile, 23
France Telecom
- Orange, 4, 21
FunMobility, 9
G
Gartner, 37
GLEE, 13, 14
Glu Mobile, 2
Google, 10, 33, 39
- Google Maps, 10, 33
GoTV Networks, 3
GSM Association, 6, 23
- Global Mobile Awards, 23
GyPSii, 5
H
Helio, US, 17
hi5, 13
HTC, 29
I
IBM, 13
INSIGHT Research, 37
Intercasting, 13, 14, 28
I-play, 29
J
JumpTap, 15, 25
Juniper Research, 17
Justel, 3
K
Kirusa, 28
Kodiak Networks, 28
Konami Digital Entertainment, 2
KPN, 4, 28
- E-Plus, 21
Kyivstar, Ukraine, 29
L
LG Electronics, 4, 14
LiveJournal, 13, 14
LiveWire Mobile, 9, 28
M
M1, Singapore, 31
Maxis Communications, 10
MEDIA BROADCAST, Austria, 4
Medio Systems, 10, 16
Megafon, Russia, 21
Microsoft, 10, 29, 34, 35, 39
- Windows Live, 10
MiGente, 13, 14
Miyowa, 28
Mobile 3.0, Germany, 5
Mobile Entertainment Forum, 26
Mobile Marketing Association, 24, 25
Mobile TeleSystems, 21
mobilkom, Austria, 4
Mobitween, 2
More Mobile Relations, 18
Motorola, 31, 36
- MotoMusic, 31
- Soundbuzz, 31
mSpot, 9
MTG, 37
MTN, 21
MySpace, 13, 14, 34
N
Namco Networks, 2
Nanjing MyNet, 5
Naspers, 16
National Australia Bank, 8
NAVTEQ, 33
NBC, 3
net mobile, 17
Networks In Motion, 31
News Corporation
- Fox, 3, 25
- MySpace, 13, 14, 34
New York Times Company, 3
NFL, 3
Nielsen Mobile, 10
Nokia, 4, 11, 19, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34
- Avvenu, 32
- Comes With Music, 19, 29, 30
- N-Gage, 11, 19
- N-Gage Arena, 11
- Nokia Music Store, 29
- Ovi, 32
Nokia Siemens Networks, 28
NRK, 37
O
Office of Fair Trading, UK, 26
OnMobile, 10
Openwave Systems, 33
Orange Group, 4, 21
- Poland, 4
Ovum, 17
P
Palm, 35
PesaPoint, Kenya, 7
PhonePayPlus, 26
Photobucket, 13, 14, 34
Polkomtel, 4
PTC, 4
Q
Qtel, Qatar, 3
Qualcomm, 20
- BREW, 35
- Qchat, 20
R
Rabble, 13, 14
RealNetworks, 2
Regions
- Americas, 4, 22
- – Argentina, 4
- – Chile, 4
- – Colombia, 4
- – Ecuador, 4
- – El Salvador, 4
- – Guatemala, 4
- – Mexico, 4, 28
- – Nicaragua, 4
- – North America, 11
- – Panama, 4
- – Peru, 4
- – Uruguay, 4
- – US, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 25, 28, 38, 39
- – Venezuela, 4
- APAC
- – Australia, 3, 4, 8, 16, 27
- – China, 3, 5, 22, 28, 31
- – Hong Kong, 31
- – India, 5, 15, 28, 31, 38
- – Indonesia, 38
- – Japan, 24, 37
- – Korea, 24
- – Malaysia, 10
- – Pakistan, 28
- – Singapore, 31
- – Taiwan, 31
- EMEA
- – Africa, 22
- – Austria, 4, 24
- – Czech Republic, 15
- – Denmark, 18, 30
- – Finland, 22, 24, 28, 30
- – France, 24, 28
- – Germany, 5, 17, 21, 24, 28
- – Greece, 15
- – Israel, 15
- – Italy, 15, 24, 28
- – Middle East, 22
- – Netherlands, 8, 28
- – Norway, 18, 30, 37
- – Poland, 4, 24
- – Portugal, 4, 13
- – Russia, 21
- – South Africa, 16, 38
- – Spain, 15
- – Sweden, 18, 30
- – Switzerland, 24
- – UK, 6, 7, 13, 16, 18, 26, 29, 30, 38
Reliance Communications, India, 15
- Reliance Big Entertainment, 15
Research In Motion, 34
- BlackBerry, 29
Rogers Wireless, 11
ROK Entertainment Group, 28
S
Safaricom, Kenya, 7
- M-PESA, 7
Samsung, 4
Sapo, 4
SayHeyHey.com, 3, 13
Scripps Networks, 3
SEVEN, 35
Shazam Entertainment, 17
SK Telecom, 2
SkyZone Entertainment, 2
Smashing Ideas, 2
Sonic Boom, 9
Sony
- Sony Pictures Television, 2
Sony Ericsson, 4, 30
- PlayNow, 30
Sprint, 2, 3, 10, 14, 20, 21, 31, 33, 36, 38
- XOHM, 33
Swisscom, 17
- Minick, 17
Symbian, 35
Synchronica, 21, 22
T
Tata Teleservices, 28
Technology
- BREW, 35
- DMB, 5, 37
- DRM, 30, 31
- DVB-H, 4, 5, 28, 37
- GPS, 11, 31
- iDEN, 14, 36
- IM, 28, 34, 35
- Java, 19, 23, 35
- NFC, 6, 7, 8
- PTT, 14, 20, 36
- WCDMA, 20
- WiMAX, 33
Telcel, Mexico, 28
Telefonica, 4, 15, 21
- O2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 21
- O2 UK, 6, 7, 8
TeleMessage, 29
TeleNav, 31
Telenor, 18
- More Mobile Relations, 18
Telmap, 31
Telstra, 3, 8
The Carphone Warehouse, 29
Thumbplay, 25
TIM, 21
Tira Wireless, 23
T-Mobile International, 2, 8, 21, 28
- Germany, 28
- Netherlands, 8
- USA, 2
Topix, 33
Transport for London, 7
TV2, 37
Twitter, 8
U
uLocate Communications, 33
V
Velti, 38
VeriSign, 39
Verizon Wireless, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 21, 28, 31, 36
- Chaperone, 5
- V CAST, 3, 8, 13
- VZ Navigator, 5
Viacom
- BET Networks, 2
- MTV Networks, 3, 8, 13
- Nickelodeon, 3
Vibes Media, 16
Vidiator Technology, 28
Viettel Telecom, Vietnam, 28
Virgin Mobile, 5, 9, 17, 28, 38
- USA, 5, 9, 17, 28
Visa International, 6, 8
Visto, 34
Vodafone Group, 4, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 21, 25
- Australia, 16
- Germany, 9
- Italy, 17
- M-PESA, 7
- Portugal, 4, 13
- UK, 9, 12, 13
- Vodafone Internet Services, 13
- Vodafone live!, 4, 9, 12, 13
W
Warner Bros, 2, 3
WIN, UK, 28
X
Xanga, 14
Y
Yahoo!, 10, 11, 25, 39
- Flickr, 11, 34
- oneSearch, 11
Z
Zain Group, 21
Zenbu Media, 3
Zong, 28
ZYB, 12
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