tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36581299761802594562024-03-13T00:45:27.518+00:00-This is the old blog for The Fonecast. You'll find current mobile phone industry news from the UK and abroad at TheFonecast.comMark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.comBlogger1021125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-57940864495164194602009-02-04T10:00:00.004+00:002012-06-18T10:37:22.154+01:00New podcast from 'The Fonecast' updated every weekThe Fonecast is available to download free of charge. It's updated every Wednesday morning at <a href="http://thefonecast.com/">TheFonecast.com</a> and is also on the <a href="http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/">Mobile News</a> website. In addition you'll find us on <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=163741292&s=143441">iTunes</a> and via <a href="http://thefonecast.com//RSS.ashx">RSS</a> too.
<span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://thefonecast.com//RSS.ashx"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 25px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 25px" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270301893546240210" border="0" alt="The Fonecast RSS" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MkAVsOoRfrf1MSDmchawYCd2270OpQcu4349znP_Q0njM3y9UzGQ1LNI4H_CIyJo__k_nja18w6UqsmRNPMQB7kncTGwqDVRsRdwmn5pD6zoPA2j7FkOSv8I6hCzUwM7bSTUGORYmy8/s200/rss.jpg" /></a>The Fonecast is presented and produced by </span><a href="http://www.letmedothetalking.co.uk/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Iain Graham</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">, </span><a href="http://www.mcro.co.uk/"><span style="font-size:78%;">James Rosewell</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.markbridge.co.uk/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Mark Bridge</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> at TheFonecast.com</span>Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-59444969736767420222009-01-29T16:00:00.000+00:002009-01-29T16:00:00.380+00:00We've moved our blog!We've moved our blog to our own site at <a href="http://www.thefonecast.com/">TheFonecast.com</a>. You'll find all the latest mobile industry news there, along with a few new features as well. Plus, of course, there's our free weekly podcast produced for <a href="http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/">Mobile News</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thefonecast.com/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296397757254593346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 263px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 57px" alt="The Fonecast" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSVN5c8GHOEVzEexsoszOx8y1oFyJXTKT8wPGqiNJmGxAcFys2VcM009OBznlqZVhJMIbUPfMymXIpbByfI8GhRpQSbXMb7ewvZ_6eLA821ntFVZIwCAbI5JRbHRBLLThH_rYivhdUCk/s320/TheFonecast.JPG" border="0" /></a>Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-29776994721002866892009-01-29T09:10:00.003+00:002009-01-29T09:13:48.988+00:00Barclays bank gives mobile security software to customersBarclays is giving its online banking customers free software to protect against mobile and PC security threats. It says it's the first UK bank to offer mobile security software. Barclays mobile banking is available online at <a href="http://barclays.mobi/">http://barclays.mobi/</a> [Source: <a href="http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/News/193219/barclays_offers_free_antivirus_software.html">Mobile News</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-683834240075212272009-01-29T08:46:00.002+00:002009-01-29T08:49:47.274+00:00Acer smartphone due next monthComputer manufacturer Acer is expected to launch a smartphone on 16th February at this year's Mobile World Congress, according to reports. [Sources: <a href="http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/21814/22838/acer-smartphone-launch-confirmed-february.phtml">Pocket-Lint.co.uk</a>; <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20081204PD223.html">DigiTimes.com</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-67777012672654443852009-01-28T16:34:00.004+00:002009-01-28T16:39:55.092+00:00190 million Fixed/Mobile Convergence users by 2013There'll be over 190 million people using converged fixed/mobile services by 2013, according to <em>Informa Telecoms and Media</em> - and 46% of these will be using <a href="http://thefonecast.blogspot.com/search?q=femtocells">femtocells</a>. [Source: <a href="http://www.telecoms.com/itmgcontent/tcoms/news/articles/20017611828.html">Telecoms.com</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-90712112528502527742009-01-28T16:22:00.003+00:002009-01-28T16:26:56.233+00:00Eight mobile technologies to watchResearch company Gartner has <a href="http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?ref=g_search&id=828612&subref=simplesearch">published</a> a list of eight mobile technologies that it says will have an impact on mobile strategies and policies over the next couple of years:<br /><ol><li>Bluetooth 3.0, </li><li>User Interfaces, </li><li>Location Sensing, </li><li>802.11n WiFi, </li><li>Display Technologies, </li><li>Mobile Web and Widgets, </li><li>Mobile Broadband and </li><li>Near Field Communication. </li></ol><p>[<a href="http://www.gartner.com/it/page.jsp?id=867012">Press release</a>]</p>Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-25781706010533170342009-01-28T16:16:00.002+00:002009-01-28T16:19:02.529+00:00Vodafone buys WayfinderIt's not just Nokia interested in maps. Vodafone has completed its takeover of Swedish navigation software company Wayfinder, which was first <a href="http://thefonecast.blogspot.com/2008/12/vodafone-wants-to-buy-sat-nav-company.html">proposed</a> in December. [Sources: <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/28/vodafone_wayfinder/">TheRegister.co.uk</a>; <a href="http://www.vodafone.com/start/media_relations/news/group_press_releases/2009/vodafone_completes_wayfinder.html">Vodafone press release</a> - as before, not for Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa!]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-26113026329890681722009-01-28T15:50:00.003+00:002009-01-28T15:54:00.070+00:00Nokia buys another map companyNokia has agreed to buy <em>bit-side GmbH,</em> a Berlin-based services and software company with 39 employees. It says integrating the company in its Services unit will strengthen and accelerate its mobile development for Nokia Maps. Nokia <a href="http://thefonecast.blogspot.com/2008/07/ec-clears-nokianavteq-deal.html">acquired</a> digital map company NAVTEQ last year. [<a href="http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1285188">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-78925884201986511102009-01-28T08:00:00.001+00:002009-01-28T08:00:01.196+00:00New Mobile News podcast now onlineAs usual, the Mobile News podcast team looks at the latest headlines from the industry. Iain, Mark and James talk about termination charges, premium SMS, manufacturers' quarterly results, crossing the road with a phone... and Barack's BlackBerry. You can download or listen free at <a href="http://www.thefonecast.com/Default.aspx?item=267" target="_blank">TheFonecast.com</a> and on the <a href="http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk/podcast/subscriberspodcast/4247/mobile_news_podcast.html" target="_blank">Mobile News</a> website... and you'll find us on <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=163741292&s=143441">iTunes</a> and via <a href="http://www.thefonecast.com//RSS.ashx?5">RSS</a> too.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.thefonecast.com//RSS.ashx?5"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270301893546240210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 25px; HEIGHT: 25px" alt="Mobile News podcast RSS" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MkAVsOoRfrf1MSDmchawYCd2270OpQcu4349znP_Q0njM3y9UzGQ1LNI4H_CIyJo__k_nja18w6UqsmRNPMQB7kncTGwqDVRsRdwmn5pD6zoPA2j7FkOSv8I6hCzUwM7bSTUGORYmy8/s200/rss.jpg" border="0" /></a>The Mobile News podcast is presented and produced by </span><a href="http://www.letmedothetalking.co.uk/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Iain Graham</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">, </span><a href="http://www.mcro.co.uk/"><span style="font-size:78%;">James Rosewell</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> and </span><a href="http://www.markbridge.co.uk/"><span style="font-size:78%;">Mark Bridge</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;"> at TheFonecast.com</span>Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-9302343476304381812009-01-27T12:00:00.000+00:002009-01-27T12:01:05.862+00:00Sumsing Turbo 3000Okay, it's not new - but it <em>is</em> funny.<br><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TYIOIM6hHBk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TYIOIM6hHBk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-41092754901682846442009-01-27T09:11:00.002+00:002009-01-27T09:17:30.945+00:00Competition searches for 'best text message'Mobile application blog <a href="http://www.smsisthenewblack.co.uk/">SMS is the new Black</a> is running a competition to find the <a href="http://smsisthenewblack.co.uk/2009/01/27/new-competition/">best text message</a> sent or received in January 2009. It's an entertaining promotional exercise... and it'll be interesting to see the results. [<a href="http://blogit.realwire.com/?ReleaseID=11132">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-31642771566993628172009-01-27T08:52:00.002+00:002009-01-27T08:59:21.230+00:00Research says crossing the road with a mobile is dangerous for childrenChildren who are talking on their mobile phone when crossing the road are at greater risk of being involved in an accident, according to research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. Pretty obvious when you think about it. Psychologists who used a virtual reality software program found that all of the children tested (aged 10-11) were more likely to exhibit risky behaviour when they crossed the street while talking on a mobile phone, even when the children were familiar with mobiles or were rated as highly attentive. Children using mobiles took an average 20% longer to cross the road, gave themselves 8% less time to cross safely in front of traffic and were 43% more likely to be hit by a vehicle or to have a close call. [<a href="http://main.uab.edu/Sites/MediaRelations/articles/57667/">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-53372073515512709222009-01-27T08:31:00.003+00:002009-01-27T08:38:22.906+00:00Electricity by SMSRwanda's national electricity company, Electrogaz, has been selling prepaid electricity scratch-cards since the beginning of last year. Customers buy a card, scratch off the serial number, send a text message and receive a unique code that lets them add the credit to their electricity meter. Apparently 30% of the country’s electricity consumers now purchase their electricity this way. [Source: <a href="http://blogs.forum.nokia.com/blog/nathan-eagles-forum-nokia-blog/2009/01/26/sms-media-power-card-prepaid-electricity-scratch-cards-in-rwanda">Nathan Eagle</a> via <a href="http://www.telco2.net/blog/2009/01/ring_ring_hot_news_25th_januar.html">Telco2.net</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-61668657830186986872009-01-26T22:13:00.003+00:002009-01-26T22:20:58.646+00:00Mobile companies could keep 3G licences foreverThe Sunday Times says mobile companies will be allowed to keep their 3G licences permanently if they commit to new broadband plans expected in the next few days from communications minister Lord Carter. He's expected to tell the UK telecomms industry that it needs to provide broadband service to every home in the country. The 3G licences cost a total of £22.5 billion in 2000 but are only valid for 20 years. [Source: <a href="http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/telecoms/article5581051.ece">TimesOnline.co.uk</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-78238351314611799832009-01-26T21:29:00.001+00:002009-01-26T21:31:48.148+00:00New premium rate mobile rules for UKPremium phone service regulator PhonepayPlus has set out new measures for the mobile premium content market. With immediate effect companies offering mobile subscription services charging over £4.50 a week or applying pay-per-page mobile internet charges must apply for permission from PhonepayPlus. In addition, customers must receive a free confirmation text message and must reply to that text before the service starts. [<a href="http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/news/articles/nr_20090122_industry.asp">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-69444248727014956882009-01-26T15:01:00.003+00:002009-01-26T15:06:20.934+00:00BT considering mobile internet service?<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/25/bt-mobile-phones-cellnet-t-mobile">The Guardian</a> says BT is considering setting up a mobile phone or mobile data service in partnership with T-Mobile and 3. It currently offers some mobile services as an optional extension of its broadband package.Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-52959807965216267162009-01-26T14:43:00.004+00:002009-01-26T14:49:57.741+00:00Google G2 to launch by summer?A successor to the Android-powered T-Mobile G1 mobile phone will be launched in May, according to an assortment of online rumours. The G2, made by HTC and codenamed Sapphire 2.0, won't have a slide-out keyboard but will apparently have a 3.2 megapixel camera. [Sources: <a href="http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/01/post-1.html">Wired.com</a>; <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/158078/android_tmobile_g2_leaked_photos_and_facts.html">PCWorld.com</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-54201025427444629112009-01-25T12:28:00.003+00:002009-01-25T12:34:41.893+00:00President Obama to keep BlackBerryIn November we <a href="http://thefonecast.blogspot.com/2008/11/barack-obama-to-give-up-his-blackberry.html">reported</a> that Barack Obama would give up his BlackBerry when he became president - but now it seems he'll be hanging on to it. His email address will remain confidential, his email addresses will apparently be designed not to be forwarded... and pretty much everything he says will be archived. [Sources: <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/22/obama-gets-a-thumbs-up-for-his-blackberry/">NYTimes.com</a>; <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008661443_blackberry23.html">Seattle Times</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-74629430005026822002009-01-25T12:22:00.003+00:002009-01-25T12:28:10.681+00:00Microsoft job cuts to hit mobile?Microsoft has said it's cutting 5,000 jobs worldwide during the next 18 months, with 1,400 going immediately. It's now reported that the company's Entertainment and Devices unit will be the first to suffer. This is the part of Microsoft that's responsible for Xbox, Zune and Windows Mobile -and many of the immediate cuts are expected here. [Source: <a href="http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1836">ZDNet.com</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-46024418065191175152009-01-25T12:08:00.004+00:002009-01-25T12:37:09.339+00:00Samsung figures show increased salesSamsung's quarterly results show an overall 22.2 billion Korean Won loss (around £12 million) loss, despite shipping 52.8 million handsets (up 14% year-on-year and up 2% from the previous quarter). The handset operating division did, however, make a profit. Rather like <a href="http://thefonecast.blogspot.com/2009/01/nokia-predicts-10-sales-drop-in-2009.html">Nokia</a>, it anticipates a 5%-10% drop in sales during 2009. [Sources: <a href="http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/ir/ireventpresentations/earningsrelease/downloads/2008/20090123_conference_eng.pdf">Press release</a> (pdf); <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/23/AR2009012300817.html">WashingtonPost.com</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-45069103867393443392009-01-25T11:48:00.003+00:002009-01-25T11:53:40.603+00:00Vodafone's Indian tax battle continuesIndia's Supreme Court has said it's not appropriate for it to hear Vodafone's appeal against its £1 billion <a href="http://thefonecast.blogspot.com/2008/03/vodafone-goes-to-court-in-india-over-2.html">tax bill</a> for buying Hutch Essar. Instead it says India's tax authorities should reconsider the case and - if they considers that they have jurisdiction - Vodafone can then approach the High Court again for action. [Source: <a href="http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090124/jsp/business/story_10434833.jsp">TelegraphIndia.com</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-47182483913952107762009-01-23T11:30:00.001+00:002009-01-26T08:52:08.466+00:00UK mobile termination rates likely to fallThe Competition Commission has told O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone that their mobile termination rates should be cut to 4p per minute for April 2010, which is 1.1p per minute more than Ofcom's original proposal. The decision stems from Ofcom's change to mobile phone termination charges in <a href="http://www.ofcom.org.uk/media/news/2007/03/nr_20070327">2007</a>. The recommendations have been passed to the Competition Appeals Tribunal, which meets next month. [<a href="http://www.catribunal.org.uk/237-647/1085-3-3-07-British-Telecommunications-plc.html">Competition Appeal Tribunal</a>; <a href="http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/press_rel/2009/jan/pdf/02-09.pdf">Press release</a> (pdf)]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-30076529657680048432009-01-22T16:16:00.005+00:002009-01-22T16:23:32.013+00:00Opera ends 2008 with 17.8 million mobile usersMobile browser company <em>Opera</em> has published a review of the mobile web for 2008. Its <a href="http://www.opera.com/smw/">State of the Mobile Web</a> report shows continuing growth, with 17.8 million people using Opera Mini at the end of the year. In the UK, the top 5 sites visited by Opera mobile users were google.com, facebook.com, yahoo.com, bbc.co.uk and orkut.com. The top UK social network was facebook.com with 536% growth in 2008. MySpace, incidentally, showed a 15% drop. [<a href="http://www.opera.com/press/releases/2009/01/22/">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-49066152591447022432009-01-22T15:25:00.003+00:002009-01-22T15:33:01.042+00:00Nokia predicts 10% sales drop in 2009It's the big one. Nokia has published its Q4 results, which saw sales down 19% year-on-year but up 3% on the previous quarter. It sold 113.1 million units, which was down 15% year-on-year and down 4% on Q3, giving it an estimated market share of 37% in Q4 2008 (down from 40% in Q4 2007 and down from 38% in Q3 2008). It says it expects sales in 2009 to be down around 10% from 2008, having previously estimated a 5% drop. [<a href="http://www.nokia.com/A4136001?newsid=1284213">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3658129976180259456.post-31084966860089179902009-01-22T15:12:00.002+00:002009-01-22T15:16:03.291+00:00GPS phone sales will grow in 2009<em>ABI Research</em> says shipments of GPS-enabled mobile phones will continue to grow throughout the current economic downturn. Although global mobile shipments are expected to drop by up to 5% in 2009, 240 million GPS-equipped phones will be shipped; an increase of 6.4% over 2008. By 2014, the company reckons 9 of every 10 smartphones will contain GPS, compared with one in three last year. [<a href="http://www.abiresearch.com/press/1351-GPS-enabled+Handsets+Expected+to+Bypass+the+Economic+Downturn">Press release</a>]Mark @ The Fonecasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00139529244558352122noreply@blogger.com0