Business News Holding

Author: admin

  • Digital Vision Launches USB Flash Drive DVR


    Digital Vision has launched the first USB flash drive-based digital video recorder (DVR).

    The UK company says its GiGo DV-DTR1 Digital TV recorder allows users to record content and then view it on devices such as laptops.

    Programmes are recorded in MPEG-2 format direct to any storage device plugged in to one of the DVR’s three front-facing USB ports.

    Playback is via the GiGo or via any device that supports MPEG-2 – allowing recorded content to be played on the move.

    Digital Vision said the GiGo box will be available from September for GBP £69.99 initially, although this will probably drop to £59.99.

    Functionalities include:

    • Record and playback digital TV
    • Copy from one device to another
    • Schedule recordings from the EPG onto three separate devices

  • MEDION Unveils Mobile HD Netbook


    MEDION has unveiled its next generation netbook – with an 11.6" HD display and ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 graphics.

    The AKOYA MINI E1312 appears to offer fast performance for its class. Equipped with AMD Sempron processor 210U power saving technology and 160 GB hard disk, the netbook is definitely geared at HD entertainment on the move.

    The TFT widescreen display presents HD resolution with 1366×768 pixels in a cinematic 16:9 format.

    The netbook also includes an HDMI output should users want to watch movies or look at photos on a larger screen.

    MEDION says the E1312’s 160GB S-ATA hard disk can comfortably hold over 30,000 songs or photos.

    It has a 6-cell Li-Ion battery (9-cell battery optional) and an in-flight mode to conveniently shut down all radio communications while on board a plane.

    There is also an integrated 1.3 MP webcam including microphone and Bluetooth 2.1.

    Connectivity options include three USB 2.0 ports, a 3-in-1 multi-format memory card reader, 802.11b/g/draft-n fast wireless networking capability and a 10/100MBit/s Ethernet port for high-speed file transfers.

    Available later this month in the UK and Ireland, it will be priced at GBP £339.99 and comes with a three-year warranty at no extra cost.

  • Consumer LBS Market to Double, "Free" Services to Gain


    Worldwide consumer location-based services (LBS) subscribers and revenue are expected to more than double in 2009.

    The growth is being driven by the higher availability of GPS-enabled phones, reduced prices and the appearance of application stores, according to Gartner.

    Research from the firm’s analysts shows that despite an expected 4 per cent decrease in mobile device sales, LBS subscribers are forecast to grow from 41.0 million in 2008 to 95.7 million in 2009.

    They calculate that revenue is anticipated to increase from USD $998.3 million in 2008 to USD $2.2 billion in 2009.

    Annette Zimmermann, senior research analyst at Gartner, said the LBS industry has matured rapidly in recent months through a mixture of consolidation, improved price/performance of the enabling technologies and compelling location applications.

    "Factors driving the increase in the next year or so include higher availability of GPS-enabled phones, reduced prices and appearance of application stores," she said.

    Gartner predicts that advertising-based or ‘free’ LBS (disregarding data charges by mobile carriers) will gain more traction as users adopt it as a way to limit costs.

    Mobile carriers that stick to the current predominant business model of charging users USD $5 to $10 per month plus data plans will experience high churn rates as users will look for free alternatives.

    In North America and Western Europe, the share of users taking advantage of free services is approximately 10-15 per cent today and is expected to grow to 40-50 per cent in 2013.

    Zimmermann said the competitive landscape will change and most mobile carriers need to alter their approach toward offering LBS and dealing with developers.

    "Subscriber growth will hinge on "free" – disregarding data charges – services," she said.

    "Mobile operators’ initiatives to open up the application programming interface (API) to third-party developers will help them compete against other players in the market and will also be beneficial to the different parties involved, down to the end user."

    Gartner expects more compelling and useful applications and services to come to market in the next 12 to 18 months such as digital coupons to be redeemed in a nearby shop and points-of-interest search services.

    Smaller niche players will survive in local markets only when they have an established user base and unique offering that larger players cannot compete with. Other players will be acquisition targets for larger vendors.

    The Gartner analysts said LBS market dynamics vary by region. For example, North America is the largest market due to mobile carriers’ strong efforts in navigation services and family-safety solutions.

    In Western Europe, navigation is currently the most used application, followed by local search and "friend finder." There is still no significant uptake of safety applications.

    Japan will continue to see steady growth as GPS has been required by law in mobile phones since 2007.

    In Asia/Pacific, during the summer Olympics, location services were for the first time offered in China which is now an advertising-based solution and free to the user.

  • TELES Unveils ISDN VoIP Gateway with 8 BRI Interfaces


    TELES has launched a new 8 BRI port VoIP Gateway.

    The Berlin-based next generation networks and access gateway vendor said the product has been designed to meet demand for a high density, high performance solution for connecting enterprises to public telephony.

    Avi Ben Shlush, product marketing director at TELES, said the new product will allow VoIP service providers and system integrators to can offer a broader range of customers a straightforward migration path to VoIP – without having to sacrifice existing investment in PBX infrastructure.

    He said that as well as contributing to a substantial reduction in operating costs, the TELES VoIPBOX BRI also provides enhanced functionality.

    This includes:

    • an integrated, feature-rich IP PBX-in-a-box
    • advanced LCR functionality with AOC generation
    • SRTP protocol support
    • multiple media handling features

    Shlush said the VoIPBOX BRI is designed for a smooth and fast installation and is provided with an intuitive installation wizard for increased productivity.

    He said a comprehensive set of management tools allow customers to provision and operate small to large installations from a single location using either a web-based management tool or TELES NMS.

    "The implementation of TELES VoIPBOX BRI together with our C5 Business Trunking and IP Centrex products also enables our customers to offer a fully integrated solution from a single vendor," he said.

  • snom: Drive to Unified Communications Remains Strong


    Mike Storella, director of business development at VoIP phone maker snom, believes unified communications is the strongest segment in the communications industry.

    As customers look to become leaner and meaner, he stresses the advantages offered by wireless technology, such as WiFi, saying he feels it should be "everywhere".

    "Our latest snom VoIP Desk phone 8xx series all do WiFi, I don’t know the percentages but it is drastically less expensive to deploy an all WiFi office eliminating cat5 cable runs and increased Ethernet switch deployments," he said.

    Headquartered in Germany, snom has a range of eight VoIP business phones and is a worldwide provider. It works with any platform that uses the SIP protocols for VoIP.

    In an interview with TMCnet, Storella said the company has learnt that ROI "rules the day" for customers to make a positive choice to buy a replacement solution for their voice communications.

    He said the economic situation hasn’t affected the company’s decisions to invest in markets and products.

    "Times might be tough, but it is no time to lose faith that your products solve problems and needs for customers as they try to compete better in their business," he said.

    "If our products do what we say they do, customers need them to increase their productivity."

  • MetaSwitch Expands Carrier IP Solutions to Argentina


    VoIP solutions provider MetaSwitch has announced a strategic alliance with one of Argentina’s leading systems integrators as part of its on-going expansion into the South American market.

    The link-up with Technology Bureau will enable it to offer advanced IP voice services to residential and business subscribers.

    Technology Bureau has extensive experience managing telecommunication projects throughout Latin America.

    René Méndez, MetaSwitch’s vice president of sales for Latin America and the Caribbean, said it had been looking for a strong local partner to work with in Argentina.

    "Technology Bureau fits the bill and will handle provisioning, installation, maintenance and support, as well as a range of professional services from network engineering and training to turn-key solution deployment," said Méndez.

    "We are confident that Technology Bureau’s track record, expertise and penetration in the region will help us to quickly build our presence."

    The companies announced their joint sales strategies during their seminar program entitled "VoIP – Carrier Class, Next Generation Converged Solutions," which took place redently in Buenos Aires.

    Adrián Zamel, president of Technology Bureau, said it had close relationships with many regional network operators.

    He said there is strong demand for proven, high quality carrier VoIP solutions from stable, reliable vendors.

    "As we studied this market, it became clear that MetaSwitch is uniquely positioned for success and an ideal partner for us."

  • iPhone Wine App Points to Potential of Location-based Data

    INTERVIEW: Rick Breslin, Principal of Hello Vino, tells smartphone.biz-news how the food pairing and wine suggestion tool came about – and the team’s plans for both monetising it and capitalising on location-based data.

    Rick Breslin, Principal of Hello Vino, makes no bones that his company’s wine pairing and suggestion tool is aimed firmly at consumers that know nothing about wine.

    Stuffy it ain’t. It offers to help users do everything from selecting a good vintage to give as a gift, to picking a suitable bottle of wine in a restauarant or to go with a dish while browsing the supermarket aisles.

    "The general idea was to help consumers get over the pain points when they go into a store and are faced with hundreds of bottles of wine," Breslin told smartphone.biz-news.

    "Our target market is beginner wine consumers who typically are overwhelmed by the wine buying process."

    Hello Vino launched an iPhone app in June but it offers a multi-platform delivery – mobile web, Web and SMS.

    The tool helps users find a wine in one of four areas:

    • wine with a meal/food
    • wine for an occasion
    • wine by country/region
    • wine by taste/style

    Breslin said data on labels and brands is provided through a partnership with snooth.com, the social database of world wines, which has access to over one million wines brands worldwide.

    He said that by tapping into this massive resource, Hello Vino provides users with a different way to find a wine – with the potential to make over 2000 wine pairings.

    So even if someone is looking for a wine to go with a dish as simple as pizza, they are asked whether they’re having cheese, pepperoni, chicken, veggies, white sauce and so on, and a recommendation for wine is then made.

    Technology no Barrier

    If wine knowledge and culinary taste are no barrier to using Hello Vino, neither are technological limitations.

    Anyone can access the site on their home PC and use the Hello Vino widget to find an appropriate wine.

    Breslin said the wine search service also works on any smartphone.

    Users entering the mobile website are redirected depending on the type of handset they are using to ensure as smooth a user experience as possible.

    This includes a stripped-down WAP version.

    For those that don’t have access to the mobile internet, there is an SMS service in which people can send a text message to get advice on choosing a wine.

    The iPhone app, however, comes with some additional features, including a search function so that users can enter a particular wine and get its details, a label shot and rating information.

    In the future, there are plans for native apps for Blackberry, Palm’s Pre, Samsung and Nokia handsets.

    "We want to give smartphone users the best experience and we will use native apps to deliver that experience," he said.

    Location-Based Potential

    Looking further ahead, Breslin said they are planning to take advantage of GPS and inventory data to provide consumers with location specific information.

    "If you were in, say, Joe’s Wine Shop, your GPS would show your location and pull up the store’s inventory for you to choose from," he said.

    Hello Vino was set up by Breslin and two fellow web developers working in the wine industry.

    They saw a lot of traffic being driven by demand for information about pairing food and wine and decided there was potential for a mobile application.

    "We were working on a little widget where someone could do a simple Q&A to find what wine they might like to try based on a dish or for an occasion," said Breslin.

    "Then we thought: mobile is emerging. There is a huge opportunity to package this resource onto a smartphone-formatted website."

    Hello Vino launched earlier this year at the Boston Wine Expo. The apps’ users are currently around 90 per cent US-based, with the remainder mostly in the UK, France and Italy.

    Breslin said this is because their marketing efforts have been initially in the US but it is hoped that the overseas market will continue to build.

    Revenue Possibilities

    While the Hello Vino app is free, he said they have started the monetisation process through several different avenues.

    "There are more than 2000 different pairings on the app – that’s valuable," he said.

    "There is an e-commerce website selling wine that wants to use the Hello Vino widget on their site and import their inventory onto it."

    Another revenue earner is the sponsored placement of wine brands, where a particular brand can appear as one of the suggested wines in a user search.

    Breslin said this offered the largest potential, but the team is waiting until adoption levels are higher before approaching brands.

  • Open-Source "Tidal Wave" Will Shift Power to Developers


    The number of smartphones shipped with open source operating systems (OS) will increase from 106 million this year to 223 million by 2014.

    That’s the prediciton of telecom consultants Juniper Research, who found that operating systems and applications are playing an increasingly important role in the differentiation of new smartphones.

    They also found that the OS plays a key factor in the choice of which handset to choose from by users.

    Juniper’s research mirrors recent figures from rival market watcher Strategy Analytics, which forecast that Android smartphone shipments will increase 900 per cent during 2009 over last year.

    The last three years has seen a revolution in the OS market, with market leader Symbian moving to open source and Apple leading the way in the distribution of apps through their innovative, but now widely copied, AppStore approach.

    The move to open-source OS has also encouraged developers to design new and attractive applications.

    With over 60 per cent of the OS market now based on open-source, and a sizeable pool of software design talent out there, there is a massive opportunity for innovation.

    However, Juniper said the real key is not whether the OS is open-source but whether it’s easy for a developer to design an application and make money from that effort.

    The combined changes of Apple’s open route to the market and LiMo, OHA and Symbian’s open-source OS approach have generated a tidal wave-like effect which even the economic downturn has been unable to reverse.

    The researchers said there is a clear warning for device manufacturers – the choice of OS is now critical and market share will, to a large extent, follow application development.

    They add that the unexpected side effect, however, will be a shift in the balance of power towards application developers and end users.

    Handset-makers beware.

  • Nokia Quashes Android Smartphone Rumor, What About Netbook?


    Nokia has denied that it is developing a handset based on Google’s Android operating system.

    The response came after reports in the UK that the Finnish phone maker would announce an Android-based smartphone in September at the Nokia World Conference.

    Such a move would mean a massive change in direction for Nokia, which took full control of Symbian last year – in what was seen as a counter-move to the challenge posed by Android to its huge market share.

    Although Nokia remains the world’s biggest mobile handset manufacturer, its global share has slipped from 47 per cent in 2007 to 31 per cent at the end of 2008.

    A Nokia spokesman was adamant there is no plan to develop a handset supporting Symbian-rival Android software.

    "Absolutely no truth to this whatsoever," said the spokesman. "Everyone knows that Symbian is our preferred platform for advanced mobile devices."

    The Symbian operating system, in which Nokia has invested hundreds of millions of dollars, powers its Nokia N- and E-Series phones, among others.

    Nokia’s new partnership with Intel and some Android-based handsets would have been an interesting combination, no?

    But if it really is to be ruled out, perhaps there is still mileage in another theory – that Nokia is using Android as a basis for a 3G- or 4G-enabled netbook-type device powered by Intel’s chips.

  • Notebook Vendors Not Hopeful Windows 7 Will Boost SSD Sales


    Windows 7’s support for SSDs will not do much to boost sales because the price gap with HDDs is still too high.

    That’s according to a report in Digitimes, which spoke to sources at notebook vendors.

    Since current SSDs are priced around USD $4-5 per GB, while HDDs cost less than USD $0.50 per GB, the sources don’t expect SSDs to become the mainstream specification for at least three years.

    This is despite Windows 7 including several optimizations specifically targeted at SSD-equipped systems.

    The sources estimated the penetration rate of SSDs in notebooks in 2009 will only be around 1 per cent, equivalent to a volume of 1.5 million units.