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  • EU Rules May Force Operators to Allow VoIP


    The European Union (EU) is preparing legislation to force carriers to allow VoIP to run on their cellular networks.

    EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding has said that "action" should be taken against carriers that use their market power to block "innovative services".

    The EU has already prepared draft legislation that would open smartphones to the technology, according to a report published in Germany’s Handelsblatt newspaper.

    European carriers view VoIP technology as a threat to their business model and have widely banned VoIP from being used on their networks.

    Currently each EU country has to decide on how they deal with blocked Internet services. The recent decision by Germany’s Deutsche Telekom to block VoIP could lead to the EU raising antitrust charges against the carrier.

    It wants to ban use of Skype on both its 3G network and its extensive Wi-Fi hot spot network.

    The company’s reasoning is that the program’s high data use would choke the network infrastructure and that it violates the customer contract.

    T-Mobile USA is a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom.

    The issue is also likely to come to the fore in the US.

    Last week, an open-Internet advocacy group asked the Federal Communications Commission to investigate whether Apple and AT&T are violating federal rules by limiting use of Skype’s iPhone service.

    The request by Free Press could open up a broader review of the ways in which wireless companies control the use of their networks in the US.

  • Dell's Smartphone Preparations Gain Pace


    Dell’s plans for entering the smartphone market have gained some more meat.

    The world’s second largest PC brand is working with two companies to develop software and hardware for new mobile devices.

    Accel’s Jim Breyer join Dell’s board

    Chi Mei Communications – an unlisted unit of Taiwan’s Hon Hai – is involved with the hardware, while China-based Red Office is engineering the operating system, according to Reuters.

    The outcome is expected to be the launch of multiple smartphones in the Chinese market before the end of the year.

    If all goes well, the US and Europe would then get the PC maker’s devices.

    Dell’s move into the smartphone market – and China, where China Mobile is seen as the favored operator – could be part of the reason why it has appointed Jim Breyer, of Venture firm Accel Partners, to its board.

    Already on ten boards, including Facebook, Etsy, Wal-Mart and Marvel, his company launched a USD $250 million fund in China in 2005.

    Breyer’s experience of finding the right partners and market could be important to Dell as it prepares new devices.

  • Palm's App Catalog v. Apple's App Store. How Do They Compare?


    Mobile application stores are becoming ten-a-penny these days, what with Nokia’s Ovi Store set to launch within a month and Palm’s App Catalog expected with the eagerly-anticipated arrival of the Pre (next month?).

    But as the potential market for app developers expands, how do the six "stores" (iPhone App Store, Android App Market, BlackBerry App World, Windows Mobile Marketplace, Nokia Ovi Store and Palm App Catalog) compare?

    Gizmodo has done a good job on listing the pros and cons of each mobile OS’s offerings, including providing a point-by-point comparison table.

    While its review doesn’t come down in anyone’s favor, it does highlight some of the lesser known issues facing newcomers.

    So while information is still scare on Palm’s App Catalog, what is certain is that it will only be dishing out locally-stored web apps – not local natively running apps.

    As Gizmodo points out, this is likely to have strong influence on the nature and quality of the apps that are listed in the store.

    Just as influencial is Apple’s App store, which has just clocked up it’s billionth download.

    It remains the one to watch – and based on Gizmodo’s comparisions – copy.

    We’d be interested to hear your comments on how Apple’s rivals are faring in their bids to develop worthy competitor mobile app outlets.

  • Optimism Seems High in the Storage Efficiency World

    Optimism remains high in storage efficiency world despite recession and talks of possibly impending depression. The focus seems to be on doing more with less and optimizing on existing capacities.

    Nick Broadbent, UK Managing Director of DataCore Software says: 
“Virtualisation and hence consolidation has transformed all that with IT managers able to meet the business data growth needs by re-utilising external storage solutions already in their network.”

    Joyce Putscher, In-Stat analyst feels that there is a significant shift towards higher capacity models. He says, "While the overall market is maturing, growth is shifting towards higher capacity models… The 1.5TB+ segment is forecasted to see the highest growth, exceeding 100 per cent CAGR."

    Data deduplication, 6 GB’s SAS, FCoe, Virtualization, automation, optimization and cost savings seems to be the mantra that is doing the rounds.
    Deduplication is seen as a means of generating a quick return on investment and several vendors are pushing the technology this week.
    Storage capacity optimization appliances for primary and backup storage also have generated a lot of interest.
    Data reduction solutions from Hifn, backup acceleration options for virtual tape libraries, data reduction technology for cloud form Nirvanix and Ocarina are significant in this scenario. Virtualization and automation gained favor and disaster recovery advisor from Symantec was unveiled. NetApp has announced new storage and data management features for VMWare for virtual desktop environments. SAS attracted attention for its high performance, low cost solution, while ATTO announced FastStream SC 8200 controller and 3PAR unveiled its InSery F-Class Storage Servers. Data Robotics announced its DroboPro.

    In this backdrop there the venture funding announcement from Lightspeed Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates, Dell ventures and Focus Ventures, Jerusalem Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Valhalla Partners and HarborVest Partners, further signals that the interest in the Storage sector has not died down. Fusion_IO received a whopping $47.5 million and Sepaton netted $15.5 million.

    All this keeps optimism high and market watchers agree that while the Storage industry seems to be slowing down due to the recession the slow down is minimal and not very alarming. It is true that external disk storage system numbers are being affected by market conditions, but storage efficiency technologies are picking up. Sean Haffey, storage product manager at FSC, says that there is no doubt that the external disk market is slowing. “When things were booming 18 months ago it was a question of how fast you could go to market,” he said. “Now it is a case of how efficiently you can run.

  • Drobo Goes PRO, Let Your Data Grow


    DroboPro is the latest storage array that has been released by Data Robotics. The earlier versions of the device were known as Drobo External Storage Device. This version of the storage array is designed to manage itself. It is bigger, stronger and more capacious. It has 8 bays and is targeted for use by small businesses and creative professionals.

    Drobo Pro is similar to the earlier versions in looks. It supports up to 16 TB of storage and features the proprietory BeyondAID technology which was the mainstay of its predecessors. The technology permits a number of hard drives of varying capacities to be aggregated into one volume for redundancy and data protection. It cannot be used with networks. However, the subtle changes that distinguish this product are that it has integrated power supply and fully supports dual drive redundancy. Users can also switch between single and dual drive redundancy from a user friendly dashboard. The time that will be taken to shuffle the data around is displayed while we wait for the process to complete. This device is compatible with a 3U rack mount attachment that will have to be purchased separately. Hotswap is possible up to one drive at a time in single redundancy mode and two drives in a dual redundancy mode.

    The array has a USB 2.0 port, twin Fire Wire 800 sockets and gigabit Ethernet jack. The FireWire supports both 800 to 400 adapters. The Ethernet jack cannot be used to set it up for NAS. It is there to take advantage of iSCSI that is a fast interface that is used with severs and workstation rigs. OS X users get a homegrown iSCSI driver free.

    Data Robotics has clearly indicated that it prefers that the DroboPro should be used for direct attached storage with an option to connect it to a Windows Home Server or a networked computer if network access is essential. It is also possible to do professional video work on Drobo Pro.

    Tom Loverro, Director of Product Marketing at Data Robotics says: "One of the beta testers, who is well known in the video editing and animation community, is editing on DroboPro using Final Cut Pro with three video streams of 720p using Apple’s ProRes with no problems. That’s not to say you can do 5 streams of uncompressed 4K on DroboPro though — that sort of situation obviously calls for a different type of solution. But I do think we address 75% of the video editing market with this product according to our research."

    The price of the completely empty Drobo Pro is $1299. Pre stocked options cost $1599-$1949 and the top of trees version costs $3999 with 16 TB capacities. Existing Drobo Pro customers will receive a discount of $200 on the MSRP as an appreciation of their loyalty. The product has been shipped on April 7th.

  • Internet Calling Companies Struggling With European and US Carriers

    As soon as Skype released its iPhone application  problems emerged with using it with some carriers. both in Europe and the US.

    In a USA Today article last week, a senior AT&T official, Jim Cicconi, suggested that the carrier, in cooperation with Apple, expects device vendors to block consumers’ access to Skype’s VoIP application that competes with AT&T’s own voice service. "Skype is a competitor, just like Verizon or Sprint or T-Mobile,” said Cicconi.

    According to Free Press, AT&T is not the only carrier limiting consumers’ wireless Internet access – T-Mobile is reportedly restricting the availability of tethering within Google’s Android Marketplace. And most major wireless companies have terms of service that prohibit the use of certain applications and services.

    That was the reason that, in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission, Free Press called on the agency to confirm that wireless networks must adhere to the Internet Policy Statement, which protects consumers’ right to access any online content and services on any device of their choosing.

    "The Internet in your pocket should be just as free and open as the Internet in your home,” said Chris Riley, policy counsel of Free Press.

    Free Press is asking acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps to inform AT&T and other US wireless operators that they cannot adopt discriminating terms of service prohibiting the use of certain applications.

    At the same time agencies informed that German carrier T-Mobile, an exclusive carrier of the iPhone in Germany, will not allow customers to use the application, and is blocking it both physically and contractually.

    “It is clearly stated in our customer contracts that such services may not be used,” T-Mobile spokesperson Alexander von Schmettow told The Local, a German online site. “There are two reasons for this – because the high level of traffic would hinder our network performance, and because if the Skype programme didn’t work properly, customers would make us responsible for it.”

    Skype quickly responded on that: “They pretend that their action has to do with technical concerns: this is baseless. Skype works perfectly well on iPhone, as hundreds of thousands of people globally can already readily attest. There is no technical justification for this arbitrary blocking of Skype, and it represents a barrier to online business put in place by a private company just because they can, because they control access to the Internet,” said Robert Miller, Skype’s General Counsel

    “Yet, no one can do anything about it: German or EU regulation does not forbid such blatantly unfair practices. But we are trying to change things, together with other Internet companies."

  • CTIA 2009: Samsung Launches First WiMAX-Enabled Mobile Internet Device

    Samsung Mobile announced at CTIA WIRELESS 2009 in Las Vegas the upcoming availability of the Samsung Mondi, advanced mobile WiMAX enabled handheld device. The touch screen Mondi is designed for use with the Clear mobile WiMAX service from Clearwire.

    The Samsung Mondi includes the following features:

    • Windows Mobile 6.1
    • Microsoft Outlook and Windows Mobile Office
    • WiMAX Mobile Internet Access
    • WiFi Access (BTv2.1+EDR)
    • GPS: Route 66 Navigation with Preloaded Maps
    • 4GB of Internal Memory
    • Direct Push/Mobile Email (POP3, IMAP, SMTP)
    • Supports Instant Messaging and MMS
    • 3.0 Megapixel Camera and Camcorder
    • Bluetooth ® 2.0
    • Opera 9.5 Web Browser
    • HDMI TV Out

    WiMAX (Worldwide Inter-operability for Microwave Access), the emerging next generation technology for wireless access is supposed to be, together with LTE (Long Term Evolution) a base of 4G networks.

    Samsung is the global leader in delivering mobile WiMAX Technologies. Beside cooperation with U.S. Clearwire, it is now preparing to deliver mobile WiMAX solutions to operators in Japan and Russia.
    Clearwire is building the first, nationwide 4G mobile Internet wireless network in U.S. Currently provides mobile WiMAX-based service, to be branded Clear, in two markets, and provides pre-WiMAX communications services in 50 markets across the U.S. and Europe.
    “The Samsung Mondi is an important step toward our goal of bringing 4G network speeds and connectivity to people across the U.S.,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile.

  • BBC Launches Live Wi-Fi TV Service For Smartphones

    The BBC has launched a service that allows UK viewers to watch live TV programs from suitable Wi-Fi connected mobile phones.

    BBC Live TV is available in a beta test form, offering a limited number of the broadcaster’s channels, plus its radio stations.



    Some smartphones already support use of the BBC iPlayer catch-up TV service over a Wi-Fi connection, but this is the first time the corporation has offered live streaming of programmes to mobile phones

    The service currently only works over a Wi-Fi connection and broadcasts a 176 x144 image, but the broadcaster hopes to extend Live TV out to 3G networks and to add more channels during the coming months.

    Live TV is thought to work with a selection of smartphones, including the Android G1 and Nokia N Series devices. It is also supposed to work with Apple iPhone soon.

    There is no need to install any applications in order to watch the channels.

    The service is only available to UK audiences and requires viewers to hold a current television licence.

  • Samsung Announces Next Generation LED HDTVs

    Samsung revealed prices and market availability for its new species of flat-panel TVs, LED HDTV Series 8000, 7000 and 6000.

    The new portfolio of LED HDTVs use edge-mounted LEDs as their primary light source rather than traditional Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps (CCFL).

    All three of Samsung’s LED HDTV Series have Full HD panels, 2ms to 4ms response time, 120 to 240Hz frame interpolation with separate blur and judder adjustments, SRS TruSurround HD, 4 HDMI (HDMI-CEC) version 1.3 inputs and feature USB 2.0 Movie with MPEG4, DivX, MP3, JPEG decoders.

    Product Availability and Pricing (for the U.S. market)

    6000 Series

    • 32-inch class: $1,599.99, June 2009
    • 40-inch class: $2,299.99, March 2009
    • 46-inch class: $2,799.99, March 2009
    • 55-inch class: $3,599.99, March 2009

    7000 Series

    • 40-inch class: $2,499.99, April 2009
    • 46-inch class: $2,999.99, March 2009
    • 55-inch class: $3,799.99, March 2009

    8000 Series

    • 46-inch class: $3,299.99, May 2009
    • 55-inch class: $3,999.99, May 2009

  • CTIA2009: Skype Coming to BlackBerry Smartphones in May

    After releasing its application for iPhone, Android-powered devices and other Java-enabled mobile phones, as well as for Windows Mobile, Skype announced at CTIA WIRELESS 2009 in Las Vegas that the lite version of Skype, a ‘thin’ Skype client for mobile phones, will soon be available as a free download for BlackBerry smartphones.

    A beta version will be available in May for the BlackBerry Bold and BlackBerry Curve smartphones, with support for other BlackBerry smartphones coming later.

    The lite version of Skype delivers core Skype capabilities to BlackBerry smartphones, including:

    • Make Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world
    • Send/receive instant messages to/from individuals or groups
    • Make Skype calls at low rates to people on landline or mobile phones
    • Receive calls to your online number on Skype
    • See when your Skype contacts are online/available to chat

    The application works without needing a Wi-Fi connection. It uses local air time and a mobile Internet connection to sign in to Skype, update contact list and presence and to send/receive calls or messages. As a result, it’s necessary to have both a calling plan and a data plan to use the lite version of Skype.

    Skype will be available to BlackBerry users worldwide. The ability to make calls will be available in 10 countries: Australia, Brazil (Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, the United States and the UK.

    English will be supported first, with additional languages to follow. Those who download the beta version will be able to provide feedback on the application via an online survey.