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  • Sharp to Introduce VR-100BR1 Triple-Layer Blu-ray Disc Media

    Sharp will introduce the VR-100BR1 triple-layer Blu-ray Disc media (write-once) that conforms to the BDXL format specification, the new multi-layer recordable Blu-ray Disc format, a world first. These new Blu-ray Discs will be available in Japan beginning July 30, 2010.

    This disc media product conforms to the new BDXL format specification that extends the storage capacity of Blu-ray Discs to 100GB, twice the 50GB storage capacity of existing dual-layer discs.

    This new format enables recording approximately 12 hours of terrestrial digital TV broadcasts or approximately 8.6 hours of BS digital TV broadcasts. It expands the range of applications for Blu-ray Discs to include recording and saving long-duration HDTV programs or multiple episodes of serial dramas onto a single disc with the same high-definition image quality as the original.

    Major Features

    1. World’s first triple-layer Blu-ray Disc media featuring large 100GB recording storage capacity.

    This disc media is the first in the world to conform to the new BDXL format specification that extends the storage capacity of Blu-ray Discs by increasing the number of recording layers. The dual-layer structure used up to now has been augmented with an additional layer where image data can be recorded to create a new triple-layer structure.

    2. “Hard coat” process provides peace of mind for users by protecting important video data from scratches and fingerprint contamination.

    A “hard coat” process applied to the disc surface forms a protective barrier coating to protect stored data from scratches and dirt that may cause read and write errors.

    3. Users can print directly on discs down to 24 mm inner diameter.

    Wide print area of 24 mm inner diameter and 118 mm outer diameter for disc labeling. In addition to enabling vivid color labeling to be printed over nearly the entire disc, oil-based or water-based marker pens can be used to hand-write labels on these discs.

  • iSuppli: Facebook Plans New Mobile Strategy

    Facebook is set to move beyond its mobile application strategy as it plans to become a stand-alone mobile platform, which developers can distribute mobile apps with, says iSuppli.

    Already a leader in non-mobile web applications, Facebook offers more than 550,000 applications and supports 1m developers. According to the research group, the social network’s aim is to offer something similar on mobile (most third-party Facebook apps are not currently available on mobile).

    Facebook’s mobile growth remains strong. It now counts more than 150m active mobile users (out of more than 400m total users), compared with 100m in February 2010.

    “Mobile will continue to play a key role in growing Facebook’s overall user base. In May 2010, it launched Facebook 0, a text only version of the social network aimed at mobile users in developing countries with lower-end phones and limited access to mobile data. Facebook has deals with more than 60 network operators in 50 developing countries to provide the service for free,” said iSuppli analyst Jack Kent.

    According to him, while Facebook will likely remain the leading social network on mobile, a number of new players will force it to innovate. Foursquare, the location-based mobile social network that offers a gaming element and check-in functionality, is most prevalent of these new entrants. While Foursquare‘s 2m user base is tiny compared to Facebook, its implementation of location specific data is likely to be similar to Facebook’s forthcoming local features.

    “Facebook’s drive towards creating its own mobile platform may cause a headache for developers who will be forced to develop for another set of APIs (application program interfaces) in the already fragmented mobile sector. The prospect of tapping into a 500m-strong social graph could however prove enticing for many, as is already the case for many websites that integrate Facebook’s APIs,” said Kent.

    He thinks that having previously focused on developing native applications for mobile operating systems (including Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android), Facebook’s new strategy will likely focus on mobile web based applications that give it greater control over its ecosystem and the user experience it provides.

    “For Facebook, offering its own platform for mobile web applications will help drive its core advertising and microtransaction business models. It will be able to serve ads and gain revenues from its Facebook Credits virtual currency, outside the realm of other mobile ad-networks and mobile application stores,” concluded the iSuppli analyst.

  • Consumer Interest in Smartphones Catapulted to Unprecedented Levels

    ChangeWave‘s latest smart phone survey of 4,028 consumers shows an explosive transformation occurring in consumer demand – resulting in some major new winners and losers for second half 2010.

    The survey – completed June 24th – took a close-up look at consumer demand for the new Apple iPhone 4 and the HTC Droid Incredible, along with the impact these and other offerings are having on the rest of the smart phone industry.

    According to the report, consumer smart phone planned buying going forward is at an all-time high for a ChangeWave survey – with 16.4% of respondents in their latest survey saying they plan on buying a smart phone in the next 90 days.

    ChangeWave note that overall buying plans going forward are significantly higher than they were a year ago at the start of the iPhone 3GS release.

    Smart Phone Market Share

    At the individual manufacturers’ level, the survey findings show a major leap forward for Apple and HTC at the expense of RIM and Motorola.

    In terms of current share, Apple (34%) is up 1-pt since our March survey to an all-time high while RIM (34%) has taken another hit – dropping 4-pts in the past 90 days.

    According to ChangeWave, Android phones continue to have a major impact on the market, with HTC (8%; up 2-pts) and its new Droid Incredible and EVO models the biggest beneficiary. Motorola (6%), who in recent surveys had registered a wave of new demand for their Droid model, remains unchanged in the current survey.

    “But it’s when we look at future buying plans that the huge moves upward for Apple and HTC become most apparent. The new Apple iPhone 4 is driving much of the industry’s growth going forward, with more than one-in-two (52%) respondents who plan to buy a smart phone in the next 90 days saying they’ll get an Apple iPhone – an explosive 21-pt leap over our previous survey,” say the survey authors.

    HTC (19%) also shows a huge improvement going forward – registering a 7-pt jump in terms of future buying plans. On the other hand, Motorola (9%) has declined 7-pts since previously.

    The analysts say that the biggest loser of all in the current survey is RIM (6%), which has registered an 8-pt drop to its lowest level ever in a ChangeWave survey.

    Palm has also been buried in the wave of momentum for Apple and HTC. For the first time in a ChangeWave survey, Palm is registering less than 1% of planned smart phone purchases going forward.

    “The combined momentum of these latest Apple and HTC offerings has catapulted consumer interest in smart phones to unprecedented levels – with consumer planned buying now at an all-time high for a ChangeWave survey,” as the report says.

    “Importantly, the momentum for Apple and HTC is occurring at the expense of other smart phone manufacturers – Motorola and Research in Motion in particular,” the analysts conclude.

    Related articles
    iPhone 4 Sounds Starting Gun for Smartphone Gyroscope Market
    iPhone 4 is Here
    Gartner: Worldwide Smarpthone Sales Grew 49% in Q1 2010

  • IPsmarx Wants to Revolutionize the Calling Card Industry

    IPsmarx released their newest innovation for the prepaid phone card industry that is said to allow Calling Card and Pinless Service Providers to expand their network of sales agents, increase their customer base, and reduce operating costs.

    The development came about when IPsmarx discovered, through internal client surveys, that there are two unmet needs in the prepaid calling card industry:

    1. The ability for end users to recharge pinless accounts in person, without using internet or a credit card.
    2. The ability for an agent at a retail location to recharge an end user’s pinless account over the phone.

    “Traditionally, the prepaid calling card market has consisted of consumers who pay cash in person for printed cards,” said Carrie Fedders, Account Manager with IPsmarx.

    "This segment of the market typically doesn’t have access to the Internet, may not feel comfortable using a credit card or simply do not own a credit card. However, with the growing trend of pinless dialing, which is much more convenient for consumers, we decided to develop a solution so cash paying customers can still take advantage of the convenience of having a pinless calling account, without having to pay online with a credit card,” he said.

    With the new Retail Store Recharge feature, service providers can now enable their retail store agents to recharge customers’ PINless calling accounts in person. Agents also have the ability to recharge customers’ accounts over the phone through IVR (Interactive Voice Response,) allowing service providers to sign up agents that may not have access to a computer or internet at their retail locations.

    Since only a phone is needed to complete the transaction, this new system enables service providers open up a non-traditional network of PINless agents such as ethnic grocers, restaurants, and small convenience stores.

    “The release of this unique feature, furthers our mission to help our existing client base of Calling Card Service Providers expand their businesses,” says IPsmarx CEO, Arash Vahidnia, “The calling card market is changing rapidly and with the development of cutting edge features such as this, we can be certain that our clients are in the forefront of the competitive marketplace.”

    According to IPsmarx, Calling Card Service Providers who implement this new feature benefit from reduced operating costs – namely calling card printing and marketing costs. Further, they are able to expand their existing network of sales agents and increase their recurring business, thus increasing market share, and, lastly, by offering a singularly unique feature in the competitive calling card landscape, “they are leaps and bounds ahead of their competition.”

    The company claims that customers who depend on calling cards to stay in touch with friends and family living in foreign countries will be the biggest winner of this new technology. “They’re able to experience greater convenience by retaining one primary calling card carrier instead of buying single use cards each time they need to make a phone call.”

    Watch a video on the new Retail Store Recharge Over the Phone system.

     

    ###

    IPsmarx SIP Based Calling Card Platform has been named our “Product of the Year Award” in 2008 and 2009.

    Related articles
    IPsmarx Partners with snom to Deliver VoIP Services for SMBs and Global Enterprises
    Winning VoIP Philosophy: Interview with Arash Vahidnia, CEO of IPsmarx
    IPsmarx Introduces IP-PBX And SIP Trunking To Its “All In One” Solution
    IPsmarx SIP-Based Calling Card Platform Wins “Best VoIP Product of the Year”

  • Broadvox Announces SMB IP Multimedia Communications

    Broadvox has announced that Grandstream Networks‘ new GXV3140 is the first IP Multimedia CPE device to deploy with Broadvox GO! SIP Trunking.

    According to the company, the solution enables businesses to save up to 70% a month over their previous TDM systems. Along with that, they also receive the added benefit of using and exploring additional features and functions available with SIP.

    Broadvox SIP Trunking solutions are delivered on a private network designed with state-of-the art-equipment, enabling customers to benefit from SIP regardless of their existing infrastructure.

    Broadvox GO! SIP Trunking offers unlimited local calling, discounted long distance, and Toll-free calling. Additional DIDs, Local Number Portability, and other options are also available. The network is monitored 24×7 and delivers service to the United States (excluding Alaska), Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and Canada.

    The first multimedia CPE endpoint used with Broadvox GO! SIP Trunking and the GXV3140 enable video and voice calling upon installation. With a 4.3" digital color LCD screen, the "always-on" GXV3140 has an integrated web browser which gives convenient, one-touch access to personalized RSS feeds of real-time online information services (news updates, stock updates, weather forecasts, directory searches, etc.), and thousands of Internet radio stations.

    This device also lets the user IM with Yahoo, MSN, and Google, and gives access Yahoo Flicker web photo albums. It comes equipped with an alarm clock, calendar, games, and music ringtones. Broadvox claims that full duplex speakerphone and voice codec support deliver “best-in-class telephony features.”

    "Grandstream has developed a true multimedia product to enhance enterprise communications, reduce costs, and strengthen our customers’ network return on investment," said Sergey Galchenko, Chief Technology Officer at Broadvox.

    David Li, CEO of Grandstream Networks, stated: "Broadvox enhances visual communications offered with Grandstream’s IP Multimedia Phone by assuring premium quality video and voice IP calls that are reliably delivered to every customer, every time."

    Related articles
    Grandstream Now Skype for SIP Interoperable

  • IDC: Mobile Banking Usage Nearly Doubled Since Last Year

    IDC has released a new report, 2009 Consumer Mobile Banking Preferences Survey Results – Waiting for Takeoff, that reveals that mobile banking has seen an increase in usage and in institutions offering the service in the last year. In fact, reported mobile banking usage has almost doubled since last year’s survey.

    However, according to the survey, while mobile banking may have finally turned the corner with customer acceptance, it is not a mainstream channel and in order to be successful, financial institutions need to be strategic about their mobile offerings.

    In addition, realistic expectations, an understanding that there are few to no revenue opportunities around mobile currently, and the backing of senior management, are all key to mobile success.

    According to the report, the challenge with mobile banking continues to be that it introduces a new cost structure without providing opportunities for revenue. Consumers have become accustomed to having more for free, and the convenience of mobile banking so far does not appear to be something that people are willing to pay for.

    However, enhancements to mobile platforms – including the addition of adding deposit capture and payment solutions – will provide more opportunities for financial institutions to potentially gain some revenue opportunities.

    IDC recommends that financial institutions begin expanding what they offer, marketing these offerings as easier to use, and providing more opportunities around payments and fund movement. Financial institutions that can capitalize on this will be better positioned to both obtain and retain customers.

    Key findings include:
    • Usage was up across all channels, requiring bankers to manage more transactions across an ever-expanding portfolio of delivery options.
    • The financial services industry should leverage its branch network to compete against potential nontraditional entrants that lack the brick-and-mortar infrastructure.
    • SMS is the most popular form of mobile banking.
    • Customized alerts and payments outside of network are gaining in popularity, while check image view and getting rate information on the mobile device appear to be fading.
    • Demographics for mobile banking customers were skewed toward a younger male audience, but all demographics are showing usage.

    "Consumers are transaction and information happy, and the branch continues to be as popular as ever," said Marc DeCastro, Research Manager, Consumer Banking and Credit, IDC Financial Insights.

    "The financial services industry recognizes the importance and advantage it has with its brick-and-mortar branch networks, evidenced by continued branch investment. Our survey, however, shows that consumers are getting more and more comfortable opening accounts outside of the branch. While many financial institutions have jumped into the mobile banking space and are offering solutions, some are still pondering their entrance. Those that have already installed a solution may also be looking at modifications or enhancements to their first-generation rollouts."

    Related articles
    Number of Worldwide Mobile Payment Users to Reach 108.6 Million in 2010
    Visa Brings Mobile Payments to iPhone
    On-line Micropaymets by Absolu Payment
    VeriFone Announces iPhone Secure Payments Solution

  • CDW-G Releases 2010 Government Virtualization Report

    CDW-G has released its 2010 Government Virtualization Report, an assessment of client, server and storage virtualization in Federal, state and local agencies.

    The report, based on a May survey of 600 Federal, state and local IT managers, reveals that 77 percent of agencies are implementing at least one form of virtualization, and of those, 89 percent are benefiting from the technology.

    Benefits of virtualization, a broad term used to describe the abstraction of computer resources, include reduced operating and capital costs, improved utilization of computing resources and greater IT staff productivity, respondents said.

    Despite those benefits – and imperatives such as the Federal data center consolidation initiative – 81 percent of all agencies said they are not using virtualization to its fullest extent, and just 33 percent employ a “virtualization first” strategy, meaning that a requestor must prove that a new software application does not work in a virtualized environment before the agency will buy a dedicated server to support it.

    According to the report, across government, agencies cited lack of staff and budget as top impediments to further virtualization adoption. Nearly half said their IT department is not appropriately staffed and trained to manage a virtual environment. Despite those challenges, most agencies said they will fully implement client, server and storage virtualization by 2015.

    “The cost savings associated with virtualization are exceptionally compelling in the current budget environment,” said David Hutchins, director of state and local sales for CDW-G. “We see many state and local governments starting with a pilot project, and once tangible cost and time savings are achieved, redeploying those resources to other priority initiatives – including additional virtualization, which reaps still more savings.”

    Most Agencies Implementing; Security Concerns Decline

    CDW-G’s survey found that 91 percent of agencies are considering or implementing server virtualization, a method of running multiple independent server operating systems on a single physical server. Eighty-four percent are considering or implementing client virtualization, a method of running multiple desktops and/or applications centrally in the data center, and an equal number are considering or implementing storage virtualization, a method of making many different physical storage networks and devices appear as one entity for purposes of management and administration.

    Security concerns about virtualization, the No. 2 barrier to Federal implementation, according to CDW-G’s 2009 Federal Virtualization Report, declined significantly within that group year over year. Today, Federal IT professionals rank security No. 7 among their top barriers, after concerns such as staff knowledge, budget and staff availability. State and local IT professionals in 2010 ranked security No. 8 among their top barriers, after concerns such as budget and staff availability. Across government, nearly half of IT managers report that security is actually a benefit of virtualization, CDW-G found.

    “Security is a critical consideration with any change to agency IT environments, and rightly so,” said Andy Lausch, vice president of federal sales for CDW-G. “As agencies grow their virtualization expertise, many are finding that security is actually improved with virtualization. A centralized IT environment means managers have fewer machines to monitor and manage, which can improve the agency’s overall security posture.”

    Virtualization Not One-Size Fits All; CIO Savvy Essential to Success

    While most government IT professionals are implementing or considering virtualization, respondents caution that the technique is not a one-size-fits all solution. Forty-six percent said some applications should not run on virtualized servers, for example. One respondent noted, “Some applications require such intensive resources, the cost benefit is outweighed.”

    Echoing CDW-G’s 2009 survey on Federal virtualization, respondents again said CIO virtualization proficiency is critical to successful implementation. Agencies whose IT staffs gave their CIOs an “A” for virtualization proficiency were three times more likely to experience a successful virtualization deployment than agencies with C-rated CIOs. Further, 87 percent of agencies that gave their CIO an “A” in virtualization proficiency said their IT department is appropriately staffed and trained to support a virtualized environment.

    Government IT professionals offered the following advice to their peers:
    • Lead: Secure non-IT leadership support and ensure adequate end-user education
    • Analyze: Conduct cost-benefit and performance analyses and set benchmarks for evaluating ROI
    • Plan: Audit current IT environments to determine areas that can immediately benefit from virtualization and areas that will require additional planning
    • Implement: Begin with a small-scale implementation. Apply lessons learned to a subsequent deployment

  • VOIPFUTURE Receives Emerging Company of the Year Award from Frost & Sullivan

    Leading market research and consulting firm recognizes VOIPFUTURE’s degree of technological innovation and excellent growth strategy in the voice service assurance market

    Hamburg, Germany – 30th June 2010 – VOIPFUTURE, the leading provider of RTP monitoring solutions, today announced that it has received the 2010 Emerging Company of the Year Award in Global VoIP Service Assurance from Frost & Sullivan, a renowned global research and consulting firm. The Emerging Company of the Year Award is a prestigious recognition of VOIPFUTURE’s accomplishments in the area of VoIP service assurance.

    The award was presented to VOIPFUTURE as a significant mark of distinction within its industry for its innovative technology, exemplary management, superior market growth, and successful strategic initiatives. The award is based on the CEO’s 360 Degree Perspective Model and the findings of Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices research including extensive secondary and technology research as well as interviews with market participants, customers, and suppliers.

    ”We are honored to receive this prestigious award by Frost & Sullivan for our High Tech company.” said Jan Bastian, CEO of VOIPFUTURE. “Moreover we are delighted to see that our unique RTP monitoring technology with its superior capabilities is getting such outstanding feedback from the voice service assurance market.”

    Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst/Program Leader Olga Yashkova explains, "the company has talented engineers that are in tune with the dynamic nature of the service assurance market. Its growing customer base and an increasing global footprint proves that VOIPFUTURE’s solution is a ‘must have.’”

    The complete Frost & Sullivan report, “2010 Global VoIP Service Assurance Emerging Company of the Year Award,” is available at www.voipfuture.com.

    About VOIPFUTURE

    VOIPFUTURE delivers carrier-grade leading edge technology to monitor and analyze voice quality in IP networks. Target customers include carriers, large enterprises, managed service providers and NGN vendors. VOIPFUTURE’s innovative RTP Monitoring solution is characterized by high performance, precision and vendor independence. Flexible deployment options and open interfaces provide for various applications including VoIP troubleshooting, network optimization, inter-provider peering and customer SLA monitoring. VOIPFUTURE was founded as a Siemens spin-off in early 2007 in Hamburg, Germany and major investors are Hasso Plattner Ventures and KfW Bank.

  • Pioneer Cellular Selects Jinny Software for its CDMA Business

    Jinny Software, a global supplier of messaging and media solutions to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), announced it is to support Pioneer Cellular through its suite of next generation messaging solutions.

    Pioneer Cellular is an Oklahoma-based CDMA carrier which offers voice and data services, and will now utilize the power of Jinny’s messaging solutions, specifically its SMSC, MMSC and OTA products, in its service offering.

    According to Pioneer Cellular, they was seeking a trusted partner and able messaging provider to deliver key systems in its network. "Experience and quality of support combined with the cost/benefit ratio, flexibility and capability of Jinny’s solutions were the key determining factors in securing this deal," as the company says.

    Jinny Software offers a wide range of messaging, call & media and mobile advertising solutions. They claim that their messaging solutions "drive increased efficiency in traffic management and enable the rapid introduction of secure, innovative and revenue-generating services."

    Pioneer Cellular provides services with 3G EVDO Rev A technology, such as Picture and Text Messaging, Data Browsing and downloadable BREW applications.

    “We are delighted to be working with Jinny Software,” said Richard Ruhl, General Manager at Pioneer Cellular. “Jinny’s comprehensive product set will allow us to offer our subscribers a full range of messaging services in a short timeframe.”

    Fintan Supple, Americas Regional Sales Director at Jinny, added, “We are pleased to announce this latest CDMA customer win and we are looking forward to forging a long-term relationship with Pioneer Cellular. This project reinforces the position of Jinny Software in North America, as a trustworthy and reliable partner for delivering complete and comprehensive messaging solutions in aggressive timelines.”

  • Yealink Release New Firmware for SIP-T2x Series IP phone

    Yealink network, a manufacturer of IP voice and video phone, announced that it has released the latest firmware for its award winning IP phone series–SIP-T2x. They provide high quality audio, a broad range of voice codecs, security protection for privacy, and rich telephony features.

    According to the company, the new firmware enhancement, available for downloading from Yealink’s website, will include a number of features such as security protection, performance improvement as well as bug fixes.

    Specially, the added XML-support enables customization and integration, connecting business processes and people to critical information by providing display-based access to services and applications. "Users can easily access information and perform tasks, for example, use the displays on the IP Phones in hotel rooms to make dining reservations, set up wake-up calls, purchase attraction tickets, get directions, and check on flight status and so on," as Yealink said in the press release.

    The other new features:

    XML Screen/Browser — XML browser is a simple sip-phone-custom browser function based on XML. With XML browser, customers can personalize their features，Such as weather forecast inquiry, stock information, date inquiry, access to address book, and other functions.

    Hot Desking     — Hot Desking allows users to login their personal accounts on different phones anywhere. It is used in office where staffs are shifting to work especially like call center to maximize the resource.

    Open VPN    —Open VPN allows for remote and secure access to your network and application resources. So you can register the phone to your local office while you are on business.

    There are some other features like 802.1x, call completion, call recording and BLF support for linekey.

    The SIP-T2x was honored with Technology Marketing Community (TMC) 2009 Innovation award and was selected as the Best VoIP Hardware Finalists by United Kingdom Internet Telephony Service Association (ITSPA).