Month: February 2013

Continue reading “Women underserved by mobile financial services providers” →

Women in developing countries represent a significant underserved market and commercial opportunity for mobile financial service providers.

According to the study by the GSMA mWomen Programme and Visa, more than two billion people worldwide, the majority of whom are women, lack access to basic financial services.

The study, entitled, Unlocking the Potential: Women and Mobile Financial Services in Emerging Markets, focused on women in Indonesia, Kenya, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and Tanzania. It was undertaken to gain additional insight into how financial institutions and mobile network operators can better support the complex financial lives of women at the base of the pyramid.

New ZTE Grand Memo features Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor

Continue reading “New ZTE Grand Memo features Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor” →

The newly-launched ZTE Grand Memo 5.7-inch handset runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processors.

It balances the portability of a handset and the larger viewing and easier touch-interaction experience of a tablet. The new phone features a 5.7-inch, high definition, 720 x 1280 display, and a powerful Qualcomm 800 processor with quad-core Krait CPUs and 2GB of RAM. Combined with a 13MP rear-facing camera, 1MP front-facing camera and 1080 HD video playback, this gives users a smooth, high quality multimedia experience that is perfect for gaming and video.

The Grand Memo caters to those who are always on-the-go, with voice-response technology which allows users to answer calls safely while driving, and A-GPS and car-mode navigation system for high quality mapping and directions. It comes with a HD version of ZTE’s Mifavor user interface that is specially designed for smartphones, providing a simpler user experience, and ZTE’s Z Cloud service for the security and access-anywhere provided by cloud services. It also includes a 3200mAh battery for super-long standby time.

GSMA announces OneAPI Exchange

Continue reading “GSMA announces OneAPI Exchange” →

GSMA has announced OneAPI Exchange, a new, flexible technical platform that will deliver network capabilities to mobile apps. This latest phase of the OneAPI global initiative, which facilitates closer collaboration between operators and developers, has been undertaken with leading mobile operators including AT&T, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and Vodafone. OneAPI Exchange will be operated by Apigee.

“The OneAPI Exchange promises to elevate the mobile app experience for consumers,” said Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer of GSMA. “By supporting closer operator-developer relationships and greater cross-carrier interoperability, the platform will lead to seamless access to exciting mobile apps with enhanced features. End users will benefit from operator services they already know and trust, such as billing, messaging and operator identity, embedded within the apps they choose.”

The new initiative incorporates the work undertaken by the Wholesale Application Community (WAC), which was integrated into the GSMA in July 2012. The OneAPI Exchange, which is currently in a working proof of concept form, improves that capability by giving operators the choice of providing developers with either their own customised application programming interfaces (APIs) or standardised APIs. This leads to better flexibility for operators to participate in the OneAPI Exchange programme, according to their own business objectives, while also providing benefits of scale and reach to their developers through API interoperability.

ZTE debuts world’s first Firefox OS smartphone

Events, Gadgets, Mobile, Telecommunications

ZTE has launched ZTE Open, the world’s first smartphone to run on Mozilla’s Firefox OS open mobile ecosystem. Together with global operator Telefónica, ZTE will first launch the ZTE Open in Spain, Venezuela and Colombia in mid-2013.

The ZTE Open is an entry-level smartphone ideal for young people who are keen to experience the very latest technology, and people on limited budgets looking to make the move from a feature phone to their first smartphone. It features a 3.5-inch, HVGA TFT touchscreen display and has 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM combined with a 3.2MP camera. It supports Bluetooth 2.1, WIFI 802.11b/g/n and AGPS and has a 1200mAH battery.

“ZTE continues to push the boundaries with the aim of bringing customers the very latest that mobile technology has to offer.” said He Shiyou, EVP and Head of ZTE’s Mobile Devices Division.

Continue reading “ZTE debuts world’s first Firefox OS smartphone” →

Korean mobile operators KT and SK Telecom win GSMA Chairman’s Award

Continue reading “Korean mobile operators KT and SK Telecom win GSMA Chairman’s Award” →

Korean mobile operators KT Corporation and SK Telecom have been named the joint recipients of the 2013 GSMA Chairman’s Award. Established in 1996, the award is the GSMA’s most prestigious award and recognises outstanding contribution to the growth and development of mobile communications around the world. This year’s award recognises SK Telecom and KT for their pioneering efforts and leadership in driving the adoption of SIM-based mobile near field communication (NFC) services.

“KT and SK Telecom have been at the forefront of global commercialisation of NFC, catalysing the financial ecosystem for mobile NFC from an early stage,” said Franco Bernabè, Chairman, GSMA and Chairman and CEO of Telecom Italia Group.

“These efforts have not only led to an explosion in demand for NFC-based services domestically, but ensured that the country leads in the worldwide adoption of a single standard for mobile NFC. On behalf of the GSMA, and indeed the entire mobile industry, I commend SK Telecom and KT for their cooperative spirit and a commitment to making life-enhancing new mobile services for users everywhere,” he added.

CSL completes HD VoLTE call with eSRVCC

Hong Kong mobile operator CSL has successfully conducted a High Definition (HD) voice over LTE (VoLTE) call hand-off to 3G with an eSRVCC-based pre-commercial network. HD voice will keep service continuity before and after hand-off. All network equipment used in this demonstration was provided by ZTE. This HD VoLTE call with end-to-end QoS assurance provide highly reliable user experience and help operators differentiate their services.

The Adaptive Multi Rate Wideband(AMR-WB) speech codec was supported in the HD VoLTE call demonstration. This HD voice speech codec provides improved speech quality due to a wider speech bandwidth from 50 to 7,000Hz and ensures no significant impact on radio-frequency capacity due to the efficiency of codec suitable. HD voice technology will significant promote the development of high quality voice service, such as speech recognition, speech-to-text and HD conferencing.

“VoLTE provides an improvement in spectral efficiency and is needed to increase network capacity and allow to re-farm the 3G spectrum in the future,” said Christian Daigneault, Chief Technology Officer of CSL. “This HD VoLTE call using eSRVCC will shorten call set-up time, assure good handover to 3G where required and creates a better user experience for our customers. CSL has been the first to bring Dual Band LTE at 1800/2600 MHz in Asia and will continue to bring a superior network experience to its customers. The success of this demonstration is an important milestone in the development of LTE voice services in the mobile industry.”

Global mobile data revenue to surpass voice revenue by 2018

Continue reading “Global mobile data revenue to surpass voice revenue by 2018” →

Mobile operator data revenues will overtake voice revenues globally by 2018, according to a new GSMA report. The mobile data explosion is being driven by a surge in demand for connected devices and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications and is transforming the socioeconomic future of people in developed and developing countries.

The increase in mobile operator data revenues is a global trend across both developed and emerging markets. In 2012, Japan became the first country where data revenues exceeded voice revenues, due largely to the availability of advanced mobile broadband networks and a higher adoption of the latest smartphones, tablets and connected devices.

Data growth has spurred significant advances in connected devices and M2M technologies globally. Four sectors in particular – health, automotive, education and smart cities – are building on the evolution of mobile broadband access and services.

Intel accelerates mobile computing push

Desktop, Enterprise, Events, Gadgets, Mobile, Telecommunications

Intel Corporation has announced a range of new products, including a new dual-core Atom SoC (“Clover Trail+”) platform for smartphones and Android tablets, and its first global, multimode-multiband LTE solution that will ship in the first half of this year.

Other disclosures included “Bay Trail” momentum, mobile device enabling efforts, and continued smartphone momentum in emerging markets with the Intel Atom Z2420 processor-based platform.

“Today’s announcements build on Intel’s growing device portfolio across a range of mobile market segments,” said Hermann Eul, Intel Vice President and co-General Manager of the Mobile and Communications Group. “In less than a year’s time, we have worked closely with our customers to bring Intel-based smartphones to market in more than 20 countries around the world, and have also delivered an industry-leading low-power Atom SoC tablet solution running Windows 8, and shipping with leading OEM customers today. Looking forward, we will build upon this foundation and work closely with our ecosystem partners, across operating systems, to deliver the best mobile products and experiences for consumers with Intel Inside.”

Continue reading “Intel accelerates mobile computing push” →

ZTE to increase smartphone revenues by 30% in 2013

Events, Gadgets, Mobile

ZTE expects to increase smartphone revenues by 30 percent in 2013, and maintain its position as one of the top 4 global handset manufacturers.

ZTE’s handset business has seen steady development and profit growth during 2012. Industry analyst IDC reported that ZTE had shipped 65 million handsets in 2012, accounting for 3.8 percent of the global handset market and confirming ZTE as one of the top 4 handset producers.

“We know that our future success means we have to build the ZTE brand, and another target for us is to be a top 5 vendor in terms of brand awareness and reputation within the next three years,” said He Shiyou, EVP and Head of the Mobile Devices Division at ZTE. “2013 is the final year of our three-year transformation into a high-end smartphone brand, but we have a lot of building still to do.”

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1 in 2 worldwide uses mobile phone

Continue reading “1 in 2 worldwide uses mobile phone” →

Nearly half of the world’s population now uses mobile communications. The number of mobile subscribers now stands at 3.2 billion people and is expected to increase by another 700 million subscribers by 2017. The 4 billion-subscriber milestone will be reached in 2018, according to a new GSMA report.

“The Mobile Economy 2013”, which provides a comprehensive overview of the mobile industry today, outlines the key opportunities and challenges for the mobile industry over the next five years. Developed by the GSMA and A.T. Kearney, the wide-ranging study offers critical insights into the health of the mobile communications industry and details the global enablers needed to spur further investment and growth in the sector.

“Mobile is a vibrant and evolving industry at the heart of everyday life for billions of people around the world,” said Anne Bouverot, Director General of GSMA. “Mobile has gone beyond being a mere communications tool to one that provides life-enhancing, and in some cases life-saving, services to men, women and children. It’s exciting to look at the possibilities ahead of us as we connect the world’s population to the mobile Internet.”

ZTE launches 4G cloud radio solution

Cloud, Mobile, Telecommunications

ZTE has launched its 4G cloud radio solution at Mobile World Congress 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.

Its cloud radio is a flexible solution that can adapt to existing transmissions for operators. This adaptability improves network performance. Cloud radio also enables dynamic coordination and guarantees a smooth user experience, especially on the cell edge.

Cloud radio is an emerging solution and aimed at helping operators solve a series of key problems during network evolution progress to 4G, such as unbalanced load in 2G, 3G and LTE networks, and uneven cell edge user experiences.

GTC 2013 features world-class keynote speakers

Events

A world-class line-up of keynote speakers will be present at the 4th GPU Technology Conference (GTC), which will be held at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, California, from March 18 to 21.

NVIDIA CEO and co-founder Jen-Hsun Huang will discuss the profound and growing impact of GPU technology in gaming, science, industry, media and entertainment, design and other fields in an opening keynote address on Tuesday, March 19 at 9 a.m. PT.

On Wednesday, March 20, Erez Lieberman Aiden (right), a pioneering genomics researcher, will discuss his work sequencing the human genome in 3D, which allows scientists to gain deep insights into gene behavior and fundamental biological processes of life. Aiden will reveal how his team harnesses GPUs to accelerate the analysis of massive amounts of genomic information and simulate the physical process of genome folding, uncovering insights into gene expression that can now be used by thousands of researchers.

Continue reading “GTC 2013 features world-class keynote speakers” →

NetApp adds Flash offerings

Continue reading “NetApp adds Flash offerings” →

NetApp has announced the availability of the EF540 all-flash array for today’s extreme performance-driven enterprise applications, and previewed the architecture of its new, purpose-built FlashRay product family, which will deliver rich scale-out and storage efficiency features to maximise the benefits of all-flash arrays.

The new product introductions extend the comprehensive NetApp enterprise flash portfolio, which maximizes the value of flash across the entire compute, network and storage stack, enabling the flexibility to choose the best approach to unique workloads.

With the strongest and broadest flash portfolio in the industry, in a complete line of products, including intelligent caching technologies Flash Cache, Flash Pool, and Flash Accel, the new EF540 flash array and the forthcoming FlashRay family provide flexibility and choice and maximise the value of flash across the entire compute, network, and storage stack. NetApp has deployed more than 36PB of flash in the market to date. These new product introductions will further extend that leadership.

New NetApp platforms enable agile data infrastructure

Continue reading “HCL Technologies and hybris to provide integrated omni-channel solutions” →

NetApp has introduced new high-end storage systems – the FAS/V6220, FAS6250, and FAS6290 – to address the demanding performance and capacity requirements of enterprise organisations.

The new data storage systems deliver increased performance and value, enabling IT operations to achieve a greater ROI while delivering leading high availability and scale for organisations’ most stringent application workloads. Optimized for the NetApp leading flash portfolio, the FAS6200 platform and related V-Series offerings remove compromise from consideration when organizations evaluate their IT and business imperatives, delivering impact faster.

“Enterprises need storage and data management solutions that have the scalability for short-term efficiencies and long-term growth,” said Brendon Howe, Vice President of Product and Solutions Marketing at NetApp. “NetApp’s FAS storage platforms and integrated flash portfolio are architected for mission-critical SAN and NAS environments to deliver agility at scale, nonstop operations, and ease of management. These systems have the performance and scale for virtualised and cloud environments, enabling IT administrators to make the appropriate infrastructure decisions, whether it is on-premise or in the cloud.”

HCL Technologies and hybris to provide integrated omni-channel solutions

e-commerce, Enterprise

HCL Technologies, is partnering hybris, to provide end-to-end omni-channel commerce solutions and integration services to HCL’s customers worldwide. The alliance will also enable hybris to leverage HCL’s footprint in the digital media commerce market and its long-term relationships with leading global businesses and infrastructure in markets in regions such as the Middle-East.

This combination of HCL’s domain and technology expertise, along with hybris’ market leading commerce platform, will help business decision makers change the game by improving the quality of the customer buying experience, thereby extending brand loyalty and spend.

As part of the partnership, HCL will co-create customised solutions, tools and storefront accelerators based on the hybris Commerce Suite that focus on vertical segments such as consumer products, media, entertainment, retail, telecom, and manufacturing.

Dell expands networking portfolio

Continue reading “Dell expands networking portfolio” →

Dell has expanded its networking portfolio to help customers enhance their networks to thrive in next-generation, software-defined 10G cloud and virtualised data centres.

The Dell S4820T top-of-rack (ToR) switch is purpose-built for deployment in high-performance data centre and cloud computing environments, leveraging the popularity of twisted-pair copper cabling and providing the right mix of scalability, performance, operational simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

It is powered by the Force10 operating system (FTOS) and designed to support both Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality required for Web 2.0, enterprise and cloud services provider data centers.

NVIDIA building new home

Twenty years after its founding, NVIDIA is building a new home to accommodate growth.

It has 8,000 staff across 40-plus sites, including Taipei, Moscow, Shanghai, Paris, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Bangalore, Helsinki, Cambridge, Sophia, and Boston.

The new campus is just a few blocks from where the company started in Santa Clara.

“The new NVIDIA building will capture the ambition and imagination of our people. It will stand at the intersection of science and art, just as our work in visual computing does. It will be the symbol, the physical manifestation, of our vision for the company,” wrote Jen Hsun-Huang, CEO and Founder of NVIDIA in a blog post (http://blogs.nvidia.com/2013/02/nvidia-to-build-a-new-home-20-years-after-our-founding/).

ZTE and NVIDIA partner to launch first Tegra 4 super phones

Continue reading “ZTE and NVIDIA partner to launch first Tegra 4 super phones” →

ZTE is teaming up with NVIDIA to deliver the first super phones powered by the NVIDIA Tegra 4 mobile processor, with the first models to be launched in China in the first half of 2013.

Launched at CES in January, the NVIDIA Tegra 4 will enable the ZTE devices to deliver ultra-fast web browsing, improved app load times, more realistic gaming experiences and great battery life – thanks to the processor’s 72 custom NVIDIA GeForce cores and quad-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU.

Tegra 4 also enables worldwide 4G LTE voice and data support through an optional chipset, the NVIDIA i500 processor. ZTE and NVIDIA are also planning a new LTE super phone using the i500 LTE chipset for blazing-fast networking.

NVIDIA announces new camera capabilities with Chimera

Gadgets

Available in the NVIDIA Tegra 4 family of mobile processors, the NVIDIA Chimera Computational Photography Architecture offers a number of features never before available on mobile devices, including always-on high-dynamic range (HDR) photos and videos, HDR panoramic and persistent tap-to-track capabilities.

Previous mobile device architectures have made it difficult to use the best tools for different parts of complex image processing. Chimera architecture removes those boundaries by providing the power to conduct nearly 100 billion mathematical operations per second to perform image processing, using computational techniques used in X-ray CT scanners, deep space telescopes and spy satellites.

“We developed the Chimera Computational Photography Architecture to take mobile photography far beyond where it is today,” said Brian Cabral, Vice President of Computation Imaging at NVIDIA. “We’re enabling developers and users to not only use image processing to enhance their photos, but also use computer algorithms to create images no lens can capture alone.”

Continue reading “NVIDIA announces new camera capabilities with Chimera” →

NVIDIA showcases Tegra 4i-based Phoenix reference smartphone

Gadgets, Mobile

NVIDIA has introduced its reference smartphone platform code-named “Phoenix” for the newly-announced Tegra 4i processor. Phoenix is a blueprint that phone makers can reference in designing and building future Tegra 4i smartphones to help get them to market quicker.

Previously codenamed “Project Grey”, the Tegra 4i, is NVIDIA’s first fully integrated 4G LTE mobile processor. It features 60 custom NVIDIA GPU cores; a quad-core CPU based on ARM’s newest and most efficient core — the R4 Cortex-A9 CPU — plus a fifth battery saver core; and a version of the NVIDIA i500 LTE modem optimised for integration. The result is an extremely power efficient, compact, high- performance mobile processor that enables smartphone performance and capability previously available only in expensive super phones.

“NVIDIA is delivering for the first time a single, integrated processor that powers all the major functions of a smartphone,” said Phil Carmack, senior vice president of the Mobile business at NVIDIA. “Tegra 4i phones will provide amazing computing power, world-class phone capabilities, and exceptionally long battery life.”

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NVIDIA unleashes GeForce GTX TITAN

Desktop, Gadgets, Supercomputer

The power of supercomputing brought to the desktop. That’s what NVIDIA has done with the introduction of the GeForce GTX TITAN. Powered by the fastest GPU on the planet, it is designed to unleash the world’s fastest gaming PCs including personal gaming supercomputers and svelte, quiet, small form-factor PCs.

GeForce GTX TITAN is built with the same NVIDIA Kepler architecture that powers Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s newly launched Titan supercomputer, which tops the list of the Top 500 supercomputers in the world.

By harnessing the power of three GeForce GTX TITAN GPUs simultaneously in three-way SLI mode, gamers can max out every visual setting without fear of a meltdown while playing any of the most demanding PC gaming titles.

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ZTE launches UniCare service solution

Enterprise, Mobile, Telecommunications

ZTE has launched UniCare, a service solution developed specifically for mobile operators.

UniCare is an end-to-end integrated solution covering the whole network by offering operation assurance aimed at network performance management, service quality management and customer experience assurance, as well as operation consulting aimed at network, service and market development.

“Traditionally, technical services have focused on a specific area of an operator’s business, rather than the whole operation. As a result, they have failed to bring about improvements in operational efficiencies or user experience and have not delivered increased revenues or profits,” said Yang Jiaxiao, Vice President of ZTE. “The UniCare service solution overcomes these failures by providing mobile operators with an overall service assurance for their entire business.”

Continue reading “ZTE launches UniCare service solution” →

Fix to hacked Yahoo! email accounts

Desktop

Many Yahoo! email accounts were compromised recently. The hacked accounts were sending out email messages with links to sites in Germany.

A quick fix for those affected is to change your password immediately.

NVIDIA reports record US$4.28 billion revenue for FY13

Desktop, Enterprise, Gadgets, Mobile

NVIDIA has reported revenue for fiscal 2013 ended January 27, 2013, of a record $4.28 billion, up 7.1 percent from $4.00 billion in fiscal 2012.

GAAP earnings per share for the year were $0.90 per diluted share, a decrease of 4.3 percent from $0.94 in fiscal 2012. Non-GAAP earnings per diluted share were $1.17, down 1.7 percent from $1.19 in fiscal 2012. During the quarter, NVIDIA repurchased $100.0 million of stock and paid a dividend of $0.075 per share, equivalent to $46.9 million.

“This year we did the best work in our company’s history,” said Jen-Hsun Huang, president and chief executive officer of NVIDIA. “We achieved record revenues, margins and cash, despite significant market headwinds.

Continue reading “NVIDIA reports record US$4.28 billion revenue for FY13” →

GSMA: Mobile drives unprecedented growth in Arab world

Continue reading “GSMA: Mobile drives unprecedented growth in Arab world” →

GSMA has published its first in-depth assessment of the impact of the mobile industry on the Arab States, highlighting the explosive growth of mobile services in the region. Based on research from Deloitte, the GSMA Arab States Mobile Observatory details strong regional market competition and falling handset prices, fuelling a 32 percent average annual growth in mobile connections over the past 10 years, soaring from 19 million connections in 2002 to 391 million in 2012.

While highlighting the extraordinary development of the region over the past decade, the report identifies fundamental challenges that put the continued growth of the sector at risk, including limited spectrum availability, high taxation and stifling regulation.

“Mobile communications in the Arab States have transformed society and fostered substantial growth in investment, innovation and productivity,” commented Tom Phillips, Chief Government and Regulatory Affairs Officer, GSMA. “However, there are far greater opportunities that the mobile industry can deliver for the region. Governments need to take action now to increase spectrum availability and stabilise the regulatory environment if they want to continue the momentum and realise mobile’s full potential.”

ZTE launches Grand Era V985 smartphone in Hong Kong