Category: Technology

MUMBAI: The mobile telephony sector in India is not just growing but service providers seem to be getting better at meeting customer expectations.

According to the latest annual TNS CellTrack 2006 study, the already high TRI*M index for the industry – the metric that measures the strength of the ‘subscriber-service provider relationship‘ – got even better, and is today at 82, up from 79 in 2005.

The performance of the Indian mobile industry measured by their ability to anticipate and meet customer expectations has been increasing consistently over time. From an industry average TRI*M Index of 55 in 2000, the Indian mobile industry has surely come a long way.

Airtel not only retained its number one position among the national players (see Figure 2), but also scored better, with the TRI*M Index up from 82 in 2005 to 90 this year. Hutch has also managed to improve their performance significantly and stays at second place, while Reliance with a TRI*M Index of 83 (80 in 2005) is third. Idea, BSNL and Tata Teleservices, have maintained performance but are significantly below the industry average of 82.

Among the regional players, the big surprise is MTNL – dislodging Spice to become the best regional player with a TRI*M Index of 100.

TNS India head of telecom practice Abraham Karimpanal says, “While it could be argued, and rightly so that MTNL is attracting a different profile of subscribers with different set of expectations, this war is all about each operator understanding and /or crafting, and then managing their subscribers‘ expectations. Whether by design or otherwise, MNTL has surpassed all others at it.”

TNS CellTrack 2006 also tracks the evolving brand choice and purchase behaviour for handsets among the Indian mobile users.

Nokia continues to dominate the GSM market, with a 79 per cent market share. Motorola is the brand that has been able to significantly improve its share by almost doubling from three per cent in 2005 to seven per cent in 2006. Motorola‘s gain is possibly Samsung‘s loss as their market share has dropped from six per cent in 2005 to four per cent in 2006.

LG has consolidated its position as the market leader in the CDMA handset market. The current 49 per cent market share is an improvement of over 43 per cent market share LG had in 2005. While Nokia managed to retain its share of the CDMA handsets, Samsung and Motorola have lost market share from 17 per cent to eight per cent and 12 per cent to four per cent respectively

MUMBAI: Optibase, which works in the field of advanced digital video solutions, has announced that it is providing its advanced IPTV solution to US space oprganisation Nasa.

Optibase MGW 1100 carrier-grade IPTV streaming platforms have been successfully deployed at the Nasa Dryden Flight Research Center, Nasa‘s premier flight research and test organisation for the validation of high-risk, pioneering aerospace technology, space exploration concepts, and the conduct of science mission observations.

The MGW 1100 provides H.264 video and audio, in combination with an Optibase PC soft player application and display manager for streaming of content over the internal IP NASA base network. The content includes TV channels such as news and weather channels as well as NASA-generated channels such as live flight test footage and other events.

The system is controlled by Optibase’s Cluster Manager, which enables intuitive and simple management of multiple Media Gateway platforms and hundreds of channels from one centralized application. For enhanced control and viewing options, the solution includes the Optibase Display Manager, which enables the display of multiple video streams on a single PC screen. In addition to PC streaming, the content will be streamed to Set-top-boxes for display on TV monitors and plasma screens across the base.

Optibase president Adam Schadle says, “We are delighted with the success of our IPTV system at NASA. This system is a prime example of carrier-grade IPTV systems for the military and government markets. Optibase prides itself on providing a complete end-to-end IPTV solution, which is tailored to the customer’s specific requirements. As a veteran supplier of video technology solutions to military and government, Optibase is well equipped to provide reliable streaming solutions for mission-critical and high-grade video applications.”

MUMBAI: World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has signed new content agreements with mobile firms.

The deals are with communications company Orange, Britain‘s third-largest network operator; Heylife, a mobile, internet and TV content producer and distributor based in Portugal; and German broadcaster Tele5, which currently airs weekly installments of SmackDown. In India, viewers can catch WWE on Ten Sports.

The deal will see Heylife rolling out WWE standard and premium package downloads, including video streams, voicetones, ringtones, wallpapers and SMS alerts

MUMBAI: Dwindling wireline revenues, consumer demand for greater control over viewing preferences, and the explosion of broadband in various high growth markets across Asia-Pacific represent the impetus for the development of IPTV in the region.

While service providers across Asia-Pacific have invested heavily in the network infrastructure required to offer such services, the key success factor for IPTV lies in the gamut of content that service providers are able to provide consumers.

New analysis from global growth consulting company, Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific IPTV Market, reveals that revenues in this market – covering 12 major Asia-Pacific countries ex-Japan – is estimated to increase from $353.4 million in 2006 to $512.4 million next year. Growing at a compound annual growth rate of 37.5 per cent (2006-2013), the region‘s IPTV market is forecasted to be worth $3.3 billion by end-2013.

Frost & Sullivan senior research analyst Aravind Venkatesh says, “IPTV is the next notable wave in the consumer telecom space and service providers are planning to leverage this new technology to offer high quality interactive services to customers. While revenues from fixed-line services continue to decline, IPTV is likely to reduce churn, increase ARPU (average revenue per user) levels, and generate revenue streams in the long term.”

IPTV is presently available in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, and is expected to be introduced in India and the Philippines in 2007. Countries like China, India and Australia are expected to be high growth markets by 2009.

China, in particular, holds immense potential as it has the largest broadband subscriber base in Asia-Pacific. Residential subscribers constitute approximately 70 per cent of China‘s 47.8 million broadband subscriber base. China together with Hong Kong, which is said to be one of the most sophisticated IPTV markets in the world, is expected to account for nearly 60 percent of the region‘s IPTV revenues by end-2013.

While initial response from end users has been positive, service providers face the challenge of procuring quality and regional content, most of which is exclusively offered by cable and satellite operators. The lack of quality content is a common problem for service providers across the region. Although partnerships with content providers and broadcasting companies aid in securing access rights, cable TV providers or IPTV market leaders already have exclusive access to the content.

Venkatesh adds, “The lack of sufficient bandwidth and highly skewed broadband distribution are major inhibitors for the growth of IPTV in Asia-Pacific. While Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Japan are mature markets for broadband, developing markets like China, India and Malaysia have dismally low broadband penetration.”

The lack of bandwidth in developing markets requires the implementation of high compression codecs and watermarking technologies to achieve the expected quality of service (QoS) levels. This may however be only a short-term solution. Service providers should scale their networks rapidly to offer bandwidth-hungry applications to consumers.

NEW DELHI: Wire & Wireless India Ltd has come out with a price package that it believes will lure consumers to digital cable under Cas (conditional access system).

The multi-system operator (MSO) is offering an own-your-own set-top box (STB) plus a year long access to at least 100 channels, a minimum of 25 of them being pay channels, for just Rs 1800. This scheme will be available only for those who are subscribing within 31 January, says WWIL CEO Jagjit Kohli.

For those willing to settle for just the service of 100 channels, but not own the boxes, the option is to go for the Rs 600 per annum (Rs 50 per month) scheme. Rental on the boxes will be an additional cost.

The bouquet, however, does not have any of the sports channels. For access to any additional pay channel the subscribers would have to pay the Trai-fixed charge of Rs 5.
WWIL executive vice president Arvind Mohan of Siticable told indiantelevision.com that not even Ten Sports would shown as part of the Rs 600 bouquet.

Asked how many of Star, Set and Zee channels respectively would form the bouquet, Mohan said that the details were being worked out.

WWIL is also immediately launching its Cas-enabled GalaxZee boxes in non-Cas cities.

“There is a feeling that the analogue will stay for a long time in India. The popular perception is that India being a poor country and technologically backward, so digital would take a long time to take off. But even we are surprised to see at what massive pace digital is taking off in the country,” Kohli said.

Bangalore, Hyderabad and other cities are witnessing the highest demand for digital services, he added. In these cities, physical headends would be set up for the box operations even before HITS arrives.

The special GalaxZee STBs have on offer various facilities, apart from the normal TV services, and updated boxes with facilities matching those offered by any DTH service provider. The updated boxes would cost Rs 1,499, but the customer can exchange the old boxes for the new paying the additional cost of Rs 299.

GalaxZee is using digital technology of Scopus for its digital headends, encryption technology from Conax and STB from Handan.

“We are aware that the average Indian user is not tech-savvy, so we told the architects of the boxes to make them user-friendly,” Kohli said.

It is much cheaper than the DTH boxes, he stressed and added: “Whatever channels DTH operators offer are fixed for across the country. We, however, have the option of adding whatever channels we want to depending on which city we are operating in, especially the popular regional language channels and also the local cable channels. And even the local channels would be digital.”

Besides, for multiple TV sets in one household, GalaxZee is offering FTA in all the additional sets at no extra cost, “but in DTH system you would have to pay for every additional TV set”.

The value added boxes, which are likely to come after a few months, will have internet, online games and phone on demand. GalaxZee will also offer DVR (digital video recording).

NEW DELHI: Dopod International Corporation, a leading PDA phone and Smartphone provider, today opened their India operations, setting up office in New Delhi. The company is launching here with three models that has convergent technology powered by Microsoft.

Dopod also announced the appointment of Ajay Sharma as the Regional Sales Manager, Dopod Communications (India) Private Limited, to oversee its Indian operations.

Sharma told indiantelevision.com “Initially, we are introducing three handset models – C800, C720 and 818Pro in India. These devices are aimed at providing the combined power of telecom and IT through a unique, convergent solution with Microsoft.”

Sharma will manage Dopod International‘s new office, serving as India‘s first Regional Sales Manager, India, overseeing all marketing and business development activities in the region.

Asked about the company‘s investment plans in India, Sharma said: “Presently, we are just setting up a distribution base here to cater to the Indian market. In due course we will be investing a substantial amount in marketing and sales related activities”.

The models being introduced are 818Pro, a GSM Quad Band PDA phone that enables users to communicate by voice, any place around the world; the C720W, which supports Bluetooth v2.0 w/A2DP & AVRCP, and USB 1.1 for charging and data transfer and also provides GSM Quadband with GPRS & EDGE & hi-speed WLAN access 802.11g.; and C800, which has a sliding QWERTY keypad and 5-way navigation button that “makes messaging a breeze”.

The last also offers the “ultimate connectivity”, with Bluetooth v2.0 w/A2DP & AVRCP, and a USB port for charging and data synchronisation, and provides GSM Quadband with GPRS & EDGE & hi-speed WLAN access 802.11g.

Company executives explained that Dopod have entered the Indian market late, after it has seen the expansion phase into the B and C class cities, and the Class A cities have matured into creating a large demand for convergent mobile phones.

“Dopod International would offer sophisticated and innovative converged solutions to the Indian consumers, which would be at par with the best designs and trends prevalent internationally. The distribution of its handsets models in India would start through a strategic tie-up with National Distributor, Jaina Marketing & Associates,” Sharma said.

Asked about the roadmap for the company in India, Sharma said, “In the first phase Dopod plans to make its handsets available to Indian customers in 10 cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat and Chandigarh.

Dopod International Corporation was founded in 2002, and has expanded rapidly, Sharma said.

By the end of 2007, Dopod plans to set up operations in 25 cities in the country.Talking about the models on offer, Sharma said: “818Pro is designed simply to appeal to the no-fuss crowd. It is a light, small and futuristic device which comes in lifestyle design with incredibly enhanced features.”

The machine packs a host of comprehensive connectivity options, including WiFi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth, Infrared, GPRS (on top of basic features like SMS and MMS), making it “an unparalleled choice for not only general consumers but also mobile business professionals”, Sharma claimed.

Powered by the advanced Microsoft Windows Mobile Version 5.0, the 818Pro comes with a full suite of applications for viewing and editing files, like Pocket Word, Excel, Power Point, managing address book and e-mails like Pocket Outlook while allowing users full access to the Internet.

In addition, the 818Pro also comes bundled with the WorldCard Mobile Business Card Capture Solution software. “This means users can now enjoy easy business card data input. All they need is to take a picture of a business card with the intelligent software and all their contacts are instantly captured, recognised, sorted and stored,” according to Sharma.

Model C720W has a lean and mean design, Sharma said, adding that runs on user-friendly Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone operating system. “Windows Mobile 5.0 with DirectPush Technology allows you to instantly synchronise emails, calendars and schedules, and besides, you can access PDF, Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents allowing you to work even while on the go,” Sharma explained. It has a built-in 128 MB ROM, 64 MB RAM with persistent storage and a Micro-SD card slot, he added.

Model C800 is the “slimmest PDA Phone with slide-out QWERTY keyboard”, but apart from that has all the features of C720W.

MUMBAI: Tmobile2win, India`s leading VAS enabler hosted its first mobile Monday forum in Mumbai last week.

The meet was attended by more than 60 professionals and enthusiasts from the Music, Telecom, Media and IT industry.Mobile Mondays are small, informal meets arranged city-wise and every month.

The key note address was given by Netcore Solutions India VP mobile products and strategy Veerchand Bothra followed by mobile2win CEO Gopala Krishnan. He started off by explaining the concept of Mobile Monday(MoMo) and outlining the agenda for the evening followed by a presentation on the mobile indusry in general and the latest trends in mobile technology.

The theme for the event was The Mobile Music Market in India- Untapped revenue streams in urban and rural India. Key speakers were- Soundbuzz GM Mandar Thakur, mobile2win country head Rajiv Hiranandani, Universal Music MD Rajat Kakar, Hutch‘s Shailesh Varudkar, and ABP head Internet and telecom Saurav Sen.

Discussions ranged from wireless technologies to Piracy in the mobile music industry, entertainment offerings and value added services etc.

Kakar says, “Mobile Value Added Services (Vas) represents a growing format for sale and promotion of Music. Universal Music Group, as leaders in the Music business worldwide, have both,the responsibility and the desire to shape the contours of this opportunity in our endeavour to reach out to our consumers. Indian mobile landsacpe is among the largest in the World and interventions early in the product life cycles will, hopefully, ensure a viable eco-system for all players in this domain.”

Mr Rajiv Discussions ranged from wireless technologies to Piracy in the mobile music industry, entertainment offerings and value added services etc.

According to Mr Rajat Kakar, MD, Universal Music India Pvt Ltd, “Mobile VAS represents a growing format for sale and promotion of Music. Universal Music Group, as leaders in the Music business worldwide, have both,the responsibility and the desire to shape the contours of this opportunity in our endeavour to reach out to our consumers. Indian mobile landsacpe is among the largest in the World and interventions early in the product life cycles will, hopefully, ensure a viable eco-system for all players in this domain.”

Mr Rajiv Hiranandani, Country Head, mobile2win, says “Year 2006 is a landmark year for the Indian Mobile industry.The userbase has touched around 13 crore which is only next to China”. He further added, “Mobile Monday is an industry event and which is driven by the community, whose suggestions and co-operation makes it all possible. The forum give us a platform to discuss concerning issues related to the mobile VAS industry in a more open and informal manner”.

Hiranandani says, “Year 2006 is a landmark year for the Indian Mobile industry.The userbase has touched around 13 crore which is only next to China. Mobile Monday is an industry event and which is driven by the community, whose suggestions and co-operation makes it all possible. The forum give us a platform to discuss concerning issues related to the mobile Vas industry in a more open and informal manner”.