Category: Software

MUMBAI: With 3G expected to come in later this year, experts from the telecom industry from across the country will gather at a conference organised by Indian Merchants’ Chamber to discuss the ‘Impact of 3G & BWA on Mobile Vas‘ on 28 May, 2010. 
 
The conference will highlight key topics of importance for the mobile value added services in India and how 3G will open the door to innovative value added services which will bring everything to just one convergent device.

The conference will be a host to various 3G applications in India and the role of handset manufacturers to complete the ecosystem of being ready for 3G. Moreover, discussion will also revolve around the 3G value proposition for the operator and the expectations of the content developers from 3G.

The spotlight will also be on the mobile TV services as well as the impact of 3G on mobile gaming and streamlining of innovative ideas to create casual gamers. The conference will address the topic on the evolution, challenges, opportunities, and trends in mobile Value added services (Vas). 
 
3G is bringing a technology revolution in the country which will change the future of telecommunications in India. According to various estimates, the number of mobile handsets users will reach nearly 800 million in next four years, and 3G will change the way we communicate. With the mobile value added services market pegged at around $45 billion, the latest trends which are currently doing the rounds are 3G spectrum which is going to create a paradigm shift in the Vas market in India.

With the onset of 3G technology, there will be high data transfer rates over longer distances, efficient bandwidth use, map and positioning services and multiplayer gaming, said IMC Mobile Committee chairman and Nazara Technologies CEO Nitish Mittersain.

IMC president Gul Kripalani said, “After 2G, 2.5G, GSM and CDMA, it is now 3G, which is expected to bring changes the way people communicate. After 132 countries across the world, 3G is and it is now set to revolutionise mobile communications by introducing high speed connectivity and infotainment to Indians. Besides, 3G will further improve the level of tele-density and broadband penetration which will in turn have a direct effect on the overall economic growth of the county”.

Speakers will include MTNL CGM Peeyush Agrawal, Zinnov Management Consulting director – market expansion Karthik Ananth, Indiagames COO Samir Bangara, Jump Games CEO Salil Bhargava, Tata Teleservices VP Rohit Gupta and BSNL senior Dy DG NK Yadav.

MUMBAI: US broadcaster NBC and Microsoft Advertising have announced a digital marketing collaboration designed to promote the NBC More Colorful fall 2010 programme lineup.

The collaboration will be executed through an extensive multi-screen advertising campaign that includes MSN, Xbox, Windows Mobile and Bing. The announcement was made by the NBC president of entertainment marketing Adam Stotsky.
 
“This strategic teaming with Microsoft Advertising will allow NBC to strengthen its ability to attract new viewers via cutting-edge media opportunities,” Stotsky said. “We are always searching for unique methods of informing people about our programs and we are fortunate that this fall’s lineup promises to be one of NBC‘s best.”

Microsoft VP US ad sales, publishing and marketing Robin Domeniconi added, “This collaboration is exciting on many different levels since we are able to offer NBC such a wide variety of audience segments, across a broad spectrum of potential viewers, while getting creative with the content that is right for each property.

“We are able to tailor NBC’s content for each property and screen, from MSN to Xbox and Windows Mobile, and flex our targeting muscles to tell a cohesive story of NBC‘s brand and fall lineup.”

In total, Microsoft Advertising will deploy one of its largest and most comprehensive campaigns ever across 19 digital owned-and-operated properties as well as syndicated partners, which deliver a combined reach of nearly 470 million unique users monthly. Microsoft Advertising will also develop original branded entertainment content for the campaign, using assets around NBC shows that will be tailored for specific audiences. 
 
NBC‘s multi-screen digital advertising campaign recently kicked off and runs though the premiere of the fall schedule. This early launch of the NBC marketing campaign is designed to engage TV enthusiasts and influencers so they can sample, share and discuss the upcoming fall shows.

The campaign will feature many innovative digital advertising components, including multiple takeovers of MSN and Wonderwall, re-messaging to network enthusiasts across Microsoft Corp. properties, integrating with Bing Visual Search, a mobile dimension, and in-game advertising on new Xbox LIVE games.

NBC will also work with Microsoft content experts at MSN TV and MSN Entertainment for a custom-built “Preview to Fall TV” media hub that will go live in conjunction with the announcements of the broadcast networks‘ fall schedules.

MSN regional partner executive producer Scott Moore said, “Working with NBC to get behind-the-scenes access to their fall shows will allow MSN to create custom content that can live in contextually relevant areas that take advantage of Microsoft’s multi-screen advertising platforms.

“This is a novel way for NBC to promote its new shows, and will help build loyalty with existing fans and capture the attention of new audiences as the fall premiere season draws near.”
 

MUMBAI: Credit card major Visa which is a partner of soccer‘s governing body Fifa has announced the launch of the Visa Match Planner, a social media application that allows users to create Fifa World Cup viewing schedules to share with friends via social networking channels such as Facebook.
 
The Visa Match Planner is the latest extension of Visa’s first-ever global Fifa-themed marketing campaign, Go Fans, which also includes print, television and out-of-home advertising, host market merchant activation programs and usage promotions.

The new application will be available in English, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese, and will be customised for each of the 32 qualified countries. In addition to building a customised Fifa World Cup match viewing schedule, the application also lets users organise match viewing parties, chat with friends, track scores and standings, and obtain exclusive offers from merchants such as the Fifa official store on Fifa.com.

Visa CMO Antonio Lucio says, “Football fans are undeniably passionate about the Fifa World Cup and the teams they follow and social media provides a unique platform to help them express their views and connect with friends from around the world.

“Through social media extensions of the Go Fans campaign, like the Visa Match Planner, Visa is able to strengthen our connection to the Fifa World Cup and enhance every fan’s World Cup experience with engaging content” 
 
First debuted in Latin America in 2009 and later introduced globally in February 2010, the Go Fans campaign celebrates the common love that all fans have for football with creative executions, featuring the colors of the national flags of each of the 32 qualified countries, symbolising the expression of each fan’s true colors and love of country. The campaign reinforces the ways that Visa enables fans to express their true colors in support of their teams by offering an easier way to pay, their Visa card.
Go Fans was developed to connect with football fans worldwide to drive preference for and usage of Visa products, promote Visa’s association with the 2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaTM and reinforce the ways in which Visa enhances the fan’s FIFA World CupTM experience.

The company claims that today, more than 90 markets throughout the world are activating Visa Fifa-themed marketing programmes with more than 500 financial institutions and merchants via advertising, customized promotions and the development of marketing collateral (POS, signage and direct mail).

NEW DELHI: Even a month after a month of bidding, the 3G auction shows no signs of stopping though it has slowed down to a certain extent with the bids coming only for the major centres.

Mumbai remained at the top of the bids for the 3G auction even on the 30th day, as the overall bids stood at just over Rs 154.16 billion after 167 rounds today.

Mumbai closed at Rs 29.10 billion, with Delhi was at Rs 28.86 billion.
 
Tamil Nadu closed at Rs 14.65 billion, the rest of Maharashtra was at Rs 12.45 billion, and Andhra Pradesh at Rs 12.56 billion. West Uttar Pradesh went up to Rs 4.70 billion, Kolkata to Rs 4.64 billion, East Uttar Pradesh to Rs 3.30 billion, Rajasthan to Rs 2.85 billion, Kerala to Rs 2.80 billion, Punjab to Rs 2.26 billion, Bihar to Rs 1.75 billion, Orissa to Rs 688.3 million, the North-East rose to Rs 398.8 million, Assam went up to Rs 391 million, and Himachal Pradesh was at Rs 321.3 million.

The bids for Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir remained unchanged. 
 
With no applications for price increment for tomorrow, the bids for eleven service centres are expected to slow down. These are Mumbai, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Rest of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir. Some other service centres like Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and the North-East are also unlikely to see much increase with the price increment for tomorrow’s bid at Rs 39,000 or less.

The telecom operators in the race are Aircel, Bharti Airtel, Etisalat DB Telecom, Idea Cellular, Reliance, S Tel, Tata Teleservices, Videocon Telecommunications and Vodafone Essar.

The successful bidders would be allowed to start commercial 3G operations from 1 September.

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide Channels has inked a deal to launch CBeebies in South Korea for the first time. The channel, targeted at pre-schoolers from 0 – 8 years, will be available on KT’s IPTV service, Qook TV on its basic tier, starting 15 May 2010.

KT, formerly Korea Telecom, is a wired/wireless telecom service provider. Qook TV is an IPTV service, launched by KT in July, 2007.
 
BBC Worldwide Channels Asia senior VP, GM Mark Whitehead says, “Growing our business in Korea continues to be a priority for us in Asia, and quality programming is a lynchpin to our success there. To that end, we have acquired a stable of award-winning and acclaimed pre-school titles for the channel that are customised to appeal to and suit the developmental needs of distinct age groups. CBeebies delivers a safe, non-violent, interactive experience designed by developmental experts to promote imaginative play, social interaction, language skills and educational values.” 
 
Some shows that will be featured include In the Night Garden, Charlie and Lola, a cartoon animation about two siblings growing up together and Mister Maker.
 

MUMBAI:Mobile has witnessed a 100 per cent increase in user interest, for access to the information and updates related to cricket, as compared to last year.

According to the Informate Mobile Metrics report, the Indian Premier League website, IPLT20.com stood out as the most popular site accessed on mobile this IPL season. Criczenga, Cricinfo mobicast and Broov Aroma were the most popular cricket applications. 
 
However, the SMS based promos garnered low response.

Brian Lara cricket, Cricket T20 world Championship app and Freddie Flintoff were the top games overall for this season of the IPL.

Informate Mobile Intelligence president Kedar Sohoni says, “The IPL on the mobile platform has received tremendous response from Mobile users across the country. The rate at which mobile phone owners in India are consuming the IPL information on their phone is a testament to the value, simplicity and the premium content the service offers. 
 
“The behaviour of consumers has been positive and it is encouraging to know that users across the country from the smallest town to the biggest metro are all enjoying same experience on their mobile phones –it is fair to say that the mobile has arrived in India as one of the main sources of information and entertainment.” 

MUMBAI: DTH is gaining ground against cable TV amongst Indian TV viewers. That’s the finding of a rapid assessment study conducted by the Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies for the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai).

Conducted in April 2010 in 22 cities and over 4,435 households, the study has revealed that an increasing number of Indian TV viewers are wary of paying more to local cable operators. Only 25 per cent of survey respondents said they would pay more, as against 90 per cent in the previous survey in 2007.
 
Respondents said that they did not expect any improvement in the service even after coughing up more. They added that if they had to pay more, they would prefer to do so for a DTH service. But some of them also said that the high initial installation charges for DTH were proving a deterrent.

Overall the survey revealed that average cable TV rates have fallen nationally. Reason: DTH services are offering competition to cable TV, because of which cable TV operators have been forced to cut rates.

The national level average cable TV rates have fallen from Rs 200 in 2007 to Rs 185. In the case of Chennai rates had fallen to Rs 106 (Rs 146 with CAS in 2007), The average cable TV rates for Kolkata had fallen to Rs 161 (Rs 171 in 2007). Other cities which showed a downward trend included: Hyderabad (Rs 153 against Rs 169 in 2007), Chandigarh (Rs 165 vs Rs 212), and Bangalore (Rs 209 vs Rs 211). 
 
Cities which showed an upward trend included Ahmedabad (Rs 259 vs Rs 217 in 2007), Mumbai (Rs 248 against Rs 240 in 2007) and Delhi (Rs 183 vs Rs 156). Shillong cable TV subscribers were paying the higest with a monthly subscription fee of Rs 319.

The quick study also examined how many channels were being watched in Indian homes on average. Most respondents said they watched an average between seven and 15 channels. Tatangar and Kochi topped the list with 15 channels. The figure for Mumbai and Kolkata was 10 channels, while TV viewers in Bengaluru and Delhi watched only eight and those in Chennai said they tuned into nine.
 

NEW DELHI: Mumbai continued to rule at the top of the table of bids for the 3G auction even on the 29th day, as the overall bids stood at just over Rs 150 billion after 162 rounds today.

Mumbai closed at Rs 28.25 billion, with Delhi at Rs 27.46 billion.
 
Karnataka closed at Rs 15.64 billion, with Tamil Nadu at Rs 14.36 billion, the rest of Maharashtra at Rs 12.33 billion, and Andhra Pradesh at Rs 12.19 billion. West Uttar Pradesh went up to Rs 4.47 billion, Kolkata to Rs 4.42 billion, East Uttar Pradesh to Rs 3.17 billion, Rajasthan to Rs 2.74 billion, Punjab closed at Rs 2.17 billion, Bihar at Rs 1.67 billion, Orissa went up to Rs 539.5 million, the North-East rose to Rs 379.7 million, Assam went up to Rs 372.3 million, and Himachal Pradesh at Rs 306 million.

The bids for some Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal and Jammu and Kashmir remained unchanged.  
 
The telecom operators in the race are Aircel, Bharti Airtel, Etisalat DB Telecom, Idea Cellular, Reliance, S Tel, Tata Teleservices, Videocon Telecommunications and Vodafone Essar.

The successful bidders would be allowed to start commercial 3G operations from 1 September.
 

MUMBAI: Condé Nast, the US based publishing house which has successfully launched two magazines in India so far, is getting ready to make a splash into the digital space as well.

Vogue, their very popular fashion and lifestyle magazine which also has its own website vogue.in, will get revamped and relaunched on 5 June while GQ or Gentleman‘s Quarterly, a magazine focused on fashion and culture for men, will also have its own website by June end. 
 
Traveller, their luxury travel magazine which will launch in India later this year, will witness a simultaneous multi-media launch across print and online in October.

Says Condé Nast digital director Maya Hari, “We believe that this is the right time to move into the digital space. Currently, there are 71 million internet users in the country. Premium audiences are using the net too and they form our primary target market. While there are many general audience websites, there are no exclusive premium audience sites in the country yet, and we hope we will be able to create a digital property which attracts this segment of the 71 million users.” 
 
All the magazines will also have mobile versions along with the websites, so that people can browse these sites easily via their mobile net connections. Special mobile applications will also be created, which will offer users content from the magazine. Apart from this, exclusive content only for the digital editions will also be available.

Talking about the revenue generating opportunities that this move will create for the company, Hari says, “Luxury and premium brands too that wish to target the premium segment of the market should be interested in advertising with us. Also, as our digital space gets more popular, we expect the revenues it generates to also flow in more steadily and easily.”
 

MUMBAI: Seagate, which offers hard drives and storage solutions, has introduced what it says is the next evolution of its FreeAgent external hard drives—its new GoFlex storage solutions.

This new family of external drives and accessories introduces a new level of flexibility to traditional USB 2.0 storage that will change the way people store, access, enjoy and share their digital content.

The FreeAgent GoFlex storage family includes plug-and-play portable and desktop drives, with interchangeable cables and desktop adapters that allow each drive to adapt to the interface or device being used.

GoFlex hard disk drives are also specially designed to provide interoperability between operating systems in order to work with both Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X computers.
 
The company says that the external hard drives introduce a new level of flexibility for external hard drive storage that will change the way people store, access, enjoy and share their digital content.

Seagate executive VP, sales, marketing and product line management Dave Mosley says, “GoFlex interface cables are about providing the speed, performance and connectivity people need to support their interaction with their digital content. The explosive growth of video capture and multimedia collecting is expanding personal digital libraries to terabytes worth of content within the home.

“These trends are driving demand for high-capacity, high-performance storage. The GoFlex family of storage products meets this need by delivering simple, USB 2.0 storage and backup devices, with the flexibility to adapt as interface technology advances by using the various GoFlex cables and accessories to access content stored on the same drive.”

Protect, store and access files through the interface of choice : Recent survey results by the Yankee Group indicate that more than half of people planning to purchase a new hard drive consider the interface connection an important factor in their selection. GoFlex drives address this concern by providing a flexible, plug-and-play way to adapt to the most popular available interfaces or devices. The GoFlex cable system enables the GoFlex and GoFlex Pro ultra-portable USB 2.0 drives to be upgraded to USB 3.0, eSATA or FireWire 800 connections simply by switching out the cable adapter.

Additionally, specially-designed GoFlex upgrade cables provide even more applications of how each drive can be used. For example, the GoFlex Upgrade cable – Auto Backup transforms the drive into acontinuous full-system backup, giving consumers the peace of mind that their files and system settings are backed up, while leaving the remaining capacity for basic drag-and-drop file transfer. 
 
Yankee Group director, Anywhere Consumer Research Carl Howe says, “As consumer’s lives become increasingly connected, people will demand capabilities beyond the traditional hard drive. Consumers are looking not only for storage, but for new ways to use their digital content. Connecting, sharing, and repurposing content is part of the purchasing decision process for today’s ‘Anywhere Consumer’.”
Within the GoFlex family, Seagate has created an ecosystem wherein people experience easy backup and enhanced protection of all their data—the same way they would expect a traditional hard drive to perform—only now their interaction with that content is not wholly dependent on the drive. In addition to several cable options, people can pair a GoFlex or GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive with a GoFlex™ TV HD media player or the GoFlex™ Net media sharing device to enhance their experience of the drive’s content.

Using the GoFlex TV HD media player consumers can enjoy their personal digital media library on their television screen by inserting a GoFlex ultra-portable drive or GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive directly into the media dock, or connecting another storage device, digital or Flip camera to the two additional USB ports on the back of the device. Using the intuitive remote, owners of GoFlex TV HD media players can view movies, photos, and music from the comfort of their couch in 1080p high-definition and surround sound.

The GoFlex Net media sharing device transforms a GoFlex ultra-portable drive, GoFlex Pro ultra-portable drive, or any USB mass storage, into a media sharing device, allowing consumers to enjoy their digital content outside their home using a PC, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry or any other internet-connected computer.

The GoFlex Net media sharing device also integrates with social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and publishes RSS feeds allowing people to keep friends and family updated GoFlex media sharing device owners can also stream content to other devices on a home network, including the GoFlex TV HD media player, to enjoy movies, photos and music on their TV.