Technology News

By Dave Wilby

Nokia unveils Wi-Fi phone

Finnish mobile giant Nokia has proven it is serious about convergence by launching a new handset that connects to both GSM and Wi-Fi networks. The Nokia 6136 is a UMA phone capable of roaming seamlessly between both wireless standards, allowing subscribers to take advantage of higher bandwidth and lower VoIP call charges when near home or office WLANs, or when Wi-Fi hotspots are within range. The 6136 is unashamedly a crossover business/consumer device, boasting both a camera and memory card support.

T-Mobile CTO promises 20Mbps mobile data services by 2010

In a speech at 3GSM, T-Mobile's chief technology officer Hamid Akhavan claimed mobile connection speeds would double year on year, reaching 20Mbps by the end of the decade. This prediction isn’t as outlandish as it may first appear, if we consider HSDPA (HighSpeed Downlink Packet Access) technology already boasts a ‘speed record’ of 3.6Mbps.

Vodafone to go it alone for 3G

The UK’s biggest mobile provider Vodafone says it will begin launching its own 3G phones later this year. Chinese network provider and handset manufacturer Huawei has been contracted to produce Vodafone-branded 3G kit over the next five years. This move represents a radical departure from the handset strategies of the UK’s other major mobile providers – O2, Orange and T-Mobile – and comes hot on the heels of criticisms over handset pricing by Vodafone CEO Arun Smith.

But will 3G phone prices fall?

Vodafone’s decision to produce its own branded handsets already appears to be a bad move, if the predictions of communications specialist Qualcomm are to be believed. The San Diego-based firm claims prices of 3G phones working on WCDMA networks will drop by up to $120 (£70) by the end of 2006.

Seamless PC and mobile integration on cards for Intel

Intel has struck a deal with the GSM Association (GSMA) that will allow PCs to connect automatically to both 3G and WiFi networks via embedded mobile SIM card readers. This agreement could prove a major step towards truly seamless mobile roaming for laptop owners, using tried and tested existing mobile connection technologies.

Mobile IM initiative backed by major providers

Fourteen network providers have now signed up to a mobile instant messaging (IM) initiative backed by the GSMA that would make IM interoperable between participating network subscribers. Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone customers would all be part of a 700 million customer base set to benefit from the deal, according to ZDnet. It is understood that outgoing messages would be charged under the initiative, but incoming IMs would be free to receive. Non-participating providers are undoubtedly concerned about the long-term effect IM would have on lucrative SMS revenues.

Microsoft plays around with new TV toy

Steve Ballmer, the excitable CEO of Microsoft, has been showing off a brand new toy to anybody interested in talking to him at 3GSM. The Trilogy Windows Mobile smartphone is claimed to be the first such handset specifically developed to stream mobile television. It uses IP over a DAB network to receive the TV signal, and should be adopted in the UK first by BT and Virgin Mobile as part of the BT Movio service.

Marketing News

By Sean McManus

Rappers urge young people to vote

The Department of Constitutional Affairs is using a campaign based on rap music to persuade young people in London to register to vote. The 1824 Collective is the name of the campaign website, designed to appeal to London’s 550,000 non-registered voters between the ages of 18 and 24. Rappers who have created the campaign song include Alex Holland, Anushka, Ash, Baby Chan, Baraka, Corrisse, Haze, J2K, JXXX, Lavish, L-Man & LST. The song will be aired on music TV stations and promoted through posters on the London transport network. At the site you can download an MP3 and find out how to register to vote. The promotion is running up to the May local elections.

New model to play Lara Croft

The latest pixel persona of Lara Croft will be brought to life by Karima Adebibe, a 20 year old model and former Top Shop sales assistant. She follows in the bootsteps of Nell McAndrew, Rhona Mitra and Angelina Jolie in portraying the tomb-raiding adventurer. According to the press release, Adebibe will be trained in SAS survival skills before receiving crash courses in archaeology, elocution and etiquette. The new Lara Croft will then tour the world, appearing in magazines and engaging in PR stunts. The announcement comes as game company Sci prepares for the April launch of the much-delayed new Tomb Raider game.

TV licences for mobile phones?

The organisation that enforces the licence fee, TV Licensing, is considering forcing retailers to inform it of mobile phone sales, according to The Register. TV Licensing is concerned that people might watch TV on their mobile phone without having a TV at home. Anyone with a licensed TV at home is covered to watch portable devices that run off batteries. For people who don’t own a television, the move could increase the cost of owning a rich media phone by £126 a year (the current licence fee). Retailers already inform TV Licensing of the details of anyone who buys a television.

Media Update

By Annie Kasmai

Ask Jeeves, the search engine that currently uses a butler as its figurehead, is asking the public to choose retirement options for Jeeves as part of a new campaign launched this week. The butler has been serving the site since 1996, although his retirement was first announced last August by Barry Diller, chairman and CEO of InterActive, which purchased the search engine in July 2005.

When the site becomes Ask.com on 27th February, Jeeves will not be kept on with the new brand. However it isn’t all gloom and doom for Jeeves, as between now and then the public can go to the site and vote as to how he should spend his retirement. The home page features Jeeves pondering his future with a link to his office where you can listen to voicemail messages, write a good luck message and choose from five different retirement options, which include working in a monkey sanctuary, starting a vineyard and going round the world in a yacht.

The Spectator magazine has appointed a new editor. Matthew d’Ancona, the Sunday Telegraph’s ex-deputy editor is due to start in his new role towards the end of this month. D’Ancona replaces Boris Johnson (an avid blogger, no less!) who was editor for The Spectator for six and a half years before resigning when appointed shadow higher education minister.

A new report from Datamonitor has revealed that online retailers accounted for nearly half the cash growth in retail spending last year. Verdict Research, now part of the Datamonitor group, recorded that overall spending increased by a mere 1.5 per cent, while online spending grew by 28.9 per cent. This equates to 15 times the pace of offline retail.

Consumers last year purchased £8.2bn of goods online, which is 3.1 per cent of total retail spending, whereas the total sales achieved by department stores for 2005 was £9.4bn. The report also showed that the fastest growing shopper group is the so-called ‘silver surfers’. Over 55s showed a 46.7 per cent rise in internet shopping. The highest spending age group remains the 35-44 year old category which accounts for £3 in every £10 spent on the internet.

Furthermore, the research reveals that women are still spending more than men online, although the gap is narrowing.

Prompt Guide to Corporate Doublespeak

By Lance Concannon

Goal Oriented

The phrase ‘goal oriented’ is often found on the CVs of people applying for high-powered sales jobs, who think that it’s a cool sounding term for describing how ambitious and highly motivated they are. If you ever meet somebody who describes themselves as being ‘goal oriented’ you should place your hand firmly on your wallet and back slowly out of the room.

In reality, the term ‘goal oriented’ is used to define software systems or business processes which are designed to help users solve problems that arise from having multiple conflicting goals. It’s all horribly complicated and likely to make your brain melt if you think about it too much. But it’s still infinitely preferable to being stuck in a room with a bunch of goal driven sales monkeys.