India | Fone Arena

Airtel in $100-mn deal with IBM

Airtel -cellular telephony operator, on Thursday announced a 100-million dollar deal with software major IBM to deliver a suit of new product services and applications under a single delivery platform.

“Bharti has partnered with IBM to deliver India’s first “service delivery platform” to enable it to deliver a suit of new range of services to its over 25 million customers,” Manoj Kohli, Bharti-Airtel President, said. The cellular operator is also investing over 100 million dollars in this delivery platform, he added.

IBM, which has been managing the telecom network operations of Bharti-Airtel for a while, will develop, manage and operate the service delivery platform for Airtel.

The platform will enable Bharti to have an integrated environment that will incorporate all of Airtel’s content and application services under one platform, Kohli went on to say.

Paymate joins indian mobile payment space

Paymate is a mobile payment platform that allows users to use their mobile phones to make payments. The company recently got funding from VCs to the tune of $5 Million as reported by economic times and by mobilepundit

The VCs are none other than legendary VC Ram Shriram with his Sherpalo Ventures which funded Google in its initial days and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Paymate is founded by Ajay Adiseshann, formerly the CEO of Coruscant Tec, a mobile value added services company and Probir Roy, formerly CIO of StarTV and Co-Founder Coruscant Tec. The Company is advised by Alex Kuruvilla, the former head of MTV Networks in India.
via [mobilepundit]

Reliance India Mobile might be available on GSM also

RIM’s Anil Ambani is now eyeing the GSM Market in India. He plans to invest over Rs.1600 cr for the same.Reliance Telecom Limited, an Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group company, which operates GSM service in eight circles mainly in east and north-eastern states, has worked out expansion plans to increase coverage to about 4,300 towns from the existing 330 towns, according to sources.

RTL operates GSM services in Kolkata, West Bengal, Assam, the north-east, Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh circles.

The expansion plans for Anil Ambani’s company comes in the wake of reports that the GSM-based mobile service has shown phenomenal growth in India where out of the 100 million mobile subscriber base, the GSM-based mobile user base is 80 million.

A company official confirmed the development, but declined to give further details.

Abhishek Bachchan roped in as Motorola brand ambassador

Abhishek is a stylish and sophisticated actor who appeals to all segments of the Indian society — young and old, urban and rural, fashion conscious and the intelligentsia. Addressing the gathering, actor Abhishek Bachchan said, “I am honoured to
be an ambassador for a truly global brand synonymous with quality, innovation and style. Helping India get more and more connected with Motorola phones is my mission for the next 24 months. It is amazing to see how we as a nation have adopted this technology and today it is pervading every sphere of our lives. Speaking for myself, I am a complete techno-geek and rely on these gadgets to keep myself organized. I absolutely love the Motorola products. They are really cool and stylish while offering the best applications. I am excited about making the difference, Right here! Right now!!”As Motorola’s brand ambassador, Abhishek will support marketing and branding efforts for the entire Mobile Device product range. Motorola’s brand quotient of youthful spirit, daring to be different, being bold and smart is in sync with Abhishek’s bold and daring attitude, enigmatic looks and unconventional style.

Announcing the MOTOSTAR, Mr. Allen Burnes, Corporate Vice President, High Growth Markets, Mobile Devices, Motorola Inc. said, “India is a significant and exciting market for Motorola where our relentless attention to our customers and razor sharp focus is enabling us to bring customers and consumers not only high quality products but also innovative and unique
services and brand collaborations.

via [phoneyworld]

Motorola to setup facility in Chennai

Motorola, the world’s second largest handset-maker, on Wednesday said it will spend $100 million in stages to set up a manufacturing facility near Chennai, in an attempt to boost sales in one of the world’s hottest mobile markets. “India is a vitally important market for Motorola and as a strategic manufacturing hub offers compelling value proposition and strong cost efficiencies,” Ron Garriques, executive vice-president at Motorola Inc, said in a statement.

Once its unit is up and running, Motorola would join companies like LG, Samsung, Elcoteq, XL Telecom and Nokia that have set up production facilities in the country.

All told, some 20 million handsets are expected to be produced in India this year, a figure that could go up by 50 per cent in 2007.

Motorola today signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tamil Nadu government for setting up its facility on a 300-acre Sriperumbudur Hi-Tech Special Economic Zone, where Flextronics and Foxcon will also have their facilities. Motorola will be allotted about 70 acres of land in this SEZ.

The company plans to make an initial investment of $30 million, which it expects to upscale to $100 million in the next one year. In the first phase, it will set up a facility over 2.5 lakh sq ft, which will manufacture mobile handsets, including sub-$30 mobile phones, and support production and assembly of network base stations for products across Motorola’s Network and Enterprise portfolio. It will also manufacture set-top boxes.

Addressing a press conference, Stu Reed, executive vice-president (integrated supply chain), Motorola Inc, said the manufacture of products like sub-$30 mobile handsets would go well with the government’s plan to offer rural connectivity.

He added that the plant would initially focus on serving the domestic market and later look at exporting products to neighbouring countries, West Asia and Africa.

The manufacturing facility is expected to be operational in early 2007 and will have a capacity to manufacture one million handsets per month. It is likely to employ about 3,000 people in the initial phase and the total employment is expected to go up to 7,000 in the second phase.

In addition to the company’s investment, it will facilitate its supplier to move into the park. Motorola’s manufacturing initiative will supplement its six R&D centres in India.

via [rediff]

Indian M-learning pioneer Wizdom.In to host seminar this sunday in chennai

To demonstrate the power and potential of m-learning, a seminar is being held at Gandhinagar Club, 4th Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-20 at 3.30pm on Sunday June 11, 2006.

Besides students preparing for GRE , students preparing for CAT, GMAT, SAT and other aptitude tests for campus interviews, progressive parents and educationists would also find this seminar immensely valuable.

A live demonstration of m-learning will follow.

To find out more about m-learning logon to http://www.wizdom.in

Sify enables mobile commerce with NGPay

GPRS users can now shop on SifyMall over their phones. www.sifymall.com, the leading online shopping portal from Sify Limited, today announced that millions of mobile phone users on GPRS services will be able to buy a wide range of products and services over their phones starting today.

To enable this easy to use and path breaking initiative, SifyMall has tied up with JiGrahak, a mobility solutions provider, and will be using JiGrahak?s m-Commerce/m-Payment platform ?NGPay? (Next Generation Pay).

Speaking on the launch of this mobile shopping initiative, Surya Mantha, Senior Vice President, Interactive Services, said, ?We are happy to be working with JiGrahak in bringing secure m-Commerce services to the millions of mobile subscribers using GPRS services in India. With the Indian mobile subscriber base growing at the rate of about 2 million users a month, and expected to touch 200 million by 2007, the potential for mobile shopping is huge. We expect to grow the mobile shopping service space with this “one-of-its kind” offering, and work towards being a leader in this area.

Read

Bad News For Indian Mobile Users

The new raise in service tax could heavily affect mobile subscriptions.
Thursday, March 02, 2006:? The budget, with an increase in service tax, has brought bad news for mobile users. It is going to hit the marginal users the hardest. The service tax hike from 10 per cent to 12 per cent will see increase in the monthly telephone bills and drop in talk value for the users.

This move could also affect the Government’s target of increasing the number of mobile subscribers in both rural and urban segments.

Nokia selected for 5-year Managed Services deal with Hutchison Essar Limited

Nokia has reached a 5-year managed services agreement to run Hutchison Essar’s network operations in 9 circles in India.

Espoo, Finland – Nokia has reached a 5-year managed services agreement to run Hutchison Essar’s network operations in 9 circles in India. Nokia will assume the operation of Hutchison Essar’s networks in Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Uttar Pradesh (East and West), Rajasthan, Haryana and West Bengal, thus allowing the operator to better focus on its customers and core activities.

The agreement, for which documentation is being finalized, calls for Nokia to provide an array of solutions from its extensive services portfolio, including network planning, project management, configuration and optimization, network operations and maintenance and the administration of third party vendor contract management. Nokia will also welcome over 600 Hutchison Essar staff into its Services business unit.

“Nokia’s Managed Service know-how, plus its proven track record when it comes to operating and enhancing networks worldwide, were key drivers in helping us make this decision,” says Asim Ghosh, Managing Director, Hutchison Essar Limited. “We are happy to be working with a leader in this area.”

“We are delighted to extend our cooperation with Hutchison Essar to managed services,” says Rajeev Suri, Senior Vice President, Networks, Nokia. “The services business has become increasingly important for Nokia. Our managed services will improve Hutchison Essar’s cost structure and further enhance their service offerings.”

The contract deepens already strong ties between the two companies — Nokia is the supplier of GSM network equipment to nine of Hutchison Essar’s 13 circles, making it the largest network vendor for the operator.

Nokia’s Managed Services business is a key part of its Services business unit, and a core part of the company’s drive to help operators enhance their service offerings and reduce costs. To date Nokia has 36 managed services contracts in 28 countries, and it expects this figure to grow in the coming years.

Nokia’s operations in India include networks and terminals sales divisions, three Research and Development facilities and an upcoming manufacturing facility in Chennai that will produce both terminals and GSM infrastructure equipment.

Bharti Tele-Ventures to be renamed as Bharti Airtel

Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited, one of India’s leading telecommunications services provider, is to be renamed Bharti Airtel Limited.

Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited, one of India’s leading telecommunications services provider, is to be renamed Bharti Airtel Limited. The proposal has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and will come into effect post approvals from the shareholders and statutory / regulatory clearances.

Source:Televisionpoint.com

Bluetooth SIG for Bluetooth adoption in India

Early adoption of Bluetooth wireless technology in India will begin with the mobile phone and headset application

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is a trade association comprised leaders in the telecommunications, computing, automotive, industrial automation and network industries that is driving the development of Bluetooth wireless technology and bringing them to market.

Read this article at CIOL

Jamdat Launches Games on Hutch

Jamdat Mobile announced the launch of its game titles on Indian cellular service provider Hutch.

Mobile users in India can go bowling, wakeboarding or pitfalling wherever they go, whenever they want. Jamdat Mobile announced the launch of its game titles on Indian cellular service provider Hutch.

Jamdat Bowling, Jamdat Pool, Pitfall! and Wakeboarding are available now on Planet Hutch, Hutch’s data services platform.

Players can choose to play a single game or a 3-game series and maneuver their aim, power and pin meter for maximum control. Jamdat Pool gamers can play eight and nine ball on their mobile phones. Pitfall! is the wireless version of the classic title as players guide Pitfall Harry through more than 200 jungle screens. Wakeboarding features Shaun Murray and other top pros.

“India is a growing market for mobile gaming and Hutch is one of the leading cellular service providers in that market,” Minard Hamilton, Jamdat’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, said in a press release. Hutch’s core consumer base is the urban population, which is the ideal target for Jamdat’s titles, he added.

Mobile Tsunami Detector for Nokia phones

Python programmer developed a new software that can analyse live data from the United States Geological Surveys and predict a Tsunami

Python programmer developed a new software that can analyse live data from the United States Geological Surveys and predict a Tsunami. Probability and impact time of Tsunamis are assessed and reported immediately for countries bordering the Indian Ocean.

You will need an internet connection (GPRS/CSD) to obtain the data from USGS. The Mobile Tsunami Detector can be downloaded here and is compatible with these Nokia handsets: Nokia 3650, 7650, N-Gage, 6600, 6620, 6630, 6680, 7610, N70 and N90.

via [MobileGuerilla]

New Hutch shop at Parrys Chennai

Subscribers are to benefit from value-added service offered by Hutch in the wake of a new shop inaugurated at Parry’s recently.

Subscribers are to benefit from value-added service offered by Hutch in the wake of a new shop inaugurated at Parry’s recently. Sankara Narayanan, chief operating officer launched the shop located at Armenian Street. With a subscriber base of over 3 lakh, Hutch’s retail presence in Chennai now covers six exclusive Hutch shops and a mobile shop that reaches customers at their convenience across the city wherever they are. The new colours of Hutch have been successfully incorporated in all elements of the new shop starting with the branding to all client service team uniforms. ‘The Hutch shop is a one-stop shop aimed at addressing all customer needs and providing superior customer service and enhanced user experience at a next door location. Our objective is to offer our customers a bright. friendly and comfortable helpdesk at a convenient location’, said the COO.

Orascom Buys Stake In Hutch, Enters India

Orascom Telecom has entered the Indian Telecom arena, with the acquisition of 19.3 per cent stakes in Hutchison Telecom

Friday, December 23, 2005: Orascom Telecom has entered the Indian Telecom arena, with the acquisition of 19.3 per cent stakes in Hutchison Telecom. With the deal, Orascom is on its way to some of the high growth mobile markets in Asia. Hutchison already has operations in India and Sri Lanka, while Orascom, the Cairo-based telecom company, has presence in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

According to Naguib Swiris, CEO, Orascom Telecom, ?We have often expressed our keen interest to enter some of the largest and highest growth mobile markets in the world like India, Indonesia and Vietnam. The tie-up with Hutchison Telecom presents Orascom Telecom with exposure to these markets.?

As per the terms of the tie-up, Orascom and Hutchison will combine procurement, apart from signing roaming agreements between all the complementary operations. Orascom will send two representatives to the Hutchison Telecom board. Besides, the company will have its members on the board of Hutchison Essar, in which Hutchison Telecom holds 42 per cent stakes.

Orasom and Hutchison control mobile operators with two billion subscribers in 15 countries.

via [EFY Times]