Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG 27 :
THE government will put a complete curb on unsolicited calls and SMSes to enable close to 68 crore of mobile subscribers breathe a sigh of relief as mobile operators and service providers have been asked to stop this unethical and illegal practice, disclosed Mr. Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications & IT here on Friday.

Inaugurating ASSOCHAM organized 7th National Summit on e-Governance, Mr. Pilot also disclosed that the ongoing face-off between government and BlackBerry about intercepting the latter's services will be resolved in forthcoming meeting between various government agencies and BB functionaries.

The solution be such as would empower government to monitor and supervise services of Canadian telecom giant by August 31. He, however, did not disclose the date for the proposed meeting but committed that ongoing deadlock will come to an end.
,
"World-over services and e-mail facilities are allowed to be intercepted by regulatory agencies in government and I see no reason as to why India can't do it with BB. The Home Ministry has already expressed its concern on the issue several times in the past and an amicable solution is in offing within proposed deadline of August 31st for national security reasons", said Mr. Pilot.

On the issue of unsolicited calls and SMSes, the State Minister for Telecom categorically elaborated that Department of Telecom and TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) have already held necessary consultations to put a complete ban to provide relief to mobile owners.

The telecom operators and service providers had been categorically asked to stop the increasing menace of sending unsolicited calls and SMSes including nasty messages as crores of mobile subscribers are fed up with these kind of malpractices and the regulator has swung into action, said Mr. Pilot adding that it will happen in next few days.

Elaborating on the issue of broadband services to connect rural India with its urban partner Mr. Pilot said that the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology was proposing to enhance target of 2.5 lakh Common Service Centers in the rural India by 2012 from 1 lakh such centers in which rural populace will be able to access 28 services such as railway tickets, land records, birth certificates etc. at their doorstep through e-services.

So far the centre has setup 80,000 Common Service Centers in various parts of the country in which the ranges of services as promised by the government are much below the desired levels and rural masses are not satisfied to an extent of their expectations, admitted Mr. Pilot.

Secretary, IT, Mr. R. Chandrashekhar who also spoke on the occasion emphasized that Common Service Centers would be setup in entire rural India to provide identified 28 services to rural populace in consultation with Ministry of Panchayati Raj and various state governments. The existing deficiencies in such centers would be gradually phased out as the mission would be achieved with proper IT infrastructure in place, he added.

Secretary, Panchayati Raj, Mr A N.P Sinha in his speech stressed for adoption of an integrated approach between Ministry of Telecom and IT and Ministry of Panchayati Raj including all states so that promises made by UPA government to connect rural India with IT facilities are fulfilled in letter and spirit.

Among others who spoke on the occasion comprised Mr. Umang Das, Chairman, ASSOCHAM National Committee on e-Governance, Mr. Neel Ratan, Executive Director, PWC, Mr. Sunil Kanoria, Vice Chairman, SREI Infrastructure, Mr. Ashis Sanyal, Sr. Director, DIT, GOI, Mr. P. Balaji, Co-Chairman, ASSOCHAM Communications Convergence Committee and Mr. D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG 26 :
TRANSCENDENT Information, Inc. (Transcend®), a worldwide player in storage and multimedia products has launched a new 16GB edition of its JetFlash V95C USB flash drives.

The new JetFlash V95C features a retractable USB connector, a huge capacity, and an expressive deep-gloss lacquer accent panel complemented by a genuine Swarovski sapphire crystal. The new JetFlash V95C represents a tasteful combination of luxury and modern technology.

According to Mr Gordon Wu, Regional Head - South Asia, Transcend, "Although the 16GB JetFlash V95C is ultra compact, the USB flash drive is capable of storing up to 6552 still images (based on 5 megapixel JPEG compression format) or 240 minutes of high-definition 1080p video. Each JetFlash V95C comes with a refined leather strap, making it a convenient yet fashionable way to backup, store and carry digital files."

For added value, users can take advantage of Transcend`s free download of the useful JetFlash Elite data management tools to enhance their mobile productivity and get the most out of their JetFlash drive. As with its predecessors, the 16GB JetFlash V95C USB flash drive is backed by Transcend's industry-leading lifetime warranty. The JetFlash V95C offers up to 15MB/s transfer speeds and is now available in four capacities: 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB. The 176GB flash driveis priced at Rs 3650 (16GB)with 3 years warranty. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

Thesynergyonlione Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG 25 :
OSCAR has launched new handset Oscar J4 is targeting the Indian youth with mix of dashing looks. Oscar J4 is a social networking-enabled, QUERTY handset. It has a ONE TOUCH FM. This means that with one press of the FM button on the key pad, one can listen to FM radio.

Another exciting feature is the auto call record that allows one to record all incoming and outgoing calls for future reference. The coolest quotient is the trendy yellow colour and a host of social networking features to complement the lifestyle of today's generation. The company provides A 2GB memory card i free with the Oscar J4 model.

Among other features of Oscar J4 are Dual SIM, 5.08mm (2.0) Color Display, Mega Pixel Camera, Wireless FM with Recorder, MP3 & Video Player, Bluetooth, Torch, GPRS/WAP/Social Networking and Micro SD Card support up to 8GB .Oscar J4 is priced at Rs. 2749, making it among the most affordable in its segment. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

Thesynergyonline Communication Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG 20 :
VIEWSONIC Corp., a global provider of computing, and consumer electronics today said that all of the company's PC display products will feature LED technology by early 2011. This is to offer its customers significant energy cost savings and improved performance and contrast from any ViewSonic solution.

"With this technological advancement we are planning to launch a set of LED display products including 3D LED to reach the acme in the display fraternity by the end of 2010" Said Mr Gautam Ghosh, Country Manager, ViewSonic technologies India .

He further added "The new paradigm shift to the LED technology marks a gradual fade-out of older CCFL technology which is far less ecologically responsible. ViewSonic's initiative is in favour of development of Green IT with LED technology across our entire range - that also has the added benefit of delivering enhanced picture performance."

This initiative is a part of company's role in greener and healthier environment which started with the launch of its VX1932 LED Monitor. The LED monitor solidified the company's leadership position in LED technology. ViewSonic will continue to announce innovative, energy-efficient display products that use LED lighting in the coming months, including 3D LED displays. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)

Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG 17 :
YNCOM mobiles is all set to offer its prospective consumers something attractive. Taking a cue from the trend of this generation, Wynncom has decided to to suit requirement of the youth by entering into an exclusive agreement with a free SMS service application provider 160by2.com. This kind of product innovation , as the company claims, allows sending free SMS from mobile phone is happening for the first time ever in mobile handset industry.

Wynncom mobile phones will have a pre-installed mobile application developed by160by2.com, India's major free SMS service provider. This application enables mobile phone users to send free SMS to any mobile not only in India but also to UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines.
Another feature provided by this application is that the user can access the phone book on the mobile to send messages. One can also save mobile phone contacts on 160by2.com as a memory back-up.

Mr Vivek Sachdev, General Manager Product Division, Wynn Telecom , said, "Wynncom makes life simpler by cutting down the requirement to browse the internet from your phone by introducing this unique feature of having a direct access to 160by2.com in just one click. This application in Wynncom mobiles bridges distances and helps stay connected and affordable."

Messaging is one of the most used VAS services in India; Today SMS consumes a major portion of mobile bills and this facility will certainly help Wynncom mobile users to save a reasonable portion of their mobile bill Mr. Vivek Sachdev further added.

160by2 intends to extend its services shortly to rest of the Middle-East nations including Bahrain, Yemen, Qatar and Oman. With a large number of Indian expats residing in these nations, 160by2.com will be the perfect platform for their near and dear ones in India to stay connected.

Commenting on the tie-up with Wynncom Mobiles, Mr. Satyakalyan Yerramsetti, CEO-160by2.com said, "We are extremely happy with our tie-up with Wynncom mobiles and hope this partnership will take mobile messaging to the next level. 160by2.com will upgrade this application from time to time in order to serve all Wynncom mobile users better.'' (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 

Thesynergyonline Corporate Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUG 15 :
WORLDWIDE mobile device sales to end users totaled 325.6 million units in the second quarter of 2010, a 13.8 percent increase from the same period in 2009, according to Gartner, Inc. Smartphone sales to end users accounted for 19 percent of worldwide mobile device sales, an increase of 50.5 percent from the second quarter of 2009.

“Although the mobile communication devices market showed double-digit growth this quarter, average selling prices (ASPs) were lower than expected and margins fell,” said Carolina Milanesi, research vice president at Gartner. “We attribute the decline in ASPs to a stronger dollar, a depreciating euro, and intense competition that drove price adjustments and changes to the product mix.” Manufacturers such as LG and Samsung pursued market share in a low-margin market but this approach proved risky, as shown by LG’s decline of 27.8 percent in ASP in the second quarter of 2010.

While new product introductions from Apple, HTC and Motorola, along with the drop in ASPs, drove strong sales of smartphones, shortages of components, such as active matrix organic LED (AMOLED) displays impaired sales volumes of some of the more popular new smartphones.

The second quarter also saw some movement in the top 10 mobile device manufacturer rankings (see Table 1). HTC made its debut in the top 10 worldwide ranking, holding the No. 8 position with 139.1 percent growth year-on-year. This reflects the popularity of its Android portfolio but also a more aggressive branding strategy compared to the same period in 2009. “Crucially, as we predicted, the sudden growth in media tablets, such as the Apple iPad, did not appear to hold back smartphone sales. We believe that most tablet users still feel the need for a truly pocketable, yet highly capable, device for those situations when it's inconvenient to carry a device with a larger form factor,” said Ms. Milanesi.

In the second quarter of 2010, Nokia's mobile device sales to end users reached 111.5 million units and a share of 34.2 percent. Nokia's economies of sales and excellent distribution enabled it to hold onto the top spot in the mobile device market. But good quality, well-priced products were not enough to maintain Nokia's leadership in the high-end sector.

This caused Nokia to lose 2.6 percentage points year-on-year. Nokia's senior executives need to do more to attract developers and other ecosystem members by revising its platform strategy and improving its communications.

Samsung sold 65.3 million devices in the second quarter of 2010 that translated into a 20.1 percent market share. Although Samsung's sales were strong in developing markets, its shift in product mix caused an overall decline in ASP. Samsung maintained its position in the midtier by launching several new devices, including messaging handsets.

This more aggressive strategy toward the mass market enabled it to reduce inventory in the second quarter of 2010. Samsung will also be one of the first manufacturers to bring Windows Phone 7 devices to market, in time for the fourth quarter of 2010, showing that this manufacturer continues to keep its platform options open, even as it works on its own bada platform.

Research In Motion (RIM)’s mobile device sales to end users reached 11.2 million units in the second quarter of 2010, confirming RIM’s position as the fourth largest brand with a share of 3.4 percent this quarter. New devices running BlackBerry OS 6.0 — such as RIM's first touchscreen qwerty slider, the Torch — will be available from the third quarter of 2010. We believe the Torch's form factor will still appeal more to business users than to consumers and will stop many loyal BlackBerry users defecting to other platforms, but it won't attract many new users to the brand.

Apple’s mobile device sales reached 8.7 million units or a 2.7 percent share of the overall mobile device market, but a 14.2 percent of the smartphone market. Apple maintained its No. 7 position in the worldwide mobile device market and held the No. 3 position in the worldwide smartphone market. Apple's sales would have been higher if it had not had to face tight inventory management in preparation for the arrival of the iPhone 4 at the end of the second quarter of 2010. Apple also suffered from some supply constraint on the new device. We expect that a wider global rollout of iPhone 4 will sustain Apple's sales momentum throughout the second half of 2010.

In the smartphone operating system (OS) market, Android expanded rapidly in the second quarter of 2010, overtaking Apple’s iPhone OS to become the third-most-popular OS in the world (see Table 2). In the U.S, it also overtook RIM’s OS to become the No. 1 smartphone OS in this region. “A non-exclusive strategy that produces products selling across many communication service providers (CSPs), and the backing of so many device manufacturers, which are bringing more attractive devices to market at several different price points, were among the factors that yielded its growth this quarter,” said Ms. Milanesi.

Smartphone sales to end users totaled 61.6 million units in the second quarter of 2010, a 50.5 percent increase from the same period in 2009. The top four smartphone OS vendors exhibited growth in the second quarter of 2010, and accounted for 91 percent of the worldwide smartphone OS market, up 6 percent year-on-year.

Gartner said CSPs will increasingly offer more affordable tiered data plans to users. Tiered data plans will make smartphones more accessible to different market segments and help make smartphones the dominant device category in mature markets. This means that total cost of ownership will be lower, and new users will face less of a barrier to entry.

“Launches of updated operating systems will help maintain strong growth in smartphones in the second half of 2010 and spur innovation,” said Ms. Milanesi. ”But we believe market share in the OS space will consolidate around a few key OS providers that have the most support from CSPs and developers, and strong brand awareness with consumers and enterprise customers.”  (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 

Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, AUIG 11 :
LY Mobile, the Mobile handset brand of UK- based Meridian group, today unveiled its latest sinewy mobile handset Fly MC170. MC 170 is a sleek and stylish Pandora Box. The phone is bundled with a powerful 3 MP camera which will let you forget your camera on your next holiday trip. MC170 is replete with social networking and instant messaging features. The product is priced at Rs.4094.

On launch Mr. Prem Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, said "Design and development is the essence of Fly brand. We always strive to build every mobile handset based on extensive consumer research which is in line with the target consumer's need and aspiration, based on extensive consumer research. MC 170 is an unbeatable combination of feature rich connectivity and 'flaunt it' style. Today consumers are using social networking on mobile phone more than desktop, this phone is an effort to keep them connected on the go"

Key Features:
It clicks!!! - Powerful 3 mega pixel camera
Display - 6.1 cm TFT screen with 262K display, 240 x 320 pixel screen resolution, screen switch effect, 3 themes
Social networking and instant messaging through Fly Buzz!
Audio player with equalizer
Video recording and play
FM with schedule recording
Internal memory of 87 MB, expandable memory up to 8 GB
1000 mAh battery offering 10 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time
A2DP Bluetooth, WAP 2.0 & GPRS support etc
Fly Raashi - a new astrology application
Accelerometer and motion sensor for better gaming experience
Special self-help feature- long press the "0" key in the ideal mode to send an SOS message
Storage capacity- 2000 contact phonebook with video and photo ID of the caller, storage for 1000 SMS
E-book reader (for .txt files)

MAUJ GETS DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS WITH MUSIC CONSORTIUM

Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

MUMBAI, AUG 03 :
AUJ Mobile, India’s content and mobile marketing services provider, has entered into partnership with major music labels like INRECO, Hindusthan, Manorama Music, JS Audio, Vani and Audio Tracs. Having a pan-India reach, the combined consortium of music labels hold a major holds market share of catalogue music and movie content across Tamil, Malayalam, Punjabi, Marathi and Bengali speaking markets.

With the consortium releasing hit movies from across regions, mobile consumers will now have access to 40-50 new tracks every monthacross various genres right from  retro music, bringing in the nostalgia value, to classical to devotional songs and would also help the consortium to market their upcoming movies. 

Adding up to the innovativeness, consumers can now download Full Songs of some of their leading singers like  Ilaiyaraaja, Padmashree K.S Chitra & and a galaxy of artistes from the Bengali Film Industry like Shreya Ghoshal, Babul Supriyo, Srikanta Acharya and Anesha along with availing special features like Dialogue Tones and Video Ringtones.
 
The three year and extendable partnership gives Mauj exclusivity to distribute its content over all mobile channels. Mauj Mobile already holds a large mobile consumer base garnering remarkable download numbers and is planning to expand its market across regions in the country.
 
Mr. Badri Sanjeevi, Chief Operations Officer, Mauj Mobile says,”Mauj has always been a regional content specialist and this deal re-confirms Mauj’s forte and understanding of the content of this region in particular. With this initiative, we are looking forward to leveraging our niche experience in the southern markets as regional content has very significant revenue potential for both Mauj and for telecom operators.”
 
Mr SL Saha, Director, INRECO, Hindusthan labels says, “We have recognised the potential of this upcoming market and wish to reach our audiences through the mobile platform across India and deliver the latest music content. Mauj is known for having developed some highly innovative and exciting content and therefore we are delighted to partner with them and look forward to a successful relationship.”
 
Padma Shri recipient and six time national award winning playback singer,Chitra, commented, “Accessibility is the need of the day and this tie up will help music lovers to enjoy their favorite music at the touch of a button.” (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 

INDIAN MOBILE HANDSET SALES TO REACH 138.6 MILLION IN 2010

Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, JULY 30 :
MOBILE device sales in India are forecast to reach 138.6 million in 2010, an increase of 18.5 percent over 2009 sales of 117 million units, according to Gartner, Inc. The mobile handset market is expected to show steady growth through 2014 when end user sales surpass 206 million units.

The Indian cellular market is very dynamic. New carriers and many new local mobile device manufacturers have entered this already crowded mobile device market. This intense competition has led to very low call rates and low-cost devices from multiple manufacturers in the market. This market was previously dominated by just a few vendors such as Nokia, Motorola, Reliance and Vodafone.

“Established global device manufacturers are losing ground due to fierce competition from local and Chinese manufacturers in the low-cost segment,” said Anshul Gupta, principal research analyst at Gartner. “Price remains the main criteria when buying any consumer electronic device in India, including a mobile device. Carrier strategies, lower tariffs and/or third-generation (3G) data plans will continue to shape the mobile device market in India.”

India, contributing approximately 10 percent of worldwide sales, is an important market for manufacturers with aspirations to grow their global market share. Due to its sheer size and open market (mobile devices being sold independently of cellular connection), it has attracted many global mobile device manufacturers. The market is also supported by many local manufacturers. This has led to more than 50 brands vying for consumer attention in India, besides the many brands in the black markets (selling without invoices).

“The entry of Indian mobile handset players focusing on low-end, value conscious consumers has intensified competition in the Indian mobile device market. A large volume of mobile device sales in India come from the low-end device segment. The average selling price (ASP) of a mobile device is approximately $52, with 85 percent of devices sold costing below $100,” said Mr. Gupta.

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“Cellular phone penetration in India stood at 45 percent in 2009, and the market is entering into a second phase of growth, with replacement sales increasing from 45 percent in 2009 to 50 percent of total sales in 2010. Moves to high-speed 3G networks is bringing in more challenges in terms of innovation and keeping up with fast changing consumer demand. Shortening product life cycle times and declining sales of voice-centric devices will bring changes to the market during the next five years,” said Mr. Gupta. (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 

Thesynergyonline Communications Bureau

NEW DELHI, JULY 23 :
TELECOM Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will finalize it’s 2G spectrum pricing recommendations in next four weeks and subsequently submit them to the government for it’s implementation, disclosed Chairman TRAI, Dr. J.S. Sarma while inaugurating 6th ASSOCHAM organized ‘Global Telecom Summit’ here today.

Dr Sarma also disclosed that telecom regulator would release all promised spectrum as committed in 3G spectrum auctioning period by September 2010 as also finalize it’s recommendations about new broadband policy by end of August next month or else latest by September 2010.

It would be an attempt of the government to redefine definition of broadband so that broadband is declared a fundamental right of Indian citizen when national policy in this regard is laid out by UPA government, emphasized Dr. Sarma further stating that TRAI has hired services of ASSOCHAM to conduct a study on Value Added Services (VAS) in telecom sector within a deadline of next 6 months.

The TRAI Chairman indicated that since 2G spectrum pricing had landed into controversies, the telecom regulator will take another 4 weeks to wrap up afresh a new set of suggestions on this issue and submit them to the government for necessary action. Dr. Sarma said that India would require additional spectrum of 300-500 MHz to enable telecom operators and service providers to achieve India’s broadband targets for which policy initiatives would have to be approved of at the highest political level. He, however, promised that whatever best is possible, the telecom regulator will do to satisfy requirements of telecom operators as well as service providers at policy levels to meet their aspirations.

Speaking at ASSOCHAM Telecom Summit, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, Mr. Kuldeep Goyal said that his company has sought Prime Minister’s intervention to advice state governments to remove obstacles in company’s attempts and efforts to lay telecom infrastructure as Karnataka government has slapped a fine of Rs. 6000 crores on BSNL for removing cables and wires from Karnataka to another state.

The BSNL, according Mr. Goyal has been facing such problems in other states too and if these are not sorted out, the broadband providing commitment as undertaken by BSNL is unlikely to be accomplished. The BSNL chief also demanded that tax and levies on telecom sector needs to be rationalized to give this sector a level playing field and scope for taking on competition from it’s counterparts.

Deputy Group CEO and Managing Director, Bharti Airtel , Mr. Akhil Gupta who was also present in ASSOCHAM conference demanded that telecom services should be declared as essential services and policy makers ought not treat this sector as a mere cash crop.

Mr Gupta apprehended that allocation of spectrum as committed in 3G spectrum auctioning time is unlikely to be released to service providers by Sept. 2010 and therefore sought that delay in it should be compensated in the form of spectrum licensing period thereafter. He was critical of on-going telecom policies especially on taxation funds and described them as hostile to growth of telecom sector, demanding rationalization in telecom taxes thereby endorsing what was expressed by BSNL chief in this regard.

In addition, Mr. Gupta demanded that use of funds should be permitted to be accessed by all players in telecom sector so that projected targets are accomplished, especially for rural areas in close partnership with telecom companies in private and public domain.

Amongst others who spoke on the occasion comprised Senior Vice-President, ASSOCHAM and Vice-Chairman, Spice Corp. Ltd., Mr. Dilip Modi, ASSOCHAM Vice-President, Mr. Rajkumar N. Dhoot, it’s Chairperson and Co-Chairperson Communications Convergence Committee, Dr. Suneeta Reddy and Mr. C.S. Rao. In addition, Managing Director, South-Asia and Middle East, Frost & Sullivan, Mr. A. Rangachari, ED, Huawei Telecommunications (India), Mr. A. Sethuraman, Mr. P. Balaji, Vice-President, Ericsson India, Director, Cisco Systems India Pvt. Ltd., Mr. Harish Krishnan and ASSOCHAM Secretary General, Mr. D.S. Rawat also spoke on the occasion. (editor@thesynergyonline.com)     

BROADBAND SUBSCIRBER COUNT LIKELY TO REACH 275 MILLION BY 2015: ASSOCHAM - F& S

Thesynergyonline Infotech Bureau

NEW DELHI, JULY 22 :
ASSOCHAM and Frost & Sullivan have projected that total broadband subscriber count will reach around 275 million by FY-2015 from approximately 9 million as of now as submarine cable capacity is expected to grow and supply of capacities is likely to increase significantly with adoption of wireless broadband (BWA).

The overall broadband subscribers base stands at around 9 million in Indian market as of now and is seen to be significantly under-penetrated, says the paper on 'Dawn of the Digital Decade', jointly brought out by ASSOCHAM and Frost & Sullivan.

Releasing its findings, Chairman, ASSOCHAM Convergence Committee, Mr. C S Rao pointed out that this under-penetration in India is due to factors such as insufficient wire line infrastructure, fragmented Local Cable operators Network, lack of a broadband policy to regulate pricing of rental and usage rates and delays in awarding spectrum to wireless broadband deployments.

However, the paper claims that recent broadband wireless auctions in which operators were allocated spectrum for wireless broadband deployments comes as a much needed respite for future of broadband adoption in India. It is expected that total broadband subscribers will reach about 275 million in next 5 years.

This is due to the fact that submarine cable capacity would grow substantially and supply of capacity will shoot-up since adoption of BWA would become more popular. The two institutions expect that deployment of BWA would begin in this fiscal itself, added Mr. Rao.

Leveraging on broadband technologies, the paper says that excessively high right way charges, fragmented cable operators, non cooperation in last mile copper unbundling and low data ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) has made operators in India to realize, that Wireless is the most effective way to provide affordable broadband to masses in country. With around 43 percent of internet subscribers still using dial-up connections at the end of 2009, there is potential to migrate existing subscribers to high-speed services.

On the issue of advent of 3G to fuel Enterprise Mobility Market, the paper points out that with heightened pressures for the telecom service providers to augment their stagnating mobile voice revenues, there is a keen focus on 3G mobile services being the driver for greater mobile data applications adoption. Indeed, the major mobile players have obtained 3G spectrum in those telecom circles comprising a significant number of enterprises, which can potentially be targeted for mobile data services.

Presently, the Enterprise Mobile Data market consists of telecom service provider revenues generated via Value Added Services (VAS), Data Cards and GPRS. These three segments comprise approximately 17.1 percent of the total Enterprise Mobile Voice and Data market.
Mobile email is the most dominant application utilized by enterprises in

India today, constituting approximately 91.7 percent of the total Enterprise Mobility market of 452.94 crores in FY 10. However, with the advent of 3G networks bringing in higher speed and enhanced bandwidth, more enterprise customers are expected to adopt bandwidth intensive applications on mobile. (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 
 

WORLD PHONE UNVIELS VIDEO SURVEILANCE SYSTEM CYCOPS

Thesynergyonline Communication Bureau

NEW DELHI, JULY 19 :
WORLD Phone Internet Services has launched Cyclops, true Remote Video Surveillance System, that offers advanced remote surveillance and recording capabilities compared to legacy analog based closed circuit television (CCTV) systems. The launch of Cyclops marks the foray of World Phone into the physical security systems market in India, which is expected to touch $3.5 billion within next few years growing at a CAGR of 30 percent.

Cyclops is optimized for 24/7 surveillance and comes ready with watherproof cameras with night vision and can record over 2 years of continuous video. A user can view live or recorded footage anywhere in the world by logging onto any computer connected to the internet or even on his Blackberry or iPhone! Available as a complete packaged system with options of 4-8-16 cameras, Cyclops is available at a price starting as low as Rs. 44,999 .

 Said Mr. Aditya Ahluwalia, Chairman, World Phone Internet Services, "Security is a top-of-the-mind issue today. Be it a business setup, educational institute, religious place or an individual’s home, monitoring the activities in and around the premises has assumed paramount importance. We are proud to introduce Cyclops, which is perhaps the most affordable and feature-packed remote surveillance system in the market today. We are confident that it will find preference with the discerning customers and offer them the true feeling of security.”
 

The 500 GB hard drive budled with Cyclops can hold up to 2 years of continuous video and is optimized for 24/7 surveillance. The hard drives used in the Cyclops Remote Surveillance Systems are specifically designed for high capacity writing, which ensures long product life and accurate video data storage. Cyclops allows seamless transfer of recorded footage directly to a PC using the included USB cable and view and archive video effortlessly with the included software. The Cyclops’ DVR utilizes H.264 compression - the latest and most advanced compression level available for a DVR system. It ensures an amazing picture quality while saving 50 per cent on storage space versus DVRs with MPEG-4 compression and thus, maximizes the use of hard drive space.
 With Cyclops, finding a specific event in the recorded footage is extremely easy. One has to simply choose the desired date and time range, and the requested video clips will appear on the screen. Clips can also be labeled by event, which makes it easy to find footage that was captured by motion detection.

 The cameras included in the Cyclops Remote Surveillance Systems are built for the outdoors with professional grade Weatherproof housings and sunshades. They have multiple infrared (IR) LEDs that allow you to see even in the dark. The LEDs are activated automatically when it gets dark and are deactivated during the day to save energy (CDS sensor).
 Another noptable feature of World Phone’s Cyclops Remote Surveillance Systems is its Advanced Motion Activated Recording. The user can set the DVR to record only when motion is detected and alert with an audible alarm. One can even set individual cameras to detect motion, and only video from those cameras will be recorded. Motion Mask allows the user to block areas with constant motion, ensuring that only suspicious activity is recorded.
 
“Cyclops offers clear advantages over legacy CCTV solutions that provided just basic monitoring and recording capabilities and had several operational drawbacks such as lack of remote accessibility and storage, scalability, collaborations, support & maintenance etc.” concluded Mr. Ahluwalia.  (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 
 

MOBILE CONNECTIONS IN INDIA TLO GROW BY 27.3% IN 2010

Thesynergyonline Communication Bureau

NEW DELHI, , JULY 19 :
MOBILE connections in India will grow by 27.3 percent in 2010 to reach in excess of 660 million, according to Gartner Inc. Mobile service revenue in India will reach $19.8 billion by the end of the year, up 19.7 percent from 2009.

“The arrival of new players in the Indian mobile sector has led to fierce competition which has sustained the strong subscriber growth we saw in 2009,” said Neha Gupta, senior research analyst at Gartner. “Furthermore, with mobile penetration standing at 44.5 percent at the end of 2009, there is still ample room for growth in 2010 and beyond.”

In 2010, mobile penetration in India is projected to grow 55.9 percent, and Gartner expects the Indian mobile industry to grow at double-digit rates till the end of 2012 with mobile penetration increasing to 72.5 percent in 2012. Mobile market penetration is projected to increase further to 82 percent by 2014, mainly due to the service providers increasing their focus on the rural market and lower handset prices.

By the end of 2014, total mobile services revenue in India is forecast to exceed US$23 billion, and India is expected to remain the world’s second largest wireless market after China in terms of mobile connections.

Nevertheless, despite the healthy overall outlook, Ms. Gupta explained that the Indian mobile services market is going through a state of flux, with the arrival of many new players leading to a decrease in price points for the industry. Analysts believe that some market consolidation will happen over the next 18 months as the launch of 3G services enables service providers to distinguish themselves on services offered rather just on prices.

Further uncertainty has also resulted from the recently completed government auction of 3G and Broadband Wireless Access licenses which have lead to an increase of capital expenditure by several operators, which in turn will increase the net debt at the industry level. However, strong growth in subscriber base and revenues is expected to increase the operating cash flows which will absorb its impact.

“The increase in competition in the Indian mobile market has led to price wars which have in turn led to a decline in voice Average Revenue per User (ARPU), and we expect this trend to continue as service providers increasingly shift their focus to rural areas,” Ms. Gupta said. “Expect a dramatic decline in growth of voice revenue from 2010 until the end 2014, although this will be balanced by increased revenue from data services which will significantly contribute to the overall growth of mobile services in India.” (editor@thesynergyonline.com) 

OSCAR FORAYS INTO MOBILE PHONE SECTOR

Thesynergyonline Corporate Bureau

NEW DELHI, JULY 03 :
CONSUMER electronics brand Oacar announced its entry into the Rs. 70,000- crore cellular phone markets. To begin with Oscar mobiles will be launched in North and East India where Oscar has a strong presence and will be subsequently launched in rest of India.

Backed by 25 years of trust, brand Oscar has been credited in the consumer electronics industry for opening up the value-for-money market and for introducing a perfect mix of features with the right price points. Oscar today remains a significant player in this segment across product categories like CTVs, DVDs, Home Theatre Systems and Multi-media speaker systems. Synonymous with good quality products that provide years of value to consumers, brand Oscar was the first in the market to introduce CTV`s, VCD Players, DVD`s and multimedia speaker systems at real value prices, in the last decade.
“Our foray into the telecom vertical is in keeping with our vision to provide consumers with high quality products at unmatched prices by following a no-frills policy. Our vision is to introduce the most affordable handsets in India keeping in mind the features to price ratio” said Mr. Satish Verma, Chairman, Oscar Group.

“Currently, about 50 percentf Indians are on ULCH (ultra low cost handsets). We therefore saw a great opportunity for OSCAR which has a strong track record in the Value for Money (VFM) segment. We will look to build a strong presence in the semi-urban and rural market, where the prominence of both subscribers and operators is rapidly increasing, besides the burgeoning urban market” he added.

On the brand’s expansion plans, Mr. Suresh Wadhwani Executive Director said, “By end of first year, we hope to sell one lakh mobiles per month in North & East India with a turnover of Rs. 250 crores and thereafter grow at 15-20% annually. In five years, we are aiming to reach a turnover of 1000 crores.”

On the technology issues , Mr. Karan Verma who heads the mobile activity at Oscar said, “Oscar Mobiles are subjected to vigorous testing on all functions, in order to deliver quality at an affordable price. The models offer value through additional features across the range to provide a higher level of consumer satisfaction with special emphasis on providing additional features like enhanced network connectivity and superior audio and video quality in the models (All models have high audio output so that the phones can be used for communication even while in crowded areas where the noise level is high; the models have been upgraded to ensure minimum signal loss or call drops so that communication remains uninterrupted. The multimedia models have the distinction of video without breaks or jerks which provides the best viewing experience) and long life battery (some of the models have up to 30 days of standby because of the special 1800 - 2000 mAh battery used”.

“Oscar is investing heavily on product quality and reliability of its mobile phones to quickly raise it’s consumer base, in the shortest possible time, by giving the user advanced features through superior technology at a price that shall make him or her smile” he added.

All Oscar mobile phone support Dual SIM GSM connectivity to allow customers to manage their personal and professional numbers efficiently, and come with a 1 year warranty and backed by a comprehensive after- sales service with an existing network of over 250 service centres. Available at 1,500 retail shops across East and North India, the network will touch 8,000 retail points by year end

Oscar will launch a total of 10 handsets priced between Rs. 1700 to Rs. 4500 in the next 2 months. All the models will offer some additional feature that no other brand currently offers at that price point. Of the 6 that have been already launched, the base model N1 has a vibration speaker, a first for an entry level phone at that price point.

The higher- end model currently on offer, Z1 which is an aspirational Qwerty Keypad Handset is based on a very fast processor and comes with a front and back camera, unheard of at that price point! Apart from the entry level N1, most Oscar mobiles will come loaded with plethora of multimedia options including FM Radio, MP3, MP4 player, access to various social networking sites, excellent quality 1.3 MP camera among others giving distinctly superior pictures.

As per industry estimates, mobile handset industry has grown exponentially with 108 million mobile phones sold in the country in 2009-10, resulting in sales of Rs 27,000 crore as against Rs 25,910 crore during the previous year. Faster growth is expected in the coming years as the mobile replacement market that currently stands at 55 percent, is expected to reach 70% by 2010 . ditor@thesynergyonline.com)