Monday, November 15, 2010

AT&T Offers Enterprise Smartphone Management from MobileIron

AT&T has begun offering the MobileIron Virtual Smartphone Platform (VSP) to help businesses better manage and secure smartphones within their organizations.


MobileIron, a start-up based in Mountain View, California, provides a server that enables companies to manage smartphone data, privacy, security, and cost across multiple operating systems using a single technology solution. This includes real-time intelligence and control over smartphone content, activity, and apps. This system can secure data without compromising privacy, even on employee-owned mobile phones.


MobileIron VSP from AT&T is expected to be available for purchase by AT&T business customers by the end of this month.


"More and more companies are using mobile technology as an essential business tool. However, as corporate information moves onto mobile devices, companies are challenged with visibility into what is happening with data, costs, security and applications," said Michael Antieri, President, Advanced Enterprise Mobility Solutions, AT&T Business Solutions. "With the addition of this new mobile device management service from MobileIron, we're providing customers the ability to manage devices across multiple platforms. Our team at AT&T is focused on helping customers find the right technology solutions to embrace the benefits mobility offers to businesses."http://www.mobileiron.com
http://www.att.com
  • In August 2010, MobileIron announced $16 million in Series C financing for its multi-OS smartphone management solutions. The new funding came from Foundation Capital, which joined existing investors Norwest Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Storm Ventures.

GSMA Offers Mobile Energy Efficiency Network Benchmarking

The GSMA is launching a Mobile Energy Efficiency (MEE) Network Benchmarking Service to help mobile network operators (MNOs) lower their energy costs and carbon footprint. Created in cooperation with China Mobile, Telefonica and Telenor, the MEE service will:

  • Quantify cost and CO2e savings for MNOs;

  • Promote a consistent methodology for benchmarking network energy efficiency along with common KPIs;

  • Collate industry data and benchmark outputs to enable MNOs to measure themselves externally and internally, quantifying potential efficiency gains; and

  • Coordinate across the industry and with regulatory stakeholders, so that the benchmarking methodology is adopted as a global standard.


The methodology benchmarks mobile networks by comparing four KPIs:

  • Mobile network energy consumption per mobile connection;

  • Mobile network energy consumption per cell site;

  • Mobile network energy consumption per unit mobile traffic and

  • Mobile network energy consumption per unit mobile revenue.


"Just a year ago we issued Mobile's Green Manifesto, which outlined the industry's plans to lower greenhouse gas emissions per connection by 40 per cent by 2020. The GSMA's mobile energy efficiency benchmarking service is a key enabler to achieving this goal," said Gabriel Solomon, Senior Vice President, Public Policy, GSMA.

The GSMA estimates that approximately 80 per cent of the industry's energy consumption is in the network, and energy costs are also becoming one of the largest components of network operational costs for MNOs. Given this, energy efficiency solutions, such as the MEE service, are becoming a strategic priority.
http://www.gsmworld.com/

Verizon Introduces Mobile Services Enablement Platform

Verizon is introducing a new Mobile Services Enablement Platform (MSEP) that helps enterprises design their applications for a secure mobile environment. In addition to providing customizable application-development templates that can be tailored to create new business-specific applications, the platform is already integrated with major enterprise software applications including Siebel, SAP, Oracle, Remedy, Salesforce.com and Amdocs.


The company is also offering IT Professional Services for the new MSEP solution, including enterprise mobility assessment, enterprise mobility business process engineering, enterprise mobile application development and testing, and enterprise mobile application certification.
http://www.verizon.com

KDDI Begins Offering Skype Smartphone Service

KDDI officially began offering "Skype au" -- a service that allows voice calls and instant messaging on the company's "au" Android smartphones. Through the joint venture with Skype, the custom Skype client application will be preinstalled on models starting from "IS03." With the application, customers can enjoy not only Skype-to-Skype voice calls, but also instant messaging (chat) and international calls.

Significantly, "Skype au" uses au's mobile phone network, enabling stable voice calls with Skype users around the world with the quality and easy usage of KDDI's mobile network.


Separately, KDDI announced a new flat rate, data service -- 5,460 yen monthly.
http://www.kddi.com

Cisco and VMware Aim for the Virtual Desktop Solution

Cisco and VMware announced a desktop virtualization solution based on Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS) and VMware View 4.5. The solution aims to simplify the physical and virtual infrastructure and management associated with desktop deployments, including QoS policies for each desktop or group of desktops, while ensuring consistent security profiles. This streamlined operational model can enable deployment of virtual desktops to users in minutes, according to the companies, at a lower cost per seat.
http://www.cisco.com
http://www.vmware.com
  • In November 2009, Cisco, EMC and VMware announced a Virtual Computing Environment coalition aimed at pervasive data center virtualization and a transition path to private cloud infrastructures. The first deliverables from the coalition are a set of "Vblock Infrastructure Packages." These are engineered, integrated and validated IT infrastructure packages for virtual machines, such as Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS), Nexus 1000v and Multilayer Directional Switches (MDS), EMC's Symmetrix V-Max storage (secured by RSA), and the VMware vSphere platform.

Infonetics: Carrier router and switch market up 21%

The service provider router and switch market -- including IP edge routers, IP core routers, carrier Ethernet switches (CES), and ATM switches -- grew 5% from 2Q10 to 3Q10, to $3.3 billion worldwide, according to a new report from Infonetics. The growth was led by the North American IP edge and core router market, which rose 41% year-over-year (3Q10 over 3Q09). The overall carrier router and switch market was up 21% year-over-year. Market leaders Cisco and Alcatel-Lucent posted double-digit percent sequential increases in carrier router revenue in 3Q10. Meanwhile, Huawei and Juniper also posted carrier router gains in 3Q10, with revenue up in the single-digit percents.


"North America is helping lead the telecom world out of the economic doldrums, with EMEA coming along quickly, as evidenced by the carrier router and switch market. Cisco accounted for the largest part of the third quarter revenue upswing, and Alcatel-Lucent added solid quarterly gains, both driven by IP edge router sales. The third quarter bore good news, and we believe the fourth quarter will be even better," predicts Michael Howard, co-founder and principal analyst for carrier and data center networks at Infonetics Research.
http://www.infonetics.com

Juniper Expands in WLAN with Acquisition of Trapeze Networks

Juniper Networks agreed to acquire Trapeze Networks for approximately $152 million in cash.


Trapeze specializes in enterprise wireless local area network (WLAN) systems and management software. Trapeze's "Smart Mobile" WLAN solution combining the advantages of both centralized and distributed approaches to networking or "intelligent switching." This architecture allows organizations to adopt 802.11n networks, deliver high-quality voice for hundreds of users, and scale their WLANs across the enterprise indoors and outdoors without compromising security or manageability. Its product line includes Mobility System Software, a full line of Mobility Exchange controllers, Mobility Point access points, an advanced access control product, SmartPass, the RingMaster wireless management suite, antennas and accessories, and location-based software and appliances.


In addition, Trapeze is also partnered with Avaya/Nortel, NEC and D-Link, who market Trapeze products or technology under their own brand name.


Juniper said the acquisition will make WLAN infrastructure a key part of its portfolio, accelerating the company's growth in the enterprise market and advancing its vision for the new network.


"With the acquisition of Trapeze Networks, we extend our industry leading routing, security and switching portfolio with proven and innovative WLAN technology that will enable our customers to provide a seamless, high-quality, secure experience to their users regardless of where and how they access their network," said David Yen, executive vice president and general manager, Fabric and Switching Technologies at Juniper Networks. "Juniper's strong history of technology execution combined with Trapeze's accomplished team ideally positions the company to deliver end-to-end high-performance networking for the world's most demanding networks."


Trapeze Network, which is a division of Belden, is based in Pleasanton, California. The company was founded in 2002.
http://www.juniper.nethttp://www.trapezenetworks.com
  • Trapeze Networks was acquired by Belden Inc. in July 2008 for $133 million in cash.


  • In January 2009, Trapeze Networks acquired Newbury Networks, which specialized in Wi-Fi based Real-Time Location Services (RTLS).

Intel Invests $14M in Layar for Mobile Augmented Reality

Layar, a start-up based in Amsterdam, secured EUR 10 million (about US$14 million) in a funding round led by Intel Capital joined by existing investors Sunstone Capital and Prime Ventures.

Layar is focused on mobile augmented reality -- technology that blends reality with digital information in order to enrich applications.

The company offers a Reality Browser - Mobile app for iPhone, Android and Bada devices. It supplies a free mobile software to embed Augmented Reality into any mobile app, and it offers and environment for the creation, testing and publication of Augmented Reality content.

"At Layar, we're constantly looking for more ways to bring impactful augmented reality experiences into people's everyday lives and this investment from Intel Capital is another step towards expanding that goal," said Raimo van der Klein, co-founder of Layar. "Augmented reality provides the richest experience on the mobile phone - an experience as unlimited as our own imaginations. This funding will help make these vast opportunities with AR a reality by providing our large ecosystem of content creators with the tools to build compelling and useful content."http://www.layar.com

AT&T, Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile Team on Mobile Wallet

AT&T Mobility, T-Mobile USA and Verizon Wireless announced the foundation of Isis -- a national mobile commerce network that aims to fundamentally transform how people shop, pay and save. The venture will leverage near-field communication (NFC) technology to enable point-of-sale transactions via mobile phone. Commercial launch in key geographic markets is expected over the next 18 months.


Together, these operators provide wireless services to more than 200 million U.S. consumers.


"While mobile payments will be at the core of our offering, it is only the start. We plan to create a mobile wallet that ultimately eliminates the need for consumers to carry cash, credit and debit cards, reward cards, coupons, tickets and transit passes," stated Michael Abbott, Chief Executive Officer of Isis.


Initial financial partners include Discover, which operates a payment network currently accepted at more than seven million merchant locations nationwide, and Barclays PLC, which is expected to be the first issuer on the network.


The companies said the Isis mobile commerce network will be available to all merchants, banks, and mobile carriers.
http://www.paywithisis.com
  • Isis is headed by Michael Abbot (CEO, who previously was with GE Capital.

ALU's Broadcast Message Center Enables CMAS Emergency Alerts

Alcatel-Lucent introduced a Broadcast Message Center (BMC) solution that allows mobile operators to comply with emergency alerting standards in the United States. The BMC system acts as a secure interface between an emergency management agency and the service provider's network, delivering emergency alerts to cell sites in a specific geographic area. For instance, targeted text alerts can be sent to residents threatened by tsunamis, wildfire, tornadoes, floods, etc.; to warn of school emergencies; or to inform citizens of an Amber Alert. Alcatel-Lucent's Broadcast Message Center manages message and delivery priorities, scheduling and re-transmission needs for these alerts.


The FCC has established the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) to standardize this emergency alert system on a national level. The CMAS network will allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to accept and aggregate alerts from the President of the United States, the National Weather Service (NWS), and state and local emergency operations centers, and then send the alerts over a secure interface to wireless providers. The location-specific emergency alerts will be classified in one of three categories:

  • Presidential Alerts-- Alerts for all Americans related to national emergencies, such as terrorist attacks, that will preempt any other pending alerts;

  • Imminent Threat Alerts -- Alerts with information on emergencies, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, where life or property is at risk, the event is likely to occur, and some responsive action should be taken; and


  • Child Abduction Emergency/AMBER Alerts -- Alerts related to missing or endangered children due to an abduction or runaway situation.


It will be possible for consumers to opt out of receiving Imminent Threat and Child Abduction/AMBER alerts, but not Presidential Alerts. A unique and dedicated vibration cadence and audio attention signal will be used for emergency alerts. The system will require CMAS-enabled handsets and these are expected to come to market in 2011 or be enabled by software upgrades to mobile handsets. The system is also designed as a priority one-to-all broadcast from the cell tower to all handsets in range, thus avoiding any network congestion issues.

Alcatel-Lucent confirmed that it has advanced trials and commercial deployments of its Broadcast Message Center underway with major service providers in the U.S., as well as similar systems in Europe and worldwide.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
  • In August, Sprint and the California Emergency Management Agency announced they were using Alcatel-Lucent’s Broadcast Messaging Center in a pilot public safety program being conducted in San Diego County. In October, the external link Florida Division of Emergency Management announced Alcatel-Lucent's Broadcast Message Center was used in a live Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) pilot in the Tampa area.

América Móvil Deploys Alcatel-Lucent IP/MPLS Mobile Backhaul

América Móvil has selected Alcatel-Lucent's IP/MPLS-based mobile backhaul solution to support next-generation mobile broadband services across 11 countries in Latin America: Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. América Móvil has deployed 3G networks throughout Latin America and is now evolving them to a more cost-effective mobile transport network infrastructure that supports current services while enabling the delivery of new multimedia services and applications.


As part of this three-year transformation project, Alcatel-Lucent is deploying its 7750 Service Router (SR) and 7705 Service Aggregation Router (SAR) along with the Alcatel-Lucent 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM). As part of this three-year transformation project, Alcatel-Lucent is deploying its 7750 Service Router (SR) and 7705 Service Aggregation Router (SAR) along with the Alcatel-Lucent 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM). Financial terms were not disclosed.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://www.americamovil.com
  • América Móvil finished September 2010 with 266.8 million accesses, 11.5% more than in the same quarter of 2009. This figure includes 216.8 million wireless subscribers, up 11.6% year-on-year, and 50 million fixed line accesses that increased 10.9% in the period. Of that figure, 28.1 million correspond to fixed voice, 12.5 million to broadband and 9.4 million to PayTV.

    In Q3 2010, América Móvil added 5.5 million wireless subscribers in the third quarter, 37.6% more than
    in the same quarter of 2009 with postpaid net additions 22.4% greater than those of a year before. We also added 2.1 million fixed line accesses comprising voice, broadband and video services, for a total of 7.6 million new accesses overall.