Latest News…

 

7th October 2009

I Phone to go to all 5 UK networks???

Vodafone is due to sell the I Phone 3GS from early 2010…

All five networks could secure rights to the iPhone by next summer, sources have claimed.

Orange is expected to start selling the device by mid-November this year, while Vodafone will distribute the device from early 2010.

T-Mobile and 3 are expected to announce deals with Apple to sell the sought-after smartphone soon, with 3 likely to be the last operator to start distribution next summer.

It is thought Apple is staggering distribution across the networks to ensure demand does not outstrip supply. It is also believed that the iPhone may be sold in Phones 4u, as well as its incumbent Carphone Warehouse.

6th October 2009

Microsoft launches Windows Mobile 6.5 operating software…

The company has also made improvements to its Marketplace app store

 Microsoft launched the latest version of its Windows Mobile operating software today. The next generation of Windows phones will be based on Windows Mobile 6.5, which is designed to integrate the work PC, home PC and mobile phone allowing users to work across platforms by uploading information via The Cloud.

Microsoft has introduced a more user friendly touch screen interface, abandoning the clunky stylus needed to operate Mobile 6.1. The new OS allows users to play music, check email, open Word and Excel documents. They can also check their calendar and text messages and look at their photos.

The software giant has also improved its Marketplace applications store, which can be accessed from both the phone and the web. At the moment, there are only 60 applications available in the UK, but this is expected to increase rapidly.

Other new provisions include My Phone, a free password protected online backup service, which will sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and the like to the web. Content from the phone can be automatically uploaded on to the web, so if it the phone is lost, everything can be downloaded to a new handset.

UK operators have indicated that customers with more recent handsets will be able to upgrade from Windows 6.1.

New phone with Windows 6.5 include the HTC Touch HD and the LG GM750.

 

1st October 2009

iPhone stock shortages reported by retail staff and dealers…

The expansion of Apple’s UK network partners has led to claims that stock supply has dried up over the last few weeks.

IPhone sellers across the industry have been suffering from stock shortages. Retail staff reported they had been waiting for deliveries of the phone for up to five weeks.

One Carphone Warehouse employee said: ‘They are being delivered sporadically – we just haven’t been able to get hold of them for four or
five weeks. Stock has not returned to normal levels since the launch of the new model.’

The indirect channels in the b2b market have also been struggling to source the Apple product.

One dealer said: ‘We are under the impression there is a shortage and not just in one particular colour or model.’

Another dealer claimed: ‘We have had customers waiting five weeks and our inclination is that we are short on stock because of the Orange deal.’ 

24th September 2009

Vodafone unveils ‘Vodafone 360’…

The network plans to make the service as open as possible…

Vodafone has officially unveiled ‘Vodafone 360’, the overhaul of its internet portal services that was announced at the start of this week.

The new service includes a connected address book, called Vodafone People, which automatically syncs all contacts from a customer’s phone with Facebook, Windows Messanger and Google Talk.  It will soon include Twitter, Hyves and studiVZ

Vodafone has also promised a ‘wide range of apps, games, music and mapping services’ for Vodafone 360, which will launch before Christmas in countries including the UK.

The new online platform will be marketed with Vodafone's new brand strapline, 'power to you'.

The network has designed two of its own handsets to promote the use of Vodafone 360.

The operator plans to make the service available through as wide a selection of handsets and operating systems from multiple manufacturers as possible.

The Vodafone 360 H1 by Samsung comes with a 3.5-inch touch OLED screen, 16GB memory, and a 5 megapixel camera. It will be followed shortly by another Samsung handset.

Four Nokia Symbian smartphones will soon come pre-loaded with Vodafone 360 and part or all of the service will be downloadable to over 100 popular phones.

 

27th June 2009

Successful rollout will save operators hundreds of millions of pounds…


O2 and Vodafone’s first shared network infrastructure in the UK went live today, after a deal saw the two companies agree to share networks.
 
The partnership, which was exclusively revealed by Mobile at the start of March, saw the operators share mobile network assets across Europe.
 
In the latest move, Vodafone equipment was added to an existing O2 site, which the companies said will ‘significantly add to network coverage on a busy section of the M4 Motorway’. It will also allow for a neighbouring site to be removed in the ‘near future’.
 
Telefonica and Vodafone will use the agreement, which is expected to save ‘hundreds of millions of pounds’ over the next 10 years, to aid the roll-out of their networks. The two companies said the deal will pave the way for improved mobile broadband coverage across the UK.
 
In the UK, both companies will focus on joint build of new sites and consolidation of existing 2G and 3G sites.
 
Meanwhile, in Ireland, the operators will open all network sites for sharing by the other party.  
 
In Spain, the operators will extend an existing site share agreement from 2007, which includes the shared usage of power, cabinets and masts. To date, 2,200 sites are shared under this agreement and during 2009 and 2010 additional sites will be added. In Germany, the networks will share existing 2G and 3G sites.
 
The operators said: ‘The benefits of the joint programme are already being seen, with the whole process from planning to implementation completed in 11 weeks, compared to nine months for a typical standalone site.’
 
They added: ‘This is the first of many shared sites that will be delivered over the coming months. Plans for other sites are now well advanced and progressing well.’

21st June 2009

Vodafone and Orange to allow customers to use mobiles on aeroplanes….

The operators will join T-Mobile and O2 by allowing the service…


Vodafone and Orange have agreed to open their networks to allow customers to use mobile phones on aeroplanes, according to reports.

The operators had previously refused permission to OnAir, the company that provides mobile services to carriers such as Ryanair, because of fears of the affect of high charges on consumers, according to The Times.

The newspaper reported that the operators will now join O2 and T-Mobile in allowing customers to use the OnAir system ‘within weeks’.

Calls from aeroplanes cost £2.50 per minute and networks feared that their customers could suffer from ‘bill shock’ from the high costs. 

However, Vodafone has denied the move. A spokeswoman said: 'We are always interested to explore different ways of offering our customers the opportunity to use mobile services where ever they are', but added: 'There is currently no agreement between Vodafone and OnAir. '

 

1st May 2009

 

New I Phone later in the year???

 

The chances of a new iPhone later this year appear increasingly likely, with O2 understood to be setting aside a large proportion of its customer acquisition budget for the second half of 2009 for a new updated 3G iPhone.

The new device is understood to be loaded with an increased memory of up to 64GB and better screen resolution, as Apple looks to make it more attractive as a gaming and video device.

It will disappoint those expecting a low spec, entry-level iPhone for customers priced out of the current 3G iPhone.

There are also signals from senior industry sources that Apple has secured large orders of memory components in Korea to make way for the new, upgraded top-end iPhone.

One senior source pointed to the recent software upgrade to the 3.0 operating system and the development kit unveiled in March 2009: ‘That was a big deal in the direction.

It’s taking applications to a new level where you’ve got some really exciting games and video options.’

Applications have been central to the success of the 3G iPhone, with Apple recently announcing that one billion applications have been downloaded.

Sources said any development of the iPhone would not create problems for application developers who have built apps for the existing screen size.

The new device will arrive as the first buyers of the original iPhone have ended their contracts and many more will be ready to upgrade.

It is estimated that 20 million iPhones have been sold globally and over one million have been sold in the UK by O2.

 

20th April 2009

 

Orange cut the cost of mobile broadband…

Orange has slashed the price of mobile broadband by 50% for business customers.

The deal, which will be offered for three months between May and July, will tempt existing business voice customers into adding mobile broadband to their package, at the cut price of £7.50 per month (down from £15).

New small medium enterprise (SME) customers will receive a discount of £5 on mobile broadband when they sign up during the time period.

 

I-Phone coming to Orange?

It is believed O2 is clearing stock ahead of a new model of the iPhone

O2 has announced that the iPhone will be free on cheaper lower tariffs from 3 April.

Customers at O2, Carphone Warehouse and the Apple store, who sign up to the 24 month tariff can get the 8GB iPhone 3G for free at £35 per month and the 16GB iPhone 3G for free at £45 per month.

The 16GB is currently only available on the £75 contract and the 8GB on the £45. Customers currently spend between £59 and £159 for an iPhone on the £35 and £45 monthly tariffs.

O2 UK’s marketing director Peter Rampling said: ‘This new 24 month tariff option will meet the demand of customers who are looking for added value in exchange for committing to a longer contract.’

Mobile reported earlier this month that O2 is believed to be keen to clear its inventory of the 3G iPhones ahead of a new device.

Details of the new Apple handset planned for June or July are not known, but there has been considerable speculation that it will be a mid-range ‘Nano-style’ device, which will be cheaper by compromising either on memory, camera or screen size.

Sources claim Orange is in talks with Apple to make its next phone available on the Orange network.

Sources claim Orange is in talks with Apple to make its next mobile phone available on the Orange network as well as O2 in the UK.

O2 has notched up one million iPhone sales in the UK, and previously stated that its deal with Apple is ‘multi year and multi device’. The operator has exclusively stocked the original 2G iPhone and the more recent 3G iPhone.

20th March 2009

O2 and Vodafone share network…

O2 and Vodafone have confirmed the deal that will see them share mobile network assets across Europe.

 

Telefonica and Vodafone will use the agreement, which is expected to save ‘hundreds of millions of pounds’ over the next 10 years, to aid the roll-out of their networks. The two companies said the deal will pave the way for improved mobile broadband coverage across the UK.

 

In the UK, both companies will focus on joint build of new sites and consolidation of existing 2G and 3G sites.

9th February 2009

New website launch…

RedSky launch their new web site and would like to thank everybody involved in its development.

 

30th January 2009

RedSky and Romex partner…

RedSky and Romex partner to offer niche mobile device tracking Teamfix. For more information please visit the mobile tracking area of the site or call 0191 206 4072…

20th January 2009

RedSky and Cybit partner…

RedSky agrees to partner with Cybit to offer their market leading telematics portfolio Fleetstar, to find out more please read the brochures located on the website or call 0191 206 4072…

10th January 2009

Blackberry 8900 launched…

Blackberry launch the new 8900 device, please go to the Blackberry area on the website to find out more.