|
Carrier Services
Telecom week in review
An overview of announcements, partnerships and personnel changes across the industry
by TelecomEngine Newsdesk
The Verizon Enterprise Center (VEC) this week was called “a leader in delivering outstanding online service and support for its business customers” in an independent report by Yankee Group. The report, “Carrier ePortal Development in a Year of Reduced Budgets” (November 2009) cited online billing, maintenance and inventory applications provided through the VEC portal as key strengths in simplifying day-to-day business processes for customers.
Australian telco Telstra announced that its mobile content and data revenues increased 11 percent in the second half of 2009 following the launch of its TelstraOne Experience handsets in May. The handset utilizes the SurfKit Mobile Internet Platform which gives subscribers personalized access to applications and services.
Industry News
Eastcompeace Smart Card Co., Ltd., a vendor offering smart cards and smart card based solutions to the telecoms, payments, identity and security sectors, has joined GlobalPlatform as an Observer Member. As an Observer Member of the international specification body for smart card infrastructure, Eastcompeace is entitled to closely track the debates and activities of all GlobalPlatform Technical Committees. The company will also participate in GlobalPlatform’s Advisory Council and, more specifically, the Mobile Task Force where the business requirements for the development of GlobalPlatform Specifications aimed at the mobile telecoms sector takes place.
4G chipmaker Sequans Communications has been selected by China Mobile to provide chips and USB dongles for China Mobile’s TD-LTE (Long Term Evolution for TDD spectrum) network at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, which China Mobile will operate as a demonstration network during the Expo from May through October of 2010.
MapmyIndia, India’s leading map provider, and on-board mobile navigation supplier Sygic, have come together to launch ‘MapmyIndia Sygic Mobile Maps’, a turn-by-turn navigation application for Windows Mobile, Symbian, Android and the iPhone, according to GPS Business News.
TelematicsUpdate reports that The Panda Group, a multi-service cooperative based in Finland, has announced a new pilot program testing the use of GPS data to determine insurance premiums and road tolls. Starting in 2010, a thousand cars in Finland will be outfitted with GPS devices that track speed, sudden braking, frequency of rapid accelerations, and where and how often cars are driven.
TerreStar Corporation expanded its relationship with Elektrobit Inc (a subsidiary of EB) this week. EB will supply turnkey product delivery services for the TerreStar GENUS Smartphone and has subcontracted with Flextronics, an electronics manufacturing services provider, to help provide product delivery services, Telematics Weekly reports.
Tiscali, an Italy-based telco, has selected an Infinera Digital Optical Network for its nationwide Italian backbone and metro networks to provide its customers in Italy with the speed and flexibility of Infinera solutions. Tiscali will be deploying the Infinera DTN for its national backbone network and Infinera ATN systems for its metro networks.
Hong Kong-based CSL Limited, a subsidiary of Telstra, signed an exclusive licensing agreement with SIMtone to develop cloud computing services for use over CSL's award-winning Next G wireless network to CSL customers in Hong Kong. SIMtone, based in North Carolina, offers a Universal Cloud Computing Platform for use by network operators and businesses.
Telular Corporation, which provides wireless communications technology, announced today that Telefónica México will private label its TankLink monitoring solution under the brand name TeleControl-Gas. Telefónica México, one of the largest cellular network operators in Mexico with over 16.2 million subscribers, selected the TankLink solution as part of their long-term strategy to offer wireless data-centric services to a larger commercial customer base.
CapRock Government Solutions is in the final stages of development of its new commercial off-the-shelf communications service, CommandAccess. Designed for military and civilian agencies deployed in remote areas of operation, the new suite of pre-packaged and customized satellite communications services connects very small aperture terminals (VSATs) to the Internet, public switched telephone service, and secure government networks. CommandAccess enables customers with certified portable and man-packable terminals to benefit from two-way broadband satellite communications at guaranteed speeds up to 1Mbps. CommandAccess will be offered in multiple frequency bands, including X, Ku and Ka and is designed to augment the U.S. Government’s Wideband Global Satellite (WGS) program.
Personnel
Broadband technology services provider ARRIS announced Thursday that its Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Tom Cloonan, has been elevated to the rank of Fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), singled out for his leadership in the development of Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTS). Dr. Cloonan will become an IEEE Fellow effective January 1, 2010.
Transaction Network Services, a data communications services provider, has appointed telecommunications expert Thomas E. “Tom” Wheeler to its board of directors. Mr. Wheeler, 63, has worked at the forefront of telecommunications policy and business development for three decades and is currently a managing director of Washington-based Core Capital Partners, an early stage venture capital fund. Mr. Wheeler’s arrival follows TNS’ purchase earlier this year of the Communications Services Group (CSG) from California-based Internet infrastructure service provider VeriSign, Inc.
Lexent Metro Connect which provides dark fiber networks in the New York metropolitan area, has named Walter Cannon as Director of Enterprise Sales. Known for his expertise in the enterprise marketplace, Cannon is responsible for leveraging his vast technology sales experience to further grow Lexent's core dark fiber business.
DragonWave Inc. a global supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, announced Tuesday that Tom Manley is joining the company’s Board of Directors as a non-executive director. Mr. Manley comes to Dragonwave from Avaya, Inc.,where he was chief financial officer, and has over 25 years of financial management and general management experience.
|
