US$32 Billion in Billings in 2009

Singapore, August 19, 2009 -- Southeast Asia's (SEA) mobile users are expected to hit 453.3 million subscribers by the close of this year, growing 18.4 percent over 2008. Billings are estimated to grow by 13.6 percent year-on-year to top US$32 billion by year-end.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, 2009 Southeast Asia Wireless Outlook, finds that the mobile subscriber base in the region - covering seven Southeast Asian nations - grew 36 percent year-on-year to reach 383 million users in 2008, for a corresponding mobile penetration of 72.5 percent. By the close of year 2014, Frost & Sullivan estimates SEA's mobile subscribers to reach 606 million, growing at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of eight percent (2009-2014).

SEA's mobile services grossed an estimated US$28.3 billion in revenues in 2008, and are forecasted to reach billings of US$36.2 billion by end-2014, at a CAGR of 4.2 percent (2009-2014).    » read more »

Next-Generation Mobile Devices, Advanced Networks, and Free and Supported Applications to Drive Growth

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, August 12, 2009 -- Smartphone penetration in the U.S. mobile markets is increasing rapidly. For some time, mobile operators have been offering a branded 'catalog' of mobile content and services that could be purchased from the handset itself. However, all that is changing for smartphones, in which newer types of targeted app stores are being introduced to enable the device owner to purchase content from outside the operator environment. The availability of a large number of inexpensive or free mobile applications that leverage the next-generation technical capabilities of the target device will help drive adoption. However, in the end, service differentiation and generating suitable return on investment from the app store business could be challenging.    » read more »

Inventory Destocking Continues with 13.9 Million Units Shed by the Channel

Egham, UK, August 12, 2009 -- Worldwide mobile phone sales totalled 286.1 million units in the second quarter of 2009, a 6.1 per cent decrease from the second quarter of 2008, according to Gartner, Inc. (NYSE: IT). Smartphone sales surpassed 40 million units, a 27 per cent increase from the same period last year, representing the fastest-growing segment of the mobile-devices market (see Table 2).

"Despite the challenging market, some devices sold well as consumers who would usually have purchased standard midrange devices either cut back to less expensive handsets or moved up the range to get more features for their money," said Carolina Milanesi, research director at Gartner. "Touchscreen and qwerty devices remained a major driver for replacement sales and benefited manufacturers with strong, touch-focused midtier devices. However, the decline in average selling price (ASP) accelerated in the first half of the year and particularly affected manufacturers that focus on midtier and low-end devices, where margins are already slim."    » read more »

Payments and Social Networking Cited as Key Drivers to Propel Market Growth

FRAMINGHAM, MA, August 11, 2009 -- A new report from IDC Financial Insights emphasizes that banks need to prepare themselves today for the imminent wave of mobile adoption to avoid being left behind by competitors. The study, "Market Analysis: Retail Mobile Banking Vendor Survey Results – Mobile Banking Will Have Its Day, Just Not Today" indicates that while current economic conditions may have curtailed both consumers' demand for mobile banking and banks' willingness to invest in it in the short term, things are still moving forward. The study presents the results of a survey of 14 U.S. mobile banking solution providers with the objective to get a better understanding of who the key players are in mobile banking, what products and features they offer, and an overall look at industry trends.    » read more »

EFF Argues Phones Ringing in Public Do Not Violate Copyright Law

New York, NY, July 2, 2009 - The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) urged a federal court Wednesday to reject bogus copyright claims in a ringtone royalty battle that could raise costs for consumers, jeopardize consumer rights, and curtail new technological innovation.    » read more »

June 30, 2009 -- BT has today announced plans to integrate the BlackBerry® Mobile Voice System (MVS) technology from Research In Motion (RIM) with BT Communications Complete (based on the Cisco Unified Communications 500 Series platform).

The planned new offering will enable BlackBerry® smartphone users to take advantage of Wi-Fi® networks in the office for voice calls. The solution enables users to switch from Wi-Fi to cellular networks, even in mid-call, allowing small to medium-sized business to reduce mobile airtime costs and be more productive.

Business users will be able to enjoy all the out-of-the-office conveniences of their BlackBerry smartphone – access to contacts, calls, applications and email anywhere – when they are in the office, but without the usually higher mobile airtime costs.

With features like a single voicemail box, the development will also eliminate the time wasted listening to and answering messages on multiple voicemails – making users easier to contact and potentially giving them quicker response times to customers and colleagues' queries.    » read more »

iPhone 3.0 Software Downloads Reach Six Million

CUPERTINO, CA, June 22, 2009 -- Apple® today announced that it has sold over one million iPhone™ 3GS models through Sunday, June 21, the third day after its launch. In addition, six million customers have downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software in the first five days since its release.

Apple iPhone 3G S

“Customers are voting and the iPhone is winning,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With over 50,000 applications available from Apple’s revolutionary App Store, iPhone momentum is stronger than ever.”    » read more »

New application is the next evolution of maps and directions on iPhone and iPod touch

Denver, CO, June 16, 2009 -- MapQuest today announced the availability of MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store. This free application represents a leap forward in how people interact with maps, directions and local search on their iPhone or iPod touch.

MapQuest 4 Mobile for iPhone and iPod touch

“We believe that iPhone and iPod touch users want the freedom to choose a robust mapping and routing application, particularly one from a brand they know and trust,” said Christian Dwyer, senior vice president and general manager of MapQuest. “The unique features of MapQuest 4 Mobile provide an integrated, easy-to-use, and customizable experience that best utilizes the revolutionary capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch.”    » read more »

Mobile Misfits Among Us: Driving While Texting, Loud Talkers Top Complaints

SANTA CLARA, CA, June 17 2009 -- 90 percent of U.S. adults are frustrated by others' etiquette or lack thereof when using mobile devices, including laptops, netbooks and smart phones in certain places according to the recent "Mobile Etiquette" survey conducted by Harris Interactive and sponsored by Intel Corporation.

Mobile Behaviors: Beyond bad mobile etiquette, this is extremely dangerous

Nine of 10 adults had a pet peeve with 72 percent of adults reporting that their top annoyance is when others text or type on their mobile devices while driving a car. As for other pet peeves, 63 percent of adults cited talking loudly on an Internet-enabled device in public as irritating, as well as discussing private matters in public (55 percent) and texting or typing on such devices while in the presence of others (54 percent).    » read more »

Yahoo! Mobile Available Across More Than 400 Devices; Company Also Increases the Reach of Yahoo! Mobile for iPhone

SINGAPORE, June 16, 2009 -- Yahoo! (NASDAQ:YHOO) today announced at CommunicAsia 2009 that the award-winning new Yahoo! Mobile experience is now available in nine additional countries and 100 more devices worldwide.

Yahoo! Mobile for iPhone

Providing an open and highly-personalized starting point to the Internet on both the mobile Web and as an Apple(R) iPhone app, Yahoo! Mobile enables consumers to discover, stay connected and stay informed through their mobile devices. Yahoo! Mobile is now available in 17 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas, including today's expansion into Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Spain and Italy.    » read more »