Telecom, Telephone, and Communications News

I had a busy day yesterday, that's why no post.

Nortel released the purchase order for my contract yesterday and wants me to start on Monday. So the contracting agency had to send me forms to fill out, I had to send them back. Then we had a dissagreement on how much money we agreed on. So the contract had to be re-written. Finally signed of.

They have booked me a flight for Sunday which seems like a good idea (I can look around a bit, find the office, etc.)

But guess what. The accomodations I found (good monthly rate) aren't available until Monday afternoon. No problem, think I, I'll just get a hotel for Sunday. Wrong! Damn near everything is booked solid! I have found one, but it is damn near $400 Euros a night. Still looking.

I probably won't be able to post again till Monday and will update you then on the news, plus how I get along tommorrow.

I just found this on the BCE website:

Bell Canada Pushes Button on its Wireless Walkie-Talkie Service and Says "10-4, Good Buddy"

Consumers and Families to Benefit from Virtually Instant Connections Across Canada, Unlimited Long-Distance Calling and Advanced Data Services

MONTREAL, March 16 -- Bell Canada today announced Bell Mobility has launched "10-4," its wireless walkie talkie-style service that delivers virtually instant communication between users with the push of a button, and without long distance charges. With 10-4, a wireless handset works as both a walkie talkie and a traditional cell phone.

Bell Mobility's 10-4 service is unique in supporting advanced data services, like messaging, gaming and mobile Internet browsing on the most feature-rich CDMA-based push to talk (PTT) handsets available in Canada. Additionally, up to five Bell Mobility 10-4 subscribers can speak with each other at one time, anywhere across the Bell Mobility IX digital network, or on the Sprint network in the U.S.

Read the full story: Bell Mobility launches 10-4

Cool application, will have to wait and see what consumer reaction is to this but no long-distance charges, wow!

Ivan Seidenberg, the chairman and CEO of Verizon, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday. You will note they are still on about National Security. God I'm getting tired of this. Read the release below.

WASHINGTON - Verizon's acquisition of MCI is "the next logical step" in a changing telecommunications industry and will enable the combined company to compete for large-business, government and critical national security customers, Ivan Seidenberg, the chairman and CEO of Verizon, told the Senate Judiciary Committee today.

"This transaction is about the future," Seidenberg said. "Verizon and MCI will be a national, full-service company with the financial strength and technology resources to deliver the broadband, multi-media world of tomorrow to customers and create economic growth for America today."

Seidenberg also noted that the proposed merger between Verizon and MCI does not eliminate a competitor as it would if Verizon had a national or global network business, for example. Indeed, Seidenberg noted, the combination of Verizon with MCI assures that a strong competitor remains in the marketplace.

Seidenberg pointed out that, with Verizon as a partner, MCI can continue to be a strong competitor to AT&T, which today is the largest provider of services to the largest business and government customers. Verizon plans to invest some $3 billion in MCI's Internet backbone, network and other systems.

In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Seidenberg said the MCI transaction combines companies with complementary assets.

"Enterprise customers will benefit because we will create a strong, stable and secure strategic partner for national and global businesses as they prepare for the broadband future," he said.

"National security will benefit because we will continue to invest in and strengthen the national and international communications systems, including those used by the departments of Defense and Homeland Security."

Seidenberg assured lawmakers that Verizon's MCI acquisition "does not alter the dynamics that are reshaping the consumer market" and won't have any impact on the current universal service program or its funding.

"Competition from wireless, cable telephony, e-mail, instant messaging and VoIP will continue to drive pricing, with or without this transaction," he said. "The consumer marketplace will continue to become less concentrated over time - with or without this transaction - as new platforms vie for the broadband household."

Seidenberg said the combination of Verizon's local assets and presence among local and regional customers with MCI's IP networks and products and its base of national and global customers will benefit a broad range of consumers.

"Consumers will benefit because MCI's IP network and products, combined with our deployment of fiber directly to homes and businesses, will be the most advanced platform in the country," he told lawmakers.

The Verizon-MCI agreement was announced February 14. An application for its approval was filed with the Federal Communications Commission last Friday. Filings have already been made in 26 states.

Source Verizon News Center

See what I mean. He put's forward good arguments on competition, and the growth of wireless and broadband/VoIP plus their own fiber to the home program. But then just can't help himself and brings up the old homeland security crap. Enough already!

15 March 2005Vodafone Group
Vodafone today announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary Vodafone International Holdings B.V. has entered into agreements with Telesystem International Wireless Inc. ("TIW") of Canada to acquire approximately:

- 79% of the share capital of MobiFon S.A. ("MobiFon") in Romania. This will increase Vodafone and its subsidiaries' ("Vodafone Group") ownership in MobiFon to approximately 99%; and,

- 100% of the share capital of Oskar Mobil a.s. ("Oskar") in the Czech Republic

for a cash consideration of approximately USD 3.5 billion (GBP 1.8 billion) to be satisfied from Vodafone Group's cash resources (the "Transaction"). In addition, Vodafone Group will be assuming approximately USD 0.9 billion (GBP 0.5 billion) of net debt.

Commenting on the acquisitions, Arun Sarin, Chief Executive of Vodafone, said:

"I am delighted that MobiFon and Oskar, both fast growing mobile operators, will become part of Vodafone, where they will benefit fully from the global services and scale benefits that our group can deliver. These acquisitions will create value for our shareholders and will be good for our customers. They are also consistent with our stated strategy of increasing investment in Central and Eastern Europe."

The Transaction will be immediately enhancing to adjusted earnings per share before acquired intangible amortisation and synergies, will have no impact on Vodafone's share purchase programme and is not expected to affect Vodafone's credit ratings.

The principal benefits to Vodafone Group are:

* Expansion of its controlled footprint into two attractive European markets

* Control of MobiFon, a leading operator in Romania

A termination fee of USD 110 million will be payable to Vodafone Group by TIW if the TIW Board withdraws or adversely modifies its recommendation of the Transaction and in certain other customary circumstances. UBS Investment Bank is acting as sole financial adviser to Vodafone Group Plc and Vodafone International Holdings B.V.

For further information:

Vodafone Group

Simon Lewis
Group Corporate Affairs Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310

Investor Relations
Charles Butterworth
Darren Jones
Sarah Moriarty
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310

Media Relations
Bobby Leach
Ben Padovan
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310

I just found this little interview on the Computer Shopper website. The Skype CEO talks about expanding into the mobile and cellular market.

Interview: Skype CEO Niklas Zennström talks telephony

Skype, a little application that lets you make high quality voice calls on the Internet for free, is growing to such an extent that it now has nearly 30 million users. It is finding its way on to an increasing number of mobile devices, and hotspot operators are recognising the exploding popularity of the application, with Broadreach Networks offering free use of Skype through its access points. But CEO Niklas Zennström says this is just the beginning.

He told us that trend is set to continue as converged WiFi and GSM products emerge. One such product, the i-Mate, will be available in the UK by the end of the month. But mobile phones themselves present a different prospect. After all, most phone users are customers of network operators, rather than manufacturers, and it's understandable that Skype's promise of free voice calls - even if you're charged for the data used - is less than thrilling for the operators. But Motorola signed a joint marketing venture for 'Skype ready' products last month.

Full Skype story

I just found this article on the Globe and Mail site about a new virus which can attack cellphones. Interesting reading for all mobile phone users especially if you use MMS.

New virus threatens cellphones

By CATHERINE MCLEAN
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 Updated at 9:24 PM EST
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

A new virus capable of attacking cellphones has emerged, data security firms said Tuesday, and they warned that such threats could become more prevalent as their creators target the growing number of high-end wireless devices.

F-Secure Corp., a Finnish software security firm, said the Commwarrior virus is the first one capable of spreading via multimedia messaging services, which contain photos, sound or video clips.

As of Tuesday, there had been no reports of actual attacks by the new virus, said U.S. software security company Symantec Corp.

Ero Carrera, an anti-virus researcher at F-Secure, said the potential for the Commwarrior virus to spread is big. In the past, viruses attacking cellphones have spread only through Bluetooth wireless connections, but the new threat is greater because it can also spread through messages.

Read the full story on viruses attacking cell phones

I guess it was just a matter of time before the hackers started attacking cell phones and wireless communications. The sad part is, these folks are usually extremely bright. If only they learned to channel there smarts and intelligence to more worth-while endeavors, they would be far happier, and wealthier. I imagine the ant-virus software companies will be happy though, cellular phone market equals lots of users equals big profits for them.

New announcement from Nortel.

Nortel Increases Operator Revenue Potential with New Converged Mobility Solution

Technology Designed to Offer Seamless Communications to Subscribers Across CDMA, WLAN Networks

NEW ORLEANS – Nortel* [NYSE/TSX: NT] announced a CDMA WLAN Converged Mobility solution designed to bridge CDMA wireless networks and wireless local area networks (WLANs) to provide a seamless communication experience to end users. This solution will allow CDMA operators to extend the reach of cellular 3G networks and deliver services more cost effectively by leveraging WLAN networks.

It will allow the operator to deliver a consistent communications experience between CDMA and WLAN networks and allow end users to roam seamlessly between these networks and enjoy feature rich Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based services beyond voice, including video calling, video conferencing, short messaging service, instant messaging, e-mail, Web access and other multimedia services – all from one device and one phone number. It will also manage subscriber billing information across networks so that end users can receive one, consolidated bill.

“Operators are looking for innovative solutions that will help squeeze the most value from their existing network investments and offer a more compelling experience to subscribers from any location,” said Richard Lowe, president, CDMA, Nortel. “Our wireless LAN capabilities coupled with our extensive experience in wireless 3G infrastructure will allow operators to increase revenue potential, build customer loyalty and, ultimately, gain competitive advantage.” Nortel’s WLAN CDMA Converged Mobility solution will be demonstrated at CTIA Wireless 2005 in New Orleans (Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Hall C, Booth #3125) March 14-16. The demonstration will use TABLET media’s iFonTM software application on the dual mode device to enable Nortel’s Multimedia Communication Server (MCS) 5200 services.

Read the full story.