Categories
Close
Menu
Menu
Close
Search
Search

Featured Articles

RSS
123

Opinion Articles

Opinion

This week at The Fonecast: 20th March 2011

Mark

Share:

Print

Rate article:

No rating
Rate this article:
No rating

Mark Bridge writes:

The last seven days have seen the UK mobile industry coming to terms with Ofcom’s plans to cut mobile termination rates from next month. Some think the reductions should have been larger and faster-acting, others say they’ll mean higher call charges for prepay customers. The reality will become more obvious from 1st April.

Also industry-wide – but voluntary – is the traffic management code for UK fixed-line and mobile broadband services. Although Everything Everywhere is a notable exception, most of the big network operators have committed to providing better information to consumers about internet traffic management. Expect explanations on web sites from this summer.

Talking of the mobile internet, Three UK has taken a bold step by making its adult filtering opt-in rather than opt-out for ‘pay monthly’ customers. It’s bound to prove popular with many consumers who – as part of signing a contract – have already proved they’re over 18.

O2’s implementation of its mobile web filtering caused well-publicised concerns a few weeks ago… but this week it’s been hitting the headlines with some good news. Following Ofcom’s new spectrum rules, it’s claiming to be the first UK network to boost capacity by reusing its 900MHz frequencies in London for 3G services.

In the world of mobile retailing, a majority share in Phones 4U has been sold to private equity firm BC Partners by owners Providence Equity Partners. The reality is likely to be ‘business as usual’ for the company’s 500 shops, although founder John Caudwell is thought to have made a little more cash from the deal.

Nothing as dramatic at The Carphone Warehouse, although it has confirmed it’ll have an exclusive launch deal on the LG Optimus 3D and is also now selling Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader.

Finally, this week saw the annual Mobile News Awards taking place in London. The event, hosted by TV presenter and comic Jason Manford, had 19 different categories - with Vodafone, 20:20 Mobile and Lebara each picking up two awards. We’ll have more details in our podcast on Wednesday.


To receive this report in your in-box every week, simply register on our web site. You'll find the 'Register' link at the top right-hand corner of the page.

Comments

Collapse Expand Comments (0)
You don't have permission to post comments.

Recent Podcasts

ExclusivePodcast - 24th August 2011

It's another big news week for the mobile industry. HP is dropping its webOS phones and tablets, Skype is buying a mobile messaging company, Symbian introduces 'Anna' and RIM has three new sociable BlackBerry devices.

ExclusivePodcast - 19th August 2011

It's becoming increasingly important for companies to keep records of mobile phone calls and text messages - and in some cases it's also a legal requirement. In this week's podcast, Ian Hook from Compliant Phones explains the challenges and reveals the answers.

ExclusivePodcast - 17th August 2011

There's big news this week as Google announces plans to buy Motorola Mobility, Apple gets Samsung's new tablet banned and HTC invests in audio technology.

ExclusivePodcast - 12th August 2011

A few years ago, VoIP – the ability to make calls over the internet - promised to change the way mobile phones were used. Tanveer Sharif, CEO and co-founder of international call service Vopium, joins us this week to talk about the subject.

ExclusivePodcast - 10th August 2011

This week's podcast covers Ofcom's survey into 'smartphone addiction' and the rest of the UK's top mobile industry headlines, from new BlackBerry devices to anti-Android hostility.

RSS
First4748495052545556Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Archive Calendar

«August 2026»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
272829303112
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31123456

Archive