IM:
Santa Cruz Networks launches Festoon Unity, which makes Skype and Google Talk interoperable. AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger will be added early 2006.
Video:
Blinkx (video search) launches blinkx.tv To Go (with podcast and RSS capabilities).
Players:
Video Without Boundaries launches the Flyboy HD portable player with 960x234 pixel LCD screen, MPEG-4 and 20 GB harddisk for video, tv, movies, podcasts, MP3, photos, voice recording. Price: $400. Demo at CES Las Vegas (Jan 5-8).
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Weekend Reading
VoIP and Net Neutrality:
TMCnet's Eric Dean argues that "SIP emerges as a ubiquitous answer addressing all concerns" in a short overview of VoIP standards.
CNet offers yet another overview of the history and upcoming events around Net Neutrality.
(Muni)wifi:
CommsDesign has two unconvincing articles on WiFi:
The pros and cons of muniwifi according to Peter Rysavy. He handily translates WiFi's shorter range, compared to cellular, into an advantage: "the same spectrum can be re-used over and over".
Ed Sutherland seems to conclude that WiFi will be complementary to WiMAX: WiFi for munis, hotspots, in-home; WiMAX for rural and suburban.
UWB:
Newsfactor runs a review of UWB v. IrDA and Bluetooth. (I suppose he doesn't discuss ZigBee and NFC because these 'standards' are for low-bandwidth and very short range communications, respectively.)
Google:
William Slawski of the SEO by the Sea blog sums up Google's acquisitions.
Magazines:
Folio Magazine reviews 2005 and predicts 2006.
TMCnet's Eric Dean argues that "SIP emerges as a ubiquitous answer addressing all concerns" in a short overview of VoIP standards.
CNet offers yet another overview of the history and upcoming events around Net Neutrality.
(Muni)wifi:
CommsDesign has two unconvincing articles on WiFi:
The pros and cons of muniwifi according to Peter Rysavy. He handily translates WiFi's shorter range, compared to cellular, into an advantage: "the same spectrum can be re-used over and over".
Ed Sutherland seems to conclude that WiFi will be complementary to WiMAX: WiFi for munis, hotspots, in-home; WiMAX for rural and suburban.
UWB:
Newsfactor runs a review of UWB v. IrDA and Bluetooth. (I suppose he doesn't discuss ZigBee and NFC because these 'standards' are for low-bandwidth and very short range communications, respectively.)
Google:
William Slawski of the SEO by the Sea blog sums up Google's acquisitions.
Magazines:
Folio Magazine reviews 2005 and predicts 2006.
T.I.M. Diary for January
Telecoms:
* BT Openreach formally starts operations (Jan 1)
* Verizon plans closing MCI acquisition (early Jan)
* Telindus finalizes decision (Jan 3) over offers from Belgacom (offer ends Jan 6) and France Telecom (deadline for raising offer Jan 4)
* Telefonica plans closing O2 acquisition (late Jan), on which EC decides (Jan 10)
* Macleod USA plans Chapter 11 exit
* Trials ‘Sprint v. Ubiquitel’ and ‘Sprint v. iPCS’ start
* KPN mass-launches its double play ‘InternetPlusBellen’
* The City of Helmond (Netherlands) decides on munifiber
* City of Palo Alto decides on RfP for munifiber
* Casema (Dutch cable company) starts 30 Mbps trial
* Santa Cruz Networks adds AIM/Yahoo!/MSN to ‘Festoon Unity’ (IM interoperability)
* Offers to be made for 3G license Lithuania and WLL license Iraq (both Jan 12), auction Iraq (Jan 30)
* IEEE meets over 802.11n and 802.15.3a (UWB) in Hawaii
* NatCom launches WiMAX trial in Auckland
* ARCEP (France) on WiMAX (Jan 6)
* ARCEP (France) publishes public consultation on cellular international roaming
* US Congress discusses DeMint’s DACA bill
* O’Reilly hosts ‘Emerging Telephony’ (Jan 24-26)
* CES Las Vegas (Jan 5-8)
* MacWorld Expo (Jan 9-13)
* Citigroup Entertainment/Media/Telecom Conference (Jan 9)
* Earnings releases: Cingular (Jan 24), BellSouth (Jan 25), Verizon (Jan 26), AT&T (Jan 26)
Internet:
* The Yahoo!/Seven joint venture launches new name, possibly at the Australian Open (starts Jan 12)
* Earnings releases: Yahoo! (Jan 17), eBay (Jan 18)
Media:
* Viacom splits (Jan 1), official trading starts (Jan 3)
* Lazard completes its review of Time Warner for Carl Icahn (mid Jan)
* CNN and Time Inc. relaunch their business web sites
* Howard Stern starts at Sirius Satellite Radio (Jan 1)
* VNU, Arbitron: second meeting on ‘Project Apollo’ (Jan 11)
* Wegener: trading update (Jan 2)
* Producers Guild of America: nominees (Jan 4), awards (Jan 22)
* Directors Guild of America: nominees (Jan 5), awards (Jan 28)
* Screen Actors Guild of America: awards (Jan 5)
* Hollywood Foreign Press Association: ‘Golden Globe’ awards (Jan 16)
* Sundance Film Festival (Jan 19-29)
* International Film Festival Rotterdam (Jan 25 – Feb 5)
* Movie release: ‘Bubble’ (Magnolia/2929 Entertainment) (Jan 27)
* OMMA: ‘Agency of the Year’ award (Jan 12)
* Earnings releases: NY Times (Jan 24), Arbitron (Jan 24), Vivendi Universal (Jan 30)
* BT Openreach formally starts operations (Jan 1)
* Verizon plans closing MCI acquisition (early Jan)
* Telindus finalizes decision (Jan 3) over offers from Belgacom (offer ends Jan 6) and France Telecom (deadline for raising offer Jan 4)
* Telefonica plans closing O2 acquisition (late Jan), on which EC decides (Jan 10)
* Macleod USA plans Chapter 11 exit
* Trials ‘Sprint v. Ubiquitel’ and ‘Sprint v. iPCS’ start
* KPN mass-launches its double play ‘InternetPlusBellen’
* The City of Helmond (Netherlands) decides on munifiber
* City of Palo Alto decides on RfP for munifiber
* Casema (Dutch cable company) starts 30 Mbps trial
* Santa Cruz Networks adds AIM/Yahoo!/MSN to ‘Festoon Unity’ (IM interoperability)
* Offers to be made for 3G license Lithuania and WLL license Iraq (both Jan 12), auction Iraq (Jan 30)
* IEEE meets over 802.11n and 802.15.3a (UWB) in Hawaii
* NatCom launches WiMAX trial in Auckland
* ARCEP (France) on WiMAX (Jan 6)
* ARCEP (France) publishes public consultation on cellular international roaming
* US Congress discusses DeMint’s DACA bill
* O’Reilly hosts ‘Emerging Telephony’ (Jan 24-26)
* CES Las Vegas (Jan 5-8)
* MacWorld Expo (Jan 9-13)
* Citigroup Entertainment/Media/Telecom Conference (Jan 9)
* Earnings releases: Cingular (Jan 24), BellSouth (Jan 25), Verizon (Jan 26), AT&T (Jan 26)
Internet:
* The Yahoo!/Seven joint venture launches new name, possibly at the Australian Open (starts Jan 12)
* Earnings releases: Yahoo! (Jan 17), eBay (Jan 18)
Media:
* Viacom splits (Jan 1), official trading starts (Jan 3)
* Lazard completes its review of Time Warner for Carl Icahn (mid Jan)
* CNN and Time Inc. relaunch their business web sites
* Howard Stern starts at Sirius Satellite Radio (Jan 1)
* VNU, Arbitron: second meeting on ‘Project Apollo’ (Jan 11)
* Wegener: trading update (Jan 2)
* Producers Guild of America: nominees (Jan 4), awards (Jan 22)
* Directors Guild of America: nominees (Jan 5), awards (Jan 28)
* Screen Actors Guild of America: awards (Jan 5)
* Hollywood Foreign Press Association: ‘Golden Globe’ awards (Jan 16)
* Sundance Film Festival (Jan 19-29)
* International Film Festival Rotterdam (Jan 25 – Feb 5)
* Movie release: ‘Bubble’ (Magnolia/2929 Entertainment) (Jan 27)
* OMMA: ‘Agency of the Year’ award (Jan 12)
* Earnings releases: NY Times (Jan 24), Arbitron (Jan 24), Vivendi Universal (Jan 30)
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Wednesday Telecoms Digest
FIXED:
* DSL: AOL Germany launches (’16 Mbps’) in 5 cities (20 at end 2005), 40 EUR/mo
* DOCSIS: Coaxsys/STM plan 200 Mbps home-networking demo at CES Las Vegas (Jan 5-8)
WIRELESS – CELLULAR:
* 3G: Egypt plans third license early 2006; Nawras (Oman) plans launch 06Q1
* MTA: Orange cuts tariff up to 28% as of Jan 2
* TV:
- DoCoMo buys 10% of Fuji Television, $176m, launch Apr 1, 2006
- KDDI and Qualcomm plan Media Flow Japan network (on MediaFLO technology) in 80/20 joint venture, buy spectrum 2006, launch 2007
- 4 interested in Finnish DVB-H license (TeliaSonera, Elisa, Telemast Nordic, Digita), deadline and beauty contest Jan 31, 2006
- Mediaset buys Europa TV’s (= Holland Italia= TF1 29%, Tarak Ben Ammar 71%) DVB-H license, plans launch 06H2 with TIM and 3 Italy
* LBS:
- Skyhook (WiFi positioning, with GPS and IP locations) gets $6.5m funding from Bain Capital, Intel, Nokia and CommonAngels (total $8.3m)
- Navizon (software-based; GPS, with automatically generated WiFi and cell tower information; for non-GPS users) launches
- Galileo (EUR 3.4 bn, 30 satellites of which 3 spares, operational 2010): demonstrator (‘Giove-A’) launched for testing
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiFi: Vivato (antenna supplier to muninetworks) closes; Ruckus demos TV-o-WiFi (802.11g; DTV, IPTV, HDTV) at CES Las Vegas (January 2006); Renfe launches on trains in Spain (backbone: Hispasat); Deutsche Telekom trials with Deutsche Bahn on ICE train mid 2006 (backbone: UMTS)
* ZigBee: Texas Instruments buys Chipcon (chips; rev 2004 $29.4m), $200m
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiMAX: First product certification of 802.16-2004 expected mid-Jan 2006 (air protocol interoperability); Alcatel expected to launch 802.16-2005 products 06H2 in beta, commercial late 2006; Airnet launches in New-Zealand; Barak plans launch in Israel with Alvarion, Golden Lines too; Alvarion gest order from Latam, $7m
* FCC wants part of analogue TV spectrum for nationwide public-safety network
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP:
- CompuServe launches in the Netherlands (double play: 2 Mbps for 15 EUR/mo, 5 Mbps voor 30 EUR/mo; 8 Mbps voor 35 EUR/mo; basic plan 5 EUR/mo, PC-to-PSTN national free, excludes line-rental; total plan 15 EUR/mo + EUR 30 one-time fee with LNP includes line rental); Jordan Telecom launches (double play)
- Santa Cruz Networks releases ‘Festoon Unity’ for Skype/Google Talk interoperability, will add AIM/Yahoo! Messenger/MSN Messenger in Jan 2006
- Microsoft and Softbank cooperate for business VoIP
- I-VoIP.co.uk launches comparison service
- Google sued by Rates Technology over Google Talk
- Brightpoint builds web store for Skype
* wVoIP: Calypso (handsets) acquires Sleipner (software for handover)
* IPTV: trial Shanghai Telecom with Siemens succesful, roll-out 2006; BayanTel plans launch in Filippines
* NGN: BT signs contracts with 4 preferred suppliers (Ciena, Huawei, Lucent, Siemens); Telekom Indonesia elects Telecom Italia Sparkle (06H1)
MUNIBROADBAND:
* FTTH: City of Amsterdam Council unanimously approves Phase 1 (40k homes); Louisiana supports Layayette in suit against BellSouth
* WiFi: Vivato (antenna supplier) closes; San Francisco issues RfP; New Orleans plans free service; launch in Abuja (Nigeria)
* DSL: AOL Germany launches (’16 Mbps’) in 5 cities (20 at end 2005), 40 EUR/mo
* DOCSIS: Coaxsys/STM plan 200 Mbps home-networking demo at CES Las Vegas (Jan 5-8)
WIRELESS – CELLULAR:
* 3G: Egypt plans third license early 2006; Nawras (Oman) plans launch 06Q1
* MTA: Orange cuts tariff up to 28% as of Jan 2
* TV:
- DoCoMo buys 10% of Fuji Television, $176m, launch Apr 1, 2006
- KDDI and Qualcomm plan Media Flow Japan network (on MediaFLO technology) in 80/20 joint venture, buy spectrum 2006, launch 2007
- 4 interested in Finnish DVB-H license (TeliaSonera, Elisa, Telemast Nordic, Digita), deadline and beauty contest Jan 31, 2006
- Mediaset buys Europa TV’s (= Holland Italia= TF1 29%, Tarak Ben Ammar 71%) DVB-H license, plans launch 06H2 with TIM and 3 Italy
* LBS:
- Skyhook (WiFi positioning, with GPS and IP locations) gets $6.5m funding from Bain Capital, Intel, Nokia and CommonAngels (total $8.3m)
- Navizon (software-based; GPS, with automatically generated WiFi and cell tower information; for non-GPS users) launches
- Galileo (EUR 3.4 bn, 30 satellites of which 3 spares, operational 2010): demonstrator (‘Giove-A’) launched for testing
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiFi: Vivato (antenna supplier to muninetworks) closes; Ruckus demos TV-o-WiFi (802.11g; DTV, IPTV, HDTV) at CES Las Vegas (January 2006); Renfe launches on trains in Spain (backbone: Hispasat); Deutsche Telekom trials with Deutsche Bahn on ICE train mid 2006 (backbone: UMTS)
* ZigBee: Texas Instruments buys Chipcon (chips; rev 2004 $29.4m), $200m
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiMAX: First product certification of 802.16-2004 expected mid-Jan 2006 (air protocol interoperability); Alcatel expected to launch 802.16-2005 products 06H2 in beta, commercial late 2006; Airnet launches in New-Zealand; Barak plans launch in Israel with Alvarion, Golden Lines too; Alvarion gest order from Latam, $7m
* FCC wants part of analogue TV spectrum for nationwide public-safety network
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP:
- CompuServe launches in the Netherlands (double play: 2 Mbps for 15 EUR/mo, 5 Mbps voor 30 EUR/mo; 8 Mbps voor 35 EUR/mo; basic plan 5 EUR/mo, PC-to-PSTN national free, excludes line-rental; total plan 15 EUR/mo + EUR 30 one-time fee with LNP includes line rental); Jordan Telecom launches (double play)
- Santa Cruz Networks releases ‘Festoon Unity’ for Skype/Google Talk interoperability, will add AIM/Yahoo! Messenger/MSN Messenger in Jan 2006
- Microsoft and Softbank cooperate for business VoIP
- I-VoIP.co.uk launches comparison service
- Google sued by Rates Technology over Google Talk
- Brightpoint builds web store for Skype
* wVoIP: Calypso (handsets) acquires Sleipner (software for handover)
* IPTV: trial Shanghai Telecom with Siemens succesful, roll-out 2006; BayanTel plans launch in Filippines
* NGN: BT signs contracts with 4 preferred suppliers (Ciena, Huawei, Lucent, Siemens); Telekom Indonesia elects Telecom Italia Sparkle (06H1)
MUNIBROADBAND:
* FTTH: City of Amsterdam Council unanimously approves Phase 1 (40k homes); Louisiana supports Layayette in suit against BellSouth
* WiFi: Vivato (antenna supplier) closes; San Francisco issues RfP; New Orleans plans free service; launch in Abuja (Nigeria)
Wednesday Internet Digest
UNIQUE VISITORS:
* November: Yahoo! 104m, MSN 91m, Google 85m, AOL 74m (NetRatings)
* Interactive Advertising Bureau’s (IAB) 2-year ‘Nomenclature Project’ is halfway
SEARCH:
* Market shares US November: Google 42% (12 minutes), Google Image 5%, Yahoo! 17% (11 min), MSN 14% (7 min), Ask 2%; volume based: Google 62%, Yahoo! 26%, MSN 5% (HitWise)
* Engines: Wink launches (beta; searches the ‘tagosphere’ at slashdot, digg, myweb 2.0 and del.icio.us)
* Video: blinkx launches blinkx.tv To Go (search with upload and feed features)
* Desktop: Mamma.com (metasearch, sponsored) buys Copernic (desktop search; 2004: rev $5.9m, EBITDA $1.8m), $15.9m + 2.38m shares (total value $21.1m)
* Pay-per-call: ADS-click uses Google Talk for PPC-solution (‘SKY-click’), using Google’s Libjingle API
ADS:
* Global market: expected CAGR 2006-10 25%, up from low 20s; from $13.2 bn in 2005 (4.7% of total ads market) to $35.9 bn (11.1%) in 2010 (JPMorgan)
CONTENT:
* Web 2.0: Wink launches (searches tagged pages); Reuters opens video content to bloggers
OFFICE:
* Writely (= Upstartle) supports OpenDocument Format (ODF; interoperability with MS Word, Sun OpenOffice)
COMMERCE:
* Holiday sales US: $17.48 bn, +24% (Nov 1-Dec 21) (comScore); $25 bn in week as of Dec 16 (NetRatings survey)
* November: Yahoo! 104m, MSN 91m, Google 85m, AOL 74m (NetRatings)
* Interactive Advertising Bureau’s (IAB) 2-year ‘Nomenclature Project’ is halfway
SEARCH:
* Market shares US November: Google 42% (12 minutes), Google Image 5%, Yahoo! 17% (11 min), MSN 14% (7 min), Ask 2%; volume based: Google 62%, Yahoo! 26%, MSN 5% (HitWise)
* Engines: Wink launches (beta; searches the ‘tagosphere’ at slashdot, digg, myweb 2.0 and del.icio.us)
* Video: blinkx launches blinkx.tv To Go (search with upload and feed features)
* Desktop: Mamma.com (metasearch, sponsored) buys Copernic (desktop search; 2004: rev $5.9m, EBITDA $1.8m), $15.9m + 2.38m shares (total value $21.1m)
* Pay-per-call: ADS-click uses Google Talk for PPC-solution (‘SKY-click’), using Google’s Libjingle API
ADS:
* Global market: expected CAGR 2006-10 25%, up from low 20s; from $13.2 bn in 2005 (4.7% of total ads market) to $35.9 bn (11.1%) in 2010 (JPMorgan)
CONTENT:
* Web 2.0: Wink launches (searches tagged pages); Reuters opens video content to bloggers
OFFICE:
* Writely (= Upstartle) supports OpenDocument Format (ODF; interoperability with MS Word, Sun OpenOffice)
COMMERCE:
* Holiday sales US: $17.48 bn, +24% (Nov 1-Dec 21) (comScore); $25 bn in week as of Dec 16 (NetRatings survey)
Wednesday Media Digest
DISTRIBUTION:
* Download: Lovefilm (online rental, 120k subs) intros download service in UK (3 GBP/movie; 500 movies from Warner); Spitzer subpoenas Warner Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music for price fixing
* P2P: France parliament legalises (if private and non-commercial), uploading is illegal
* Place-shifting:
- Slingbox production cost $84 (iSuppli)
- Akimbo pre-announces 06Q1 deal with ‘major US telco’
- Orb launches V4S (voice messaging)
- Video Without Boundaries launches portable ‘Flyboy HD’ (LCD, 20GB harddisk, MPEG-4; plays uploads through USB of video, tv, podcasts, MP3, photos)
MSO:
* CableCard: Thomson licenses CableLabs technology for 2-way card
* Download: Lovefilm (online rental, 120k subs) intros download service in UK (3 GBP/movie; 500 movies from Warner); Spitzer subpoenas Warner Music, Sony BMG, Universal Music for price fixing
* P2P: France parliament legalises (if private and non-commercial), uploading is illegal
* Place-shifting:
- Slingbox production cost $84 (iSuppli)
- Akimbo pre-announces 06Q1 deal with ‘major US telco’
- Orb launches V4S (voice messaging)
- Video Without Boundaries launches portable ‘Flyboy HD’ (LCD, 20GB harddisk, MPEG-4; plays uploads through USB of video, tv, podcasts, MP3, photos)
MSO:
* CableCard: Thomson licenses CableLabs technology for 2-way card
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Akimbo is gearing up
Akimbo Systems is gearing up for the next stage and is moving towards Orb Networks. Smart moves:
It will demo at the 2006 CES in Las Vegas with a DSB operator. Also, it expects to announce a 'major US telco' partnership in 06Q1. Better still, it is moving away from the hotly contested STB space as a hardware provider, and instead work with a 'large consumer electronics company' to produce Akimbo-enabled devices.
Earlier announcements mainly dealt with content providers, blinkx (for inclusion of Akimbo-content in blinkx' index) and 'Queue-and-view', the software product ready for inclusion in STBs.
It will demo at the 2006 CES in Las Vegas with a DSB operator. Also, it expects to announce a 'major US telco' partnership in 06Q1. Better still, it is moving away from the hotly contested STB space as a hardware provider, and instead work with a 'large consumer electronics company' to produce Akimbo-enabled devices.
Earlier announcements mainly dealt with content providers, blinkx (for inclusion of Akimbo-content in blinkx' index) and 'Queue-and-view', the software product ready for inclusion in STBs.
Friday, December 23, 2005
Weekend Reading
Viacom:
The Hollywood Reporter has two articles on Viacom: the New Viacom and the News CBS. Look out for a social networking buy by Viacom (which has little debt). CBS is exploring growth from on-demand on several platforms, while trying to maintain its CBS network and sell-off Simon & Schuster and the theme parks. Strikingly, cable networks are at Viacom, but CBS bought one recently (CSTV).
Net neutrality:
Another short overview on BusinessWeek Online and Dean 'let me use my pipes the way I want' Bubley's opinion.
TV:
Phillip Swann's predictions for 2006, centering around HDTV, VoD and Yahoo! buy of TiVo.
The Hollywood Reporter has two articles on Viacom: the New Viacom and the News CBS. Look out for a social networking buy by Viacom (which has little debt). CBS is exploring growth from on-demand on several platforms, while trying to maintain its CBS network and sell-off Simon & Schuster and the theme parks. Strikingly, cable networks are at Viacom, but CBS bought one recently (CSTV).
Net neutrality:
Another short overview on BusinessWeek Online and Dean 'let me use my pipes the way I want' Bubley's opinion.
TV:
Phillip Swann's predictions for 2006, centering around HDTV, VoD and Yahoo! buy of TiVo.
Cool New Products
Home Networking:
Two products up for demonstration at the Las Vegas CES (Jan 5-8): Coaxsys' TVnet 2X for 200 Mbps speeds and Ruckus Wireless' MF2900 WiFi router for 'managed WiFi' (with QoS), ready for voice, DTV, IPTV, HDTV.
LBS:
Navizon needs just one GPS-user to map a city, using both WiFi and cellular AP's. All other users don't need GPS.
(Skyhook, which uses WiFi AP's and GPS and IP addresses on the side, just attracted some more funding from Intel, Bain, Nokia and CommonAngels.)
The Free Ride Data Acquisition Vehicle is a 'war bike' with GPS and WiFi for mapping ('war chalking').
Search:
Wink launches in beta. This search engine doesn't rank on the basis of the number of links (as Google does), but on the basis of the number of tags (it searches the 'tagosphere'). At the bottom though, it also provides Google results. Wink has included Slashdot, Digg, MyWeb 2.0 (Yahoo!) and del.icio.us (Yahoo!).
Two products up for demonstration at the Las Vegas CES (Jan 5-8): Coaxsys' TVnet 2X for 200 Mbps speeds and Ruckus Wireless' MF2900 WiFi router for 'managed WiFi' (with QoS), ready for voice, DTV, IPTV, HDTV.
LBS:
Navizon needs just one GPS-user to map a city, using both WiFi and cellular AP's. All other users don't need GPS.
(Skyhook, which uses WiFi AP's and GPS and IP addresses on the side, just attracted some more funding from Intel, Bain, Nokia and CommonAngels.)
The Free Ride Data Acquisition Vehicle is a 'war bike' with GPS and WiFi for mapping ('war chalking').
Search:
Wink launches in beta. This search engine doesn't rank on the basis of the number of links (as Google does), but on the basis of the number of tags (it searches the 'tagosphere'). At the bottom though, it also provides Google results. Wink has included Slashdot, Digg, MyWeb 2.0 (Yahoo!) and del.icio.us (Yahoo!).
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Telecoms and Media down, the rest up
This year has so far been pretty good to investors. Taking the MSCI World Index apart, only one out of ten sectors is in negative territory YTD: Telecoms (-5.11%). At the industry group level, there are two out of 24: Telecoms and Media (-5.25%).
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Wednesday Telecoms Digest
FIXED:
* Venezuela plans rural licenses
WIRELESS - CELLULAR:
* Operators: BeST launches in Belarus as #4
* Licenses: Sonofon (= Telenor) acquires #4 Danish 3G license, DKK 533m
* MVNO: Amp’d Mobile soft launches on VZW (with P2T for 1 $/day); Cablecom plans in Switzerland on sunrise (= TDC)
* 2.5G: Movistar launches EV-DO in Venezuela, Ukraine plans trial 06Q1
* 3G: Filippines plan licenses Dec 2007, operational 2008; Airtel launches in Seychelles; DNA launches in Finland
* MNP: Brazil intros in 2007
* MTA: ARCEP (France) calls for public consultation
* Data: TEM intros flat-rate data plans, capped (30 MB for 15 EUR/mo, 1 GB for 30 EUR/mo, 5 GB for 58 EUR/mo)
* Push email: Visto licenses NTP and sues Microsoft
* P2T: Vodacom launches in SA and Amp’d Mobile in US
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiMAX: Telmex and VTR plan launch in Chile in 2006; Digicel plans for Caymans, Barbados, Jamaica; Clearwire (NetyNet) expands into central Oregon; IDT Spectrum postpones IPO; Omnivision (CATV) plans in Venezuela with Samsung, 06Q3 (802.16e = WiBro); Telsima attracts $20m funding from NewPath, New Enterprise Associates, CMEA, JAFCO
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE BROADBAND:
* UWB: Alereon, Staccato Comms, Wisair reach interoperability
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP: funding $250m (convertible) for Vonage (total $658m); Orb expands V4S plug-in with VoIP to email or Skype; TelTel launches PC-to-PSTN calling, 2 c/min; Martin (FCC) favors taxing based on phone number or IP address
* wVoIP: Vonage launches UTStarcom’s F1000 handset for VoWiFi (802.11b only); Saab Grintek and Verso trial VoWiMAX
* IPTV: Pakistan Telecom plans
* Gateway: Microsoft considers counterbid for Scientific-Atlanta (NY Post)
* NGN, IP, IMS: Verizon trials Nortel’s IMS
MUNIBROADBAND:
* FTTH: plan Guadelupe Valley Telecom Coop in Boerne; Palo Alto ends trial, wants to outsource to private co
* WiFi: plan Rome (US)
REGULATION:
* Jim DeMint launches Digital Age Comms Act (DACA; level playing field, phase-out video franchises in 4 years, USF reform) in Congress
* Venezuela plans rural licenses
WIRELESS - CELLULAR:
* Operators: BeST launches in Belarus as #4
* Licenses: Sonofon (= Telenor) acquires #4 Danish 3G license, DKK 533m
* MVNO: Amp’d Mobile soft launches on VZW (with P2T for 1 $/day); Cablecom plans in Switzerland on sunrise (= TDC)
* 2.5G: Movistar launches EV-DO in Venezuela, Ukraine plans trial 06Q1
* 3G: Filippines plan licenses Dec 2007, operational 2008; Airtel launches in Seychelles; DNA launches in Finland
* MNP: Brazil intros in 2007
* MTA: ARCEP (France) calls for public consultation
* Data: TEM intros flat-rate data plans, capped (30 MB for 15 EUR/mo, 1 GB for 30 EUR/mo, 5 GB for 58 EUR/mo)
* Push email: Visto licenses NTP and sues Microsoft
* P2T: Vodacom launches in SA and Amp’d Mobile in US
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiMAX: Telmex and VTR plan launch in Chile in 2006; Digicel plans for Caymans, Barbados, Jamaica; Clearwire (NetyNet) expands into central Oregon; IDT Spectrum postpones IPO; Omnivision (CATV) plans in Venezuela with Samsung, 06Q3 (802.16e = WiBro); Telsima attracts $20m funding from NewPath, New Enterprise Associates, CMEA, JAFCO
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE BROADBAND:
* UWB: Alereon, Staccato Comms, Wisair reach interoperability
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP: funding $250m (convertible) for Vonage (total $658m); Orb expands V4S plug-in with VoIP to email or Skype; TelTel launches PC-to-PSTN calling, 2 c/min; Martin (FCC) favors taxing based on phone number or IP address
* wVoIP: Vonage launches UTStarcom’s F1000 handset for VoWiFi (802.11b only); Saab Grintek and Verso trial VoWiMAX
* IPTV: Pakistan Telecom plans
* Gateway: Microsoft considers counterbid for Scientific-Atlanta (NY Post)
* NGN, IP, IMS: Verizon trials Nortel’s IMS
MUNIBROADBAND:
* FTTH: plan Guadelupe Valley Telecom Coop in Boerne; Palo Alto ends trial, wants to outsource to private co
* WiFi: plan Rome (US)
REGULATION:
* Jim DeMint launches Digital Age Comms Act (DACA; level playing field, phase-out video franchises in 4 years, USF reform) in Congress
Wednesday Internet Digest
ADS:
* Online display ads US: 115.2 bn in November (-7% mom) (NetRatings AdRelevance)
SEARCH:
* Technology: Univ of California establishes Reliable, Adaptive and Distributed Systems Lab, funded by Google, Microsoft, Sun ($7.5m); Yahoo! establishes Research Center in NYC
* Vertical: Google ads music listings
* Market shares US: 5.1 bn queries in October (images 328m), Google 48%, Yahoo! 21.8%, MSN 11.3%, AOL 7.2%, Ask 2.6% (NetRatings)
* Click fraud: Think (formerly CGI) acquires Litmus Media (detection system)
COMMERCE:
* Holidays US online: peak day Dec 12, $556m (comScore); sales Nov 1 – Dec 16 $15 bn (+23% yoy; comScore)
* Comparison shopping: Experian (= GUS) acquires PriceGrabber.com, $485m
CONTENT:
* HowStuffWorks attracts funding from Carl Icahn (‘tens of millions’)
WEB 2.o:
* User-gen content: Wikipedia quality rivals Encyclopedia Britannica (Nature survey), plans 2 versions (stable reveiwed version and live version), plans registration for contributors, starts fundraising
* Podcasts: Washington Post enters (ad-supported)
COMMUNICATION:
* Meebo (web-based IM, with AJAX) attracts $3.5m funding from Sequoia
OS, BROWSERS, OFFICE:
* Word processing: Writely.com (= Upstartle) adds PDF conversion (first premium service)
CORPORATE:
* IPO: Buy.com plans 18.9m shares at $11-13
* Online display ads US: 115.2 bn in November (-7% mom) (NetRatings AdRelevance)
SEARCH:
* Technology: Univ of California establishes Reliable, Adaptive and Distributed Systems Lab, funded by Google, Microsoft, Sun ($7.5m); Yahoo! establishes Research Center in NYC
* Vertical: Google ads music listings
* Market shares US: 5.1 bn queries in October (images 328m), Google 48%, Yahoo! 21.8%, MSN 11.3%, AOL 7.2%, Ask 2.6% (NetRatings)
* Click fraud: Think (formerly CGI) acquires Litmus Media (detection system)
COMMERCE:
* Holidays US online: peak day Dec 12, $556m (comScore); sales Nov 1 – Dec 16 $15 bn (+23% yoy; comScore)
* Comparison shopping: Experian (= GUS) acquires PriceGrabber.com, $485m
CONTENT:
* HowStuffWorks attracts funding from Carl Icahn (‘tens of millions’)
WEB 2.o:
* User-gen content: Wikipedia quality rivals Encyclopedia Britannica (Nature survey), plans 2 versions (stable reveiwed version and live version), plans registration for contributors, starts fundraising
* Podcasts: Washington Post enters (ad-supported)
COMMUNICATION:
* Meebo (web-based IM, with AJAX) attracts $3.5m funding from Sequoia
OS, BROWSERS, OFFICE:
* Word processing: Writely.com (= Upstartle) adds PDF conversion (first premium service)
CORPORATE:
* IPO: Buy.com plans 18.9m shares at $11-13
Wednesday Media Digest
STM:
* open access: deal Wellcome Trust with Blackwell, Springer, Oxford Univ Press (funded published research must be posted online immediately)
MUSIC:
* Gartner: sharing and recommendations drive purchases
* Microsoft integrates MTV’s ‘DNA’ in new Media Player to form ‘Urge’ (2m tracks), 2006
DISTRIBUTION:
* Illegal P2P US: fell in October to 5.7m households from 6.4m in June (NPD Group)
TV:
* Digital transition US: House passes bill (Feb 17, 2009; $1.5 bn in subsidies for converters)
* PVR: ReplayTV (= D&M Holdings) transforms into software provider, deal with Hauppauge for WinTV-PVR card (tune in and record tv)
* HDTV: Charter, JVC, Mitsubishi Digital, NBC Universal, Samsung and Sun establish HANA (High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance) with ARM, Freescale, Pulse-Link (view, pause, record 5+ channels simultaneously; 1 STB and 1 remote for the home; share content through the home, add devices with 1 cable; HDTVs, DVD players, PVRs, STBs, home theaters)
* Place-shifting: Brightcove orders Flash Video 8 encoding from On2 Technologies
VIDEO:
* DVD: HP supports HD-DVD (as well as Blu-ray)
* open access: deal Wellcome Trust with Blackwell, Springer, Oxford Univ Press (funded published research must be posted online immediately)
MUSIC:
* Gartner: sharing and recommendations drive purchases
* Microsoft integrates MTV’s ‘DNA’ in new Media Player to form ‘Urge’ (2m tracks), 2006
DISTRIBUTION:
* Illegal P2P US: fell in October to 5.7m households from 6.4m in June (NPD Group)
TV:
* Digital transition US: House passes bill (Feb 17, 2009; $1.5 bn in subsidies for converters)
* PVR: ReplayTV (= D&M Holdings) transforms into software provider, deal with Hauppauge for WinTV-PVR card (tune in and record tv)
* HDTV: Charter, JVC, Mitsubishi Digital, NBC Universal, Samsung and Sun establish HANA (High-Definition Audio-Video Network Alliance) with ARM, Freescale, Pulse-Link (view, pause, record 5+ channels simultaneously; 1 STB and 1 remote for the home; share content through the home, add devices with 1 cable; HDTVs, DVD players, PVRs, STBs, home theaters)
* Place-shifting: Brightcove orders Flash Video 8 encoding from On2 Technologies
VIDEO:
* DVD: HP supports HD-DVD (as well as Blu-ray)
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Icahn lost it
Carl Icahn's letter to the Time Warner board is not terribly convincing and could even undermine his actions. (I would support a break-up.)
I believe Google went out of its way to extend and expand the existing deal. AOL is getting the largest slice and Google is changing some fundamental things.
Valuing AOL at $20 bn is pretty much in line with market valuations. Besides, Google could get out at a future IPO. But yes, if you have a deal with one, you can´t have a deal with another. Further, assuming that AOL will not go the MSN way (pursuing Google and Yahoo! in building search technology and an advertiser network), this deal works fine for AOL.
I wonder what banking relations Goldman Sachs has.
MSN is the clear loser. Will Comcast step in, in order to present a smart way of luring the dial/up subscriber base into churning to Comcast broadband (or a rival cable operator´s HSD service)?
... a Google joint venture may be short sighted in nature and may preclude
any consideration of a broader set of alternatives ...
I believe Google went out of its way to extend and expand the existing deal. AOL is getting the largest slice and Google is changing some fundamental things.
... we believe that eBay, followed by InterActive Corp would provide
greater incremental benefits to AOL´s option value ... (quoting Goldman Sachs research)
Valuing AOL at $20 bn is pretty much in line with market valuations. Besides, Google could get out at a future IPO. But yes, if you have a deal with one, you can´t have a deal with another. Further, assuming that AOL will not go the MSN way (pursuing Google and Yahoo! in building search technology and an advertiser network), this deal works fine for AOL.
I wonder what banking relations Goldman Sachs has.
MSN is the clear loser. Will Comcast step in, in order to present a smart way of luring the dial/up subscriber base into churning to Comcast broadband (or a rival cable operator´s HSD service)?
Mobile market: growth in Portugal
Judging from the growth of the Portuguese cellular market (# calls + 11%, # minutes +10% which means increases versus 05Q2), usage growth not only is still high, but there seems to be room for more. The numbers work down to just 1.8 minutes per call on average. In 05Q2, the average fixed call lasted 2.7 minutes.
Vodafone could probably have even more impact with its 60 minutes for the price of 1, 2 or 3 to stimulate substitution.
Vodafone could probably have even more impact with its 60 minutes for the price of 1, 2 or 3 to stimulate substitution.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Thursday's Cool New Products
Vonage launches UTStarcom's F1000 phone for wVoIP at hotspots (802.11b only) at $80 (after rebate).
Netgear launches a mobile broadband router, with WiFi and ethernet access, for IPWireless' UMTS TD-CDMA network, to create hotspots.
Writely introduces a first premium service: converting documents to PDF-format.
Netgear launches a mobile broadband router, with WiFi and ethernet access, for IPWireless' UMTS TD-CDMA network, to create hotspots.
Writely introduces a first premium service: converting documents to PDF-format.
Short update on WiFi
According to ABI Research, the three proposals for 802.11n could be harmonized. That could lead to chipsets late 2006.
Earlier, Unstrung reported IEEE voting set for January 2006.
802.11n will push data rates to 108 Mbps, which is enough for TV and video. Airgo boasts speeds up to 240 Mbps, which means surpassing ethernet (and the "death of HomePlug"). Airgo President Raleigh: "Up until now consumers have always asked the question, 'Why should I go wireless?' The question now is, 'Why should I go wired?'" Netgear shortly after this launched RangeMax 240, using Airgo's 3G MIMO.
Earlier, Unstrung reported IEEE voting set for January 2006.
802.11n will push data rates to 108 Mbps, which is enough for TV and video. Airgo boasts speeds up to 240 Mbps, which means surpassing ethernet (and the "death of HomePlug"). Airgo President Raleigh: "Up until now consumers have always asked the question, 'Why should I go wireless?' The question now is, 'Why should I go wired?'" Netgear shortly after this launched RangeMax 240, using Airgo's 3G MIMO.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Wednesday Telecoms Digest
FIXED:
* Licenses: Emirates Integrated Telecom Co (#2 in UAE; UAE 50%, Abu Dhabi Mubadala Development Co 25%, Emirates Co for Telecomms and Technology 25%) launches mid 2006, plans IPO
* DSL: M’’Net launches ADSL2+ (’16 Mbps’ for 41 EUR/mo or usage-based rates) in Munich; Telefonica plans VDSL from 2006 for Imagenio; AT&T intros 6 Mbps for 65 $/mo (first 3 months 50 $/mo); Telefonica expands European budget
* LLU: South Africa delays until after 2007
* FTTH: Magent Networks (Ireland) orders from Telcordia; TDS Metrocom launches in Fitchburg (Wisconsin), 1 Mbps for 20 $/mo, 4 Mbps for 30 $/mo, 10 Mbps for 45 $/mo, VoIP for 44/mo
* BPL: order from Bristol Hotel to PLC Network Solutions (= Trimax)
WIRELESS – CELLULAR:
* IPO: Austria wants IPO for Mobilkom (= Telekom Austria (state 30%))
* MVNO: Virgin SA plans launch mid 2006 on Cell C; Tesco plans Irish launch with O2, 50/50
* Budget, SIM-only: Plus enters prepaid market Germany (with Debitel), 16 c/min, Lidl plans undercutting Aldi in Germany, 12-13 c/min (Heise)
* Outsourcing: BASE (KPN) hires Atos Origin for IT services, 5 yr
* Data: Base Germany plans flat-fee unlimited internet access with datacard, 25 EUR/mo from Jan 2006; Polkomtel intros datacard for EDGE/3G/HSDPA
* Push email: Turkcell launches with Visto
* Music: Amp’s Mobile will launch with 99c downloads
* TV: Vodacom (SA) launches on live! over UMTS
* Video: Sprint launches movie downloads with Mspot at 7 $/mo flat for unlimited
* LBS: Verizon Wireless launches VZ Navigator (GPS, technology from Autodesk, Navteq, Networks In Motion)
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE:
* ZigBee: Holley Metering (China) launches for automated meter reading
* UWB: Ecma approves WiMedia Alliance standard (ECMA-368 and 369, unlicensed spectrum, up to 200 Mbps)
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE:
* WiMAX: 802.16e (mobility, formally 802.16-2005) ratified by IEEE; Arcor (Vodafone) starts trial in Kaiserslautern; KT and Alcatel work on interoperability of WiBro and 802.16e; BEC Telecom (Dominian Republic) launches, with Airspan; NatCom plans trial Auckland, Jan 2006
* WLL: Iraq plans licenses (applications Jan 12, auction Jan 30, issue Feb 12)
WIRELESS – OTHER:
* ArrayComm licenses MIMO technology to Samsung (for cellular, WiMAX)
* UMTS TDD: IPWireless and Netgear launch router with WiFi and Ethernet connections
* BoS: Inmarsat launches Broadband Global Area Network, max 492 kbps, for access, streaming audio/video (4-7 $/MB) and VoIP (< 1 $/min), terminals from HNS, Nera SatCom and Thrane & Thrane ($1500-3500); FCC awards ICO 20 MHz in 2 GHz band
MUNIBROADBAND:
* FTTH: Amsterdam chooses active ethernet from Cisco (dedicated, up to 100 Mbps) over passive optical network (PON, shared, up to 39 Mbps); KPN wins Groningen tender
* WiFi: NeoReach Wireless (= MobilePro) hires Pronto Networks for managed services
* WiMAX: Netago Wireless launches 802.16-2004 for rural Alberta, 1-3 Mbps (with Nortel)
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP:
-- Yahoo! plans VoIM to PSTN (Phone Out 1 c/min (promo), Phone In 30 $/yr for number), intros in Singapore, HK, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain (beta)
-- MCI (Verizon) and MSN (Windows Live Messenger) launch PC-to-PSTN, 2.3 c/min
-- SIPphone (‘Gizmo Project’) rumoured to intro 1 c/min PC-to-PSTN service
-- BellSouth resells 8x8
-- UPC plans launch in Czech Republic
-- Terra (Telefonica Brazil) launches
* wVoIP: SpectraLink (handsets) acquires KIRK Telecom (DECT handsets)
* IPTV:
-- China selects MPEG-4
-- BT adds content (BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music) for VoD, launch autumn 2006
-- Novis (Portugal) trials ‘Clix Smartv’ with Amino (STB), commercial launch 2006 (50-100 channels, epg, VoD, personalized choice of channels)
-- Siemens integrates Entone’s STB
-- Free deal with Canal+ for VoD
-- PLDT (Filippines) plans entry
-- neuf cegetel expects 200k subs through 2006
* F/M: Orange and Wanadoo launch ‘Mes services perso’ trial in France (unified comms)
* Gateway: AT&T orders STB from 2Wire; Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting (= See Corp, Television Broadcast) orders STB from Amino; Thomson acquires Thales Broadcast and Multimedia, EUR 130m
* Licenses: Emirates Integrated Telecom Co (#2 in UAE; UAE 50%, Abu Dhabi Mubadala Development Co 25%, Emirates Co for Telecomms and Technology 25%) launches mid 2006, plans IPO
* DSL: M’’Net launches ADSL2+ (’16 Mbps’ for 41 EUR/mo or usage-based rates) in Munich; Telefonica plans VDSL from 2006 for Imagenio; AT&T intros 6 Mbps for 65 $/mo (first 3 months 50 $/mo); Telefonica expands European budget
* LLU: South Africa delays until after 2007
* FTTH: Magent Networks (Ireland) orders from Telcordia; TDS Metrocom launches in Fitchburg (Wisconsin), 1 Mbps for 20 $/mo, 4 Mbps for 30 $/mo, 10 Mbps for 45 $/mo, VoIP for 44/mo
* BPL: order from Bristol Hotel to PLC Network Solutions (= Trimax)
WIRELESS – CELLULAR:
* IPO: Austria wants IPO for Mobilkom (= Telekom Austria (state 30%))
* MVNO: Virgin SA plans launch mid 2006 on Cell C; Tesco plans Irish launch with O2, 50/50
* Budget, SIM-only: Plus enters prepaid market Germany (with Debitel), 16 c/min, Lidl plans undercutting Aldi in Germany, 12-13 c/min (Heise)
* Outsourcing: BASE (KPN) hires Atos Origin for IT services, 5 yr
* Data: Base Germany plans flat-fee unlimited internet access with datacard, 25 EUR/mo from Jan 2006; Polkomtel intros datacard for EDGE/3G/HSDPA
* Push email: Turkcell launches with Visto
* Music: Amp’s Mobile will launch with 99c downloads
* TV: Vodacom (SA) launches on live! over UMTS
* Video: Sprint launches movie downloads with Mspot at 7 $/mo flat for unlimited
* LBS: Verizon Wireless launches VZ Navigator (GPS, technology from Autodesk, Navteq, Networks In Motion)
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE:
* ZigBee: Holley Metering (China) launches for automated meter reading
* UWB: Ecma approves WiMedia Alliance standard (ECMA-368 and 369, unlicensed spectrum, up to 200 Mbps)
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE:
* WiMAX: 802.16e (mobility, formally 802.16-2005) ratified by IEEE; Arcor (Vodafone) starts trial in Kaiserslautern; KT and Alcatel work on interoperability of WiBro and 802.16e; BEC Telecom (Dominian Republic) launches, with Airspan; NatCom plans trial Auckland, Jan 2006
* WLL: Iraq plans licenses (applications Jan 12, auction Jan 30, issue Feb 12)
WIRELESS – OTHER:
* ArrayComm licenses MIMO technology to Samsung (for cellular, WiMAX)
* UMTS TDD: IPWireless and Netgear launch router with WiFi and Ethernet connections
* BoS: Inmarsat launches Broadband Global Area Network, max 492 kbps, for access, streaming audio/video (4-7 $/MB) and VoIP (< 1 $/min), terminals from HNS, Nera SatCom and Thrane & Thrane ($1500-3500); FCC awards ICO 20 MHz in 2 GHz band
MUNIBROADBAND:
* FTTH: Amsterdam chooses active ethernet from Cisco (dedicated, up to 100 Mbps) over passive optical network (PON, shared, up to 39 Mbps); KPN wins Groningen tender
* WiFi: NeoReach Wireless (= MobilePro) hires Pronto Networks for managed services
* WiMAX: Netago Wireless launches 802.16-2004 for rural Alberta, 1-3 Mbps (with Nortel)
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP:
-- Yahoo! plans VoIM to PSTN (Phone Out 1 c/min (promo), Phone In 30 $/yr for number), intros in Singapore, HK, Denmark, France, Italy, Spain (beta)
-- MCI (Verizon) and MSN (Windows Live Messenger) launch PC-to-PSTN, 2.3 c/min
-- SIPphone (‘Gizmo Project’) rumoured to intro 1 c/min PC-to-PSTN service
-- BellSouth resells 8x8
-- UPC plans launch in Czech Republic
-- Terra (Telefonica Brazil) launches
* wVoIP: SpectraLink (handsets) acquires KIRK Telecom (DECT handsets)
* IPTV:
-- China selects MPEG-4
-- BT adds content (BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Warner Music) for VoD, launch autumn 2006
-- Novis (Portugal) trials ‘Clix Smartv’ with Amino (STB), commercial launch 2006 (50-100 channels, epg, VoD, personalized choice of channels)
-- Siemens integrates Entone’s STB
-- Free deal with Canal+ for VoD
-- PLDT (Filippines) plans entry
-- neuf cegetel expects 200k subs through 2006
* F/M: Orange and Wanadoo launch ‘Mes services perso’ trial in France (unified comms)
* Gateway: AT&T orders STB from 2Wire; Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting (= See Corp, Television Broadcast) orders STB from Amino; Thomson acquires Thales Broadcast and Multimedia, EUR 130m
Wednesday Internet Digest
SEARCH:
* Local: MSN intros Windows Live Local (beta; low-flying airplane images)
* Sponsored: Click Defense wants to withdraw as lead plaintiff in case against Google; MSN plans revenue sharing with users
CONTENT:
* Google plans charging for video
* AOL launches TMZ.com (entertainment news, ‘thirty mile zone’) with Telepictures
WEB 2.0
* user-gen content, sharing: Yahoo! launches Yahoo! Answers (community answers; beta) and Yahoo! Artist Mods (music videos) and acquires del.icio.us; Google adds RSS to Gmail; Grouper Networks launches video-sharing (free), gets funding from T-Ventures (= T-Online = Deutsche Telekom)
* social networking: Disney rumoured to be bidding for Friendster
* Local: MSN intros Windows Live Local (beta; low-flying airplane images)
* Sponsored: Click Defense wants to withdraw as lead plaintiff in case against Google; MSN plans revenue sharing with users
CONTENT:
* Google plans charging for video
* AOL launches TMZ.com (entertainment news, ‘thirty mile zone’) with Telepictures
WEB 2.0
* user-gen content, sharing: Yahoo! launches Yahoo! Answers (community answers; beta) and Yahoo! Artist Mods (music videos) and acquires del.icio.us; Google adds RSS to Gmail; Grouper Networks launches video-sharing (free), gets funding from T-Ventures (= T-Online = Deutsche Telekom)
* social networking: Disney rumoured to be bidding for Friendster
Wednesday Media Digest
ADS:
* Spending US Q1-Q3: +3.0% (local mags +23.1%, cable TV +12.2%, internet (excl search) +11.5%, outdoor +9.1%, etc; network TV -1.9%, network radio -3.0%, spot TV -8.7%) (TNS Media)
OPEN ACCES JOURNALS:
* B2B: Channel View Publications (= Multilingual Matters) adopts fro back issues
FILM:
* In-theater ads US: 05 +18% to $400m, 06-08 CAGR +15% (ZenithOptimedia)
* DivX release DivX 6 codec for Mac
* Toshiba postpones launch of HD-DVD player into 2006
P2P:
* Napster launches in Germany, 1.5m tracks, 1 EUR/track, 10 EUR/album, 10 EUR/mo (ToGo 15 EUR/mo)
DIGITISATION:
* HarperCollins (= News) plans, copies available to search engines
GAMES:
* Electronic Arts acquires Jamdat Mobile, $680
MSO:
* DTH: Tata-Star (India) receives license
* Kabel Deutschland: Providence buys-out Apax and Goldman Sachs, EUR 500m
* Spending US Q1-Q3: +3.0% (local mags +23.1%, cable TV +12.2%, internet (excl search) +11.5%, outdoor +9.1%, etc; network TV -1.9%, network radio -3.0%, spot TV -8.7%) (TNS Media)
OPEN ACCES JOURNALS:
* B2B: Channel View Publications (= Multilingual Matters) adopts fro back issues
FILM:
* In-theater ads US: 05 +18% to $400m, 06-08 CAGR +15% (ZenithOptimedia)
* DivX release DivX 6 codec for Mac
* Toshiba postpones launch of HD-DVD player into 2006
P2P:
* Napster launches in Germany, 1.5m tracks, 1 EUR/track, 10 EUR/album, 10 EUR/mo (ToGo 15 EUR/mo)
DIGITISATION:
* HarperCollins (= News) plans, copies available to search engines
GAMES:
* Electronic Arts acquires Jamdat Mobile, $680
MSO:
* DTH: Tata-Star (India) receives license
* Kabel Deutschland: Providence buys-out Apax and Goldman Sachs, EUR 500m
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Apax will be a pan-European operator
Judging from recent deal news, Apax Partners are moving toward a clear goal: becoming a pan-European operator.
- In smaller countries, they snap up the PTT (Bezeq, TDC, eircom, KPN).
- In the larger countries, it's a cable operator (NTL in the UK, Auna/ONO in Spain) or an altnet (Versatel + Tropolys + Arcor in Germany; FastWeb in Italy; neuf cegetel in France).
- Savings are huge, doing NGN/IP/IMS and CPE together. Apax will roll-out FTTH.
- Apax will bid for soccer rights.
- In the longer term, joining with Vodafone will provide the quadruple play.
Yahoo!'s deal downunder
Yahoo! is partnering with Seven in Australia and New Zealand. The new name (Yahoo! 7, or so it seems) of the 50/50 company is to be unveiled late January, at the Australian Open.
Yahoo! is the #2 portal, Seven is the #1 network, Pacific Magazines is #2, and then there is the 33% interest in m.Net (mobile solutions enabler).
Some observations:
Yahoo! is the #2 portal, Seven is the #1 network, Pacific Magazines is #2, and then there is the 33% interest in m.Net (mobile solutions enabler).
Some observations:
- The deal is different from strategies in Japan (minority interest in Yahoo! BB) and the US, Canada and Britain (teaming with local telcos and cable operators in BB).
- The deal reminds of the ill-fated AOL/Time Warner deal. Will the companies succeed in actually working together, as even Steve Case proposes splitting-up Time Warner? Also, cultures could be very different, as is shown at Yahoo! in the US, where Lloyd Braun heads a completely different media unit.
- Will this lead to another wireless VoIP product?
Whichever way, an interesting test-bed!
Friday, December 09, 2005
Friday Reader's Digest
Google:
As ever a rich harvest. Again, Cringely's post, glorifying Google's indepence of access technology. He assumes cable, telco, WiMAX and BPL will provide enough of a choice. If not, net neutrality could be under threat, I believe.
Other background reading is in BusinessWeek Online, New York Magazine, Wired Magazine and Slate.
Craigslist:
Long story in the SF Weekly.
Social networking:
BusinessWeek Online covered Buzz-oven.com, MySpace.com, Facebook.com and Xanga.com. Especially noteworthy is MySpace's plan (or rather: News Corp's) to launch an MVNO to compete with Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile (Sprint Nextel).
BPL:
Bridge IR starts coverage of Trimax, a supplier of BPL equipment and solutions through subsidiary PLC Network Solutions. The report is free.
Mobile explosion:
Is the title of an Orange white paper (free registration). Not very deep, but at least they came up with a way to classify handsets: will the trend be toward multi-functional? Orange categorises into 7 classes: Multi-functional for work or home; focus on voice, video or music/games; fashion style; for-kids.
Cable broadband:
LightReading.com had a story on Vyyo. It's technology can double downstream bandwidth of cable operators.
As ever a rich harvest. Again, Cringely's post, glorifying Google's indepence of access technology. He assumes cable, telco, WiMAX and BPL will provide enough of a choice. If not, net neutrality could be under threat, I believe.
Other background reading is in BusinessWeek Online, New York Magazine, Wired Magazine and Slate.
Craigslist:
Long story in the SF Weekly.
Social networking:
BusinessWeek Online covered Buzz-oven.com, MySpace.com, Facebook.com and Xanga.com. Especially noteworthy is MySpace's plan (or rather: News Corp's) to launch an MVNO to compete with Virgin Mobile and Boost Mobile (Sprint Nextel).
BPL:
Bridge IR starts coverage of Trimax, a supplier of BPL equipment and solutions through subsidiary PLC Network Solutions. The report is free.
Mobile explosion:
Is the title of an Orange white paper (free registration). Not very deep, but at least they came up with a way to classify handsets: will the trend be toward multi-functional? Orange categorises into 7 classes: Multi-functional for work or home; focus on voice, video or music/games; fashion style; for-kids.
Cable broadband:
LightReading.com had a story on Vyyo. It's technology can double downstream bandwidth of cable operators.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Thursday's Cool new products
VoIP:
Yahoo! will add PC-to-PSTN calling to the Yahoo! Messenger. Phone Out will be 1 c/min and Phone In will cost 30 $/year for a phone number. That beats Skype.
BT also undercuts Skype. Next year will see a hardphone version of BT Communicator, a BT Fusion version of the hot Motorola Razr, as well as WiFi-enabled Fusion handsets and a video phone
IPTV and VoD:
BT adds content from BBC Worldwide, Paramount and Warner Music to its VoD line-up, to be launched next autumn.
BoS:
Inmarsat launches BoS, with audio/video streaming and VoIP.
WiMAX:
The IEEE ratifies 802.16e, formally 802.16-2005. This adds mobility to WiMAX.
Arcor, non-core part of Vodafone, starts a WiMAX field trial in Kaiserslautern. Germany is set to license spectrum (3.4-3.6 GHz band) early 2006.
Local search:
Microsoft expands Windows Live by adding images to Virtual Earth. The images are to be made using low-flying airplanes. Sounds like A9's Blockview, with pictures taken from a truck.
Outdoor advertising:
Nielsen Outdoor first published results from a Chicago trial. A group of 850 traveled the streets for 9 days wearing an Npod. It is supposed to become the currency for the outdoor ads market.
Market research:
ACNielsen completed the size doubling of the US Homescan panel to 125k households, a 2 year process.
Yahoo! will add PC-to-PSTN calling to the Yahoo! Messenger. Phone Out will be 1 c/min and Phone In will cost 30 $/year for a phone number. That beats Skype.
BT also undercuts Skype. Next year will see a hardphone version of BT Communicator, a BT Fusion version of the hot Motorola Razr, as well as WiFi-enabled Fusion handsets and a video phone
IPTV and VoD:
BT adds content from BBC Worldwide, Paramount and Warner Music to its VoD line-up, to be launched next autumn.
BoS:
Inmarsat launches BoS, with audio/video streaming and VoIP.
WiMAX:
The IEEE ratifies 802.16e, formally 802.16-2005. This adds mobility to WiMAX.
Arcor, non-core part of Vodafone, starts a WiMAX field trial in Kaiserslautern. Germany is set to license spectrum (3.4-3.6 GHz band) early 2006.
Local search:
Microsoft expands Windows Live by adding images to Virtual Earth. The images are to be made using low-flying airplanes. Sounds like A9's Blockview, with pictures taken from a truck.
Outdoor advertising:
Nielsen Outdoor first published results from a Chicago trial. A group of 850 traveled the streets for 9 days wearing an Npod. It is supposed to become the currency for the outdoor ads market.
Market research:
ACNielsen completed the size doubling of the US Homescan panel to 125k households, a 2 year process.
Mixing politics and business (2)
Google Book Search is subject to law suits for obvious copyright reasons, centering on the understanding of 'fair use'.
Now, John Dvorak reacts to the European Publishers Council's stance, which is quite similar to Pat Schroeder's and Bob Barr's letter to the Washington Times. Dvorak describes the EPC vision as 'euro-crap'. Now, even if you agree (as I do) with the way Google defends its project, that's a pretty dumb assessment.
Shoot the crap!
Now, John Dvorak reacts to the European Publishers Council's stance, which is quite similar to Pat Schroeder's and Bob Barr's letter to the Washington Times. Dvorak describes the EPC vision as 'euro-crap'. Now, even if you agree (as I do) with the way Google defends its project, that's a pretty dumb assessment.
Shoot the crap!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Squidoo leaves beta
Squidoo, host of lenses, leaves beta:
The service resembles About.com, Wikipedia and blogging.
We have quietly — and completely — moved out of the closed beta test... and into
a public beta.That means that anyone can visit Squidoo, find lenses, claim
lenses, and build their own. We're thrilled to open our doors to the public, and
to let everyone use the platform that you've been helping us test and improve
these last few weeks.But we're not going to tell anyone yet.Except you.So, now's
the time for you to share what you've been working on during the secret beta
test. Email your lenses to friends. Post a lens to your blog. Tell your mom.
And, for a limited time, your friends will be the only people to know that
Squidoo is finally live.Thanks for working with us over the past two months. We
can't wait to see how the general public responds to what you’ve been
building!Ready. Set. Squidoo.
The service resembles About.com, Wikipedia and blogging.
Wednesday Media Digest
ADS:
* Market 2006: US +2.9% (was +3.6%), world +4.8% (was +5.2%) (ZenithOptimedia)
TV:
* Donald Trump plans ‘Trump Shopping Network’
GAMES:
* In-game ads: integration and pervasiveness drive awareness, recall and persuasion (= willingness to change mind) (Nielsen Entertainment, Activision)
MSO:
* Average basic rates 06 raised: Comcast 6% (4.3% for dig subs, 0 for HSD), Cox 0, TWC 3.1% (inflation -12mo 4.3%, 2.1% excluding food and energy; average hike 2003 5.4%, average hike 2002 7.8%)
DISTRIBUTION:
* Legal P2P: Nareos launches PeerRearch solution for legal downloads based on P2P technology, 99 c/track (1m ‘indie’ tracks from CD Baby (100k artists), INgrooves (350 labels), Digital Rights Agency (225 labels))
* Illegal P2P: Sharman Networks warns Australian users against illegal use because of court order deadline, appeal Feb 2006
* Portable devices: Canal+ launches portable DVR form Archos (AV 700, max 70 hrs); deal NBC Universal with Apple: TV on iPod Video; ESPN (Disney) plans distribution to iPod Video (Apple)
STB, DVR, HOME GATEWAY:
* Intel unveils 40 customers (a.o. TiVo) for Viiv (transfer video among STB, PC, handheld)
* TiVo launches online services (movie listings & tickets, music, podcasts, Yahoo! Photos, traffic & weather) with Yahoo!, Fandango, Live365
* DirecTV launches DirecTV Plus (DVR with features (eg Series Link for recording entire season), free to subs)
* Market 2006: US +2.9% (was +3.6%), world +4.8% (was +5.2%) (ZenithOptimedia)
TV:
* Donald Trump plans ‘Trump Shopping Network’
GAMES:
* In-game ads: integration and pervasiveness drive awareness, recall and persuasion (= willingness to change mind) (Nielsen Entertainment, Activision)
MSO:
* Average basic rates 06 raised: Comcast 6% (4.3% for dig subs, 0 for HSD), Cox 0, TWC 3.1% (inflation -12mo 4.3%, 2.1% excluding food and energy; average hike 2003 5.4%, average hike 2002 7.8%)
DISTRIBUTION:
* Legal P2P: Nareos launches PeerRearch solution for legal downloads based on P2P technology, 99 c/track (1m ‘indie’ tracks from CD Baby (100k artists), INgrooves (350 labels), Digital Rights Agency (225 labels))
* Illegal P2P: Sharman Networks warns Australian users against illegal use because of court order deadline, appeal Feb 2006
* Portable devices: Canal+ launches portable DVR form Archos (AV 700, max 70 hrs); deal NBC Universal with Apple: TV on iPod Video; ESPN (Disney) plans distribution to iPod Video (Apple)
STB, DVR, HOME GATEWAY:
* Intel unveils 40 customers (a.o. TiVo) for Viiv (transfer video among STB, PC, handheld)
* TiVo launches online services (movie listings & tickets, music, podcasts, Yahoo! Photos, traffic & weather) with Yahoo!, Fandango, Live365
* DirecTV launches DirecTV Plus (DVR with features (eg Series Link for recording entire season), free to subs)
Wednesday Internet Digest
ADS:
* Online ad spend 2006, excluding search: +10% (Bob Coen = Universal McCann = Interpublic)
SEARCH:
* Technology: AOL launches Mobile Search leaves beta; Google Personalized Search leaves beta
* News search: Inform.com adds video and audio
* Distr.all Blinkx for ‘Times Online Smart Search’ with Times and Sunday Times (UK)
* Sponsored: keyword prices Nov -11% yoy and +1% mom to $1.46 (Fathom Online)
* Pay-per-call: AskPoodle (= Luis Pereira) launches Jan 1, 2006
COMMUNICATION:
* Email: Yahoo! adds RSS folder (beta)
WEB 2.0:
* User-gen content: MSN plans beta for classifieds (‘Fremont’); HamptonRoads.tv launches (= Virginia-Pilot Interactive Media; video news); Digg.com (technology news with user ratings) plans expansion into sports and business
* Online ad spend 2006, excluding search: +10% (Bob Coen = Universal McCann = Interpublic)
SEARCH:
* Technology: AOL launches Mobile Search leaves beta; Google Personalized Search leaves beta
* News search: Inform.com adds video and audio
* Distr.all Blinkx for ‘Times Online Smart Search’ with Times and Sunday Times (UK)
* Sponsored: keyword prices Nov -11% yoy and +1% mom to $1.46 (Fathom Online)
* Pay-per-call: AskPoodle (= Luis Pereira) launches Jan 1, 2006
COMMUNICATION:
* Email: Yahoo! adds RSS folder (beta)
WEB 2.0:
* User-gen content: MSN plans beta for classifieds (‘Fremont’); HamptonRoads.tv launches (= Virginia-Pilot Interactive Media; video news); Digg.com (technology news with user ratings) plans expansion into sports and business
Wednesday Telecoms Digest
FIXED:
* Auction: Novator (= Thor Bjorgolfsson) bids for BTC (Bulgaria)
* License: SA to award second license to SNO by Dec 9
* LLU: India opposes; Tiscali Germany plans intro (trial Frankfurt 06Q1), invests EUR 200m in network + 200-300m in mkt (23 EUR/mo, 45 EUR/mo with VoIP); TelstraClear (Nw-Zld) complains about provisioning
* DSL: Lebanon plans launch 2006; Tiscali Italy launches ADSL2+ (24 Mbps for 60 EUR/mo); Ikanos intros VDSL2 chip (100 Mbps symmetric)
* Broadband Netherlands 05Q3: 3.84m lines (+5.6% qoq), of which 59.4% DSL and 40.6% cable, penetration 54.2% of households and 23.5% per head (Telecompaper)
* DOCSIS: Casema plans 30 Mbps trial; VTC (Vietnam) plans launch
WIRELESS – CELLULAR:
* Auctions: 9 interested in Telsim, bids from Dec 13 (Turkey); PT and MTN bid for 34% of MTC (Namibia)
* License: Warid awarded sixth license Bangladesh
* Service launch: Digical on Anguilla, Bermuda and St Kitts and Nevis; Vietnam Power launch delayed into 2006
* MVNO: Aldi Talk (budget: on-net 5 c/min, off-net 15 c/min, 15 c/SMS) launches on E-Plus; Lidl and Plus plan launches; Agcom (Italy) finds no market dominance so no open access required; Visage Mobile (MVNE) gets $30m series-D funding from Nomura et al (total $80m); Neuf Cegetel (on SFR network) plans extension into residential market mid 2006
* Outsourcing: 3 UK hires Ericsson (network, IT)
* Sub-brand: T-Mobile intros MoxMobil prepaid card with Mox Telecom for foreigners (39 c/min to 11 countries)
* MNP: Pakistan to introduce April 2006
* Flat fees: BASE (KPN) disconnects Unlimited subs for abuse (although no fair-use policy in place)
* International roaming: Bouygues files complaint against Freemove for limited access
* 2.5G: Go (Malta) and Cell C intro EDGE
* 3G: Vibo (Taiwan) launches W-CDMA Dec 6, Eurotel launches, Xfera (Spain) plans launch mid 2006)
* 3.5G: HTC plans HSDPA handset shipments 06H2; Nortel and Qualcomm achieve 3.6 Mbps HSDPA; MTN plans HSDPA trial; Cingular launches HSDPA (average 400-700 kbps, 60 $/mo for datacards)
* P2T: intro by Cingular with Kodiak, 10 $/mo or 20 $/mo/family
* TV: Verizon Wireless adopts Qualcomm’s MediaFLO network, launch 2006; Vodafone expands content offerings
* LBS: Inmarsat to manage Galileo
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiFi: Telenor adds hotzones (400) for mobile users; Skyhook Wireless expands WPS (WiFi Positioning System) to 70 US cities; Sony launches video downloads for PSP
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiMAX: Fujitsu demos IPTV-over-WiMAX; BTC and Orbitel return license Bulgaria (for lack of mobility); Access Providers (Australia) plans wholesale service from 2006
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP: Skype intros 2.0 (beta; with video (codec from On2 Technologies, web cams from Logitech and Creative), mood indicators, ring tones, avatars, distr deal with Six Apart); Israel outlaws VoIP to protect ILD providers; Telemar (Brazil) plans launch with Net2Phone; Time Warner Cable reaches 1m subs (75% of which triple play)
* IPTV: intro by SMG and Shanghai Telecom; Fujitsu demos IPTV-over-WiMAX; intr HDTV door SureWest Dec 2005 (HDNet and HDNet Movies); Tut Systems installs all-IP digital TV head-end for cable operator (Citizens Cable Comms); plan trial BellSouth mid 2006
* F2M: Xs4all (KPN) launches UMTS-subscription (dial-up over UMTS for ADSL-subs); Neuf Cegetel plans WiFi/cellular phone ‘Beautiful Phone’ mid 2006
* NGN: Vibo (Taiwan) orders from Ericsson
* IMS: HP intros software ‘OpenCall Media Platform’ (enable voice services, triple play etc) and ‘Mobile MusicSharing’ (conference calling, music, talk simultaneously); Cisco adds support to more products
MUNIBROADBAND:
* WiFi: Tempe (Az) and Sunnyvale (Cal) launch; Farmers Branch and plans with NeoReach/MobilePro; Portland shortlists three (EarthLink, MetroFi, VeriLAN)
* Auction: Novator (= Thor Bjorgolfsson) bids for BTC (Bulgaria)
* License: SA to award second license to SNO by Dec 9
* LLU: India opposes; Tiscali Germany plans intro (trial Frankfurt 06Q1), invests EUR 200m in network + 200-300m in mkt (23 EUR/mo, 45 EUR/mo with VoIP); TelstraClear (Nw-Zld) complains about provisioning
* DSL: Lebanon plans launch 2006; Tiscali Italy launches ADSL2+ (24 Mbps for 60 EUR/mo); Ikanos intros VDSL2 chip (100 Mbps symmetric)
* Broadband Netherlands 05Q3: 3.84m lines (+5.6% qoq), of which 59.4% DSL and 40.6% cable, penetration 54.2% of households and 23.5% per head (Telecompaper)
* DOCSIS: Casema plans 30 Mbps trial; VTC (Vietnam) plans launch
WIRELESS – CELLULAR:
* Auctions: 9 interested in Telsim, bids from Dec 13 (Turkey); PT and MTN bid for 34% of MTC (Namibia)
* License: Warid awarded sixth license Bangladesh
* Service launch: Digical on Anguilla, Bermuda and St Kitts and Nevis; Vietnam Power launch delayed into 2006
* MVNO: Aldi Talk (budget: on-net 5 c/min, off-net 15 c/min, 15 c/SMS) launches on E-Plus; Lidl and Plus plan launches; Agcom (Italy) finds no market dominance so no open access required; Visage Mobile (MVNE) gets $30m series-D funding from Nomura et al (total $80m); Neuf Cegetel (on SFR network) plans extension into residential market mid 2006
* Outsourcing: 3 UK hires Ericsson (network, IT)
* Sub-brand: T-Mobile intros MoxMobil prepaid card with Mox Telecom for foreigners (39 c/min to 11 countries)
* MNP: Pakistan to introduce April 2006
* Flat fees: BASE (KPN) disconnects Unlimited subs for abuse (although no fair-use policy in place)
* International roaming: Bouygues files complaint against Freemove for limited access
* 2.5G: Go (Malta) and Cell C intro EDGE
* 3G: Vibo (Taiwan) launches W-CDMA Dec 6, Eurotel launches, Xfera (Spain) plans launch mid 2006)
* 3.5G: HTC plans HSDPA handset shipments 06H2; Nortel and Qualcomm achieve 3.6 Mbps HSDPA; MTN plans HSDPA trial; Cingular launches HSDPA (average 400-700 kbps, 60 $/mo for datacards)
* P2T: intro by Cingular with Kodiak, 10 $/mo or 20 $/mo/family
* TV: Verizon Wireless adopts Qualcomm’s MediaFLO network, launch 2006; Vodafone expands content offerings
* LBS: Inmarsat to manage Galileo
WIRELESS – SHORT-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiFi: Telenor adds hotzones (400) for mobile users; Skyhook Wireless expands WPS (WiFi Positioning System) to 70 US cities; Sony launches video downloads for PSP
WIRELESS – LONG-RANGE BROADBAND:
* WiMAX: Fujitsu demos IPTV-over-WiMAX; BTC and Orbitel return license Bulgaria (for lack of mobility); Access Providers (Australia) plans wholesale service from 2006
CONVERGENCE:
* VoIP: Skype intros 2.0 (beta; with video (codec from On2 Technologies, web cams from Logitech and Creative), mood indicators, ring tones, avatars, distr deal with Six Apart); Israel outlaws VoIP to protect ILD providers; Telemar (Brazil) plans launch with Net2Phone; Time Warner Cable reaches 1m subs (75% of which triple play)
* IPTV: intro by SMG and Shanghai Telecom; Fujitsu demos IPTV-over-WiMAX; intr HDTV door SureWest Dec 2005 (HDNet and HDNet Movies); Tut Systems installs all-IP digital TV head-end for cable operator (Citizens Cable Comms); plan trial BellSouth mid 2006
* F2M: Xs4all (KPN) launches UMTS-subscription (dial-up over UMTS for ADSL-subs); Neuf Cegetel plans WiFi/cellular phone ‘Beautiful Phone’ mid 2006
* NGN: Vibo (Taiwan) orders from Ericsson
* IMS: HP intros software ‘OpenCall Media Platform’ (enable voice services, triple play etc) and ‘Mobile MusicSharing’ (conference calling, music, talk simultaneously); Cisco adds support to more products
MUNIBROADBAND:
* WiFi: Tempe (Az) and Sunnyvale (Cal) launch; Farmers Branch and plans with NeoReach/MobilePro; Portland shortlists three (EarthLink, MetroFi, VeriLAN)
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Google beware: here comes a self-professed believer in the American Dream
Luis Pereira, "AskPoodle.com founder, a veteran IT consultant, entrepreneur and self-professed believer in the American Dream", thinks his pay-per-call and pay-per-chat programs are superior to Google, which "will eventually be brought around to his way of thinking", because of the click fraud phenomenon.
I wonder if Mr. Pereira has come across Google's and Yahoo! steps in pay-per-call. Also, how would his human agents and chat sales agents handle the kind of traffic Google generates?
I wonder if Mr. Pereira has come across Google's and Yahoo! steps in pay-per-call. Also, how would his human agents and chat sales agents handle the kind of traffic Google generates?
Mixing politics and business
More from BellSouth: an offer to the city of New Orleans to use one of the company's buildings as police headquarters was withdrawn after New Orleans launched a plan for a muniwifi network.
Noble news from Ford too: the company will stop advertising in gay oriented publications to prevent the American Family Association from declaring a boycott.
Noble news from Ford too: the company will stop advertising in gay oriented publications to prevent the American Family Association from declaring a boycott.
Net neutrality takes a small twist
BellSouth CTO Bill Smith wants to be able to charge web companies for supplying bandwidth or priority.
He is stuck in the notion that it is Yahoo! or Google using the pipes, not the consumer, who is in fact paying his DSL or cable bill. Just the same opinion we had from his AT&T colleague Ed Whitacre. Smith applies a small twist only: instead of threatening to block, he takes a more positive approach and wants to charge. But really, it's the same thing.
I stick to my (adjusted) opinion: as long as there is no choice and only one or two pipes are running into my home, I believe ISPs should not be allowed to act as gatekeepers.
Now, Verizon and SBC were held to this net neutrality principle for two years only. Maybe by then do we have additional pipes: BoS, WiMAX, muniBB, BiG, BPL, ...
He is stuck in the notion that it is Yahoo! or Google using the pipes, not the consumer, who is in fact paying his DSL or cable bill. Just the same opinion we had from his AT&T colleague Ed Whitacre. Smith applies a small twist only: instead of threatening to block, he takes a more positive approach and wants to charge. But really, it's the same thing.
I stick to my (adjusted) opinion: as long as there is no choice and only one or two pipes are running into my home, I believe ISPs should not be allowed to act as gatekeepers.
Now, Verizon and SBC were held to this net neutrality principle for two years only. Maybe by then do we have additional pipes: BoS, WiMAX, muniBB, BiG, BPL, ...
The Sixth Force: killing the movie theater
Nicholas Carr's post on 'the sixth force' (extending Porter's five-force model) came to mind reading this story on the dying ritual of moviegoing form the LA Times.
Apart from the obvious reasons (internet and games, home cinema and DVD, high ticket prices and gas prices), Patrick Goldstein mentions how "it's become cool to dismiss movies as awful" and that "bad buzz about a movie hits the streets fast enough to stop suckers from lining up to see a new stinker".
However, Hollywood has not yet succumbed to this pressure. "The creative voltage is sometimes so low that you wonder if you've wandered into an insurance office." And: they should "start releasing any movie with multi-generational appeal on DVD the same time it hits theaters, so kids could get out of the house and the parents could watch at home".
This relates to Mark Cuban's plans for simultaneous releases (theater, DVD, pay-TV), with movies from director Steven Soderbergh. That could actually be a paradigm-shift of sorts and Hollywood's road to the 21st century.
Apart from the obvious reasons (internet and games, home cinema and DVD, high ticket prices and gas prices), Patrick Goldstein mentions how "it's become cool to dismiss movies as awful" and that "bad buzz about a movie hits the streets fast enough to stop suckers from lining up to see a new stinker".
However, Hollywood has not yet succumbed to this pressure. "The creative voltage is sometimes so low that you wonder if you've wandered into an insurance office." And: they should "start releasing any movie with multi-generational appeal on DVD the same time it hits theaters, so kids could get out of the house and the parents could watch at home".
This relates to Mark Cuban's plans for simultaneous releases (theater, DVD, pay-TV), with movies from director Steven Soderbergh. That could actually be a paradigm-shift of sorts and Hollywood's road to the 21st century.
Friday, December 02, 2005
Friday Reader's Digest
Boxes:
The LamaBox was presented in the Netherlands. It's broadband connected and searches P2P networks BitTorrent, eDonkey and Kazaa. Content is downloaded to a hard disk, streamed on TV or burned to a DVD.
Microsoft's deal with CableLabs on the other hand tries to bypass the STB and rely on CableCard technology for now. The PC as the center of home entertainment, once more.
Robert Cringely takes his Google Box concept one (giant) step further and speculates on a Google Cube.
Of course. TiVo has lots going on.
Net neutrality:
There's a decent round-up from the Washington Post.
The DrKW TelcoTech presented its perspective, one day after mine and pretty similar.
David Isenberg adds a little.
Central themes are: the stupid network, separation (a la Openreach), enforcement and customer-owned network. As to the latter, I recently concluded (in Dutch) that munifiber could be a blessing in disguise for PTT's.
IMS:
An introduction of sorts from AP.
Daily Wireless has a warning against IMS, which could give operators to much power. It relates to the network neutrality concept. IMS could mean operators track, charge and possibly block internet-based services.
DSL:
Free's F-ADSL and Yannick Laclau's entertaining assessment of what this means.
DAB:
Verizon Wireless is adopting Qualcomm's MediaFLO network for mobile TV, but Eureca Research predicts DAB will be a leading standard with a 19% market share in 2010, rivalling DVB-H.
DVD:
Maxell announced a 300 GB disc for late 2006, based on 'holographic' storage (perpendicular, three-dimensional recording).
Moviegoing:
Is it coming to an end?
News, newspapers and journalism:
In the Chicago Tribune, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Editor & Publisher and the New York Review of Books.
The LamaBox was presented in the Netherlands. It's broadband connected and searches P2P networks BitTorrent, eDonkey and Kazaa. Content is downloaded to a hard disk, streamed on TV or burned to a DVD.
Microsoft's deal with CableLabs on the other hand tries to bypass the STB and rely on CableCard technology for now. The PC as the center of home entertainment, once more.
Robert Cringely takes his Google Box concept one (giant) step further and speculates on a Google Cube.
Of course. TiVo has lots going on.
Net neutrality:
There's a decent round-up from the Washington Post.
The DrKW TelcoTech presented its perspective, one day after mine and pretty similar.
David Isenberg adds a little.
Central themes are: the stupid network, separation (a la Openreach), enforcement and customer-owned network. As to the latter, I recently concluded (in Dutch) that munifiber could be a blessing in disguise for PTT's.
IMS:
An introduction of sorts from AP.
Daily Wireless has a warning against IMS, which could give operators to much power. It relates to the network neutrality concept. IMS could mean operators track, charge and possibly block internet-based services.
DSL:
Free's F-ADSL and Yannick Laclau's entertaining assessment of what this means.
DAB:
Verizon Wireless is adopting Qualcomm's MediaFLO network for mobile TV, but Eureca Research predicts DAB will be a leading standard with a 19% market share in 2010, rivalling DVB-H.
DVD:
Maxell announced a 300 GB disc for late 2006, based on 'holographic' storage (perpendicular, three-dimensional recording).
Moviegoing:
Is it coming to an end?
News, newspapers and journalism:
In the Chicago Tribune, the San Diego Union-Tribune, Editor & Publisher and the New York Review of Books.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Triple play pricing diverges widely
Triple play bundles vary widely in content, and hence in price too. That is pretty convenient, but newcomers may want to provide some clarity in order to stiumulate churn. Just a number of data points:
- Versatel (= Tele2) still has to add a TV package. The dual play (4 Mbps + VoIP) + soccer comes at 40 EUR/mo.
- Main competitor KPN charges 70 EUR/mo for a comparable dual play 'InternetPlusBellen' (4 Mbps + unlimited national VoIP). Add KPN TV (the DTT product from Digitenne), and you are at 78 EUR/mo. KPN will introduce the full triple play in 06Q1.
- UPC Netherlands has 41 EUR/mo for the 3 Mbps + VoIP (free unlimited fixed call off-peak) dual play. Add basic TV for 16 EUR/mo or digital TV with services for 18 EUR/mo to come at a triple play for 57 or 59 EUR/mo. A quadruple play is possible by adding UPC Mobile - prepaid only for now. National calls are all charged at 18 c/min, SMS is 9 cents.
- Wanadoo (+ Orange) in the Netherlands have a triple play without IPTV: ADSL2+ ('up to 20 Mbps) + VoIP (free unlimited national fixed calling) + mobile (free unlimited national calls to fixed networks). Add to that 10 c/min for on-net mobile and 20 c/min for all other mobile calls. Next year IPTV will be added though the Livebox.
- Telecom Italia's 'Alice Home TV' (basic TV + 4 Mbps + VoIP activation) will start this Friday at 46 EUR/mo (including modem, STB, remote control). Add soccer for 11 EUR/mo.
- Verizon's triple play costs 100 $/mo: 35 $/mo for FiOS TV (includes digital and HDTV channels), 35 $/mo for FiOS internet (5 Mbps) and 30 $/mo for VoiceWing VoIP (includes unlimited fixed calling in the US. Of course, Verizon Wireless can be added for the quadruple play.
- Light Reading, in a recent report, calculates the price of an American telco triple play to be around 120 $/mo, but that includes VoD, DVR and HDTV. Without those, it's 88 $/mo.
- Other triple play offerings I will add at some later date: Iliad/Free and France Telecom; FastWeb; Telefonica's Imagenio; Swisscom; PCCW's now; Yahoo! Broadband TV; Verizon's DirecTV offering and SBC's DISH-based triple play; Comcast.
Google Book Search: pending in Courts
Several digitization projects have started.
*Google Book Search:
-- Publisher Program: books from numerous international publishers
-- Library Program: books from 5 US and British libraries
* Yahoo!: launched the Open Content Alliance (OCA) for scanning out-of-copyright books or works submitted by Creative Commons
* Microsoft: MSN Book Search (out-of-copyright books only) and joined the OCA
* Amazon.com: Look Inside the Book (now Search Inside the Book), for-pay only, in accordance with publishers
* Project Gutenberg: public domain books only
* Internet Archive: out-of-copyright books, part of the OCA
* Random House: pay-per-view
* US Library of Congress:
-- American Memory Project (Americana)
-- Global Gateway (documenting the ties between the US and Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain)
-- World Digital Library (Asian and Islamic documents from 10-16th centuries)
Google arguably stretches the meaning of ‘fair use’ under copyright law the furthest with its Google Book Search project.
Let’s look at the pros and cons and try to figure out where this is going.
Pro Google:
*Only 20% of all books are in print and 20% are in the public domain, so 60% are out of reach. Google makes them accessible.
*Searches return only some lines or pages for copyrighted works and no more than 20% of an entire book after multiple searches (without printing option), full book only after explicit approval from the author in the Publisher Program. Authors can opt-out of the Library Program.
* Could help spur sales. Google refers to online retailers (for no fee).
* No ads in the Library Program. Ads in the Publisher program only if the publisher gives permission, in which case they receive the majority of the shared revenue.
* Google gives a second version to the libraries, for archiving and preservation.
* Meets the needs of students, whoe are moving online and out of libraries.
* Search engines make copies of web pages without consent from their authors. Nobody has a problem with that.
Contra Google:
* Security could be questionable, which raises questions about piracy.
* Google is appropriating material that it doesn’t own for commercial reasons.
* Authors cannot be assured of Google’s future plans.
* Copyright holders will have no way stopping others.
* There is a distinction between books and music piracy: taking part of the value that this releases (book search) v. protecting yourself against losses produced by new technology (music piracy).
* Claiming that Book Search will increase sales is speculation at best.
I suppose new developments will focus on two elements:
* ‘Fair use’ is what it is all about, but also how far a judge is willing to adjust the understanding of this term to the present internet age. Can the common cause prevail?
* Will Google be allowed to scan at all? Do the disclosing policies (opt-out; small parts of books on display only; no print facilities) have anything to do with that?
*Google Book Search:
-- Publisher Program: books from numerous international publishers
-- Library Program: books from 5 US and British libraries
* Yahoo!: launched the Open Content Alliance (OCA) for scanning out-of-copyright books or works submitted by Creative Commons
* Microsoft: MSN Book Search (out-of-copyright books only) and joined the OCA
* Amazon.com: Look Inside the Book (now Search Inside the Book), for-pay only, in accordance with publishers
* Project Gutenberg: public domain books only
* Internet Archive: out-of-copyright books, part of the OCA
* Random House: pay-per-view
* US Library of Congress:
-- American Memory Project (Americana)
-- Global Gateway (documenting the ties between the US and Brazil, France, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain)
-- World Digital Library (Asian and Islamic documents from 10-16th centuries)
Google arguably stretches the meaning of ‘fair use’ under copyright law the furthest with its Google Book Search project.
Let’s look at the pros and cons and try to figure out where this is going.
Pro Google:
*Only 20% of all books are in print and 20% are in the public domain, so 60% are out of reach. Google makes them accessible.
*Searches return only some lines or pages for copyrighted works and no more than 20% of an entire book after multiple searches (without printing option), full book only after explicit approval from the author in the Publisher Program. Authors can opt-out of the Library Program.
* Could help spur sales. Google refers to online retailers (for no fee).
* No ads in the Library Program. Ads in the Publisher program only if the publisher gives permission, in which case they receive the majority of the shared revenue.
* Google gives a second version to the libraries, for archiving and preservation.
* Meets the needs of students, whoe are moving online and out of libraries.
* Search engines make copies of web pages without consent from their authors. Nobody has a problem with that.
Contra Google:
* Security could be questionable, which raises questions about piracy.
* Google is appropriating material that it doesn’t own for commercial reasons.
* Authors cannot be assured of Google’s future plans.
* Copyright holders will have no way stopping others.
* There is a distinction between books and music piracy: taking part of the value that this releases (book search) v. protecting yourself against losses produced by new technology (music piracy).
* Claiming that Book Search will increase sales is speculation at best.
I suppose new developments will focus on two elements:
* ‘Fair use’ is what it is all about, but also how far a judge is willing to adjust the understanding of this term to the present internet age. Can the common cause prevail?
* Will Google be allowed to scan at all? Do the disclosing policies (opt-out; small parts of books on display only; no print facilities) have anything to do with that?
T.I.M. diary for December 2005
TELECOMS:
Fixed:
* AT&T (formerly SBC) ticker change to T (Dec 1), kicks-off campaign
* Verizon closes MCI acquisition
* Spin-off fixed from Alltel decided
* BPL: ETSI decides on OPERA-standard
Wireless - cellular:
* French regulator is set to fine mobile operators for price-fixing (Dec 1)
* Denmark re-auctions fourth 3G-license (Dec 2)
* Deadline for offers for Telsim (Turkey) (Dec 5)
* eircom closes Meteor acquisition
* Millicom launches ‘Tigo’ in Bolivia, BeST launches in Belarus, Amp’d Mobile (MVNO on Verizon Wireless) launches, Mobile ESPN (MVNO from Disney on Sprint) launches
* Cingualr starts video with Real
Wireless – long-range broadband:
* Ireland issues third license
* WiMAX: Ikatel (FT) launches in Mali, Mauritius has nationwide coverage, Yozan launches in Tokio (with Airspan), Intel starts trial in the Filippines
IP, convergence:
* TI/TIM launch videocalling
* TV-o-DSL: TI launches ‘Alice Home TV’ (Dec 2), China Telecom launches, KPN starts trial
* IPTV: Het Net (KPN) intros ‘Shoobidoo.tv’, AOL intros ‘TMZ’ with Warner (entertainment, news), Yahoo! launches video player
* VoIP: deadline RfP from CableLabs for VoIP peering (Dec 14), KPN launches ‘InternetPlusBellen’ dual play, Skype and Pacific Internet launch cobranded version
* wVoIP: BT launches Fusion handset; Japan decides on regulation
Munibroadband:
* FTTx: City of Helmond (Netherlands) advises over FTTH
ICT:
* Belgacom offering period for Telindus (Dec 5-20)
Corporate:
* IPO: Eutelsat (subscribing ends Dec 1), Telecom Egypt (pricing Dec 7, trading Dec 14), So-net (Sony Communications Network; pricing Dec 8, trading Dec 20), UOL (trading Dec 16)
INTERNET:
Web 2.0:
* Deadline for submissions to MTV’s ‘Digital Incubator’ vlog program for ‘mtvuÜber’
MEDIA:
B2B:
* VNU trading statement (Dec 14)
* Nielsen starts issuing DVR ratings (Dec 26)
* Wolters Kluwer closes NDC-IM acquisition
MSO:
* FCC to decide on Adelphia sale to TWC/Comcast
Boxes:
* Microsoft launches Xbox 360 in Europe (Dec 2) and Japan (Dec 10)
* Sling Media intros Windows Mobile version
Music:
* Legal P2P: Mashboxx starts test, Grokster relaunches
TV:
* Premiere (Germany) launches HDTV
Film:
* Theater releases: Narnia (Disney, Dec 7 in London and Dec 9 in N-America), Big Momma’s House 2 (Fox/Regency, Dec 16), The Producers (Universal, Dec 21), Munich (DreamWorks, Dec 23), The Exorcism of Smiley Rose (Sony)
* DVD-releases: Dukes of Hazzard (Warner, Dec 6)
Corporate:
* Wegener AGM for restructuring finprefs
Fixed:
* AT&T (formerly SBC) ticker change to T (Dec 1), kicks-off campaign
* Verizon closes MCI acquisition
* Spin-off fixed from Alltel decided
* BPL: ETSI decides on OPERA-standard
Wireless - cellular:
* French regulator is set to fine mobile operators for price-fixing (Dec 1)
* Denmark re-auctions fourth 3G-license (Dec 2)
* Deadline for offers for Telsim (Turkey) (Dec 5)
* eircom closes Meteor acquisition
* Millicom launches ‘Tigo’ in Bolivia, BeST launches in Belarus, Amp’d Mobile (MVNO on Verizon Wireless) launches, Mobile ESPN (MVNO from Disney on Sprint) launches
* Cingualr starts video with Real
Wireless – long-range broadband:
* Ireland issues third license
* WiMAX: Ikatel (FT) launches in Mali, Mauritius has nationwide coverage, Yozan launches in Tokio (with Airspan), Intel starts trial in the Filippines
IP, convergence:
* TI/TIM launch videocalling
* TV-o-DSL: TI launches ‘Alice Home TV’ (Dec 2), China Telecom launches, KPN starts trial
* IPTV: Het Net (KPN) intros ‘Shoobidoo.tv’, AOL intros ‘TMZ’ with Warner (entertainment, news), Yahoo! launches video player
* VoIP: deadline RfP from CableLabs for VoIP peering (Dec 14), KPN launches ‘InternetPlusBellen’ dual play, Skype and Pacific Internet launch cobranded version
* wVoIP: BT launches Fusion handset; Japan decides on regulation
Munibroadband:
* FTTx: City of Helmond (Netherlands) advises over FTTH
ICT:
* Belgacom offering period for Telindus (Dec 5-20)
Corporate:
* IPO: Eutelsat (subscribing ends Dec 1), Telecom Egypt (pricing Dec 7, trading Dec 14), So-net (Sony Communications Network; pricing Dec 8, trading Dec 20), UOL (trading Dec 16)
INTERNET:
Web 2.0:
* Deadline for submissions to MTV’s ‘Digital Incubator’ vlog program for ‘mtvuÜber’
MEDIA:
B2B:
* VNU trading statement (Dec 14)
* Nielsen starts issuing DVR ratings (Dec 26)
* Wolters Kluwer closes NDC-IM acquisition
MSO:
* FCC to decide on Adelphia sale to TWC/Comcast
Boxes:
* Microsoft launches Xbox 360 in Europe (Dec 2) and Japan (Dec 10)
* Sling Media intros Windows Mobile version
Music:
* Legal P2P: Mashboxx starts test, Grokster relaunches
TV:
* Premiere (Germany) launches HDTV
Film:
* Theater releases: Narnia (Disney, Dec 7 in London and Dec 9 in N-America), Big Momma’s House 2 (Fox/Regency, Dec 16), The Producers (Universal, Dec 21), Munich (DreamWorks, Dec 23), The Exorcism of Smiley Rose (Sony)
* DVD-releases: Dukes of Hazzard (Warner, Dec 6)
Corporate:
* Wegener AGM for restructuring finprefs
Wednesday Telecoms Digest
Fixed:
* Licenses: Kosovo plans second, 06Q1; Zimbabwe revokes TeleAccess’ for failing to start op’s
* DSL: Tele Greenland orders ADSL2+ from Siemens; Free trials F-ADSL (ADSL2+): 120 Mbps at 1.8 km (max 174/18 Mbps); Verizon trials upgrade to 7.1 Mbps
* FTTx: DT willing to share new FTTN network (no timing, pricing); House of Rep’s Netherlands questions funding of Nuenen muni FTTH; French regulator warns against monopoly on new FTTx network from FT
* BPL: Linz AG causes interference and has until Dec 10 to end this; ARRL asks FCC to shut down Manassas (no info to public BPL database by deadline Nov 19); PLC Network Solutions (= Trimax) receives order form Dancom Pakistan (74 offices)
* DOCSIS: Net Servicios intros naked broadband up to 8 Mbps
Wireless – cellular:
* Licenses: Slovakia plans third operator 06H1, Montenegro pkans third license (3G) 06H1
* 4G: Belarus plans trial by new entrant, with Siemens and Ericsson
* MVNO: Tommy Telecom launches in the Netherlands on Telfort (= KPN), 15 c/min and 5 c/SMS
* Budget: Vodafone prepares ‘Tango’ label for Germany
* 3G: 6 operators China (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, China Netcom, China TieTong, China Satcom) cooperate on TD-SCDMA trial
* TV: Vivendi asks for regulatory clarity (frequency band); deal 3 UK with ITV to add content to MobiTV; 3 Italy acquires DTT-license holder Canale 7 for DVB-H launch mid 2006
* Push email: Vodafone intros in the UK (technology from Visto)
* P2T: trial 3 Scandinavia with Nokia in Sweden
Wireless – short range broadband:
* WiFi: Netgear settles false speed claims
Wireless – long range broadband:
* WiMAX:
-- Pipex trial progresses with Airspan (NLOS, 1 km; 8 Mbps by March 2006)
-- New Zealand Telecom cancels buy of license, Callplus has positive trial results (N-Zl)
-- Croatia awards 10 regional licenses, Switzerland plans 3 more licenses, Thailand plans intro 2006
-- Ikatel (Mali) orders from Alvarion
* WiBro: TI plans trial with PDA’s from Samsung at Winter Olympics
* BWA (BFW): deal First Avenue (bought ART and Teligent assets) with Comcast: access tot PoPs, fiber for backhaul
IP, convergence:
* NGN: Algeria Telecom orders from Huawei
* VoIP: Telfree (SA) launches; Net Servicios (Brazil) and Thailand plan intro 2006; Cisco acquires IP-PBX unit from Digital Software, $15m; Speakeasy expands home area for unlimited calls to 22 countries (80 $/mo including unlimited local and NLD)
* IPTV, triple play:
-- TI launches Dec 2; Tiscali starts trial in the Netherlands (to PC); plan Net Servicios + Embratel (Brazil)
-- PCCW orders HDTV, MPEG-4 for ‘now’ from Tandberg; China Telecom orders form ZTE for 100k homes in Jiangsu; SureWest selects Amino for HDTV STB
-- EC plans heavy regulation for pull (broadcast) and 3 basic rules for push (video clips) (ban on racial hatred, protection of minorities, advertsing disclosure)
* wVoIP, UMA, FMC: TeliaSonera Denmark completes lab trial UMA, intros field trial with Motorola; Motorola intros FMC handset for Oi (Brazil); Telus merges fixed and mobile units; BT plans flat-fee unlimited wVoIP over WiFi/WiMAX before Christmas (rumour); Aperto claims more buyers apply wVoIP
ICT:
* Belgacom’s offer for Telindus runs December 5-20, FT and Getronics rumoured to counterbid
DTT, DVB, DAB, DMB:
* 3 Italy acquires DTT license holder Canale 7 (for DVB-H)
* Digital TV subs Netherlands +21% yoy (cable + 64%, DTT + 21%, DSB +6%) to 1.04m (of which DSB 56%) as of Sep 30
* LG intros PM 80 for DMB-T
Munibroadband:
* FTTH: Nuenen funding questioned; BellSouth restates opposition to Lafayette plan
* WiFi: Westminster plans extension to residents; Abuja (Nigeria) plans launch Nov 30
* BPL: Manassas disputed by ARRL for not complying to FCC-rules (info filing in BPL database)
Corporate:
* IPO:
-- 20% Telecom Egypt Dec 14 (pricing Dec 7: EGP 14.80)
-- 30% Palestine Telecom planned in Abu Dhabi
-- UOL (Brazil) Dec 16
-- Sony Communication Network (SCN, ‘So-net’) Dec 20 (pricing Dec 8), raise up to $257m
-- Ukraine plans selling 92.86% of Ukrtelecom
-- 3 Italy delayed to 06Q1
-- Eutelsat plans 73.2m new shares (34%) at EUR 11.75-12.75, raise EUR 860m, closes Dec 1
* For sale: Alltel fixed unit, EDT (Colombia), Bitel (Kyrgyzstan)
* State holdings: put up for sale at DT and Swisscom; Spain cancels ‘Golden Share’; Switzerland opposes foreign acquisition by Swisscom (66%)
* Licenses: Kosovo plans second, 06Q1; Zimbabwe revokes TeleAccess’ for failing to start op’s
* DSL: Tele Greenland orders ADSL2+ from Siemens; Free trials F-ADSL (ADSL2+): 120 Mbps at 1.8 km (max 174/18 Mbps); Verizon trials upgrade to 7.1 Mbps
* FTTx: DT willing to share new FTTN network (no timing, pricing); House of Rep’s Netherlands questions funding of Nuenen muni FTTH; French regulator warns against monopoly on new FTTx network from FT
* BPL: Linz AG causes interference and has until Dec 10 to end this; ARRL asks FCC to shut down Manassas (no info to public BPL database by deadline Nov 19); PLC Network Solutions (= Trimax) receives order form Dancom Pakistan (74 offices)
* DOCSIS: Net Servicios intros naked broadband up to 8 Mbps
Wireless – cellular:
* Licenses: Slovakia plans third operator 06H1, Montenegro pkans third license (3G) 06H1
* 4G: Belarus plans trial by new entrant, with Siemens and Ericsson
* MVNO: Tommy Telecom launches in the Netherlands on Telfort (= KPN), 15 c/min and 5 c/SMS
* Budget: Vodafone prepares ‘Tango’ label for Germany
* 3G: 6 operators China (China Mobile, China Unicom, China Telecom, China Netcom, China TieTong, China Satcom) cooperate on TD-SCDMA trial
* TV: Vivendi asks for regulatory clarity (frequency band); deal 3 UK with ITV to add content to MobiTV; 3 Italy acquires DTT-license holder Canale 7 for DVB-H launch mid 2006
* Push email: Vodafone intros in the UK (technology from Visto)
* P2T: trial 3 Scandinavia with Nokia in Sweden
Wireless – short range broadband:
* WiFi: Netgear settles false speed claims
Wireless – long range broadband:
* WiMAX:
-- Pipex trial progresses with Airspan (NLOS, 1 km; 8 Mbps by March 2006)
-- New Zealand Telecom cancels buy of license, Callplus has positive trial results (N-Zl)
-- Croatia awards 10 regional licenses, Switzerland plans 3 more licenses, Thailand plans intro 2006
-- Ikatel (Mali) orders from Alvarion
* WiBro: TI plans trial with PDA’s from Samsung at Winter Olympics
* BWA (BFW): deal First Avenue (bought ART and Teligent assets) with Comcast: access tot PoPs, fiber for backhaul
IP, convergence:
* NGN: Algeria Telecom orders from Huawei
* VoIP: Telfree (SA) launches; Net Servicios (Brazil) and Thailand plan intro 2006; Cisco acquires IP-PBX unit from Digital Software, $15m; Speakeasy expands home area for unlimited calls to 22 countries (80 $/mo including unlimited local and NLD)
* IPTV, triple play:
-- TI launches Dec 2; Tiscali starts trial in the Netherlands (to PC); plan Net Servicios + Embratel (Brazil)
-- PCCW orders HDTV, MPEG-4 for ‘now’ from Tandberg; China Telecom orders form ZTE for 100k homes in Jiangsu; SureWest selects Amino for HDTV STB
-- EC plans heavy regulation for pull (broadcast) and 3 basic rules for push (video clips) (ban on racial hatred, protection of minorities, advertsing disclosure)
* wVoIP, UMA, FMC: TeliaSonera Denmark completes lab trial UMA, intros field trial with Motorola; Motorola intros FMC handset for Oi (Brazil); Telus merges fixed and mobile units; BT plans flat-fee unlimited wVoIP over WiFi/WiMAX before Christmas (rumour); Aperto claims more buyers apply wVoIP
ICT:
* Belgacom’s offer for Telindus runs December 5-20, FT and Getronics rumoured to counterbid
DTT, DVB, DAB, DMB:
* 3 Italy acquires DTT license holder Canale 7 (for DVB-H)
* Digital TV subs Netherlands +21% yoy (cable + 64%, DTT + 21%, DSB +6%) to 1.04m (of which DSB 56%) as of Sep 30
* LG intros PM 80 for DMB-T
Munibroadband:
* FTTH: Nuenen funding questioned; BellSouth restates opposition to Lafayette plan
* WiFi: Westminster plans extension to residents; Abuja (Nigeria) plans launch Nov 30
* BPL: Manassas disputed by ARRL for not complying to FCC-rules (info filing in BPL database)
Corporate:
* IPO:
-- 20% Telecom Egypt Dec 14 (pricing Dec 7: EGP 14.80)
-- 30% Palestine Telecom planned in Abu Dhabi
-- UOL (Brazil) Dec 16
-- Sony Communication Network (SCN, ‘So-net’) Dec 20 (pricing Dec 8), raise up to $257m
-- Ukraine plans selling 92.86% of Ukrtelecom
-- 3 Italy delayed to 06Q1
-- Eutelsat plans 73.2m new shares (34%) at EUR 11.75-12.75, raise EUR 860m, closes Dec 1
* For sale: Alltel fixed unit, EDT (Colombia), Bitel (Kyrgyzstan)
* State holdings: put up for sale at DT and Swisscom; Spain cancels ‘Golden Share’; Switzerland opposes foreign acquisition by Swisscom (66%)
Wednesday Internet Digest
Ads:
* Visitors online classifieds +80% (Pew)
Commerce:
* Online sales US Holidays:
-- Nov: Wal-Mart same-store sales Nov +4.3%
-- Week as of Nov 19: comparison shopping +25% yoy (HitWise)
-- Thanksgiving +12% to $144m
-- Black Friday +22% to $305m (comScore); total retail sales Black Friday -0.9% to $8 bn (ShopperTrak RCT); visitors PriceGrabber.com +77% yoy
-- Thanksgiving weekend: spending offline + online +21.9% to $27.8 bn from 145m shoppers (+9%), average 302.81 $/shopper (survey NRF/BIGresearch)
-- Cyber Monday online: traffic at work +35% to 15m, at home +23% to 15.7m (NetRatings); Visa-card spending +26% to $505m; traffic Shopping.com (= eBay) +26% to 3.4m
* Speurders.nl (= Telegraaf) plans Speurders.nl Professional franchise
Web 2.0: user-generated content, sharing:
* Craigslist plans journalism 06Q1
* Kaboodle (collaborative search, social tagging, social bookmarking) launches
* Premiere Radio Networks (= Clear Channel) launches vlogs from ‘Russ Limbaugh Show’ to iPod Video
OS, browser, Office:
* Mozilla plans mass-marketing for new Firefox 1.5 browser (release Nov 29)
Corporate:
* IPO: Traffic.com lowers range to $10.50-12.50 (from 11.50-13.50) (TRFC.O)
* Visitors online classifieds +80% (Pew)
Commerce:
* Online sales US Holidays:
-- Nov: Wal-Mart same-store sales Nov +4.3%
-- Week as of Nov 19: comparison shopping +25% yoy (HitWise)
-- Thanksgiving +12% to $144m
-- Black Friday +22% to $305m (comScore); total retail sales Black Friday -0.9% to $8 bn (ShopperTrak RCT); visitors PriceGrabber.com +77% yoy
-- Thanksgiving weekend: spending offline + online +21.9% to $27.8 bn from 145m shoppers (+9%), average 302.81 $/shopper (survey NRF/BIGresearch)
-- Cyber Monday online: traffic at work +35% to 15m, at home +23% to 15.7m (NetRatings); Visa-card spending +26% to $505m; traffic Shopping.com (= eBay) +26% to 3.4m
* Speurders.nl (= Telegraaf) plans Speurders.nl Professional franchise
Web 2.0: user-generated content, sharing:
* Craigslist plans journalism 06Q1
* Kaboodle (collaborative search, social tagging, social bookmarking) launches
* Premiere Radio Networks (= Clear Channel) launches vlogs from ‘Russ Limbaugh Show’ to iPod Video
OS, browser, Office:
* Mozilla plans mass-marketing for new Firefox 1.5 browser (release Nov 29)
Corporate:
* IPO: Traffic.com lowers range to $10.50-12.50 (from 11.50-13.50) (TRFC.O)
Wednesday Media Digest
TV:
* MPEG-4: DirecTV starts, target 1500 local and 150 national channels by 2007
* Regulation: EC plans clearance for product placement; FCC plans endorsing a la carte cable subscriptions (source: WSJ)
STB, DVR, Home Gateway:
* TiVo and 5 ad firms (Interpublic, OMD (Omnicom), Starcom Media Vest (Publicis), Richards Group, Comcast Spotlight) plan commercial search, bid for placement spring 06; TiVo plans launch in Taiwan with TGC
* IT’s Logic launches LamaBox (P2P files downloaded and played on TV or burnt to DVD), EUR 280
* Google speculated to work on Google Cube (source: I, Cringely)
* Apple rumoured to work on new Mac mini (‘Kaleidoscope’) with Front Row 2.0 (place-shifting), DVR and iPod dock (source: Think Secret)
Corporate:
* IPO: plan Opus Media (Bollywood.com portal with movie rights; streaming technology) early 2006 in London (raise GBP 50m)
* MPEG-4: DirecTV starts, target 1500 local and 150 national channels by 2007
* Regulation: EC plans clearance for product placement; FCC plans endorsing a la carte cable subscriptions (source: WSJ)
STB, DVR, Home Gateway:
* TiVo and 5 ad firms (Interpublic, OMD (Omnicom), Starcom Media Vest (Publicis), Richards Group, Comcast Spotlight) plan commercial search, bid for placement spring 06; TiVo plans launch in Taiwan with TGC
* IT’s Logic launches LamaBox (P2P files downloaded and played on TV or burnt to DVD), EUR 280
* Google speculated to work on Google Cube (source: I, Cringely)
* Apple rumoured to work on new Mac mini (‘Kaleidoscope’) with Front Row 2.0 (place-shifting), DVR and iPod dock (source: Think Secret)
Corporate:
* IPO: plan Opus Media (Bollywood.com portal with movie rights; streaming technology) early 2006 in London (raise GBP 50m)
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Deutsche Telekom: leading altnet in E-Europe
Deutsche Telekom's Magyar Telekom takes over Orbitel, Bulgaria's largest altnet, for EUR 8m. Magyar Telekom wants to be a leading altnet in Southeast Europe.
Smart move from DT. PTT's in Poland (France Telecom) and the Czech Republic (Telefonica) have not been great investments, suffering the same kind of erosion that occurs at Western European PTT's. Also, broadband in the east is much less developed than in e.g. France, where Telecom Italia is focused.
Smart move from DT. PTT's in Poland (France Telecom) and the Czech Republic (Telefonica) have not been great investments, suffering the same kind of erosion that occurs at Western European PTT's. Also, broadband in the east is much less developed than in e.g. France, where Telecom Italia is focused.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Mauritius will be first again - WiMAX this time
In 1989 Mauritius was the first country on the southern hemisphere to have a wireless network. In 2004 it was the first nation in Africa to have UMTS. And this year it will be the first country in the world to have nationwide WiMAX.
Cyber Island, started in June, will be a reality at the end of this year.
Cyber Island, started in June, will be a reality at the end of this year.
Sunday, November 27, 2005
ErinMedia v. Nielsen Media Research: email dirt?
A judge recently denied Nielsen Media Research' motion to dismiss a case brought forward by erinMedia. This means, we can expect the case to actually go to court.
NMR kind of holds a monopoly on TV ratings in the US, much to the frustration of a number of different interested parties. A settlement doesn't seem likely at this point, as the parties are to entrenched to back out now.
Let's try to figure out where this is going.
First, NMR has wide industry support and its ratings are the de facto currency for the US TV market. At the same time, its monopoly position is constantly attacked, from the sector's regulatory body (Media Rating Council), from the News Corp supported Don't Count Us Out group and from politics, where bills for regulatory oversight are pending. Adding these two (support and attacks) suggests that this is a disputed but accepted monopoly. It's not perfect, but it's the best there is.
Second, erinMedia claims its method is by far superior to NMR's. ErinMedia plans to use set-top box data (from potentially 60% of the population), while NMR uses a sample of households (8k). In other words: erinMedia uses to the full population of a large subset (40% of households don't have a set-top box, as they watch through an arial or through analogue cable), whereas NMR measures the habits of a representative (or so it claims) sample of the entire population. Doesn't seem to be stuff for a judge to decide.
Third, erinMedia claims to seriously want to enter the market. However, it doesn't have a deal yet with a dataprovider (cable or satellite company) or a potential buyer (broadcaster or advertising agency). Or can erinMedia come up with some email, proving that Comcast really would like to do business with them, but unfortunately they are restricted by their NMR contract? Also, erinMedia needs to show that NMR expressly worked on preventing erinMedia from entering the market. Again, this seems to require some kind of email message or so.
Fourth, erinMedia needs to prove abuse of the monopoly position NMR has. NMR supposedly bought (potential) competitors, lured clients into extremely long contracts and used predatory pricing. This seems a tough point to make, as both antitrust authorities and clients aren't clearly protesting.
Fifth, NMR's stranglehold on the market supposedly stifled innovation. However, if we look at two of the most important innovative features (DVR and VoD), the facts seems not to favor erinMedia. NMR is rolling out DVR-measurement and VoD is actually taking off.
Conclusion: erinMedia has a tough case, but we are looking forward to any Balmereske email ('we're gonna f** bury these guys').
NMR kind of holds a monopoly on TV ratings in the US, much to the frustration of a number of different interested parties. A settlement doesn't seem likely at this point, as the parties are to entrenched to back out now.
Let's try to figure out where this is going.
First, NMR has wide industry support and its ratings are the de facto currency for the US TV market. At the same time, its monopoly position is constantly attacked, from the sector's regulatory body (Media Rating Council), from the News Corp supported Don't Count Us Out group and from politics, where bills for regulatory oversight are pending. Adding these two (support and attacks) suggests that this is a disputed but accepted monopoly. It's not perfect, but it's the best there is.
Second, erinMedia claims its method is by far superior to NMR's. ErinMedia plans to use set-top box data (from potentially 60% of the population), while NMR uses a sample of households (8k). In other words: erinMedia uses to the full population of a large subset (40% of households don't have a set-top box, as they watch through an arial or through analogue cable), whereas NMR measures the habits of a representative (or so it claims) sample of the entire population. Doesn't seem to be stuff for a judge to decide.
Third, erinMedia claims to seriously want to enter the market. However, it doesn't have a deal yet with a dataprovider (cable or satellite company) or a potential buyer (broadcaster or advertising agency). Or can erinMedia come up with some email, proving that Comcast really would like to do business with them, but unfortunately they are restricted by their NMR contract? Also, erinMedia needs to show that NMR expressly worked on preventing erinMedia from entering the market. Again, this seems to require some kind of email message or so.
Fourth, erinMedia needs to prove abuse of the monopoly position NMR has. NMR supposedly bought (potential) competitors, lured clients into extremely long contracts and used predatory pricing. This seems a tough point to make, as both antitrust authorities and clients aren't clearly protesting.
Fifth, NMR's stranglehold on the market supposedly stifled innovation. However, if we look at two of the most important innovative features (DVR and VoD), the facts seems not to favor erinMedia. NMR is rolling out DVR-measurement and VoD is actually taking off.
Conclusion: erinMedia has a tough case, but we are looking forward to any Balmereske email ('we're gonna f** bury these guys').
Friday, November 25, 2005
Friday Reader's Digest
Update to WiMAX entry (below): from DailyWireless.org.IMS:
The big picture in this article on Billing World, no technicalities.
Google:
Robert Cringely takes the GoogleNet one step further in this column.
In-building coverage:
One of these nasty bottlenecks. Read Dean Bubley on DVB-H for mobile TV and this article on ElectronicsWeekly on HSDPA.
WiMAX:
This article on Wi-Fi Planet sums up the elements of the certification process, currently in happening in Spain. It also has a link to the white paper that it is based on. The first batch of products could be certified by the end of the year, expect mobility in 2007.
Murdoch's passion for news
Rupert Murdoch, in an utterly unreadable 'interview' with Hollywood Reporter
, displays his 'passion for news'.
THR: Have you used news as a catalyst for change?
Murdoch: No, I just think that if people know, objectively, everything that's happening -- if they know alternative views about what's happening -- then the democracy wins.
The piece reads more like an hagiography, which is interesting because The Hollywood Reporter is owned by VNU. VNU also owns Nielsen Media Research, which News Corp battles through the 'independent' Don't Count Us Out group.
One thing could be of interest. Murdoch states he will not consider a telco merger or takeover, as he has DirecTV/Sky. For two-way connectivity he hails Sprint Nextel for its WIMAX-related spectrum assets.
I suppose adding Sprint Nextel would land him the quadruple play, but how would that combine with the Sprint/cable deal? A combined cable/satellite assault of the Bells?
, displays his 'passion for news'.THR: Have you used news as a catalyst for change?
Murdoch: No, I just think that if people know, objectively, everything that's happening -- if they know alternative views about what's happening -- then the democracy wins.
The piece reads more like an hagiography, which is interesting because The Hollywood Reporter is owned by VNU. VNU also owns Nielsen Media Research, which News Corp battles through the 'independent' Don't Count Us Out group.
One thing could be of interest. Murdoch states he will not consider a telco merger or takeover, as he has DirecTV/Sky. For two-way connectivity he hails Sprint Nextel for its WIMAX-related spectrum assets.
I suppose adding Sprint Nextel would land him the quadruple play, but how would that combine with the Sprint/cable deal? A combined cable/satellite assault of the Bells?
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Eurekster's Swicki
Just created a swicki (search + wiki) social search engine, T.I.M. Search, using Eurekster's technology (beta). Check out the link to the right and the search box way at the bottom.
It uses preferred sites, site recommendations and key words (I included 170). In the future, it will add sponsored search.
Seems to work just fine. A search on the term 'tower' (not included in my 170) returned generally very relevant results. Pretty amazing. Is this the end of Google?
UPDATE: How about this for locking-in users?
It uses preferred sites, site recommendations and key words (I included 170). In the future, it will add sponsored search.
Seems to work just fine. A search on the term 'tower' (not included in my 170) returned generally very relevant results. Pretty amazing. Is this the end of Google?
UPDATE: How about this for locking-in users?
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Wednesday Media Digest
Distribution:
* P2P: i2hub shuts down; NBC Universal deal with Peer Impact (= Wurld Media); Bram Cohen (BitTorrent) settles with MPAA
* AOL, IAC, Hearst, Allen & Co, Accel Partenrs and General Catalyst Partners fund Brightcove $16.2m in Series B VC round
* TiVoToGo extends transfers to iPod Video (Apple) and PSP (Sony)
* Microsoft launches Xbox 360 in the US
Film:
* Blu-ray Disc Group denounces HP technoloy (DRM, interactivity)
* Thomson plans digital cinema in France, UK, Belgium
* 20th Century Fox (News) content on Movielink, 7th studio (adds 1200 titles)
TV:
* Major broadcasters US: DVR recording is good for advertisers
* Cisco buys Scientific-Atlanta, $6.9 bn
* Microsoft partners with CableLabs for HDTV in Windows Media Center (on PC, Xbox 360, etc.), available late 2006
* Analogue-digital transition: delayed in the Netherlands (proposed 2006); House US approves date Dec 2008, $830m for converter subsidies
Games:
* DreamWorks Animation deal with Activision; Liberty Media buys 51% of Fun Technologies
* Microsoft launches Xbox 360 in the US
Print:
* Newspapers US: 47.3m visitors (+15.8%) in September, penetration 31.9% (Q3: 41.5m = 27.7%), time spent 38m08s (NAA); Top 10 sites +11% to 39.3m in October (penetration 25.8%) (Nielsen//NetRatings)
STM:
* 10 publishers (Elsevier, Pearson, Princeton UP, Wiley, Sage, Thomson, Chicago UP, American Psychological Ass, Houghton Mifflin) sue copy shops (Gnomon Copy, Copycat Print Shop)
* Open access: BioMed Central will publish ‘Geochemical Transactions’ form American Chemical Society as of January 1, 2006
Corporate:
IPO: Endemol
M&A: Liberty Media/Fun
* P2P: i2hub shuts down; NBC Universal deal with Peer Impact (= Wurld Media); Bram Cohen (BitTorrent) settles with MPAA
* AOL, IAC, Hearst, Allen & Co, Accel Partenrs and General Catalyst Partners fund Brightcove $16.2m in Series B VC round
* TiVoToGo extends transfers to iPod Video (Apple) and PSP (Sony)
* Microsoft launches Xbox 360 in the US
Film:
* Blu-ray Disc Group denounces HP technoloy (DRM, interactivity)
* Thomson plans digital cinema in France, UK, Belgium
* 20th Century Fox (News) content on Movielink, 7th studio (adds 1200 titles)
TV:
* Major broadcasters US: DVR recording is good for advertisers
* Cisco buys Scientific-Atlanta, $6.9 bn
* Microsoft partners with CableLabs for HDTV in Windows Media Center (on PC, Xbox 360, etc.), available late 2006
* Analogue-digital transition: delayed in the Netherlands (proposed 2006); House US approves date Dec 2008, $830m for converter subsidies
Games:
* DreamWorks Animation deal with Activision; Liberty Media buys 51% of Fun Technologies
* Microsoft launches Xbox 360 in the US
Print:
* Newspapers US: 47.3m visitors (+15.8%) in September, penetration 31.9% (Q3: 41.5m = 27.7%), time spent 38m08s (NAA); Top 10 sites +11% to 39.3m in October (penetration 25.8%) (Nielsen//NetRatings)
STM:
* 10 publishers (Elsevier, Pearson, Princeton UP, Wiley, Sage, Thomson, Chicago UP, American Psychological Ass, Houghton Mifflin) sue copy shops (Gnomon Copy, Copycat Print Shop)
* Open access: BioMed Central will publish ‘Geochemical Transactions’ form American Chemical Society as of January 1, 2006
Corporate:
IPO: Endemol
M&A: Liberty Media/Fun
Wednesday Internet Digest
Commerce:
* Online sales US 05Q3: +26.7% yoy and +5.7% qoq to $22.32 bn = 2.3% of total retail sales (+8.5% yoy and +1.8% qoq to $957.86 bn) (Commerce Dpt; excludes travel, tickets, financial)
* 52% expect more online shopping because of: 24 hrs (81%), time saving (76%), crowd avoiding (75%), research options (54%), comparison shopping (52%), free shipping (50%), high gas prices (49%), but overall holiday budget -7% (survey of 6239 by AOL)
Communication:
* email: usage 52% of internet users (Pew survey of 1577)
Ads:
* Yahoo, AOL, MSN sold out display ads
* Online ads US 05Q3: +33.9% yoy and +4.7% qoq to $3.1 bn (PwC, IAB)
* Holidays US: expected +24% to $19 bn, year total +24% to $82.7 bn (excluding travel, auctions) (comScore)
Search:
* Personalisation: Eurekster intros swicki (learning)
* Desktop: FAST intros ‘Personal Search Platform’; X1 Technologies and SoonR intro desktop search through mobile
* Shopping: Google plans Froogle Local
* Usage: 41% of internet users in Sep/Oct (Pew survey of 1577)
* Unique visitors Oct: Google 75m, Yahoo! 68m, MSN 49.7m, Ask 43.7m, AOL 36.1m (comScore)
User-generated content, sharing:
* Blogs: Yahoo! adds Gawker Media to Yahoo! News; Six Apart’s Typepad suffers outages; AlwaysOn plans GoingOn network early 2006 (blog-network-in-a-box for corporates)
* Podcast: IBM intros ‘IBM and the future of our cities’
* Vlogs: Het Net (KPN) plans intro on Shoobidoo.tv December 2005
* Photo sharing: AOL relaunches AOL Pictures, free; Google rumoured to bid for Riya
* Sharing: Bram Cohen (BitTorrent) settles with MPAA; i2Hub shuts down; deal Peer Impact (= Wurld Media) with NBC Universal
Corporate:
* IPO: plan Liquidity Services (auctions), raise $86m; plan Buy.com, 4.2m shares at $11-13
* Online sales US 05Q3: +26.7% yoy and +5.7% qoq to $22.32 bn = 2.3% of total retail sales (+8.5% yoy and +1.8% qoq to $957.86 bn) (Commerce Dpt; excludes travel, tickets, financial)
* 52% expect more online shopping because of: 24 hrs (81%), time saving (76%), crowd avoiding (75%), research options (54%), comparison shopping (52%), free shipping (50%), high gas prices (49%), but overall holiday budget -7% (survey of 6239 by AOL)
Communication:
* email: usage 52% of internet users (Pew survey of 1577)
Ads:
* Yahoo, AOL, MSN sold out display ads
* Online ads US 05Q3: +33.9% yoy and +4.7% qoq to $3.1 bn (PwC, IAB)
* Holidays US: expected +24% to $19 bn, year total +24% to $82.7 bn (excluding travel, auctions) (comScore)
Search:
* Personalisation: Eurekster intros swicki (learning)
* Desktop: FAST intros ‘Personal Search Platform’; X1 Technologies and SoonR intro desktop search through mobile
* Shopping: Google plans Froogle Local
* Usage: 41% of internet users in Sep/Oct (Pew survey of 1577)
* Unique visitors Oct: Google 75m, Yahoo! 68m, MSN 49.7m, Ask 43.7m, AOL 36.1m (comScore)
User-generated content, sharing:
* Blogs: Yahoo! adds Gawker Media to Yahoo! News; Six Apart’s Typepad suffers outages; AlwaysOn plans GoingOn network early 2006 (blog-network-in-a-box for corporates)
* Podcast: IBM intros ‘IBM and the future of our cities’
* Vlogs: Het Net (KPN) plans intro on Shoobidoo.tv December 2005
* Photo sharing: AOL relaunches AOL Pictures, free; Google rumoured to bid for Riya
* Sharing: Bram Cohen (BitTorrent) settles with MPAA; i2Hub shuts down; deal Peer Impact (= Wurld Media) with NBC Universal
Corporate:
* IPO: plan Liquidity Services (auctions), raise $86m; plan Buy.com, 4.2m shares at $11-13
Wednesday Telecoms Digest
Fixed:
* LLU: BT lowers connection charge 40% to GBP 100; T-HT (Croatia) sues regulator for tariff reductions (to 7 EUR/mo/line from 10.50); Jazztel sues Telefonica for slow provisioning; TI court ordered to provide Tele2 with 41k lines; Magnet Networks plans ADSL2+ and FTTH network Ireland with Industria
* DSL: KPN starts VDSL trial; Telenor increases ADSL-prices and lowers pricing (4 Mbps for 550 NOK/mo to 6 Mbps for 500 NOK/mo); BellSouth intros 6 Mbps service at 47 $/mo
* FTTx: Bundesnetzagentur calls on DT to open planned FTTN network; city of Helmond (Netherlands, 85k pops) plans FTTH, to be managed by BBned (Telecom Italia), investments (EUR 40m) from BBned, city and Nacap; Verizon extends FiOS in NJ and FiOS TV to Herndon, Va; muni plans Fairfield from LISCO (loan from Dpt of Agriculture); Capitol Infrastructure (= Capitol Broadband) orders fiber from Corning for extension from 50k to 200k homes in NC, SC, Fla and Geo; plan Magnet Networks in Ireland
* BPL: order Dancom Private (Malaysia, Pakistan), Pointe of View Developments/Belleview Communities (3 towers in Copper Square in Phoenix, Az) and The Plaza Residences to PLC Network Solutions (= Trimax): BPL, rev sharing, royalties
Wireless – cellular
* MTA: reductions Netherlands (KPN -12%) as of Dec 1
* 2G: tender for 6th license Bangladesh (bidders: Warid, Omniah)
* 2.5G: BTC (Bahamas) orders EV-DO from Lucent
* 3G:
-- EV-DO Rev B (up to 74/27 Mbps)is ready for commercial launch in 06Q1; Lucent works with Datang Telecom Technology on TD-SCDMA
-- Licenses: Lithuania plans tender early 2006; Ireland awards 4th license to Smart
-- sunrise plans GPRS/EDGE/UMTS (max 384 kbps) launch Dec 1, 2005; Globe Telecom plans intro 2006; Vodafone Malta autumn 2006; Smart orders from Huawei
* 3.5G: plan T-Mobile Netherlands
* Data: StarHub intros i-mode
* TV: Alltel intros MobiTV; SFR intros with Streamezzo technology; Vodafone Italy plans with Mediaset via DVB-H
* Push email: Nokia buys Intellisync, $430m; Digitel Mobile (Filippines) plans with
Ericsson
* MVNO: SBC plans AT&T Wireless on Cingular; Vodafone wants to host 10 MVNOs in Japan in 2 years; Cirkle K Stores launches ‘Talk-and-Go Mbile’ on Cingular (prepaid, 20 c/min; MVNE Ztar)
* Budget operator (SIM-only, online): plan Mobistar
* Kids handsets: Cingular intros FireFly
* Licenses: Denmark plans re-auction 4th 3G license (originally Orange) Dec 2
* CPS: intro India
* MNP: intro India
Wireless – short range broadband
* WiFi:
-- Pan-Canada roaming deal among Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility (with Syniverse Technologies); roaming deal Telefonica (1500 hotspots), PT (790) and TI (800)
-- On.net launches nationwide (1000 m^2) in Macedonia with Strix; Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) launches in San Francisco subway; Mountain View ordes network from Google
-- American Biophysics plans January launch of smart ‘Mosquito Magnet’ network (sucks in insects), attracts $15m VC from Ritchie Capital
Wireless – long range broadband
* WiMAX: Liberia plans nationwide network with Motorola (Canopy), build-out 2006-2008, launch June 2006; Taiwan invests; Airspan acquires Radionet (Finland, $1.9m) for WiFi access and roaming; Alvarions expects 802.16e ratification 06Q1; Hokkaido STS extends network with Alvarion; Cablenet (Bulgaria) receives license (new brand name Max Telecom); Mikkelin and Savonlinnan plan network in Savo (eastern Finland) with Alvarion and Intel
* WiBro: KT plans launch June 2006
* UMTS TDD (IPWireless): netZAP wil start a trial in January in Jakarta, with Alcatel
IP, convergence:
* VoIP:
-- BroadVoice elected No 1 by Wired Mag
-- Wanadoo UK leads the market (80k subs in 8 mos)
-- i2Phone plans move to NASDAQ
-- Fairytel.at launches; yakForFree (Yak Comms) launches; Sony launches IVE (VoIP + video) with GlowPoint; KPN commercially launches dual play (ADSL + VoIP); MetTel launches in NY and NJ with UTC Associates and BroadSoft, plans to go nationwide
-- bill US to impose USF charges
-- Skype has deal with Pacific Internet (PacNet, Singapore) for co-branded service, including SkypeOut; Skype distribution deal with RadioShack (for starter kits, headsets and cordless handsets)
* IM: Reuters links messaging system to MSN and AIM; AOL intros AIM Triton (with VoIP and address book)
* IPTV: Ericsson rumoured to plan bid for UTStarcom or Harbor Networks; Smart plans with Sky (‘Sky by Wire’); Guangdong Telecom orders from Huawei; China Telecom plans intro Dec 2005 with UTStarcom and Redback
* Triple play: Verizon intros FiOS TV in second town (Herndon, Va)
* IMS: IBM intros solutions, builds 6 labs worldwide
* WiFi/cellular: Cicero launches platform for roaming
ICT:
* US government (Defense, Postal Service, Housing, Energy) issues RfP for Networx (15k locations)
Munibroadband:
* FTTH: plan Helmond, Fairfield
* WiFi: launch in Macedonia, Mountain View orders from Google
* WiMAX: plan Liberia, Taiwan invests
Regulation:
* FCC: K. Abernathy (R) leaves as of Dec 9
* New-Zealand plans new rules 2006
Corporate:
* M&A: SBC/AT&T closes, Alltel/Midwest, Sprint/Alamosa, CSL/NWM
* IPO: plan PT Bakrie Telecom early 2006; plan Econet Wireless
* LLU: BT lowers connection charge 40% to GBP 100; T-HT (Croatia) sues regulator for tariff reductions (to 7 EUR/mo/line from 10.50); Jazztel sues Telefonica for slow provisioning; TI court ordered to provide Tele2 with 41k lines; Magnet Networks plans ADSL2+ and FTTH network Ireland with Industria
* DSL: KPN starts VDSL trial; Telenor increases ADSL-prices and lowers pricing (4 Mbps for 550 NOK/mo to 6 Mbps for 500 NOK/mo); BellSouth intros 6 Mbps service at 47 $/mo
* FTTx: Bundesnetzagentur calls on DT to open planned FTTN network; city of Helmond (Netherlands, 85k pops) plans FTTH, to be managed by BBned (Telecom Italia), investments (EUR 40m) from BBned, city and Nacap; Verizon extends FiOS in NJ and FiOS TV to Herndon, Va; muni plans Fairfield from LISCO (loan from Dpt of Agriculture); Capitol Infrastructure (= Capitol Broadband) orders fiber from Corning for extension from 50k to 200k homes in NC, SC, Fla and Geo; plan Magnet Networks in Ireland
* BPL: order Dancom Private (Malaysia, Pakistan), Pointe of View Developments/Belleview Communities (3 towers in Copper Square in Phoenix, Az) and The Plaza Residences to PLC Network Solutions (= Trimax): BPL, rev sharing, royalties
Wireless – cellular
* MTA: reductions Netherlands (KPN -12%) as of Dec 1
* 2G: tender for 6th license Bangladesh (bidders: Warid, Omniah)
* 2.5G: BTC (Bahamas) orders EV-DO from Lucent
* 3G:
-- EV-DO Rev B (up to 74/27 Mbps)is ready for commercial launch in 06Q1; Lucent works with Datang Telecom Technology on TD-SCDMA
-- Licenses: Lithuania plans tender early 2006; Ireland awards 4th license to Smart
-- sunrise plans GPRS/EDGE/UMTS (max 384 kbps) launch Dec 1, 2005; Globe Telecom plans intro 2006; Vodafone Malta autumn 2006; Smart orders from Huawei
* 3.5G: plan T-Mobile Netherlands
* Data: StarHub intros i-mode
* TV: Alltel intros MobiTV; SFR intros with Streamezzo technology; Vodafone Italy plans with Mediaset via DVB-H
* Push email: Nokia buys Intellisync, $430m; Digitel Mobile (Filippines) plans with
Ericsson
* MVNO: SBC plans AT&T Wireless on Cingular; Vodafone wants to host 10 MVNOs in Japan in 2 years; Cirkle K Stores launches ‘Talk-and-Go Mbile’ on Cingular (prepaid, 20 c/min; MVNE Ztar)
* Budget operator (SIM-only, online): plan Mobistar
* Kids handsets: Cingular intros FireFly
* Licenses: Denmark plans re-auction 4th 3G license (originally Orange) Dec 2
* CPS: intro India
* MNP: intro India
Wireless – short range broadband
* WiFi:
-- Pan-Canada roaming deal among Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and Telus Mobility (with Syniverse Technologies); roaming deal Telefonica (1500 hotspots), PT (790) and TI (800)
-- On.net launches nationwide (1000 m^2) in Macedonia with Strix; Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) launches in San Francisco subway; Mountain View ordes network from Google
-- American Biophysics plans January launch of smart ‘Mosquito Magnet’ network (sucks in insects), attracts $15m VC from Ritchie Capital
Wireless – long range broadband
* WiMAX: Liberia plans nationwide network with Motorola (Canopy), build-out 2006-2008, launch June 2006; Taiwan invests; Airspan acquires Radionet (Finland, $1.9m) for WiFi access and roaming; Alvarions expects 802.16e ratification 06Q1; Hokkaido STS extends network with Alvarion; Cablenet (Bulgaria) receives license (new brand name Max Telecom); Mikkelin and Savonlinnan plan network in Savo (eastern Finland) with Alvarion and Intel
* WiBro: KT plans launch June 2006
* UMTS TDD (IPWireless): netZAP wil start a trial in January in Jakarta, with Alcatel
IP, convergence:
* VoIP:
-- BroadVoice elected No 1 by Wired Mag
-- Wanadoo UK leads the market (80k subs in 8 mos)
-- i2Phone plans move to NASDAQ
-- Fairytel.at launches; yakForFree (Yak Comms) launches; Sony launches IVE (VoIP + video) with GlowPoint; KPN commercially launches dual play (ADSL + VoIP); MetTel launches in NY and NJ with UTC Associates and BroadSoft, plans to go nationwide
-- bill US to impose USF charges
-- Skype has deal with Pacific Internet (PacNet, Singapore) for co-branded service, including SkypeOut; Skype distribution deal with RadioShack (for starter kits, headsets and cordless handsets)
* IM: Reuters links messaging system to MSN and AIM; AOL intros AIM Triton (with VoIP and address book)
* IPTV: Ericsson rumoured to plan bid for UTStarcom or Harbor Networks; Smart plans with Sky (‘Sky by Wire’); Guangdong Telecom orders from Huawei; China Telecom plans intro Dec 2005 with UTStarcom and Redback
* Triple play: Verizon intros FiOS TV in second town (Herndon, Va)
* IMS: IBM intros solutions, builds 6 labs worldwide
* WiFi/cellular: Cicero launches platform for roaming
ICT:
* US government (Defense, Postal Service, Housing, Energy) issues RfP for Networx (15k locations)
Munibroadband:
* FTTH: plan Helmond, Fairfield
* WiFi: launch in Macedonia, Mountain View orders from Google
* WiMAX: plan Liberia, Taiwan invests
Regulation:
* FCC: K. Abernathy (R) leaves as of Dec 9
* New-Zealand plans new rules 2006
Corporate:
* M&A: SBC/AT&T closes, Alltel/Midwest, Sprint/Alamosa, CSL/NWM
* IPO: plan PT Bakrie Telecom early 2006; plan Econet Wireless
HSDPA fixed-line replacement?
HSDPA is generally welcomed for its speed and latency. However, one thing remains underexposed: spectrum limitations.
Cellular technology is based on sharing capacity. A huge succes of data services could easily congest the system, because mobile operators useually have only 5-10 MHz of spectrum. One solution would be to add base stations. BWA providers useually have a huge advantage. Sprint Nextel, for instance, owns 90 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band.
HSDPA is probably fine for bursty applications, but not for mass-scale video.
Cellular technology is based on sharing capacity. A huge succes of data services could easily congest the system, because mobile operators useually have only 5-10 MHz of spectrum. One solution would be to add base stations. BWA providers useually have a huge advantage. Sprint Nextel, for instance, owns 90 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band.
HSDPA is probably fine for bursty applications, but not for mass-scale video.
CableLabs issues RfI for VoIP peering
CableLabs issued an RfI on several levels for VoIP peering and set a 14 December deadline. It is seeking information on architecture, standards, management and solutions.
A short time table, which could give cable VoIP another boost.
A short time table, which could give cable VoIP another boost.
Finally some support for Nethercomm
Nethercomm is still looking for VC and a trial partner. EarthLink is looking at its BiG-technology: UWB conducted through gas pipes.
Now, West Technology Research Solutions has issued statements endorsing the technology. The full report is $4,000. It could prove useful for attracting future partners.
Now, West Technology Research Solutions has issued statements endorsing the technology. The full report is $4,000. It could prove useful for attracting future partners.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Net neutrality is about choice of ISP
Martin Geddes' opinion on net neutrality, followed by David Isenberg's response and Geddes' reworking, misses one element that I believe has something to do with it: choice of physical access medium.
There must be some sort of consensus about the undesirability of having the streets dug open all the time. Operators are supposed to share the local loop, at least in Europe. This will give ISPs the power to block if they wish (like Zen does in the UK). If you don't like the ISP's blocking or prioritising policies, you simply churn to another. That is why LLU is so important.
Now, of course the US is an entirely different market. Without the obligation to share, Ed Whitacre can dream of charging Google (as Geddes puts it). But here I agree with Isenberg. Users simply have very little choice, with cable not covering the whole nation and having no obligation to share either. So, net neutrality is preferable.
This may change, once BPL, BoS, WiMAX, 4G or BiG become ubiquitous. Only then should everybody owning a local loop be allowed to manage the network as he pleases. But BPL is not realistic as an access medium, as the FCC seems to be dreaming of.
There must be some sort of consensus about the undesirability of having the streets dug open all the time. Operators are supposed to share the local loop, at least in Europe. This will give ISPs the power to block if they wish (like Zen does in the UK). If you don't like the ISP's blocking or prioritising policies, you simply churn to another. That is why LLU is so important.
Now, of course the US is an entirely different market. Without the obligation to share, Ed Whitacre can dream of charging Google (as Geddes puts it). But here I agree with Isenberg. Users simply have very little choice, with cable not covering the whole nation and having no obligation to share either. So, net neutrality is preferable.
This may change, once BPL, BoS, WiMAX, 4G or BiG become ubiquitous. Only then should everybody owning a local loop be allowed to manage the network as he pleases. But BPL is not realistic as an access medium, as the FCC seems to be dreaming of.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Show me the value!
With VNU abandoning the IMS takeover, one could wonder: why not split up all those media conglomerates?
Apparently, there wasn't enough synergy to justify the takeover price. But how much synergy is there in keeping the units of B2B conglomerates like Reed Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, Thomson Corp, McGraw-Hill etc. together? Of course, divisions share IT, HRM and billing functions, but that is merely saying that scale matters. That is not true synergy.
So far, several B2C conglomerates have been splitting up: Viacom will be next, Time Warner sold Warner Music and put AOL on the block; DreamWorks spun-off the animation unit; Emmis Communications spun-off the TV business to concentrate on radio; Clear Channel will off-load the events business and the outdoor activity; Susquehanna sold its cable business to Comcast and the radio unit to Cumulus.
The telecoms arena hasn't seen many split-ups lately (apart form Alltel, Sprint and XO selling-off local/fixed divisions). In the internet realm it's IAC and Cendant spinning off online travel stuff.
Split-up those conglomerates and create focused pure-play companies. Show me the value!
Apparently, there wasn't enough synergy to justify the takeover price. But how much synergy is there in keeping the units of B2B conglomerates like Reed Elsevier, Wolters Kluwer, Thomson Corp, McGraw-Hill etc. together? Of course, divisions share IT, HRM and billing functions, but that is merely saying that scale matters. That is not true synergy.
So far, several B2C conglomerates have been splitting up: Viacom will be next, Time Warner sold Warner Music and put AOL on the block; DreamWorks spun-off the animation unit; Emmis Communications spun-off the TV business to concentrate on radio; Clear Channel will off-load the events business and the outdoor activity; Susquehanna sold its cable business to Comcast and the radio unit to Cumulus.
The telecoms arena hasn't seen many split-ups lately (apart form Alltel, Sprint and XO selling-off local/fixed divisions). In the internet realm it's IAC and Cendant spinning off online travel stuff.
Split-up those conglomerates and create focused pure-play companies. Show me the value!
Friday, November 18, 2005
Friday’s Reader’s Digest
xMax technology:
Read Dean Bubley’s reservations.
Ajax technology:
Articles in the Wall Street Journal and on Wired News.
Web 2.0:
Tim O’Reilly’s ‘what is’, Nicholas Carr’s ‘amorality’ and Om Malik’s dwelling on the subject.
Social networking:
An amusing story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Podcasting:
From an advertising angle, in BusinessWeek Online.
STM publishing:
Stevan Harnad’s response to SSHRC’s consultation, calling for the ‘green road’ to OA publishing.
Read Dean Bubley’s reservations.
Ajax technology:
Articles in the Wall Street Journal and on Wired News.
Web 2.0:
Tim O’Reilly’s ‘what is’, Nicholas Carr’s ‘amorality’ and Om Malik’s dwelling on the subject.
Social networking:
An amusing story in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Podcasting:
From an advertising angle, in BusinessWeek Online.
STM publishing:
Stevan Harnad’s response to SSHRC’s consultation, calling for the ‘green road’ to OA publishing.
Wal-Mart and DVDs
Slate ran an article on Wal-Mart’s reason for supporting Hollywood’s policy of maintaining a movie release schedule which allows for physical DVD sales to prosper. Only 45 days after being available at retailers are movies allowed on PpV systems. Cable is at least 4 months later.
Wal-Mart represents 30% of the DVD retail market.
Mark Cuban tries to collapse the window by having his movies (from HDNet Films) out simultaneously in theaters (he owns Landmark Theaters), on cable (HDNet) and on DVD.
BusinessWeek Online ran a coverage of the Netflix success. How Wal-Mart shut down its service, how Blockbuster is struggling and how Amazon.com still hasn’t entered the US market. Netflix could be a takeover candidate.
Recently, Wal-Mart was rumoured to be preparing in-store kiosk downloads. I wonder who could be their technology partner.
Wal-Mart represents 30% of the DVD retail market.
Mark Cuban tries to collapse the window by having his movies (from HDNet Films) out simultaneously in theaters (he owns Landmark Theaters), on cable (HDNet) and on DVD.
BusinessWeek Online ran a coverage of the Netflix success. How Wal-Mart shut down its service, how Blockbuster is struggling and how Amazon.com still hasn’t entered the US market. Netflix could be a takeover candidate.
Recently, Wal-Mart was rumoured to be preparing in-store kiosk downloads. I wonder who could be their technology partner.
Search: how to lock-in
Nicholas Carr concluded search is a commodity. There is little one can do about that. Carr mentions only three tricks:
- Embed a toolbar on the desktop.
- Personalize, the way Yahoo! works My Search 2.0.
- Embed the search engine in a portal.
I suppose one could think of a few more ways:
- Marketing: boast your index size. Google quit doing this, apparently after having been leap-frogged by Yahoo! in August.
- Advertising: probably a last resort.
- Relevancy, for both organic (algorithmic) and sponsored results. Google so far is winning this game. Personalization + AI could add to this. By the way, Google has its Personalized Search also.
- Loyalty points: maybe a strategy for the future.
Solid if minor steps ahead by KPN
- KPN starts an interesting win-back campaign. What more can you want besides a digital camera?
- KPN buys bankrupted photo chain ‘Kral’ in the Netherlands for ‘a few million euros’. Shops will re-open by December 1, and subsequently will be turned into new multimedia shops. Makes sense, as consumer confusion will only grow once new services hit the market. The number of outlets rises form 100 to 160.
- Such as VDSL. KPN starts a 3-month trial, as stated before, in Zoetermeer. 20-30 Mbps.
Only on the Virgin Islands
BPL provider COMTek calls on ICC to sell the Virgin Islands Daily News. ICC controls not only this newspaper, but a radio station, a TV station and the local phone company, a.o. things. The paper supposedly discredits COMTek as its sister company’s competitor, without disclosing its ties. Also, the paper “turns a blind eye to the many controversies surrounding the business dealings of ICC head Jeffrey Prosser”. Google turns up Belize and Virginia, to name a few.
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