By
technicool on October 9th, 2006
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The Border Mail - Untimed calls in mobile plans
Untimed calls in mobile plans
Telstra chief executive Sol Trujillo in TV advertisement that began last night.
TELSTRA says pricing plans for its NEXT G mobile broadband network offer untimed voice calls to most fixed lines and Telstra mobiles in Australia.
Telstra turned on its $1 billion NEXT G mobile broadband network on Friday, offering high-speed wireless mobile and internet access to 98 per cent of Australians.
The telco says it wants to claim leadership by May next year in the third generation, or 3G, market share for services such as mobile television, email and downloads.
To experience the advantages of the NEXT G network, consumers will pay at least $52 per month, which includes a $40 per month voice plan, and $12 for access to 12 channels of Foxtel for a maximum of 200 minutes.
This, however, does not include the 25c for each local text message, and data charges which can be on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Data charges — the cost of using the internet — can also be set at a $5, $8, or $29 monthly fees depending on the amount of data users intend to access.
Alternatively, users can pay $55 per month for a voice plan that includes a new mobile phone.
Telstra group managing director of consumer marketing and channels, David Moffatt, said customers had been increasingly frustrated by the so-called capped plans.
Capped plans, offered by Telstra and its rivals, Hutchison, Vodafone and Optus, include a $49 cost, for example, with $200 worth of calls, but a higher cost for calls after that.
“This is designed to provide Telstra customers transparency for pricing,” Mr Moffatt said.
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Administrator on October 9th, 2006
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Telstra Launches $1B 3G Network In Australia; $45 Million AFL Content Deal
Australian telecom giant Telstra has officially launched its “turbo-charged NEXT G” network, a HSDPA one.
From the press release:
“We have created a unique ‘My Place’ menu to give our customers easy, 1-click access to nine services and applications that are most relevant to them. With a simple ‘1-touch, 1-click’ our customers can access FOXTEL, Sensis search, BigPond content, music, email, photos, downloads, maps and My Account information.
In an Australian first, customers can:
- watch 12 channels of FOXTEL exclusively on their NEXT G handset, including news, sport, wildlife documentaries, and children’s programs, with more to come;
- access Telstra’s award winning BigPond Mobile service offering entertainment, news, and exclusive content including AFL (for which Telstra
paid $45 million for the digital rights), NRL, and V8 Supercars;
- watch Warner Bros. classic movies and the BBC’s best television programs
on their PCs through the BigPond Movie Download service;
- download a music track to both their mobile and computer in 1-click; and
- benefit from Telstra’s ‘locate me’ technology which matches
their location with their information request through Sensis services such as
CitySearch, WhereIs, Trading Post and Yellow Mobile.”
;
Telstra invested AU$1 billion dollars (746 million US) in the network (on top
of the amount paid to buy into Hutchison’s separate 3G network). Telstra
has made several serious but incompetent attempts into selling mobile content
— for the sake of everybody I hope this attempt is more successful.
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Administrator on July 21st, 2006
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Wicked Pictures Inks U.S. Mobile Deal with Brickhouse
By Matt O’Conner
Monday, April 4, 2005
XBiz - Wicked Pictures Inks U.S. Mobile Deal with Brickhouse
LOS ANGELES — Adult fans on the go will soon be able to download content from Wicked Pictures on wireless devices.
Wicked has signed a five-year deal with Brickhouse Mobile to develop, distribute and sell mobile phone content worldwide.
“Wicked-branded mobile content has been on sale for nearly two years in a number of European countries,” noted Anne Petrie, director of new media at Wicked. “Our agreement with Brickhouse will take our mobile initiatives to the next level with U.S.-based carriers, as well as entering into the burgeoning South American market.”
Brickhouse Mobile President L.R. Clinton Fayling told XBiz that Wicked is creating exclusive wallpapers and videos as well as a limited number of voice tones featuring the company’s contract stars such as Devinn Lane, Sydnee Steele, Julia Ann, Stormy, Jessica Drake and Kaylani Lei. Brickhouse also will cull video clips for download from Wicked’s film library.
“Quality production and beautiful contract stars have enabled Wicked Pictures to set the standard in adult movie making, and we now look forward to helping them set the same standard in the adult mobile space,” Clinton said.
“We’re a full-service agency when it comes to mobile; we handle everything except shooting content,” Clinton told XBiz. “We consult on the creative, choose the right formats for different carriers and make sure the experience is optimal for each user.”
The content will be available later this spring on Wicked’s existing websites and a newly launched Wireless Application Protocol site, as well as through Java and BREW applications on authorized carrier decks.
Consumers will have the option of choosing between a flat-fee monthly subscription offering unlimited viewing or purchasing content on an á la carte basis. Promotional efforts will target males between the ages of 18 and 35.
Clinton was quick to point out that Brickhouse works closely with industry associations, carriers and government organizations to ensure all content complies with U.S. and international standards and that content is viewed only by those of an appropriate age.
“We’re not looking to be rogues or renegades,” he said.
As a result, hardcore content will not be part of Wicked’s initial mobile offering. Instead, Clinton said, the company will focus on sexy, non-explicit content that’s “as harmless as what you’d find in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.” In addition, the company will use a variety of screening methods, including credit card verification and user registration, to prevent the content from being viewed by underage users.
Clinton added that Brickhouse is thinking long term and hopes to help carriers gradually overcome hesitancies about carrying hardcore content.
Earlier this year, Brickhouse and New Frontier Media signed a similar agreement to develop and promote wireless content based on New Frontier’s TEN-branded adult products.
Market potential has been the subject of much speculation in recent months. In January, Jupiter Research forecast revenues to rise as high as $1.9 billion by 2008, while Strategy Analytics last month released a report predicting that global spending on adult mobile content could reach $5 billion by 2010.
Strategic Analytics had originally predicted market potential of $1 billion, but boosted its own estimates based on market demand and a spat of new technologies that make mobile phones more porn friendly.
Similarly, The Yankee Group forecasted that ringtones, which include voice and moan tones, would grow into a billion-dollar market by 2008.
Wireless adult products already are big business in Asia and Europe, where consumers of mobile-based adult content spend an average of $34 per year downloading erotic images and explicit videos.
However, the nation’s largest wireless carrier, Cingular, has made it clear the company is not interested in entering the hardcore arena. The company announced in January that it would no longer offer customers the option of downloading images of adult film stars.
“We’re not going to offer adult content,” said Mark Siegel, a spokesman for Cingular. “That is not compatible with the Cingular brand.”
Verizon and Sprint also are not providing sex-related content, though they do offer images of bikini-clad models.
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Administrator on July 21st, 2006
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The Business Of Putting Flesh On Phones | MocoNews.net
The Business Of Putting Flesh On Phones
Brickhouse MobileThe salacious undertones of reporting on adult content means its often hard to get past the *nudge, nudge — wink, wink* aspect of stories. However, Wired has run a surprisingly straight-up interview with Clinton Fayling, the president of Brickhouse Mobile (a company focussed on mobile adult content) about a recent deal with Wicked Pictures to put its content on mobile phones. It’s a cracking good read for anyone interested in mobile content, and especially in adult mobile content. I can’t quote the whole thing, but this is pertinent: “Think of your PC as Wal-Mart and mobile as 7-11. Within a couple of minutes, you can jump on your phone, find your favorite Wicked video clip, pay for it, and have a quick and easy viewing experience. My apologies to Wal-Mart and 7-11, but I hope you get the point.” I think its an excellent analogy - 7-11 is more expensive, but quicker and more convenient.
A lot of his points can be made equally well to non-adult mobile content, for example: “Well, the big guys will take their share of revenue by name recognition alone. But companies that truly leverage mobile to communicate with their customers in a highly personal way will succeed. Custom content for the phone, interaction services, promotions to drive customers back to the core properties will all be factors.” An interview from the adult industry perspective is here…
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By
technicool on May 21st, 2006
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Near Future of Mobile Content; Handset Is Cash Register
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Print Version
Near Future of Mobile Content; Handset Is Cash Register
By Howard Buzick
E-Commerce Times
04/04/05 5:00 AM PT
Since NTT DoCoMo launched its i-mode service in 1998, there have been varying degrees of hype about the future of mobile content and the revenue potential of applications run on wireless data networks. Early versions of wireless application protocol (WAP) in Europe and North America did not garner much consumer interest.
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Since NTT DoCoMo (NYSE: DCM) Latest News about NTT DoCoMo successfully launched its i-mode service in 1998, there have been varying degrees of hype about the future of mobile content and the revenue potential of applications run on wireless data networks.
Early versions of wireless application protocol (WAP) in Europe and North America did not garner much interest from consumers, but with improvements in technology and business models, momentum is steadily building.
The market for mobile content providers is well developed in Asia. According to IDC, wireless gaming revenues alone in the Asia-Pacific region (excluding Japan) will rise from US$237 million in 2003 to roughly $1.3 billion in 2008.
Payment Via Phone Bill
Already in Europe, mobile content companies are realizing hundreds of millions of euros in annual revenue from delivering content to consumers’ mobile phones. Although mobile content in North America is just now gaining significant traction, it has similar long-term potential.
Micro-billing on the service-user’s phone bill makes payment for content straightforward, and consumers are accustomed to paying for incremental services on their phone — a notable difference from content provided over the wired Internet.
A study released by Juniper Research looked at the worldwide micropayment market with an emphasis on the mobile channel. Juniper projects that the global mobile commerce market, excluding mobile entertainment, will become a $40 billion industry by 2009 fueled by a growth in micropayments.
Juniper reports: “Large numbers of small payments will make up the vast majority of sales via mobile phones, with the average Western European making approximately 28 transactions a year via the mobile phone by 2009. The average cost of each transaction in 2009 in Western Europe is expected to be worth approximately $3.00.”
Both online and on the phone, a lot is riding on consumer’s ability to pay very little, quickly, securely and conveniently.
Mobile Content Services
The economies of scale also work strongly in favor of a mobile content provider. A single service, once developed properly, can be delivered to millions of paying customers at a very small cost. Typically, the wireless carrier handles the billing in exchange for a percentage of revenue, passing along the remainder to the mobile content provider.
The mobile content services that make the most money today in North America follow the pattern first observed in Asia, with personalization generating the most initial interest — ring tones, logos, wallpapers, screensavers, etc. However, this will shift quickly to more complex applications, including interactive java games, stock tickers, mapping systems and video on demand. And mobile consumers will willingly pay for these services.
A survey conducted late last year by ForceNine Consulting and Wirthin Worldwide and released by Harris Interactive (Nasdaq: HPOL) Latest News about Harris Interactive revealed that about 40 percent of U.S. adults with mobile phones who use non-voice applications on those phones also pay extra for them.
The study found that although the charges amounted to just 10 percent of these users’ bills, non-voice app users tend to have higher than average bills.
Andrew Roscoe, partner with ForceNine Consulting, notes, “because non-voice services are in their early, high-growth stage, they are already having an important impact on ARPU [average revenue per user] growth, as was pointed out by several carriers in their second quarter 2004 earnings announcements.”
Complex Development
Noah Elkin of eMarketer points out: “Monthly average revenue per user for voice services has been falling for several years and the pace of decline will accelerate in the next three to five years, putting greater pressure on operators to grow their subscriber rolls. Data service ARPU and revenues, on the other hand, are trending in the opposite direction, and operators increasingly will depend on data services (meaning non-voice content and applications) to bolster their balance sheets.”
All of these opportunities in the mobile content space do, however, come with a challenge. Development of Internet content is relatively straightforward, with many content providers developing only for one browser. Development in the wireless world can be much more complex.
There is a wide range of end-user devices available on the market. On a typical wireless carrier, more than 100 types of handsets all supporting some variety of wireless data services are actively operating on the network. Most of these devices support text messaging and some flavor of WAP Latest News about WAP service. Dozens of them support picture messaging, and a handful today support video on demand services.
Each handset has a different profile, with varying screen height and width, support for different graphic file types, monophonic or polyphonic ring tone capability, compatibility with various flavors of WAP, availability of a range of java classes for application support, and so on. To successfully launch a mobile content service, it is critical to understand the profile of a wide variety of handsets.
Thankfully, the handset manufacturers do publish a detailed profile for each device released on the market. In many cases, however, last minute changes during development make these profiles inaccurate. As a result, most mobile content providers will still have to perform tests against a wide variety of handsets before finally launching a service.
Complete Testing Necessary
The consequences of incomplete testing in some cases can be rather extreme. If a handset cannot support a given content type, users might end up paying for a service that their device cannot download successfully. If a handset does not support a particular java class, it might successfully download the application, but it will not be usable by the paying customer.
Handling customer support issues that involve billing problems will quickly erase the benefits inherent to mobile content services. And that does not even address the damage to the brand from a less than optimal customer experience.
Complete testing of a mobile content service on dozens of handsets can be an onerous task. A simple solution might be to limit availability of the service to a handful of strategically chosen devices, but this would, of course, shrink the number of potential customers for your service. The best answer: find a way to automate testing across a wide range of handsets.
Today there are two major solutions to this problem: automating tests on actual end user handsets, and running an accurate software simulation of these handsets. By doing this, providers can assure customers that what they are paying for works. This can enhance brand loyalty.
As the mobile content market continues to grow, there are numerous opportunities for creative companies to launch unique and profitable services. By recognizing the challenges inherent to these services and by resolving them early, providers can ensure a high-quality experience for all consumers, encourage loyalty and maximize the potential market opportunity for everyone.
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By
Administrator on January 24th, 2006
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Mobile Monday - Breaking News: Ericssonto deliver EMI tunes in Europe
Downloads and ringtunes
Ericssonto deliver EMI tunes in Europe
Timo Poropudas
22 Jan 2006 at 23:45
Ericsson has announced a pan-European mobile music agreement with EMI Music. The agreement allows Ericsson to enable European mobile operators to distribute ringtunes and full-track downloads from EMI’s catalogue in Europe.
The agreement covers music by such EMI artists as Coldplay, Faith Evans, Gorillaz, Norah Jones, KT Tunstall, and Robbie Williams, and Bebe (Spain), Tiziano Ferro (Italy), Wir Sind Helden (Germany) and Raphael (France).
Around 12,000 ringtunes and 200,000 full-track downloads will be made available to consumers through Ericsson under the terms of the agreement. Ericsson’s Personalized Music Portal is a white-label business-to-business solution, and is the most widely commercially deployed personalized mobile music service among operators today.
Ericsson’s Personalized Music Portal is based on the Service Delivery Platform for media services (SDP Media), which enables operators to easily and quickly launch ringtunes and full-track download services at low cost. Content providers, including EMI, provide Ericsson with digital content, and Ericsson negotiates with operators to provide a full management service. This allows the content provider to concentrate on creating and marketing new content, while operators can focus on promoting the service and billing the consumer.
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