Telecommunications

U.S wireless subscription passes quarter-billion mark

By Darren Quick

20:51 November 14, 2007 PST

November 15, 2007 According to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA), the total estimated wireless subscribership in America has officially passed the 250 million mark. Growth in subscribership has more than quadrupled over the past ten years from just over 55 million at year-end 1997 to more than 250 million today. This represents an increase of 352%. Read More

Entering the era of integrated communications

By Emily Clark

00:57 October 25, 2007 PDT

October 25, 2007 Internet based telephony is nothing new with applications like Skype becoming firmly established in recent years, but fresh initiatives from Microsoft and new approaches such as Voxio’s Flash-based system indicate the continuing expansion of integrated communications into the mainstream.. Read More

VTech releases Bluetooth capable cordless phone

By Darren Quick

16:28 October 10, 2007 PDT

October 11, 2007 Cordless phone manufacturer VTech Communications, Inc. has announced the release of the LS5145, a 5.8 GHz Digital Spread Spectrum expandable cordless phone system incorporating Bluetooth wireless capabilities allowing users to make and receive both cellular and landline calls on the handset. Read More

Virgin Mobile 3jam ‘SMS 2.0’ service for group TXT

By Emily Clark

23:29 September 26, 2007 PDT

September 27, 2007 We are all familiar with the convenience of the “reply all” function when using email to enable us to have group discussions. Virgin Mobile USA has adapted the same principal to TXT to enable phone users to stay in touch with groups of friends. Read More

Underground communication system a potential lifesaver

By Kyle Sherer

04:27 September 22, 2007 PDT

September 22, 2007 Since the beginning of 2006, mining disasters around the world have claimed over 200 lives, a statistic that makes clear the value of this unique two-way "through-the-earth" communication system. Australian company Tiller + Tiller, in association with Mine Site Technologies, have designed the Integrated Communications Cap Lamp, a device aimed at ensuring that miners can instantly and easily be contacted with potentially life saving information about emergencies and evacuation routes in the event of accidents underground. Read More

Mini Bluetooth headset cancels background noise for clear mobile conversations

By Loz Blain

05:12 August 27, 2007 PDT

August 27, 2007 Background noise can make mobile phone conversations in bars, clubs and noisy workplaces virtually incomprehensible – which is why BlueAnt’s new Z9 Bluetooth headset features smart noise cancellation and voice boosting software. The difference is profound – with this tiny, 10-gram device you can now have natural, clear phone conversations in the noisiest environments. Read More

Smartphone adoption growing fast: WiFi phone sales expected to top $145 billion in 2010

By Loz Blain

July 30, 2007 Mobile phone penetration rates around the world are showing up some interesting trends - notably developing markets are selling more phones than ever but making less money as competition tightens. Developed markets are seeing a strong swing away from basic handsets toward more advanced Smartphones – a trend that will only be enhanced by the huge popularity of mass-market targeted handsets like the iPhone, which are starting to make these devices attractive to the consumer market as opposed to just business customers. Other interesting trends include the increasing number of dual-mode WiFi/Cellular phones that can seamlessly switch between local wireless internet connections and 2G cell phone networks to make optimal use of the economic efficiency of the former and the broad coverage of the latter. Read More

“Tornado emergency hotline. Please hold.” - ROSETTA emergency comm. kit puts order back in crisis

By Kyle Sherer

July 18, 2007 In this new age where communication, not ammunition, is the deciding factor in warfare. The ROSETTA-911, a rapid response communications system developed by Platforms Wireless International Corporation, has shown that not only is it effective in battles, but can also assist emergency workers in saving lives. The system enables disparate VHF, UHF, 800 MHz radios, cellular and land-line (secured) telephones, and Internet/VOIP to interconnect and communicate with each other, regardless of differences in equipment makes or brands, communications protocols, and/or communications backbone systems. After successfully demonstrating an earlier model to the US Department of Defense in 2006, PWIC has recently announced the readiness of its new and improved version. Read More

The other iPhone: Linksys' cordless landline with in-built Skype support

By Loz Blain

July 9, 2007 Linksys has stepped into the market with an iPhone of its own - it's nothing to do with Apple's hysterically successful new mobile unit though. The Linksys iPhone is a dual-mode telephone that can operate like a normal landline or hook up to your computer to make or receive peer-to-peer internet voice calls using a Skype client that's loaded directly into the handset. While the quality of Skype connections can range from crystal-clear to highly dodgy, the prices (free worldwide Skype-to-Skype and very cheap international/long distance calls) have made it an extremely popular way to stay in touch; many look upon Skype as the landline version 2.0. The no-frills Linksys iPhone lets you make and answer calls from the landline and Skype in one integrated unit. It looks to be a fantastic tool for heavy Skype users, and will no doubt encourage others to make the switch to internet telephony. Read More

The GlobeSurfer ICON – plug and play wireless broadband

By Mike Hanlon

June 26, 2007 Dutch wireless technology company Option N.V. has one of the simplest internet connectivity solutions on the planet, and one which has become the focal point of a new Scandinavian campaign by Telenor Norway. Weighing just 40 grams, the GlobeSurfer ICON is a self-contained wireless access device which attaches to and draws its power from a PC USB port and provides instant internet access at 3.6 Mbps download (upgradeable to 7.2 Mbps) using HSDPA, 364 kbps upload using UMTS and in areas beyond 3G, it enables reliable 247 kbps data connections over EDGE. Drivers are auto install, there’s a built-in control applet, and one-button connect which all contribute to extraordinary user-friendliness. Read More

GEANT2 helps drive high speed Supercomputer Projects

By Mike Hanlon

June 20, 2007 The speed of collaborative research using Europe’s network of supercomputers will be advanced by a major upgrade announced today. The Distributed European Infrastructure for Supercomputing Applications (DEISA), has increased connectivity speeds ten-fold to 10 Gbps, through dedicated links designed and deployed by the GEANT2 pan-European research and education network. Read More

Middle East becomes second-fastest growing mobile phone market

By Loz Blain

June 15, 2007 Mobile phone market penetration is an excellent measure of technology uptake in different regions around the world and according to new analysis from Wireless Intelligence the Middle East has surged to become the second-fastest growing mobile phone market in the world. With penetration set to cross the 50% mark, over 150 million handsets in circulation and a 30% growth rate in 2006, the Middle East is now only trailing Africa as the fastest-growing market. Read More

Radio-equipped Visa card lets you pay your cab fare with a wave

By Loz Blain

June 13, 2007 For all the convenience of not carrying cash around, credit cards can still be a fairly cumbersome way to pay, particularly for small purcahses. Visa's PayWave system cuts the signature out of the process for transactions under $25; you simply wave your card at a sensor, wait for the green light and go. The system already has about 31,000 implementations in the United States and is now rolling out into New York taxicabs, where it will speed up the payment process. Read More

Noise-cancelling hands-free office headset

By Loz Blain

May 4, 2007 Plantronics' latest wireless professional headset, the CS70N, incorporates noise-cancelling technology for clearer calls from up to 300 feet away from the receiver. Focusing on premium audio performance, style and comfort, the CS70N Wireless Headset System has been optimized for both traditional and IP telephony phones and provides office professionals with excellent hands-free mobility for increased accessibility and efficiency at work. Read More

Skype launches Skype Pro in Europe

By Mike Hanlon

February 22, 2007 VOIP is growing like topsy and the company that leads the charge, Skype, has now rolled out Skype Pro, a new Internet communications package offering zero cents per minute calls to domestic landlines along with a series of premium Skype features and discounts on Skype Certified hardware. Skype’s popular features such as video calls from one Skype user to another, sending instant messages, transferring files, conference calls for up to 10 participants or joining in Skypecasts (live moderated conversations with up to 100 people) remain free to all Skype users across the world. Skype now has over 171 million registered users, is available in 28 languages and generates revenue through its premium offerings such as making and receiving calls to and from landline and mobile phones, voicemail, call forwarding and personalization including ringtones and avatars. For a limited time only, you can purchase Skype Pro on a five month basis for EUR10 and receive EUR5 Skype credit free. After this introductory period, customers can continue with their subscriptions for just EUR2 a month. Read More

Wisair to demonstrate wireless USB camera phone at 3GSM

By Mike Hanlon

February 9, 2007 Ultra Wideband (UWB) and Wireless USB chipset solutions provider, Wisair, has announced it will be demonstrating the use of Wireless USB in camera phones at the 3GSM World Congress next week. The demo, based on Certified Wireless USB, will use the Wisair 542 chip embedded into a Nokia Nseries camera phone to wirelessly send images and video to a laptop computer. Read More

3jam Reply-All Text Messaging Service

By Mike Hanlon

January 30, 2007 With SMS messaging growing and going from strength to strength thanks to its efficiency, ease-of-use, reliability and asynchronous nature, a new reply-all text messaging service offering from 3jam could find a lot of business as people search for more efficient ways to keep people in touch with their friends. 3jam enables users to send a text message to any number of friends at once, have everyone know who got the message, and have the replies go to everyone. Read More

The rise and rise of SMS

By Mike Hanlon

January 26, 2007 Mobile communications means many things to different people, though when the first commercial SMS message was sent on December 3, 1992, its future was not seen as significant in comparison to the potential for voice and multimedia communications – simple text messaging looked like a budget-priced stopgap until mobile bandwidth grew and dropped in price. How wrong we were ! In the late nineties, the technology achieved mainstream status among younger audiences as a medium for audience voting for that other modern day phenomenon, reality television, but its convenient asynchronous nature has seen its star continue to rise and it is now among the most widely used communication mediums of all. Since the turn of the century, text messaging has been experiencing phenomenal growth and figures released this week showing that the number of SMS sent globally for the traditional peak period of New Year increased to a remarkable 33 billion messages on New Year’s Day – that’s 30 percent up on last year. Read More

See’s Eye 2 Eye - an inexpensive Teleprompter plus an added level to webcam communications

By Mike Hanlon

January 18, 2007 Oregon-based Bodelin Technologies is best known for its ProScope HR handheld USB microscope and more recently, its ProPrompter teleprompters., but the company’s latest offering could see it become far more prominent in the future. Using its proprietary teleprompter knowledge and design experience, Bodelin has created a simple yet ingeniously designed product that is useful to any budding video podcaster and adds a new level to video chatting. The US$100 See Eye 2 Eye slides over any external webcam or built in laptop webcam and reflects the window of the person you are chatting with onto a two-way mirror (beam splitter) over your webcam. The result is that you look directly into the camera while looking at the person you are chatting with. Add a text document and your script is reflected in your See Eye 2 Eye and you have an inexpensive teleprompter. No software needed! As telecommunications of all flavours converge, it will become increasingly important to present a professional image via your computer presence - this is hence an important enabling tool for the coming era of ubiquitous telepresence. Read More

The Future - how wireless communications will evolve over the next 20 years

By Mike Hanlon

January 18, 2007 Predicting the future is an essential element of most businesses – without a view of what’s likely to happen it’s difficult to make intelligent investment decisions. In Wireless Communicatons: The Future, a personal prediction by William Webb of Ofcom, Webb helps us to envisage what the communications future holds for us. With a track record of successful predictions, Webb provides a solid, clear and well-argued basis on which to make the predictions of how the wireless industry will evolve. Supported by contributions from eminent wireless experts, he discusses how the next 20 years will see a very substantial, but steady change in the way we live. Read More

The very Qool skyQube VOIP Gateway

By Mike Hanlon

January 10, 2007 Now this is a VERY interesting product that frees up the limitations of Skype by allowing users to chat, sms and skype anytime and anywhere – the Qool skyQube is the world’s first all-in-one smart adapter for Skype, which will be of immense interest for frequent travellers . It acts as a gateway for users to call home at local call rates, allows users to select which skype mate calls are forwarded to their mobile or landlines, an additional callback function allows users to call anywhere using their home number even when they are overseas and a built-in speakerphone enables hands-free usage. The skyQube will come in two versions – one with a GSM module (skyQube 2) and one without (skyQube). The skyQube 2 module enables users to slip in their SIM card so all their received calls and SMSs will be forwarded to their phone in the destination country with Skypeout or to their laptop without phone charges (via Skype). Read More

Online Holiday Season Spending Growing 25 Percent Versus 2005

By Mike Hanlon

December 11, 2006 The internet is growing rapidly in consumer usage and spending and this year will be the biggest year ever by a 25 percent margin over last year. The heaviest online shopping day of the 2006 holiday season is expected to occur this week according to comScore. The inline measurement company yesterday released its estimates of consumer online non-travel (retail) spending at U.S. sites for the 2006 holiday season through December 8 and during the first 38 days of the season this year, total online retail spending reached $15.6 billion, marking a 25-percent increase versus the corresponding days in 2005. “Online consumer spending growth continues to beat expectations,,” said comScore Networks chairman Gian Fulgoni. “The single-biggest online consumer spending day last year was Monday, December 12 with $556 million spent, but this year we’ve already seen 7 days eclipse $600 million in spending. In fact, each of the five days in the most recent work week (Monday, December 4 – Friday, December 8) exceeded $610 million. We expect that the heaviest day of this holiday season will occur during the week of December 11, with sales that should approach $700 million.” Read More

Innovative new RF Noise Cancellation Technology for Wireless Handheld Devices

By Mike Hanlon

December 8. 2006 Quellan today announced the extension of its innovative Wideband noise cancellation technology to mobile handsets and consumer devices. Successfully used in data center applications to improve the crosstalk, speed and reach of interconnects, these smaller and lower power consumer devices reduce noise in wireless handsets, laptop computers and game consoles. Unlike filters, these devices cancel wideband noise in the receivers' input spectrum. By dropping the noise floor at the receivers input, a substantial improvement in signal-to-noise ratio is achieved, resulting in fewer dropped calls, continuous video capability and GPS location locks in high density urban areas. Read More

Spam on the Menu at ITU TELECOM WORLD 2006

By Mike Hanlon

December 7, 2006 China's booming markets and the explosion in high-speed networks globally are creating plenty of optimism at the ITU Telecom World 2006 in Hong Kong this week. Mobile phones and wireless networks now reach about one-third of humanity as worldwide, about 215 million consumers use some sort of broadband network to retrieve content on the Internet, while 60 million subscribers, mostly in Asia, use mobile broadband networks. It is the first time that ITU Telecom World is not held in Geneva, Switzerland, reflecting Asia's strong market potential. One of the highlights of this year’s ITU Telecom World 2006 is a one day event being held tomorrow entitled "Countering Spam Cooperation Agenda". Key international and regional organizations invoIved in the fight against spam will gather to discuss greater collaborative efforts to combat spam and related threats. Read More

Revolabs Solo Tabletop Wireless Boundary Microphone

By Mike Hanlon

December 5, 2006 The world is changing rapidy with remote workers now the norm in many companies, and the enterprise collaboration industry on the rise thanks to fear of flying and productivity benefits on offer. But while virtual meetings are a great idea, they’re not quite there yet with the audio component of high-end conferencing systems – participants on the far end hear extraneous ambient noises while those on the near end are tethered to a central device, limiting mobility and natural meeting dynamics. Revolabs was founded in 2005 with a mission to develop, produce and market secure wireless microphone systems that seamlessly integrate with professional conferencing solutions. The company’s latest announcement is a wireless boundary microphone. The new Solo Tabletop Wireless Boundary Microphone is designed for conference rooms and collaborative spaces and offers an unprecedented level of freedom to room layout and design. Read More