Norwegian-based Mobile Nordic has introduced its latest entry in the mobile directory battle with the introduction of enhancements to its 118 Mobile product. Mobile Nordic's 118 Mobile product is designed to make mobile search easier through a variety of enhancements, including integration of the phone's call log, reverse lookup, sending free searches to friends, finding people and companies through up-to-date databases, and access to a live agent for assistance.
Mobile Nordic, co-founded by Rudi Rørstad and Inge Andre Sandvik, announced in August 2008 that were back in business now that their non-compete clause from the sale of their first company, Mobile CTI, to Opplysysningen, had expired. Efforts to launch their new service have been underway in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Germany, with Norwegian partner Schibsted.
With the most recent upgrade, Symbian, Java, and Windows Mobile users can now download the Mobile Nordic application from m.get118.com, and receive a two week free trial. Features include:
- automatic reverse lookup of incoming calls;
- preview of incoming SMS messages;
- ability to search by number in the phone’s call log;
- integration of external databases with the internal call log;
- ability to automatically store external information in the phone’s database;
- ability to view listing information on a map;
- links from database to Google or other search engines;
- ability to search external directories for people and companies, using the current country as the default selection;
- ability to send completed search results to friends, to save friends the search expense.
Mobile Nordic says it will introduce further enhancements, including an autosync feature, in the first quarter of 2009. -Stuart Whitaker
Friday, January 9, 2009
Thursday, January 8, 2009
MICROSOFT TO DELIVER PORTAL, LOCAL, INTERNET SEARCH, AND MOBILE ADVERTISING TO VERIZON WIRELESS CUSTOMERS UNDER FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT
The new service will be introduced when Microsoft Live Search becomes available for Verizon Wireless phones. Verizon Wireless customers will be able to access Microsoft Live Search from a device’s home screen, by downloading an application, or through Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Web service. Microsoft will manage search and display advertising on Verizon Wireless' Mobile web service.
According to John Stratton, Verizon's chief marketing officer, wireless data now represents more than 25% of Verizon Wireless' revenue. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says mobile search and advertising offers tremendous opportunities for innovation and growth, and that Microsoft will deliver a fully integrated, voice-enabled solution. -Stuart Whitaker
According to John Stratton, Verizon's chief marketing officer, wireless data now represents more than 25% of Verizon Wireless' revenue. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says mobile search and advertising offers tremendous opportunities for innovation and growth, and that Microsoft will deliver a fully integrated, voice-enabled solution. -Stuart Whitaker
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
VERIZON WIRELESS TO USE MICROSOFT
Reuters reports that Verizon CEO Ivan Seidenberg said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will announce at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that Verizon Wireless will use Microsoft search services. Google and Yahoo are the losers in this contest.
With respect to broader Verizon opportunities, Seidenberg cites Gartner & In-Stat estimates that the Telecommunications industry will grow by US$ 125 B between 2008 and 2013, driven by wireless data, broadband & video, and advertising, content, & applications. US Wireless revenue has doubled in the last six years, spurred in significant degree by growth in wireless data, and Seidenberg sees the wireless industry continuing to evolve from voice to data to broadband. Verizon wireless data revenue has risen from US$ .09 B in the first quarter of 2006 to US$ 2.8 B in the third quarter of 2008. Verizon's wireless data revenue as a percentage of total revenue has increased significantly from 43% in 2005 to 55% in the third quarter of 2008.
Verizon Wireless is expected to surpass AT&T to become the largest US mobile carrier this week with the acquisition of Alltel, which Seidenberg says will bring US$ 9 B of net present value synergies. -Stuart Whitaker
With respect to broader Verizon opportunities, Seidenberg cites Gartner & In-Stat estimates that the Telecommunications industry will grow by US$ 125 B between 2008 and 2013, driven by wireless data, broadband & video, and advertising, content, & applications. US Wireless revenue has doubled in the last six years, spurred in significant degree by growth in wireless data, and Seidenberg sees the wireless industry continuing to evolve from voice to data to broadband. Verizon wireless data revenue has risen from US$ .09 B in the first quarter of 2006 to US$ 2.8 B in the third quarter of 2008. Verizon's wireless data revenue as a percentage of total revenue has increased significantly from 43% in 2005 to 55% in the third quarter of 2008.
Verizon Wireless is expected to surpass AT&T to become the largest US mobile carrier this week with the acquisition of Alltel, which Seidenberg says will bring US$ 9 B of net present value synergies. -Stuart Whitaker
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
SWISSCOM INTRODUCES PRIVACY-PROTECTED MOBILE DIRECTORY SERVICE
Introduction follows along the lines of the service introduced by Belgacom. Swisscom introduced a new service called CONNECT 1811 that connects callers to unlisted Swisscom Mobile NATEL subscribers. Swisscom offers a variety of NATEL packages, including: NATEL easy and NATEL easy liberty, available without subscription; and NATEL basic xtra-liberty and NATEL swiss xtra-liberty plus, available with monthly subscriptions.
To use the service, a caller within Switzerland dials 1811 and states the name and address of the NATEL customer--the called party--who the caller wishes to reach. The called party is notified of the call and can take the call by pressing 5 or saying CONNECT, or can defer the call by pressing 6 or saying SMS, in which case the called party will receive information about the caller by SMS. If the called party is not available, the information is stored for later retrieval.
Because this is an opt-in service, customers who desire to be reachable via this service are invited to send a free text message, "start connect," to 444. Swisscom says the service will begin within 24 hours. Customers may change the address on record by placing a voice call to Swisscom. The service can be stopped as easily by sending a text message, "stop connect," to 444. Business customers must call toll-free to 0800 88 99 11 to opt-in.
This service can connect callers to all private NATEL customers and business customers who have registered. This service cannot reach customers under 16 and fixed line customers who are ex-directory. Commercial use is prohibited.
The cost of the service, which is free of charge to the called party, varies. All callers are charged CHF 1.50 (1 USD = 1.09214 CHF) for the connection, CH 0.70 for the first minute, and CHF 0.22 for additional minutes. NATEL subscription customers pay an additional CHF 0.30 per minute, and prepaid customers pay an additional CHF 0.80 per minute. The cost for callers from other providers depends on each provider.
After a test trial, Belgacom unveiled a similar service in December, 2008 that allows callers to reach unlisted numbers. A significant difference between the services is that the Belgacom service uses the mobile voice mail notification feature, rather than SMS. -Stuart Whitaker
To use the service, a caller within Switzerland dials 1811 and states the name and address of the NATEL customer--the called party--who the caller wishes to reach. The called party is notified of the call and can take the call by pressing 5 or saying CONNECT, or can defer the call by pressing 6 or saying SMS, in which case the called party will receive information about the caller by SMS. If the called party is not available, the information is stored for later retrieval.
Because this is an opt-in service, customers who desire to be reachable via this service are invited to send a free text message, "start connect," to 444. Swisscom says the service will begin within 24 hours. Customers may change the address on record by placing a voice call to Swisscom. The service can be stopped as easily by sending a text message, "stop connect," to 444. Business customers must call toll-free to 0800 88 99 11 to opt-in.
This service can connect callers to all private NATEL customers and business customers who have registered. This service cannot reach customers under 16 and fixed line customers who are ex-directory. Commercial use is prohibited.
The cost of the service, which is free of charge to the called party, varies. All callers are charged CHF 1.50 (1 USD = 1.09214 CHF) for the connection, CH 0.70 for the first minute, and CHF 0.22 for additional minutes. NATEL subscription customers pay an additional CHF 0.30 per minute, and prepaid customers pay an additional CHF 0.80 per minute. The cost for callers from other providers depends on each provider.
After a test trial, Belgacom unveiled a similar service in December, 2008 that allows callers to reach unlisted numbers. A significant difference between the services is that the Belgacom service uses the mobile voice mail notification feature, rather than SMS. -Stuart Whitaker
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