Archive for February 2012
indoona: The New Free Service for Calls, Videocalls and Multimedia Messages to the Whole World from Smartphone and PC Soon Improved with New Functions
CAGLIARI, Italy, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ —
indoona, the first free application in Europe to make calls, video calls and send multimedia messages free for indoona users worldwide from smartphone and PC (Wi-Fi and 3G), will soon have more functions:
— Audio notes to send voicemail
— Advanced phonebook management for adding, changing or deleting contacts
— De-activation of the background application for considerable savings in battery life.
indoona combines all the best communication functions together for both voice services and multimedia messaging and it’s the ideal application for social communication. With push notifications you can be reached when the application is off. indoona is currently available for Android and iOS (iPhone, iPod and iPad) and can be downloaded from the Android Market and App Store, or for PC and MAC directly from http://www.indoona.com.
Calls
With indoona you can call other indoona users free with wifi and 3G connections. You can also call other non indoona users cheaply with indoona out.
Videocalls
You can make and receive free video calls with indoona from and to other indoona users, with your smartphone or computer.
Multimedia messages
With indoona you can send free multimedia messages: you can share where you are and send photos and videos.
Intelligent phonebook
Contacts in your smartphone and PC’s phonebook will be ordered and synchronised in the indoona phonebook, which will be constantly updated so you can tell when a contact has downloaded the app and can be called for free.
indoona Out
By buying credit directly through the application or on the website http://www.indoona.com you can cheaply call all landlines and mobiles worldwide starting at less than 1 cent a minute, without incurring an answering fee and based on the actual seconds of the conversation.
An indoona number
With an indoona number you can be called on a landline wherever you are. Your friends, family and colleagues who call you from the same country from an indoona number will only pay the cost of a local call. If you are abroad and they call you on your indoona number, you will also save as you won’t pay roaming costs. The indoona number is available for 15 Euros for 3 months or 48 Euros a year.
SOURCE﹛Tiscali
TripAdvisor App Downloaded 25 Times A Minute
2nd only to Google Earth, TripAdvisor is the world’s most downloaded travel app
SINGAPORE, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — TripAdvisor( http://www.tripadvisor.com )(R), the world’s largest travel site*, today announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that it is, after Google Earth, the world’s most downloaded travel app, according to download data for 2011 provided by app research company Distimo (Note 1).
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/01/26/20120126134542864980-l.jpg )
The TripAdvisor app was downloaded an average of 25 times per minute in January 2012 and has now surpassed 15 million total downloads (Note 2) of the TripAdvisor app across all platforms and devices in 20 languages, making TripAdvisor the global go-to resource for mobile travel planning.
TripAdvisor has also announced its new HTML5 cross-platform tablet app, now available in the Android marketplace. This free app features a clean and simple interface, making it an easy way for travellers to access the millions of reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor. Travellers can see a list of top ranked hotels, restaurants, attractions and more in a destination and use filters to make quick comparisons and choices to meet their travel needs.
In addition, recognizing that over 50 percent of travellers intend to use their phones to find hotels, attractions and restaurants near their current location (Note 3), TripAdvisor has launched a widget for the Android app, which loads a page on your mobile desktop to always show the nearest hotels, attractions and restaurants to where you are.
“TripAdvisor is focused on delivering the best experience to travellers on mobile and tablets and we’re delighted to see that TripAdvisor is the most downloaded travel planning app in the world,” said Nathan Clapton, vice president of mobile partnerships at TripAdvisor. “Mobile is a key initiative for TripAdvisor and we are constantly innovating with partners to develop features for mutual benefit.”
Other TripAdvisor Cross-Platform App Features:
Map-based Browsing
Travellers can conveniently zoom in on an area for more details about the destination they are researching. The app also allows travellers to identify other nearby hotels, restaurants, and attractions for those looking to plan a complete itinerary.
Near Me Now
Travellers can quickly determine what hotels, restaurants, and attractions are nearby their current location.
My Saves
Travellers can save hotel, restaurant, and attraction pages so they can conveniently access them again for future reference.
Photos
App users also have access to TripAdvisor’s more than 10 million brilliant full-screen traveller photos of the places they are planning to visit.
For conference attendees
Nathan Clapton, vice president of mobile partnerships at TripAdvisor, will be at the TripAdvisor pod on the Android stand in Hall 8 (8C25) during Mobile World Congress.
TripAdvisor has free mobile apps available for the iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, Nokia, and Palm smartphones, Android tablets, iPad, and a mobile website available for all major mobile devices. For more information, visit http://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/mobile.
About TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor(R) is the world’s largest travel site, enabling travellers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 60 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to TripAdvisor’s millions of monthly visitors.
TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 18 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 65 million unique monthly visitors**. TripAdvisor’s travel media brands include: ww.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.onetime.com, http://www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com, and http://www.kuxun.cn.
Notes:
1. Source: Distimo study of all mobile app downloads in the travel sector in 2011 across all 65 markets where data is available for Apple App Store for iPad, Apple App Store for iPhone, Google Android Market and Windows Phone Marketplace.
2. Source: internal data
3. Source: PhoCusWright “Mobile hits the mainstream” report 2012
*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, August 2011
**Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Inc. and its subsidiaries, Worldwide, August 2011
(C)2012 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved.
SOURCE﹛TripAdvisor, Inc.
MediaTek’s Full Line of 3G Platforms Aims to Address Mid to Entry-Level Smartphone Market
HSINCHU, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — MediaTek Inc., a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions today announced the availability of the MT6515, its next generation TD smartphone solution for China sub-RMB 1000 (approx. $160 USD) smartphone market. The MT6515 TD smartphone platform solution integrates a powerful 1GHz ARM CortexTM-A9 processor, 3D hardware, and runs the latest “Ice-Cream Sandwich” Android 4.0 release. MediaTek’s latest foray into the 3G smartphone market enables high system performance with low power consumption and high cost-performance ratio that raises the bar for what consumers will come to expect from a TD-SCDMA smartphone experience.
According to a recent report released by the market research firm, Strategy Analytics, in the 3rd quarter of 2011, China overtook the US as the world’s biggest smartphone market. Sub-RMB 1000 smartphones were one the fastest growing segments of this market, due in large part to multiple purchases of these models by China’s three major operators in response to consumer needs. As a result, China has seen a sharp rise in smartphone sales starting in the beginning of 2011. MediaTek, with its years of experience serving the industry, attention to continuous innovation, and recent investments in the arena of 3G technologies, has been perfectly poised to meet the growing needs of this new market. With its cost effective, yet high performance smartphone platforms, MediaTek, along with industry partners (i.e. mobile device manufactures and operators), has emerged as a leader in the recent explosion of popularity of mid and entry-level smartphones.
As a member of China’s TD Industry Alliance (TDiA), MediaTek has invested heavily in the R&D of TD chipsets following the initial release of the TD-SCDMA standard. MediaTek’s signature high integration, yet low power consumption platforms have been introduced into TD operators’ handset customization strategies, and MediaTek currently offers a TD mobile device platform series uniquely customized to meet the needs of the Chinese market. As such, it is little surprise that among the mobile devices included in China Mobile’s multiple terminal procurement lists, one finds a variety of end user products that run on MediaTek-driven TD platforms.
Today, MediaTek announced the availability of the MT6515, its next generation TD smartphone platform for the sub-RMB 1000 smartphone market. The platform offers a powerful 1GHz ARM CortexTM-A9 processor, 3D hardware, and runs the latest “Ice-Cream Sandwich” Android 4.0 release. Multi-media applications and Internet speed have also been optimized. Additionally, the MT6515 TD-SCDMA offers a complete China Mobile 3G package, thus helping increase the speed in which manufacturers can get their products to end-users.
In the field of WCDMA and 3rd generation wireless standards, MediaTek has continued to build upon its proven track record of offering complete mobile device solutions. Worthy of note is the MT6573, MediaTek’s 3.75G smartphone platform released last year. This platform powered the Lenovo A60, China Unicom’s top selling handset in the sub-RMB 1000 smartphone category, and an important factor in the uptick of popularity in phones within this market segment.
Building on the success of the MT6573, MediaTek has released the MT6575, which is designed to run on the latest Android driven platforms. The MT6575 offers a 1GHz ARM(R) CortexTM-A9 processer and runs the latest “Ice-Cream Sandwich” Android 4.0 release. The platform supports dual-SIM solutions, and its web performance, power consumption rates, and multimedia features all meet or exceed industry-leading benchmarks, thus guaranteeing that the MT6575 will deliver a significant uplift in the smoothness of user experience. The MT6575 is currently being incorporated into the latest smartphone offerings by many of MediaTek’s leading customers and the first smartphone models based on this new platform will hit the market at the end of this month.
“Using innovative products to help our customers accurately reflect the needs of the market has always been one of MediaTek’s greatest strengths, and we have continued with this tradition of excellence as we expand into the growing smartphone market. MediaTek’s innovative chipset technology, with our proven reference design and complete software solution models, will ensure that our customers find a place in the growing mid and entry-level smartphone market of tomorrow where, along with power and functionality, cost effectiveness has become a must-have feature,” said Ching-Jiang Hsieh, President of MediaTek.
About MediaTek Inc.
MediaTek Inc. is a leading fabless semiconductor company for wireless communications and digital multimedia solutions. The company is a market leader and pioneer in cutting-edge SOC system solutions for wireless communications, high-definition TV, optical storage, and DVD and Blu-ray products. Founded in 1997 and listed on Taiwan Stock Exchange under the code “2454”, MediaTek is headquartered in Taiwan and has sales or research subsidiaries in Mainland China, Singapore, India, U.S., Japan, Korea, Denmark, England and Dubai. For more information, please visit MediaTek’s website at http://www.mediatek.com.
SOURCE﹛MediaTek Inc.
Alpari Announces Title Sponsorship of World Match Racing Tour
LONDON, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Alpari, a global association of companies providing online foreign exchange (“Forex”, “FX”), precious metals and CFD trading services, today announced a five-year title partnership with the World Match Racing Tour. The agreement sees the world’s leading professional sailing series become the Alpari World Match Racing Tour from February 2012.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/02/27/20120227185606521501.html )
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/02/27/20120227185420784910-l.jpg )
Jim O’Toole, CEO of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, today joined David Stuart from Alpari in the City of London to announce the title sponsorship. To mark the start of the partnership a unique 3D street art project, recreating a match racing scene of two boats going head to head in a winner-takes-all competition, was revealed in the City. Passing City commuters had their photos taken “on board” one of the boats.
The deal will benefit both parties and is a timely boost to global professional sailing where other properties have struggled commercially against a backdrop of tough economic conditions. As a global sports series with events in North America, Asia and Europe, the multimillion-dollar partnership creating the Alpari World Match Racing Tour will help Alpari reach out to even more people across the continents and promote online trading to an even wider audience.
Speaking about the partnership, Jim O’Toole, commented: “To be collaborating with such a forward-thinking and ambitious organisation as Alpari is extremely exciting. We know from our research that the World Match Racing Tour’s fan base provides the perfect audience for Alpari to engage with and build its customer base. The partnership further underlines the strength of the Tour’s commercial proposition and I look forward to working with the Alpari team over the next five years.”
David Stuart from Alpari added, “We are very happy to announce our partnership with the World Match Racing Tour. The Tour and Alpari have so much in common and we’ll both be strengthening our brands by entering into this partnership. The Tour appeals to an international audience and specifically to people who are ambitious and self-motivated. These are essential attributes of successful traders so Alpari’s services should excite them.”
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour begins in May and will feature nine events in Germany, South Korea, USA, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Bermuda and Malaysia. The Tour attracts the world’s best match racers who will compete for the ISAF Match Racing World Championship and the largest prize purse in the world of sailing (US$1.75 million).
Commenting on the season ahead, O’Toole added: “2012 will be a major landmark in the delivery of our owner’s vision for the Tour with the title sponsorship relationship with Alpari, our new venue in Chicago and an exciting line-up of Tour Card Holders including multiple World Champions seeking to break records and rookies hoping to make the big breakthrough. It promises to be a dramatic season all round. We can’t wait for our first race, Match Race Germany, to start!”
Notes to Editors:
2012 Alpari World Match Racing Tour Calendar:
Date Event Location
1 May 23 – 28 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany
2 May 29 – June 3 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, South Korea
3 July 2 – 7 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden
4 July 10 – 15 Chicago Match Cup Chicago, USA
5 July 24 – 29 Portimao Portugal Portimao, Portugal
Match Cup
6 Aug 28 – Sep 2 St. Moritz Match St. Moritz, Switzerland
Race
7 Sep 24 – 29 Match Race France Marseille, France
8 Oct 1 – 7 Argo Group Gold Hamilton, Bermuda
Cup
9 Dec 4 – 9 Monsoon Cup K.Terengganu, Malaysia
About the Alpari World Match Racing Tour:
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring nine World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.
The World Tour awards over US$1.75million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. The prize fund includes a US$500,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams in the Championship.
Events take place in identically supplied racing yachts to place the focus on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore so that spectators and fans can follow the racing in a virtual on-the-water stadium.
Media and television highlights coverage reaches in excess of 183 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wmrt.com
About Alpari:
With a history dating back to 1998, the Alpari companies are among the world’s fastest growing providers of online Forex trading services. The companies provide cutting edge technology, low-cost trading, comprehensive market research tools, advanced educational programmes and world-class customer service.
The association of Alpari companies has offices in over 20 countries. Locations include London, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Dubai, Moscow, Mumbai and Frankfurt. Combined, the companies look after over 170,000 active trading accounts, generating monthly trading volumes in excess of USD210 billion and employ over 630 people worldwide.*
For media contact:
Alpari
James Hughes
+44-20-7426-2800
jhughes@alpari.co.uk
World Match Racing Tour
Audrey Lakai
+60-12-502-2206
audreylakai@wmrt.com
SOURCE﹛Alpari World Match Racing Tour
Alpari Announces Title Sponsorship of World Match Racing Tour
LONDON, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Alpari, a global association of companies providing online foreign exchange (“Forex”, “FX”), precious metals and CFD trading services, today announced a five-year title partnership with the World Match Racing Tour. The agreement sees the world’s leading professional sailing series become the Alpari World Match Racing Tour from February 2012.
(Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/02/27/20120227185606521501.html )
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2012/02/27/20120227185420784910-l.jpg )
Jim O’Toole, CEO of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, today joined David Stuart from Alpari in the City of London to announce the title sponsorship. To mark the start of the partnership a unique 3D street art project, recreating a match racing scene of two boats going head to head in a winner-takes-all competition, was revealed in the City. Passing City commuters had their photos taken “on board” one of the boats.
The deal will benefit both parties and is a timely boost to global professional sailing where other properties have struggled commercially against a backdrop of tough economic conditions. As a global sports series with events in North America, Asia and Europe, the multimillion-dollar partnership creating the Alpari World Match Racing Tour will help Alpari reach out to even more people across the continents and promote online trading to an even wider audience.
Speaking about the partnership, Jim O’Toole, commented: “To be collaborating with such a forward-thinking and ambitious organisation as Alpari is extremely exciting. We know from our research that the World Match Racing Tour’s fan base provides the perfect audience for Alpari to engage with and build its customer base. The partnership further underlines the strength of the Tour’s commercial proposition and I look forward to working with the Alpari team over the next five years.”
David Stuart from Alpari added, “We are very happy to announce our partnership with the World Match Racing Tour. The Tour and Alpari have so much in common and we’ll both be strengthening our brands by entering into this partnership. The Tour appeals to an international audience and specifically to people who are ambitious and self-motivated. These are essential attributes of successful traders so Alpari’s services should excite them.”
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour begins in May and will feature nine events in Germany, South Korea, USA, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, France, Bermuda and Malaysia. The Tour attracts the world’s best match racers who will compete for the ISAF Match Racing World Championship and the largest prize purse in the world of sailing (US$1.75 million).
Commenting on the season ahead, O’Toole added: “2012 will be a major landmark in the delivery of our owner’s vision for the Tour with the title sponsorship relationship with Alpari, our new venue in Chicago and an exciting line-up of Tour Card Holders including multiple World Champions seeking to break records and rookies hoping to make the big breakthrough. It promises to be a dramatic season all round. We can’t wait for our first race, Match Race Germany, to start!”
Notes to Editors:
2012 Alpari World Match Racing Tour Calendar:
Date Event Location
1 May 23 – 28 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany
2 May 29 – June 3 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, South Korea
3 July 2 – 7 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden
4 July 10 – 15 Chicago Match Cup Chicago, USA
5 July 24 – 29 Portimao Portugal Portimao, Portugal
Match Cup
6 Aug 28 – Sep 2 St. Moritz Match St. Moritz, Switzerland
Race
7 Sep 24 – 29 Match Race France Marseille, France
8 Oct 1 – 7 Argo Group Gold Hamilton, Bermuda
Cup
9 Dec 4 – 9 Monsoon Cup K.Terengganu, Malaysia
About the Alpari World Match Racing Tour:
The Alpari World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring nine World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.
The World Tour awards over US$1.75million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. The prize fund includes a US$500,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams in the Championship.
Events take place in identically supplied racing yachts to place the focus on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore so that spectators and fans can follow the racing in a virtual on-the-water stadium.
Media and television highlights coverage reaches in excess of 183 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://www.wmrt.com
About Alpari:
With a history dating back to 1998, the Alpari companies are among the world’s fastest growing providers of online Forex trading services. The companies provide cutting edge technology, low-cost trading, comprehensive market research tools, advanced educational programmes and world-class customer service.
The association of Alpari companies has offices in over 20 countries. Locations include London, New York, Tokyo, Shanghai, Dubai, Moscow, Mumbai and Frankfurt. Combined, the companies look after over 170,000 active trading accounts, generating monthly trading volumes in excess of USD210 billion and employ over 630 people worldwide.*
For media contact:
Alpari
James Hughes
+44-20-7426-2800
jhughes@alpari.co.uk
World Match Racing Tour
Audrey Lakai
+60-12-502-2206
audreylakai@wmrt.com
SOURCE﹛Alpari World Match Racing Tour
Corruption/fraud Ranked as One of the Most Serious Business Challenges in China: Survey
Healthcare, energy sectors most vulnerable to corruption and fraud
Intellectual property infringement and labour disputes identified as serious hindrances
SHANGHAI, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Corruption/fraud is ranked amongst the top five most serious business challenges for American companies operating in China, according to the “China Business Report 2011-2012” jointly released this month by Control Risks, a global business risk consultancy, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai (AmCham Shanghai). This year’s report polled 315 American companies, of which 80 per cent have been operating in China for more than five years and 50 per cent for more than a decade.
Sixty-one per cent of respondents cited corruption and fraud to be a hindrance to their business operations, with 13 per cent saying that these are serious obstacles to their operations and profitability. The most common types of corruption reported were kickbacks to customers (38 per cent), followed by employee fraud (24 per cent) and government tenders (21 per cent). Moreover, 12 per cent of companies indicated that corruption and fraud had worsened in 2011 as compared to 2010. Corruption was seen as most serious in the central region and deteriorating in the North-eastern part of China.
Across the industries, the healthcare and energy sectors reported the highest incidence of corruption and fraud, with healthcare showing marked worsening in corruption and fraud (29% reporting deterioration, by far the worst of any industry). By contrast, the auto and consumer good sectors view corruption to be less of an issue. Respondents said that the increased prevalence of corruption and fraud in the healthcare and energy sectors was due to the rapid growth of the industries, outstripping the authorities’ ability to regulate them effectively.
“This year’s findings provide a reason for both optimism and concern,” said Kent Kedl, Managing Director of China and North Asia for Control Risks. “While many firms continue to place strategic importance to their China operations, the overall incidence of corruption and fraud has risen and these pose significant financial and reputational risks to organisations who are seeking greater exposure in what is increasingly viewed as a mature market rather than an emerging economy.”
Developing the necessary culture and controls to curtail fraud and corruption will be one of the key challenges going forward for businesses. According to the survey, only 30 per cent of the companies said that it is more important to comply with international regulations, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and UK Bribery Act, as well as benchmark their practices against these standards, in comparison to compliance with local laws or a company’s code of conduct.
Adds Mr. Kedl, “If you look at the preponderance of incidences in the last year, companies seem unprepared to deal effectively with fraud and corruption even though they have prioritised compliance on their business agenda. There is a clear need to train senior management, agents, vendors and foreign employees to be compliant with international laws and at the same time, undertake rigorous due diligence before hiring these parties to avoid reputational and financial damage.”
Notwithstanding heightened efforts by the Chinese authorities to curb intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, companies saw little improvement in IPR protection in 2011. More than half of the respondents (54 per cent) consider IPR infringement to be a hindrance to their business, ranking sixth amongst their top business challenges, and 10 per cent said that infringements have worsened as compared to the previous year. Of concern to companies are the uneven application and enforcement of IPR regulations across Chinese cities and this appears to have stalled progress in IPR protection in the last year.
The survey also identified labour and business disputes as a source of concern, with 10 per cent of companies indicating that these disputes pose serious hindrances to the growth of their business. Business disputes were somewhat more likely to have worsened in less developed inland areas of China, but they were of greater concern to larger operations on the East coast. Particularly when the legal and regulatory framework in China has not matured in tandem with the growth of the market, companies looking to minimise the occurrence of business disputes must perform thorough background checks of individuals or companies prior to any investment.
Labour disputes, on the other hand, were of greatest concern in the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta. Although of lesser concern to other areas, labour disputes in Central, Northeast, and Northwest China were reported to have worsened at similar rates. Comparing labour unrest across different industries, it appears that the consumer goods, automobile and electronic sectors were most affected. This was caused by a number of factors such as restructuring and layoffs from slowing export growth, the appreciation of the yuan and accompanying squeeze on margins, and greater awareness of employee rights.
Mr Kedl concludes: “The foremost priority for foreign companies looking to use China as their key export base is to get their labour issues right. Factoring in labour risks during the stakeholder risk assessment process and planning contingencies around protests and other disputes would ensure minimal disruptions to their businesses. The ones who get these issues right are those that will reap the greatest rewards out of this market.”
The AmCham Shanghai China Business Report 2011-2012 includes a detailed analysis of the key business challenges facing American organisations in China. To obtain a copy please visit http://www.amcham-shanghai.org
About the 2011-2012 China Business Report
The 2011-2012 China Business Report highlights the results of the business climate in China, asking companies to answer topics ranging from corporate structure to company performance and plans for future investment. It also covers business challenges that companies face as the market matures, prices rise and competition increases. The survey was conducted online from mid-November through mid- December 2011 by AmCham Shanghai and Control Risks. A total of 315 companies participated in the anonymous survey, yielding a response rate of 20%.
About Control Risks
Control Risks is a global risk consultancy specialising in political, security and integrity risk. The company enables its clients to understand and manage the risks of operating in complex or hostile environments. Through a unique combination of services, wide geographical reach and by adopting a close partnership approach with clients, Control Risks helps organisations effectively solve their problems and realise new opportunities across the world. http://www.controlrisks.com
For more information please contact:
Selina Lim
Regional Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific, Control Risks
Tel: +65-6227-2038 / +65-9108-3620
Email: selina.lim@control-risks.com
SOURCE﹛Control Risks
Acision Research Shows SMS is Still the King of Messaging With Half of UK Smartphone Users Stating They Would be Lost Without it
Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 27, 2012/PRNewswire-Asia/ —
New opportunities for operators to ensure messaging relevance and revenue by providing new services which consumers want and are willing to pay for
— 95% of UK consumers polled actively use SMS
— 93% of Smartphone owners communicate with SMS,
despite access to Instant Messaging (IM) services
— 3 out of 4 Smartphone owners (74%) said they need
SMS, of which 51% state they would be lost without
it
— 68% of Smartphone owners are willing to pay for RCS
type services
According to new research launched by Acision at Mobile World Congress, SMS still dominates the mobile messaging market when compared to other messaging services such as ‘Over the Top’ (OTT) Instant Messaging (IM) services. 95% of all respondents questioned stated they actively use texting, significantly more than the Smartphone owners actively using OTT/IM services such as Facebook Chat (37%), Skype (20%), Twitter (17%), Blackberry Messenger (17%) and WhatsApp (16%) – the five most popular OTT/IM services today.
The research, which was conducted by Vanson Bourne and examines consumer messaging habits and preferences, is the most comprehensive study to date on the mobile messaging landscape. Based on interviews with 1000 mobile device users in the UK across smartphone (63%) and feature phone (37%) owners, the research revealed that SMS proves most popular with smartphone owners – 93% of this demographic reported using SMS. In fact, Smartphone owners appear to appreciate SMS the most, with 3 out of 4 stating a clear need for SMS (74%) – 51% of which say they would be lost without it, despite the ability to access different OTT/IM messaging services on a Smartphone. This highlights the immense value and dependence of text messaging in consumers’ lives today.
When asked about their preference to SMS or OTT/IM mobile messaging services, smartphone owners cited they preferred SMS because of its reach (42%); reliability (42%); price (38%), speed of delivery (37%) and the ability to send to groups (28%). Only 4% of smartphone users said that IM is more reliable and faster than SMS, with 35% saying that they find SMS to be more reliable and faster.
Commenting on the research, Jorgen Nilsson, Chief Executive at Acision, said: “Reports that suggest that SMS is on its deathbed, it seems, have been greatly exaggerated. In fact, it appears that smartphone and feature phone owners alike are united by their affection for text messaging. What is interesting is that SMS seems to excel on devices that have been more commonly associated with IM services. Based on these results, we can see a long and healthy future for SMS, the first and still the greatest of mobile applications.”
While the research shows there is a continuing appetite for SMS, users are also interested in enhanced messaging services. When asked about SMS based personalised services, a significant number of respondents said they would be like to use: message delivery notifications (47%), black/white listing (40%); message copy (37%); message search (37%) and reminder services (35%). This is evidence that there is an opportunity for operators to extend the functionality and life span of text, increase customer loyalty and generate premium revenues.
In order to test the appetite for Rich Communication Suite type services (RCS and RCS-e), respondents were asked to rate a service offered by their operator that would include IM, file transfer, group chat and video sharing, and allow them to exchange messages with all SMS and MMS users. Only 5% of UK Smartphone users said they would not use such a service and 68% said they would be happy to pay for such services, highlighting the revenue-generating potential messaging still has to offer.
Nilsson concluded, “After looking at these results it is clear that while IM is growing in popularity it still has a long way to go to catch up with the reach, reliability and ubiquitous nature of SMS. Analysts are predicting that Mobile IM will exceed 1.3 billion users by 2016*, compared to over 5 billion users with access to SMS today.
“Mobile IM does have its advantages but the market is currently fragmented as services cannot communicate with each other, and relies on a smartphone or tablet device with a mobile broadband connection. As experts in delivering both SMS and IP messaging services, we are excited about the new opportunities in IP messaging services but believe SMS will still play a leading role in our messaging backbone, not only as a connectivity tool but particularly for brands wanting to reach the 5 billion consumers with access to SMS today.”
This research is part of a wider messaging study conducted by Acision, with further results for regions including the US being announced over the coming months. To find out more about Acision’s mobile messaging research and its role in messaging, please visit Acision on stand A93 in Hall 8 or visit us at the GSMA’s RCS Showcase on stand C118 in Hall 8.
-ends-
*Juniper Research( http://www.juniperresearch.com/viewpressrelease.php?pr=248 ) (June 2011): Mobile IM users will exceed 1.3 billion by 2016
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Vanson Bourne and the research
Vanson Bourne, a specialist research-led consultancy, carries out user research within a technology context. The company interviews senior decision makers from a variety of functions, across a whole range of industries, in organisations from the smallest to the largest, in markets around the globe. Vanson Bourne’s clients range from start-ups to well-known companies that need expert guidance, delivering robust and credible research-based analysis.
Acision’s mobile messaging research was conducted in January 2012 with a sample of 1,000 adults in the UK.
About Acision
As the global leader in mobile messaging, Acision connects the world by powering relevant, seamless messaging services, which enrich the mobile communications experience and create new opportunities for carriers and enterprises across the world. For more information, visit Acision at http://www.acision.com
SOURCE﹛Acision UK Ltd
Elitecore Announces NetVertex Policy Manager 6.2 Version
DELHI, India, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ —
Enables service providers tap new opportunity represented by B2B business models – tie-ups with third-party OTTs, content providers
Elitecore Technologies, leading provider of OSS/BSS solutions, announced the release of NetVertex 6.2 Policy Manager. The solution captures 2-sided growth opportunities for service providers through its in-built capability to Identify & manage QoS, Subscriptions, usage & CDR enrichment for Partners that wish to interact with the telco user base such as: OTT providers, content providers, Application providers, device-makers, event organizers and more.
The solution aims to fix existing broken OTT video value chain by raising the bar on consumer expectations for personalized, on-demand content on multiple devices. According to an Elitecore sample survey done with 1000 Smartphone & Tablet users, 22% of users are very willing to pay extra for improved QoE with 32% tablet users showing preference for full-length TV episodes or feature movies.
Dhaval Vora, VP, Product Management and Solutions, Elitecore says, “We are bringing NetVertex 6.2 in response to the crucial role played by the Policy Manager in enabling 2-sided business opportunities such as the Telco 2.0 model. A win-win for all stakeholders in the mobile value chain: the operator generates additional revenues while reducing subscriber churn and creating differentiation, the partner gets instant access to large customer base with reduced time-to-delivery and the end user enjoys reliable, high quality viewing experience on their smart device.”
NetVertex 6.2 supports several innovative partner use cases such as:-
— Sponsored Promotion in HD – eg- Exclusive Movie promotions in HD for enthusiastic IPAD/ tablet users, with 15 mins free promo. Movie production house pays operator for Fermium service (Promo) and thereafter revenue sharing based on video subscriptions.
— Advertisers Model- eg OTT providers may offer its digital advertisers segmented promotions in HD for particular time ( Festive time) or day or Promotion of a new Season of series etc.
— Media & Retailers Model- eg- LIVE events HD Streaming in Partnership with event organizers to increase viewership. Operators notify subscribers over SMS & Email. Subscribers can easily sign up and view the event from Service Selection Portal. The event organizer pays the operator based on number of subscriptions.
NetVertex is available as a standalone policy manager or pre- integrated with Elitecore’s Billing & revenue management suite for platform-based approach to policy. The portfolio integrates with the Service Selection Portal, for Subscriber initiated services.
Press contact
Elitecore Technologies
L K Pathak
Chief Manager Corporate Communications – Elitecore Technologies
M: +91-9925012059
E: l.k.pathak@elitecore.com
SOURCE﹛Elitecore Technologies
Vodafone Portugal Selects Acision Message Controller to Streamline, Enhance and Evolve Messaging Services
Mobile World Congress, BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswireAsia/ — Acision, a global leader in mobile messaging services, today announced that Vodafone Portugal is upgrading its existing Acision messaging infrastructure with the implementation of Acision Message Controller and Acision Flexible Gateway. The deployment of this Acision solution will enable Vodafone Portugal to boost message delivery efficiency and enable new messaging services. This is one of thirty-two Acision Message Controller deployments being rolled out worldwide.
Deployed alongside Acision Flexible Gateway, a flexible real-time mediation and service brokering engine, Acision Message Controller ensures highly efficient real-time charging and enhanced message routing for increased quality of service. It also brings a significant step in messaging architecture evolution and advanced integration of enhanced, cloud based messaging services. By delivering essential features for building new services and revenue streams, Acision Message Controller bridges the future needs of 3G and 4G networks by extending existing mass market services such as SMS and MMS to IP users, and leveraging the opportunity of new IP based messaging services in a single, consolidated environment.
“Acision has always demonstrated reliability, innovation and excellent service delivery, and because of this we have implemented Acision’s technology and services based on our trusted relationship.” said Jorge Bento, Director Network Products & Services, Vodafone Portugal.
Russell Grahame, SVP and General Manager of Europe and Russia at Acision states: “Our strong collaboration with Vodafone Portugal ensures they can continue to deliver premium messaging services to their customers long into the future, and maintain their market leading position.”
“SMS as a service continues to be an important source of mobile operators’ mobile data revenues and growing, protecting and extending this revenue base is a fundamental business objective, which can be underpinned by Acision’s messaging and charging products. In addition, Acision will play a part in Vodafone Portugal’s evolution strategy, enabling the operator to trial new, innovative messaging solutions from Acision’s Cloud based Services Store,” concluded Jorgen Nilsson, Chief Executive, Acision.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Acision
As the global leader in mobile messaging, Acision connects the world by powering relevant, seamless messaging services, which enrich the mobile communications experience and create new opportunities for carriers and enterprises across the world. For more information, visit Acision at http://www.acision.com
For more information, visit Acision at http://www.acision.com
SOURCE﹛Acision UK Ltd
Elitecore Mobile Data Offload Solution Sees Growing Adoption by Leading Telcos
Announces 15 ongoing Wi-Fi Offload trials across SEA, MEA, APAC
DELHI, India, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Elitecore Technologies, a leading provider of OSS/BS solutions, announced successful adoption of its mobile data offload solution across key markets. The solution was launched last year in response to telco demands for a Wi-Fi offload mechanism in response to rising usage of smart devices and bandwidth-rich applications. Elitecore recently deployed its Mobile data Offload Service management platform in live operation for a leading service provider in APAC.
Even as mobile broadband data is growing at 150% per annum, of which video alone would comprise 67% by 2015, the spectrum growth is presently only 6% at best places. There is a huge gap between consumer appetite for data and what operators can fulfill, notwithstanding the fact that top 13% smartphone users consume 78% of data traffic.
Considering that 60% mobile data is already being consumed indoors, Wi-Fi translates into a huge opportunity. The operator benefits from low investment & subscribers enjoy a better QoE, including for multimedia streaming videos.
Says Nikhil Jain, COO & Director, Elitecore Technologies, “Clearly, the Wi-Fi roadmap offers a win-win situation for operators as well as subscribers. Through our solution, we are helping operators overcome the integration challenge of their Mobile IT applications with Wi-Fi. Currently, we are having over 15 ongoing POCs with leading telcos for Elitecore Wi-Fi Service management platform across MEA, SEA & India.”
Nikhil further adds, “The biggest value we offer operators is our support for innovative business cases based on Operator readiness to launch Wi-Fi through our extensive 12 yrs experience in delivering solutions for the Wi-Fi market.”
Elitecore MDO solution can successfully integrate with leading, Wi-Fi Access Controllers, IN, GGSN, Billing & Mediation platforms through its successful POCs completed across SEA, MEA and India. It has successfully implemented test cases supporting multiple devices and a wide range of innovative business cases based on operator infrastructure readiness to launch and monetize Wi-Fi services. It enables new B2B and B2C business models while facilitating Partner management and Interconnect scenarios.
Elitecore Mobile data offload solution offers complete Wi-Fi service management platform with EliteAAA, Captive Portal, Crestel Charging, Crestel Partner management and Elite Charging Gateway to address their challenges of Authentication, Billing and integration with Mobile core. Elitecore has over 2500+ deployments for Wi-Fi across the globe. For more details visit us @ MWC 2012 Barcelona Hall 2.1 A27
SOURCE﹛Elitecore Technologies
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