Our in-box is still bulging with news announcements, including some late ones from Mobile World Congress, and some we just havent had chance to cover as yet, so here are brief details. To find out more, check out the news areas of any of the companys websites
IMImobile, which provides technology platforms and value added services to mobile operators and media companies worldwide, has taken control of the Music2You (M2Y) service previously provided by Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN).
Under the M2Y brand, NSN provided full-track music download and subscription services to telecom operators and media companies across the world, including Vodafone in India, AOL in Germany and Akado in Russia. As part of the transaction, IMImobile will migrate those services onto its DaVinci Service Delivery Platform, which powers a wide range of value added services for over 40 operators worldwide. IMImobile says the move will improve operational efficiencies and enable the delivery of innovative value added services.
Mobile advertising firm Out There Media has revealed that it now reaches over 100 million subscribers through partnership agreements with 15 network operators across 14 European countries, via Mobucks, its mobile advertising market place. Of these, 38 million are exclusively available through Out There Media. In line with its international expansion, February 2009 also sees the company open a new office in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Out There Media provides commercial, creative and technical services across the mobile advertising value chain to encompass brands and their agencies, and mobile operators. These include Vodafone, mobilkom austria group, Ogilvy, Lowe, Initiative, Universal McCann, OMD, Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Coca-Cola. During 2008, the company served over 150 campaigns served, and created 150 million ad impressions per month.
Mobile music discovery provider Shazam has revealed that it has almost doubled its user base since September 2008, from 20 million users to 35 million worldwide, with over a million tracks now being tagged every day across the world. Shazam, which is deployed by 75 carriers across 60 countries, was recently voted as the Best App Ever for 2008 on the iPhone in the 'Best Apps Ever' awards, and was also one of the most popular applications on the day that the Android Market launched.
O3SIS AG, which provides mobile messaging, email and synchronization solutions has revealed that it has deployed the next generation of a popular Messaging Service with an unmanned Tier 1 mobile operator in Ireland. The new service offers advanced functionality, including Address Book phone backup and handset synchronization. O3SIS living mobility products help to protect and share personal mobile data and media content. Users can interact and communicate through web, mobile phones, communities and social networks.
The GSM Association (GSMA) has announced new developments in its Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) programme, an initiative that leverages mobile to facilitate access to money transfer services. Complementing the successful alliance that has been in place with The Western Union Company for the past 18 months, the GSMA has selected Belgacom International Carrier Services (Belgacom ICS) and its technology partner eServGlobal as a new remittance provider in the MMT programme. To add further flexibility for operators, the GSMA has also chosen the RBS Group, a global bank, as a remittance partner, and is working with RBS to finalise the offering
Mobile services group Gigafone is launching a mobile advertising service in Germany, in partnership with E-Plus Group, the countrys third largest mobile operator. The Gigafone-branded service is based on the Gigafone Ringmate service, already successfully launched in Russia and Asia. It will be open to all subscribers on the E-Plus network and accessible via the companys new mobile content platform.
Gigafone will provide the operators subscriber base with a way to receive ads relevant to their lifestyle choices on an opt-in basis. In return, users will be incentivised by pre-pay top ups or vouchers, depending on the number of ads they view. Users have full control over the type of advertising they receive, via a simple sign-up process on the handset.
Stantum Technologies, which develops multi-touch sensing technology, and Vision Objects, the handwriting recognition specialist, have combined their respective technologies to provide a state-of-the-art solution for the mobile market. The solution combines Stantums multi-touch technology with Vision Objects MyScript handwriting recognition offering, to enable users to write a message with either their fingertips or a stylus and see their text instantly and accurately transcribed into digital text. The companies say that MyScript not only recognizes all handwriting styles but also intuitive gestures that allow users to write naturally, insert spaces and line breaks, and easily correct text by editing gestures, from simple backspace gestures to natural scratch-outs.
Mobile marketing firm Txtlocal has cut its shared Shortcode (60777) costs by 66% in a bid to make mobile marketing more affordable to small businesses hit by the current economic downturn. The company says the move is already paying off with a number of existing clients upgrading their service to include a Shortcode.
Shortcodes are mainly associated with TV and radio, with operators running text-to-win competitions and voting initiatives aimed at viewers and listeners. However, Txtlocal aim to change the perception that short codes are only for big business enterprise by targeting SMEs and educating them on the benefits of mobile marketing for lead generation and customer service purposes. It says the top sectors making the move include hair & beauty salons, finance companies, golf clubs and local councils. Feedback confirms that the primary goal of these businesses is to build an opt-in list of customer numbers to engage and communicate.
Keynote Systems, which specialises in on-demand mobile and Internet test & measurement solutions has announced the addition of leading Smartphones to the companys on-demand global network for testing and monitoring the performance of mobile applications, content and services.
The Apple iPhone, BlackBerry, LG Dare, Samsung Instinct and Nokia N95 have been installed within Keynotes on-demand test and measurement network in London, New York and San Francisco. Keynote and its subsidiary Keynote SIGOS provide customers with the ability to test mobile performance on over 200 mobile networks across more than 70 countries. Keynotes network is comprised of real and simulated devices, user-provided SIMs and wireless modems. 
Mobile email and synchronisation company Synchronica plc has announced a global reseller agreement with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), enabling NSN to offer Synchronica Mobile Gateway, a standards-based push email and synchronisation solution, to mobile operators worldwide. Synchronica says that NSN selected its solution because it provides carrier-grade scalability, supports mass market handsets, and is suitable for both businesses and consumers. Mobile Gateway requires no additional client
software to be installed on the device and supports a wide range of devices, including entry-level devices.
LG Electronics and GeoSentric Oyjs GyPSii business unit have announced a partnership to embed GyPSiis location-enabled mobile digital lifestyle application on a range of new mobile devices. Under the terms of the deal, LGs mobile customers will have access to GyPSiis broad range of location-aware functions and mobile lifestyle services, including user-generated content sharing, friend finding and social networking application, as well as the ability to view it all on a map, within a single, easy-to-navigate user interface. The service will be provided in partnership with Intrinsyc, LGs navigation solution provider.
Red Bend Software, which specialises in Mobile Software Management (MSM), has announced that Intel Corporation has licensed its vDirect Mobile device management client for use in the Intel embedded WiMAX chipset based on Intel Centrino 2 Processor Technology. The first Red Bend-enabled Intel chipsets began shipping in fall 2008 with the back-to-school release of Intel-based notebook PCs, which will reach consumers in the US and Japan from operators Clearwire and UQ, respectively.
Separately, Red Bend has revealed that its MSM solution will be deployed this year in Android smartphones sold to mobile consumers in China and international markets. Software platform provider Borqs International Holding has adopted Red Bends vCurrent Mobile firmware over-the-air updating software and vDirect Mobile device management software for its Open Mobile System (OMS) platform based on Google Android. Borqs is on track to launch multiple Android-based handsets with its OEM partners for China and other markets in the first half of 2009. Red Bend has also announced the availability of release 4 of vDirect Mobile.
Messaging company Acision has announced the launch of Acision Broadband Mobility Suite, a network-independent, end-to-end solution which dynamically controls and monetizes broadband services across any device, network, application and payment method. Acision says the solution enables operators to increase their Average Profit Per MegaByte (APPMB), by decreasing the need for network capacity investments, while easily exploring new services and revenue opportunities.
Acision Broadband Mobility Suite enables operators to control individual broadband traffic, optimise and compress traffic flows, and differentiate the broadband service. As a result operators can decrease network cost by reducing bandwidth consumption and minimizing traffic during peak hours. They can also increase revenues by quickly creating value added services and grow mobile internet penetration by enabling the service for all types of devices.
Vodafone UK is looking to make three customers Instant Messaging (IM) millionaires by the end of next month. Customers aged over 16 will be automatically entered into the competition simply by sending Instant Messages through Vodafone Messenger. Three customers will then win the cash equivalent of one million instant messages (3,000) and become IM Millionaires. Vodafone messenger allows customers to chat to their Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! buddies from their mobile phones.
Anyone wishing to enter the competition should download the Vodafone Messenger application to a compatible Vodafone mobile phone here, and then and log into the account.
www.vodafonemessenger.info/uk Start chatting to friends through the IM application and you will be automatically entered into the prize draw. After 31 March, three Instant Messengers will be chosen at random to become Messenger Millionaires.
SingTel, Singapores largest mobile operator, has selected Comverse HUB Mobile Advertising to provide an advertising service that analyses subscriber information and location and then delivers ads using multiple media formats and channels. Mobile Advertising is part of the Comverse HUB of value-added services that spans voice, messaging, mobile internet and mobile advertising. Comverse HUB is a synergistic framework that enables service providers to maximise their business performance and augment their position in the market.
Mobixell Networks has launched Videon version 3.0, its Mobile TV and video product for operators. Videon, which is commercially installed at various mobile operators around the world, enables the delivery of new video services, including video-on-demand, live channels and Internet video, over a variety and diversity of mobile devices, domains and networks, simply and at optimum quality. Improvements to Videon version 3.0 include the integration of a mobile Internet gateway, an acquisition system, an ad injector, streaming server and bit rate adaptation technology.
3G Americas, a wireless industry trade association representing the GSM family of technologies including LTE, and the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance have announced a cooperation agreement between the two associations in support of the development and commercialization of next generation mobile broadband technologies and services. The agreement will focus on areas related to next generation mobile broadband, including information exchange, project-based cooperation and work on public relations, marketing and advocacy opportunities.
