AT&T improves 3G with move to 850MHz

US operator AT&T has reportedly begun rolling out 3G services in the 850MHz spectrum band with positive results from users. The company has previously operated 3G networks in the 1900MHz band, but the new spectrum has been freed up by the closure last year of its TDMA network. AT&T has not released specific details on the switchover, but reports suggest activation has already occurred in San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas, amongst other areas.

source: GMBB

Docomo expects Tata JV to become profitable in 3 years

NTT Docomo expects its Indian joint venture with Tata Teleservices (TTSL) to be profitable in three years and would consider further investment in the world's fastest-growing mobile market, according to an Economic Times report.

Docomo bought its stake in TTSL for US$2.7 billion last year with initial plans to invest US$2 billion in a new GSM network.

source: GMBB

Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows Mobile 7

Microsoft is expected to launch the next version of Windows Mobile - version 6.5 - on 1 October 2009 but will continue to develop the platform even after it launches the long-awaited Windows Mobile 7, which is scheduled to launch in the last quarter of the year. The reported roadmap will see Microsoft lower the price of 6.5 when Windows Mobile 7 arrives and will upgrade it with a touch interface in February 2010.

source: digitimes.com

Nokia eyes growth in rural India

According to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report, the Finnish vendor plans to sell handsets in some rural Indian areas under a programme that allows the purchasers to pay in installments. The report notes that Nokia plans to roll out the installment scheme to sell its handsets in 12 Indian states after a pilot programme covering more than 2,500 villages in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The report adds that under the pilot programme a micro-finance organisation bought handsets from Nokia and sold them to women in rural areas by charging them INR100 (US$2) for up to 25 weeks.

source: GMBB

KDDI aims LTE in 2012

Japan's second-largest operator KDDI revealed further plans for its launch of LTE networks, announcing Motorola (Motorola's first public order for LTE equipment) and NEC as suppliers of radio access (base station) kit and declaring commercial availability by December 2012. Trials are scheduled to begin in mid 2010. The network will be deployed in both 1.5GHz and 800MHz spectrum bands, with 96.5 percent of the country covered by the end of 2014. The operator also plans to launch LTE-equipped mobile phones in time for commercial launch. According to a Reuters report, KDDI will spend roughly JPY500 billion (US$5.3 billion) on its LTE technology.

In December the operator announced it had chosen Hitachi and Nortel as LTE vendors for its core network (before Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection).

source: GMBB

iPhone hurts operators!

Strand Consult says not one of the operators analysed have increased their market share, revenue, or earnings as a result of introducing the iPhone, whilst some operators have even sent out profit warnings because of the device.

source: Strand Consult