Windows store to launch with 600 apps

Microsoft will offer around 600 certified applications when it opens its mobile app store later this year, according to a Washington Post report, despite the Windows Mobile platform having more than 20,000 applications developed for it overall. Consumers will be able to buy applications on their credit card or through their operator bill, and will also be able to return apps within 24 hours if they are not completely satisfied. Microsoft has already signed up a number of software partners, including web music service Pandora, games publisher Electronic Arts and social network site Facebook. Other partners include another games publisher, Gameloft, weather website Accuweather.com, and News Corp's MySpace social network. The store was officially unveiled in February and is scheduled to launch in the first half of this year on smartphones running Microsoft's new Windows Mobile 6.5 platform.

Apple's App Store, which offers around 50,000 apps.
Google's Android store offers around 5,000 apps.
Nokia's Ovi store ??.
source: GSMA Mobile Business Briefing

European mobile roaming price cap starts today

Today's move (1st July 2009) follows adoption of the price curbs by the European Parliament in April, which had already been approved by EU telecoms ministers in November last year.

The roaming price will be capped as follow...

• Text from EUR0.29 to EUR0.11.
• Data (per megabyte) from EUR1.68 to EUR1.00 at wholesale level.
• Outgoing voice (per min) from EUR0.46 to EUR0.43, EUR0.39, EUR0.35 (2009, 2010, 2011, respectively)
• Incoming voice (per min) from EUR0.22 to EUR0.19, EUR0.15, EUR0.11 (2009, 2010, 2011, respectively)
• Operators must offer per-second billing after the first half minute for outgoing calls, and
• per-second billing at the begining of calls received.

However, this regulation measure was criticized as unnecessary as the service prices were already falling.

source: GSMA Mobile Business Briefing

Comcast launches WiMAX services in the US

Comcast Corp, the largest US cable operator, has launched its version of the Clearwire WiMAX service this week offering speeds of up to 4Mb/s, reports Reuters. The service - known as 'Comcast High-Speed 2go' - launched officially in Portland, Oregon, yesterday and is expected to expand to Atlanta, Chicago and Philadelphia before the end of the year. A 'Metro' version of the datacard, which is typically installed into a laptop to allow mobile Internet access, will cost US$49.99 a month when bundled with Comcast's home Internet service, but will only work within the metropolitan coverage area. A nationwide version for US$69.99 a month will allow subscribers to access the Internet via Sprint Nextel's 3G network where the WiMAX network is not available.
Source: GSMA Mobile Business Briefing

EU to set mobile phone charger standard

The drive towards the harmonisation of chargers in the EU took a major step forward this week when the industry submitted a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the Commission, committing to provide chargers compatible with a Micro-USB connector. The Commission said the first generation of new inter-chargeable mobile phones will reach the EU market from 2010 onwards. The MoU was signed by Apple, LG, Motorola, NEC, Nokia, Qualcomm, Research in Motion, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Texas Instruments.
Source: GSMA Mobile Business Briefing

3G licence issue risks delay to 2010

The issuing of third-generation (3G) licences may be put off to the first quarter of next year by a revised schedule from the Office of the National Telecommunications Commission, which could also set back commercial 3G services to late 2010. [The] regulations and policy guidelines should come mid-September.
Wichian Mektrakarn, the president of Advanced Info Service (AIS), said if the NTC further delays issuing 3G licences, AIS faces a loan commitment fee from banks for keeping open the company's credit line. AIS applied for 10 billion baht in bank loans to spend on its 3G investment project by the year-end.
Athueck Asvanund, vice-chairman of True Corporation, said 3G services would be introduced at least six or seven months after a delayed issuing of licences.
But Tore Johnsen, chief executive of second-ranked DTAC, said if 3G has to be delayed to the first quarter, it would not make any significant difference to earlier projections.
Source: Bangkok Post

ก้าวสู่ยุคเทคโนโลยี 3G จุดเปลี่ยนวิถีชีวิต-ธุรกิจโทรคมนาคมไทย

"เอไอเอส-ดีแทค-ทรูมูฟ" โชว์ความพร้อมลงทุนมือถือใหม่ 3G "เงินทุน-เทคโนโลยี" ไม่มีปัญหา รอ "กทช." กดปุ่มพร้อมเดินหน้าลงทุนทันที ย้ำชัดช่วยกระตุ้น ลงทุนทันทีหลักแสนล้านบาท พลิกเศรษฐกิจโงหัว 3 ค่ายมือถือพ้องเสียงยื้อไปถึง ม.ค.ปีหน้าไม่ใช่ปัญหา แต่ต้องตีกรอบให้ชัดเจน และควรมองไกลถึงการพัฒนาอุตสาหกรรมในอนาคต เปิดช่องทางทำมาหากินให้กับ "คอนเทนต์โพรวายเดอร์" เชื่อทำได้จริง "ผู้บริโภค-เอกชน-ประเทศชาติ" ได้ประโยชน์ถ้วนหน้า

เอไอเอสยันไลเซนส์ไม่ออก ผู้ประกอบการไม่กระทบ ขอแค่กติกาชัดเจน
ทรูมูฟชูคอนเทนต์-เอสเอ็มอี กระทุ้งประเด็นทุนต่างชาติ ขอให้กติกาชัดเจนพร้อมแปลงร่างเป็นยักษ์เช่นกัน

ดีแทคพร้อมส่งเสริมคอนเทนต์โพรไวเดอร์

source: ประชาชาติธุรกิจ