Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has implemented a software upgrade for Hutchison 3G Austria (3 Austria) which will improve mobile internet browsing. The so-called direct tunnel functionality is a software upgrade which simplifies the packet core network and the data flow between the end-user and the internet. By modernising its packet core, 3 Austria boosts its network performance to higher speeds and capacity to handle all its data traffic through a single node for the foreseeable future. Jan Trionow, CTO of Hutchison 3G Austria, says: ‘The flat network solution from Nokia Siemens Networks means fewer network elements, better performance, greater flexibility and lower operational costs.’

Verizon Communications has restated its interest in buying out Vodafone’s 45% interest in their US cellular venture Verizon Wireless. The Financial Times quotes Verizon Communications CEO Ivan Seidenberg, who says: ‘Would I like to have 100% of the earnings given we’re doing 100% of the work? Yeah, I would.’ The imminent departure of Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin has fuelled speculation that the UK-based firm could relinquish its stake in Verizon Wireless, with a number of Vodafone shareholders known to be keen to see the firm exit the US. Verizon Wireless is set to become the largest cellular operator in the US if its planned USD28.1 billion acquisition of Alltel goes ahead; Verizon is hoping to complete the deal before the end of this year.

The state-owned Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) says a number of foreign telcos have expressed an interest in acquiring its shares when the government sells off part of its interest in a month’s time. Local press reports did not name the potential investors. TCI has a monopoly in Iran’s fixed line market and is also the country’s largest cellular operator via its subsidiary MCI.

Good white paper from Xtract about advertising and social intelligence. Link is HERE

The latest MIT Technology Review also talks about challenges of advertising in social media and about new solutions to really monetize communities.

This article about H3G Austria implementing a “direct tunnel” for data caught my eye today. It fits into an emerging theme I’ve been seeing about the need to offload mobile data traffic from transiting core network elements unnecessarily. Given that so…

On Friday, citizen reporters, “broadcasting jockeys”, members of Internet communities and bloggers gathered at the OhmyNews’ fourth International Citizens Reporters’ Forum held in Nurtikum Business Tower in Seoul. Under the theme “Candlelight 2008,” they discussed how the candlelight vigils are…

Femto forum gets big ideas: The Femto Forum has hooked up with the Next Generation Mobile Network alliance to push femtocells into network planning for 4G deployments, potentially cutting costs and allowing a more phased roll-out. The two bodies have agreed to work together developing the necessary standards to allow network operators, whether using WiMAX or LTE, to deploy femtocells as part of their network plan rather than just patch things up afterwards.

Interview: Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo : We’ll someday see ubiquitous 4G networks, but there’s no reason to make consumers wait for a mobile broadband experience, according to Telstra CEO Sol Trujillo, who stopped for a brief chat with Light Reading last week at NXTcomm. (See Telstra CEO: Survival of the Bravest.) Trujillo says the regulatory environment in Australia isn’t one that encourages fiber-to-the-home investments, but he notes that there are many other things carriers can do to make sure they deliver a complete set of services to consumers — and hold onto those customers as competition heats up.

Baseband accelerator merges WiMax, LTE: Freescale Semiconductor has unveiled a baseband accelerator chip for both WiMax and LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless 4G network basestations. By supporting both emerging standards, Freescale (Austin, Texas) said its new chip enables wireless carriers to create universal basestations with differentiated channel cards that deliver data rates at 100 Mbits/s and higher.

CDMA operators will choose LTE, says ZTE: Long Term Evolution (LTE) will win over ultra mobile broadband (UMB) and Wimax as the mainstream technology in the race for 4G, suggests a ZTE executive. Even CDMA operators will choose LTE over Qualcomm’s UMB, due to economies of scale, said Shen Donglin, VP of wireless technology at ZTE USA. LTE is the 4G standard for GSM and W-CDMA networks.

Sprint CEO touts WiMAX, calls for end of “walled gardens”: Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse took the stage at NXTComm in Las Vegas this morning to deliver a ringing endorsement of open wireless networks. “Wireless freedom is essential for a fresh flow of new ideas, new innovations, and new investment,” he said in a speech that should make Tim Wu nearly explode with pleasure. “No walled gardens.” As Sprint prepares to launch a 4G WiMAX network (as majority owner in the new Clearwire consortium), Hesse stressed that the network would be open to any application and any device—including cameras, traffic lights, and electricity meters.

dotMobi and AKQA Mobile announced the results of an extensive consumer study of mobile Internet usage and attitudes. Conducted by the AKQA’s Research & Insights department in conjunction with dotMobi, the survey reveals key insights into the importance of a better mobile Web for consumers in the U.S. and U.K.
The survey findings indicated a strong […]

The National Emergency Technology Guard (NETGuard) mobilizes a corps of volunteers with technology experience who could help out after a disaster. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon discusses the effort with NPR (audio). It is funded by the Department of Homeland Security.
NET Guard teams may assist local communities in temporarily reconstituting voice, data, and other […]

I am a bit of a time fanatic and I like all my clocks, watches and Palms to show the correct time. I even have a monthly Palm reminder to go around the house and set all the clocks using BigClock since it shows seconds. For years I have been using a freeware Hotsync conduit […]

I just had an interesting chat with the sales guys in my local branch of Carphone Warehouse. I was inquiring about the new SonyEricsson C902 phone, and so asked them which networks it was available on. They replied that it was supplied in with either O…