| MAY |
Spam/handset security
The second in a two-part security series
looks at the problems of spam and device
security. There are always anti-virus
specialists on hand to hype the problems
of spam but what is the reality? What is
the magnitude of the problem, where is
the spam coming from and what can be
done to stop it? Whose responsibility
should it be to combat mobile spam?
|
Segmentation
The vast majority of customer
segmentation schemes are driven by
factors such as handset features,
subscriber demographics and operator
billing requirements, not by actual
customer behaviour data and insight. Is
this approach valid for a data-centric
world? We examine the operators and
strategies that drive positive results.
|
i-mode around the world
Slowly, and after some initial teething
troubles, NTT DoCoMo's domestic
content success story, the i-mode
service, has been picked up by operators
around the world. Among its champions
is Telefonica, the world's number two
global operator following the acquisition
of O2. How are these services performing
against the established offerings of
operators such as Vodafone and Orange?
|
| JUNE |
WiMax
What developments have been seen in the first half of 2006 for a technology that, its proponents claim, could unseat the most entrenched of cellular standards? Will operators be closer to embracing it, either for data or for backhaul transmission? |
EMH follow-up
One of the biggest stories of 2005 was the emerging market handset project that saw a cluster of operators, marshalled by the GSM Association, pressurise the vendor community into producing a low-cost handset to help grow developing markets. How successful has the project been? |
Banking
Just as emerging markets have embraced wireless telephony due to a lack of fixed infrastructure, mobile banking is proving more popular in these countries than in more advanced nations. Mobile is becoming a currency and, in many cases, represents end users' only official credit or financial account. What services have appeared and what lessons can be learned? |
| JULY/AUGUST |
Roaming
The days of finger in the air pricing for roaming could well be over for European carriers as the EC crusades to bring costs down. What’s driven this, just how much has the system been subject to abuse and have operators stalled on roaming costs for too long?
|
Mobile Device management
Dynamic updates to the phone could give operators unprecedented opportunities in terms of marketing and content. But what do the vendors think about their handsets being essentially upgradeable without the user needing to buy a new phone?
|
EMH follow-up
One of the biggest stories of 2005 was the Emerging Market Handset project. It saw a cluster of operators, marshalled by the GSM Association, pressurise the vendor community into producinga low-cost handset to help grow developing markets. How successful has the project been?
|
| SEPTEMBER |
Net Neutrality
Internet founding fathers, privacy/digital rights activists and the IT industry are plunging into a furious campaign to maintain the end-to-end principle of the Net as a new US Telecoms Bill approaches and the US telecommunications industry reconsolidates. Net neutrality, as they call it, would ban ISPs/telcos from applying different pricing, QOS or other terms to different forms of traffic.
|
Quadplay
Convergence has been a buzzword for years but now M&A activity in the market shows that providers of pay TV, Broadband, Mobile and Fixed telephony believe that the future lies in being able to offer all four services. Is this just another vendor-led hype cycle or are the days of the pure play operator running down?
|
Korea/Japan
Korea and Japan, arguably the world’s leading mobile markets remain years ahead of even the most advanced of other territories. What are the latest developments emerging from these markets and what can the rest of the world learn about the success and failure of new services going forward.
|
| OCTOBER |
Video Blogging
The service that finally seems to be putting MMS and handset capability to genuine use. The content is user generated and therefore free to acquire. The cost to consumer is low because it’s cheap, meaningless content. It’s mostly people posting saucy images of their girlfriends and it’s very, very popular. 3 rates it massively.
|
The Vendor Community
Consolidation is finally happening in the vendor community. What impact will this have and which companies remain ripe as targets? The vendors are starting to specialise somewhat, too. Which firms are doing what, why , and how well are they doing it?
|
Health
The Interphone Study, expected to be the largest and most exhaustive work of research into the issue of mobile phones and their impact on the health of their users will be published later this year. We revisit this emotive topic and look at how operators are dealing with PR difficulties as well as the latest evidence for and against.
|
| NOVEMBER |
European regulatory intervention
The EC is getting increasingly involved in European mobile markets. Are we now moving away from light-touch regulation? Do the markets need a helping hand? Is this good for the industry or do operators view it as the meddling of Eurocrats?
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Mobile TV
Described as the killer application that’s 70 years old, mobile TV still has operators and vendors alike talking blue sky presentations. But what technologies are going to win out, what kind of content can you really watch on a mobile phone and how much will consumers be prepared to pay for it?
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Handsets
Handsets are always said to delay the launch of new technologies and services. We look at the latest developments in the handset space, ranging from crucial technology like storage, battery life and interface technology as well as the evolution of physical design.
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