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Oonagh Reidy

IP Competition Heats Up With Internode 3G Plan

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NodeMobile triples its memory allowance on all 3G plans as the competition for customers intensifies, ahead of NBN changeover.

The company has also sweetened the deal by giving all subscribers of NodeMobile, its 3G wireless broadband service delivered through the Optus network, an automatic quota boost on their previous plans or a free upgrade.

If users exceed their allowed limits, a further 500 megabytes can be purchased for $19.95 on its 3G Data Blocks. Other sweeteners include a price cut for their Huawei E1762 modem.

The new pricing structure ranges from 1.5GB for $19.95 to 18GB for $79.95, with five data options available at a connection speed of 64kbps.  

When the service was first launched in 2009, their base 250 MB plan was priced at $14.95 a month and a 3 MB plan for $39.95.

The changes to data quotas were made following increasing customer demand, which “better reflects how people are using their 3G broadband plans in the real world,” said Internode product manager Jim Kellett .

“Many customers upgraded to multi-gigabyte 3G plans after finding that a 500MB plan did not meet their needs.”  

Previously the maximum available plan was 6 GB per month.

Interconnecter capacity between Internode and Optus networks has also been improved fourfold, improving performance during peak times, which is a common user complaint, says the company.

The Optus ‘Yes’ plan is still more competitively priced, however, charging $29.95 for 4GB and up to 120GB anytime mobile broadband for $49.95, although NodeMobile’s service is far better value than the current offering by Big Pond, which starts at for just  0.4 GB for $29.95.

10GB is currently the maximum allowance available on Virgin’s mobile internet service.

BlackBerry Outstrips Apple iOS

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Android, BlackBerry users outstrips iOS in mobile internet usage for the very first time.
Good news for Google has emerged with news that its Android system has almost tripled its mobile internet market share in the past year in the US, jumping from 8.2 percent to 23.8 percent, while BlackBerry’s OS also celebrated a similar rise at 34.3 percent, surpassing Apple for the first time ever.

Usage of Apple’s iOS has fallen to 33 percent from a high of 51.9 percent over the same period last November.

“These figures suggest that developers should not be developing solely for the iPhone to the exclusion of BlackBerry and Android,” according to Aodhan Cullen, CEO of StatCounter, who revealed the results.

Regarding Microsoft’s latest attempt to gain ground in the rapidly evolving mobile internet market with the introduction of the Windows Phone 7 device, it has yet to make inroads in terms of usage but would be very interesting to observe over the next year, he conceded.

“This data demonstrates that there is a battle royal already going on in the Smartphone market for the consumer and business internet user,” he said.

“You can never underestimate Microsoft but it looks to have its work cut out.”

Optus To Pick IPTV Partner

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Telecoms giant about to consolidate its ‘quadruple play’ strategy as it mulls over its IPTV provider.Five companies including Fetch TV, Nine Entertainment company (which includes the Nine Network) and Hybrid  television Services, which is partly owned by Channel Seven, are currently pitching their internet pay TV services to Optus, according to a report in The Australian yesterday.

Fetch are hotly tipped as the favourite to provide the pay-TV services, which would offer ready-to-go digital set-top box and PVR, as well as other pay as you go channels and movies, for an optimum fee of around $30 a month after an initial $99 join-up cost.

Additional  pay as you go TV channels, teamed with interactive apps and video services are also part of the hybrid offering by the company, which is partly owned by Astro All Asia Networks, one of Asia’s leading pay TV providers, according to the newspaper.

The TiVo set top box offered by Hybrid TV, which is selling for $499 and recently reduced from $699, would prove an expensive alternative to Fetch’s price friendly offering, which it already provides to other broadband companies including iiNet and Internode.

The other extra being offered by the company its Caspa internet TV, a video and music on demand system earmarked for integration into Samsung TV devices by next year.

Caspa’s promised free pay per view movies and additional TV channels by the close of this year and their $200 price reduction for their set top box is a clear move to gain market share from subscription services like Telstra’s T-Box and Fetch TV.

 

The other three other competitors in the running for the deal with Optus, which are said to include Hulu and Nine Entertainment will complete Optus ‘quadruple play’ strategy, streaming their services for mobile and voice with their  broadband and IPTV services.

Foxtel denied they were in talks with the company.

Optus are set to finalise their decision by early next year.

Microsoft To Protect Consumers From Online Tracking

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Internet users could be put back in the driving seat if Microsoft goes ahead with plans to ditch online web tracking and information sharing.
According to an announcement just made by the software giant, they are planning to launch to a new version of their Internet Explorer 9 browser, allowing browsers to evade online tracking by companies who use this information to sell to advertisers.

“We believe that the combination of consumer opt-in, an open platform for publishing of Tracking Protection Lists (TPLs), and the underlying technology mechanism for Tracking Protection offer new options and a good balance between empowering consumers and online industry needs,” Microsoft said.

The proposed tracking protection lists will be also updated regularly with new Web addresses to block, according to Microsoft.

Anti tracking will allow users to opt out of such online monitoring conducted by privacy groups and other firms who identify the online addresses that tracking companies operate from.

If this goes ahead the multi-billion dollar advertising industry built on the back of browser tracking could be dealt a huge blow, in particular the likes of Google, and Yahoo who spawned the concept, if other companies follow suit and users embrace the tool.

 

This announcement by Microsoft also comes after the US congress met last Thursday to debate if legislation to create a “Do Not Track Me” mechanism is needed to protect consumer’s privacy online.

90 percent of US consumers polled said they desired more protection, especially in light of recent revelations that Google Street views were tracking information from home Wi-Fi networks.

“Privacy remains a key topic and. ..finding the right balance of investments by both companies and the advertising industry that will provide meaningful choice, control and protection for the consumer’s information and that contribute to growing consumer trust,” said Microsoft Chief Privacy Strategist Peter Cullen.

In 2008 Microsoft had considered ‘InPrivate Subscriptions’ for its Internet Explorer 8.

Vodafone Users Tied To Contracts, Despite Poor Service

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This ACCC warning comes despite ongoing issues with the mobile provider.
Consumers, who have been reported as experiencing ongoing problems with Vodafone’s mobile service, including call failures, slow data speeds and poor reception, are not necessarily entitled to end their contract, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has said in a statement.

The telco attributed the recent problems to unstable software issues, which meant slower 3G data downloads.

“Contrary to some media reports the ACCC does not advise consumers that they are entitled to walk away from their contracts as a means of addressing their concerns,” according to ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel.

The consumer body advised users experiencing service difficulties to firstly contact Vodafone to try to resolve the issue.

Other avenues open to consumers are the Telecoms ombudsman and the Office of Fair Trading.  

 

This year all of the major carriers including Telstra and Optus have been attacked by the Government for failing to deliver effective customer service.

Service providers should be keeping their customers fully informed of any problems that they may be experiencing with their networks, says the ACCC.

However, the ombudsman did say that “all contracts for services contain a number of statutory warranties, including the requirement that any service must be carried with due care and skill.”

However, the law governing this area also states “services that do not meet a statutory warranty breach the contract between consumer and seller,” which if proven, could indicate the point at which consumers are entitled to walk away from phone contracts without penalties.

Affected customers would be offered refunds, Vodafone chief technology officer Michael Young, said earlier this month.

Earlier this month, Vodafone announced a ramped up service for users, offering a walk in service centre with 24 hour turnaround time for phone repair, help with product support and troubleshooting, upgrades, second services and other enquiries.

Apple iPad 2 Released Next Month?

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Slimmer, larger and more powerful iPad said to be dispatched in the next 3-4 weeks.Apple’s second tablet instalment is said to offer more power with dual core ARM processor, an SD card slot, a larger screen and a front and rear camera, according to a blog published by Digg founder, Kevin Rose.

However, for now this is all speculation, although the new iPad case does appear to facilitate a SD card slot and new EU regulations on portable devices means some form of a USB port will very likely feature. 

A retina display as currently featured on the iPhone 4 was also hotly tipped in an Apple blog to make the crossover to the iPad, although the number of pixels this would require places huge demands on its current 9.7-inch display.

“I have it on good authority that Apple will be announcing the iPad 2 in the next ‘3-4 weeks,’ possibly Tuesday February 1st,” prophesied Rose.

“The iPad 2 will feature a front/back camera, [along with] a higher dpi – but won’t technically be a retina display.

If you’re thinking of buying an iPad, hold off for now.”

Apple have made no official soundings on a release date or specs so far.

If iPad 2 is given a February birth, it should hit the shops around April  2011. 

Worlds Tiniest-Ever Tab Released

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CES 2011 introduced the 5 inch OCS1 Tiny Computer, the smallest ever portable device to consumers.
The device offers Windows 7, web browsing, gaming, MMORPG and 3D, productivity, says its creators OCOSMOS, at the Consumer Electronics Show which took place in Las Vegas last week.

“Users will love the TC’s capabilities, ease of use, power, and mobility,” predicts its Korean makers.  

Powered by Intel’s next generation ‘Oak Trail’ Atom platform (1.5GHz), the “handheld mobile device with the power of a PC” contains a user interface, the ‘OMOS Key,’ that enhances the functionality of tasks normally performed on a conventional laptop or PC.
 
Considering its small proportions, the OCS1 provides a multitude of specs and could materialise as a cheaper, mini alternative to the new iPad 2, includes 5.0-Inch TFT  touch screen (1024 x 600 pix), QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, WiMax, detachable HSDPA, gyroscope, GPS, 1GB of RAM installed (upgradeable to 2GB) and USB 2.0 H.

This is on top of 64GB storage, front and rear cameras (which is also said to be a feature on Apple’s up and coming iPad 2), and microSD memory card slots (another possible feature of the iPad 2).

For gaming enthusiasts, it also offers right to left keys.

 

“OCS1 is the world’s first TC that provides the same experience of playing online games as on a PC,” said Eu-jin Oh, President of OCOSMOS.

“The TC is a revolution in mobile culture,” says OCOSMOS General Manager, Marketing, Jay-Hun Kim.

“With its powerful Intel Atom processor, the OCS1 is positioned to win against other portable gaming consoles on the market, not to mention PCs, and users will find fast 2D and 3D image editing compelling.”

Said to be “priced competitively” compared to the iPad, the OCS1 TC will be available to Australian consumers in the second half of 2011.

The fledgling brand have said have said they will work with mobile operators and major online and offline distributors for the device, although a distributor for Australia has yet to be confirmed.
 

Skype Video Calls Hit 40% High

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New iPhone Skype app was among the top 5 most popular for 2010.
The newly released app allows users make video to video calls on 3G and WiFi as 40 percent of all Skype calls are now video, as revealed by the company at CES.

On the first day of the release of the iPhone app with video, it was downloaded approximately 4.2 million times and Skype was one of the top five free iPhone apps in 2010 according to Apple, as it popularity reaches new heights, it was also revealed.

Available to download from Apple’s App Store since the end of December, it allows iPhone, iPad and iPod touch 4th generation with i0S 4.0 or above, allowing owners to make video internet calls for the first time.

The iPod touch 3rd generation is also video compatible.

Internet calls are now said to be double that made over fixed line as consumers banish traditional telco services.

“With video calling representing approximately 40 per cent of all Skype-to-Skype minutes for the first six months of 2010, our users have been eager to get Skype video calling on their mobile phones,” said Neil Stevens, general manager of Skype’s consumer business.

“By bringing video to mainstream users at their home or work via their desktops, on the go with their mobiles, or into their living room via their TV, Skype has made it possible for millions of people to share video moments wherever they are.”

A video call evolves communication beyond transactional experiences to a shared experience where people can share any occasion with others wherever they are.

The internet calls company also just announced group video calling at their CES 2011 exhibition, as part of their new Premium offering which brings together groups of three or more on a single video call, costing $5.49 per day or $9.99 per month.

“But ever more people are discovering that they can communicate without the services of a telco,” according to TeleGeography analyst Stephan Beckert.

Skype have not released any specific figures on Australian user numbers, although 25 million users are said to be logged in at any one time around the world and there were 145 million Skype users on average per month in the close of 2010.