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Oonagh Reidy

Online Sales Up, But Slowing

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Internet sales rise February but growth is slowing, according to NAB.
Australia’s Internet retail sales grew 19% in February – the weakest growth rate since May last year – according to the latest NAB Online Retail Sales Index.

February web sales fell almost 10% compared to January, where a massive increase of almost 30% was recorded.

NAB Online Retail Sales Index measured 193 points in February – down from 202 points in January.

There were declines in online sales across all categories, particularly in the ‘online auctions sites like eBay, department stores like Myer, fashion, cosmetics.

For the twelve months to February 2013, Aussies spent $13.1 billion online, and now accounts for almost 6% of all sales.

This slump was also in contrast to recent trends, where the month of February has been broadly in line with the level recorded in January.

However, the rate of growth for online sales remains well in excess of that of the traditional retail sector, Nab said today.

In January, traditional sales increased by 4.2% compared to same time 2012, but when seasonal factors are included, this rate was softer, at 2.9%.

NAB did not say if it thinks the lower growth in online retail will continue into 2013.

Android Invasion: ‘1 Billion’ By 2017

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Yes, it official, Androids are taking over the world.

Well, the phone market, at least – over 1 billion Android-based smartphones to ship in 2017, accounting for 2 out of 3 phones sold globally. 


In fact, Androids share will double from 470 million shipments in 2012 , as phone prices fall “dramatically.“


Overall 1.5 billion smartphones will ship in 2017, accounting for 3 in 4 mobiles sold, Canalys predicts, and this phenomenal growth to be driven by Androids, made by the likes of Samsung, HTC and Motorola. 
Android arch rival Apple will suffer a fall from grace Canalys predicts, – to 14% share of the pie (from its current 20%) – blamed on its lack of affordable devices, unlike Samsung, LG  and Co. 

However, this forecast could change if Apple release a budget iPhone, as rumored. 

But another major surprise in the offing – Apple and Microsoft will be almost neck and neck in the smartphone race,  with Canalyst predicting massive growth for the new Windows Phone- set grow to 13% marketshare – thanks to Nokia and Chinese brands. 
‘Apple’s growth will be curtailed by the fact that momentum in the smart phone market is coming from the low end, and Apple is absent from this segment,’ said Jessica Kwee, Canalys Analyst. 
‘Android’s continued dominance is due to the scalability of the platform.

 

Microsoft Windows 8, a new entrant to phone market has “made progress by enabling Huawei and Nokia to deliver Windows Phone products at aggressive price points,” notes Kwee. 


However, it needs Chinese vendors like Huawei, ZTE who are “best placed to challenge Samsung’s market dominance”, and the scale Microsoft so desperately needs if its wants to catch up with Android. 
‘Nokia is the most active vendor in the Microsoft camp and it continues to make steady progress with its Lumia portfolio”..says Kwee, noting some “major carrier wins” in China and the US, said Kwee. 
Struggling BlackBerry too will hold on to under 5% of the market but needs to “urgently reverse its fortunes in the US and focus on growing its presence in China,” the analysts warn. 
In America, Europe, virtually all phones shipped will be smart phones. Even in Greater China, they will represent 95% of all mobile phone shipments in 2017. The market will grow at double the rate of ‘dumb’ phones – at 18% – while mobile shipments will decline 10%. 

Its LIVE: Telstra NBN Hits Tassie

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High speed 100Mbps broadband now a reality in the island state.


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Telstra’s NBN commercial broadband service has just been launched in Triabunna and Sorell, areas of southern Tasmania.

The telco National Broadband Network service boasts downstream speeds “up to” 25Mbps or 100Mbps, depending on the plan.

Prices start at $80 per month for 5GB of data, while higher tier 100Mbps plans will set Tasmanians back $100 for 200GB.

Tasmania is one of the first states to get NBN services.

But that’s not the only thing Telstra is rolling out.

It has also unleashed a new ‘Store on Wheels’ in Triabunna to get geared up for customer demand for high speed Internet.

The ‘Store on Wheels’ is “a new retail concept for Telstra and the first of its kind in Australia.”

“The mobile store is permanently based in Tasmania means we can be in more places for customers to talk to us in person, supplementing our local 25-plus store network,” says Michael Patterson, Telstra area general manager for Tasmania.

 

“With our Store on Wheels we’re…providing face to face service in smaller communities where we don’t have a retail presence.”

“Customers will have a lot of questions about their services on the NBN and so they don’t have to travel to talk to us, we’re rolling this new store right into the heart of NBN enabled areas.”

Forget E-Mail: Telstra To Post “Digi-Mail”

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Telstra to jump into bed with Australia Post for Digital mailboxes.
The communications giants have announced a “strategic partnership” which will see the telco hosting Australia Post’s Digital MailBox on its cloud platform.

This new deal will also enable Telstra customers access their account statements and bills via the digital postbox.

Launching later this year, the post office’s free Digital MailBox app will enable anyone to receive bank statements, bills and communications from government bodies and make e-payments using any internet enabled device.

The telco also looks set to host the service on its cloud computing platform, although the details aren’t finalised yet.


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Under the memorandum of understanding between the two companies, Telstra will also deliver more services through Australia Post’s IT network, which will assist in the roll out of Australia Post’s retail superstores across the country.

However, there has been some controversy surrounding OZ Post’s Digital Mailbox, which was announced just days after rivals ‘Digital Post Australia’ (owned by Computershare, Salmat and Zumbox) launched an online post box service, in March.

Australia Post sought to block the use of the “Digital Post” name service, accusing it of “cashing in” on its name, despite the newcomer having preceded its service.

“Part of our digital customer strategy is to provide our customers with access to information through a variety of channels of their choice,” said “Telstra CEO David Thodey.

 

“The Australia Post Digital MailBox will extend this choice to complement our existing digital options such as our website, and mobile applications.”

Telstra is investing more than $800 million on its cloud computing services across the next five years, it said.

Australians can register for an Australia Post Digital MailBox at auspost.com.au/digital-post.

Its War, Telstra: Optus Appeal TVNow Decision

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Telco confirmed all out war against rival Telstra, NRL and AFL over sporting broadcasts.
Paul O’Sullivan, Optus Chief Executive has just confirmed the telco will appeal the Federal Court’s TVNow decision in the High Court.

The National Rugby League (NRL)and Australian Football League (AFL) sporting bodies and Australia’s biggest telco, Telstra, took Optus to court looking to ban its TVNow mobile app, which allowed users to record free-to-air content and play it back within minutes of the live broadcast.

Telstra paad both sporting codes million for exclusive online broadcast rights, which Optus’ mobile app rendered virtually worthless. 

After initially winning the case before the Federal court earlier this year, Optus later lost the appeal by Telstra and the sporting giants, in a decision handed down last month.

The Federal Court ruled that Optus was in fact responsible for its customers recording content on its TVNow service.

“We believe the TV Now case is extremely important in deciding the future for innovation, consumer choice and competition”, said O’Sullivan today. 

“Increasingly, developments like cloud computing will see Australians using applications held online and wanting to store online rather than just using fixed hardware based in the home.”

The telco also claims it is doing this for the good of its customers:

“Australian consumers want legitimate access to content on any device regardless of the genre and we want to continue making the latest technologies available to Australians to meet this demand.”

 

Optus also said broadcast rights is a “very important public policy issue that needs to be determined by the highest court in the land”

“As innovations like TV Now are readily available in other parts of the world, Australia must remain globally competitive and embrace the rapid convergence of technologies as we head towards an NBN world, said O’Sullivan.

Telstra NBN Roadshow Hits Qld

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Telstra fibre roadshow assaults on Townsville tomorrow.


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Townsville locals can experience a “hands-on journey into the new-age fibre optic fast lane” with the interactive Telstra Fibre Experience Centre, which opened this week.

The Telstra expo parked at Vale Hotel Car Park in Aitkenvale is running until 27 April.

Telstra Fibre Experience Centre is a custom-built, travelling trailer that is looking to spread the fibre broadband word to all and demo its BigPond broadband, Telstra T-Box and T-Hub services currently operating live on the National Broadband Network (NBN).

READ: Telstra NBN Pricing $49 + 50GB

Kitted out as an average home lounge room, the Fibre Experience Centre will be open between 10 am to 5 pm, staffed by experts who will “out in force” to explain the new technology features and how services will operate on the new network.

Telstra Area General Manager for North Queensland, Rachel Cliffe, reckons locals will be bombarding them for info on the high speed fibre network.

“We know Aitkenvale and Mundingburra locals have a lot of questions about the new fibre network and how it impacts them, so the Telstra team will be out in force to help explain the detail and showcase how Telstra services will work in their homes,” Cliffe said.

 

“The superfast network will support multiple internet uses at the same time – so on our fastest plans one family member can be downloading movies on their computer while another is checking the weather on the T-Hub, or uploading photos, all at high speed.”

For more information phone 1800 TFIBRE (1800 834 273), or visit telstra.com/unlockamazing.

On Or Off? Foxtel-Austar D-Day Tuesday

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D-Day: the decision on the Foxtel-Austar merger is due to be decided April 10th.


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On or off? final decsion on Foxtel-Austar merger to be decided next week.

The competition watchdog, ACCC, will have the final say on whether Foxtel will be allowed takeover regional pay TV player Austar in a $2 billion deal, following its “market inquiry” into the proposed transaction on Tuesday.

The deal, if allowed, would give Foxtel – 25% owned by scandal riddled News Ltd – 97% control of the subscription TV market in Australia.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has already put back its decision on the deal calling on Foxtel, which is 50% owned by Telstra, demanding the company give a series of undertakings to prevent a monopolistic position from developing.

These ‘undertakings’ are aimed at resolving the ACCC’s competition concerns relating to Foxtel’s proposed acquisition of Austar, which includes rival players’ access to channels including Sky News, Disney and channel signals.

New Limited parent company News Corp, has landed in hot water over allegations it the UK and by Australian Financial Review that an associated company, NDS, hacked into rival players computer systems and smartcard codes, forcing them to go bust.

Read: Conroy: “Call Police” On Rupert’s News As Foxtel Deal Delayed

iPhone 6 Powered By Headphones?

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Forget chargers. Apple have just registered a patent in the US which, if realised, would mean future iPhones and iPods could be charged via headphones.


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Pictured: iPhone 6 concept. Image credit: Conceptphones.com

US Patent application 20110188677, entitled “Using an Audio Cable as an Inductive Charging Coil,” has been submitted by the iPhone creator to the Patent and Trademark Office, according to Apple Insider. 

 The technology entails winding an audio cable around a charging mechanism to form an inductive receiving coil, then picked up by a magnetic field to charge the device.
Usually this would mean a larger coil would be required, meaning the size of the iPhone or iPods would also increase, going against Apple’s creed of smaller, thinner, lighter. 
But the three clever whizzes that developed this new concept found a way around that. 
 Here’s a summary of the technology as outlined in the patent application: “This technique involves winding an audio cable for the electronic device around a charging mechanism multiple times so that one or more conductors in the audio cable form an inductive receiving coil. 
“Next, a magnetic field is created through the charging mechanism to induce a current in the inductive receiving coil. Finally, the induced current in the inductive receiving coil is used to charge a rechargeable battery for the electronic device.” 
 Earlier we reported how Apple may have given the game away in relation to the iPhone 5 by applying for a separate smartphone patent here in Australia. 

12GB Surfing For $65?

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Vodafone has launched its latest bid to win back customers by offering 12GB of mobile broadband data for $65 per month.The cut price new $65 plan for a massive 12GB mobile broadband on USB stick or Pocket WiFi. 

The new price point is on top of Voda’s existing plans including $20 for 2.5GB, $30 for 4GB and $45 for 8GB. 
Compare this to Optus’ mobile broadband plan which costs $25 for 1.5GB and $65 for 10GB, and Telstra 1GB for $25, 4GB for $35 and 15GB for $95, Vodafone definitely has better value.

It also claims average download speeds at 30Mbps are faster than the average of five leading fixed broadband services. 
The Vodafone Pocket Wifi (4G) is now on offer for half price (now $84.50), on 12 and 24 month contracts until 29 April, and are offering a 15% discount on its mobile broadband subscription to all current customers until 2 April. 
You will also have to pay $3-$5 per month for either the USB stick or pocket WiFi modem, both of which are ‘Cat 4’ enabled. 
The Pocket WiFi can be used as a portable hotspot, allowing up to ten devices to hook up to the service at once. A ‘Cat 4’ device can reach theoretical download speeds up to 150Mbps.
“Our customers told us that their need for data – especially for mobile broadband services – has increased since last year’s launch of our new 4G network,” said Kim Clarke, Chief Marketing Officer at Vodafone.
“We continue to expand our 4G network coverage and currently offer the fastest 4G data speeds in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and lets customers surf the web high speed.”
By the end of 2014 it is expected that there will be more mobile subscriptions than the global population, according to according to telecom analyst Paul Budde.
Vodafone are also offering its Network guarantee letting customers cancel their service within the first 30 days.

Samsung ‘MeTV’: Coming Soon

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Samsung’s “amazing” new personalised TV service launching in 4 weeks time.
The service will be based on your viewing habits, recommend TV programs to watch, tell you what’s on and most popular programs, Evan Manolis, Samsung Australia’s Group Manager AV revealed at 2013 Astra conference on Thursday.

The service available on Samsung Smart TVs is “quite amazing” and “changes the whole TV experience,” he told the attendees at the Pay TV conference at the Sydney Convention Centre.

Manolis was speaking alongside Kym Niblock, Foxtel’s General Manager Emerging Platforms, at a talk entitled ‘TV on Your Terms.’

However, Samsung’s AV boss did admit Oz is about five years behind the US and UK in terms of Internet TV services, when you compare service from BSkyB and BBC to what’s on offer locally.

However, he did say the NBN should help advance the plight of IPTV services here. Foxtel announced the ramping up of IPTV services last week by unveiling a contract free IPTV on Samung TVs, Xbox 360 and tablets.

2012 saw Smart TV penetration increase dramatically here and will grow again this year, said Manolis. 4K is also coming, “but we don’t know what that means yet” he added.

TVs are getting bigger and thinner, with “more glass, less plastic” and alluded to 85″ Samsung TV coming to Oz soon.

“We may be five years behind but it wont take 5 years to catch up” said Foxtel’s Niblock.

“Australians want to be part of the global conversation and don’t want to wait 6-8 months” to see the latest episodes shows from the US, and said Foxtel ‘straight from the US’ content service is going gangbusters, where the longest gap between screening in the US and OZ is 33 hour, she said.