Verizon Combines the Power of 4G LTE with the Cisco Cius Tablet to Improve Mobile Enterprise Collaboration

NEW YORK – July 13, 2011 –

The ancient Greeks relied on them. So did Moses when it came to accomplishing one of his most significant deliverables. And now businesses are equipping mobile workforces with tablets of their own to boost productivity and speed customer service.

To meet this newest trend in tablet use, Verizon is combining the power of its 4G LTE network with the Cisco Cius™ to help customers decentralize and accelerate decision-making for better business outcomes.

The Cisco Cius will be available to Verizon enterprise and government customers around the world later this summer, and those located domestically will be able to combine the device with a Verizon Wireless 4G LTE mobile hot spot. Designed for the enterprise, the Android-based Cisco Cius combines voice, video, collaboration and virtualization capabilities on one device.  When powered by Verizon's 4G LTE network, mobile workers will be able to easily use bandwidth-intensive video applications - including between devices - for more effective collaboration.

"Mobile applications over intelligent high-speed networks will continue to eliminate barriers in the workplace," said Mike Smith, vice president for Verizon enterprise communications, network and mobility sales. "We're forecasting a perfect storm where advanced enterprise tools such as the Cisco Cius mesh with the speeds made possible by 4G LTE to make the virtual office a more robust reality than ever." 

Putting Tablets to Work

In general, industries such as retail, financial services, healthcare and government can employ tablets to change the pace of their business.

Retail:  Sales associates can employ tablets while out on the floor to look up product and inventory information for customers, in addition to processing transactions on the spot. Financial Services:  Bankers and financial advisors can take advantage of the video capabilities of tablets for face-to-face meetings with clients, saving the time it takes to meet up at physical locations. Health care:  Medical professionals can use tablets to collaborate on patient care and speed critical decision-making. Government:  Tablets can increase productivity of government users - from military to civilian government field workers to emergency first responders - allowing them to enter information or share it quickly with remote offices to complete the business of government more efficiently.

Through Verizon's Managed Mobility portfolio, enterprise customers can securely deploy a wide range of devices to employees.  Capabilities include device management; expense tracking management; lock and wipe features for protecting sensitive data; and mobile delivery of popular business and consumer apps from the cloud.  In addition, the company offers a full suite of professional services to help organizations create policies and design mobility programs to suit varied requirements. 

Verizon is a global network communications leader in driving better business outcomes for enterprises and government agencies.  Verizon delivers integrated IT and communications solutions via its global IP and mobility networks to enable businesses to securely access information, share content and communicate.  Verizon is rapidly transforming to a cloud-based "everything-as-a-service" delivery model that will put the power of enterprise-class solutions within the reach of every business.  Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 104 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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North American Agreements Advance Mobile 4G Use

WASHINGTON – August 2, 2011 –

In a major development that advances the deployment of fourth-generation wireless broadband services, the U.S. government has reached agreements with Canada and Mexico that establish the framework for use of spectrum in the 700 MHz band.  The spectrum is being widely deployed for high-speed wireless broadband in the U.S. 

"Verizon's rollout of its 4G LTE mobile broadband network is going well, and we are pleased that officials at both the Federal Communications Commission and Department of State worked well with their counterparts in Canada and Mexico to establish and update agreements for 700 MHz spectrum-band wireless operations along our respective borders," said Tony Melone, Verizon executive vice president and chief technology officer. "These actions demonstrate that all three governments recognize the public need for reliable, high speed wireless broadband services, such as LTE, which will aid consumers and businesses along the borders in gaining access to the same reliable, fast and most advanced Verizon LTE network as in other parts of the U.S."

The agreement with Canada is new; the agreement with Mexico amends a 2006 cross-border agreement. The agreements allow Verizon to operate its 4G wireless network near U.S. borders at operational levels that will maximize the benefits of the new LTE technology, which supports average data rates of 5 to 12 megabits per second (Mbps) on the downlink and 2 to 5 Mbps on the uplink. Without these agreements Verizon customers near the Mexican or Canadian borders might not get access to the full benefits of 4G LTE. 

Verizon is the first wireless company in the world to broadly deploy 4G LTE technology.  In fewer than eight months, Verizon has deployed the technology in 102 metropolitan areas; by the end of 2013 Verizon plans to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to its entire 3G coverage area.

The company is also working with rural communications companies to build and operate 4G networks outside its current 3G coverage area, using tower and backhaul assets of the rural company and Verizon Wireless' 4G assets. Already, 10 rural companies have announced participation in the LTE in Rural America program.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Expands FiOS TV's Suite of Mobile Applications to More Devices

NEW YORK – October 19, 2010 –

Verizon is bringing the FiOS experience inside and outside the fiber-optic-powered digital home to more customers, with FiOS TV's Mobile Remote application, an advanced capability, now available on more than forty devices.

The FiOS TV Mobile Remote app can be downloaded to Apple's iPhone and iPod devices and will soon be available for download on tablet devices. Mobile Remote - which launched in February, on DROID by Motorola - is also available on every device running Android software v.2.1 or above that supports Wi-Fi. 

Verizon's suite of applications is available for download - at no additional cost - in the Verizon Wireless Media Store, the Android Market, Apple's App Store and BlackBerry App World.  After just one year in the market, both Verizon's DVR Manager, which lets customers manage DVR settings via their smartphone, and Mobile Remote have been downloaded more than 500,000 times. 

"Verizon continues to personalize and enhance FiOS TV by rapidly expanding our suite of mobile applications, delivering an entertainment experience far beyond what cable can offer," said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon. "We offer choice and flexibility for our customers, with applications on multiple devices and platforms that provide a unique TV experience, available only with FiOS."

Mobile Remote lets FiOS TV high-definition subscribers use their mobile phones as a television remote control, dynamically changing the TV experience. FiOS TV subscribers can change channels, manage parental controls, pause, rewind and fast forward or record a TV show.  The application - which automatically personalizes options based on the specific smartphone connected to the set-top box, enabling customized favorites and other preferences - has virtually the same functionality as the standard FiOS TV remote. 

In addition, customers can use their mobile devices to flick stored photos from the mobile device to the TV, one photo at a time.  Customers also can access FiOS TV Video on Demand (VOD) and return to live FiOS TV programming.  Subscribers simply click on the VOD button and browse, search or purchase on-demand titles; or click on the FiOS TV button and jump to live TV when watching recorded programs, or respond to interactive prompts.

DVR Manager lets FiOS TV customers review, change or add recording requests; record an entire series; delete recorded programs; browse and search TV and VOD listings; set parental controls; check their DVR recorder status; and more - all through their mobile device, anytime, anywhere.

(For screen shots of the Mobile Remote application, visit http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/mobile-remote/).

Verizon offers these applications across multiple carriers and mobile platforms. To see if an application is available on a particular mobile device, consumers can go to the mobile application store on the device and search "FiOS." Once set up, FiOS Mobile Remote offers features including My Photos, My Favorites, Tele-TV Mute and My Remote.

To register an Apple device, customers simply go to the FiOS TV Widget's main menu, click on Mobile Remote, find the mobile device in the list of supported phones and follow the instructions for pairing it to the HD set-top box. The customer will be prompted to install the Mobile Remote application through the Apple App Store.

FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social-networking, news and entertainment widgets; Internet videos on TV; streaming of personal videos, photos and music from home computers to the TV; and many  others.

FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming that includes more than 520 all-digital channels with up to 140 HD channels and 18,000 monthly video-on-demand titles. FiOS Internet offers the country's top-rated broadband service, with download speeds of up to 50 Mbps (megabits per second) and upload speeds of up to 35 Mbps.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Extends Free FiOS Mobile App to Apple iPad

NEW YORK – December 21, 2010 –

Verizon continues to create the future of TV by bringing to consumers more advanced mobile-entertainment capabilities on more devices.  FiOS TVcustomers who also have Apple's iPad can now download and use Verizon's free FiOS Mobile application, which lets customers manage their DVRs and browse FiOS video-on-demand (VOD) offers remotely, plus turn their iPad into a remote control for their HD set-top boxes.

"Verizon is pushing the boundaries of TV with innovative technology that continues to spur the industry's evolution," said Eric Bruno, vice president of product management for Verizon.  "We're giving customers more control over their TV entertainment whenever and wherever they want it.  Extending our FiOS Mobile app to customers using iPads gives more subscribers more ways to conveniently manage their FiOS TV services."

Verizon started offering customers the ability to use their mobile device as a remote control earlier this year.  The feature is available on more than 40 mobile devices running Android software v.2.1 or above or that support Wi-Fi.  It is also available on the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.

Now, FiOS TV subscribers can use their iPad as a virtual television remote control for their HD set top boxes.  The application automatically personalizes options based on the tablet connected to the set-top box, enabling customized favorites and other preferences, and has virtually the same functionality as the standard FiOS TV remote.

Customers can change channels; manage parental controls; and pause, rewind and fast forward or record a TV show.  Subscribers can also click on the video-on-demand (VOD) button and browse and search on-demand titles; or click on the FiOS TV button and jump to live TV when watching recorded programs.

With FiOS Mobile, FiOS TV customers can use their iPad to remotely manage their DVR settings whether they are in their home and away from the TV set, or on the go.  Subscribers can review, change or add recording requests; record an entire series; delete recorded programs; browse and search TV and VOD listings; set parental controls; check their DVR recorder status; and more.

Verizon plans to add new features to the FiOS Mobile application over the next few months, including photo flicking for the iPad, which allows customers to use their tablet to flick stored photos from the iPad to the TV, one photo at a time.
Verizon offers interactive applications across multiple carriers and mobile platforms.  To use the iPad mobile remote feature, customers simply go to the FiOS TV Widget's main menu, click on "Mobile Remote," find the mobile device on the list of supported phones, and follow the instructions for pairing it to the HD set-top box.  The customer will be prompted to install the Mobile Remote application through the Apple App Store.

Verizon Wireless offers three bundles, all featuring an iPad Wi-Fi model and a Verizon MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot. The MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket and allows customers to create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices.

The bundles begin at a suggested retail price of $629.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 16GB plus MiFi, $729.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 32GB plus MiFi and $829.99 for iPad Wi-Fi 64GB plus MiFi. Verizon Wireless is offering a monthly access plan to iPad customers of up to 1GB of data for just $20 a month. In addition, Verizon Wireless will also offer all three iPad Wi-Fi models on a stand-alone basis.

FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; social-networking, news and entertainment widgets; Internet videos on TV; streaming of personal videos, photos and music from home computers to the TV; and many  others.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Customers Can Now Use a Mobile 'My Verizon' Tool to Manage Key Account Features, FiOS Internet and TV Options

NEW YORK – October 12, 2010 –

Verizon is offering a mobile My Verizon service to its customers, providing them a go-anywhere wireless alternative for accessing many account-management services from the myverizon.com site.  These include certain FiOS TV features such as remote DVR programming, as well as access to e-mail and customer-service support.  Smart phone users also get access to home voice mail and Caller ID logs.

The new service is available to any Verizon customer with an Internet-capable wireless phone or device and does not require downloading a separate mobile application.  Customers simply register with their personal computer for an online account at myverizon.com and then access the site on-the-go with their mobile-phone browser.  In addition to checking their Verizon.net e-mail accounts, customers can view and pay their Verizon bill, participate in Verizon forums and blogs and access Ask Verizon support services.  FiOS TV customers also can check TV listings, remotely program their DVR and view video-on-demand titles.  An online tour helps explain the versatility and functionality of the site.

Users of such smart phones as the DROID and who also have Verizon Call Assistant on their home phone service can use My Verizon to check voice mail and Caller ID logs.  FiOS TV customers with smart phones can order pay-per-view titles to watch later on their TVs.

"We're constantly innovating and developing technologies that create new ways for our customers to enjoy and manage their services across multiple devices, whether at home or on the go," said Mark Studness, director of e-commerce for Verizon.  "Mobile My Verizon gives our customers the added convenience of anytime, anywhere access to manage their Verizon account, read and respond to e-mail, control key FiOS TV features, and more."

Once Verizon customers use their computer to create an online account at myverizon.com, they simply go to the site, using their mobile phone's wireless browser*, and the service will automatically detect their mobile device.  After it identifies the device being used, whether it's a smart phone or a less-advanced-feature mobile phone, the service prompts the customer for My Verizon account log-in information and then provides a menu of service options.

* Customer's wireless data plan charges may apply.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 92 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Unveils One of the Industry's First Cloud-Based Unified Communications and Collaboration Offerings With a Mobile UC Client

NEW YORK – February 28, 2011 –

With today's workforce becoming more global and mobile, the need for employees to remain connected to corporate resources and to each other has never been greater.  To help meet this need, Verizon is introducing innovative capabilities that enhance and advance unified communications and collaboration solutions for businesses and government agencies.

The new capabilities are:

Unified Communications & Collaboration-as-a-Service, one of the industry's first cloud-based commercial UC&C offerings.  It enables businesses and government agencies to facilitate enterprise adoption of UC&C in a fixed or mobile environment, with predictable per-seat pricing.  New capabilities include seamless call transfers from fixed to mobile phones and the use of "presence" technology, such as instant messaging, to initiate audio, Web and intra-company video conference calls, both in and out of the office. Mobile UC Client, which is designed to extend business telephony solutions to mobile handsets. It is available with a docking station that enables workers to replace their traditional desk phone with a single mobile device that can access advanced UC&C features, whether workers are in or away the office.

"We're putting our leadership in cloud, UC&C and mobility to work for our customers," said Farooq Muzaffar, vice president of enterprise network and communications solutions with Verizon. "It's all part of our 'everything-as-a-service' strategy to help our customers achieve better business outcomes by making information and collaboration available virtually anywhere, anytime."

The new offerings, available to U.S. customers this spring, will be able to work together to deliver a comprehensive cloud-based UC&C solution, or they can be purchased separately to meet specific business requirements.  Visitors to the Enterprise Connect Show, taking place this week in Orlando, Fla., will be able to view demonstrations of Verizon's new Unified Communications-as-a-Service offering, featuring the Mobile UC client, which has been named a finalist in the Best of Enterprise Connect competition at the trade show.

Cloud-Based UC&C Takes Flight

Verizon Unified Communications & Collaboration-as-a-Service combines popular applications from the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution within Verizon's high-IQ network and data center infrastructure to quickly and cost-effectively provide UC&C capabilities to multiple employees across an enterprise.  Since the dedicated enterprise applications reside in the cloud, organizations can activate employee subscriptions to some or all of the available services, as needed, and pay for the services on a per-user basis.

The state of West Virginia is among the first customers to test-drive an early version of the solution, helping Verizon to determine the specifications for the version that will be commercially available.

According to Eric Schoch, Cisco's group director, Voice Technology Group, "Through the Cisco Hosted Collaboration Solution, Cisco is enabling Verizon to provide cloud-based solutions that offer unmatched levels of deployment flexibility without compromising capabilities.  By working with Verizon, we're able to help them quickly and cost-effectively offer comprehensive unified communications and collaboration solutions to their customers."

Later this year, Verizon will roll out a hybrid offering - also based on a per-seat subscription model -- for customers that still require a fully dedicated environment and want both a cloud- and premises-based solution.   A December 2010 Gartner report, "UC 'in the Cloud' and On-Premises: Examples of Hybrid Solutions," notes, "Many enterprise planners think of cloud and on-premises options as mutually exclusive; however, increasingly, enterprises are deploying elements of a UC solution functionality as a blended hybrid of these two options."

UC&C to Go

Verizon's Mobile UC Client solution provides a fixed and mobile, single-device solution, and offers a variety of features including single reach and voice mail numbers.  In addition, the other new offering, Unified Communications-as-a-Service, can be accessed on a variety of smart phones and tablet devices from other providers to support a wide range of business requirements.

Verizon also offers a suite of Managed Mobility solutions and professional consulting services to help customers develop and employ the best strategy and path to UC&C and mobility for their specific organization. Specifically, Verizon can assist enterprises in the transformation from their current environment, and support integration with existing capabilities in addition to customization.

Verizon is a global leader in driving better business outcomes for mid-sized and large enterprises and government agencies.  Verizon combines integrated communications and IT solutions and professional services expertise with high-IQ global IP and mobility networks to enable businesses to securely access information, share content and communicate.  Verizon is rapidly transforming to a cloud-based "everything-as-a-service" delivery model that will put the power of enterprise-grade solutions within the reach of every business.  Find out more at www.verizonbusiness.com.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving 94.1 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 194,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Verizon Wireless Supports Joplin, Missouri, Through Mobile Giving

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – May 24, 2011 –

Verizon Wireless has quickly implemented a mobile giving program for customers looking for a simple way to contribute to relief and recovery efforts following the devastation in Joplin, Mo. The company said today that customers can use their mobile phones to make $10 donations to a variety of nonprofit organizations responding to the tornado and the needs of local citizens in the aftermath – including American Red Cross Relief and United Way - Heart of Missouri.

“The residents of Joplin have experienced an overwhelming loss and will require support in the months to come,” said Brendan Fallis, president of the Kansas/Missouri region for Verizon Wireless. “In the aftermath of this disaster, we’re making it easy to donate to relief efforts quickly and securely.”

Customers can choose from five different nonprofit organizations and make $10 donations by sending a text message. Donating is easy – customers simply text the specific word to the organization’s designated short code:

American Red Cross Relief: Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 Convoy of Hope: Text “CONVOY” to 50555 Salvation Army: Text “JOPLIN” to 80888 United Way - Heart of Missouri: Text “JOPLIN” to 864833 World Vision, Inc.: Text “TORNADO” to 20222

Verizon Wireless always waives text-messaging fees for disaster relief, so text messages are free when used to make donations to any of these organizations, and 100 percent of each $10 donation goes to the relief organization. For Verizon Wireless customers who pay monthly bills, the $10 donations will appear on the next regular monthly bill. For customers using the company’s prepaid services, the $10 donation will be taken from customers’ prepaid balance.

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.  

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Verizon Introduces New Mobile Services Enablement Platform to Help Businesses Develop, Mobilize, Manage Applications Across a Global Enterprise

NEW YORK – November 16, 2010 –

Multinational corporations want to provide mobile workers with access to key business applications, but must navigate an often complex mix of existing and emerging technology standards.  To help customers address this challenge, Verizon is introducing a new Mobile Services Enablement Platform that helps enterprises design their applications for a mobile environment so that workers can access the applications across different devices - and have the same experience as when the applications are accessed from a desktop environment.

(Note: Listen to an audio podcast about this new enterprise mobility solution.)

The Mobile Services Enablement Platform (MSEP) is the latest addition to Verizon's Managed Mobility portfolio, which enables on-the-go professionals to securely and seamlessly conduct business where and when they need to.  This innovative platform provides a flexible way for organizations to design, develop and manage mobile business applications across multiple devices and carriers. 

In addition to providing customizable application-development templates that can be tailored to create new business-specific applications, the platform is already integrated with major enterprise software applications including Siebel, SAP, Oracle, Remedy, Salesforce.com and Amdocs.  As a result, individuals can have a similar experience with these capabilities whether accessing them from an office or remotely.

"To enable a truly borderless enterprise, businesses need to arm mobile workers with secure access to the applications essential for their day-to-day operations," said Carrie Gray, executive director of solutions marketing for Verizon.  "With this new offering, Verizon now offers one of the industry's most comprehensive managed mobility solutions to help our customers innovate and execute a successful mobile-workforce strategy."

According to the October 28 Forrester Research report, "Managing Mobile Complexity," "enterprises are prioritizing mobility initiatives as a key strategic focus, expanding the use of smartphone devices, and investing in a range of mobile applications to address the needs of information workers." In looking at the coming year, according to the independent report, 46 percent of companies surveyed identify supporting more mobile applications for out-of-office users as a key priority, and 33 percent identify supporting more mobile applications for employees who work in the office, as a key priority.

As mobile application development and delivery become more complex, Verizon is prepared to help customers every step of the way.  The company's IT Professional Services have helped some of the world's leading enterprises conquer challenges associated with managing dispersed technologies and evolving business processes, maintaining consistent application performance, and providing secure access to information.  The professional services underlying the new MSEP solution feature enterprise mobility assessment, enterprise mobility business process engineering, enterprise mobile application development and testing, and enterprise mobile application certification. 

Users also have access to world-class customer care and support via the Managed Mobility Portal, part of the award-winning Verizon Enterprise Center, a one-stop shop for service and account management, information and support.

Verizon Managed Mobility Services Portfolio

The Verizon Managed Mobility portfolio leverages the technology and expertise of leading mobility vendors, including Sybase, an SAP company and industry leader in enterprise mobile software. The Sybase Unwired Platform, which is managed and maintained by Verizon, enables the synchronization and delivery of information between mobile devices and customers' back-end enterprise applications.

Leveraging the strength of its world-class IP and wireless networks, the Verizon Managed Mobility portfolio is designed to improve mobility programs in five key areas, enabling enterprises to subscribe to one or more of the following modules:

MSEP - Supports mobile enterprise applications by enabling the deployment of new and enhanced applications, as well as the mobilization of business processes and traditional desktop applications. Mobile Device Management - Delivers tools, applications and data to employees, where and when required, and creates and enforces flexible mobile policies across devices, groups or individual users. Mobile Security - Enforces access codes; establishes "lock/wipe" policies by which devices that are stolen or lost can be locked by the administrator and data wiped out; encrypts devices and data cards; delivers firewall and antivirus applications; and supports mobile access to corporate applications. Inventory and Expense Management - Tracks mobile assets, usage and spending.  Delivers consolidated and departmental reporting, as well as auditing, electronic billing and chargeback information for accounting purposes.  The same platform can also track global wireline telecom spending. Logistics - Automates procurement workflow and device deployments across carriers via a centralized procurement portal.  Defines approved devices by work group or function, and procures devices and tracks ordering process.

Verizon Managed Mobility services are available throughout the U.S. and in many countries in Europe, with plans to roll out the services in the Asia-Pacific region early next year.  The services, which can be purchased individually or altogether, are sold by the enterprise sales forces of Verizon Business and Verizon Wireless.

About Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 93 million customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers innovative, seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 195,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of more than $107 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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Virgin Mobile prepaid mobile broadband beats contract pricing by $20

Aug 25th 2010 at 4:00PM


While some companies have put an end to unlimited mobile data connections on your laptop or other mobile device, Virgin Mobile USA, a prepaid provider, is simplifying its plans and offering unlimited prepaid mobile broadband for $40 a month -- $20 cheaper than what it would cost with a contract on networks like AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.(wireless internet service,internet service providers,internet service,wireless service providers,verizon wireless internet,verizon internet,broadband internet providers,wireless broadband providers,broadband internet,broadband wireless)

The new plans will offer a $10 package for 100MB or 10 days as well as a $40 package that offers unlimited data use for a period of 30 days. This is a departure from its plans that charged $10, $20, $40 or $60 for various amounts of data. The nice thing about this type of prepaid mobile broadband, called Broadband2Go by Virgin Mobile, is that users can purchase a block of service when they need it (and pay nothing when they're not using it.)
The Virgin Mobile USA network is powered by Sprint, which means it has a rather large nationwide network of 3G and 1X data. If you need to check the service in your area there is a coverage map available that shows the data speeds and coverage.
In the press release announcing the plan, Virgin Mobile called attention to self employed and independent workers, who make up approximately 30% of the nation's workforce, who would benefit from a flexible and affordable contract-free data plan. Prepaid data is also perfect for personal users who may find that they need a connection only from time to time. Another bonus of prepaid? You can share a device with a friend and cut down on the initial purchase price.
Assuming you use the Virgin Mobile Broadband2Go service for an entire year, you would still save $240 over the traditional $60-a-month contract price of data, or $480 compared to a two-year contract. If you take into account several months where you don't need a mobile connection, or just need a short $10 package, the savings can grow greatly.
When compared to the prepaid mobile broadband offers from Verizon, Virgin Mobile's cheapest plan is $5 cheaper, and the Unlimited plan is $40 less per month than a 5GB plan on Verizon.
Virgin Mobile USA offers an Ovation MC760 USB modem for $79.99, which can connect one device to the Internet and a MiFi 2200 Mobile Hotspot for $149.99 that can connect up to five devices to the Internet. Those links haven't been updated by Virgin Mobile USA yet with the unlimited plan for $40, but its Facebook page has the new price.
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Virgin Mobile sells calls at 5 cents

Jul 15th 2010 at 5:00PM

(wireless internet service,internet service providers,internet service,wireless service providers,verizon wireless internet,verizon internet,broadband internet providers,wireless broadband providers,broadband internet,broadband wireless)
Virgin Mobile has launched another prepaid cell phone plan, selling minutes for 5 cents each under its payLo plan.
The plan, unveiled Thursday, is the lowest price I've seen for a prepaid phone, and beats what Boost Mobile, Assurance Wireless, Net10 and others sell for 10 cents a minute, including plans for people below the poverty rate. Common Cents Mobile has tried to stand out from the prepaid phone crowd by rounding down calls and charging 7 cents a minute.
The 400-minute payLo plan is $20 a month, which equates to 5 cents a minute. Additional minutes are 20 cents each, a text message is 15 cents, the picture rate is 25 cents, and data is $1.50 per megabyte. Minutes do not rollover.
If you talk less than 400 minutes a month, Virgin Mobile has another prepaid plan that is $7 per month by adding $20 to an active prepaid account for 90 days of service. But the basic rate of 20 cents a minute applies to that plan, giving callers 100 minutes of airtime for three months, or 33 minutes per month. The basic rate plan is for people who want an emergency or safety phone to call if their car breaks down, for example.
The 400-minute plan is a deal if you're using the 400 minutes, since they don't rollover.
"We can't do 5 cents and have them last a lot longer," said Neil Lindsay, chief marketing officer for Sprint Mobile's prepaid plans. "It just wouldn't make business sense."
Before switching to a prepaid phone plan, or any phone plan, check out the coverage and go to a price comparison site to see if the minutes you expect to use are worth the money.
Without long-term contracts, prepaid phones are becoming more popular. The worst disadvantage, however, is that while per minute costs have come down, they're still higher than traditional postpaid service, according to a wireless plan buying guide. Also, the minutes usually expire in one to three months, and you'll have to buy more minutes before they expire. Some, such as Net10, which I have, allow minutes to rollover.

Aaron Crowe is a freelance journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Pink slip protection offered by mobile phone company

Apr 9th 2009 at 7:00PM

(wireless internet service,internet service providers,internet service,wireless service providers,verizon wireless internet,verizon internet,broadband internet providers,wireless broadband providers,broadband internet,broadband wireless)

Virgin Mobile is the latest company to offer price protection for customers who lose their jobs.
Starting April 15, the phone company will offer what it calls "Pink Slip Protection" that will pay for three months of its service for new and existing customers who lose their jobs. Customers must prove that they're eligible for state unemployment benefits, and must have one of Virgin Mobile USA's prepaid monthly plans that don't have annual contracts.
While three free months of cell phone use while looking for a job may not sound like much time, it's a start that should help people get back on their feet and find a job, said Bob Stohrer, chief marketing officer for Virgin Mobile.
"We hope that what we're helping people to do is get themselves situated and back into employment," Stohrer told me in a telephone interview.
Like many companies offering help to people who lose their jobs -- Walgreens, Ford, Hyundai, FedEx Office, and others -- it's a tactic to build the brand and help create customer loyalty. After all, if a business helped you when times were tough, maybe you're more likely to stick with them for the long haul.
Virgin Mobile's Stohrer admitted as much, saying the Pink Slip Protection plan could tip the scales for someone looking to buy a cell phone amid all the prepaid phone choices out there.
"Anybody who takes advantage of this is going to become a better customer for us in the long-term," he said.
The national unemployment rate is 8.5%, so its probably safe to assume that about the same percentage of cell phone customers are unemployed and could use this plan. At a time when having a cell phone is no longer a luxury but a necessity, especially when looking for a job, Virgin Mobile customers may flock to the program when it starts April 15.
"You rely on your cellphone even more when you're out of a job" and networking and trying to get ahold of employers, Stohrer said.
Customers must have a Virgin Mobile monthly plan for at least two consecutive months to be eligible for the pink slip plan. People with one of its text-only plans are also eligible, although texting to request a job interview isn't recommended.
Getting a helping hand, if only for three months, is still a helping hand.
"We're trying to help somebody get back on their feet and manage costs when they're really tight," Stohrer said.

Aaron Crowe is an unemployed journalist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read about his job search at www.AaronCrowe.net

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Mobile payment to be mainstream in four years - report

13 July 2011Mobile payment to be mainstream in four years - report As companies race to take advantage of the mass adoption of smartphones and rapid development of new technologies to offer mobile payment services, executives believe the use of a mobile phone or device to make payments or conduct banking transactions will require four years to become widely accepted by consumers, according to a global survey of business executives by KPMG International, a global network of firms providing audit, tax, and advisory services.

The KPMG survey of nearly 1,000 executives in primarily the financial services, technology, telecommunications, and retail industries globally found that 83% of the respondents believe that mobile payments will be mainstream within four years, compared to only nine percent who see them as mainstream today.
 In fact, 46% believe mobile payments will be mainstream within two years.  

"We believe that exploding smartphone growth and myriad opportunities will grow mobile payments at a much faster rate than our respondents anticipate," said Gary Matuszak, KPMG Global Chair of the Technology, Communication and Entertainment practice.  "A wide variety of payments is ready for adoption, as several key players already provide or are rolling out mobile payments, and interest among consumers in utilizing mobile payments is growing, in line with the industry's readiness to deploy them."

Seventy-two percent of the executives said that mobile payments are now or will be reasonably important in the future, with specialist online systems building on its leading position as a payment method, and m-banking and near field communication (NFC) gaining significantly greater traction than today.  
Fifty-eight percent said they have a mobile payments strategy in place.

"While there is consensus about the significant value of this opportunity among executives across geographies and industries, the type and size of opportunity varies between developed and developing countries depending on depth and reach of the financial infrastructure  in place. We believe that those firms willing to engage in cross-industry partnerships and coopetition are more likely to succeed and dominate the market due to the complex set of business relationships required to deliver mobile payments to a mass market," said Matuszak.

While the majority of the business leaders surveyed believe consumers are currently concerned about security and privacy when using mobile devices,  they believe other factors are  more compelling attributes of a successful mobile payment strategy.  
Specifically, 8% believe convenience/accessibility is the highest attribute, followed by simplicity/ease of use, at 73%, security, at 57%, and low cost, at 43%.  

At the same time, business leaders, globally and in the USA, view security as the main challenge to developing mobile payments strategies.
Technology and adoption of the technology is a distant second, followed by privacy.

"The business leaders understand that when it comes to consumers choosing a provider based on security, reputation can make the difference, and any damage to a business' brand can prove costly, even to the extent of being a showstopper," said Sanjaya Krishna, KPMG US Digital Services Leader in the TCE practice. "As a result, leading businesses are adopting multiple approaches to alleviate customers' privacy and security concerns."

Matuzak added:

"One surprising result of our survey is the absence of divergent views across both industries and geographies, which speaks to the consensus that mobile payment is regarded as an opportunity for players across the value chain of commerce."

With the mobile payments industry poised to make a major leap in the coming years, several players are expected to play significant roles, though two groups of financial institutions are the current front-runners, say respondents.

Banks, which scored the highest in level of importance in the value chain, and credit card companies will have the most important roles, according to business leaders globally.
They placed telecommunications companies third, ahead of specialist online payment players (eg. PayPal, Boku, Obopay), online service provider giants (e.g. Google, Facebook, Amazon), retailers and technology companies.
Among US respondents, online service provider giants placed third, followed by specialist online payment players and telecommunications companies, which were rated of equal importance, retailers and technology companies.

Each of these companies' success can be tied to the prospects for the five current payment methods which are battling for a share of the market.

The KPMG survey respondents, globally and in the USA, see specialist online systems leading the pack, due to the fact that this method already has significantly greater penetration than alternatives, and its penetration is expected to increase.

Respondents said that specialist online systems have the greatest prospect for success, followed by mobile banking, NFC, carrier billing and the "mobile wallet."

"While KPMG believes that these forms of mobile payment will all gain some traction, our view is that M-Wallet is one of the most exciting and promising payment opportunities. M-Wallet provides the momentum to move beyond payments to participate in the entire chain of mobile commerce, from consideration and brand awareness to purchase after-sales loyalty and care," said Tudor Aw, Technology Sector Head, KPMG Europe.

M-wallet – uses mobile device as a wallet with account and transaction information stored on the devices' SIM card.

M-banking – direct access to bank services and information via the mobile device

NFC – short-range (millimeters) wireless communication technology that enables exchange between devices, such as between a cell phone and a point of sale device at a checkout counter.

Specialist Online systems – online payment processing systems such as Google checkout and PayPal.  

Carrier billing – purchases are charged to the mobile phone bill

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What Can You Do with MiFi Mobile Hotspot

Browse > Home / Sprint / What Can You Do with MiFi Mobile Hotspot

Tired of search for Wi-Fi connection while traveling? Although many hotels or cafe offer Wi-Fi service - either free or prepaid you will still have to look for them and sit in a public area to connect your laptops or other Wi-Fi devices. If you are traveling via train or bus chances are there won’t be any Wi-Fi service at all. The best solution, if you want to stay connected to the Internet and office network is to purchase a personal MiFi hotspot. It basically works like a Wi-Fi connection point and you can bring it with you anywhere that have 3G or 4G wireless network signs. What can you really do with the MiFi Mobile Hotspot? The best feature is mobility. As long as you are in the carrier’s coverage map you will have Internet connection. Sometimes data roaming is also available. And you are not restricted to one location. And you are allowed to connect 5 Wi-Fi devices are the same time. Is it more convenient than a laptop connection card? Absolutely. Given the fact that an USB mobile broadband card costs about the same you will get a lot more than you pay for when you choose a MiFi personal hotspot.

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Motricity Delivers Interactive Mobile Marketing Solution for World's Largest Retailer of Outdoor Products

Cabela's has launched a new mobile marketing program to promote the company's 50th anniversary and improve the overall customer experience with the brand. Through Motricity's mCore platform, Cabela's, the world's largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise, now has the ability to instantly send special offers and promotions to customers who opt-in.

Cabela's first mobile marketing campaign was launched through Motricity with an offer to download a new application called "Recon Hunt" — a navigation system with additional features built specifically for hunters. Upcoming mobile campaigns will promote the 50th anniversary sweepstakes, alert customers of special offers and sales as well as feature mobile applications relevant to outdoor enthusiasts.

"Working with Motricity has created a new and highly effective way for us to communicate with our customers and is the perfect tool to help promote our 50th anniversary," said Eric Henzie, senior marketing analyst for Cabela's. "Having a strategic mobile marketing campaign in place will help us drive in-store business, increase overall customer awareness and build our brand."

Motricity has the ability to reach over 200 million mobile users and the capability to deliver targeted marketing campaigns to the wide array of mobile devices and all operating systems in the marketplace, including Apple, Droid and BlackBerry which gives Cabela's the opportunity to deeply engage with their current and prospective customers. In addition, for every mobile campaign Cabela's launches, Motricity will track and quantify the effectiveness which enables Cabela's to measure ROI, as well as customize and prioritize future campaigns.

"With a large and geographically diverse customer base, mobile marketing is very strategic in driving growth for a recognized brand such as Cabela's," said Tyler Nelson, senior vice president of mobile marketing, advertising and analytics for Motricity. "Whether their goal is to drive sales, promote special offers or provide customers with outdoor education, mobile campaigns continue to prove to be impactful in reaching key audiences."

About Motricity

Motricity (Nasdaq:MOTR) empowers mobile operators, brands and advertising agencies to maximize the reach and economic potential of the mobile ecosystem through the delivery of relevance-driven merchandising, marketing and advertising solutions. Motricity leverages advanced predictive analytics capabilities to deliver the right content, to the right person at the right time. Motricity provides their entire suite of mobile data service solutions through one, integrated, highly scalable managed service platform. Motricity's unique combination of technology, expertise and go-to-market approach deliver definitive return-on-investment for our mobile operator, brand and advertising agency customers. For more information, visit www.motricity.com or follow the company on Twitter @motricity.

The Motricity, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7813

About Cabela's Incorporated

Cabela's Incorporated, headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, is a leading specialty retailer, and the world's largest direct marketer, of hunting, fishing, camping and related outdoor merchandise. Since the Company's founding in 1961, Cabela's has grown to become one of the most well-known outdoor recreation brands in the world, and has long been recognized as the World's Foremost Outfitter. Through Cabela's growing number of retail stores and its well-established direct business, it offers a wide and distinctive selection of high-quality outdoor products at competitive prices while providing superior customer service. Cabela's also issues the Cabela's CLUB Visa credit card, which serves as its primary customer loyalty rewards program. Cabela's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "CAB".

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Motricity to Power Garnier International's New Master Mobile Marketing and Advertising Site

Garnier International customers will soon be able to access the company's beauty expertise and advice via their mobile devices thanks to Motricity's (Nasdaq:MOTR) mobile marketing and advertising platform. The mCore platform allows Garnier to engage customers through a new digital touch point connecting the Garnier brand with consumers like never before.

"We're thrilled to partner with Motricity to launch Garnier's new mobile platform," said Patrick Chambon, new media marketing director for Garnier International. "The new master mobile marketing and advertising site will allow us to engage our customers via an innovative and interactive channel enhancing brand reach and customer loyalty."

Garnier will utilize Motricity's mobile marketing and advertising platform mCore to provide real-time, interactive and personalized experiences helping the consumer select the appropriate product. Moreover, Motricity's mobile solution allows Garnier to extend their global footprint and brand through a mobile platform.

"The opportunity for brands to leverage the rapid adoption of hundreds of millions of smartphone and next generation devices with targeted mobile advertising, marketing and rich media as a means to reach their customers and drive additional revenue is unprecedented," said Ryan Wuerch, chief executive officer of Motricity. "Garnier is a leading global brand and we're enthused to provide them with the mobile solutions to offer their customers compelling and engaging mobile experiences."

About Motricity

Motricity (Nasdaq:MOTR) empowers mobile operators, brands and advertising agencies to maximize the reach and economic potential of the mobile ecosystem through the delivery of relevance-driven merchandising, marketing and advertising solutions. Motricity leverages advanced predictive analytics capabilities to deliver the right stuff, to the right person at the right time. Motricity provides their entire suite of mobile data service solutions through one, integrated, highly scalable managed service platform. Motricity's unique combination of technology, expertise and go-to-market approach deliver definitive return-on-investment for our mobile operator, brand and advertising agency customers. For more information, visit www.motricity.com or follow the company on Twitter@motricity.

The Motricity, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7813

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Motricity Completes Acquisition of Adenyo, Integrates Mobile Advertising, Marketing and Analytics Into the mCore Platform

Motricity (Nasdaq:MOTR) today announced it has completed its acquisition of Adenyo, a mobile advertising, marketing, and analytics solutions provider with operations in the United States, Canada and Europe. Motricity's integration of Adenyo's capabilities into its software as a service platform, mCore, significantly expands the company's solution set and available target markets. Motricity further strengthens its position to capitalize on the strong growth of both smartphone and mobile advertising markets. Furthermore, with the addition of leading global advertising agency and enterprise brand customers to its portfolio, Motricity is significantly expanding its customer and revenue base. Finally, Motricity is enhancing its ability to deliver a full range of mobile data service solutions to its mobile operator customers worldwide.

Adenyo enables brands, media companies, advertising agencies and mobile operators to directly engage consumers through the delivery of highly targeted mobile advertising and marketing campaigns - which are delivered predominately via smartphones, tablets and next generation mobile devices. Customers include:  AT&T, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Ford Motor Company, Paramount Pictures, Garnier, Omnicom Media Group and Bouygues Telecom. Since the transaction was initially announced on January 31, 2011, Adenyo has continued to gain momentum, adding Visa, Samsung and Kraft as new customers.

"With the acquisition of Adenyo and integration of their platform into mCore, we are changing the landscape of the mobile data services industry. Innovative operators, brands and agencies can now leverage Motricity's software as a service platform to provide highly targeted mobile advertising, marketing and analytics solutions. Our expertise will help them expand their market reach and provide their customers with relevant content and services. Motricity is creating new revenue opportunities by expanding its customer base to include global brands and ad agencies," said Ryan Wuerch, chief executive officer of Motricity. "Our focus in the coming years is to have one billion mobile customers worldwide accessing these offerings and services through Motricity's mCore platform."

The mobile industry continues to experience extremely rapid growth. ABI Research forecasts an unprecedented opportunity for growth in the mobile market, particularly in marketing and advertising, with global spend projected to reach $28.9 billion by 2014.

Terms of the transaction may be found in a current report on Form 8-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, available on the Investor Relations section of Motricity's website at www.motricity.com.

About Motricity, Inc.

Motricity (Nasdaq:MOTR) empowers mobile operators, brands and advertising agencies to maximize the reach and economic potential of the mobile ecosystem through the delivery of relevance-driven merchandising, marketing and advertising solutions. Motricity leverages advanced predictive analytics capabilities to deliver the right stuff, to the right person at the right time. Motricity provides their entire suite of mobile data service solutions through one, integrated, highly scalable managed service platform. Motricity's unique combination of technology, expertise and go-to-market approach deliver definitive return-on-investment for our mobile operator, brand and advertising agency customers. For more information, visit www.motricity.com or follow the company on Twitter @motricity.

The Motricity, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7813

Forward-looking Statements

Statements made in this release and related statements that express Motricity's or its management's intentions, indications, beliefs, expectations, guidance, estimates, forecasts or predictions of the future constitute forward-looking statements, as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and relate to matters that are not historical facts. They include, without limitation, statements regarding; the timing of the closing of the acquisition, the expected synergies and impact of the transaction, our view of general economic and market conditions, and the integration of Adenyo's business into ours. They also include statements about our ability to develop, produce, market, license or sell our products, solutions and services, reduce or control expenses, improve efficiency, realign resources, continue operational improvement and year-over-year or sequential growth, and about the applicability of accounting policies used in our financial reporting. These statements represent beliefs and expectations only as of the date they were made. We may elect to update forward-looking statements but we expressly disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our beliefs and expectations change. Actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those discussed in a forward looking statement. These include, but are not limited to, our ability to achieve expected synergies, our ability to integrate Adenyo's business into ours, and the risks and uncertainties described more fully in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Why Google And Android Must Deal With The Mobile Protection Racket - paidContent.org

It’s kind of amazing to consider that in just three short years, Google (NSDQ: GOOG) found its answer to critics fond of the “one-trick pony” slur with Android, currently the world’s most popular mobile operating system and the vehicle for Google’s ambitions in mobile advertising and application development. But wow that Android is on top of the world it is faced with the greatest crisis of its short life as barbarians armed with patents mill at the gates.

Forbes this week revisited an amazing anecdote from Gary Reback, the attorney best known for hunting down Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) in the 1990s and harassing Google at present, from his days at Sun as a young attorney. When confronted by lawyers from IBM seeking licenses for patents that Sun believed didn’t apply to any of its products, an IBM lawyer referenced its horde of around 10,000 patents and supposedly said: “Do you really want us to go back to Armonk [IBM headquarters in New York] and find seven patents you do infringe? Or do you want to make this easy and just pay us $20 million?” Sun paid.

See more of our latest Google coverage
or add an alert for future coverage of Google.

Following Google’s inability to secure perhaps the biggest block of mobile patents ever put up for auction last week, the Android partners who have been key to its success are going to start seeing the mobile-computing equivalent of IBM—Microsoft—more and more frequently. Even before the Nortel patents were put in play Microsoft had launched a mobile strategy aimed at convincing Android partners that Android wasn’t really free: there was a patent-licensing toll that just hadn’t yet been collected.

But now that Microsoft, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL), Sony (NYSE: SNE), Research in Motion (NSDQ: RIMM), Ericsson (NSDQ: ERIC), and EMC control the 6,000 patents auctioned off by Nortel for $4.5 billion, Google is scrambling to figure out what to do next. The company declined multiple interview requests about the aftermath of the auction and the plan going forward, but a few interesting details emerged this week regarding the auction and its impact on Android.

Class War—Google has a way of stirring resentment among its peers, sort of like the know-it-all kid in high school who was also quarterback of the football team and just biding his time before waltzing into Harvard. That was evident in the aftermath of the auction, when Reuters posted an account of the bidding process fueled by anonymous quotes designed to make Google look as silly as possible, claiming that Google was “either supremely confident or bored” in making bids equal to famous mathematical constants and was unwilling to go above $4 billion.

While a source familiar with Google’s auction strategy confirmed that the company showed its irreverent side in the auction process, the source also said there’s no way Google took the auction lightly. It’s not like Google submitted three bids equal to mathematically significant numbers and hit the bar: contrary to the Reuters (NYSE: TRI) report, Google and Apple exchanged bids in $100 million increments until Apple (backed by the consortium) set the high-water mark at $4.5 billion during the 19th round of bidding. That account was verified in a report (click for PDF) filed by a monitor from the Canadian court system that was made public on Wednesday.

High in the mountains of Idaho, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt told reporters at the Allen & Co. conference this week that “the price exceeded our value threshold,” which is a little curious considering Google was reportedly ready to pay $6 billion for Groupon, a dubiously profitable company slated for an initial public offering at some point later this year.

The same source said that Google walked away when the bidding reached a point where it no longer made sense, sort of how buying real estate in the Bay Area can become a game of chicken when even the starting price far exceeds any sensible number. That may have been a mistake: without the patents, Google and its Android partners are back to square one, besieged on all sides by deep-pocketed and well-patented competitors who want a piece of its success for their own. Sometimes coveted objects are worth what people are willing to pay for, not necessarily what the algorithm says they are worth.

Division in the Ranks?—There’s no question that Android was a lifeline to a smartphone industry caught flat-footed by the debut of the iPhone in 2007. Companies like Motorola (NYSE: MMI) and Samsung, which had tried and failed to create their own mobile software for years, found themselves with the option of a good-enough mobile operating system that would allow them to design their own hardware, software, and services without having to do the heavy lifting. And lower-cost handset makers and wireless carriers were excited to be able to offer smartphones at competitive prices.

But the life of an Android partner isn’t necessarily easy. Application developers are in love with iOS and tend to treat Android as a necessary second-class citizen. Handset makers find themselves in the shoes of the Dells, HPs, and Gateways of the world a decade ago, who were dependent on Microsoft and Intel (NSDQ: INTC) to come up with breakthroughs to which they could add their own twists. Their attempts to set themselves apart from the pack can cause problems as Google tries to maintain compatibility, causing tension. And for all that, they’re not making much money.

And now those partners also have to deal with advances from Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, and perhaps the other members of the Rockstar Bidco consortium that won Nortel’s patents. HTC was derided by some for capitulating to Microsoft and signing a license deal a few years ago when this strategy first emerged and others, like Motorola, chose to fight. But now it looks smart, as Microsoft moves from town to town pointing toward its treasure chest of patents and asking for larger and larger checks made out to Steve Ballmer.

If Samsung cuts a deal, it will be hard for companies like Motorola and Barnes & Noble (NYSE: BKS) to argue that the patents are invalid or that their products don’t infringe when so many similar companies have endorsed the patents by signing a license. And even if Samsung does reach an agreement with Microsoft, it has another huge challenge in fending off Apple’s aggressive legal maneuvering.

So at a certain point, an Android partner must think very carefully about their operating system options if they’re going to have to pay something per handset one way or another. Both Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) are shopping mobile operating systems these days, two companies backed by decades of patents, while Google offers basically no cover for its partners when it comes to patents. Companies that have made large investments in Android not going to switch abruptly now that Android is the world’s leading mobile operating system, but they may start building Windows Phone 7 or WebOS businesses on the side, which could arrest future growth potential for Android and deny Google a chance to influence the development of mobile computing as much as it would like.

Plan B—It’s perhaps a bit of a stretch to call this a “plan,” but Google is essentially throwing open its arms to the intellectual property community, willing to listen to just about anyone with mobile patents for sale or rent. It’s going to have to get patent coverage somehow, and it doesn’t seem to care if that’s through one-off deals with small companies, large acquisitions, or even patent licensing deals with its foes. It’s also hoping that federal regulators change the terms of the deal while they review it, similar to how a patent sale involving Novell was altered by the Department of Justice following complaints, and has a pipe dream that Congress may stop playing chicken with the debt ceiling and embrace real patent reform.

This is a crucial summer for Android. It rose to prominence as the anti-iPhone, but has managed to unite Apple, Microsoft, and Research in Motion in a consortium of competitors who are trying to hit Google in its most vulnerable spot.

As Reback related years ago, modern patent litigation isn’t really all that different from a protection racket: you pay, or you get hurt. If Google wants to keep the Android miracle rolling, it’s going to have to find a way to offer its own brand of protection before its partners opt for peace of mind over loyalty.

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fring Brings Mobile Group Video to Big Screen Tablets

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fring Brings Mobile Group Video to Big Screen Tablets
Posted: 29-Jun-2011 [Source: fring] [fring announces its iPad Group Video chat enabling four-way video calls. The services can also be used across iPhone, Android, and Nokia devices and over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G connections.]

London, UK -- fring, the mobile communication service that pioneered mobile video over internet calls across all major Smartphone platforms, now brings the world’s first dedicated Group Video chat service to the leading tablet, the iPad.

fring’s iPad Group Video chat enables four friends to simultaneously video chat one another, & see friends across a host of devices including iPhone, Android & Nokia, over any internet connectivity (Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G).

With fring on the iPad, users enjoy full-size 9.7-inch LED, glossy widescreen Video chat, with Multi-Touch display and optimized picture quality using fring’s proprietary DVQ™ technology.

The fring iPad Group Video chat experience is wrapped in a fun, intuitive, natural gesture- navigation where users drag & drop friends into Group Video chat, move their video chat stream & seamlessly augment video chat with parallel communication like tandem text chatting.

“fring is empowering tablet users to unleash the power of their 9.7 inch screens beyond movie watching and gaming to rich, fun personal video communication,” says Avi Shechter, CEO and Co-founder of fring. “With Group Video on the iPad, we are changing face to face video chat. Users will now be able to video socialize on big screen tablets enjoying seeing their friends wherever they are- as they commute, sunbathe at the beach or wait for coffee at a café.”

In addition to free Group Video chat, fring enables users to make free two-way video chat, voice calls and live chat with friends on Android, iPhone/iPod touch & Nokia Smartphones.

fring’s iPad Group Video is available from Apple’s App Store. A demo video is available here.

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Sprint/HTC 3D

Nokia N9 MeeGo

HP TouchPad

Motorola Droid X2

Sony S1 and S2 Tablets

Nokia X7

Sprint/HTC 3D

CTIA 2011

Google Nexus S 4G

T-Mobile Sidekick 4G

iPad2

Xperia Play

HP webOS Tablet

Sprint/Kyocera Echo Dual-Screen

T-Mobile/Samsung Galaxy S 4G

AT&T/Motorola ATRIX 4G Smartphone

Verizon/Motorola XOOM tablet

Sprint/HTC EVO Shift

Nexus S

Samsung Galaxy Tab

HP's Palm Pre 2

HTC's Windowsphone

Motorola DROID PRO

Verizon/Motorola CITRUS

BlackBerry PlayBook

Sharp Galapagos E-Book Reader

HTC Desire HD

Nokia E7

T-Mobile G2

BlackBerry Torch 9800

Sprint/Samsung Epic 4G

Verizon/Motorola DROID X

Motorola MILESTONE XT720

iPhone 4

T-Mobile myTouch 3G Slide

Nokia N8

KIN Social Phone

Samsung Galaxy S

Motorola MILESTONE

Apple iPad

Dell Mini 3

Google Nexus One

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Mobile payments users to grow by 40% to reach 2.5 billion globally by 2015

A new report by analyst firm Juniper Research forecasts that the number of mobile phone users making payments for digital goods will reach 2.5 billion worldwide by 2015, up from 1.8bn forecast for 2011. This represents a growth of 40%.

Mobile tickets for transport and entertainment were found to be two of the key sectors influencing growth although new service and application adoption will also be very important.

Senior analyst David Snow gave more details: “Whilst the mobile payments sector offers substantial growth opportunities, it needs to be seen by innovative players as a platform from which to develop new value added applications and services such as personalised mobile coupons, loyalty schemes, and novel augmented reality offerings.”

However, the Juniper report also warned that fraud levels with certain types of payments such as PSMS and direct billing are on the increase with mobile security becoming a key issue in the not too distant future.

Further key research from the Mobile Payments for Digital & Physical Goods report shows:

• The Far East & China region will be the largest, accounting for nearly 30% of the total by 2015;

• The Indian Sub-Continent is forecast to exceed 400 million users by 2015.

The report uses an innovative new approach to compare the positioning of some 17 mobile payments vendors. These vendors are also profiled in the report, enabling the reader to identify and compare their strategies. In depth market forecasts provide detailed five year regional data for mobile digital & physical goods payments, showing key parameters including subscriber take-up, transaction sizes and volumes. The report also reveals the strategies that are being used to enable users to pay by mobile through case studies from companies such as Virgin Media and Badoo.

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