On 7 September 1987, 15 phone firms signed an agreement to build mobile networks based on the Global System for Mobile (GSM) Communications. According to the GSM Association there are more than 2.5 billion accounts that use this mobile phone technology. Adoption of the technology shows no signs of slowing down with many developing nations becoming keen users of mobile handsets.

Robert Conway, head of the GSM Association, said the memorandum of understanding signed in 1987 is widely seen as the moment when the global mobile industry got under way. Although work on the GSM technical specifications began earlier, the agreement signed in 1987 committed those operators to building networks based upon it. “There’s no doubt that at the time of the agreement in 1987 no one had an idea of the explosive capabilities in terms of growth that would happen after the GSM standard was agreed,” he said. Since then, he said, the numbers of people using GSM mobiles has always outstripped the predictions. Once the preserve of the well off, mobiles were now “the everyday gadget that’s essential to people’s lives,” he said.

A new way of making calls directly between phones, for free, is being trialled by a Swedish company. It is hoping to dramatically improve communications in the developing world. Swedish company TerraNet has developed the idea using peer-to-peer technology that enables users to speak on its handsets without the need for a mobile phone base station. The technology is designed for remote areas of the countryside or desert where base stations are unfeasible.

Projects backed by TerraNet recently launched in Tanzania and Ecuador. TerraNet founder Anders Carlius BBC World Service’s Digital Planet programme that the idea for TerraNet came when he was on safari in Tanzania in 2002, and found that poor connectivity meant he could not ring friends riding in another jeep only a few metres away. “I started thinking, ‘couldn’t we get phone-to-phone without needing any other equipment, and actually have real voice communication, like a telephone call, between units?’” he said.

He said that were this to happen, it could potentially spell the end for the current Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications model. About 70% of all mobile phones use this technology. Mr Carlius said large mobile firms did not like the idea of using a peer-to-peer model to make calls. “One of the biggest things against us is the big operators and technology providers really pushing against us, saying this technology doesn’t work and it doesn’t have a business model,” he said. “This is fine - just join us in Lund and see how the technology works, and ask our customers how our business model works.” Mr Carlius said that mobile phone manufacturer Ericsson had invested around £3m in TerraNet, and this indicated that the business model for the network is sound.

Cisco and Scientific Atlanta announced that demonstarted their new end-to-end mobile TV solution for the first time at IBC 2007. The system uses the Digital Video Broadcasting - Handheld (DVB-H) standard and draws on Scientific Atlanta’s in-depth experience as a video systems integrator using similar Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial (DVB-T) architecture and technology and Cisco’s Internet Protocol (IP) distribution expertise. In order to provide the best possible offering for operators requiring an end-to-end solution, Cisco and Scientific Atlanta have identified and collaborated with the pre-eminent developers and vendors of each individual technology module, and have also deployed their own well-known ‘in-house’ products, including the ROSA® monitoring and control system and various satellite, ATM and IP-based video distribution products from Scientific Atlanta and IP network routers from Cisco.
The demonstration at IBC will include DVB-H encoders supplied by Envivio, IP encapsulators and DVB-H iSplicer technology supplied by UDcast and ESG servers from Expway. Cisco and Scientific Atlanta’s approach has been to consider an open-standards solution to help provide operators the opportunity to optimize performance and operational efficiency and flexibility without vendor tie-in.Key elements of the Cisco and Scientific Atlanta mobile TV solution have been trialed by the MADUF Project in Belgium and were successfully used to provide live coverage of the Tour de France during July 2007. Other trials are ongoing. A similar system will be showcased at IBC to provide a live DVB-H broadcast using all the elements of the complete end-to end solution.

The LG Viewty’s unprecedented multimedia capabilities reflect the extensive partnership between LG Electronics and DivX. The LG Viewty enables consumers to easily playback a wide range of DivX files from the PC on the go or output to a TV monitor without converting to another format.

Consumers can also view DivX files from popular online video communities such at ten times the speed of WCDMA through the HSDPA 3.6 high speed internet access capability. DivX is a widely popular digital media format that enables consumers to create, share and play back high-quality video content across an ecosystem of platforms and devices.

The super sleek and stylish LG Viewty is the first in LG’s new line of high technology handsets and boasts a number of ‘world first’ features never seen before on a mobile handset, including 120 fps video recording as well as unique camera functionality such as manual focus, image stabilizer and handwriting recognition that makes editing easy on the Viewty’s 3-inch wide LCD touch screen.

“Our aim is to provide the highest quality images to users of the LG Viewty and have made every effort to ensure cutting-edge technology is applied to meet this vision,” said Skott Ahn, CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “Our partnership with DivX and the Viewty’s support for DivX video is an important feature in creating a state-of-the-art media experience for our consumers.” DivX is working to build a common digital media language that offers real interoperability across products and platforms, and innovative devices like the LG Viewty are an important piece of that ecosystem,” said Kevin Hell, Acting CEO at DivX, Inc. “Our goal is to enable consumers to enjoy their media content on any device or platform, from the PC to the living room and on the go. We’re excited to further our strong relationship with LG in pursuit of that vision.”

With a sleek stainless steel design, the Nokia 6301 phone launched today is not only stylish, but offers consumers seamless voice and data mobility across GSM cellular and WLAN networks via Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) technology. The Nokia 6301 phone uses UMA technology to integrate the benefits of landline and a mobile phone, including seamless indoor coverage, sound quality and affordability.”The convergence of mobile and fixed/land-line technologies means consumers are looking for products that can help make their lives easier,” said Peter Ropke, Senior Vice President, Mobile Phones, Nokia. “With the Nokia 6301 utilizing UMA technology, worldwide triband GSM coverage is combined with superior indoor WLAN coverage to create a device that people can use in virtually any situation.

With UMA technology, the consumer can use the GSM network or a broadband Internet-connected WLAN network for mobile services. This can ensure excellent indoor coverage both at office and home. The consumer can have one multi-mode handset that works everywhere with enhanced and easy-to-use voice services. And, WLAN/UMA provides excellent coverage and sound quality, even in areas where mobile phone reception has previously been poor.

With UMA technology, the Nokia 6301 benefits operators as well, allowing them to deliver voice and data services to subscribers over WLAN, substantially increasing mobile service availability while decreasing the costs related to network deployment.Orange will be one of the first operators to offer the Nokia 6301, as part of its Unik/Unique portfolio.Yves Maitre, Senior Vice President, Devices, Orange said “The Nokia 6301 is a stylish new addition to our Unik range of converged fixed and mobile phones. Orange’s Unik offer brings together the convenience of a single phone and tariff at home and on the move and the widest range of UMA handsets.

The Nokia 6301, with its sleek candy bar design and attractive stainless steel exterior adds to the appeal of Unik for Orange customers.”The Nokia 6301 is an evolution of the modern monoblock design. Weighing a mere 93 grams and measuring less than 13.1mm thin, the Nokia 6301 is constructed of quality materials.

To accompany the UMA technology, the Nokia 6301 also offers consumers a modern suite of features, including a 2 megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom and full screen viewfinder. Ideal for home and office, the Nokia 6301 comes with an attractive desk stand, the Nokia Desk Stand DT-23, to hold the phone and keep its battery charged while connected to WLAN.

Apple has chosen T-Mobile to sell the iPhone in Germany and will release the handset on November 9.An 8GB version of the iPhone will cost German customers €399 (£279) and comes with a two-year minimum contract. The iPhone will be sold via the Telekom Shops of Deutsche Telekom and through the T-Mobile web shopT-Mobile International CEO Hamid Akhavan said: “We are convinced that we can get our customers excited about experiencing the mobile internet with the iPhone. I’m proud that Apple and T-Mobile have become partners.

The best mobile device currently on the market will soon be operating on the best network in the country.”Apple CEO Steve Jobs added: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with T-Mobile to bring the iPhone to Germany. Customer response to iPhone in the US has been incredible, and we can’t wait to introduce T-Mobile customers to the most revolutionary mobile device on the planet.”The announcement comes a day after Apple announced that O2 will be the exclusive network partner for the iPhone in the UK.

Apple is also expected to announce over the next few days that Orange has won the exclusive rights to sell the handset in France.

“Hackers Inc” are seeing red after Apple Computer released a software update that renders useless - unlocked iPhones aka iPhones that have been altered so as to be able to work with cellular carriers other than the official one, namely AT&T. Hackers had it coming when earlier this week, Apple Computer warned about its upcoming software — that would not only offer access to iTunes and fix a few security bugs — but significantly, possibly end-up permanently disabling the unlocked iPhones.

Put-on-the-defensive, the hacker community has responded saying that depending on the type of unlocking program used, iPhones may or may not continue to work after installing Apple’s newest software update. In case of unlocked iPhones that live to tell of the software onslaught, they will be workable only with the original SIM card that ties the phone firmly back to official carrier, AT&T. Apple’s move comes even as hackers were about to dismiss the company’s warning as a mere arm-twisting tactic. Meanwhile, it can’t be told how many people have actually managed to unlock their iPhones, but from the looks of it, the activity has been particularly popular in Europe.

In the voluntary public takeover offer to acquire all outstanding shares in LHS Aktiengesellschaft (ISIN DE000LHS4000, WKN LHS400), Ericsson, through an indirectly held wholly owned subsidiary, has purchased shares and received acceptances representing together approximately 84 percent of the outstanding shares and voting rights in LHS. The statutory additional acceptance period will run until October 8, 2007. All conditions to the offer have been fulfilled. The offer has been accepted for 2,475,462 LHS shares as of the end of the acceptance period, which in addition to the 9,742,780 LHS shares acquired by Ericsson, amounts to 12,218,242 LHS shares, representing approximately 84 percent of the total number of LHS shares outstanding. Pursuant to German takeover law, an additional acceptance period will run until October 8, 2007, allowing all LHS shareholders who have not yet accepted the offer the chance to still do so. On September 18, 2007, Ericsson declared that all the conditions to the offer had been fulfilled during the acceptance period.

Giorgio Armani and Samsung Electronics unveiled the new Giorgio Armani-Samsung luxury mobile. Giorgio Armani presented the new mobile phone at a press briefing in his Armani/Teatro in Milan before his Spring Summer 2008 Women’s fashion show. The Giorgio Armani-Samsung Mobile will meet the needs of those who aspire to own a technologically advanced and beautifully designed telephone with which to communicate and complete their lifestyle.

Through a new strategic alliance, starting with the Giorgio Armani-Samsung luxury mobile phone, the two companies plan to launch an innovative range of portable and home consumer electronics products as part of the Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani and Armani/Casa lifestyles, founded on the combination of Giorgio Armani’s iconic design aesthetic and Samsung’s cutting edge technology. Giorgio Armani, President and Chief Executive Officer of Giorgio Armani S.p.A. said:“Today fashion has expanded to encompass our way of life, not just how we dress, but how we design our home, the hotels we stay in, the car we drive and the technology we buy.

In fact, we make as much of a personal statement with the mobile phones that we carry or the televisions we have in our living rooms as we do with the shoes and bags we wear or the furnishings we chose to place in our homes. These are all lifestyle decisions, where design and performance are the criteria. Samsung has successfully anticipated the growing role for consumer electronics in our lives, while recognising the importance of self-expression in the development of its products.”Geesung Choi, President of Samsung Electronics said: “Today’s mobile phone manufacturers no longer just sell mobile phones, but sell more than the product itself – a slice of life and culture. We truly believe that our approach with Giorgio Armani is one step closer to our customers to enrich their lives with sophisticated style and cutting-edge technology.”He added, “This is a groundbreaking collaboration between one of world’s most influential designers and an electronics leader.

Samsung’s innovative technology and Giorgio Armani’s established iconic design philosophy are a perfect match as exemplified by the state-of-the-art Giorgio Armani-Samsung mobile phone.”

T-Mobile Netherlands concluded negotiations today with France Telecom on the acquisition of Orange Netherlands. The contract sets a purchase price of EUR 1.33 billion on a debt/cash free basis. The joining of forces of two of the major Netherlands carriers is thus complete. The number of T-Mobile customers in Holland now adds up to a total of 4.8 million (of which 2.8 million customers with T-Mobile and 2.0 million with Orange Netherlands). This represents about 28% of the market share for the country. Deutsche Telecom hopes to strengthen its positions on the competitive Dutch market with the acquisition of the fourth largest mobile communications operator in the Netherlands. Prior to the purchase, T-mobile was the third biggest provider nationwide but now it enjoys a significant boost in the race with KPN and Vodafone Netherlands, which are the other two operators with networks of their own. The transaction is to be finalized on October 1, 2007 and obviously T-Mobile will then have to put their backs into integrating the two companies and making all the necessary steps towards sustainability.