London Olympics: BBC to offer live action on mobiles to Britons

The BBC will stream every event to PCs, mobiles, tablets and Internet-connected televisions during the July 27-Aug.12 Games. PHOTO: AFP/ FILE

LONDON: Britons who have missed out on tickets for the Olympics will be able to see all the sporting action live on mobile devices in what the publicly funded BBC called its most comprehensive ever Games coverage.      

Reflecting advances in technology since the last summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, the BBC will stream every event to PCs, mobiles, tablets and Internet-connected televisions during the July 27-Aug.12 Games.

“We have reinvented the experience of watching big events live,” said Phil Fearnley, general manager BBC News Knowledge.

“Audiences will never miss a moment and will get total control over what they watch,” he told reporters, setting out plans for over 2,500 hours of live programming.

Demand for millions of tickets for the Games has far exceeded supply, souring enthusiasm for an event that has sucked up 9.3 billion pounds ($15 billion) of public money.

The Olympics, like this summer’s European soccer championships, would normally provide a boost for television manufacturers trying to sell new sets, but the battle this year will be played out across a range of devices.

The BBC has developed a free Olympics mobile app for Apple and Android smartphones, offering up to 24 live streams and video highlights clips. Rights restrictions mean that access to BBC video and audio feeds will not be available overseas.

Satellite TV company BSkyB and cable provider Virgin Media will also take all the live feeds from the BBC.

“We’ve tested this every day for months,” said Fearnley, reflecting on the technology challenge. Calling these “the first ever digital Olympics”, the BBC will offer online profiles of every one of the thousands of athletes taking part and link directly to the Twitter feeds of some of the best known competitors.

The BBC carries no advertising and is funded by a levy of 145.50 pounds ($230) taken from every household with a TV.

The corporation is cutting a few corners to help fund its innovations. Its main broadcast studio in the Olympic Park has been recycled from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and will sit on a base of 18 ship cargo containers.

Article source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/379528/london-olympics-bbc-to-offer-live-action-on-mobiles-to-britons/

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Price war to intensify as mobiles give power to buyers

IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real time pricing information from competitors offering the same pair of shoes or facial cream a few dollars cheaper just a few doors away.

It is a phenomenon known as ”showrooming” and it is causing headaches for traditional retailers in the US, who are already under siege from the online price discounting that has wreaked havoc with their business models. For customers, the mobile commerce apps give them even greater power to compare prices while they are shopping.

In Australia, a few retailers have started experimenting with mobile apps but they have a long way to go to catch up to US retailers, says Paul Budde, a telecom consultant at BuddeComm.

Mr Budde estimates smartphones have more than 50 per cent penetration, which means it is only a matter of time before the apps are offered in Australia.

Woolworths was the first big retailer to launch an app last August, with limited offerings, which included the ability for customers to scan a product’s barcode with their smartphone, add it to their shopping list and then order and pay for their groceries, which are home delivered.

Big W went a step further and launched a mobile app in November, with a feature enabling customers to scan a product in any competitor’s store and get the comparable price at Big W. In the next few weeks, it plans to expand the price comparison to over 60,000 products and offer detailed product information on more than 20,000 items.

A spokeswoman for Big W, Clare Buchanan, said the upgrades will connect to online shopping to enable customers to compare prices as well as buy instantly from Big W for home delivery or layby.

”It will also give customers tracking information about the progress of their order and SMS them when it’s about to be delivered – this feature alone is anticipated to reduce call centre volumes by about 25 per cent,” she said.

Sportsgirl is another early adopter of mobile commerce. The group’s strategic brand manager, Prue Thomas, said the decision to introduce a mobile app was a no brainer and it was growing faster than website sales.

”Our girls are on the phones 24/7 and we should be too. They can purchase as much as they want from the mobile. If they are in a store that doesn’t have the product, they can use the mobile to order it,” she said.

Ms Thomas said Sportsgirl sees the mobile not as a threat but an opportunity.

Appy shoppers – Weekend Business

Article source: http://www.caseyweeklyberwick.com.au/news/national/national/general/price-war-to-intensify-as-mobiles-give-power-to-buyers/2561827.aspx

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Price war to intensify as mobiles give power to buyers

“Showrooming” … a new craze allowing shoppers to compare prices by scanning barcodes. Photo: Joe Armao

IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real time pricing information from competitors offering the same pair of shoes or facial cream a few dollars cheaper just a few doors away.

It is a phenomenon known as ”showrooming” and it is causing headaches for traditional retailers in the US, who are already under siege from the online price discounting that has wreaked havoc with their business models. For customers, the mobile commerce apps give them even greater power to compare prices while they are shopping.

In Australia, a few retailers have started experimenting with mobile apps but they have a long way to go to catch up to US retailers, says Paul Budde, a telecom consultant at BuddeComm.

Mr Budde estimates smartphones have more than 50 per cent penetration, which means it is only a matter of time before the apps are offered in Australia.

Woolworths was the first big retailer to launch an app last August, with limited offerings, which included the ability for customers to scan a product’s barcode with their smartphone, add it to their shopping list and then order and pay for their groceries, which are home delivered.

Big W went a step further and launched a mobile app in November, with a feature enabling customers to scan a product in any competitor’s store and get the comparable price at Big W. In the next few weeks, it plans to expand the price comparison to over 60,000 products and offer detailed product information on more than 20,000 items.

A spokeswoman for Big W, Clare Buchanan, said the upgrades will connect to online shopping to enable customers to compare prices as well as buy instantly from Big W for home delivery or layby.

”It will also give customers tracking information about the progress of their order and SMS them when it’s about to be delivered – this feature alone is anticipated to reduce call centre volumes by about 25 per cent,” she said.

Sportsgirl is another early adopter of mobile commerce. The group’s strategic brand manager, Prue Thomas, said the decision to introduce a mobile app was a no brainer and it was growing faster than website sales.

”Our girls are on the phones 24/7 and we should be too. They can purchase as much as they want from the mobile. If they are in a store that doesn’t have the product, they can use the mobile to order it,” she said.

Ms Thomas said Sportsgirl sees the mobile not as a threat but an opportunity.

Appy shoppers - Weekend Business

Article source: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/price-war-to-intensify-as-mobiles-give-power-to-buyers-20120518-1yw15.html

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CAUGHT WITH STOLEN MOBILES AND FAKE ID

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CAUGHT WITH STOLEN MOBILES AND FAKE ID

18 May 2012

An Algerian man who was caught with three stolen mobile phones and a false Belgian ID card in the Ministry of Sound nightclub was given a suspended sentence.

Nassredine Zair, 33, was searched in the club on May 6 after a partygoer suspected that her iPhone had been snatched from her bag.

Although her phone was never found, the police seized three mobiles from him belonging to others, as well as the false ID card.

His solicitor told the court that Zair, who entered the UK as an asylum seeker, had been refused leave to remain but risked being persecuted if he was sent back to his country.

He said that the ID card was being used to help him get work on building sites. “He’s precisely the type of immigrant this country wants to encourage. He’s caught between a rock and a hard place,” he said.

Zair of Mornington Crescent, Hounslow, pleaded guilty to three counts of receiving stolen goods and one count of possessing a false identity document.

He was sentenced to eight weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for twelve months and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He was also banned from the night club for six months.

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Article source: http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/in-the-dock/00,news,25805,5221,00.htm

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BBC to offer live Olympics action on mobiles to Britons

Reuters, 15/05 17:32 CET

By Keith Weir

LONDON (Reuters) – Britons who have missed out on tickets for the Olympics will be able to see all the sporting action live on mobile devices in what the publicly funded BBC called its most comprehensive ever Games coverage.

Reflecting advances in technology since the last summer Olympics in Beijing in 2008, the BBC will stream every event to PCs, mobiles, tablets and Internet-connected televisions during the July 27-August12 Games.

“We have reinvented the experience of watching big events live,” said Phil Fearnley, general manager BBC News Knowledge.

“Audiences will never miss a moment and will get total control over what they watch,” he told reporters, setting out plans for over 2,500 hours of live programming.

Demand for millions of tickets for the Games has far exceeded supply, souring enthusiasm for an event that has sucked up 9.3 billion pounds ($15 billion) of public money.

The Olympics, like this summer’s European soccer championships, would normally provide a boost for television manufacturers trying to sell new sets, but the battle this year will be played out across a range of devices.

The BBC has developed a free Olympics mobile app for Apple and Android smart phones, offering up to 24 live streams and video highlights clips. Rights restrictions mean that access to BBC video and audio feeds will not be available overseas.

Satellite TV company BSkyB and cable provider Virgin Media will also take all the live feeds from the BBC.

“We’ve tested this every day for months,” said Fearnley, reflecting on the technology challenge.

Calling these “the first ever digital Olympics”, the BBC will offer online profiles of every one of the thousands of athletes taking part and link directly to the Twitter feeds of some of the best known competitors.

The BBC carries no advertising and is funded by a levy of 145.50 pounds ($230) taken from every household with a TV.

The corporation is cutting a few corners to help fund its innovations. Its main broadcast studio in the Olympic Park has been recycled from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and will sit on a base of 18 ship cargo containers.

(Reporting by Keith Weir; Editing by Will Waterman)

euronews provides breaking news articles from Reuters as a service to its readers, but does not edit the articles it publishes.

Copyright 2012 Reuters.

Article source: http://www.euronews.com/sport/1518066-bbc-to-offer-live-olympics-action-on-mobiles-to-britons/

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Price war to intensify as mobiles give power to buyers

IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real time pricing information from competitors offering the same pair of shoes or facial cream a few dollars cheaper just a few doors away.

It is a phenomenon known as ”showrooming” and it is causing headaches for traditional retailers in the US, who are already under siege from the online price discounting that has wreaked havoc with their business models. For customers, the mobile commerce apps give them even greater power to compare prices while they are shopping.

In Australia, a few retailers have started experimenting with mobile apps but they have a long way to go to catch up to US retailers, says Paul Budde, a telecom consultant at BuddeComm.

Mr Budde estimates smartphones have more than 50 per cent penetration, which means it is only a matter of time before the apps are offered in Australia.

Woolworths was the first big retailer to launch an app last August, with limited offerings, which included the ability for customers to scan a product’s barcode with their smartphone, add it to their shopping list and then order and pay for their groceries, which are home delivered.

Big W went a step further and launched a mobile app in November, with a feature enabling customers to scan a product in any competitor’s store and get the comparable price at Big W. In the next few weeks, it plans to expand the price comparison to over 60,000 products and offer detailed product information on more than 20,000 items.

A spokeswoman for Big W, Clare Buchanan, said the upgrades will connect to online shopping to enable customers to compare prices as well as buy instantly from Big W for home delivery or layby.

”It will also give customers tracking information about the progress of their order and SMS them when it’s about to be delivered – this feature alone is anticipated to reduce call centre volumes by about 25 per cent,” she said.

Sportsgirl is another early adopter of mobile commerce. The group’s strategic brand manager, Prue Thomas, said the decision to introduce a mobile app was a no brainer and it was growing faster than website sales.

”Our girls are on the phones 24/7 and we should be too. They can purchase as much as they want from the mobile. If they are in a store that doesn’t have the product, they can use the mobile to order it,” she said.

Ms Thomas said Sportsgirl sees the mobile not as a threat but an opportunity.

Appy shoppers – Weekend Business

Article source: http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/metro/national/general/price-war-to-intensify-as-mobiles-give-power-to-buyers/2561827.aspx

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Metropolitan Police gain power to extract data from personal mobiles

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Technology has been implemented by the Metropolitan Police to allow them to extract mobile phone data from suspects held in custody.

According to BBC News, data extracted will include call history, texts and
contacts, and the Met will be able to retain the data regardless of whether any
charges are brought.

Until now, officers had to send
mobiles away for forensic examination in order to gather and store data, a
process that could take several weeks. But under the new system, content will
be extracted using purpose-built terminals in police stations.

Stephen Kavanagh, deputy assistant
commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, said a solution located
within an initial 16 boroughs that enables trained officers to get immediate
access to the data in handsets “is welcomed”.

Speaking to SC Magazine this week,
Leeor Ben-Peretz, V-P of business development at Cellebrite, said
that with a device in hand, the content itself can be recovered, not just meta data.

Privacy International’s Emma
Draper told the BBC that it is illegal to indefinitely retain the DNA profiles of
individuals after they are acquitted or released without charge, and that the
communications, photos and location data contained in most people’s smartphones
is at least as valuable and as personal as DNA.

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Vinod Bange, data protection specialist and partner at international law
firm Taylor Wessing, said: “Unless there are strong arguments as to why that
information should be retained for evidential reasons, which is already
questionable when a suspect is released, then it’s very difficult to see that there is a lawful basis for that
mobile device data being retained by the police.

“It’s clear that the Met need to address fundamental questions and
provide reassurances around how the police will have a robust control
environment that will ensure that data collection through mobile phones is not
abused, either intentionally or unwittingly.”

Bange also claimed that with the Leveson Inquiry looking at inappropriate and
unlawful access to personal information, it is not surprising that controls on the use of such technology are being questioned.

He also
claimed that the move could call into question the
possibility of a privacy breach, as there is a fundamental
principle under data protection law where personal data should only be used for
a lawful purpose; furthermore, when that purpose has otherwise run its
course then the continuous use of that data becomes questionable and could be
unlawful.

Article source: http://www.scmagazineuk.com/metropolitan-police-gain-power-to-extract-data-from-personal-mobiles/article/241664/

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Competing with BlackBerry, Karbonn Mobiles launches new messaging solution

Karbonn Mobiles

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Telecom Lead India: Karbonn Mobiles is set to
compete with Research In Motion, the maker of BlackBerry smartphones in India.

The India-headquartered Karbonn Mobiles has launched its
second generation Karbonn KT-21 Express that features new messaging solution.

The new messaging solution includes Smart Mail-Karbonn’s
Push Mail solution and Karbonn Instant Messenger (KIM).

The company said that its KT-21 Express revolutionizes
the Indian mobile market with a first-of-its-kind integration of faster push
mail services, thus providing the feature of E-mail on the go to the discerning
mobile users of the country.

“The fully loaded Karbonn KT-21 Express achieves an industry
first by bringing in the Karbonn Instant Messenger (KIM), a PIN based real
time text application which makes chatting easier with friends using the KT21
and also lets them stay connected to other friends buddies by configuring
GTalk and Facebook accounts on their devices,” said Shashin Devsare, executive
director, Karbonn Mobiles.

The Karbonn Smart Mail is a push mail solution from
Karbonn powered by Emoze. It allows users to easily and securely access both
enterprise and personal email accounts, synchronize email contacts and
calendar, view office attachments, send voice messages via email and chat in
real-time with their friends.

The push mail facility integrates a range of email
accounts like Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, GMail, Outlook, and POP3/IMAP.

The Karbonn KT-21 boasts of an engaging 7.1cm TFT QVGA
capacitive screen. The phone offers features such as  Dual SIM, Proximity
and Motion Sensor,  a 3.2 Mpx hi-resolution camera with Flash, 16GB memory
support, Java applications, Bluetooth with A2DP support, GPRS/WAP/MMS/EDGE
Support, and Motion Sensor.

Furthermore, it offers Mobile Tracker, Dual Torch, 3.5mm
Universal Audio Jack along with Phonebook and SMS Backup is supported by a big
1000 mAh Li-ion battery.

Karbonn Mobiles collaborates with Dolby for Dolby Mobile
Experience

Recently, Karbonn Mobiles announced its partnership to
with Dolby Laboratories to deliver Dolby Sound to its mobile phones.

Under the collaboration, Karbonn mobile phones will
incorporate Dolby Sound. Meanwhile, the company has introduced Karbonn KT81
which is first in a series that incorporates Dolby Sound to bring Dolby Digital
sound and a great listening experience to mobile entertainment
enthusiasts.

editor@telecomlead.com

 

Article source: http://telecomlead.com/inner-page-details.php?id=9239

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Price war to intensify as mobiles give power to buyers

“Showrooming” … a new craze allowing shoppers to compare prices by scanning barcodes. Photo: Joe Armao

IMAGINE walking into a department store, trying on a pair of shoes or moisturiser, then pointing your mobile phone at the barcode to get a list of real time pricing information from competitors offering the same pair of shoes or facial cream a few dollars cheaper just a few doors away.

It is a phenomenon known as ”showrooming” and it is causing headaches for traditional retailers in the US, who are already under siege from the online price discounting that has wreaked havoc with their business models. For customers, the mobile commerce apps give them even greater power to compare prices while they are shopping.

In Australia, a few retailers have started experimenting with mobile apps but they have a long way to go to catch up to US retailers, says Paul Budde, a telecom consultant at BuddeComm.

Mr Budde estimates smartphones have more than 50 per cent penetration, which means it is only a matter of time before the apps are offered in Australia.

Woolworths was the first big retailer to launch an app last August, with limited offerings, which included the ability for customers to scan a product’s barcode with their smartphone, add it to their shopping list and then order and pay for their groceries, which are home delivered.

Big W went a step further and launched a mobile app in November, with a feature enabling customers to scan a product in any competitor’s store and get the comparable price at Big W. In the next few weeks, it plans to expand the price comparison to over 60,000 products and offer detailed product information on more than 20,000 items.

A spokeswoman for Big W, Clare Buchanan, said the upgrades will connect to online shopping to enable customers to compare prices as well as buy instantly from Big W for home delivery or layby.

”It will also give customers tracking information about the progress of their order and SMS them when it’s about to be delivered – this feature alone is anticipated to reduce call centre volumes by about 25 per cent,” she said.

Sportsgirl is another early adopter of mobile commerce. The group’s strategic brand manager, Prue Thomas, said the decision to introduce a mobile app was a no brainer and it was growing faster than website sales.

”Our girls are on the phones 24/7 and we should be too. They can purchase as much as they want from the mobile. If they are in a store that doesn’t have the product, they can use the mobile to order it,” she said.

Ms Thomas said Sportsgirl sees the mobile not as a threat but an opportunity.

Appy shoppers - Weekend Business

Article source: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/price-war-to-intensify-as-mobiles-give-power-to-buyers-20120518-1yw15.html

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A third of UK mobile owners read marketing emails – PCR

Research from digital agency Steel London shows that 36 per cent of Brits read marketing messages on their mobiles.

Two thirds of this number act on the information straight away, while a third read them later on a computer.

The number rises for 18-34 year olds, where you can expect 55 per cent to read marketing mails on their phones.

Andy Hinder, Steel’s CEO, commented: “Consumers are increasingly using their mobile as their preferred media and communication device. Because of this, the mobile has become the gatekeeper for further action and engagement with emails.

“With better targeted marketing emails, and the growth in mobile commerce, it is essential for brands to look at how they further adapt their email marketing strategies for mobile.”

It gets interesting as you dig deeper. The two thirds that act on these marketing messages most commonly click through to a website (42 per cent), or make a purchase (30 per cent).

Nevertheless, they find plenty to complain about too – namely too much scrolling (42 per cent of all consumes and 89 per cent of over-55s).

Emails being incorrectly laid out for mobiles was another irritant (29 per cent for all consumers, 45 per cent for 18-34-year-olds), and even too much content (27 per cent of all consumers).

It seems the best way forward may be to ensure emails can be read on both mobile and bigger-screen devices, while kept relatively simple. It sounds obvious, but clearly a lot of marketing messages are failing, despite being delivered to an audience that’s potentially interested and willing to buy.

Does email marketing work for you, or do you end up feeling like you’re spamming your clients? Let us know. 

Want to receive up-to-the-minute tech news straight to your inbox? Then click here to sign up for the completely free PCR Daily Digest and Newsflash email services. You can also follow PCR on Twitter and Facebook.

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Article source: http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/a-third-of-uk-mobile-owners-read-mobile-marketing-emails/028360

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