Global shipments of LTE terminal devices, 2012-2016 (millions of units) | ||
LTE smartphones | Other terminal devices (network interface cards and routers) | |
2012 | 64 | 41 |
2013 | 188 | 69 |
2014 | 300 | 74 |
2015 | 440 | 117 |
2016 | 586 | 154 |
Source
Monday, July 9, 2012
586 million LTE Devices to Ship in 2016
Some 586 million smart phones using Long Term Evolution, and 154 million network interface cards or routers will be shipped globally in 2016, according to the Marketing Intelligence and Consulting Institute.
Source
Source
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Nokia, RIM, HTC Smart Phone Shipments Will Decline in Second Quarter of 2012
Nokia, RIM and HTC are expected to see their smartphone shipments, as well as market share, continue declining in the third and fourth quarters of 2012, according to a report.
Despite efforts initiated by Nokia, RIM and HTC to fend off competition from Apple and Samsung Electronics, RIM and HTC already have reported lower than expected shipments for the second quarter of 2012, while Nokia is expected to see its second-quarter smartphone shipments drop below 10 million units.
Despite efforts initiated by Nokia, RIM and HTC to fend off competition from Apple and Samsung Electronics, RIM and HTC already have reported lower than expected shipments for the second quarter of 2012, while Nokia is expected to see its second-quarter smartphone shipments drop below 10 million units.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
South Korean Telcos Will Charge for Mobile VOIP
In an illustration of the ways regulatory frameworks affect business models, the Korea Communications Commission has decided to allow mobile operators, SK Telecom, KT and LG U to charge users to use mobile VoIP.
That practice, which levies an additional fee to use a lawful application, is prohibited in the United States, not so much by network neutrality rules, but by the Federal Communications Commission's "Internet Freedoms" principles, which stipulate that users have the right to use any lawful applications after having paid for a broadband subscription giving users Internet access.
But different regulations can, and do exist, in other markets.
The new rules appear a direct response to mobile service provider concern about over the top VoIP provider KakaoTalk, which has 36 million Korean users. There are about 50 million Korean mobile phone users.
Another issue is whether such rules will apply to other services, such as Apple's FaceTime, when those services use mobile broadband bandwidth.
That practice, which levies an additional fee to use a lawful application, is prohibited in the United States, not so much by network neutrality rules, but by the Federal Communications Commission's "Internet Freedoms" principles, which stipulate that users have the right to use any lawful applications after having paid for a broadband subscription giving users Internet access.
But different regulations can, and do exist, in other markets.
The new rules appear a direct response to mobile service provider concern about over the top VoIP provider KakaoTalk, which has 36 million Korean users. There are about 50 million Korean mobile phone users.
Another issue is whether such rules will apply to other services, such as Apple's FaceTime, when those services use mobile broadband bandwidth.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
OTT Video Could Help ISPs
In some ways, growing viewership of online video by the likes of Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, iTunes and other video streaming applications and services represent both a threat and an opportunity for broadband access providers who also sell subscription video services.
The threat obviously is the danger that consumers might shift viewing from video subscription services to over the top alternatives. Over time, that could mean fewer subscribers, and less revenue for one of the three anchor services for a triple-play services provider.
On the other hand, video represents the application with highest bandwidth requirements, so demand for bigger broadband access buckets should grow over time, and perhaps dramatically- if significant percentages of households shift a large part of their video viewing to online sources.
For pure-play broadband access providers, who do not sell video services, video provides upside, mostly, increasing demand for faster services and more consumption.
The threat obviously is the danger that consumers might shift viewing from video subscription services to over the top alternatives. Over time, that could mean fewer subscribers, and less revenue for one of the three anchor services for a triple-play services provider.
On the other hand, video represents the application with highest bandwidth requirements, so demand for bigger broadband access buckets should grow over time, and perhaps dramatically- if significant percentages of households shift a large part of their video viewing to online sources.
For pure-play broadband access providers, who do not sell video services, video provides upside, mostly, increasing demand for faster services and more consumption.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
"Project Oscar" U.K. Mobile Wallet, Mobile Payments Effort Could be Approved Soon
Vodafone, Telefonica (O2) and Everything Everywhere (Deutsche Telekom and France Télécom have been waiting for approval from the European Commission to launch a mobile wallet and mobile payments business in the United Kingdom, and approval is expected 2012, but most likely not in time for the London Olympics.
Project Oscar would provide a single platform that could be used by retailers, banks and other financial services groups, allowing mobile devices to store cash in the form of linked accounts to credit and debit card accounts, for example.
Project Oscar also would support mobile payments using near field communications. The difference between a mobile wallet and mobile payments sometimes is subtle, but generally, a mobile wallet stores credentials, which might include loyalty program details.
A mobile payment service allows those credentials to be used at retail point of sale terminals or for online purchases. Business models also can differ. Some mobile wallet systems intend to make money supporting advertising, promotion or other marketing and loyalty programs, but not actual payment transactions, which will be handled by business partners.
Mobile payment systems generally involve a provider in the actual process of transactions, with the revenue earned from that role as a transaction provider.
Both Isis and Google Wallet have opted for the mobile wallet approach, neither intending to be a direct payment brand, but only supporting transactions cleared by card issuers.
Project Oscar would provide a single platform that could be used by retailers, banks and other financial services groups, allowing mobile devices to store cash in the form of linked accounts to credit and debit card accounts, for example.
Project Oscar also would support mobile payments using near field communications. The difference between a mobile wallet and mobile payments sometimes is subtle, but generally, a mobile wallet stores credentials, which might include loyalty program details.
A mobile payment service allows those credentials to be used at retail point of sale terminals or for online purchases. Business models also can differ. Some mobile wallet systems intend to make money supporting advertising, promotion or other marketing and loyalty programs, but not actual payment transactions, which will be handled by business partners.
Mobile payment systems generally involve a provider in the actual process of transactions, with the revenue earned from that role as a transaction provider.
Both Isis and Google Wallet have opted for the mobile wallet approach, neither intending to be a direct payment brand, but only supporting transactions cleared by card issuers.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
One More Reason Why Phone Calls are Dropping: Companies Discourage Them
Customer service practices and attitudes might be changing in ways that actually encourage some enterprises to discourage customers or users from "calling" those enterprises.
In fact, some might argue, when customers or users want to communicate with an enterprise, they often are discouraged from "calling," since there now is a preference for text-based messages, use of help sites or other methods that are viewed as more efficient because common questions can be handled in an automated, self service manner.
That might especially be the case for application providers. It isn't so much that phone systems cost money; it is that they are not seen as being as efficient as other forms of providing answers.
An answer to a truly "frequently asked question" only has to be "answered" once. All subsequent "answers" are simply instances where a user reads or hears the original answer, so there are clear workforce implications. So long as nearly all questions can be answered using some "one to many" mechanism, the need for one-to-one mechanisms is reduced.
Also, since it is easier to turn a one-to-one session into a one-to-many FAQ, phone communications do not scale, many might argue.
Of course, there are some salient reasons why such attitudes would persist, aside from the age demographics of the firms. Enterprises that try and deflect calls have indirect revenue models.
There are, in other words, few incentives to deal with "users" who actually are not revenue producers. Advertisers are the revenue producers, and you can be sure those partners do have voice access.
To the extent that use of indirect revenue models is growing, you can assume that the number of enterprises discouraging voice communications will grow.
In fact, some might argue, when customers or users want to communicate with an enterprise, they often are discouraged from "calling," since there now is a preference for text-based messages, use of help sites or other methods that are viewed as more efficient because common questions can be handled in an automated, self service manner.
That might especially be the case for application providers. It isn't so much that phone systems cost money; it is that they are not seen as being as efficient as other forms of providing answers.
An answer to a truly "frequently asked question" only has to be "answered" once. All subsequent "answers" are simply instances where a user reads or hears the original answer, so there are clear workforce implications. So long as nearly all questions can be answered using some "one to many" mechanism, the need for one-to-one mechanisms is reduced.
Also, since it is easier to turn a one-to-one session into a one-to-many FAQ, phone communications do not scale, many might argue.
Of course, there are some salient reasons why such attitudes would persist, aside from the age demographics of the firms. Enterprises that try and deflect calls have indirect revenue models.
There are, in other words, few incentives to deal with "users" who actually are not revenue producers. Advertisers are the revenue producers, and you can be sure those partners do have voice access.
To the extent that use of indirect revenue models is growing, you can assume that the number of enterprises discouraging voice communications will grow.
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Net Subscriber Growth Falls 36% at Major U.S. Service Providers in First Quarter 2012
The largest U.S. mobile service providers experienced a 36 percent year-over-year fall-off of wireless net additions, causing a 32 percent decline in revenue-generating unit (RGU) additions during the first quarter of 2012, according to Fitch Ratings.
Some would argue that points to the maturation or saturation of the U.S. mobile market.
The largest telecommunication service providers added approximately 2.7 million RGUs during
the first quarter of 2012, led by approximately 2.5 million wireless subscriber additions, according to Fitch Ratings.
Fitch estimates the largest wireless service providers activated approximately 6.8 million smart phones during the first quarter of 2012, reflecting a 19 percent decline relative to the smart phone activation activity during the year earlier period.
source
Some would argue that points to the maturation or saturation of the U.S. mobile market.
The largest telecommunication service providers added approximately 2.7 million RGUs during
the first quarter of 2012, led by approximately 2.5 million wireless subscriber additions, according to Fitch Ratings.
Fitch estimates the largest wireless service providers activated approximately 6.8 million smart phones during the first quarter of 2012, reflecting a 19 percent decline relative to the smart phone activation activity during the year earlier period.
| 1Q 12 Subscriber Analysis | Contract | No contract | Wholesale and Connected Devices | Total |
| AT&T | 187,000 -530,000 | 125,000 -34,000 | 414,000 -1,207,000 | 726,000 -1,771,000 |
| Sprint | (192,000) -353,000 | 489,000 -18,000 | 785,000 -169,000 | 1,082,000 |
| T-Mobile | (510,000) +196,000 | 249,000 +29,000 | 448,000 +487,000 | 187,000 +713,000 |
| Verizon Wireless | 501,000 -706,000 | 223,000 -29,000 | * | 724,000* |
| Leap Wireless | 258,000 +79,000 | 258,000 +79,000 | ||
| Metro PCS | 131,000 -66,000 | 131,000 -66,000 | ||
| US Cellular | (38,000) -18,000 | 4,000 -3,000 | (34,000) -21,000 | |
| Clearwire * | 49,000 +18,000 | 537,000 -367,000 | 586,000 -287,000 | |
| Tracfone * (MVNO) | 369,000 -124,000 | 369,000 -124,000 | ||
| Total | (52,000) -1,711,000 | 1,897,000 -86,000 | 1,815,000 -266,000 | 4,029,000 -1,694,000 |
source
Gary Kim has been a digital infra analyst and journalist for more than 30 years, covering the business impact of technology, pre- and post-internet. He sees a similar evolution coming with AI. General-purpose technologies do not come along very often, but when they do, they change life, economies and industries.
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