Mobile Operators

Agito, Nimbuzz Score Second Round Funding

Doug Mohney — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:58:59 -0400

Mobile UC/FMC hardware maker Agito Networks and mobile VoIP software/social network client Nimbuzz both have secured their second rounds of venture funding this week.

Silicon Valley-based Agito received around $13 million, with Castile Ventures leading the round and ITX and original investor Battery Ventures also participating. Agito intends to apply the money to further market expansion in the enterprise fixed mobile convergence (eFMC) arena and for product development. Agito's RoamAnywhere Mobility Router is fine-tuned to use location-aware technologies to switch between cellular and VoIP 802.11-based calls.

Nimbuzz raised $15 million in its second round, with funding lead by Naspers/MIH and first round investor Mangrove Capital Partners also participating. The company will take its funding to continue to develop its application and its proliferation, including "strategic" distribution deals with social networks and mobile operators. Operators are expected to sign on because Nimbuzz drives traffic and demand for mobile data services while the software has to be ported to Windows Mobile, iPhone, and Android; currently, the full software and functionality only works on Symbian Series 60 devices while Java-enabled phones can do a hybrid-VoIP solution for making low-cost international calls.

For more:
- Agito second round funding announcement

Related articles:
Cisco teams with Agito for eFMC solution
Nimbuzz Retreads Familiar Ground

Tata Goes With Sonus for Global IP Network

Doug Mohney — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:17:09 -0400

Tata Communications will work with Sonus Networks to deliver IP communications solutions to customers worldwide, tapping into Sonus' services team and deploying Sonus Network Border Switches to interconnect disparate voice networks and deliver seamless IP services across geographies. Sonus' complete fixed line trunking solution will provide IP-voice services in nine cities across three continents.

Tata's customer base includes over 1,500 global carriers, 600 mobile operators, 10,000 enterprises, over 500,000 broadband and Internet subscribers and around (yawn) 300 public WiFi hotspots. The new IP network will be made up of Sonus' GSX9000 Open Services, PSX Call Routing Server, SGX Signaling Gateway, Sonus management system software, as well as those Network Border Switches. Tata will also implement Sonus' IMX Multimedia platform for the development of enhanced business applications; specifically for the creation of new enterprise services that blend mobile content, location-based services, and other multimedia functionality.

Tata's initial deployment cities include Newark, N.J.; Montreal; Toronto; Los Angeles; London; Madrid; Frankfurt; and Singapore.

Sonus is no stranger to big IT builds; BT selected the company in November 2007 to provide hardware to its big 21CN IP network build.

For more:
- Tata Sonus IP Upgrade Release
- iLocus blog on Sonus selected by BT for 21cn buildout.

SPOTLIGHT: VoIP Industry Defies Investors, MVNOs Drive Mobile VoIP, Developers Drive Open

Doug Mohney — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:20:51 -0400

In a trifecta of reports released this week, iLocus sees boom times for VoIP in spite of investor cold-feet, MVNOs driving Mobile VoIP, and developers pushing open source solutions over more hip Voice 2.0 mash-up solutions.

There's been a 67 percent increase in VoIP access service licenses and a 35 percent increase in VoIP traffic over last year. Carriers seem to have no choice, and must build out IP infrastructure or risk becoming irrelevant. Losses in landlines are pushing wireline operators to expand mobile operations while mobile operators want to leverage fixed broadband networks for voice offload (i.e. femtocells) or "over the top" services.

SIP trunking is getting kudos for enabling other services, including Voice 2.0 services hosted in the core and peer-to-peer VoIP in enterprise. Europe is outpacing the rest of the world in VoIP penetration, while in the U.S. cable companies lead the way – for now. Broadband offerings from AT&T and Verizon could end up shifting the balance back to the telcos in the long run.

All this VoIP technology is enabling MVNOs to offer Mobile VOIP solutions, with over two-thirds expecting to have a mobile VoIP offering in place by 2010. Current estimates peg 450,000 paying mobile VoIP subscribers worldwide with a forecast of that number to grow to 2.4 million by the end of 2008.

Voice 2.0 developers like SIP over all the other web service APIs, according to iLocus, and 72 percent of them prefer to work with open source telephony platforms like Asterisk and offer services directly to the consumer. Working with directly with telcos is the second most favored option, rather than going to vendors like Microsoft or Sylantro.

For more:
- iLocus blogs on VoIP industry investment, MVNO and Mobile VOIP, and Voice 2.0 growth

Truphone lands $32.7 million second round

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

VoIP and new mobile operator Truphone has raised $32.7 million in a second round of venture capital funding. Participants included "private investors" plus all of Truephone's existing backers.

Last week, Truphone purchased SIM4travel for around $2.64 million in cash and $2.56 million in stock, allowing the company to get assets including a travel SIM capability and mobile virtual network operator assets which will allow it to offer low-cost GSM calls worldwide via SIM card. The purchase also gives the company additional leverage in settlement discussions with other mobile operators; some have argued since Truphone conducts transport over the Internet by using WiFi instead of cellular infrastructure, there's effectively no cost to terminate calls.

Truphone's first round of $24.5 million in VC funding was closed in December 2006. The company boasts of a global network of SIP gateways, Nokia Siemens Network mobile network HLR and a GSM identifier and is capable of supporting 40 million customers worldwide. According to its corporate website, Truphone has attracted "tends of thousands" of users in 149 countries.

For more:
- Truphone VC Investment announcement
- GigaOm Blog Truphone Comment

TruPhone Buys SIM4travel

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:56 -0400

VoIP operator TruPhone has bought roaming operator SIM4travel, planning to combine operations and provide travelers with low cost phone calls over cellular. TruPhone is paying around $2.64 million in cash and $2.56 million in stock to get SIM4travel's travel SIM capability and its' Mobile Virtual Network Enabler (MVNE) platform. Other assets in the deal include SIM4travel's infrastructure, customer base, distribution, and staff in Portugal and London.

TruPhone has been providing free and local calls through the Internet and WiFi, supported through a VoIP client on Nokia N and E-Series phones. The deal now gives the company the ability to provide global mobile operator services. It also provides a consumer channel since SIM4travel sells SIM cards through Tesco, WHSmith, Carphone Warehouse and other stores.

From a regulatory standpoint, the purchase might make it easier for Truphone to claim to be a mobile operator and get mobile termination fees. T-Mobile and Truphone are in court, T-Mobile arguing that it doesn't have to pay such fees since a Truphone call routed over the Internet costs nothing to deliver.

For more:
- Truphone blog announcing acquisition of SIM4 Travel
- Register write-up of Truephone SIM4 Travel deal

FCC Chairman says no to Skype, forced open access

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:59:55 -0400

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin told CTIA conventioneers this week he'll oppose a Skype petition to open up existing wireless carrier networks to outside devices because the industry already is working toward that goal. "In light of the industry's embrace of this more open approach, I think it's premature for the commission to place any other requirements on these networks," Martin told the audience.

Skype was looking for a "Carterphone" regulation to force mobile operators to connect any device that doesn't harm the network. Martin said he was working to balance the needs of device makers and operators. Skype is currently banned on most networks.

Granted, recent statements from Verizon Wireless that it would open its network to outside devices may sound like movement forward, but the company's caveat "as long as" (device and apps meet their certification process) puts a bit of a damper on any outward exuberance among VoIP providers.

For more on Skype's stumble:
- read FierceWireless' story on the Chairman's remarks Article
- Read the InformationWeek story
- Skype responds to FCC Chairman Martin's keynote remarks
- check out CTIA Live's photos from Martin's keynote

Related articles:
Verizon details open network agenda
Is 'open network' just marketing hype?

WiFi phone sales leap 60% as support improves

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:59:54 -0400

It's funny what a little support can do for a product. Infonetics Research says WiFi phone sales increased more than 60 percent last year--682,000 units were sold worldwide--because vendors did more to support wireless VoIP.

"IP telephony has matured, and wireless LANs have also matured," says Infonetics analysts Richard Webb. "Companies started to build wireless LANs to put data on them, but now they are looking for other applications."

For more:
- Read the release from Infonetics Research

Related articles:
Vodafone swings behind VoIP
Mobile VoIP key for next-gen networks

Mobile Enterprise VoIP: Has its time finally come? Maybe, maybe not

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:59:57 -0400

Mobile VoIP in Europe just can't get any respect..at least not at the moment. While mobile enterprise is seeing a boom--to the tune of increased spending in the 21 percent range year over year--it hasn't yet filtered down to VoIP, says Forrester Research analyst Phil Sayer. "I don't think enterprise mobile VoIP is going anywhere at the moment."

While VoIP is elbowing its way into enterprise as legacy systems grow old and die, it's struggling, despite being pushed along by start-ups and the odd telcos. At the moment, it's a matter of economics--and a perceived lack of user friendliness. Mobile operators aren't putting packages of VoIP minutes together, Sayer says, "they're positively trying to make it go away. So there is no immediate benefit for the business user or purchasing folks to adopt it." Because VoIP generally needs a smartphone, the market is further restricted.

But mobile enterprise VoIP has potential, lots of it, especially as employees become less tied to their offices. VoIP operator Truphone--which recently hooked up with conference-calling specialist Iotum--says more than half of its subscribers in 149 countries use VoIP for enterprise.

Says Forrester's Sayer about the potential for growth: "Sooner or later the dam will burst."

For more:
- See the complete article in the Financial Times

Related articles:
Vodafone gets behind VoIP Report
T-Mobile CEO says wVoIP won't connect Report

Mobile VOIP key for next-gen networks

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:12:46 -0400

As the footprint grows for 1xEV-DO Rev. A, wireless operators such as Sprint are becoming more serious about their mobile VOIP deployments. At the upcoming CTIA Wireless 2008 conference in Las Vegas April 1-3, we expect to hear more buzz about VOIP than ever before.

In fact, on Tuesday, April 1, Sprint, Nortel, Ericsson, Motorola, Qualcomm and others will be hosting a mobile VOIP discussion at the confab. Key topics will include challenges to deploying carrier grade mobile VOIP, the benefits to operators and the role of mobile VOIP in fixed mobile convergence.

It's actually quite surprising that a session dedicated to Mobile VOIP is occurring at the largest North American wireless trade show. Not so long ago, mobile operators were threatened by the possibility of VOIP taking voice traffic away from circuit switched networks and hindering their revenues.

Of course, the mobile world is evolving and open networks and open applications platforms are a boon to mobile VOIP. At CTIA, FierceMarkets will be hosting a co-located conference, "The Path to 4G," and our panel on the Open Network Promise will feature panelist Christopher Libertelli, senior director, government and regulatory affairs at Skype. You can register for the event when you register for CTIA. Check out our full agenda here. --Sue

P.S. Fierce will once again host its popular networking party. Join us on April 1 from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. at Rain at The Palm in Las Vegas. RSVP here.

L.A. taxes VoIP

Tom Burton — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:59:56 -0500

L.A. voters have decided to extend the telephone tax to cover VoIP and other Internet IP communications. The budget proposal is expected to raise $270 million, and was endorsed after the rate was cut from 10 to 9 percent. The tax is very wide ranging and attempts to tax "the routing of voice, audio, video, data or other communication information transmitted through fiber-optic coaxial cables, power lines, broadband, DSL or wireless systems."

L.A. has taxed wireline telephony since 1967. When it was extended to cell calls in the 1990s the tax was successfully challenged by mobile operators. They argued calls which did not originate or terminate within L.A. should not be taxed. But because providers can not distinguish local calls, L.A. has continued to collect the tax. A second legal action is now proceeding. How L.A. authorities would seek to capture calls made by the myriad of mobile VoIP applications and click to call web services is not known. The prospect of a multitude of local taxes is, of course, a provider nightmare and almost certainly would see appeals for federal relief.

For more:
- Voters agree on phone tax Article
- Fighting the phone tax Article

Related articles:
Vonage sues Nebraska PSC Report
Top VoIP regulatory trends for 2008 Report

Yahoo joins battle for mobile services

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Depending on your perspective, Yahoo is either playing catch up or consolidating its first mover advantage with the release of its Go 3.0 platform for web services on mobiles. Well before Apple and Google made mobiles the hottest of all tech areas Yahoo had released its suite of mobile specific products. But as Google and others swept by with their bold announcements to change the face of the industry Yahoo seemed to be again stuck in an early 2000 time warp.

The announcement at CES of a new mobile portal page, a revamp of its GO suite of mobile web services, as well as the opening of its mobile platform to third party widgets, confirms Yahoo definitely does not want to be left behind in the scramble for mobile user time and more particularly the $1.8 billion in advertising expected this year, predicted to grow tenfold over the next five years.

The question not answered is whether Yahoo will launch a mobile VoIP phone application, leveraging either current partner eBay's Skype or an enhanced version of its own Yahoo! Voice product. Yahoo most definitely needs a mobile web voice play if it is serious about being a major operator in this space and was a curious omission from its CES release.

For more:
- As Google Zigs On Mobile, Yahoo Zags With 'Go 3.0' Article
- Yahoo take baby steps towards Phone 2.0 Article

Related articles:
Can Yahoo reinvent its mobile web business? Article
Yahoo predicts mobile web will overtake PCs Article

Wizzl phone offers calls for 2 cents a minute

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 06:59:55 -0500

A new virtual phone known as Wizzl offers free voice and video calls over the internet to other Wizzl users, and calls to local and international phones and mobiles from only 2 cents per minute. The free beta software also gives direct access to live TV, internet radio stations and many games. The software currently is for PC usage but will be available for phones in the "near future" says the Wizzl site.

Wizzl's Jaap Korevaar said: 'Wizzl offers a global rate of 1.5 Eurocents per minute for calling phones and mobiles in over 50 popular destinations across the world, and connects to over 70 international destinations not available with other internet telephony software.

Wizzl is a Dutch company and has been working on the software for three years.

More Reports:
- Wizzl virtual phone beta software download

Related Article:
- Tick Tick Tick for mobile operators Report

3Skype hype loses its shine

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:58 -0500

Skype and its UK mobile partner, 3, enjoyed a week of "you can't pay for publicity like this" as the British press joined the hype around the first mainstream operator to integrate Skype into a traditional handset. Certainly the prospect of free calls to any of Skype's 250 million subscribers will introduce a new dynamic into the high-margin cellular business. But by week's end the shine was coming off the announcement as it was revealed that for some users it could actually increase their phone costs , especially to other mobile operators.

Calls to non Skype landlines cost just 1.4p a minute, while calls to mobiles cost 16.6p. In comparison calling a mobile in the traditional way, from a landline, costs between 3.6p and 12.6p with BT. Rob Barnes, mobile expert at comparison firm Moneysuper-market, told the Times on Sunday: "There is a lot of hype around Skype, and while some of it is justified, you could end up paying more in some circumstances."

Also upsetting the purists was the revelation by Marcus Göbel that the mobile calls on the 3Skypephone are basically GSM phone calls. The service will use the GSM network to connect with a sever run by iSkoot, which then carries the call over the fixed line internet to Skype. The data connection is only used to show the presence of the Skype buddies. As Gobell notes the calls from the 3Skypephone aren't 3G VoIP calls because the 3Skypephone doesn't do any mobile VoIP, only using Skype in the fixed line part of the call.

For More:
- Skype Press Release
- Times Online Report
- Skype On 3 Secrets Revealed Report
- 3Skypephone doesn't do mobile VoIP Report
- What is Skype's strategy? Blog

Related Articles:
UK 3 to offer wireless VoIP Report
VoIP becomes key in the battle for eyeballs Report

SPOTLIGHT: Tick, tick, tick for mobile operators

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 06:59:53 -0500

Tick, tick, tick for mobile operators
The hype over the new 3Skypephone may have been premature, but the day is fast coming when VoIP mobile calls will be widely available. The only delay is getting enough operators to support the SIP protocol VoIP uses. Already there are a number of start ups offering free mobile calls for SIP to Sip phones and the latest to announce is Swedish based, Challenger. Not all calls are free, but as the number of mobile VoIP products grow the current mobile operators will need to offering SIP to SIP unlimited calls for a fixed price or face massive churn from the price sensitive segments of their user base. Release

Truphone wins Round One

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 06:59:57 -0400

The judge told T-Mobile to route calls to Truphone, or else, for the time being at least. The move sets the stage for what several observers think is a bloody battle to come on the VoIP world stage over just what Truphone, and other companies like it, actually are--mobile operators or something else that doesn't deserve the same rights. Meanwhile, the ruling clears the way for Truphone to use its own numbers to launch a new service that lets users make calls from dual-mode handsets via WiFi. While Truphone won that mini-battle, it lost the mini-battle over fees. T-Mobile is paying Truphone only .21p per call termination instead of the 6p Truphone wants. Stay tuned as more skirmishes are sure to follow.

For more details from the front lines of the T-Mobile, Truphone battle:
- read this article from Techworld.com and this article from Crave

Related Articles:
Truphone/Vodafone tiff expands. Report
Truphone beefs up its service. Report
T-Mobile, Truphone tussle. Report

Vyke is here to save the day

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 06:59:58 -0400

If Vyke Communications' execs haven't already considered it, let me offer them the idea of adopting the cartoon character Underdog as company mascot. Like Underdog, Vyke is here to save the day for people who've had it with mobile operators' attempts to thwart mobile VoIP. Vyke has announced that later this year it will introduce an upgrade to its mobile software that will give subscribers' handsets superpowers that can undo anything MNOs do to cripple their built-in VoIP capabilities. In a Vyke press release, CEO Kjetil Bøhn said, "Users need to remember that...attempts to keep mobile VoIP out of the market amount to nothing less than an announcement that the mobile operators intend to continue overcharging consumers for as long as they can."

For more on Vyke's end run around MNOs:
- read this article from VoIP Monitor

Related Articles:
Vyke adds text messaging to mobile VoIP client. Report
Truphone beefs up its service. Report
T-Mobile, Truphone tussle. Report
Truphone/Vodafone tiff expands. Report