January 15, 2011
IBM to Manage Bharti Airtel's Mobile Operations in Africa
Photo: Mobiles in Africa. Johannesburg, South Africa. Source: GSMA & Decisive Media. Photographer: Guy Daniels.
IBM and Bharti Airtel today announced the completion of contract negotiations for technology services spanning 16 African countries. As part of the 10-year agreement, IBM will deploy and manage the information technology (IT) infrastructure and applications to support airtel’s goal of providing affordable and innovative mobile services throughout Africa, the world’s fastest growing mobile market.
IBM will consolidate and transform the 16 different IT environments across airtel’s African operations into an integrated IT system, and will oversee the management of all applications, data center operations, servers, storage and desktop services. IBM will deploy technologies, processes and best practices to enable airtel to offer superior customer experience.
Photo: Mobiles in Africa. Lake Victoria, Uganda. Source: GSMA. Foto Credit: Howard Sayer.
The agreement calls for IBM to provide customer support applications that include customer relationship management, billing, and self-service that will empower customers and assist airtel in delivering innovative and convenient 2G and 3G mobile services.
The agreement extends the relationship between IBM and Bharti airtel established in 2004, when South Asia’s leading mobile communications provider selected IBM to run IT and applications for its entire network in India.
Headquartered in New Delhi, India, Bharti Airtel Limited (Brand: Airtel) is an Indian telecommunications company that operates in 19 countries across South Asia, Africa and the Channel Islands. It operates a GSM network. Airtel is one of the largest telecom operators in the world and is one of the largest cellular service providers in India.
Airtel has African operations in Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Posted by Editors at 4:09 AM
October 12, 2010
Microsoft and Partners Unveil Windows Phone 7 Global Portfolio
First phones available soon from leading mobile operators around the world.
Photo: (From left to right) HTC CEO Peter Chou, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega gather in New York to launch HTC Windows Phone 7 devices.
Photo: Kate MacKenzie (Chief Marketing Officer, Telstra) and Tracey Fellows (Managing Director, Microsoft Australia) at the Windows Phone 7 launch event, in Sydney.
Microsoft Corp. today joined its partners in revealing nine new Windows Phone 7 handsets that will be available this holiday season from leading mobile operators in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific .
With more than 60 mobile operators in over 30 countries worldwide committed to bringing Windows Phones to market, the millions of people around the world looking for a phone that plays as hard as it works will have a variety of phones from leading device-makers to choose from.
"We have a beautiful lineup in this first wave of Windows Phone 7 handsets," said Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer at Microsoft. "Microsoft and its partners are delivering a different kind of mobile phone and experience -- one that makes everyday tasks faster by getting more done in fewer steps and providing timely information in a 'glance and go' format."
Photo: HTC releases five Windows Phone 7 devices today in New York City.
Global Portfolio: Microsoft and its partners have worked together closely to create a different kind of phone with new experiences. Windows Phone 7 will be available in a variety of sleek form factors from device-makers such as Dell, HTC Corp., LG and Samsung, and from mobile operators including America Movil, AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG, Movistar, O2, Orange, SFR, SingTel, Telstra, TELUS, T-Mobile USA and Vodafone. All Windows Phone 7 phones will include the high-performance Snapdragon™ processor from Qualcomm.
A broad selection of phones will begin shipping in holiday 2010 with more arriving in 2011, including phones from Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
Photo: Dr. Paul Jacobs, Qualcomm CEO at the AT&T Developer Summit.
Windows Phone 7, Glance and Go: According to Microsoft, in today's busy world we are spending more time heads-down on our phones than interacting with the people we're sitting next to and missing out on important life moments. Windows Phone 7 was designed to deliver a mobile experience that has the phone working better for people, bringing together the things they care about most and helping them to get things done faster.
Windows Phone 7 breaks the current smartphone convention to help people quickly and easily find and consume data, information and services from the Web and applications, says Microsoft.
Search is made easier with a dedicated button to help people find what they need, whether in contacts, in Marketplace, in e-mail or on the Web. From the Start screen, the Search button delivers Bing for mobile, delivering Web results, local information, maps, and directions.
According to Microsoft, the new phones are distinguished by unique design and integrated experiences built from Microsoft's deep portfolio such as Xbox LIVE, Microsoft Office Mobile, Zune, Windows Live, Bing and more.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Posted by Editors at 3:16 AM
March 25, 2010
Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010
• Sweden replaces Denmark as world's most networked economy in The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 rankings.
• United States moves down two positions to fifth place.
• China (37th) and India (43rd) lead BRIC economies and continue upward trend with a 9 and 11 place improvement respectively.
• Ninth edition of report covers 133 economies, accounting for over 98% of world's GDP.
Sweden tops the rankings of The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010, released today (March 25, 2010) by the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.
The report highlights the key role of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) as an enabler of a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world in the aftermath of one of the most serious economic crises in decades. Sweden is followed by Singapore and Denmark, which was in the number one position for the last three years.
Photo: An overview captured during the session 'The Global Agenda 2010: The View from Davos' at the Congress Centre of the Annual Meeting 2010 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 31, 2010. (Copyright by World Economic Forum. swiss-image.ch/Photo by Michael Wuertenberg)
"Sweden, Singapore and Denmark's superior capacity to leverage ICT as an enabler of sustainable, long-term economic growth is built on similar premises, relating with a long-standing focus placed by governments and private sectors alike on education, innovation and ICT access and diffusion," said Irene Mia, Senior Economist of the Global Competitiveness Network at the World Economic Forum and co-editor of the report. "The success of these countries underlines the importance of a joint ICT vision, an implementation, by all the different stakeholders in a society for a country to take full advantage of ICT advances in its daily life and overall competitiveness strategy."
The report is produced by the World Economic Forum in cooperation with INSEAD, the leading international business school, within the framework of the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Network and the Industry Partnership Program for Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries.
Published for the ninth consecutive year with an extensive coverage of 133 economies worldwide, the report remains the world's most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.
Under the theme ICT for Sustainability, this year's report explores the many and diverse links between ICT and sustainability, in all its dimensions.
• The Networked Readiness Index: View the Rankings of All Countries
The Networked Readiness Index (NRI), featured in the report, examines how prepared countries are to use ICT effectively on three dimensions:
1. The general business, regulatory and infrastructure environment for ICT.
2. The readiness of the three key stakeholder groups in a society -- individuals, businesses and governments -- to use and benefit from ICT.
3. The actual usage of the latest information and communication technologies available.
The NRI uses a combination of data from publicly available sources, as well as the results of the Executive Opinion Survey, a comprehensive annual survey conducted by the World Economic Forum with its network of partner institutes (leading research institutes and business organizations) in the countries included in the report. The survey provides unique data on many qualitative dimensions important to assess national networked readiness.
• The cross-country analysis of the drivers of networked readiness provides useful comparative information for making business decisions and additional value to governments wishing to improve their ICT preparedness.
The report contains detailed country profiles for the 133 economies featured in the study, providing a snapshot of each economy's level of ICT penetration and usage. Also included is an extensive section of data tables, as well as each indicator used in the computation of the Index.
The editors of the report are Soumitra Dutta, Roland Berger Professor of Business and Technology, INSEAD, France, and Irene Mia, Director and Senior Economist, Global Competitiveness Network, World Economic Forum.
• Get the Entire Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010
Source: The World Economic Forum, Geneva, Switzerland.
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Posted by Editors at 1:15 PM
November 26, 2009
Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games: Panasonic to Deliver Full Lineup of HD Equipment
Photo: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Mascots Quatchi, Sumi and Miga (© VANOC/COVAN).
Photo: Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games Whistler Olympic Park (© VANOC/COVAN).
Photo: Panasonic to Deliver Full Lineup of HD Equipment to Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
Panasonic Corporation, the Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, announced it is providing a full lineup of High-Definition (HD) equipment to support the broadcast of the Olympic Games; delivering the largest supply of AV equipment for any Winter Games in the company's history.
Through cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services Vancouver (OBSV), Panasonic will supply its HD video equipment to the competition venues and broadcasting locations, making the Vancouver Games the first Olympic Winter Games to be broadcast completely in HD format.
Following Beijing 2008, all international video signals for the 2010 Winter Games will be produced and distributed in HD format from the International Broadcasting Center (IBC) to rights-holding broadcasters around the world. In addition, the HD video signals will also be used for the first time for display on the LED Large Screen Display Systems in the competition venues and BC Place Stadium where the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will take place; making the 2010 Winter Games the first "HD Olympic Winter Games" with all the Olympic videos to be delivered completely in HD.
In addition, Panasonic will support a safe and secure Olympic operation by providing high-quality picture and high-sensitivity surveillance camera systems for the indoor and outdoor Olympic facilities, the surrounding areas and highways.
Sources: Panasonic Corporation; Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC).
|GlobalGiants.com|
"Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games will take place in February 2010. Relevant consumer-oriented businesses targeting audiences in participating countries (especially those in North America) may timely explore this advertising opportunity."
© GlobalGiants.Com. All Rights Reserved.
Posted by Editors at 8:02 AM
July 18, 2008
Sneak Peek from Beijing
Photos: Sneak Peek from Beijing: New Satellite Images of National Stadium and Aquatics Center captured by DigitalGlobe. (Photo Credit: DigitalGlobe Inc.)
Posted by Editors at 6:02 AM
June 30, 2008
World Mobile Leaders to create one Open Mobile Software Platform
Foundation to be established to provide royalty-free open platform and accelerate innovation.
Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and NTT DOCOMO have just announced in London their intent to unite Symbian OSTM, S60, UIQ and MOAP(S) to create one open mobile software platform. Together with AT&T, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone they plan to establish the Symbian Foundation to extend the appeal of this unified software platform. Membership of this non-profit Foundation will be open to all organizations. This initiative is supported by current shareholders and management of Symbian Limited, who have been actively involved in its development. Plans for the Foundation have already received wide support from other industry leaders.
To enable the Foundation, Nokia announced plans to acquire the remaining shares of Symbian Limited that Nokia does not already own and then contribute the Symbian and S60 software to the Foundation. Sony Ericsson and Motorola announced their intention to contribute technology from UIQ and DOCOMO has also indicated its willingness to contribute its MOAP(S) assets. From these contributions, the Foundation will provide a unified platform with common UI framework. A full platform will be available for all Foundation members under a royalty-free license, from the Foundation's first day of operations.
Contributions from Foundation members through open collaboration will be integrated to further enhance the platform. The Foundation will make selected components available as open source at launch. It will then work to establish the most complete mobile software offering available in open source. This will be made available over the next two years and is intended to be released under Eclipse Public License (EPL) 1.0.
The Foundation's platform will build on the leading open mobile software platform, with more than 200 million phones, across 235 models, already shipped by multiple vendors and tens of thousands of third- party applications already available for Symbian OS-based devices.
"Ten years ago, Symbian was established by far sighted players to offer an advanced open operating system and software skills to the whole mobile industry", said Nigel Clifford, CEO of Symbian. "Our vision is to become the most widely used software platform on the planet and indeed today Symbian OS leads its market by any measure. Today's announcement is a bold new step to achieve that vision by embracing a complete and proven platform, offered in an open way, designed to stimulate innovation which is at the heart of everything we do."
"Establishing the Foundation is one of the biggest contributions to an open community ever made," said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia. "Nokia is a strong supporter of open platforms and technologies as they give the freedom to build, maintain and evolve applications and services across device segments and offer by far the largest ecosystem, enabling rapid innovation. Today's announcement is a major milestone in our devices software strategy."
"The complete, consistent platform that the Foundation plans to provide will allow manufacturers to focus on their unique differentiation at a device level" said Dick Komiyama, President of Sony Ericsson. "Sony Ericsson believes that the unified Symbian Foundation platform will greatly simplify the world for handset manufacturers, operators and developers, enabling greater innovation in services and applications to the benefit of consumers everywhere."
"Motorola has long been a leader and advocate of open software for mobile platforms. We're excited to be joining Nokia, Sony Ericsson, NTT DOCOMO and others in leading this open source effort to form the new Symbian Foundation and unite the Symbian ecosystem," said Alain Mutricy, Senior Vice President, Platforms & Technology Office, Motorola Mobile Devices. "Also, Motorola, together with Sony Ericsson, will be contributing UIQ technology to the Foundation and will work with UIQ as they are refocusing as an important supplier in the new Symbian ecosystem. This will be a great addition, as the Foundation will be able to leverage UIQ's unique experience, which includes expertise in touch technology."
"DOCOMO welcomes this development and we look forward to moving our Symbian based devices and service onto the Foundation platform. We are also willing to contribute our MOAP(S) assets to the Foundation. This is a very positive step in further increasing the adoption of the Symbian software and creating an even more open, consistent and complete platform. The Foundation software will enable us to enjoy the benefits of a global platform in bringing new, leading-edge services to the Japanese market. It will increase efficiency and help us provide our wide customer base with the most advanced mobile experiences." said Toshio Miki, Associate Senior Vice President, Managing Director of Communication Device Development Department of NTT DOCOMO.
"Mobile phones have turned into sophisticated multimedia computers and smart phones continue to grow in popularity," said Kris Rinne, Senior Vice President of Architecture and Planning at AT&T. "The Symbian Foundation will reduce fragmentation in the industry and holds the promise of incorporating leading technology and the most mature software into a unified platform for the entire industry. This will create an environment that will encourage and enable developers to build compelling applications that will positively affect our customers' lives and support AT&T in offering its differentiated services to consumers."
"Joining the Symbian Foundation is an ideal opportunity for LG to broaden our commitment to providing our customers with the best possible mobile experience" said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. "We believe that open mobile platforms will contribute to advance the mobile industry. At LG we will play a leading role in creating a better mobile environment, working with the Symbian Foundation to provide our customers with smart new features based on this open platform."
"Samsung Electronics is committed to Symbian as one of the future platforms for our mobile devices and believes that establishing the Foundation is a visionary move in positioning the platform as a proven open platform for future development. We are delighted to be playing a significant role in that future by joining the Foundation board. We have already used Symbian and S60 software successfully to deliver appealing devices and see these steps making the platform even more attractive for bringing the latest technologies and services to the market" said Dr. Do Hun Kwon, VP & Managing Director, Samsung Electronics Research Institute.
"ST sees strong consumer demand, across all segments, for a richer multimedia experience," said Monica de Virgiliis, General Manager of the Wireless Multimedia Division, STMicroelectronics. "This new foundation synchronizes and harmonizes the mainstream software approach to address this need and makes the software widely available. We anticipate this will fuel the growth of multimedia-capable devices and we are excited about being able to leverage our long-standing leadership in consumer digital multimedia to satisfy more and more consumers."
"TI has long supported open platforms, and we are excited about the formation of the Symbian Foundation. We believe the new structure will remove barriers to innovation in the mobile industry by providing a common platform on which exciting next-generation applications and services can be built," said Greg Delagi, senior vice president of TI's Wireless Business Unit. "Manufacturers can get a head-start on development with TI's proven OMAP-based Symbian S60 software development platform. Combined with the Foundation's open collaboration model, this will allow more developers to harness the performance and multimedia capabilities of the OMAP family to accelerate improvements in the mobile user experience."
"Vodafone believes this is a significant step in driving mobile innovation for the Internet as well as creating a richer mobile experience for our customers" said Jens Schulte-Bockum, Vodafone's Global Director of Terminals. "We have been challenging the industry to reduce complexity and focus on fewer operating systems. This step will help to drive even faster innovation, as well as enable operators to accelerate time-to-market for compelling and varied new services."
"Fujitsu is pleased to be one of the first supporters of plans for the Symbian Foundation," said Hideyuki Saso, president of the Mobile Phones Unit at Fujitsu Limited. "Fujitsu has long been an innovator in the development of handsets based on the Symbian OS, launching our development efforts in 2001 and commercializing the world's first Symbian OS-based 3G smartphone in 2003. Over the past seven years, we've brought a broad range of innovative, high-performance Symbian smartphones to market while collaborating with NTT DOCOMO on the development of MOAP(S). As a handset vendor, Fujitsu looks forward to supporting the development of the unified Foundation platform, and to developing future products based on the platform."
"This new initiative brings together the rare combination of a proven software operating system and an open source model, creating a unique platform to drive innovation in the mobile handset," said Scott Bibaud, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Mobile Platforms Group, Broadcom. "Broadcom's participation in the Symbian Foundation is consistent with our goals of enabling differentiated software solutions while providing a time-to-market advantage with our advanced mobile platform products."
Foundation members share the vision that the Foundation will unify the software platform, supercharge innovation and accelerate the availability of new services and compelling experiences for consumers and business users around the world. The combined platform is already one of the most advanced and widely used mobile platforms, making it highly attractive for all ecosystem partners, including developers, mobile operators, content and service providers and device manufacturers.
The Foundation is expected to start operating during the first half of 2009, subject to the closing of the acquisition of Symbian Ltd by Nokia.
Symbian is a software licensing company that develops and licenses Symbian OS, the market-leading open operating system for mobile phones. Symbian licenses Symbian OS to the world's leading handset manufacturers. Symbian has its headquarters in London, United Kingdom, with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, India, China, Korea, and Japan.
|GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 2:00 AM
December 12, 2007
Software Identifies Age of Callers : GlobalGiants.com
Language dialogue systems could in the future provide more individualized service for people who call into call centers. Software from Siemens enables a language computer to sort callers according to gender and into specific age categories. This means the system can more effectively respond to customer's expectations. The prototype was developed by language recognition experts from Corporate Technology (CT) in Munich together with Siemens Enterprise Communications. It is currently being tested by a number of companies. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 9:38 AM
May 21, 2007
AT&T Kicks Off Accelerated Branding Campaign : GlobalGiants.com
AT&T Gears Up for iPhone Launch.
All Company Wireless Stores Converted to AT&T Branding as Consumer Reaction Soars.
Photo: Overnight, AT&T kicked off a new phase of the company's branding strategy by replacing the Cingular brand with AT&T on all in-store signage, store kiosks, and point-of-sale materials in approximately 1,800 company-owned wireless retail stores. Key stores in major markets also installed new exterior signage displaying the new brand. (AT&T Inc.) |GlobalGiants.com|
SAN ANTONIO, May 21 -- Beginning today, customers of the largest U.S. wireless carrier will be seeing more of the new AT&T than ever before as the company prepares to launch the Apple iPhone, one of the most highly anticipated wireless products in recent history. And, according to recent surveys of customers, that's just fine with them.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced a new phase of the company's branding strategy. Overnight, AT&T kicked off this phase by replacing the Cingular brand with AT&T on all in-store signage, store kiosks, and point-of-sale materials in approximately 1,800 company-owned wireless retail stores. In addition, key stores in major markets also unveiled new exterior signage displaying the new brand.
The decision to move to this phase of the branding campaign is based on research that indicates that consumer awareness of AT&T is high and ahead of expectations.
The store makeovers are also critical to prepare for the late-June launch of the Apple iPhone, for which AT&T will be the exclusive wireless provider in the United States.
Over the past several months, the new AT&T brand campaign has had a notable marketplace impact. Consumers and businesses worldwide consider AT&T as a leading communications brand and recognize it for meaningful innovation, a commitment to customer service, high quality and exceptional reliability. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 3:47 AM
May 9, 2007
Panasonic debuts Strada, its Mobile Navigation System : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: With double-digit sales growth forecasted for the next three years in the mobile navigation market, Panasonic debuted Strada, the first in what will be a line of mobile navigation systems from Panasonic this year. Ted Ueda, right, of Panasonic Automotive Systems and Rob Lopez, National Marketing Manager, Panasonic Mobile Electronics Division, demonstrate the product at the U.S. Launch on May 8, 2007, in NYC. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 3:16 AM
March 16, 2007
New Cordless DUALphone for Skype with Wideband Audio and Superior Sound Quality : GlobalGiants.com
CeBIT- HANNOVER, Germany, March 16 -- RTX now launches the new DUALphone 3058 with superior audio quality, colour display and speakerphone.
In 2004 RTX launched the first DUALphone for Skype(TM), one the most popular cordless Internet USB phones ever. Now RTX launches the second-generation of this device.
The new DUALphone 3058 is a cordless Internet phone and ordinary telephone in one. It is designed to work with Skype, the popular internet communications software with more than 171 million users worldwide. A broadband Internet connection is needed.
The DUALphone 3058 is a cordless USB phone that is connected to a regular telephone socket and works with Skype by using the USB port on a PC. Users are then free to make cordless Skype calls with the handset anywhere in the home or office. The handset's colour display shows whether other Skype users on your contact list are available. If they are, users simply have to press the Skype button to talk to them for free.
To reach friends or colleagues who are offline or do not use Skype, users can simply use the ordinary landline via the Public Switched Telephone Operator connection as normal. Alternatively, you can make cheap SkypeOut(TM) calls to landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world. Skype users can also purchase an optional SkypeIn(TM) number that allows them to receive calls from regular telephones via Skype. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 10:25 AM
February 28, 2007
Siemens Mobile Radio Communications Technology : GlobalGiants.com
Norway, February 28, 2007 -- In the future, Norwegian fire departments and police stations will be able to respond more quickly to emergency calls. The Ministry of Justice and the police authorities in the Scandinavian country recently commissioned Siemens to set up and operate a unified, nationwide public safety radio system based on mobile radio communications technology. The emergency services hope the new communications system will also boost the efficiency of preventive measures, while also enabling them to reach the site of an accident more quickly. |GlobalGiants.com|
Posted by Editors at 12:57 PM
January 2, 2007
Nokia New Year's Eve celebrates the start of 2007 in global style : GlobalGiants.com
World's largest New Year's Eve celebration draws more than 2 million music lovers to 5 "party capitals" of the world.
More than 150 million viewers tune into global TV and Internet broadcast.
Performances by The Black Eyed Peas, Scissor Sisters, Nelly Furtado, John Legend, Sugababes, Atomic Kitten, Ludacris, Rihanna, KT Tunstall, Sergio Mendes, among others.
Photo: Firework effects mesmerized the audience after countdown in Hong Kong
Espoo, Finland - On December 31st, Nokia New Year's Eve delivered on its promise to connect millions of people around the world through five spectacular events being held as part of the biggest New Year's party of 2006. Five party capitals -- Hong Kong, Mumbai, Berlin, Rio and New York -- all played their part to celebrate the beginning of 2007. Those in attendance at the live show, or watching the global broadcast on television or online saw some of the biggest names in music celebrating a truly unforgettable night.
Photo: Grammy-Award winning artist Nelly Furtado performs at Nokia New Year's Eve in Mumbai.
Nokia New Year's Eve began at Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal with Atomic Kitten topping the bill and making their first international appearance since splitting in 2004. They performed hits such as Whole Again and Tide Is High after an impressive roster of local stars including DJ Jamaster A, Eason Chan, Grasshopper, Hacken Lee, Joey Yung, Josie Ho, Jun Kung, Paul Wong, Soler and Twins entertained the crowd throughout the evening. Despite the massive Internet challenges created by the recent earthquake in Taiwan, Hong Kong music fans were also able to stream the live concert footage directly to their mobile thanks to a select group of local operators.
Photo: Nokia New Year's Eve party in Berlin.
Moving west, Mumbai's Andheri Stadium played host to a star-studded celebration that featured performances by Grammy Award-winning Nelly Furtado, Indian music maestro A.R. Rahman, and Bollywood superstars Priyanka Chopra, Shahid Kapoor, Koena Mitra, among others.
Photo: The Black Eyed Peas and Sergio Mendes at Nokia New Year's Eve party in Rio
The night rounded off in New York with performances from Rihanna, Ludacris and KT Tunstall appearing in "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2007". [GlobalGiants.com]
Furtado, a Canadian performing in India for the first time, captivated the crowd by singing two Hindi ballads, Kabhi Kabhi and Yeh Sama, in addition to her international hits Powerless, Maneater and I Am Like A Bird. Nokia New Year's Eve also marked the public debut of the first English language composition by Indian musical legend A.R. Rahman - Pray For Me, Brother - an anthem dedicated toward the eradication of world poverty. As the clock closed on midnight, Rahman, also known as the "Mozart from Madras", got the crowd into the party spirit with his all-time hit Humma Humma as well as his Oscar-nominated single Khalbali.
"Thank you Nokia for making this happen. I have wanted to come to India all my life," said Nelly Furtado after the show. "The crowd was amazing and it was so much fun to perform on the same bill as so many talented Indian artists."
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate was the largest Nokia New Year's Eve celebration with an estimated 1.2 million party-goers in attendance. In front of this massive audience, headline act Scissor Sisters played their hit singles I Don't Feel Like Dancin' and Comfortably Numb in a ninety-minute set that wowed the audience before a spectacular 10-minute pyrotechnics display erupted at midnight. Sugababes then took to the stage to carry on the party well in to the night.
"This will be the biggest audience we've ever played to so we were really excited! We love coming to Berlin simply because nobody parties harder and longer than the Berliners," said Ana Matronic from Scissor Sisters before they took the stage. "After the show we plan on having an excessively fun and ridiculous evening which we hope will set the tone for the rest of 2007! Happy New Year everyone!"
In Rio, Brazilians showed that a bit of rain would not stand in the way of an amazing night. More than one million people celebrated Nokia New Year's Eve in a nine hour concert on Ipanema beach. The crowd was treated to unforgettable performances by the Black Eyed Peas, John Legend and Brazilian music legend Sérgio Mendes as well as local artists Funk'n Lata and DJ Marlboro, amongst others.
The Black Eyed Peas played all of their hits including Where Is The Love? and Pump It as well as an unforgettable collaboration with Sérgio Mendes for the hit song Mas que Nada. Sergio Mendes was making his first Brazilian live performance for 28 years and treated the crowd to a host of hits from his country's musical history. Speaking after the show, Mendes said "This was a night of magic. Sharing my music with the Brazilian audience was emotional and unforgettable. This was without a doubt one of the happiest days in my life".
"With more than 2 million music lovers celebrating with us in person, and more than 150 million television and Internet viewers, Nokia New Year's Eve was certainly the biggest New Year's party of 2006," said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Nokia. "Nokia New Year's Eve clearly lived up to our mission of "Connecting People" and delivered on our promise of leveraging the power of television, the internet, live events and the world's most exciting music artists to get people talking, sharing and celebrating on one incredible night. Our thanks to the artists who performed -- and the millions of people who celebrated with us in person and around the world." [GlobalGiants.com]
Posted by Editors at 10:28 AM
January 1, 2007
AT&T and BellSouth Join to Create a Premier Global Communications Company : GlobalGiants.com
Deal Consolidates Ownership of Cingular Wireless.
BellSouth and Cingular Brand Transition to Begin Soon.
PHOTO: New Year, New Company -- Workers install the new AT&T logo at the former BellSouth Atlanta headquarters over the weekend. BellSouth and Cingular came together Friday to form a premier global communications company. (AT&T photo by Michael Pugh).
San Antonio, Texas, -- AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) has closed its acquisition of BellSouth Corporation, creating a premier global communications company committed to driving convergence, continued innovation, and competition in the communications and entertainment market.
The transaction consolidates ownership and management of Cingular Wireless, the USA's leading provider of wireless voice and data services, and YELLOWPAGES.COM, a leading Internet Yellow Pages and local search site.
PHOTO: Wireless home networking lets families share their AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet connection.
AT&T will immediately start to implement a carefully planned integration process to converge the AT&T, BellSouth, and Cingular wireless and wireline Internet Protocol (IP) networks, combine product portfolios and integrate customer care capabilities. The new company will be able to accelerate the introduction of innovative broadband services, such as IP-based services, while expanding the reach of broadband access in remote and rural locations in the traditional BellSouth region.
PHOTO: A Cingular store employee demonstrates the simplicity of recording up to four programs simultaneously with AT&T U-verse TV. The red dots next to the program titles indicate that the program will be recorded.
With the merger complete, AT&T enhances its U.S. leadership position in broadband, wireless services, voice services for consumers and businesses, and data services to Fortune 1000 companies.
In the coming days, AT&T will launch extensive new advertising, which will begin the transition of the BellSouth brand name to AT&T. AT&T will re-brand Cingular through a co-branded transition, which is scheduled to start in 2007.
AT&T Inc. is a premier communications holding company in the United States and worldwide, with operating subsidiaries providing services under the AT&T brand. [GlobalGiants.com]
Posted by Editors at 2:47 AM
December 18, 2006
Citigroup, Mastercard, Cingular and Nokia team to pilot next generation mobile phone.
"tap & go(TM)" payment in New York City.
Innovative Payment Trial to Use Near Field Communications Technology.
NEW YORK, NY - Citigroup, MasterCard Worldwide, Cingular Wireless and Nokia today announced a consumer technology trial of Near Field Communication (NFC)-enabled mobile phones with MasterCard PayPass(TM) contactless payment capability in New York City. The goal of this trial is to evaluate the speed and convenience that "tap and go" payments made through mobile phones can provide to Citi credit cards and Cingular customers in the New York City area. The trial is expected to run three to six months.
Pre-selected Citi MasterCard cardholders with Cingular Wireless accounts are participating in the trial and will receive Nokia NFC-enabled mobile phones with MasterCard PayPass payment functionality. MasterCard PayPass is a "contactless" payment program that provides consumers with a fast and convenient way to pay.
"As a leader in innovative products and services, Citigroup continually looks for ways to make the lives of our customers easier," said Amy Radin, Chief Innovation Officer, Global Consumer Group, Citigroup. "We are confident that mobile phone technology with contactless payment will appeal to our customers' increasing demands for speed, convenience and security."
Cingular Wireless is the largest wireless carrier in the United States. Citigroup (NYSE: C), the leading global financial services company, has some 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 100 countries. MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions and processes more than 16 billion payments each year. Nokia is a world leader in mobile communications.
Posted by Editors at 7:30 PM
December 9, 2006
WildBlue Announces Successful Launch of WildBlue-1
Satellite Will More Than Triple WildBlue's Customer Capacity for High Speed Internet Service via Satellite.
DENVER, Dec. 8 -- WildBlue Communications announced that its Ka-band spot beam satellite, WildBlue-1 was successfully launched this evening at 5:08 p.m. EST from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. WildBlue provides high-speed Internet connectivity via satellite to homes and small businesses in communities where terrestrial broadband access is either limited or unavailable.
WildBlue-1 was successfully launched into orbit aboard Arianespace's Ariane 5 vehicle .
WildBlue Communications, Inc. was established to provide broadband access to consumers and small offices in rural areas and small cities in the United States.
Posted by Editors at 10:48 PM
November 20, 2006
Nokia announces New Year's Eve celebration in five party capitals of the world
"Five cities, One party".
The Black Eyed Peas and Scissor Sisters among several international artists to begin countdown to "Nokia New Year's Eve".
Espoo, Finland - On December 31st, Nokia will welcome the New Year in unique style - by connecting millions of music lovers from around the world as they count down the final minutes of 2006. Nokia New Year's Eve, a global music event stretching across four continents, will feature a number of international artists including The Black Eyed Peas and Scissor Sisters to entertain audiences at New Year's celebrations from Hong Kong to Rio de Janeiro. Those unable to attend in person can experience the party via television or the internet. To orchestrate this unique global celebration, Nokia has enlisted the services of Harvey Goldsmith CBE, the producer of Live Aid and Live8.
Photo: Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business Album Cover
Photo: Scissor Sisters
Nokia New Year's Eve will travel from east to west, starting in Hong Kong's Ocean Terminal, followed by Mumbai's Andheri Stadium, the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro and rounding off the night in New York.
Nokia New Year's Eve looks set to be the world's biggest New Year's party of 2006 with the five events expected to have a combined attendance of 1.3 million and an anticipated global television and Internet audience of 150 million.
Posted by Editors at 12:45 PM
October 11, 2006
SunRocket Launches Eight Cents a Minute Calling Plan to India
$199 Annual India Edition Delivers Calling Rates 50% Below Major Competitors to All Destinations Within World's 2nd Most Populous Country.
VIENNA, Va., Oct. 10 -- SunRocket, one of the America's fastest-growing Internet phone service providers, today announced that it has shattered the price floor for calling rates to India by offering an unprecedented value proposition for U.S. consumers: 8 cents a minute for all calls to India, including those placed to mobile phones.
U.S. consumers who purchase SunRocket's $199 Annual India Edition(sm) can call any destination throughout India (including mobile phone numbers) for a flat rate of 10 cents per minute.
"Because more SunRocket customers call India than any other international destination and per-minute calling rates to this country remain among the highest in the world, we were determined to once again offer consumers an alternative to competitors' indefensible rates and charges," said Joyce Dorris, SunRocket co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer. "While other providers continue to devise new ways to charge their customers more, SunRocket has succeeded in finding new ways to deliver an unmatched value proposition that is second to none in the residential phone service market."
The $199 annual, all-inclusive India Edition delivers unlimited free calling throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. As with other SunRocket plans, customers enjoy enhanced voicemail, over a dozen free built-in calling features, enhanced 911 calling, plus the option to keep their existing phone number.
Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, SunRocket, the "no gotcha" phone company, is bringing Internet phone service to mainstream America with the nation's first full-year, flat-rate home phone package. SunRocket is the only company to offer complete Internet phone service at an all-inclusive, annual price of $199, with no hidden charges, termination penalties or "gotchas."
Posted by Editors at 4:44 AM
October 7, 2006
Motorola Talkabout(R) Two-Way Radios
A Practical Gift Idea for the Active Outdoor Enthusiasts.
Motorola and Giant International deliver SX800 two-way radios to provide practical communication for the most active lifestyles.
ATLANTA, Oct. 6 -- It can be a challenge for active outdoor enthusiasts to stay connected in the great outdoors. From hiking expeditions and ski vacations to family outings, today's on-the-go consumers require communications products that are easy to use to keep them in touch with those that matter most. Motorola Talkabout SX800 two-way radios offer the convenience of communication at an affordable price.
The compact Motorola Talkabout SX800 two-way radios have the power to communicate in the great outdoors, on the slopes, at the park and even in remote locations not covered by cellular phones. With a range of up to 16 miles the radios provide active families and outdoor enthusiasts with the freedom of mobility in even the most demanding situations. Whether climbing a mountaintop or maneuvering a kayak downriver, hands-free communication is possible without removing the SX800 from the belt clip using the iVOX speech- activated feature.
Posted by Editors at 8:21 AM
October 5, 2006
Polycom Delivers Business Quality Voice Conferencing Through Skype
Skype Certified Polycom VoiceStation 500 Delivers Natural, Hands-Free Voice Communications for Small Conference Rooms and Executive Offices.
PLEASANTON, Calif., Oct. 5 -- Polycom, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLCM) , the world's leading provider of unified collaborative communications solutions, today announced that the Polycom VoiceStation(TM) 500 conference phone is Skype Certified(TM). The integration of Skype and the VoiceStation 500 enables customers to easily host business quality conference calls in a small conference room or executive office using Skype. The VoiceStation 500 features Bluetooth wireless and an applications port that enables it to seamlessly work with Skype(TM) running on a PC.
Featuring a compact, stylish design, the affordable VoiceStation 500 delivers Polycom's award-winning Acoustic Clarity Technology(TM) for full duplex, natural group conferencing that minimizes background echoes, word clipping and distortion to provide a high-quality voice conferencing experience. The VoiceStation 500 uses AC power and can connect to a standard POTS phone line, but it also features embedded Bluetooth wireless support and an applications port for connecting to a computer running Skype. These connectivity options can also be used to connect the VoiceStation 500 to other devices such as a mobile phone and other handheld devices.
Polycom, Inc. is the worldwide leader in unified collaborative communications (UCC) that maximize the efficiency and productivity of people and organizations by integrating the broadest array of video, voice, data and Web solutions to deliver the ultimate communications experience.
Posted by Editors at 3:51 PM
July 25, 2006
The Nokia N93 starts shipping
The Nokia N93 transforms the way you shoot, shape and share your movies.
Nokia world headquarters in Finland today announced that deliveries of the new Nokia N93 have begun. The latest addition to Nokia's high performance Nokia Nseries multimedia computer range, the Nokia N93 offers uncompromised digital camcorder, telephony and rich internet functionality.
Boasting a 3.2 megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss optics, 3x optical zoom and DVD-like video capture, the Nokia N93 also offers advanced connectivity and editing options. You can connect the Nokia N93 directly to your compatible TV for a widescreen movie experience, upload your images and video directly from the handset to select online albums or blogs, and even create high-quality home movies and burn them to DVD with the included Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 software.
"The mobile video revolution is here," said Satu Ehrnrooth, head of Nokia Nseries Cameras, Multimedia, Nokia. "People are already using the internet as a forum for dialogue, and what better way to share your thoughts than through video! The Nokia N93 provides a perfect medium for this - you can shoot your short movies and share them instantly with others in the internet."
Nokia Nseries is a range of high performance multimedia devices that delivers unparalleled mobile multimedia experiences by combining the latest technologies with stylish design and ease of use. With Nokia Nseries products, consumers can use a single device to enjoy entertainment, access information and to capture and share pictures and videos, whenever on the go at anytime.
The ultimate mobile device for spontaneous video recording and sharing, the Nokia N93 is based on S60 3rd Edition software on Symbian OS. The Nokia N93 has started shipments to markets worldwide, including Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific, China and Americas markets where 3G (WCDMA) or EDGE and GSM networks are available.
Sharp Shooter
Unfold and twist the main display, and the Nokia N93 is ready to shoot high quality video and photos, with dedicated keys for shutter, zoom and flash making it easy to capture that once-in-a-lifetime moment. Featuring MPEG-4 VGA video capture at up to 30 frames per second, stereo audio recording and digital stabilization enabling smooth and shake-free movies, the Nokia N93 shoots DVD-like quality videos. It also boasts a 3.2 megapixel (2048 x 1536 pixels) camera with a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 3x optical zoom and up to 20x digital zoom, as well as autofocus and close-up mode for amazing clarity and accuracy.
The Nokia N93 features large internal memory of up to 50 MB, which can be further expanded with a hot swap miniSD card of up to 2 GB, allowing users to capture up to 90 minutes of DVD-like quality video or up to 2500 high-quality photos.
Share and Relive Your Moments
The Nokia N93 offers multiple options for sharing your videos. Share your uncompressed photos and video clips instantly via email, Bluetooth technology or by uploading them directly from the gallery of your device to compatible blogs. Or round up your friends and debut your mobile movies on a compatible TV screen, using either the included TV-out cable or wirelessly over integrated WLAN and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) technology. For instant playback, set the device on a surface, flip the display horizontally and use the up to 262,144 color 2.4" QVGA display (240 x 320 pixels) in landscape mode to watch your movie magic. The screen can also be used to browse the web, watch TV* over 3G networks, or make hands-free video calls*.
Be Creative
The Nokia N93 offers both in-built and in-box editing facilities. The edit function on the device allows you to combine and trim clips and insert images, music and effects. For more advanced editing, the standard Nokia N93 sales pack comes complete with Adobe Premiere Elements 2.0 which allows you to burn your mobile movies to DVD and export formats for web streaming and email.
Communication Skills
Like all Nokia Nseries devices, the Nokia N93 also provides exceptional communication and multimedia computing features. Designed to work on wireless LAN, 3G (WCDMA 2100 MHz), EDGE and GSM (900/1800/1900 MHz) networks, the Nokia N93 provides mobile broadband internet access for browsing, uploading content, and sending and receiving emails, allowing you to stay connected on the move.
The Entertainer
Store up to 1500 songs on your Nokia N93 with a separately available 2 GB miniSD card, and use the digital music player to listen to your favorite tracks wherever you go. You can also create playlists, rip your CDs and transfer your music collection to your Nokia N93 using Nokia Music Manager, provided on the inbox DVD-ROM. Or listen hands-free to your stored music or the stereo FM radio of the Nokia N93 by using the built-in speaker or a compatible stereo headset. And for a complete entertainment experience you can also enjoy high-quality 3D games with the pre-installed N-Gage franchise System Rush: Evolution.
Posted by Editors at 2:14 PM
