Exciting times ahead

Indian Telecom space is heating up and how! Gartner’s research predict wireless services to hit $25.61 billion by year 2011. Year 2006 figures touched $2.95 billion making the growth per annum to be 18.4% per annum in the period 2007 – 2011. As expected, growth in data revenue will outpace voice revenue with a contribution of 22% in total wireless revenue in year 2011 as opposed to 9.6% in 2006.

 

Despite rapid expansion of wireless services in India, only about 2% of rural areas are covered while the total coverage area is 12.7%. Gartner predicts that of the expected 38.6% total coverage, 58% will be rural based connection and 95% will be urban connection.  

 

Drivers which we feel will fuel this growth are:

#   Lower entry level tariff

#   Under $25 handsets with current emphasis on research to provide entry level handsets

#   Attractive pricing of bundled up services with handset

#   Increased focus on rural marketing of cellular services

#   Greater efficiency in deployment of services

#   Integration of market players

#   Concentration of telecom operators to provide core service and marketing of these services

#   Further drop in call rates to match the landline rates

#   Expansion of businesses in semi-urban and rural areas

#   Availability of wider array, localized and user specific mobile Value Added Services

 

With the subscriber base expected to be 462 million by 2011, user friendly simple-to-use applications that can tap into the needs or aspirations of users will see fast adoption. Each region has its own need, but certain common denominators exist. Entertainment will always remain the primary desire of a subscriber (besides connectivity, of course).  Whether we take up from current scenario of TV and movie based entertainment or create new genres, Value Added Services developers and provides are never going to be short of space to expand.

 

And then there are services that fulfill needs of the users. Rural areas, which lack means of dissemination of information, will adopt such services if they are available at affordable prices. One of the most exciting applications will be the related to medical facilities. These facilities are relatively inaccessible to rural population. Their availability by means of video conferencing or even as a voice service is a space waiting to be tapped. Urban population, which is used to greater array of services, will demand their availability on mobiles.

 

Data revenue at rate of 22% of the predicted $25.61 billion works out to be $5.63 billion – enough to keep the existing players excited and attract new talent into this space.

Launch of JuiceUp, an audio-video streaming application

We booked the media centre at Convergence India, invited few correspondents but when the city is buzzing with events – conferences at the venue, Fashion week and other summits, to attract media’s attention was no mean feat. But how well we managed to do it J. Or rather, it was the innovative application announced that hooked their interest.
 
Access to all audio-video content available on internet, ability to upload and broadcast self-generated content for all mobile subscribers to tune into, and access to prime content by partner content developers/broadcaster – all of it is possible by JuiceUp, the application announced. More on it…
 
One97 Communications Pvt. Ltd., in partnership with AirChord TeleVentures, announced the launch of JuiceUp, a mobicast (mobile + broadcast) application for the first time in India. JuiceUp is an exciting and innovative mobile application which enables a savvy generation of users to access audio-video feeds over GPRS/data connection. The application also allows the user to stream and broadcast self-generated content to anyone on the mobile network.
Users can now tune into any radio channel that is streamed over the internet from their mobile phones. This application has been developed on a proprietary technology which allows high quality music broadcast over small data throughput. The application will allow the user to access numerous feeds from across the world, and gives them linguistic choice including audio feeds of various Indian languages such as Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Tamil, etc.
 
The upload facility allows the users to upload content from their handsets using the client and GPRS connection or through the JuiceUp website. A P2P phenomenon was imminent in the mobile space and JuiceUp is an industry-first that allows user generated and branded content to be searched by all JuiceUp users.  A user can locate the content generated by fellow users through search tags.  At the moment the available content options fall far short of user appetite and JuiceUp comes as a welcome innovation.  JuiceUp allows users to create their own jukebox and broadcast it as a channel which other users can subscribe to. 

Users can now tune into any radio channel that is streamed over the internet from their mobile phones. This application has been developed on a proprietary technology which allows high quality music broadcast over small data throughput. The application will allow the user to access numerous feeds from across the world, and gives them linguistic choice including audio feeds of various Indian languages such as Bhojpuri, Malayalam, Tamil, etc. The upload facility allows the users to upload content from their handsets using the client and GPRS connection or through the JuiceUp website. A P2P phenomenon was imminent in the mobile space and JuiceUp is an industry-first that allows user generated and branded content to be searched by all JuiceUp users.  A user can locate the content generated by fellow users through search tags.  At the moment the available content options fall far short of user appetite and JuiceUp comes as a welcome innovation.  JuiceUp allows users to create their own jukebox and broadcast it as a channel which other users can subscribe to. 
 
There are no copyright issues since JuiceUp does not allow content to be downloaded, including user generated content – it can only be streamed. To download the application and get the activation key, users need to sms JuiceUp to 3030. JuiceUp will be distributed in India through various wireless operators and it can work on both CDMA and GSM handsets that are Java or Brew compatible.
 
Commenting on the launch, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Managing Director, One97 Communications said, “At One97, we recognize that mobile is a very personal medium and it should fulfill end-users’ desire to stream in personal choice of audio-video content. To make this possible has been our driving motivation. JuiceUp fulfills the dream of mobile subscribers for easy access to every kind of existing content on the internet and also upload their own content for public broadcast.”

Didi Boi – I need help

Remember those teen years when every issue was a life and death situation? What to wear, how to start a conversation with the one you have hots for, which present to give to your love, how to deal with a snub or a break up? We all turned to friends for advise and at times, when friends couldn’t help to Agony Aunt columns in newspapers and magazine. We looked for answers and hoped to find solutions to our predicament. 

  

With increasing usage of mobiles by teenagers, how soon would it be that some smart mobile service provider will start a such a service? Already astrology is a great hit in the same sphere. An sms based, voice based or even video streaming based service is sure to find many takers. Especially if the operator can reassure the subscribers that it will be well guarded interaction and details revealed only under extreme circumstance.

We would love to know how you feel about having access to such a service i.e. if it’s ever available.

Untapped market in Rural India

Technology has been effectively used to increase the productivity in Agricultural sector which continues to engage over 60% of Indian population. eSagu or Web based Agricultural Expert Advise Dissemination System has been awarded the best e-governance project at the Computer Society of India Nihilent e-Governance Awards. Increasing coverage of rural areas by wireless connectivity and soon-to-be adopted 3G network is sure to make the application turn mobile. Rural India is a hot market for VAS application developers and mobile operators. We expect to see large variety of customized applications tapping into it’s desire for m-governance, m-commerce, entertainment, education related services. 

Honey I shrunk the TV

Successful trials of TV on mobile phones scheduled in 2007 by Nokia in conjunction with national broadcaster Doordarshan, will open up a number of earning possibilities for mobile operators. Mobile VAS applications which broadcasts programs on basis of  demographic profiles, interest areas, defined content (e.g. bollywood shoes, reality shows) are expected to be developed. Specialised content generation, content databanks are expected to be bigger revenue generating sources.

IPTV service launched by BT

BT Group, the UK’s telecom carrier, has launched its IPTV service – BT Vision. The service is provided free to all the BT’s broadband users although they would have to pay for the BT-branded set-top box, combining a satellite TV receiver and wireless router. It offers them free digital terrestrial TV service Freeview with around 40 channels along with video-on-demand on the basis of pa-per-view. Additional interactive and user-generated content services will be rolled out over the next year. The success of service depends on the range of content available for the user to choose from. Towards this end, BT is striking deals like one with Warner Bros  for TV and film downloads,  EMI artists for on-demand music videos, Setanta premium sports channel for content that includes live and on-demand premiership football and many others.
 

Are Ring Tones Part of Your Grocery List?

Tapping into the vibrant market for ringtones, Airtel in partnership with Indiatimes, launched two categories of ‘Airtel Easy Music Cards’. The Rs 30 ringtone card allows downloading of three monotones, while the Rs 50 VAS combo card has content like monotones, truetones, polytones, wallpapers, games, video clips etc to choose from. An SMS containing the chosen category detail and the 16 digit code on the card, downloads the content which has validity of 30 days. Ringtones are available in Hindi & Kannada. The release does not specify where these cards can be purchased and whether these cards are usable by subscribers of other networks besides Airtel or not.

  

Early this year One97 Communications Private Limited and Pantaloon Retail India Limited launched India’s first mobile agnostic all-operator ring tone cards. These cards are retailed through Big Bazaar stores throughout India. According to the release…

One97 and Pantaloon Launch India’s First All-Operator, All-Mobile Ring Tone Card
 
One97 Communications Private Limited and Pantaloon Retail India Limited have come together to launch India’s first all-mobile, all-operator ring tone cards, retailed at Big Bazaar stores throughout the country.
 
Launched in August 2006, this is the first time that ‘ring tones’ are being sold through organized retail chains in malls & shopping complexes across India.
 
The ring tone card is available in a pack of one and three ring tones. It is an inexpensive option for consumers, since it helps them avoid premium SMS usage charges and is priced at Rs 18 for a pack of three ring tones and Rs. 6 for a single ring tone pack.
 
The single ring tone pack has names of five latest ring tones along with their codes. Users can simply send a unique 10 digit PIN with their preferred ring tone code through SMS to 9871330303 from their mobile phones. This is single SMS transaction. The three ring tone pack offers additional value to the customer who now has to send only one SMS to get all three ring tones.
 
The ring tone card has two great advantages. It is easy to use, and customer does not need to remember the ring tone code to download a particular tune or spend time searching for a particular tune when downloading. The card has a 6-month validity and is already gaining popularity amongst a cross-section of consumers, for their own use, and also a gift item.
 
The Big Bazaar – One97 cards are currently available in 30 Big Bazaar stores across India, including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Indore, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Ghaziabad, Ambala, Calcutta, Mangalore, and Bhubaneshwar. 
 
One97 Communications plans to bring out more ring tone cards in the near future. The company also has a series of Astro cards on the anvil, and Golden Oldies ring tone packs. Much awaited regional ring tone cards will also be launched shortly. 
 
Speaking on the occasion of the launch of the all-operator, all-mobile card, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Managing Director, One97 Communications said, “We are pleased to partner with Pantaloon in bringing to the forefront a premium content offering for Indian consumers.  This product not only heralds a sea change in the manner Indian consumer buys, receives and consumes content but also reinforces our belief in forging strong partnerships in order to provide the best in the mobile value-added-service space.”
 
Also at the occasion, Neeran Chhiber, President Communication Division, Pantaloon said, “We are glad to partner with One97 Communications in launching this product, since it ushers in a paradigm shift in content delivery and increases interaction between the content creator, content provider and the consumer. This also reinforces the fact that consumer and content is kings.” 

and have come together to launch India’s first r ring tone cards, retailed at Big Bazaar stores throughout the country. , this is the first time that ‘ring tones’ are being sold through organized retail chains in malls & shopping complexes across India. The ring tone card is available in a pack of one and three ring tones. It is an inexpensive option for consumers, since it helps them avoid premium SMS usage charges and is priced at Rs 18 for a pack of three ring tones and Rs. 6 for a single ring tone pack. The single ring tone pack has names of five latest ring tones along with their codes. Users can simply send a unique 10 digit PIN with their preferred ring tone code through SMS to 9871330303 from their mobile phones. This is single SMS transaction. The three ring tone pack offers additional value to the customer who now has to send only one SMS to get all three ring tones. The ring tone card has two great advantages. It is easy to use, and customer does not need to remember the ring tone code to download a particular tune or spend time searching for a particular tune when downloading. The card has a 6-month validity and is already gaining popularity amongst a cross-section of consumers, for their own use, and also a gift item. The Big Bazaar – One97 cards are currently available in 30 Big Bazaar stores across India, including Delhi, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Indore, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Ghaziabad, Ambala, Calcutta, Mangalore, and Bhubaneshwar.  One97 Communications plans to bring out more ring tone cards in the near future. The company also has a series of Astro cards on the anvil, and Golden Oldies ring tone packs. Much awaited regional ring tone cards will also be launched shortly.  Speaking on the occasion of the launch of the all-operator, all-mobile card, said, “We are pleased to partner with Pantaloon in bringing to the forefront a premium content offering for Indian consumers.  This product not only heralds a sea change in the manner Indian consumer buys, receives and consumes content but also reinforces our belief in forging strong partnerships in order to provide the best in the mobile value-added-service space.” Also at the occasion, said, “We are glad to partner with One97 Communications in launching this product, since it ushers in a paradigm shift in content delivery and increases interaction between the content creator, content provider and the consumer. This also reinforces the fact that consumer and content is kings.” 
 

YouTube now on Mobile!

YouTube will make available a sampling of its most popular videos to people on mobile devices. It would be exclusively available to Verizon Wireless’ V CAST subscribers in the United States. Along with watching, the video enthusiasts will also be able to record and share their favorite moments from their mobile phones. (Main Story)