France to get first 'virtual' mobile phone operator in July (AFP)

Grok Headline matches for France to get first 'virtual' mobile phone operator in July (AFP)

France gets first virtual mobile
operator

France gets first virtual mobile
operator 06/14/2004 05:06 AM
Cheaper texts ahoy

Croatia to take offers for third mobile
phone operator (AFP)

Croatia to take offers for third mobile
phone operator (AFP) 04/26/2004 10:31 AM
AFP - Croatia is set to get a third mobile telecommunications operator for which the country will publish an international tender in the coming weeks.

Recording Industry To Sue Mobile Phone
Operator Over MP3 Playing Phones

Recording Industry To Sue Mobile Phone
Operator Over MP3 Playing Phones 06/03/2004 01:45 PM
Back in April we had what we hoped was an April Fool's joke: that the Korean music industry had forced mobile phone operators to make their MP3-playing mobile phones destroy MP3s. The plan was originally to force the phones degrade the quality of MP3s, but eventually a plan was worked out to force the phones to delete any MP3s after 72 hours. Apparently, none of this was enough, and the industry is now looking to sue. With all the success of both broadband and wireless technologies in Korea, it's amazing that an industry could be so backwards to believe that they can actually grow a market by breaking the applications that people want.

Russia's second-largest mobile phone
operator reports final 2001 tax bill

Russia's second-largest mobile phone
operator reports final 2001 tax bill 01/01/2005 12:33 PM
Canadian Press Jan 1 2005 3:17PM GMT

NTT DoCoMo to launch "wallet mobile
phone" in July (AFP)

NTT DoCoMo to launch "wallet mobile
phone" in July (AFP) 06/16/2004 08:17 AM
AFP - Japanese mobile phone giant NTT DoCoMo said it will start selling next month a handset with smart-card electronic cash, train pass and identification card functions.

Mobiltel, biggest mobile operator in
Bulgaria, obtained a licence to set up
the country's first 3G mobile netw

Mobiltel, biggest mobile operator in
Bulgaria, obtained a licence to set up
the country's first 3G mobile netw 03/31/2005 02:37 AM
Baku Today Mar 31 2005 7:02AM GMT

SingTel mobile crowned Asian Mobile
Operator of the Year

SingTel mobile crowned Asian Mobile
Operator of the Year 06/17/2004 12:10 AM
Channel NewsAsia Jun 17 2004 3:45AM GMT

Mobile Phone is a Day to Day Need for
Everyone to Stay Connected with Their
Loved One's. Mobile Phone Chargers from
BB-shopping Helps to Connect More to
Them

Mobile Phone is a Day to Day Need for
Everyone to Stay Connected with Their
Loved One's. Mobile Phone Chargers from
BB-shopping Helps to Connect More to
Them 02/05/2005 09:23 PM
BB-Shopping helps you buying best quality and long life Mobile Phone Chargers for dufferent Models and Variants of Mobiles. [PRWEB Feb 3, 2005]

Austrian Wi-Fi Operator Acquired by
T-Mobile

Austrian Wi-Fi Operator Acquired by
T-Mobile 12/02/2003 12:34 AM
T-Mobile Austria is acquiring the 300-hot-spot strong Metronet.at (press release is in German): T-Mobile is continuing to expand its international presence through acquisition of Metronet. T-Mobile has partnered with Metronet on roaming since 2002. Metronet is the fourth-largest European WISP, according to their press release. "This deal is therefore bringing us a large step closer to the international objective of providing W-LAN around the entire globe," explains Dr. Georg Pölzl, Managing Director of T-Mobile Austria. T-Mobile Austria charges €7.95 per hour, €15.95 for three hours, or €24.95 for 24 hours. This is enormously higher than the same rates charged by T-Mobile USA. T-Mobile customers can pay via SMS at €1.99 per 15-minute unit, but the service is currently free to subscribers....

Russia's first operator-brand mobile

Russia's first operator-brand mobile 05/19/2004 09:01 AM
Europe in Brief MTS unveils S-680

Bulgaria to Auction Two 3G Mobile
Operator Licenses

Bulgaria to Auction Two 3G Mobile
Operator Licenses 07/22/2004 01:03 PM
Bulgarian news network Jul 22 2004 3:55PM GMT

Mobile data to fuel operator growth

Mobile data to fuel operator growth 01/17/2004 10:46 PM
Lift in shift

Parliamentary panel nods to Kuwait's
third mobile operator (AFP)

Parliamentary panel nods to Kuwait's
third mobile operator (AFP) 05/30/2004 11:47 AM
AFP - Kuwait parliament's financial affairs committee has approved draft legislation calling for a third mobile telecommunications company in the oil-rich emirate, the committee chair said.

Russian mobile operator to pay final tax
claims bill (AFP)

Russian mobile operator to pay final tax
claims bill (AFP) 12/30/2004 08:06 PM
AFP - Russia's second largest mobile telephone firm VimpelCom has decided to pay the tax demands of over 17 million dollars for 2001, but may appeal the estimate, the company said in a statement.

Corporate subscribers can account for as
much as 35% of a mobile operator’s
revenue

Corporate subscribers can account for as
much as 35% of a mobile operator’s
revenue 08/08/2004 02:05 AM
[PRWEB Aug 8, 2004]

French mobile operator SFR to launch
UMTS service in May (AFP)

French mobile operator SFR to launch
UMTS service in May (AFP) 02/10/2004 09:26 AM
AFP - French mobile telephone operator SFR announced it would launch its UMTS, or third-generation (3G) service in France, beginning with corporate clients in May and the public in June.

French mobile operator SFR to launch
UMTS service in May

French mobile operator SFR to launch
UMTS service in May 02/10/2004 10:27 AM
AFP via Yahoo! Feb 10 2004 1:56PM GMT

Finnish mobile operator offering free
bl0gs to all subscriber

Finnish mobile operator offering free
bl0gs to all subscriber 04/14/2005 06:22 AM
Saunalahti is offering a free weblog to all its GSM subscribers. You can update your weblog using MMS messages, Nokia Lifeblog or internet.

SaunaBlog. I like that name.

However, they seem to have lifted the entire description of what a blog is directly from Wikipedia without attribution, which, as far as I can tell, is a GNU FDL violation. Wikipedia.fi has more.

Also, looking at a sample blog, it seems that they are claiming copyright on anything that anyone writes on their own blog, and apparently they're not making you even agree on a license before you use the service. This is simply wrong - you simply cannot assert copyright on something that you don't own. If you write a blog, you own its content - regardless of who hosts it.

Saunalahti seems to be pretty lax about copyright issues. This will bite them in the ankle, I'm sure.

Motorola Israel to supply fixed mobile
car phones to European operator

Motorola Israel to supply fixed mobile
car phones to European operator 07/08/2004 12:21 PM
Israel Business Arena Jul 8 2004 2:50PM GMT

First European operator launch signals
new phase for Macromedia's mobile
expansion

First European operator launch signals
new phase for Macromedia's mobile
expansion 08/05/2004 12:21 PM
PMN Publications Aug 5 2004 3:41PM GMT

No. 3 mobile operator Polkomtel first to
launch full UMTS offer in Poland

No. 3 mobile operator Polkomtel first to
launch full UMTS offer in Poland 09/03/2004 04:23 AM
Interfax Information Agency Sep 3 2004 7:53AM GMT

The Chinese mobile phone industry's
shipment volume rose 64.2% year on year
to reach approximately 65.2 million
units as the PAS mobile phone shipment
broke a record high

The Chinese mobile phone industry's
shipment volume rose 64.2% year on year
to reach approximately 65.2 million
units as the PAS mobile phone shipment
broke a record high 06/11/2004 03:15 AM
Research and Markets are delighted to announce the addition of The Chinese Mobile Phone Industry, 1Q 2004 and Beyond to their offering [PRWEB Jun 11, 2004]

Syria's No. 1 Mobile Operator Deploys
Actix' Wireless Performance Engineering
Solution

Syria's No. 1 Mobile Operator Deploys
Actix' Wireless Performance Engineering
Solution 09/07/2004 02:26 PM
ECTA Portal Sep 7 2004 5:05PM GMT

Poland's #1 mobile operator, PTC,
awarded license to enter wireless
Internet market

Poland's #1 mobile operator, PTC,
awarded license to enter wireless
Internet market 12/30/2004 04:54 AM
Interfax Information Agency Dec 30 2004 9:40AM GMT

Bridgewater Systems Announces Solution
to Support Mobile Virtual Network
Operator Business Model

Bridgewater Systems Announces Solution
to Support Mobile Virtual Network
Operator Business Model 06/30/2004 02:48 AM
[PRWEB Jun 30, 2004]

Qwest Net phone service to launch by
mid-July

Qwest Net phone service to launch by
mid-July 06/23/2004 11:11 AM
Carrier's OneFlex service will be available to businesses in four U.S. cities.

Sony Ericsson Vodafone-only phone to go
Live! in July

Sony Ericsson Vodafone-only phone to go
Live! in July 06/24/2004 07:58 AM
F500i tied into network's MMS package

Quick-'n-Dirty methods to determine
which competing label is better: "Cell
Phone" or "Mobile Phone"?

Quick-'n-Dirty methods to determine
which competing label is better: "Cell
Phone" or "Mobile Phone"? 04/28/2004 11:39 AM

On the SIGIA-L mailing list, Stephanie Berger recently asked: "My cohorts are not sure whether to use "cell phone" or "mobile phone". Any evidence that one is better than the other, or one is used more often than the other?"

This is a good example of the kind of labeling questions information architects face all the time. The answer to these labeling questions will depend on the target audience (a better label for whom?), on business requirements (maybe the business want to promote one term over the other) and on the context in which the label will be used.

I'll discuss the conversation that followed here and afterwards point to some useful tools for if you have a labeling question yourself.

Andres Sulleiro: "Without any empirical data I will go with my own opinion. [...] A quick survey of the phone carriers seems to suggest that "wireless" (as in "wireless phone", "wireless customer") is most common among US carriers, though you see some references to "mobile" as well. T-mobile, a European company, uses "mobile" which is more common in Europe as well as being the name of the carrier."

Method: check what other websites call it.

Jason Cho: "I think "cell" is more widespread in the US as Andrés noted. "Call my mobile" can sound pretentious to Yankee ears. But I would think everyone understands the term "mobile" on a business card."

Method: personal experience.

Peter Van Dijck (and others): "Google for "cell phone" (including quotes): 6,230,000, Google for "mobile phone": 6,360,000. Looks like a tie, assuming your audience is similar. Just pick one and make sure your search engine knows both terms."
Christina Wodtke: "Y ahoo for cell phone : 16,800,000, yahoo for mobile phone: 21,200,000. What does this really tell you? you'd have to know who each engine indexes, how much of the web, etc.. better to use a magic 8 ball. ;-)"

Method: check popularity of the terms on the web.

Peter Van Dijck: "My next step would be to find out what people search for on your site,
or if not available, on the web (assuming that's more or less your audience). Google adwords can help."

Method: Find out what people (preferably your target audience) search for.

Dave: "I like "mobile" for the reason that Christina stated (forward compatibility); USers and non-USers will equally understand it. Also, it is more interoperable w/ most of the vCard based addressbook programs out there. I don't know any that are using "cell" or "cellphone" ... I also like the clear and easy two word approach of "mobile phone" ... I'm always wanting to say "cellphone" where "cell phone" is really the more correct version. "cell" though just doesn't feel like a real word b/c the "cell" doesn't fit a meaning to me. I know what it means if I am forced to think about it, but it really doesn't mean anything to me at all."

Method: personal experience, check what software programs use.

Christina Wodtke: "> As can Ove rture's keyword tool (couldn't find URL straight away).

You also might consider some adaptation of the freelisting technique on a subset of your target. E.G., a write in survey: what portable electronics do you own, then analyze for use of "cell phone" and mobile phone".

Method: freelisting technique.

Eric Reiss: "Having worked closely with several telecommunications companies, including Tellabs (US), Nortel (Canada), ADVA (Germany), and NetTest (Denmark), this discussion is one I've heard before. Europeans generally don't recognize the term "cell phone." North Americans seem to accept both "cell" and "mobile." ATT insists on promoting the term "wireless." In most instances, we've agreed on the word "mobile" since it is understood by the widest audience. Nortel, for instance, used "cell" almost exclusively until the late 90s, but now leans toward "mobile." I think there is a trend here."

Method: ask the subject matter experts.

Pabini Gabriel-Petit: "There's also Wordtracker.
[...]
In this vein, you might try just walking up to people, holding up your cell/mobile phone, and asking them what they call it."

Method: Analyze what people search for.

Method: Find out what labels your users use.

Quick-'n-Dirty methods to determine which competing label is better.

So, as a review, here are some of the methods used to determine which label is better.

1. What do you think?
Method: personal experience/insights.

2. What do your users think?
Method: freelisting technique.
Method: Find out what labels your users use: show them the item you're trying to label and ask them what it is. (You could build an online tool for this).
Method: Find out what people (preferably your target audience) search for / check popularity of the terms on the web. Ove rture's keyword tool. Google adwords. Wordtracker. Google and Yahoo both list how often a term is used on the web (use quotes around your terms!).

3. What do the experts think?
Method: ask the subject matter experts.
Method: check what other websites/software call it.

Gotcha's: be careful when using these techniques. You are looking for a label that works for your audience and your business requirements. Most of these techniques use audiences that may be very different from yours, and most are indicative only (ie: they're not hard science). Use your judgement.

Oman Mobile to launch GPRS/MMS by end of
July

Oman Mobile to launch GPRS/MMS by end of
July 06/30/2004 04:59 AM
Oman Observer Jun 30 2004 8:31AM GMT

Siemens mobile kicks off summer with the
launch of its next-generation MMS CX65
mobile phone

Siemens mobile kicks off summer with the
launch of its next-generation MMS CX65
mobile phone 06/30/2004 07:55 AM
AME Info Jun 30 2004 11:19AM GMT

Killer Mobile Releases Controversial
Mobile Phone Program - "Save Jimmy!"

Killer Mobile Releases Controversial
Mobile Phone Program - "Save Jimmy!" 01/05/2005 04:34 AM
Killer Mobile (killermobile.com), a mobile phone software development company released what is quickly becoming a controversial program targeted at young, tech savvy men - a program aptly titled "Save Jimmy". Save Jimmy is a program that can run on any MIDP 2.0 compliant mobile phone that allows the user to input specific information on their significant other's menstrual cycle and in turn receive daily alerts as well as view a calendar with information regarding which days are "Safe" to not use a condom. [PRWEB Jan 5, 2005]

Free mobile phone advertising for Irish
pubs now available on Ireland Pub Guide
- Mobile Edition.

Free mobile phone advertising for Irish
pubs now available on Ireland Pub Guide
- Mobile Edition. 06/23/2004 02:36 AM
A new free advertising service is now available for pubs throughout Ireland. Publicans can freely advertise their premises to one of the largest audience of people looking for things to do in Ireland, both on the web and now on their mobile phone at http://mobile.irelandpubguide.com. [PRWEB Jun 23, 2004]

Mobile Phone Tracking Success Story for
Locate Mobiles.com and Trace A
Mobile.com (featureXpress)

Mobile Phone Tracking Success Story for
Locate Mobiles.com and Trace A
Mobile.com (featureXpress) 04/12/2004 08:57 AM
featureXpress - Mobile Phone Tracking sites Locate Mobiles.com and Trace A Mobile.com report huge increase in subscriptions

Oman plans to change phone numbers to
eight digits from July

Oman plans to change phone numbers to
eight digits from July 06/06/2004 12:13 AM
Content.sina.com - Sat Jun 5, 08:49 pm GMT

SK-Earthlink Links South Korean Mobile
Operator, Earthlink Networks

SK-Earthlink Links South Korean Mobile
Operator, Earthlink Networks 02/01/2005 09:13 PM
Mobile operator SK Telecom and Earthlink Networks launch 3G/Wi-Fi combo firm: Sky Dayton is the CEO of SK-Earthlink, a new MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that will sign up end users with the promise of integrated Wi-Fi and third-generation cellular data networks for voice and data through a single handset. Dayton founded Earthlink and Boingo Wireless. SK Telecom provides service to 18 million customers in South Korea, and their sister company in the SK Group, SK Teletech, makes advanced handsets for domestic use and internationally to China, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Taiwan. Dayton said in an interview today that SK Telecom offers a remarkable array of handsets including units with hard drives, five megapixel cameras, and satellite television broadcast receivers. "Not all those things are going to be applicable in a US market," Dayton said. The service will attempt to leverage the growing availability of 3G networks with the increased ubiquity of Wi-Fi hotspots. Dayton says that although handsets and service plans won't be available until as late as the end of 2005, that generally SK-Earthlink would focus on allowing its customers to make voice calls from home Wi-Fi networks, Wi-Fi hotspots, and 3G cellular networks. They would also leverage Wi-Fi alongside 3G in offering advanced data and entertainment services, although he did not mention specifics. "We think there's a big group of Internet savvy early adopter" consumers in the US who want this but can't get it, he said. SK-Earthlink may use Boingo's platform as the base on which they develop hotspot relationships--Dayton will have an arm's length involvement in that decision--but Boingo will certainly also continue to sell to other carriers regardless. Other reports note that SK-Earthlink will use CDMA technology, SK Telecom's flavor, which ties them closely in the U.S. to Verizon Wireless and Sprint PCS, the only two remaining CDMA carriers here. Verizon has already deployed a significant portion of their ambitious EVDO network offering speeds of hundreds of kilobits per second, and Sprint PCS is committed to higher-speed offerings than its current 1xRTT rate that compares to modem speeds. At the same time, Verizon Wireless said recently that 3G will trump Wi-Fi, a sentiment that baffles Dayton. "Wi-Fi is an unstoppable force," he said. "It's like trying to deny there's a big elephant in the room." Both technologies "are great individually, but if you put them together" they allow the best connection wherever a user...

Motorola E398 Music Mobile Phone
Exclusive on T-Mobile

Motorola E398 Music Mobile Phone
Exclusive on T-Mobile 08/27/2004 01:23 PM
I4U Aug 26 2004 11:05AM GMT

NTT DoCoMo to launch 'wallet mobile
phone' in July

NTT DoCoMo to launch 'wallet mobile
phone' in July 06/16/2004 08:28 AM
AFP via Yahoo! Jun 16 2004 1:06PM GMT

Tavros Mobile Begins European Soccer
Coverage for Mobile Phone Network
Distribution to End User Handsets

Tavros Mobile Begins European Soccer
Coverage for Mobile Phone Network
Distribution to End User Handsets 12/24/2004 12:26 PM
Tavros Mobile Announces the availability of European Soccer News, direct to your Mobile Phone Handset! The latest soccer scores, goal updates as they occur, and news, on an ongoing basis. All of this for one low monthly fee. This new service is in addition to the latest java games, ringtones, and other original mobile content for users to download to their mobile phones. [PRWEB Dec 23, 2004]

AirG Liberates Mobile Phone Users in
Iraq: AirG Launches Interactive Mobile
Community ‘MonAmi’ on Iraq’s First GSM
Mobile Network

AirG Liberates Mobile Phone Users in
Iraq: AirG Launches Interactive Mobile
Community ‘MonAmi’ on Iraq’s First GSM
Mobile Network 04/09/2005 03:48 AM
AirG, the global leader in powering mobile communities announced today that its mobile friend finder service MonAmi is now available to customers in Iraq. [PRWEB Apr 9, 2005]
Grok Description matches for France to get first 'virtual' mobile phone operator in July (AFP)
GrokA matches for France to get first 'virtual' mobile phone operator in July (AFP)

France to get first 'virtual' mobile phone operator in July (AFP)

The following phrases have been identified by the grok system as matching this entry: