THE WRAP: European clouds, subsidized iPads

Robert Clark | November 26, 2010

telecomseurope.net

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This week Europe backed Cloud security, while Apple adjourned its embedded SIM plan.

The European Commission announced funding for a three year research program into Cloud security for utility and healthcare firms.

The Australian NBN looks certain to go ahead after the legislation passed the Senate. Key independents forced the government to reveal that the project will cost A$35.7 billion (€26 billion), with A$27 billion to be paid by public funds.

Apple gave up on its embedded SIM scheme – at least for now - after European cellcos threatened to pull iPhone subsidies.

CSL launched Asia’s first commercial LTE network but without any devices.

A Japanese trading firm bought $300 million (€226 million) in rare earth minerals from an Australian mining house after a deal between the two governments.

UK operator Everything Everywhere will be the first to subsidize Apple’s iPad in a move that could shave up to 60% from the retail price of the device.

China began a six-month mobile number portability trial in Hainan and Tianjin. India introduced it in Haryana state.

Samsung sold 600,000 Galaxy Tabs in the first month on sale.

Asian smartphone purchases soared threefold in Q3.

Acer unveiled five new devices and an app store.

Sunrise chairman Dominik Koechlin said competition regulator’s clearance of CVC Capital’s buyout of the firm could lead to fresh merger talks with Orange.

Huawei has won more than a third of all LTE contracts, but Ericsson remains the market leader, according to TeleGeography.

Deutsche Telekom launched a CO2 reduction initiative for drivers in major cities, combining mobile and satellite technologies.

Nokia appointed Jerri DeVard a US consumer marketing specialist, to the new post of chief marketing officer.

Startup Kik complained it had been excluded from RIM’s app store because its popular messaging app was a rival to BlackBerry’s.

Facebook applied to trademark the word “face.”

Rupert Murdoch plotted a daily newspaper for the iPad.

Richard Branson will debut a digital magazine for the device on November 30.

Christie’s sold an Apple-1 computer built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976, for $214,000.

And an Indian village banned unmarried women from using cell phones for fear they will arrange forbidden marriages.

Source:

telecomseurope.net

Robert Clark