AMTA Snapshot Edition 37

Convergence and content – opportunities and challenges highlighted at 3GSM World Congress Asia This week AMTA CEO Chris Althaus spoke at the 3GSM World Congress Asia being held in Singapore. The three-day Congress focussed on future challenges and opportunities in the mobile sector - particularly in relation to convergence and content. Mr Althaus’ presentation covered an outline of the recently approved Mobile Premium Services Self-Regulatory Scheme.

3GSM World Congress Asia showcases heavyweights As an Asian-focussed event, the 3GSM World Congress Asia highlighted perspectives from two of the global heavyweights in mobile telecommunications growth – China and India.While China has dominated the focus in recent years, the performance of India has gained attention at the Congress as another story of large-scale rapid growth in demand for mobile telephony services.

Know which way the wind blows AMTA’s Member Forum in Melbourne on October 26 will give a special insight into what consumers want. “Know which way the wind blows” will be presented by Mahssa Hosseini, Strategic Marketing Manager, Ericsson Australia. She will give insights into consumer decision making based on the findings of research from 25 countries as part of Ericsson’s ConsumerLab study.

New media laws could deliver up to 30 new mobile TV channels The Parliament this week passed laws that will allow the emergence of a range of new services for Australian consumers as we head towards digital switchover, the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said today. “By next year, a range of new services including free-to-air, in-home, digital only channels or even perhaps ‘snack’ television – small segments of TV content delivered over a mobile device much like a mobile phone could be available,” Senator Coonan said.

New code makes telephones more accessible for people with a disability The Australian Communications and Media Authority has registered a telecommunications industry code designed to ensure that people with special needs have access to information about the key features of telephone handsets.The code ensures customer equipment manufacturers and importers provide information to carriage service providers on key features for telephone handsets for use in connection with a standard fixed or mobile phone service.

ACMA commissions independent review of government spectrum holdings To help the Australian Communications and Media Authority better achieve an appropriate balance between government use of the radiofrequency spectrum and its use by the broader community, ACMA has commissioned SpectrumWise Radiocommunications Consulting to provide an independent review of government spectrum holdings.

Industry rejects false mobile phone driving claims The false claim that mobile phone use while driving is as dangerous as drink driving is based on mistaken assumptions and an incomplete review of the established research in this area, AMTA CEO Chris Althaus said in a letter published in a Queensland newspaper yesterday.The Townsville Bulletin reported comments from local police claiming that talking on a phone while driving was as dangerous as drink driving.

ACMA releases request for tender for audit of service coverage of Telstra mobile phone networks The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released a request for tender (RFT) seeking the provision of a benchmarking audit of service coverage for Telstra CDMA and WCDMA networks.

A mass market 3G mobile “for all”, says GSMA Global GSM operators are looking to kick-start demand for 3G services by jointly promoting a UMTS phone that will target the mass market. Twelve major operators are asking vendors to submit proposals for a universal 3G handset, which they will buy in bulk driving down development and manufacturing costs for the lucky winning vendor.

Stringybark Festival to help round up mobile phones this weekend The annual Stringybark Festival is one of Victoria’s longest running environmental festivals. The festival, run by Knox City Council, showcases products, concepts, conservation and environmental issues that help create a sustainable community including mobile phone recycling. For the second year running MobileMuster will be there promoting and collecting mobile phones, batteries and accessories for recycling.

IPv6 Summit The Business Case for IPv6 – are you ready? Learn more at the Australian IPv6 Summit, Canberra 4 – 6 December; 12 international speakers, 11 local thought-leaders. This powerful IPv6 protocol offers enhanced mobility, better management, far higher security levels, and a vast range of new Internet addresses. Hosted by AEEMA, ISOC-AU and the Smart Internet Technology CRC. See www.isoc-au.org.au/ipv6summit/.