Snapshot Edition Number 98

AMTA invited to address Department of Broadband, Communications and Digital Economy forum The Chair of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, Louise Sexton, and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Althaus, started a round of consultations with senior officials in Canberra this week to outline AMTA’s agenda and views on a wide range of policy issues impacting on the mobile telecommunications sector.

Road Show hears latest evidence of reduced community concerns over siting of mobile towers The Mobile Carriers Forum (MCF) kicked off its 2008 Industry Road Show in Melbourne this week with more than 70 industry representatives hearing the latest on the policy, regulatory and operational environment associated with the deployment and operation of Australia’s mobile phone networks.

Musterin’ Mobiles for Primary Schools MobileMuster has teamed up with the Gould League of NSW to trial a fun, interactive, hands-on and age-appropriate environmental program for K-6 students. The program will be offered to 10 primary schools across the Sydney region.

Australian Mobile Data Services to Grow by Over 50% in 2008 Cellular News reports that new mobile data services will grow at a rate of more than 50% in 2008, according to an IDC review of the performance of Australian Telecom Service Providers in the third quarter of 2007. End user take up of mobile data services in both the business and consumer markets is experiencing significant growth.

Mobile-broadband convergence in 2008 Digital commerce specialist Valista this week announced the results of a global poll of the media and entertainment, broadband, and mobile industries on significant industry developments in 2007 as well as upcoming challenges and opportunities for 2008. Forty-six percent of mobile industry insiders surveyed believe that developing business strategies to capitalise on convergence will be the biggest challenge in 2008 – followed closely by 30 percent of respondents predicting declining ARPU would also be a key topic this year.

GSMA Launches Mobile Alliance Against Child Sexual Abuse The GSM Association, the global trade association for mobile operators, has launched the Mobile Alliance against Child Sexual Abuse Content to obstruct the use of the mobile environment by individuals or organisations wishing to consume or profit from child sexual abuse content.

Global mobile penetration rate hits 50%, says UN agency The GSMA Environment Insider reports that the number of mobile phone users will overtake the number of non-users this year for the first time, according to the UN telecoms agency.

BoQ is set to launch BankLink Mobile in the second quarter of 2008 BoQ is set to launch BankLink Mobile in the second quarter of 2008, which will be accessible on mobile phones with a browser.