AMTA Snapshot Edition 139

Mobiles drive digital economy The Australian Communications and Media Authority?s Communications Report 2007-08 highlights the growing impact and importance of mobile telecommunications as a driver of productivity across the entire economy and the key role played by the technology in balancing family, work and social needs.

Mobile phone recycling awards presented at ALGA National General Assembly Lismore City Council, Moonee Valley City Council, the City of Stirling and Lockhart Shire Council were praised for their mobile phone recycling efforts at the MobileMuster Local Government Awards, which were presented at the 2008 Constitutional Summit of Local Government, in Melbourne.

Mobile telecommunications industry providing tools to assist premium service customers The mobile telecommunications industry is committed to providing customers of SMS/MMS premium services with information to assist them achieve affordable and responsible use of ringtones, games, music, sport and a range of other services.

PM?s XI provides perfect setting for 2009 policy and regulatory agenda The Prime Minister?s XI Cricket Match in January will provide AMTA Members with a great opportunity to meet Ministers, MPs and senior bureaucrats in an informal, relaxed setting to discuss important industry issues.

Australia?s Mobile Network Carriers? Consultation Practices Improve according to ACMA Statistics The Mobile Carriers Forum has welcomed the continuing decline in complaints to the ACMA regarding the Industry?s consultation practices when establishing telecommunications facilities.

Mobile phone shipment figures for November are released today Nearly 9990,000 mobile phone handsets were shipped to Australia in November, according to the latest Informark shipment figures.

December edition of EME Update AMTA?s December edition of EME Update, which is a round-up of issues related to the health and safety of mobile telecommunications, was released this week.

Framework sets national broadband priorities and strategies Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments today jointly released a framework to accelerate the development and use of broadband in Australia.

Mobile Phone Shields do not work Mobile phones are designed to comply with strict scientifically-based safety standards. However, add-on products, such as shields, are being marketed, which claim to make phones ?safer?.

Joint report released on communications infrastructure The Australian Communications and Media Authority and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today released a joint report titled Communications Infrastructure and Services Availability in Australia 2008. The report, developed using the expertise of both agencies, discusses the availability of broadband, fixed voice, mobile voice and mobile data in the community.

Feedback welcome on Digital Economy Blog The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today announced an online consultation on the future of Australia?s digital economy.

Looking forward to 2009 The CTIA?s latest SmartBrief has an editorial on the key trends in 2008 in the year that was. The CTIA-The Wireless Association?, is an international non-profit membership organisation founded in 1984, representing all sectors of wireless communications ? cellular, personal communication services and enhanced specialized mobile radio. The editorial says: