iPhone prompts O2 to invest hundreds of millions in network coverage

As smartphones become more and more popular, mobile networks are running into a problem that they don’t seem to have predicted at all. Namely, that they can’t handle the sheer amount of traffic the devices are generating. UK network O2 has announced that it will be investing hundreds of millions of pounds in upgrading network quality, so that customers won’t be hit by service outages like they were this year.

Tesco to put iCat amongs the UK’s iPhones

Rating: Launching both versions of iPhone online and in stores
In a move which will inevitably put the cat amongst the pigeons in terms of UK pricing, Tesco Mobile has announced that intends to offer the iPhone 3G and 3GS in both Tesco Phone shops and online via Tesco Direct.
There’s no indication of pricing, yet. Nor [...]

O2 starts pushing mobile application developer service to customers

GoMo News got an email from O2 today, telling us that the “Litmus” service from the operator is being moved to the next stage in its development. This is being done via an ad campaign, targeted at 1 million O2 subscribers. But what is Litmus?

Spat erupts over whose network is best for iPhone

Rating: Vodafone’s, Orange’s or 3’s? Probably not O2’s
Despite sterling efforts to obtain the actual evidence, GoMo News learns that Vodafone UK intends to pump up its own iPhone offering by claiming that its network is better. That depends where you are, of course. If you’re waiting for a plane at London Heathrow airport this might [...]

O2 responds to Orange iPhone sales figures

So, yesterday GoMo News published a story singing the praises of the Orange UK iPhone launch - in particular the sales figures for the first day. O2 has since been in contact with us to correct what it claims was an error in our article.

Symbian founder calls for single Java apps store

Rating: Launches free promotional app for AQA
It is rather amusing to see the man that could be seen as the father of Symbian, Colly Myers, launching his first mobile app in years. Not for Symbian, mark you, but for Java. He also launched a tirade against the lack of a single marketplace for apps written [...]

Yahoo keeps mobile search in the spotlight as it boots out Google from O2

Today, Yahoo! and O2 Germany announce and launch an exclusive, multi-year mobile search partnership, with Yahoo! providing the search services on O2’s mobile portals, displacing Google as their search partner of choice. Additionally, as part of the deal, O2’s portals will include links to some of Yahoo!’s most popular mobile properties including Yahoo!’s new mobile homepage, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Weather, Yahoo! Finance, Flickr, Yahoo! Eurosport and more.

iPhone-arama: prices for China and Orange ends UK exclusivity

Woop woop! French-owned operator Orange has announced today that it will being selling the iPhone in the UK later this year - putting an end to the exclusive contract held by O2. In an incredibly terse press release, Orange informed us that it will be selling the phone through all of its channels, and pre-registration is now open. Also, for those who are interested, China Unicom has announced dates and prices for its iPhone launch.

Android update: the Marketplace revamp and new Samsung device

Two bits of news for Android advocates to celebrate today. Donut, the next update for Android, is approaching and details are beginning to emerge. The most recent release from Android is about the Market app store. And following yesterdays news that the Pulse will soon be available in the UK from T-Mobile, O2 has announced an Android device of it’s own: the Samsung Galaxy.

The T-Mobile sale story: where will talks with UKs Top 3 mobile operators lead?

The long drawn-out sale of Deutsche Telekoms UK branch T-Mobile has entered a new phase. Reports today say that the unprofitable operator, which is the fourth largest in the UK, is now in talks with three different companies. And those three companies just happen to be the three largest mobile operators in the UK.

Anam launches anti-bullying service for mobile text

Ireland-based SMS company Anam has announced the launch of anti-bullying service with mobile operator O2. Block It is a free service that allows users to stop text, picture and video messages coming from other phones.

Mobile map app from Telmap and O2 comes pre-loaded but not free

Mobile operator O2 UK and digital mapping company Telmap have announced an agreement. The deal will see a custom-made GPS application from Telmap appearing pre-loaded on O2 handset. Telmap Navigator will be embedded on the majority of O2 handsets from this autumn. But just because it comes embedded on your phone doesn’t mean it’s free. Oh no - two weeks after you buy your handset, you either have to pay for it or lose it.

O2 Mobile Advertising offers targeting but is still way behind Vodafone and E-Plus

I got a Google Alert on O2 Mobile Advertising and read this article from Cellular News In short it is about O2 Germany’s mobile advertising service which targets placement for higher conversion.

O2 allows free mobile SMS alerts for Twitter users

O2 has announced that it will be allowing Twitter users to receive alerts via SMS for free from August. It’s not the first UK operator to do this - by March of this year, Vodafone had put a similar into place, cancelled it, and then re-instated it. However, O2 does claim to be the only mobile operator in the UK that also gives free SMS alerts for Facebook and Bebo

Tesco Mobile has failed to perform in Ireland

Tesco and mobile operator O2 launched Tesco Mobile in Ireland as a joint-venture in 2007. The two companies put up a total of €11 million between them at the time - and €8.5 million of this has been spent. But accounts lodged at the end of last year showed a deficit of €7.3 million

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