Microsoft has announced an unprecedented simultaneous cross-operator launch on Oct. 6th for WinMo 6.5. O2 has launched a “My O2″ app for iPhone. Taiwan Mobile has announced it will be buying a TV company for $1 billion. UK regulator Ofcom has announced strict new regulations to protect consumers for unscrupulous mis-selling of tariffs by operators. US operator MetroPCS has chosen to launch an LTE next year, instead of Wimax.
US operator MetroPCS announces it will be launching an LT… wait, have I heard this before?
MetroPCS has announced an LTE network for late next year. The US mobile operator is highly focused on unlimited tariff packages, and its dedication to LTE has apparently annoyed WiMAX-focused Intel. The Financial Times referred to MetroPCS as the “latest” carrier to opt for LTE – but I thought it had become the first regional carrier to go LTE back in April?
Taiwan Mobile to Buy Carlyle’s Kbro for $1 Billion
Taiwans’ second largest telecoms operator, Taiwan Mobile, has announced it will be buying a cable TV operator for $1 billion. Taiwan Mobile hopes to use TV company Kbro to boost “converged” services like mobile and television. However, the Carlyle Group that owns the TV company will be getting the vast majority of it’s remuneration in Taiwan Mobile shares – after the deal is done, the Group will own over 15% of the operator.
O2 launches My O2 iPhone app
O2 has launched an iPhone app to compliment its website. Created with MIG (Mobile Interactive Group), the app will allow customers to view tariff details, how much of their monthly allowances remain and their latest bill. The service was already accessible via SMS, but the app offers the info in a much more clear presentation:
New protection for consumers against mobile mis-selling
Starting today, all UK operators have to be much more careful when they’re selling plans to customers. Ofcom, the UKs independent telecoms regulator, is stamping down on what it calls “mis-selling” – the practice of mis-representing tariffs to customers so they don’t get the entire picture on how much they’ll be spending each month. Customer complains have ranged from inaccurate information when signing up to a phone deal, to being switched to a new service provider without giving consent. The new rules state that operators must:
• not mis-sell mobile phone services;
• make sure the customer intends and is authorised to enter into a contract;
• make sure consumers get the information they need at the point of sale;
• make sure that the terms and conditions of cash back deals offered by their retailers are not unduly restrictive; and
• carry out certain due diligence checks in respect of their retailers.
Operators who don’t comply will face a heavy fine.
AT&T, Sprint, Verizon all signed up for WinMo 6.5 launches on October 6
Microsoft has apparently engineered what could be the Daddy of all device launches in the States. The WinMo 6.5 lead up has so far left most observers pretty underwhelmed. But Microsoft is claiming that not only will the 6.5 launch be global on October 6th, but AT&T, Sprint and Verizon will all launch WinMo 6.5 devices on that day. That must have been a hell of an organisational feat.
