Mobile operator roundup: Nokia Siemens, China Mobile, Sprint and more

There are pretty grim rumours circulating about Nokia Siemens Networks. China Mobile has released details about it’s app store metrics. Vodafone is putting its money where its mouth is in Ghana… and more.

Nokia and Siemens: breaking up is hard to do

Unnamed sources in Germany are indicating that Nokia Siemens Networks is in a whole mess of trouble. The network infrastructure company is reeling from massive losses, a surge in competition and a lack of faith from both of its parent companies. Things have gotten so bad that sources feel both Nokia and Siemens may be in the process of pulling out of the joint-venture, or trying to sell it off. But according to Reuters, nobody would want to buy.

China Mobile sees over 400,000 app downloads from Mobile Market

Launched in late August, Mobile Market is the application store of China Mobile, the operator with the largest subscriber base in the world. The application store has reportedly seen over 400,000 apps downloaded since then. According to anonymous sources, the China Mobile Development Network has over 230,000 registered developers - but only 7,432 applications have been submitted, with only 1,692 of these being approved.

Vodafone gets punchy in Ghana

Vodafone is acting pretty ballsy in Ghana, and is asking its fellow operators to act the same way. Mobile number portability isn’t currently possible in Ghana - once you’re with an operator, you can’t move that number. However, in response to posturing and claims of network superiority by competitors, Vodafone Ghana is claiming that mobile numbers should be made fully portable. That way, consumers can find out for themselves which network is the best. The Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, agreed saying that “with as many as six mobile operators in Ghana it has become necessary for MNP to be implemented to give customers the choice and flexibility to be on any network they want.”

Sprint buys out wireless affiliate iPCS

Sprint has announced that it is buying out a wireless affiliate, iPCS. iPCS provides wireless and mobile servics to over 700,000 subscribers in total, and has cost Sprint $831 million to acquire, including $405 million of debt. iPCS customers should notice absolutely no change in service due to the purchase - iPCS sold its mobile services via the Sprint network anyway!

AT&T expands its enterprise applications platform into the hospital and consumer goods industries

The Mobile Enterprise Applications Platform from AT&T is an engine the operator uses to help enterprises create and deploy mobile applications. Through the platform, AT&T offers support, sales and services for enterprise apps, as well as hosting and managing applications for businesses. AT&T has announced two new arms of the platform. The Consumer Goods platform will help companies to keep an eye on their goods, distribution, pricing, competitor activity and items out of stock. The Hospitality apps are aimed at hotels that want to keep a real-time, paperless record of everything that’s going on within the hotel.