The Opinionated Normob

Nokia Records $834 Million Q3 Loss, Market Share Slips By 6%

Nokia has seen happier times, the world’s largest cell phone manufacturer posted a loss today of approx. $834 million (559 million euro) for the companies Q3 earnings report.

It’s the first time the electronics firm has lost money in more than a decade and comes at a time when sales have dropped by 20% alongside 1.17 billion euros in company write-downs. Investors can thank that write-down to impairment charges incurred by the Nokia Siemens Network.

Nokia’s market share was also severely damaged by Apple, Research In Motion and Palm Devices which took the company from a 41% market share to a 35% level.

With Nokia announcing their new Nokia Booklet 3G netbook it should be interesting to see how sales rebound or expenses increase in the coming quarters. In either respect the company that started as a paper, rubber and cables company has always showed the ability to evolve to changing times, now we just have to wait and see if that evolution occurs once again for the electronics firm.

(via The Inquisitr via Engadget)

Posted by HeavyLight at 14:22 | 0 comments Links to this post  

While the Google-backed Android mobile operating system currently runs on less than 2% of all smartphones, Gartner Inc. predicts it will surge to 14% of the global smartphone market in 2012 -- ahead of the iPhone, as well as Windows Mobile and BlackBerry smartphones.

In that year, Gartner forecasts Android will actually rank second globally, behind the Symbian OS, which is used in Nokia devices that are highly popular in Europe and many countries outside the U.S. Symbian now runs on about half of all smartphones, but will fall to 39% in 2012, Gartner says.

More at Computerworld

Posted by HeavyLight at 14:21 | 0 comments Links to this post  

I'm amazed that this new offering suddenly gains publicity while I'm discussing the potential of GoogleVoice (as a basis for an integrated communications system) and data-only contracts as an alternative to the 'voice-pipe' operators with Dean Bubley on his excellent Disruptive Wireless blog.

A brand-new mobile-phone carrier, Zer01 Mobile said Thursday that it can give you truly unlimited voice and data on smart phones for $69.95/month, without a contract, on a network as broad as the one owned by AT&T.

That's because, in many ways, the network is AT&T's. The company is using a form of roaming agreement to tunnel from AT&T's network into their own IP backbone.

Zer01 gets some of their savings by eliminating traditional circuit-switched voice calling. All calls on Zer01 phones go through a proprietary Voice-over-IP (VOIP) application, which right now runs only on Windows Mobile 6 phones but will work in the future on Android, BlackBerry, Symbian, Java and even on jailbroken iPhones, Zer01 chief executive Ben Piilani said.

"No calls, period, go out over the GSM network," Piilani said.

The company's $69.95/month plan includes unlimited VOIP calling and data, and is month-to-month with no contracts or credit checks. For $10 more per month, you also get unlimited international calling to 40 countries.

Zer01's VOIP application uses several brand-new, proprietary technologies, Piilani said. It ties into phones' dialer apps to let you dial from the phone's keypad without launching a separate voice-over-IP application. It works with a phone's built-in microphone and earpiece. And Zero01 has some sort of quality-of-service mojo that lets VOIP run even over slow EDGE and GPRS networks.

Let me point out how unusual that is: I've never seen VOIP running over slow GPRS. Even on EDGE, which is faster, the network's latency typically hurts VOIP apps.

"We've developed specific algorithms in our technology that address latency issues across the GSM networks," Piilani said.

The phones run on GSM networks including AT&T's and T-Mobile's. But Zer01 isn't buying time wholesale from AT&T and T-Mobile, Piilani said. Instead, they have purchased their own IP backbone and are using interconnect (AKA roaming) agreements, the way Verizon and Sprint phones work on each other's networks. Each device on the Zer01 network gets a fixed IP address and opens a VPN tunnel to the company's servers, Piilani said.

"It's our own VPN, and we're actually providing the data the customer is using," Piilani said.

By using interconnect agreements, Zer01 can get around the carriers' 5GB/month data caps and offer truly unlimited data, Piilani said. The company's system does some traffic management to make sure that heavy users don't overload a local cellular system.

Zer01 is designed to work with unlocked phones that users bring in on their own, Piilani said, but they also plan to sell three HTC phones, the TyTnII (known on AT&T as the Tilt), the Touch Diamond and the Touch 3G. Zer01's software needs to be optimized for each individual phone model, but the list of acceptable devices is continually growing, Piilani said. Pharos' GPS-enabled Windows Mobile smart phones may be next on Zer01's list.

"Right now the initial push will be Windows Mobile devices, but immediately after launch we're going to announce several other OSes and devices," Piilani said.

Zer01 is a division of Unified Technologies Group, a company run by Piilani that also operates a land-line VOIP service and has had interests in broadband-over-power-line technology.

On the land-line side, Zer01's VOIP service is managed in part by Pervasip's VoXVOIP product, according to an October 2008 press release from Pervasip.

AT&T had no comment on Zer01. The new carrier plans to launch with a closed beta in April, and to set a commercial launch date at the CTIA trade show on April 1.

Sasha Segan on PC Magazine

Posted by HeavyLight at 13:24 | 0 comments Links to this post  

Sneaky experiment to get several Google MyMaps embedded onto one map.
Click on the white vertical band at the far right side to see controls.





View The Full Screen Map (takes a while to load - be patient!)
Map Channels - Embed a Google Map into your website or blog.

Posted by HeavyLight at 17:25 | 0 comments Links to this post  

Another day, another normob frustrated by unethical sales droids, misleading management and unsupportive customer support staff...

Ross (or "Space Cowboy", as he's known on MySpace) posted this heartfelt account of his frustrating experience:

3 mobile broadband at PC world (Beware)

This new mobile broadband offer from PC world looks great i say to myself as im shopping in PC world this thur, but whats the catch free laptop with mobile broad band with 5gig download limit sounds to good to be true.

So i ask a member of staff for some information, It all seems straight forward and fair and still a good offer (The main point to consider is the staff member explained to me that internet browsing was free 24 hours a day just like home broadband, and that there was a lengthy cancellation period).

It was late and i was impressed so i decided to sign up then but it being PC world none of the laptops on display that i wanted was in stock. So i shopped around the next day and found PC world with 3 was the best offer, so i went back signed up and was told again that surfing was unlimited i also convinced a friend of the offer (Sorry Phil) and he signed being told the same thing about web browsing.

I got home that night and was pleased as punch with the service. The laptop was great (Compaq) and the internet was exceptional (much better than expected i thought it would be patchy) with good speeds reaching 130Kbs on one download not bad considering. Although when i looked i was supplied with no information on price plans, cancellation terms and most unbelievable they didn't include me with my copy of the contract.

All was good until Mon 48 hours after activation and i get a message from 3 stating i had used up all my internet allowances. What the hell i think that can't be possible, i had only downloaded about 2.5gig of data i should still have 2.5gig left. So i removed the dongle modem and contacted 3 for an explanation.

In all fairness to 3 they got back to me very quickly although it was not helpful. The individual was friendly enough and helpfully informed me that not only web browsing but simply being connected to the internet is taken from your usage. I couldn't believe it three members of staff had lied about the service, this i explained but the 3 contact simply said they were wrong and offered no solution. Then i asked how the hell i had used 2.5gig even if i was connected and viewing web pages for 48 hours straight i wouldn't use up that amount, He simply replied i had used a large amount, i asked on what to which he said i should register with 3 and they will display all information on the website.

I went back on the internet to register with three and had another message from them stating i now owed £10.35 (had no supplied information on how to register and nothing clear on the site). How is that even possible i had the modem in the box and the laptop closed down and only 2 hours had passed. I was fummin mad and contacted 3 again (but i have always been polite and reasonable during all communications)

I explained all the above and was offered no explanation or solution. I stated i was happy with the internet service and would be happy to continue the contract if we could start from fresh with me being in full possession of the information on the service and an explanation on my internet usage (not unreasonable i thought), this option was completely ignored and i was told it couldn't be done (im sure they could if they cared). So i explained i was still in my cooling of period and i want to cancel. I was them informed that they couldn't cancel my contract i would have to contact PC world, I was suspicious as the contract was with 3 but 3 explained that PC world had miss sold me the agreement and the fault was with them.

Now where have I heard that old chestnut before? Ah yes, Phones4U, Carphone Warehouse and, erm, PC World...
I'm sure Three were correct in pushing the customer back to PCW for a solution but, certainly from a normob perspective, it's Three's terms and conditions that have been 'inaccurately' (to put it generously) communicated -- isn't it quite reasonable to expect them to sort out the problem with PCW? After all, the 'mud' from this episode will stick to both Three and PC World, regardless.

I'm more than a little amazed that Ross was able to get online at all with his new dongle without registering it first with Three, let alone be able to use his 5GB data allowance surfing the web over the weekend...

So after that phone call i go to the PC world were i bought the service and again explained the above (To three different members of staff before i got the line manager). I explained how it was miss advertised and the lack of supplied information. Well guess what surprise surprise they refused to take it back completely ignoring and discounting the lies that were told to sell the contract. I was told that the contract was with 3 and had nothing to do with them they were just the agents, i was only informed that there was only a three day cancellation period again after being told by PC world that i had a fortnight (Arrrrrrrrg !!)

I was really beginning to lose my ragg and i asked if "3 says your responsible and you say they are what the hell am i supposed to do" and the manager simply repeated that i will have to contact 3. So i asked if he could contacted them for me to sort it out to which he replied that he couldn't (I could of punched him), if your acting as 3 agents why would you not be able to communicate with them , your acting as a middle man it is your job to communicate between customer and provider. This he simply choose to ignore and reiterate that he couldn't contact 3 (Lies, lies, lies (They didn't even offer to supply me with my contract what a dick)).

So i have contacted 3 for a third time and guess what they are saying to go to the dealers that they cant cancel my contract or help in any way. all these people do is pass the problem off to another department.

I will get back with the results but don't hold your breath and don't shop at PC world or trust what the staff says its just lies. Three has terrible service.

I expect that the deceitful PC World manager (and quite possible Three's Customer Support crew) are hoping that this normob will go home and write it off to experience: another bloody awful and expensive, mismanaged rip-off from the combined forces of incompetent computer retailing and unhelpful mobile broadband providers.

Unfortunately for them, at least, Ross has already let all his contacts on MySpace know what he thinks of his treatment at the hands of Three and PC World, and he's started posting his account on broadband forums (which is where I picked up the thread).
He's also already contacted his local Trading Standards office (to report the mis-selling angle) and his local newspaper in an effort to gather support.

His next steps are probably stern letters to the CEOs of Dixons Group and Hutchison 3G UK. And maybe a colourful sandwich board to attract some attention outside his local PC World shop.

Any other ideas?

Posted by HeavyLight at 15:47 | 0 comments Links to this post  

Just who do these pillocks think they're fooling?

First up is exciting news from the PR department (courtesy of MobileToday):

O2 is spending £5m refreshing its brand, which will include a change to the ‘it’s your O2 – see what you can do’ strapline introduced in May 2006, and made famous by Sean Bean’s unique delivery.

O2’s new brand brief that ‘a more connected world is a better world’ will be reflected in the new strapline ‘we’re better, connected’, although once again it will be delivered by Sean Bean.

The new brand was unveiled this week through a wide range of media advertising including TV, outdoor, cinema and online.

Sally Cowdry, marketing director for O2 UK said: ‘We’ve had incredible success with the O2 brand over the past six years, quickly establishing it as a leading UK brand.

‘But we need to keep the brand fresh, reflecting changing market conditions and customer priorities.

‘Customers are very much at the heart of our business but the role of O2 in their lives is changing. So our focus is now on empowering and enabling them to better connect to people and things that matter.’

Compare that with The Register's news that many (if not most) O2 customers on 3G tariffs don't even receive 3G speeds:

O2 has admitted its 3G customers are limited to 128Kb/s connections, with business users being automatically upgraded to 384Kb/s if they are deemed to warrant it.

3G connection speeds are highly variable, so establishing that the network has imposed a speed limit isn't as easy as it might appear, even though O2 users have long suspected they are being restricted.

384Kb/s is the technical limit of 3G technology, without resorting to HSPDA, but topping out at 128Kb/s is something of an embarrassment for a 3G network. Not that using HSDPA will help the O2 customer, depending on the "profile" O2 has decided to assign to them they might still find themselves allocated only 128Kb/sec.

O2 hasn't been able to explain how they decide who gets which profile, but they did give us a statement explaining that "O2 provides data speeds of 128Kb/s as standard to all 3G customers. Profiles of corporate customers who require higher speeds are modified so that they can benefit from speeds of 384Kb/s." With HSDPA the top speed should be even faster, assuming one is in the right profile group.

The network operator is quite careful on its website to describe 3G as a "high speed network" and makes no promises about specific connection speeds. In fact, the company tells us, 128Kb/s is all punters can expect from 3G, with 384Kb/se being a premium service only available to a select few.

Customers wanting the higher speed connection can, apparently, simply ask for it when they buy their phone, or give O2 a call - though the company declined to provide us with a suitable number or procedure for changing, or finding out, one's profile.

The competing operators we've spoken to don't offer such a tiered service. Once they had stopped laughing at O2's stance they all agreed that 3G should mean speeds of up to 384Kb/s for everyone, and that's what they provide, dependent on network coverage and local environment.

News of the limit should, however, be welcomed by iPhone users. They have been much derided for lacking high-speed 3G technology, while in reality their Edge connections could easily be out-performing O2's idea of what a 3G network is capable of.

Still, I'm sure a new strapline will make all the difference...
Not.

Posted by HeavyLight at 15:19 | 1 comments Links to this post  
Labels: 3G, O2 UK

The irrepressible Spinvox blogger, James Whatley’s (that’s Whatleydude, to the universe) didn’t have a great Friday.
His, erm, 'robustly-used' phone stopped working and naturally, as a “Vodafone’s ‘best care’ program” member, he expected it to be replaced quickly and without any hassle.
Of course, if everything had been straightforward, it wouldn’t warrant some comment from me.  So, as you'll have guessed, it all went pear-shaped.

You can read James' entertaining tearjerker over on SMS Text News (probably the mobile world’s most widely-read, and massively influential blog…) but, for continuity's sake, here's the final gasp:

If I don’t have a new N95 by the end of the weekend, or at least, on its way to me by the end of the weekend – as I said at the beginning of this post – I’m going to 3.

And I’ll tell every soul that I ever sold onto Vodafone that they made a mistake and that Vodafone don’t care about their customers, nor do they care for their (outsourced) insurance – that’s not worth the paper it is written on.

Fantastic stuff! 

So, to cut a long story short, everthing worked out very well in the end, with James getting a brand-spanking new, 8GB N95 in his hand, as he put it:
"Just shy of 12hrs since the original article went live."

The ‘oil on the cogs’ was Vodafone's Amy Rose, who added this comment to the post:

Good afternoon.

Thought I’d drop a quick note in response to some of the comments on the blog, mainly to give a good representative of what I do.

I work for Vodafone and run an online team who are centred around forums, blogs and social media. As well as supporting our own customer forum - http://forum.vodafone.co.uk we also trawl the internet looking for Vodafone customers that have posted on an external sites looking for help.

I have a mixed team of people working for me all from Customer Management background.

I’d like to think that my team and I provide the same level of service for all customers we find, and that James’ experience is not a unique one. It’s a shame that people do have to revert to forums and blogs looking for help, and in the ideal world all queries would be resolved on 1st contact. In reality, we know that doesn’t always happen so my team has a 2nd chance of delivering a great experience and restoring some faith.

With blogs, we do rely of Google content searches picking up on the key word ‘Vodafone’ so that we’re alerted of the new blog that has been written. This is how we came across James’ blog so promptly.

I was pleased to be able to help James, and I’m hoping to see that my team continue with the same approach moving forward.

All the best

AmyRose
Vodafone
Posted by Amy Rose on March 17th, 2008 at 4:05 pm.

(From SMS Text News)

Now it's great that James got his well-used, Mk1 phone replaced with one of the newer versions. (It’s funny how losing access to our gizmos makes us addicts geeks so crabby?)
And the delivery was probably about as quick as it's gets, without booking it in first. (I guess no insurance would pay out on a claim that could be forecast and avoided!)
And it's true that nothing exceptional was done except speed up the process. 

But that’s the big news and the reason I’m tapping away:
Amy’s team actually want to sort out customers’ problems.

And that’s an open offer of assistance, y’know like real customer service?
Which is fucking brilliant! 
If it work’s, it'll be a great move by Vodafone.

I’d hazard a guess that dealing with the FIT team is a whole lot less stressful than the usual call centres, and probably a lot more efficient for VF too.  And the boost in customer morale will prove invaluable. 
If it works…

I’ll put aside my scepticism for now and give full credit to VF for opening this up — damn, that’s the second time I’ve praised VF this week!
An extended outreach for the net?  I hope it takes off!

Next time I meet up with a (justifiably) pissed-off VF customer, I'll see if I can put the two of them together. And report back on the experience.

Posted by HeavyLight at 22:52 | 1 comments Links to this post