Following the failed sail of T-Mobile USA to AT&T last year, T-Mobile’s parent Deutsche Telekom AG revealed that the company is now open to a merger of its U.S. operations to another company rather than a complete sale. As T-Mobile is the fourth largest national carrier in the U.S., any sale of the company would face increased regulatory scrutiny and that was the reason why AT&T had decided to walk away from the deal as consumers, industry members, and regulators were not happy.
T-Mobile USA has recently been struggling to stay competitive and it remains the only national carrier to not offer the iPhone for its network. The carrier lost over 500,000 post-paid subscribers last quarter and blames the lack of an iPhone on its network as reason for customer defection despite offering affordable voice and data plans to customers.
Also, although the carrier has committed to LTE for its future 4G network, T-Mobile USA is one without an LTE network or an imminent rollout of the four largest carriers in the U.S.–Verizon and AT&T are continuously building out their LTE footprints and Sprint’s network is expected to go live in select cities mid-year.
There has also been chatter that T-Mobile USA may merge with regional carrier MetroPCS. The combined entity would serve just over 10 percent of the U.S. population should that happen.
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France Telecom Upped to Neutral - Analyst Blog - NASDAQ
We are upgrading our long-term recommendation on France Telecom S.A. ( FTE ) from Underperform to Neutral thanks to the Conquests 2015 plan, which aims to reinvigorate growth and restore profitability in the business.
France Telecom is progressing well with its Conquests 2015 plan. The company, in the midst of the first or adoption phase (2011-2013) of its five-year plan, is working on various initiatives to enhance growth in the domestic and international markets.
To drive growth in the domestic segment, France Telecom is making efforts to improve its networks and services like IPVPN access, managed services, network resources and Wi-Fi roaming. The company is also shedding underperforming European assets dueto the weak economic conditions in that region and unfavorable regulatory measures that continues to hamper its top line.
France Telecom is strengthening its footprint in the emerging markets including Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East to boost profitability over the next few years. The company is focusing on network enhancements, cloud computing business, strategic partnerships and network-related IT services to accelerate growth in these markets.
Further, revenue is poised to recover this year owing to recovery in Côte d'Ivoire and Egypt. Better economic conditions in some international markets led to the stable revenue growth in the first quarter. The company is slowly improving from the last year's challenges as it is benefiting from the diversified portfolio and the national roaming contract signed with Iliad SA, the fourth largest mobile operator in France.
Despite the economic uncertainty and competitive pressures, France Telecom will continue to strengthen its balance sheet. The company will maintainthe net debt-to-EBITDA ratio target of 2 times over the medium term and an operating cash flow of €8 billion for this year. In addition, it will provide healthy dividends to its shareholders as it would distribute 40-45% of operating cash flow in the form of dividends in fiscal 2012 and 2013.
Nevertheless, higher VAT rates, persistently weak domestic economic conditions, labor concerns, lower mobile termination rates, unfavorable regulatory measures across its key European markets and intensifying competition from Bouygues, Telecom Italia spA ( TI ) and Vodafone Group Plc ( VOD ) might restrict the upside potential of the stock. Further, increased investments related to expansion and network improvements might accelerate the company's cost of operation, resulting in lower profits going forward.
Considering all the pros and cons, we prefer to have a neutral outlook rather than negative. France Telecom also holds a Zacks #3 (Hold) Rank for the short term (1-3 months).
FRANCE TELE-ADR (FTE): Free Stock Analysis Report
TELECOM ITA-ADR (TI): Free Stock Analysis Report
VODAFONE GP PLC (VOD): Free Stock Analysis Report
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iPhone, iPad optics add night vision for covert missions - Macdaily News
Special Operations Apps/System for Optical Attachments – also known as [SOA]2 – can allow geo-tagging in the standard Military Grid Reference System in frame-stamped high-definition video, geo-located and accurate within seven (7) meters. The integrated smart device can be attached permanently or temporarily to optics, weapons, or equipment, according to K. Dominic Cincotti, founder of SOA and its affiliated company, MW Research and Development, Inc.
Generation III night vision devices, long-range day optics, infra-red imaging systems, and laser range finders, among others, can now be configured with commercially available smart devices – including the iPhone 4S and the New iPad – from the [SOA]2 cluster of newly patented and patent-pending hardware and software.
To produce [SOA]2, Cincotti’s companies led the program development with proprietary solutions, including an intellectual property cluster for attaching mobile smart devices onto weapons. Cincotti established a Joint Teaming Alliance (JTA) with US Night Vision, Hoodman USA, and Jonathan Springer, the US Army captain who created the critically acclaimed Tactical Nav App that has been soldier-deployed in the fiercest combat zones.
“This is the Dream Team for optics, US Night Vision hardware, and software, and a chance for us all to help customize the future,” Cincotti said, “and with the US Army’s announced intention to issue smart devices to soldiers, [SOA]2 is the best use of the newest technology and the army technology already in hand.”
US Night Vision’s vice president of sales and marketing, Chris Byrd, said “With [SOA]2 and USNV Hardware, warfighters can use their smart devices as a calibrated, heads-up display for optics to improve situational awareness. No longer will they have to squint through a scope and close one eye – or be locked into goggles.”
“We are taking military-grade optics and turning them into mobile high definition data-recording navigational and analysis systems,” Byrd said, “while still maintaining the integrity of the original optics that have already been purchased in previous acquisition cycles.”
Tactical Nav’s developer, CPT Springer, said in the release, “Bottom line up front, this joint teaming alliance is about integrating the best uses of technology we have right now and putting this technology into the hands of our combat soldiers downrange.”
“The soldier already knows these mobile smart devices,” CPT Springer said, “it’s already in his pocket, and he’s already an expert at using it.”
[SOA]2 completed testing earlier this month in North Carolina, Cincotti said, and at SOFIC the Special Operations community, law enforcement, government security agencies, and major defense contractors will have the opportunity to schedule meetings for field demonstrations and to discuss inclusion in the [SOA]2 program.
“We do our best to answer and anticipate the needs of special operations,” Cincotti said, “and we are looking forward to continued input from the operators and SF soldiers as [SOA]2 progresses to adoption and deployment.”
[SOA]2 comprises a cluster of interlocking intellectual property, including issued patents, patents pending, and proprietary IP. SOA and MW R&D have been issued two patents already this year, executed three patent filings addressing mobile devices on weapons, and filed more than a dozen US and international patents in the last five years. US Night Vision has a patent pending, and Hoodman USA has a patent on their products.
Special Operations Apps/System for Optical Attachments [SOA]2 includes:
• Multi-use Optics Case Integrator
• Adapter Rings machined from Ultem 2300, which is virtually unbreakable and super-lightweight
• Hoodman System Accessories, now modified for mobile devices for [SOA]2, including Day/Night Solutions to reduce glare and light bleed
• A proprietary software platform that includes a range of Special Operations-specific tactical navigation apps, integrating various optics hardware and mobile-device capabilities
Future iterations of [SOA]2 now being developed by Cincotti’s companies are expected to deliver Facial and Object recognition and advanced targeting, on smart phone platforms, as well as on iPads and tablets. The Tactical Nav App will feature tracking of a unit, or an individual within a unit, and a “John Madden-style” tool that allows for mark-up.
US Night Vision, founded in 2001 and located in Roseville, CA, has been providing federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, as well as the US Military, with advanced night vision, thermal imaging, infrared and lasers. The company handles the exportation of night vision systems following U.S. Department of State, ITAR guidelines. In addition to the exclusive line of US Night Vision products, manufactured and assembled at the Roseville facility, the company is also a national distributor for L3 ETO (Electron Tube Operations), FLIR GS (Government Systems), FLIR CVS (Commercial Vision Systems), Laser Technologies, Inc., and a point of sale for L3 Warrior Systems, Laser Devices Lasers and other related optics and accessories.
Hoodman USA, founded in 1986 and headquartered in Torrance, CA, manufactures digital camera tools, including Glare Fighting LCD Loupes, Ratcheting variable angle viewers, the fastest, longest lasting CompactFlash memory cards and the world’s first steel-plated, ruggedized SDHC memory card line. Hoodman has more than 500 dealers in the US and around the world.
CPT Springer, while a Battalion Fire Support Officer in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne, began developing what would become the Tactical Nav App. He spent more than $30,000 of his own money to create the app, now available for download on the iTunes App Store.
For MW R&D/SOA, Dave Mullins, a veteran operator with experience on four continents, leads in-house subject matter experts, along with Mark Tocci, a veteran Ranger and a patent-pending inventor.
The Special Operations Apps/System for Optical Attachments in-house team included Sam Thompson, physicist, veteran of NASA’s Mars Rover project, and a patent-pending inventor; and Ronnie Medina, veteran special forces operator and project consultant.
The Special Operations Forces Industry Conference (SOFIC) is an annual event, bringing together more than 7,000 attendees from government and industry and featuring more than 350 exhibiting companies.
Special Operations Apps is a privately held company based in Wilmington, NC, strategically situated between Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune and convenient to Virginia Beach, VA.
More info via Special Operations Apps’ website here.
[Attribution: TUAW. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "Lynn Weiler" for the heads up.]
Huawei-built myTouch Q stops by the FCC on its way to T-Mobile - PhoneDog
Neither Huawei nor T-Mobile have officially announced the new pair of myTouch Android phones that we first got wind of back in March, but that hasn't stopped the FCC from spilling the beans on one of the upcoming handsets. A new FCC listing has appeared for the Huawei U8730, which is the keyboarded model, that's outed a few of the phone's specs as well as what may be its final name. One of the pages contained within the listing mentions that the phone packs 4GB of internal storage, 1GB of RAM, microSD card slot and a Qualcomm MSM8255T processor. At the top of the page, the FCC includes the name "T-Mobile myTouch Q," suggesting that the device will come to market with that moniker, which is currently used by the LG-made myTouch Q.
Along with the features mentioned above, we've also heard that these Huawei-built myTouches will be packing 800x480 displays and will come preloaded with Android 2.3. Overall it looks like they could make for solid additions to Magenta's lineup, especially since the introduction of the myTouch Q will bring another physical QWERTY-packin' Android phone to T-Mobile's lineup. There's no word yet on when these new myTouches will make their official T-Mobile debut, but now that this new myTouch Q has passed the FCC, it's at least one step closer to hitting shelves.
T-Mobile picks Ericsson, Nokia Siemens for network - Yahoo Finance
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- T-Mobile USA on Tuesday said that Nokia Siemens Networks and LM Ericsson AB will supply the network equipment for its new wireless broadband network, a project worth $4 billion.
T-Mobile is commissioning a "4G LTE" network, the same technology used by Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc. for their high-speed networks. It will use, in part, radio frequencies handed over by AT&T after the bigger company backed off its deal to buy T-Mobile due to opposition from federal regulators.
In addition to handing over spectrum licenses, AT&T gave T-Mobile $3 billion in cash, which will help finance the upgrade. T-Mobile plans to have the network live next year, covering 75 percent of the 25 largest cities.
Sweden's Ericsson is one of the main suppliers for the LTE networks of Verizon Wireless, AT&T and Sprint Nextel Corp., along with Alcatel-Lucent SA of France.
For Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture of Finland's Nokia Corp. and Siemens AG of Germany, the T-Mobile order represents a new chance to get into the U.S. market for network equipment. It got a $7 billion order from Harbinger Capital, a hedge fund, to build a network for its startup, LightSquared, but that project appears moribund because regulators concluded it would have interfered with GPS navigation.
T-Mobile USA is making the announcement on the first day of CTIA Wireless, the U.S. cellphone industry trade show, in New Orleans. The company is the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the U.S., with 33.2 million devices on its network. It's a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG of Germany.
Telecom panel seeks sale of all 2G airwaves available - Times of India
Telecom Secretary R Chandrasekhar said this was one of the two options finalised by the commission , the highest decisionmaking body of the communications ministry, at its meeting on Thursday. "Under this scenario, there will be about 20 MHz of spectrum for sale in each region," Chandrasekhar said. The telecom secretary said the other proposal was to invite bids for at least 10 MHz of 2G airwaves for sale.
"This will ensure that a maximum of two players, which lost mobile permits following the Supreme Court order, win back licences. In case there is excess demand, there will be a top-up option where another 3.75 MHz is made available, taking the total quantum of airwaves to 13.75 MHz in every region," he said.
A final decision will be taken by the panel of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee , that has been tasked with finalising the modalities of the spectrum sale. But the commission did not discuss the reserve price for the airwaves and this will be taken up at its meeting on Saturday.
Spectrum to be sold in blocks
Mobile phone companies had cried foul over the suggestion by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( Trai) to limit the auction process to 5 MHz this year. They had demanded that all available airwaves be put up for sale.
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to complete the auction by August 31. The telecom secretary said in both scenarios spectrum would be sold in blocks of 1.25 MHz each. "An incumbent can bid for a maximum of two blocks, or 2.5 MHz, of airwaves while a new entrant or a company that lost it permits due to the Supreme Court order can bid for four blocks, or 5 MHz," he said.
The Telecom Commission approved Trai's suggestion that spectrum held by incumbent GSM operators in the 900 MHz band be refarmed, or redistributed, among all operators through auctions, when mobile permits of these companies come up for renewal beginning 2014. "Irrespective of whether we sell 10 MHz or 20 MHz in the auctions this year, some 2G airwaves will be kept in reserve for refarming. The details will be worked out and presented to the group of ministers after the telecom department completes a study analysing all possible options," Chandrasekhar added.
The telecom secretary also said the commission had endorsed the regulator's proposal to make spectrum technology-neutral. This means all airwaves obtained through auctions can be used for providing any type of service. For instance, the 1800 MHz band that is currently used for providing 2G voice services can be used for 3G and 4G data services.
Bouygues Telecom Selects Acme Packet for IMS Network - Yahoo Finance
BEDFORD, MA--(Marketwire -05/23/12)- Acme Packet® (APKT), the leader in session delivery networks, today announced that Bouygues Telecom, a leading fixed and mobile service provider in France, is deploying Acme Packet Net-Net® Session Director session border controllers (SBCs) in its IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, supplied and integrated by Alcatel-Lucent. Acme Packet's SBCs fulfill numerous IMS functions at both the access and interconnect borders, ensuring security, interoperability, and quality in the network.
Bouygues Telecom is deploying IMS to support multiple services, including migration of existing residential voice to voice over IP (VoIP), interconnecting with other service providers and launching new services, such as visual voice mail.
The Net-Net Session Director fulfills critical IMS functional requirements at the access and interconnect borders of Bouygues Telecom's network. In the access network, SBCs provide the critical Proxy-Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) and IMS-Access Gateway Function (AGW) for securing, interoperating, and controlling all SIP-based services to subscribers. The Net-Net Session Director provides Interconnect Border Control Function (I-BCF) and the Transition Gateway (TrGW) for controlling fixed and mobile SIP traffic at interconnect borders, encompassing both internal interconnection between Bouygues' fixed and mobile networks as well as between the IMS network and other service providers.
Bouygues Telecom is using Acme Packet's interoperability feature set that includes SIP normalization and SIP to SIP-I interworking that helps accelerate time-to-market and reduce operational costs as the network expands. Net-SAFE®, Acme Packet's security framework, provides denial of service (DoS) attack prevention, topology hiding, and access control to protect Bouygues Telecom's IMS network and ensure service availability. Other key features include accounting for billing and traffic planning, as well as admission control, routing, and quality of service marking for service level agreement assurance.
"Acme Packet's SBC is a key part of our IMS network, built to enable innovative services and deliver enhanced customer experience to our fixed and mobile customers," commented Jean-Paul Arzel, Bouygues Telecom networks director. "We chose the Acme Packet solution due to their culture of innovation, the rich functionality and scalability of its session border controllers, and the company's impressive track record in enabling trusted, high-quality VoIP, and IP interactive communication services."
"Acme Packet brings extensive experience in helping our customers build next generation communications networks," commented Mario Oliveira, Acme Packet's vice president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and Caribbean and Latin America sales. "Our IMS solution portfolio delivers the security, interoperability, and quality functionalities that Bouygues Telecom and leading service providers demand to be successful in their migration to end-to-end IP communications."
About Acme Packet
Acme Packet (APKT), the leader in session delivery network solutions, enables the trusted, first-class delivery of next-generation voice, data and unified communications services and applications across IP networks. Our Net-Net product family fulfills demanding security, service assurance and regulatory requirements in service provider, enterprise and contact center networks. Based in Bedford, Massachusetts, Acme Packet designs and manufactures its products in the USA, selling them through over 220 reseller partners worldwide. More than 1,600 customers in 107 countries have deployed over 16,000 Acme Packet systems, including 88 of the top 100 service providers and 41 of the Fortune 100. For more information visit www.acmepacket.com.
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About Bouygues Telecom
Created in 1994, Bouygues Telecom has 11,304,000 mobile customers and 1,241,000 fixed broadband customers, and over 1,500,000 client companies. Bouygues Telecom is committed to continually enhancing the customer experience for its mobile and fixed telephone, TV and Internet services. Each day, the company's 9,800 employees develop solutions aligned with changing customer needs and deliver efficient support.
After pioneering the mobile talk-plan concept in France in 1996, Bouygues Telecom introduced groundbreaking unlimited call plans: Millennium (1999) and neo (2006).
In 2007, Bouygues Telecom introduced the first fixed-mobile solutions aimed at professionals.
Bouygues Telecom acquired its own fixed network in 2008 and became an Internet Service Provider (ISP), launching the Bbox broadband router.
In 2009, Bouygues Telecom invented the "all-in-one" solution with ideo the first quadruple play offer in the market.
In 2010, Bouygues Telecom launched Bbox fibre, its very-high-speed offer, and began investing in fibre-to-the-home in high-density areas.
In July 2011, Bouygues Telecom introduced mobile telephony "2.0" with B&YOU, the first web-based, SIM-only call plan.
Bouygues Telecom's mobile network covers 99% of the population. Its 3G+ network provides mobile Internet access for 94% of the population.
Bouygues Telecom is the only operator to be awarded "NF Service Centre de Relation Client" certification from French standards agency AFNOR Certification for all its consumer activities (mobile and fixed). Customer relations centres, a distribution network of 630 Bouygues Telecom Club stores, and a website available 24/7 combine to ensure optimum customer service.
Acme Packet Safe Harbor Statement
Statements contained herein that are not historical fact may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, expected financial and operating results, expected growth rates, future stock-based compensation and amortization expenses, future business prospects and market conditions. Such forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, but are not limited to: the amount of stock-based compensation awarded; the applicable Company stock price used to determine stock-based compensation; the exercise pattern of employee stock options; difficulties expanding the Company's customer base; difficulties leveraging market opportunities; difficulties providing solutions that meet the needs of customers; poor product sales; long sales cycles; difficulties developing new products; difficulties in relationships with vendors and partners; higher risks in international operations; difficulties managing rapid growth; difficulties managing the Company's financial performance; the ability to hire and retain employees and appropriately staff operations; the Company's cash needs; the impact of new accounting pronouncements and increased competition. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements are contained in the Company's recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in such filings.
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