Tustin approves T-Mobile antennas for Cedar Grove Park - Orange County Register

Tustin approves T-Mobile antennas for Cedar Grove Park - Orange County Register

TUSTIN The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to allow T-Mobile to place an antenna in Cedar Grove Park – avoiding more litigation with the company.

In December, T-Mobile filed a lawsuit challenging the council's vote the month before to reverse the Planning Commission's approval of the wireless equipment.

The city decided to settle rather than proceed with litigation, said City Attorney David Kendig. T-Mobile will drop the lawsuit now that the council has approved the plan, Kendig said.

Councilwoman Rebecca Gomez said she had read numerous emails from residents opposed to the wireless antenna.

"It has taken us months to deliberate over this and I want to assure the people out there that we did take very many things into consideration and we did not take this decision lightly," Gomez said.

Residents who live near Cedar Grove Park have fought the project since October 2010. A petition on the savecedargrovepark.org website had 511 signatures as of Tuesday night.

"We've all been very disappointed by the way this has turned out," said Tustin resident Brandon Key.

He asked the council to rethink the wireless master plan and its effect on the community.

T-Mobile will be replacing two flag poles in the parking lot of Cedar Grove Park with three taller poles containing wireless antennae, city staff stated. Two flag poles will be 40 feet tall and the third will be 43 feet tall. Equipment will be stored underground, city staff stated.

T-Mobile will be providing two sets of flags for each flagpole so that the city has a backup, and the company is also required to light the flags, the agenda states.

By agreeing to approve the T-Mobile application, the city avoids possibly losing the federal court case, Kendig said. A judge could have concluded that the city didn't have substantial evidence, backed up in writing, to support denying the T-Mobile plan, Kendig said. He estimated the case would have cost more than $75,000.

Kendig said that the lawsuit was high-risk for the city because Cedar Grove Park was listed in the city's wireless master plan. Also, though the council denied the application based on aesthetics, T-Mobile had altered its original plan to make the design fit better with the park surroundings, he said.

The city will receive $2,400 a month, or $28,800 a year, for renting the space to T-Mobile for the 10-year term of the contract, the agenda states. Each year, the rate will increase by 4 percent and the city will receive 75 percent, the agenda states. The other 25 percent will go to Telecom Partners Group Inc. (ATS Communications), the company that created the city's Wireless Master Plan. The license could be extended through 2032 after the first 10 years expire, the agenda states.

The city contracted with ATS Communications to find sites for wireless cell towers, and the master plan was finalized in June 2009. The wireless master plan lists Cedar Grove Park as one of four "optimal locations" for wireless towers in the city, the city has stated. Camino Real Park, Pioneer Park and Tustin Sports Park also are listed.

Sharon Komorous of Tustin Ranch told council members that residents would remember them on Election Day.

"Come November, we're not going to forget how you turned your back on us," she said. "We won't forget the Planning Commissioners either, should they decide to run for council. You had the opportunity to do the right thing and you didn't."

Contact the writer: 714-796-7949 or ejames@ocregister.com

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Pet Shop Boy finally finds success with actual (virtual) shop - The Register

Pet Shop Boy finally finds success with actual (virtual) shop

Vodafone shops around, spunks cash on muso's Vouchercloud

By Bill Ray • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 6th June 2012 12:37 GMT

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Vodafone has splurged on a controlling interest in Groupon-tribute-act Vouchercloud, the spawn of the Pet Shop Boys' keyboardist Scott Davidson. Voda is now mulling over spunking a load more cash on Telstra's New Zealand operation.

Vodafone already owned 21 per cent of Vouchercloud's owner, Innovation Digital Limited, but has now upped that to 57 per cent. The telco has retained first option rights on any future shares, ensuring that it can maintain a controlling interest.

IDL was set up in 2010 by Davidson, formerly of the popular musical combo, and claims almost two million downloads of its smartphone client despite being UK only. Vodafone's intention is to immediately push Vouchercloud internationally, starting with Ireland and extending to other Vodafone territories shortly.

Vouchercloud offers discount codes displayed in its phone app, as well as printable vouchers, much in the same mould as Groupon although the emphasis is on mobile.

The app uses GPS to pinpoint your location and deliver offers specific to wherever you happen to be standing - but it is limited to smartphones (BlackBerry, Windows Phone, Android and iOS) unlike operator-specific competitors including O2 More and Orange Shots, which deliver similar offers via SMS/MMS, and track location based on the whereabouts of the nearest phone mast.

O2 More and Orange Shots are both opt-in services: customers voluntarily hand over demographic details in exchange for vouchers, and both have proved popular. Vouchercloud has been an operator-independent alternative, and it will be interesting to see if Vodafone keeps it that way.

Advertisers rarely want to deal with separate operators, which is why the UK networks launched Project Oscar - a cooperative cross-operator advertising platform based on, but not limited to, wireless NFC technology.

If the EU gives the go ahead to Project Oscar, against the objections of Google and PayPal, then Oscar will be able to sell advertising in text and picture messages, push offers via NFC, and embed adverts and vouchers into apps across network operators. However, if Europe's competition watchdog blocks the project then Vouchercloud's smartphone-only approach could be the only cross-network deal in town.

Even if Project Oscar goes ahead Vodafone will want similar power in all its territories, so will be pushing Vouchercloud into international expansion.

Those territories could well include New Zealand as over the weekend Vodafone was pushed into putting out a statement confirming rumoured talks with Aussie operator Telstra to buy up its Kiwi arm, TelstraClear, though it's saying nothing more about that deal right now. ®

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Vodafone takes majority stake in Vouchercloud - Mobile Entertainment

Raises its shareholding from 21 per cent to 57 per cent.

Vouchercloud is active in the fast growing location-based m-commerce space. It uses GPS to alert users to discounts, codes and vouchers for daily shopping from shops, restaurants, travel and financial services companies.

Vouchers are downloaded with a single tap, then shown to the sales assistant in store to redeem the discount.

Since its UK launch in 2010, Vouchercloud has gathered 1.8 million registered users, with 700,000 of them active. The app has been downloaded more than 2.5 million times. Currently, more than 2,000 merchants are offering 8,000 discounts, vouchers and loyalty schemes.

The service is live in the UK and has launched in Ireland.

UK operators are moving into the location based commerce sector along with 'OTT' players like Google and Groupon, with O2 for example offering its own Proximity Moments service.

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Now Vodafone has consolidated its presence by taking control of Vouchercloud, and has the first option to increase its direct shareholding further in the future.

Tobin Ireland, Vodafone Group's commercial development director, said: “Mobile couponing is set to grow rapidly across Vodafone's businesses as cost-conscious consumers increasingly turn to their smartphones to hunt for bargains and collect loyalty points.

"We look forward to working more closely with Vouchercloud in future as m-commerce services become ever more central to consumers' daily lives."

Vodafone bid for Cable & Wireless wins backing of ISS - Daily Telegraph

Vodafone has support from holders of 18.6pc of the shares, along with pledges from about another 10pc. Orbis, CWW’s largest shareholder, with 19pc, has snubbed the bid, although it has said it would be comfortable being a shareholder in a Vodafone-controlled group.

Vodafone Buys Major Stake In Vouchercloud Parent; In Talks For Telstra's NZ Unit - RTT News

6/6/2012 4:58 AM ET
(RTTNews) - British telecom giant Vodafone Group Plc (VOD: News ,VOD.L: News ) on Wednesday said it had increased its shareholding in Invitation Digital Limited, the parent of mobile coupon provider Vouchercloud, to 57 percent. The company also announced the launch of Vouchercloud in Ireland.

In a separate statement, Vodafone said it has entered into talks with Australia's Telstra Corp. Ltd. (TLS.AX: News ,TLSYY.PK: News ) to explore a potential acquisition of Telstra's New Zealand subsidiary, TelstraClear.

Vodafone, which took a 21 percent stake in Invitation Digital in May 2011, said it currently has the first option to increase its direct shareholding in the future.

The company noted that it intends to work with Invitation Digital to extend Vouchercloud beyond the UK and Ireland over the coming months as part of its broader mobile commerce or m-commerce strategy.

The company will announce further country launches and details of Vouchercloud integration within Vodafone's other m-commerce activities in due course.

Vouchercloud, which was launched in UK in 2010, offers discounts, codes and vouchers for daily shopping from a wide range of High Street shops, restaurants and leisure providers as well as travel and financial services companies. It uses the smartphone's GPS system to locate discounting retailers, then guides the customer to the shop using the smartphone's digital mapping application.

Vodafone Group Commercial Development Director Tobin Ireland said, "Mobile couponing is set to grow rapidly across Vodafone's businesses as cost-conscious consumers increasingly turn to their smartphones to hunt for bargains and collect loyalty points."

Regarding its talks with Telstra, Vodafone said the discussions are continuing and there is no certainty as to whether an agreement will be reached.

On Monday, Telstra had noted that it was approached by, and is in discussions with, Vodafone New Zealand to explore the potential sale of TelstraClear.

In the UK, Vodafone shares are currently trading at 167.94 pence, down 5.65 pence or 3.25 percent.

by RTT Staff Writer

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

Vodafone drops on TelstraClear acquisition rumours - What Investment

Shares in Vodafone have fallen after the telecoms giant confirmed that it was in talks with Telstra to buy its New Zealand subsidiary, TelstraClear.

The firm claimed that its talks with Australian telecoms firm Telstra were ongoing and that there was no certainty an agreement would be reached.

It has been reported that the deal could be worth between £190 million and £255 million.

Vodafone’s shares fell after the announcement of the proposed acquisition and the stock is currently trading down 3.57 per cent at 167.45p at 9.00am.

TelstraClear, New Zealand’s second-largest telecoms company, was formed in 2001 by the merger of Telstra’s TelstraSaturn and Clear Communications.

For the six months to 31 December 2011, TelstraClear posted a pre-tax profit rise of 11 per cent to $69 million (£44.6 million), despite its revenue falling 4 per cent to $339 million (£219 million).

Vodafone also revealed that it is raising its stake in Invitation Digital, the parent company of Vouchercloud, to 57 per cent, up from the 21 per cent stake it took in May 2011.

Vouchercloud, a smartphone app that sends users offers, promotions and discount coupons for shops and restaurants, has just launched in Ireland. Vodafone intends to extend the scheme beyond the UK and Ireland over the next year.

Tobin Ireland, Vodafone’s commercial development director, commented, ‘Mobile couponing is set to grow rapidly across Vodafone's businesses as cost-conscious consumers increasingly turn to their smartphones to hunt for bargains and collect loyalty points.

‘We look forward to working more closely with Vouchercloud in future as m-commerce services become ever more central to consumers' daily lives.’

Will Vodafone Start a Mobile Coupon Craze? - Light Reading

9:35 AM -- Might Vodafone Group plc (NYSE: VOD) be about to start a mobile coupon craze that other mobile operators will follow?

The influential mobile operator giant has upped its stake (for an undisclosed sum) in Invitation Digital Ltd. (IDL), the parent of U.K.-based mobile coupon company Vouchercloud, to 57 percent. That move shows the operator has grand plans for mobile commerce and knows a good deal when it sees one.

Mobile coupons are a good way for operators to get in on the mobile commerce action because the services offer potential new revenue streams, take advantage of customers' location data and could even encourage customer loyalty.

And it's certainly a better option for mobile commerce than waiting for near field communications (NFC) to take off.

Vouchercloud offers discounts and coupons from various participating retailers and uses GPS information on smartphones to locate the closest retailer with an offer for a customer. It then directs the customer to the shop using the smartphone's digital mapping service. Users simply download the voucher onto their smartphone and show it to the retailer.

The service started in the U.K. in 2010 (and has just launched in Ireland). Since then, the service has attracted 700,000 active users and 2,000 merchants, offering 8,000 discounts or loyalty schemes.

Vodafone previously had a 21 percent stake in the mobile coupon company. Now, with a majority stake in the firm and the first option to increase its direct shareholding in the future, it's clear the mobile operator has bigger plans for Vouchercloud. Indeed, Vodafone plans to develop its own version of Vouchercloud to be integrated into its mobile commerce offerings. It also wants to help the service launch in other countries.

By making a targeted investment in a niche mobile commerce company, Vodafone has little to lose and much to gain, as it can now steer Vouchercloud's strategy. It's likely that other service providers will take a similar approach.

Michelle Donegan, European Editor, Light Reading Mobile