http://www.telecompaper.com/ Business information about the telecom industry, an extensive overview of telecom-related articles http://www.telecompaper.com/images/logos/logotph40w225.gif http://www.telecompaper.com/ http://www.telecompaper.com/news/microsoft-unveils-new-console-the-xbox-one--944896 (Telecompaper) Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox One, an all-in-one device for games, TV and entertainment, to be released in markets around the world later this year. The new console can be controlled by voice and motion command and is built around an eight-core x86 processor to help "make lag and load time a thing of the past". The company promises that users will be able to jump between a game and their entertainment at lightning speed or run a host of apps alongside their game with no loss in performance. Microsoft has also announced improvements to the Kinect motion control system and to the Xbox controller, a voice-controlled programme guide, new Skype functionalities, and new game and content deals. No pricing information was disclosed. 944896 Wed, 22 May 2013 09:15:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/boost-mobile-launches-boost-mobile-wallet--944801 (Telecompaper) US operator Boost Mobile has announced the availability of the Boost Mobile Wallet powered by Wipit, a mobile service that allows Boost Mobile Android smartphones to serve as a cash-based vehicle for accessing financial services. Boost Mobile Wallet is a full-service virtual wallet account that enables customers to load cash to the wallet account at Boost Mobile authorised retail locations, send money to more than 135 countries, pay more than 3,500 billers nationwide, top-up domestic and international prepaid wireless accounts, transfer funds instantly between accounts and load checks directly from their mobile phone. Customers are also provided a reloadable Visa prepaid card that is personalised and linked to their Mobile Wallet account for ATM access and the ability to spend anywhere Visa debit is accepted nationwide. The Boost Mobile Wallet application is available as a free download at the Google Play Store. 944801 Tue, 21 May 2013 21:06:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/ericsson-to-exit-cable-manufacturing-business--944760 (Telecompaper) Ericsson announced it is shutting down its business to manufacture network cables. The move will lead to the loss of 354 jobs at sites in Hudiksvall and Stockholm in Sweden. The company said demand for copper cable has declined and production of fibre cable has shifted to Asia where there is more demand, leading to overcapacity in the European market. The company also has a small market share in the business and has been operating below its capacity for some time. Net sales from the telecom cables operations in 2012 amounted to approximately SEK 1 billion. Exiting the business will lead to restructuring charges of around SEK 0.5 billion, to be divided roughly 50-50 over the second and third quarters of this year. 944760 Tue, 21 May 2013 16:26:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/sprint-increases-bid-for-clearwire--944751 (Telecompaper) Sprint has increased its offer to buy the rest of Clearwire by 14 percent, saying this is its "best and final offer". It's now offering USD 3.40 per share for the around 50 percent of Clearwire it does not yet own, up from USD 2.97 per share in its initial offer announced last December. The sweetened bid tops a rival offer from Dish Network of USD 3.30 per share. While Clearwire's board had recommended the Sprint bid, a number of large investment companies that are minority shareholders in Clearwire have been lobbying for a higher offer. Clearwire's shares also have traded above the Dish offer price. Sprint said its new offer shows its "commitment to closing the Clearwire transaction and improving its competitive position". The company added that it's best placed to leverage Clearwire's 2.5 GHz spectrum assets and migrate the operator from Wimax to LTE. Comcast, Intel and Bright House Networks, which collectively own 26 percent of Clearwire, have already agreed to tender their shares to Sprint. Clearwire said its special committee will consider the new Sprint offer. It adjourned its shareholders meeting planned for 21 May and scheduled a new meeting for 30 May to discuss the offer. 944751 Tue, 21 May 2013 15:25:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodafone-forecasts-further-growth-in-operating-profit--944601 (Telecompaper) Vodafone Group reported a small rise in annual adjusted profit, in line with its outlook, and forecast further growth in the current financial year. Adjusted operating profit for the year to 31 March rose 3.7 percent to GBP 11.96 billion, and the mobile operator expects this to grow this year to GBP 12.0-12.8 billion. Revenues were still down 4.2 percent in the past year to GBP 44.45 billion; in the most recent quarter, organic service revenues fell 4.2 percent. Net profit plunged to GBP 673 million from GBP 7.00 billion a year earlier due to GBP 7.7 billion in impairment charges on its operations in Italy and Spain, including GBP 1.8 billion in the second half of the year. Free cash flow fell 8.1 percent to GBP 5.61 billion, but Vodafone increased its dividend 7 percent to 10.19 pence per share. Cash flow in the current year is expected to reach GBP 7.0 billion, including 2.1 billion from Verizon Wireless expected in June. 944601 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:53:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/tivo-slashes-q1-net-loss-on-strong-customer-additions--944617 (Telecompaper) PVR maker TiVo halved its net loss to USD 10.32 million from USD 20.77 million in the first quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2012, after recording the highest number of MSO subscriber additions in 7 years. The company added 255,000 net subscribers in the quarter, compared to 206,000 in the year-earlier period, and took its total subscriber base to 3.4 million, up on 2.49 million a year earlier. 944617 Tue, 21 May 2013 08:42:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/tracfone-to-acquire-mvno-start-wireless--944506 (Telecompaper) America Movil's US-based subsidiary Tracfone Wireless has agreed to acquire all the assets of Star Wireless Group. US-based MVNO Star Wireless currently provides prepay plans for voice, messaging and data services to around 1.4 million customers across the US under the name Page Plus Cellular. It uses the Verizon Wireless network. The transaction is scheduled for completion in this year's second quarter. No financial details related to the acquisition have been disclosed. 944506 Mon, 20 May 2013 21:56:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/yahoo-confirms-deal-to-buy-tumblr-for-usd-11-billion--944441 (Telecompaper) Yahoo has confirmed that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire blog website Tumblr, which will be independently operated as a separate business and keep David Karp as CEO. Yahoo will pay USD 1.1 billion for Tumblr. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year. 944441 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:38:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/jolla-starts-pre-orders-for-first-sailfish-smartphone--944438 (Telecompaper) Jolla has started taking orders for the first smartphone running its Linux-based Sailfish mobile operating system. It aims to start shipping the phone initially in Europe by the end of this year. Customers who pre-order now will pay EUR 399 for the device. For an additional EUR 40 they can join the Jolla "movement", participate in launch campaigns and receive a Jolla t-shirt and limited edition version of the phone. An extra EUR 100 adds an exclusive shell for the phone (called the Other Half), priority in booking the limited edition phone and EUR 100 off the next purchase of a Jolla device. The Jolla smartphone will feature a 4.5-inch Estrade display, dual-core processor, LTE and an 8 megapixel auto-focus camera and also work with Android apps. The Other Half allows users to customise both the colour and software of the phone, creating new user profiles and functionalities. 944438 Mon, 20 May 2013 14:31:00 +0200 http://www.telecompaper.com/news/vodacom-grows-fy-revenues-45-ebitda-up-109--944331 (Telecompaper) African mobile operator Vodacom reported revenue for the fiscal year to 31 March up 4.5 percent to ZAR 69.62 billion. Excluding the sale of Gateway Carrier Services and foreign currency impact, revenue was up 5.3 percent, and service revenue rose 2.9 percent. The Vodafone subsidiary finished the year with 51.7 million customers, and the number of data customers rose 22.5 percent to 18.5 million. EBITDA increased 10.9 percent to ZAR 25.25 billion, and the margin expanded 2.1 ppts to 36.1 percent. Headline earnings per share were up 23.0 percent to ZAR 8.72, as a result of strong operating profit growth and lower taxes. Capital expenditure rose 9.2 percent to ZAR 9.46 billion, and operating free cash flow rose 7.2 percent to ZAR 18.16 billion. Vodacom will pay a final dividend of ZAR 4.30; total dividends for the year of ZAR 7.85 are up 10.6 percent. 944331 Mon, 20 May 2013 09:01:00 +0200