Microsoft and speech recognition
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Microsoft_Voice_Recognition.html
ah! the trials and tribulations of speech recognition.
July 31, 2006
July 28, 2006
DoCoMo Numbers
DoCoMo continues its impressive march. $2.64B in data revenues contributing 28% to its bottomline. Overall ARPU $60 and data ARPU is at $16.5. Voice revenues also increased slightly while data revenues increased 12.7% from a year ago. As I mentioned previously in my presentations and papers, DoCoMo has over 50% of its customers on FOMA network. They will also have 90% of their network on HSDPA by early next year.
July 27, 2006
Tech heavyweights team up on 3G
http://news.com.com/Tech+heavyweights+team+up+on+3G/2100-1039_3-6099393.html?tag=sas.email
A group of tech heavyweights have teamed up to develop hardware and software for third-generation cell phones.
NEC, Matsushita Electric Industrial and Texas Instruments announced Thursday that they have formed a joint venture, called Adcore-Tech, that aims to create “a competitive communications platform” for 3G handsets. The partnership also includes NEC unit NEC Electronics and Matsushita subsidiary Panasonic Mobile Communications.
It will be interesting to see if this stays afloat one year from now.
Microsoft Analyst Day/Wireless/Zune
There was a lot of vision discussion at Microsoft Analyst day.
Mobile future was covered by Robbie Bach http://www.microsoft.com/msft/speech/FY06/BachFAM2006.mspx. A number of devices are coming out. Currently the total number of windows mobile devices are close to 11 Million. One thing that has changed since last year, Microsoft is clearly stating that its competitors in this are RIM, Nokia, and Linux. Linux is starting to make a big dent in the smartphone arena esp. in China (also in Japan and Europe) and that has Microsoft worried.
Also, a big focus on Zune - Microsoft’s answer to iPOD. They give it a 5 year cycle to catch-up with iPOD. But they are just trying to duplicate what Apple is doing not offering a new disruptive proposition. Without it, they will struggle.
Ozzie talked about the overall “experience hub” vision that connects all the major MS platforms. If they can pull it off, they will be in strong position and Google will have a challenger.
More coverage on Zune here http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/brierdudley/index.html#011514
More on analyst day here http://www.komotv.com/stories/44627.htm
July 26, 2006
Mobile Data Revenues Hit US$100 Billion in 2005
http://www.cellular-news.com/story/18516.php
I will have some more data in my upcoming paper next month
New mobile features boost calls to customer service
Here is an interesting study that highlights the dilemma for carriers. Most of the players in the content and application ecosystem don’t appreciate that. If the application, however good it might be is likely to increase the customer care calls, it will get lot of negative points and will not get good reception in the carrier community. So, pay attention on user experience and think like a customer care rep.
Smartphone Shipment up
From latest research from Canalys
More details here http://www.canalys.com/pr/2006/r2006071.htm
July 25, 2006
Google Maps Mobile
Google Inc. has enhanced its Google Maps mobile application by adding traffic information and the ability to save routes. Download at http://www.google.com/gmm
July 24, 2006
India - Driving the Next Phase of Global (Wireless) Expansion
the article is online now http://www.chetansharma.com/India_July06.pdf
