Research carried out at this months Mobile Content World conference has revealed dissatisfaction among mobile content providers with current operator behaviour and also some gloom about the future of the segment.

More than 60 per cent of respondents believe that the transaction fees charged by operators (40-50 per cent) are too high and consider these should be cut by at least half within the next three years.

Another clear majority (58 per cent) in the survey carried out by mobile payments company Valista believe that less than 25 per cent of total operator revenue will come from mobile content in three years time. Worse a sizeable minority (15 per cent) believe it will only be 10 per cent of total revenue.

This flies in the face of more optimistic forecasts notably a survey by iGillott Research that mobile content will make up 40 per cent of revenue by 2009 and is bad news for networks already concerned about falling voice revenues.

Other findings include the fact that more than 65 per cent believe direct-to-bill charging will replace premium SMS in the short term while the most popular content will be mobile TV and video.

According to Valista vice-president Arlene Adams operators needed to look at more innovative merchandising and marketing to drive uptake as well as product bundling and more flexible pricing.

She said: Currently operators take the greatest share of mobile content revenue but the distribution of power could shift. Consolidation and the entrance of major consumer brands will shape the future value chain and operators need to balance recouping revenues with the desire to maximise their share in the long run.

The new field technology from AMT-SYBEX is being issued to MET traffic wardens on Londons Red Routes.

The MDAIIIs which replace traditional paper-based reporting systems are pre-loaded with TfL map data and include cameras and come with Bluetooth printers.

The slider is a 3G device with the emphasis on digital imaging. It has a QVGA 320×240-pixel colour screen and a 3-megapixel camera plus a VGA camera to make video calls. The handset has dedicated camera and zoom buttons. It weighs 115g and is available in black and white.

A spokesman for Nokia in the UK said that the handset which is expected to ship from next month should retail for GBP99 before subsidies.

Its also extremely operator customizable from a branding point of view and through the software interface he said.

A spokeswoman for the network said that the intention was to roll out to 85 per cent by the end of the year which is the regulatory requirement but still short of the 90 per cent coverage it has in the UK.

3 only entered the Irish market a year ago and only went into the mass pre-pay sector which makes up 73 per cent of subscribers in May this year. It trails behind Vodafone O2 and Meteor in terms of size. Vodafone is understood to have 237000 live 3G handsets on its books which is about 6 per cent of the population.

3 Ireland MD Robert Finnegan said: 3 is the newest mobile operator in Ireland yet were already offering [3G] services to more people in Ireland than any other network.

Tastymobile will be launched in October and 118 Group holdings is preparing to enter the mobile phone market selling contracts connections and pre-pay mobiles to UK customers via telephone call centres using a mixture of inbound and outbound calling.

Dan Corby founder and CEO of 118 Group said: Although we will be using some cold calling we will also use our massive customer base of 750000 active customers who we will be directing the products at.

Tastymobile will only be providing connections to 3 Orange and Vodafone. Its customers will have a choice of three handsets from Nokia Samsung and Sony Ericsson.

Corby said: Business to Business connections is a massive market in the UK and we can tap into that market with our unique brand. We expect 80% of our customers to be businesses and 20% ordinary members of the public.

We are unique because every business customer will not only get the handset and tariff but they will receive a memorable phone number for a landline that will be connected to the mobile number – for free.

The 118 group have a passion for the mobile phone industry and have seen a gap in the market. We will now build a very big and credible business in the mobile phone industry.

The network said that customers are joining the Passport service at a rate of 15 sign-ups every minute and the total represents more than a third of all Vodafone roaming customers throughout Europe since the offer was launched in May 2005.

The number represents over 10 per cent of Vodafones European customer base.

Chief executive Arun Sarin said: Our customers want simplicity predictability and value when they travel abroad. Todays figures clearly demonstrate our success and show that Vodafone continues to lead the industry in roaming.

She will take responsibility for brand development advertising channel marketing and propositions. Prior to joining 3 in Dublin she was head of customer marketing for 3 in the UK. Commenting on the appointment Robert Finnegan 3s managing director said: Im delighted to welcome Susan to the team in May we launched pricing for the all-important pre-pay market so this is an exciting time to join us.

Sony Ericsson is using the occasion of its fifth anniversary to announce a new brand image and first dedicated store in central London.

The brand identity developed by design agency Wolff Olins will be rolled out from this month. It features new bright colours and a series of messages all starting with and themed around the concept of I the individual.

The dedicated store with 7300 square feet of space at street level will be located in Kensington High Street and aims to allow consumers to touch and try Sony Ericsson products in a relaxed fun environment. It will be operated by Carphone Warehouse through a cooperation agreement and feature specially trained staff. The basement level will offer meeting and demonstration space for corporate use.

The opening of a dedicated Sony Ericsson store in the heart of London will give us the opportunity to interact directly with our customers to better understand their needs. said Sony Ericsson president Miles Flint who added that the current number four global manufacturer now aimed to move into the ranks of the top three. We have the resources and the drive to become one of the top three players in our sector he said.

The Mobile Life Youth Report which examines how mobile phones have changed the way young people live has been published by The Carphone Warehouse and advised by The London School of Economics.

Over 1250 young people aged 11-17 who own mobiles were surveyed by polling organisation YouGov.

The survey revealed that the majority of 10-year-olds (51%) now have a mobile phone.

Charles Dunstone chief executive officer of Carphone Warehouse said:

The mobile phone has become the most important electronic device for young people in the UK today with 91% of children having a mobile phone by the time they go to secondary school at 12 years old.

But the issue divides public opinion because only half (54%) of parents think it is acceptable to allow an 11-year-old to own a mobile phone.

Dr Pat Spungin founder of parenting website raisingkids.co.uk said: Some people think mobile phones are like earrings and are unnecessary and inappropriate for people below a certain age. However most parents disagree as the mobile phone offers new ways for young people to connect that many adults wish they had enjoyed as teenagers.

However the survey also exposed some worrying trends about mobile phone use and young people. According to the report 42% of 15 to 17-year-old girls would feel unwanted if a whole day went by when my mobile phone did not ring.

One in three young people talk and/or text regularly with people they do not want their parents to know about and two thirds of 15 to 17-year-olds would not let their parents look through their text messages.

The report is the second from Mobile Life a forum set up by The Carphone Warehouse earlier this year.

Virgin Mobile has followed its summer of free on-net texts with an offer of 3p per minute Virgin-to-Virgin calls.

The deal is available to all UK customers through all channels for the next six months until March 31 and complements the networks existing 3p per on-net text tariff.

Virgin Mobile spokesperson Jo Baker claimed the move offered customers lower price on-net calls than any other standard tariff offered by rival networks. She described the offer as an early Christmas present for customers.