Ofcom sells wide range of spectrum

Ofcom auctioned off the 1781.7-1785MHz and 1876.7-1880MHz bands on April 20. The result is due this week.
The bandwidth is suitable for in-building or local WiFi networks. Licencees have freedom to use the spectrum as they wish.
The 14 companies bidding for the initial lot of spectrum included O2 Orange BT Colt Mobile Cable & Wireless and Opal Telecom.
Ofcom will grant up to 12 licences on the spectrum each with a reserve price of £50000.

Nokia opens online outlet

The site will feature regular mobile device exclusives including the black Nokia 8800 previously unavailable in the UK.
However Nokia communications director Mark Squires denied this was a move to undercut dealers.
"We certainly don´t want them to feel this move will be detrimental" he said. "It is more a question of convenience for our customers rather than price-led."
The site will also promote and sell games photos and music.
Mats Wolontis managing director of Nokia UK said: "There is a growing market for SIM-free products the online shop will help us meet these demands and further develop our business."

3 blames 2004 losses on rapid subscriber growth

A report in The Sunday Times on April 16 said that 3 UK would report losses of up to £1.5 billion when it files its 2004 results at Companies House in the next few weeks. 3 lost £972 million in 2003.
A 3 spokesperson said:
"2004 was the build phase of the business. We needed to compete in a highly competitive market. In December we broke even on earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation. We reached that milestone after just three years. And our ARPU is above average."
James Barford of Enders Analysis claimed in the article that 3´s customer numbers decreased in the second half of 2005 and its acquisition costs increased in the same period. Barford also suggested that 3´s churn has topped 50 per cent.

T-Mobile sets out World Cup stall

From June it will offer three- and four-minute match highlight clips on its mobile TV channel an hour after the final whistle. Trial pricing will be £1 a day or £5 a month for unlimited access. Highlights will also be available by video-calling the FIFA World Cup shortcode 2006 for 50p a minute.
A black version of the Samsung E370 handset embossed with a Three Lions´ logo and preloaded with 1966 World Cup video highlights and other content goes on sale on contract and pre-pay next month.
T-Mobile said that 86 per cent of the tickets it is allocated through its sponsorship deal will be made available to fans through marketing and promotions. The remainder will go to hospitality events. Ticket winners will receive free flight transfers and hospitality.
The network has also kitted out a fleet of tour buses to take fans to Germany and will lay on football parties for fans at home. The biggest will take place at Birmingham´s Millennium Point on June 9.
"David Beckham lifting the World Cup on July 8 would be amazing" said T-Mobile UK marketing director Phil Chapman.
"But even if he doesn´t we will have given T-Mobile customers the closest World Cup experience."

Easy offers e-vouchers

The move in-store continues a departure from the company´s online-only focus. easyMobile sales and marketing director Mike Lewis said: "We are extending our choice of payments to customers to give them more flexibility."
To buy their e-vouchers consumers hand over money at the store then receive a number that they then call or text at their leisure to claim call credit.
Lewis added: "The e-vouchers will be rolled out across range of retail outlets within the next few weeks. I am extending our payment methods to give consumers more choice."

3 plans 60 ThreeStores

The new stores are intended to showcase 3G music games video and user-generated content such as its SeeMeTV service. The stores will feature booths for customers to try content before purchasing it.
A 3 spokesperson said: "We are hitting the high street with a new breed of mobile store. Customers want to see and hear what they can get from 3G phones. The new experience-based stores are designed to deliver that.
"We offer some of the most talked-about mobile services on the market and the new stores are a great place for customers to drop in and see what we have to offer"
The new stores are all located in prime retail estate across the UK said the spokesperson. 3 already has 20 ThreeStores and 150 high-street retail spots in Superdrug stores.

Box-breakers get price comparison site

Boxbreak.com compares prices offered by over 20 different retailers including all of the network-owned shops multiples like CPW and Phones 4U and non-specialists such as Asda and Toys R´ Us. It also compares high-street prices with retailers´ web offerings.
The site is initially free but will start charging users for price-comparison searches on a basis of £30 for a 30-day contract.
"We think this site will be of a benefit to box-breakers but also regular dealers and networks too" said boxbreak.com marketing manager Philip Carter.
Carter explained that the site stands apart from other price comparison sites such as Kelkoo because it is the first dedicated to the mobile phone trade sector. He claimed that while other price comparison sites publish information they receive from retailers his company researches its data independently.
Carter acknowledged that the site was taking a potentially provocative stance but was unabashed.
"All we are doing is collating publicly available information" he said. "Without handset subsidies box-breaking would be eradicated it´s down to the networks to deal with this issue. By giving larger discounts to retailers like Argos networks are ensuring that the shops that are hit most by box-breakers are those least equipped to deal with it."

20:20 and Dextra/4U to merge as Ormerod exits

The move is intended to help Dextra smooth its relationship with Nokia following the discovery of counterfeit stock during a warehouse audit and the consequent termination of its accessories contract.

Mobile News understands that Ormerod headed a delegation of Dextra senior management to Finland in early May to try to get the Nokia contract reinstated. The meeting did not go well according to sources. Caudwell Group chief executive John Caudwell accepted Ormerods resignation last week.

This has created an opportunity to run Dextra alongside the Caudwell Groups 20:20 Logistics handset distribution business in the UK. The two businesses have customers and suppliers in common and are already run as a one-stop shop for handset and accessory distribution in France Germany and Spain.

Speculation that 20:20 UK managing director Rod Miller would assume a senior management role at Dextra was dismissed by the Caudwell Group this week. Miller may however take on an expanded role at 20:20 as part of further
restructuring.

Profits double at SE

The company expects global sales to top 900 million units this year compared with 780 million in 2005. And although handset sales were down 17 per cent from the previous quarter the firm has been selling its phones at a higher average price.
Sony Ericsson spokesman Garry Lockwood said: "As always there is a degree of trepidation when you launch a product. And while the success of the Walkman phone hasn´t astounded us we have seen a rise in demand. We´re trying to meet that by developing new Walkman handsets and expanding the product portfolio."
He added that consumers should expect to see more Walkman handsets this year.
"Mobile music is the next big thing and we want to make sure we´re at the forefront" he said.

Obermann warns off EC

The Commission s proposal to regulate mobile roaming retail prices was dubbed unnecessary and at odds with the region s free market principles by the GSM Association earlier this month.
Obermann admitted action needed to be taken but echoed the trade body s sentiments at 3GSM in Barcelona.
Roaming has for some time needed to be more consumer-friendly said Obermann. For this to happen we need lower inter-operator tariffs. But we don t need regulation.
A GSM Association spokesman added: Connecting calls to people travelling outside their home country is fundamentally different from connecting calls to people who aren t roaming. v