Welcome to This Week in Mobile, the only easy to read FREE weekly summary of the top news stories on wireless communications in Australia and New Zealand. This Week in Mobile is updated daily with stories drawn from the popular press, regulatory bodies, vendors and operators. Written and edited by Maurie Dobbin, This Week uses his more than twenty years of experience in the mobile industry to choose the stories of most relevance to our readers.

For those that want to know more, click through hyperlinks are embedded in each story enabling you to view the source information. Note some of these links may require you to subscribe to the publication that provides the source material.

Australia

700 MHz spectrum for emergency services opposed by Telstra

19 June 2013

Telstra has supported the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)'s decision to use 800MHz and 4.9 GHz bands for emergency services rather than the 700 MHz spectrum unsold at the recent digital dividend auction. Telstra argues that the 700MHz spectrum is not appropriate for [public sector mobile broadband] purposes, also saying it is incompatible with international spectrum planning for public protection and disaster relief (PPDR) solutions.

4G data add-on packs released by Vodafone

19 June 2013

To avoid bill shock, Vodafone has released new data add-ons for its 4G network customers, as it says 4G customers can use up to 130 per cent more data each month compared to 3G simply because they can download more information in less time. When purchased on a monthly basis, the data add-on prices range from $5 for 150MB to $30 for 2GB, with double the amount of data for the same price if purchased for a year. The data add-ons are available to all Vodafone 4G postpaid customers, who will now receive a text message alert when they exceed their included allowance by $100.

Mobile payments being trialled by Bendigo Bank

19 June 2013

A spokesperson for the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Group has confirmed that a "low-level pilot" of its ‘redy’ mobile payments and loyalty scheme is currently underway. According to an ACCC filing, the redy service will enable customers to make purchases using their mobile phone and earn rewards on the purchases. The bank has said that 200 customers and 10 merchants would be involved in a trial of the service.

Tablets continue to outsell PCs in Australia-New Zealand

19 June 2013

Statistics from analysts IDC reflect the continuing preference for tablets over PCs by Australians and New Zealanders, with tablet sales showing quarterly growth of 147 per cent over the year. IDC anticipates tablet market growth of 46 per cent this year over 2012, attributable to various factors including the introduction of new devices, commercial uptake, price decreases and substitution for PCs.

Australians believe service providers are responsible for mobile app data protection

18 June 2013

According to an Australian survey conducted by Newspoll, 80 per cent of Australians believe the provider of the service to which a mobile app is linked is responsible for protecting data collected. The study, which was part of the annual Unisys Security Index, also found that 75 per cent of respondents believe government agencies were responsible and almost 70 per cent said that Internet service providers should be accountable for data protection.

Vodafone’s Tweed customers missing out on promised 4G high speeds

18 June 2013

Despite the recent launch of what Vodafone claims to be the fastest 4G network in Australia, residents in many regional areas are finding it hard to access reasonable download or upload speeds. Vodafone itself has said that large areas of the Tweed offer only limited indoor coverage, claiming the issues would be fixed in time. However, other regional and metropolitan areas are receiving speeds of up to 100Mbps.

Mobile and online electoral enrolment launched

17 June 2013

Australia’s Attorney General Mark Dreyfus has launched online enrolment services through the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Mr Dreyfus is encouraging Australians to access the AEC’s new easy-access mobile and tablet friendly enrolment site to enrol or update their details ahead of the federal election on 14 September. Signatures can be applied with a finger on a touchscreen mobile or tablet or via a mouse on a desktop.

Police Federation expresses interest in using unsold spectrum

17 June 2013

Despite the Government having previously refused to offer any 700 MHz spectrum to emergency services, the Police Federation of Australia has expressed interest in using two-thirds of the 700 MHz spectrum passed in the digital dividend auction last May for a planned national 4G network for emergency services. Emergency services had earlier been offered 10 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz band, and a 50 MHz block in the 4.9 GHz band.

Telstra issues reminder about phone shopping scams

17 June 2013

Telstra is using National Consumer Fraud Week to remind people to be on the alert for phone, SMS and online shopping scams. Figures from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) demonstrate that almost 60 per cent of scams reported to it were delivered via phone and SMS. Besides protecting their identity, personal and financial information, Telstra advises consumers to secure their mobile devices and computers.

Mobile devices assisting big-screen productions

16 June 2013

Mobile devices are increasingly being used by industries such as film and music as part of the creative process. Baz Luhmann used mobile devices to create storyboard frames, scout locations and write scripts while filming The Great Gatsby, while Malik Bendjelloul, who ran out of money towards the end of filming the Sugar Man documentary, had to shoot the rest of the movie on his iPhone. Some filmmakers are even using mobile devices to actually shoot movies.

Limited accessibility of some mobile apps

14 June 2013

According to the Disability Discrimination Commissioner, visually impaired people are unable to use the ABC’s main app. The ABC has now confirmed plans make the app more accessible to people with disabilities, with the upgraded app being scheduled for release early next month. The ABC’s radio app has already been upgraded in response to other accessibility complaints.

Channel Seven to live stream tennis on mobiles for another five years

14 June 2013

Channel Seven has negotiated an agreement with Tennis Australia to broadcast the 2015-2019 Australian Open and Australian Open Series. The new agreement includes a commitment to broadcast free to air on two channels during the Australian summer of tennis as well as live streaming of all Australian Open and AO Series broadcast courts on mobiles, tablets and online. Seven has been a broadcast partner of the Australian Open since 1973.

Mixed cellular-wi-fi networks may be considered for future use by Australian telcos

14 June 2013

Although network equipment vendors and makers are pushing for carrier-grade wi-fi to be added to the heterogeneous networks (HetNets) mix, Australian telecommunications companies may not do so in the short to medium term. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone all hold substantial spectrum assets, precluding the need for them to expand into mixed wi-fi/cellar networks for some time.

FLASHiZ to enter Australian mobile payments market

13 June 2013

Mobile payments firm FLASHiZ will launch its new mobile payments platform in Australia in the next few months, using both QR codes and near field communication (NFD) tags. QR codes help facilitate payments for users who do not have NFC-enabled mobile devices. FLASHiZ points out that its software can also be used to develop and manage loyalty programs designed to engage consumers that rely heavily on the smartphones or tablets.

Australian Government announces Mobile Roadmap

12 June 2013

Under a new Australian Public Service Mobile Roadmap, government agencies will be able to use mobile technology to deliver better, more convenient services to Australians. The Roadmap, which was released by the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy and Special Minister of State, Mark Dreyfus QC, supports the Government’s ‘Digital First’ policy, which requires agencies to make key services available online, including on mobile platforms, by December 2017.

Vodafone's 4G network now live

12 June 2013

Following Vodafone’s indication in June last year of its intention to roll out its fourth-generation LTE network, the company has today announced its 4G network has now been launched. According to Vodafone's website, the network’s typical 4G download speeds are between 2 Mpbs and 40 Mbps, matching those of Telstra and Optus which launched their 4G services in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

New Zealand

Official NZ emergency services app being discussed

19 June 2013

Police, fire, and ambulance officials have been in discussion with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and telecommunications companies about development of a smartphone application to enable pinpointing of the location of 111 callers. Once downloaded to a user’s mobile phone, an official emergency services app would immediately send location data to emergency services when 111 was called. Location-tracking of GPS-equipped smartphones cannot currently be performed.

NZ business owners must offer mobile-friendly websites

19 June 2013

Google’s account manager channel sales has told The Biz national roadshow that more than seventy per cent of New Zealanders would not leave home without their smartphones. Almost 25 per cent would rather give up television than their smartphone, while 40 per cent use their phones to go online over three times a day. Business operators must therefore ensure their websites looked good via mobile technology to attract and retain customers. The Yellow SME Digital Readiness Survey has showed that 41 per cent of small to medium-sized businesses in Christchurch do not have a website, while only 7 per cent which have a website conduct mobile marketing.

2Degrees announces LTE 4G financing secured

18 June 2013

2Degrees Mobile has announced that it has secured credit from the Bank of New Zealand to set up an LTE 4G network next year. The new network will operate in 2Degrees Mobile's current 1800 and 2100MHz spectrum and may also use 700MHz spectrum from the forthcoming New Zealand government digital dividend auction.

Google launches internet balloon over New Zealand

16 June 2013

Google engineers have launched a balloon that can connect to the internet from Lake Tekapo in New Zealand’s South Island. Google plans to send a network or chain of balloons almost 20 kilometres into the stratosphere, where the antennae with which they are equipped will connect to the internet from a ground station or via another balloon and beam the signal back to earth at the equivalent of today’s 3G network speeds. People on the ground are set up with a special antenna that will connect to the internet of any balloon overhead.

NZ mobiles being targeted by new text scam

14 June 2013

New Zealand’s Consumer Affairs has warned people about a new text-message scam which targets mobiles with enticing promises of a multi-million dollar prize win. Consumer Affairs is advising people not to reply or send any details to the email address given. The New Zealand government estimates that similar scans could cost the country up to half a billion dollars every year.

Events

1st Annual Telecoms Regulatory Affairs Asia 2013, Sheraton Towers Singapore, Singapore, 1 July 2013

The Asia Pacific telecom industry remains the most dynamic and diverse in the global market. Policy and regulation play critical roles in shaping the future, services and technologies that increasingly define the economic and social environment of future information societies.

Being the first of its kind, informa’s Telecoms Regulatory Affairs Asia will establish a joint platform for national policy-makers, regulators and operators to promote learning through discussions, presentations and exchange. Keep abreast of technology advances and facilitate developments to meet the fast growing demands of business and public users.

The event will gather regulators and operators in the region to discuss the hottest issues around. You are guaranteed to meet the most diverse audience base in the Asia telecoms regulatory field.

• The region’s First and Only Telecoms Regulatory event bringing together an engaging mix of regulators, operators and ICT providers in APAC
• Hear latest updates on regional policies and government incentives for Next Generation Access Deployment
• Gain unpublished insights into Spectrum Auction and Management strategies and Spectrum Refarming practices
• Learn about developments in regulating OTT services and Net Neutrality to find the long term remedy for the industry
• Examine user-centric QoS regulation framework and the possibility of transforming Asia into a free roaming region

To find out more and to register, visit www.telecomsregulatoryasia.com