Top 10 predictions for the wireless industry.

"InCode, a subsidiary of VeriSign that specializes in wireless business and technology consulting, on Wednesday released its top 10 predictions for major trends in the wireless industry next year...

10. A major iPhone security incident will occur in the enterprise, raising awareness of and need for mobile device security. A new market will evolve for mobile device security software and mobile device management software and services."

Top 10 predictions for the wireless industry.

"InCode, a subsidiary of VeriSign that specializes in wireless business and technology consulting, on Wednesday released its top 10 predictions for major trends in the wireless industry next year...

10. A major iPhone security incident will occur in the enterprise, raising awareness of and need for mobile device security. A new market will evolve for mobile device security software and mobile device management software and services."

Forget Google, watch out for Chevron in the 700 MHz auction.

"The FCC has now announced that 266 separate entities have filed to take part in the auction, so it's quite a long list. So far, only 96 applications have been accepted, but the others have until January 4th to get their applications in order. Everyone knew Google was on the list, and it's no surprise to hear names like Verizon Wireless, Alltel, MetroPCS, Vodafone and AT&T (who already got a head start buying some other spectrum in the 700 MHz realm earlier). There was some speculation about cable companies participating, and sure enough, Cox and Cablevision will show up at the auction. Then there are a few surprises. Qualcomm is planning to bid -- which could upset some of the US carriers who consider Qualcomm more of a partner than a competitor.

In a list of 266 companies, there are always going to be some long shots -- but it still doesn't hurt to point out some of the more interesting bidders. Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen plans to bid via his Vulcan Spectrum LLC (reusing his favorite 'Vulcan' name for companies). It's unclear what he would do with the spectrum. Perhaps even more surprising is the news that oil giant Chevron is planning to participate."

Strategy Analytics: 2008 will see "significant traction on MDM."

"2008 will see significant traction on MDM as smartphones surge and GPS handsets become more closely aligned with Enterprise LBS solutions and begin to resonate with enterprise customers... Microsoft will raise its profile and credibility as an end to end mobile solutions vendor with SCMDM (System Centre Mobile Device Manager) as applications become more closely aligned to core business processes."

Silicon Valley startup Ribbit wants to take on the Telcos.

"Users of the service can make calls to and from landlines, mobile phones, internet telephony software running on their PCs, desktop widgets, social networking applications, Flash-based phones and even web browsers.

Rather than create a dominant interface for all these potential access points, Ribbit has turned the keys over to more than 600 third-party developers, creating a developer site that offers help on linking applications and devices to the Ribbit network."

related: Can Ribbit Finally Bring Web & Voice Together? - GigaOM

Vodafone Essar outsources to IBM.

"Vodafone already has an agreement in place with IBM to outsource its application development and maintenance services for its operations in several European countries (Ireland, Italy Greece, Spain, Portugal and the Czech Republic), Australia and New Zealand."

Qualcomm announces availability of MobileView.

"Qualcomm Incorporated... recently announced the commercial availability of the MobileView product. MobileView is a software application that remotely captures diagnostic data with GPS from mobile handsets, providing insight into handset and network performance. MobileView is currently in trials with CDMA2000 and WCDMA (UMTS) network operators worldwide, including T-Mobile Germany."

Web service lets users try out mobile phones.

"Mobile Complete on Monday launched an interactive Web service [TryPhone] that lets mobile users test-drive popular phone models before buying them."

Email application the culprit in Palm Centro battery life problems.

"Customers who experience the email synchronization issue on Sprint Mobile Email will notice that their Palm Cento battery will drain within 1-3 hours regardless of usage patterns because of a continuous synchronization loop. This unnecessarily keeps the device active and drains the battery until the application is removed. This problem does not occur when email synchronization successfully completes."

LiPS Forum finalizes Release 1.0 specifications.

"With the specifications finally complete, LiPS [Linux Phone Standards (LiPS) Forum] is hoping to 'enable mobile industry players to achieve basic interoperability for applications and services deployed on Linux-based phones,' and moreover, to allow services and compatible phones to be churned out even faster."

Verzio launches two dual-SIM handsets.

"Dual-SIM phones are still pretty rare 'round these parts, but those of you who need the two-line action in Asia might want to check out Verzio's new Duplii and Twinn handsets."

BigFix considers agents for cellphones and PDAs.

"BigFix, which develops software distribution, security and configuration technology for corporate endpoints in a client/server architecture, is looking at the development of agents for mobile phones and PDAs."

InnoPath's UI customization technology popular among au subscribers.

"InnoPath Software... announced that the UI Manager solution delivered to KDDI Corporation and Okinawa Cellular Telephone Company has been gaining popularity among au subscribers.

The service offered by KDDI, called EZ Keitai Arrange, allows users to easily customize the user interface (UI) on handsets with a variety of different UI theme packages. Since the launch of the service last year, millions of users now actively subscribe to EZ Keitai Arrange. The subscribers to the service represent a significant number of KDDI’s customer base, and the number continues to increase on a monthly basis."

The Internet of Machines.

"M2M is not a sexy business – these monitors wake up periodically, send little bits of data and then go back to sleep. Average revenue for a carrier from these applications may be a few dollars a month, less than one-tenth of what they get from humans. But machines vastly outnumber humans, although cellular penetration for humans is still greater.

The analyst firm Berg Insight is forecasting the number of machines that will be connected to cellular networks in North America will reach 66 million by 2011, up from 9 million using cellular and satellite in 2006. Harbor Research says there are 110 million M2M devices in use now globally, communicating among themselves in a kind of 'Internet of machines.'

... Sam Lucero, an analyst with ABI Research... is forecasting M2M service revenues rising from about $2 billion last year to $8 billion in 2012...

Like other telecom sectors, M2M includes service providers and infrastructure and hardware vendors. The service providers typically buy airtime from cellular operators but they bristle at the notion that they are mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), not wanting to be associated with the failures of some MVNOs. ABI’s Lucero calls them MMOs, for M2M Mobile Operators, reasoning that MMOs like Aeris, Jasper Wireless and Kore Telematics have their own infrastructure on top of the cellular network."

For parents, a service that can offer peace of mind.

"Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless offer G.P.S. tracking to let parents know the location of their child (as long as the child has a cellphone and it is turned on). Then, if the child doesn’t show up at school or other location at a certain time, parents can arrange to receive an e-mail or text message alert."

Verizon Wireless president explains open access.

"Strigl said that open access would provide the company with a 'phenomenal' new source of revenue because it will allow customers to use all types of applications that developers will produce, which could potential drive lots of data traffic over the network. At the same time, he said that the model will help the firm reduce costs because it won't be a drain on customer service. 'Customer service is not a heavy expenditure on this business but will be done by those that bring services to this model,' Strigl said."

Nokia acquires Palo Alto-based mobile PC access firm Avvenu.

"Nokia... said that it will acquire Palo Alto-based Avvenu, developer of a service that offers mobile access to personal files stored on a PC, including iTunes music libraries. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2004, Avvenu lets users search, access and share PC files remotely, even when the PC is not on or connected to the Internet. Nokia said that the acquisition will extend its mobile services for businesses beyond email."

IBM Survey: Telecom executives still clueless.

"According to a new telecom industry survey conducted by IBM, industry execs know that change is coming but they cannot bring themselves to discard their old ways. A full 69 percent 'expect business model transformation to be the primary source of value over the next five years.' Yet when asked where their priorities lie, they are, in order:

Network coverage (52 percent)
Customer reach (45 percent)
Customer knowledge (22 percent)
Customer service (16 percent)
Ease of use (11 percent)
Device control/management (8 percent)

Those numbers should be reversed... the fact is that only eight percent think they should give customers more control over their communications devices. They will eventually learn that such control is no longer theirs to give."

Verizon hedges on using Android.

"Verizon Wireless doesn't yet have any solid plans to support Android, Google's forthcoming open-source mobile software, despite reports that the operator had joined the Android club, a company spokeswoman said."

Verizon Wireless joins Google-backed phone consortium.

"Exactly one week after announcing it would open up its network to compatible phones and applications, Verizon Wireless on Tuesday surprised the industry once again by joining Google's newly formed Open Handset Alliance. The move now puts the company's chief rival, AT&T, at an obvious disadvantage... 'The hope is that there are going to be a whole new range of devices and apps that the carriers can't really predict in their central planning, mass market business models.'"

Nokia helps operators target the enterprise.

"Nokia launched its business channel program earlier this year to help train value-added resellers and system integrators to install and support Nokia mobile services for enterprises, such as its Intellisync mobile management software. Members of the program get training, marketing and development funding, and special rebates. Enterprises can also use the portal associated with the program to find nearby system integrators who have the skills they're looking for.

On Tuesday, Nokia planned to announce that it is inviting mobile operators to take part in the program. The business sales divisions that many operators have can get many of the same support features that the system integrators and resellers get, such as training, financial rewards, marketing support and access to leads."

Telecom New Zealand invests in advanced device management (using Mformation).

"Telecom New Zealand will use technology from Mformation... to provide seamless device management capabilities to more than 1.7 million wireless customers... Telecom’s enterprise customers will also benefit from a hosted mobile device management and security solution."

Microsoft says Verizon announcement will give CIOs more choices for mobility.

Scott Rockfeld, Group Product Manager of Microsoft's Mobile Communications Business, comments: "We are waiting to see the impact on how Verizon's decision will affect the way businesses manage their devices, but we do know it does give them choice and flexibility on which devices they decide to deploy. However, one of the most important determinations of how a business manages their mobile devices is the operating system on the phone and how that connects to a company's infrastructure."

More than half of cell phone users dissatisfied.

"The survey, due to be published in the 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, found that fewer than half of respondents were completely or very satisfied with their cell phone service. It has been among the lowest-rated services by Consumer Reports for the past six years."

Product updates for Nokia Intellisync Mobile Suite.

"Nokia unveils today the newest device management features of Nokia Intellisync Mobile Suite. The next generation release offers single platform to manage both OMA DM compatible mobile devices as well as devices running Nokia Intellisync Mobile Suite client... Nokia Intellisync Device Management is further optimized for service providers supporting hosted environments with role-based administration and multi-tenant support. This enables service providers to offer new service packages to their business customers that meet the enterprise requirements."

Bug Labs: Build your own mobile phone.

"US start-up Bug Labs [enables] tech-savvy do-it-yourselfers to create their own mobile devices. The company has designed several basic hardware modules that snap together like building blocks to perform whatever mobile function their owners can think of... Besides letting them add whatever they want, the snap-together components also let consumers leave out what they don't want, which is a far cry from many pre-packaged mobile phones and PDAs that come crammed with features their buyers have no use for.

How it works? Would-be product designers start with Bug Labs’ basic module—in essence, a Linux-based mobile computer. Then, they add other modules to give the basic device fresh capabilities. Want a camera that tags photos with a GPS-derived location and then uploads them to the web? All it takes is fitting the necessary components together. The software to run the device is also modular, though customizing it may require some minor coding. Bug Labs aims to start selling both the basic module and the first four add-ons (GPS, digital camera/videocam, colour LCD touchscreen and an accelerometer/motion sensor) by the end of 2007."