BlackBerry 9000 series photo surfaces

The BlackBerry 9000 series rumours are not going away, after recently getting some Wall Street analyst backing, there is now a spy shot that's emerged on the BlackBerry forums site.

Posted by someone suposedly based in Waterloo, where RIM's Canadian headquarters are, with only the word "Enjoy" as a comment, this could be the new form factor of handsets due in the first half of 2008.

The 9000 series were strongly rumoured to be toting full touchscreen capabilities, as you will see in the pic, this keeps RIM's now iconic device design but with more curved edges and a splash of aluminium.

There's no way of knowing whether this is a mock-up, early prototype, or even complete fake, but we'll keep you info
Source:http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk

Mobile phone cashback 'rip-off'

Mobile phone cashback schemes are still letting down too many consumers, says the telecoms regulator.
Ofcom continues to get hundreds of complaints every month about the controversial deals, despite a new industry code of practice.

The consumer organisation Which? wants cashback schemes banned, after research found a number of deals were in breach of the rules.

Mobile phone companies insist they take the code very seriously.

Cashback deals are offered to customers who take out new contracts, and promise to refund some or all of their upfront costs at a later date.


Thousands of people have already lost money through these dodgy deals, so don't touch them with a bargepole
Malcolm Coles, Which?

Often funded by commissions from the phone network, cashback can help persuade customers to sign up to expensive price plans.

But the deals have proved controversial because the terms and conditions can be difficult to understand, and even harder to meet, meaning thousands of people fail to claim.

In many cases retailers have gone bust before consumers have received their cash.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk

T-Mobile, 3 U.K. Agree to Share British Networks, People Say

Deutsche Telekom AG and Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. agreed to share their high-speed wireless networks in the U.K., extending their reach and reducing investment costs, according to three people with knowledge of the accord.

T-Mobile, the wireless unit of Germany's biggest phone company, and Hutchison unit 3 U.K. will save money and time because the two would otherwise have to expand the networks on their own, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deal isn't yet public. An announcement may come as early as today, they said.

The agreement provides both companies with more coverage for so-called third-generation services, also known as 3G, which allow Internet browsing, video conferences and music downloads. T-Mobile is the U.K.'s second-largest mobile-phone company by subscribers after Telefonica SA's O2.

``When you collaborate you can reduce the costs,'' said Hannes Wittig, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in London. ``Both T-Mobile and 3 have coverage issues in the U.K. and it would be sensible for them to share the costs of regional expansion. It's something you have to do to stay in the game in the U.K.''

T-Mobile had 17 million customers in the U.K. at the end of September, making it Deutsche Telekom's third-largest wireless market by subscribers after Germany and the U.S. T-Mobile International had almost 114 million users across 11 European countries and the U.S.

Ericsson selected by T- Mobile UK as managed services partner for field operations

Ericsson and T-Mobile UK, part of Deutsche Telekom, have signed a five-year managed services contract to modernize the T-Mobile UK network and provide managed services with a comprehensive range of professional services.

The strategically important contract includes modernization of T-Mobile's infrastructure, field operations and multi-vendor spare parts management. The contract came into effect on the 1st December 2007.

The five-year contract will enable T-Mobile UK to lower operational expenses whilst maintaining high quality levels, strengthen the company's platform for growth and improve the customer experience.

Ericsson will build on its existing UK managed service capability. Around 190 staff from T-Mobile will be transferred to Ericsson, further enhancing its service organization.

Emin Gürdenli, Networks Director, T-Mobile UK, said: "Ericsson are a long-term and trusted partner and we are very pleased to extend this relationship. This is an important step in the evolution of our network strategy which underpins T-Mobile's commitment to provide a superior service experience for our 17 million customers in the UK."

Jacqueline Hey, Managing Director, Ericsson UK, said: "We are very proud to be entrusted with the responsibility for the evolution and continuing field operations of the T-Mobile UK network. This further strengthens our partnership and creates a platform for extended collaboration and future benefits."

Prior to this new contract, Ericsson was already T-Mobile UK's 3G core transformation partner. T-Mobile is a global Ericsson customer, where Ericsson supports network operations in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Czech Republic and the US.

The contract is the second managed services contract Ericsson has concluded with a Deutsche Telekom company this year. It follows a contract for operation and maintenance of Deutsche Telekom's microwave network in Germany announced in August.

Ericsson is the largest telecom services company in the world with 28,000 services professionals in more than 140 countries. The company supports networks with more than 1 billion subscribers worldwide.

Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.

Source:http://money.cnn.com

Apple iPhone outsells LG Prada, HTC Touch, Nokia N95 in Europe

If there’s one thing that gets people riled up more than details on how well the iPhone is selling, it’s news that the iPhone is out-selling the Nokia N95 in Europe. The iPhone clearly outsells these handsets in the US, but Europe has been regarded as a reluctant market for the iPhone, given it’s lack of critical hardware features.

We previously mentioned that the iPhone has shown disappointing sales figures in the UK, but it seems that even “laggard” iPhones sales on UK’s O2 network are still outselling rivals. In fact, all three European markets are reportedly seeing sales of the iPhone outpacing those of its closest, and highly subsidized, competitors - a group that includes the HTC Touch, LG Prada, Nokia N95, and Nokia’s E-Series handsets. Michael Abramsky, an analyst with RBC Capital, is reporting that iPhone sales in the UK, Germany and France have proven strong. Despite selling only 10,000 iPhones on launch day, many of T-Mobile’s 700 German retail stores are reporting 15-20 iPhone sales per week. France’s Orange Wireless, by far the iPhone’s strongest EU market, has reported that approximately 63,000 customers have registered their interest in the iPhone, with reports of some Orange stores running out of iPhone-stock.
Source:http://www.intomobile.com/

Vodafone, NZ Communications sign roaming mobile deal

Vodafone New Zealand Ltd. Wednesday said it has signed an agreement to provide national roaming services to potential mobile market entrant NZ Communications.The local unit of U.K. mobile phone company Vodafone Group said the agreement will enable NZ Communications to provide nationwide mobile service to its customers when they travel outside the coverage of NZ Communications' planned new network.

"There has been enormous interest from all quarters in ensuring there is a third player in the New Zealand mobile market. NZ Communications and Vodafone have worked hard to put a commercial deal in place and we are now finalizing implementation plans to deliver the service", said Vodafone NZ Chief Executive Russell Stanners.

NZ Communications said it aims to start its services late next year but that deadline is dependent on reaching agreement on the details of implementation plans around roaming and co-location, its Chairman Bill Osborne said.

Ericsson signs T-Mobile deal

Ericsson has signed a five-year deal with T-Mobile UK to provide managed services for the operator.
The contract will see Ericsson modernising T-Mobile’s infrastructure, field operations and multi-vendor spare parts management, cutting operational expenses in the process. T-Mobile will also transfer around 190 staff to Ericsson as part of the deal.

The agreement represents an extension of the relationship between T-Mobile and Ericsson, which is also the operator’s 3G core transformation partner. In August, Ericsson also signed a deal with T-Mobile’s parent company Deutsche Telekom to manage the maintenance of the operator’s German microwave network.

T-Mobile UK networks director Emin Gürdenli said: "Ericsson is a long-term and trusted partner and we are very pleased to extend this relationship. This is an important step in the evolution of our network strategy, which underpins T-Mobile's commitment to provide a superior service experience for our 17 million customers in the UK."
Source: http://www.mobilenewscwp.co.uk