Sequans working with Huawei on TD-LTE large scale trial in Shenzhen for China Mobile

Sequans working with Huawei on TD-LTE large scale trial in Shenzhen for China Mobile

BEIJING, China (PT ExpoComm China) – September 27, 2011 –Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS) and Huawei today jointly announced that they would begin a large scale trial in Shenzhen. This trial will be conducted on China Mobile’s TD-LTE network deployed by Huawei, using devices based on Sequans’ TD-LTE chipset. This is a significant milestone in the commercialization progress of TD-LTE.

China Mobile has selected leading equipment vendors to deploy TD-LTE trial networks in six major cities in China and Huawei has been selected for the city of Shenzhen. Huawei is responsible for building and deploying Shenzhen’s TD-LTE network. Sequans recently became eligible to participate in the China Mobile trials when its LTE chip technology won official approval from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) after passing a battery of tests.

“We are very pleased to continue our long and successful cooperation with Huawei,” said Georges Karam, Sequans CEO. “Working side by side with Huawei on interoperability over the last two years, we now have UE chipset technology that it is fully ready to support the important large scale trials of China Mobile as well as future commercial deployments.”

Sequans and Huawei have already conducted several successful demonstrations of their TD-LTE solutions in collaboration with China Mobile, most notably at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and at the Asian Games in Guangzhou. For the trial in Shenzhen, Huawei will use TD-LTE USB dongles based on Sequans’ SQN3010 TD-LTE chip.

Korea’s KT uses IP routers from Alcatel-Lucent to deliver better, faster residential broadband services

Korea’s KT uses IP routers from Alcatel-Lucent to deliver better, faster residential broadband services

Paris, September 26, 2011 – Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU) today announced it has been selected by KT, the largest communications service provider in Korea, to provide IP (Internet protocol) routing technology to deliver a better faster, higher-quality Internet, video and voice services to its residential customers in the Seoul and GangWon regions.

With the deployment of Alcatel-Lucent’s 7750 Service Routers, KT will be able to handle subscriber data more efficiently, manage services more intelligently and deliver higher bandwidth as needed to address particular customer requirements. As a result, KT will be able to offer its customers in Seoul and GangWon an improved experience with their voice over IP (VoIP), IPTV, high-speed Internet services and other applications.

Rajeev Singh-Molares, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s activities in the Asia-Pacific Region, said: “This important win with KT shows Alcatel-Lucent’s growing strength in the router market in Asia, and specifically our growing footprint in Korea, where we are expanding our market share.”

Alcatel-Lucent’s Service Router portfolio is used by more than 400 service providers around the world including BT, AT&T, Verizon, Telstra, and Deutsche Telekom.

According to Dell’Oro Group, Alcatel-Lucent holds the #2 position in the Service Provider Edge Routing segment worldwide with a rolling four quarter market share of 24 percent from Q3 2010 to Q2 2011. For 2Q 2011, Alcatel-Lucent recorded year-over-year growth for the 26th consecutive quarter.

Myriad Group and Vodafone Announce Partnership to Power Social Networking and Messaging Services Across India

Myriad Group and Vodafone Announce Partnership to Power Social Networking and Messaging Services Across India

ZURICH, Switzerland – September 26, 2011 – Myriad Group AG (SIX: MYRN), a global leader in mobile technology having shipped over 3.8 billion software applications on more than 2.2 billion phones, today announced that it is partnering with Vodafone Essar Ltd., one of India’s leading telecommunications services providers, to deliver social networking and messaging services over SMS and USSD to its subscribers across India.

“Adoption of social networking on mobile devices across India is growing exponentially. In order to keep pace with market demands, our partnership with Myriad will enable us to quickly and seamlessly deliver social networking services on a massive scale across our entire subscriber base using SMS and USSD,” said Kumar Ramanathan, CMO, Vodafone Essar.

As part of the agreement, Vodafone Essar will leverage Myriad’s flagship mobile social networking platform, Xumii. With Xumii, Vodafone Essar will be able to seamlessly deploy social networking services on a massive scale, making mobile social networking accessible over USSD and SMS.

Vodafone Essar will be deploying the recently launched Myriad Updates, a first‐of‐its‐kind text‐ based mobile social networking service accessible on low‐end phones, without requiring users to have a data plan. Myriad Updates leverages Myriad’s leading mobile social networking platform and Self‐Care systems to power services for Tier 1 operators around the world.

Furthermore, Vodafone Essar will be rolling out Myriad’s complete portfolio of mobile messaging services, including SMS, instant messaging and mobile email. Rich in features such as viewing multiple messaging channels simultaneously in the same thread, Myriad’s cutting‐edge messaging solution enables mobile operators to easily deploy and integrate messaging services with a minimal investment.

“Along with our important relationship with Telefónica in LATAM, our partnership with Vodafone Essar is further proof of Myriad’s unique and compelling portfolio for emerging markets,” said Simon Wilkinson, CEO of Myriad. “Not only does this agreement reinforce our leadership in mobile messaging and mobile social networking, it also extends our footprint in what is an exciting and fast‐growing sector.”

JFDI partners SingTel Innov8 to bring successful start-up acceleration programme to Asia Pacific

JFDI partners SingTel Innov8 to bring successful start-up acceleration programme to Asia Pacific

Singapore, 26 September 2011 – The Joyful Frog Digital Incubator (JFDI) is partnering SingTel Innov8 (Innov8), the corporate venture arm of the SingTel Group, to bring to Asia Pacific the successful US start-up accelerator programme pioneered by TechStars. This programme will give digital start-ups intensive mentorship from industry experts plus access to mobile markets and investors across Asia.

Operating in Singapore, JFDI aims to replicate TechStars’ 70 per cent success rate as a seed accelerator in taking digital start-up businesses from ideas to investment readiness. In just five years, TechStars and similar programmes have created over US$5 billion[1] in value in hundreds of new businesses.

The highlight of the programme is the JFDI-Innov8 2012 Bootcamp (Bootcamp), which is an intensive 100-day event, where teams of developers and entrepreneurs will receive S$15,000 and be guided by accomplished mentors and industry experts to help kick-start their businesses. These teams will also get the opportunity to pitch to international investors.

To win a spot in the Bootcamp, developers and entrepreneurs from around the world can apply via the JFDI website as of today. In addition, they can take part in Startup Weekend events, where they will form teams to generate ideas for mobile and internet applications. The weekend-long competitions will be held in a number of major cities across Asia Pacific. The first Startup Weekend, hosted by SingTel, will kick off in Singapore on 14 October.

As many as 15 teams will be shortlisted for the Bootcamp to be held in Singapore in January 2012.

Meng Wong, co-founder of JFDI said: "Our door is open to anyone from anywhere who can prove that they have got what it takes. Our objective is to catalyse the creation of world-class, investment-ready start-up businesses that have the talent, technology and connections to scale rapidly and enrich people’s lives. As part of the SingTel Group, Innov8 brings more than funding. It also provides industry expertise, regional market insights and the potential to access over 416 million of the Group’s mobile customers across Asia and Africa.”

Yvonne Kwek, CEO SingTel Innov8 said: “This accelerator programme gives start-ups an amazing opportunity to crystallise and test their ideas as well as gain access to funding for their business dreams and goals. Innov8 will play a role in nurturing the teams and facilitating their go-to-market strategies to help deliver innovative digital applications and services to millions across Asia.”

JFDI is also supported by Singapore’s government agencies including the Media Development Authority and SPRING Singapore.

StarHub introduces Singapore’s first mobile plan with data sharing for the family

StarHub introduces Singapore’s first mobile plan with data sharing for the family

Singapore, 22 September 2011 – StarHub today unveiled Singapore’s first mobile post-paid plan that offers the sharing of bundled data, airtime, and SMSes for customers, providing great savings and flexibility to families who wish to maximise their bundle price plans with their loved ones.

The new SmartSurf SharePlus mobile plan is available to StarHub Mobile customers who have SmartSurf 300 and SmartSurf 700 as the main plan. They can subscribe up to two SmartSurf SharePlus lines, and share and maximise their bundled local call minutes, SMSes and data on the main line with their family members.

SmartSurf SharePlus users also get to enjoy attractive features available on the SmartSurf main plan, including Per-second Billing, All Day Free Incoming Call, Free Local Missed Call Alerts, Free Voicemail, and more. They also receive an additional 1,000 free SMSes on a monthly basis, and have the option to convert bundled SMS to MMS.

“We are excited to offer the sharing of voice calls, SMSes and data among family members with the new SmartSurf SharePlus mobile plan," said Ms Joanna Chan, StarHub’s Vice President of Personal Solutions. “As smartphones and tablets become more common here, the new SmartSurf SharePlus mobile plan will appeal to parents, who can maximise and share their bundled voice, SMSes and data plan with their children and develop a closer relationship when they keep in touch with their smartphones and tablets."

Over 60% of StarHub Mobile customers use smartphones and tablets to communicate, keep up with the latest news and for entertainment. SmartSurf SharePlus is available for a monthly subscription fee of S$16.05 (inclusive of GST). Customers can visit any StarHub Shop or authorised dealer islandwide to sign up to the SmartSurf SharePlus plan.