MTN boss to speak at Mobile World Congress 2013

MTN Group President and CEO, Sifiso Dabengwa

Organisers of next month’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona Spain have confirmed MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Sifiso Dabengwa as one of the speakers at the event.

John Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer of GSM Association (GSMA), the organizers of the event in a statement said the MTN CEO will join an array of expert speakers who will share their insight on mobile marketing, network evolution and strategic leadership during the four-day conference programme.

The event is scheduled for Barcelona, Spain, from February 25-28 under the theme, Explore the New Mobile Horizon.

Dabengwa is one of the continent’s most prominent ICT executives, and is credited for driving MTN’s growth into one of the leading mobile network firms in the emerging markets.

Other keynote speakers and officials attending include Padmasree Warrior, of Cisco; Mats Granyd, President and CEO of Tele2 Group; Peggy Johnson, EVP and President, Global Market Development, Qualcomm; and Keith Weed, CMO of Unilever.

The GSMA Mobile World Congress is the combination of the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry and a conference featuring prominent chief executives representing mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors and content owners from across the globe. It represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide.

Spanning more than 220 countries, it unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile firms as well as more than 230 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organizations. 

Source: http://business.myjoyonline.com

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2013 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 663 801 325, because you can be sure we can do it.      

Near Field Communication Experience at GSM Barcelona

This year, Mobile World Congress offers a truly interactive experience for exhibitors, vendors, and attendees to participate in an environment where information and transactions are exchanged through mobile using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

Near Field Communication (NFC) enabled mobile phones have a huge potential to make our lives easier by letting us, with a simple touch, enable secure access to new transaction and payment services across a range of sectors and industries. NFC technology has been in existence for a few years now and it is thought that adoption will increase noticeably in the next couple of years. Our NFC Experience will create an opportunity for you try out some of these services first-hand.

As part of the NFC Experience, the GSMA will showcase an integrated range of mobile NFC services throughout the venue and city of Barcelona. NFC touch points will be abundant throughout the exhibition, rewarding those who ‘tap’ with instant access to information and various incentives. The NFC Experience begins with the following features:

• NFC Centre
• NFC Experience Zones
• Barcelona City NFC locations
• Virtual NFC badge – enabling instant onsite access via your handset
• NFC-enabled payment terminals

 

How it Works

Mobile World Congress attendees with NFC-enabled handsets will be able to take advantage of NFC technology at locations throughout the venue and city. This will include information points, discount vouchers, payment capabilities and much more.

The variety of locations and incentives offered to attendees participating in the NFC Experience will provide a complete appreciation of Mobile NFC that truly enhances the value attendees already gain from the Mobile World Congress.

 

NFC Centre

This dedicated zone in the heart of Congress Square will showcase NFC-enabled handsets and their capabilities as well as information on the NFC ecosystem, information loaded NFC smart posters, NFC partner pods, and a dedicated NFC support function.

The NFC Centre will serve as a centralised location for all vendors and exhibitors participating in the NFC Experience. This will be one of the key locations to visit and see the NFC ecosystem demonstrate the benefits that NFC technology can provide. Adjacent to the NFC Centre in Congress Square you can visit the GSMA Stand, where the GSMA’s Mobile NFC Services Programme will showcase themed SIM-based NFC demonstrations.

 

NFC Experience Zones

More than a dozen NFC Experience Zones will be located along the walkways, entrances, green areas, and exhibition halls of Fira Gran Via. Comprising a series of linked smart posters, participating attendees to use their NFC-enabled handsets to access exhibitor directories, venue information, nearby conveniences, and many other useful services offered during Mobile World Congress.

 

NFC-Enabled capabilities in Barcelona

The City of Barcelona, in collaboration with Mobile World Capital, is enabling key areas for attendees to experience NFC technology in action. Strategic NFC touch points will be available at the airport, key hotels, selected restaurants, and central tourist locations. By tapping NFC tags, attendees will receive discount offers, information downloads, access to mobile apps, and much more.

By participating in the NFC Experience, attendees will be able to:

• Access the venue via their NFC-enabled handset
• Pay for refreshments at Mobile World Congress
• Download information on the Conference sessions, and keynotes
• Access NFC Experience information points
• Take a taxi and pay by NFC
• Pay for goods in select restaurants and shops

 

NFC Challenge

GSMA will be holding an NFC Challenge during MWC 2013. The competition is open to exhibitors in the NFC industry with commercialised NFC-related apps, products, services and/or solutions. Submissions will be evaluated by a team of secret judges at the submitting exhibitor’s stand during the first two days of the Congress. There is no entry fee and the entry deadline will be mid-February 2013. Click here to learn more.

Source: http://www.mobileworldcongress.com

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2013 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 663 801 325, because you can be sure we can do it.    

Mobile Giants Want a Slice of Google and Apples 90% Market Share

It now seems that there is a joint effort between some of the mobile giants, to launch a new open source OS, based smart phone, to take some of the 90% market share from Google Android, Apple IOS and Blackberry. Read on for more information.

In an effort to compete with U.S. tech giants Google and Apple, NTT Docomo Inc. is jointly developing a new operating system for smartphones that it hopes to put on the market next year, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.

Docomo, Japan's largest mobile communication company, has joined with South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. and other firms to develop a system that will take a larger slice of the smartphone pie. 

Google and Apple hold a 90 percent share of the market.

The ultimate aim is to form a business group that will rival the two U.S. companies.

The OS that Docomo and its partners are developing is named Tizen. Samsung will probably begin selling the smartphones next year and they are likely to be released in Japan and other countries at around the same time, according to sources.

Application software products formatted for Google's Android and Apple's iPhone devices equipped with iOS have become easier to use.

However, it is difficult for mobile phone service companies to offer their own services, such as for Docomo's online shopping, or to improve the safety of personal information for the smartphones equipped with the OS products developed in the United States.

In contrast, the basic technology information used by Tizen will be made open to the public and the OS is being developed on the premise that mobile phone service companies will be able to offer their own services.

According to Gartner Inc., a U.S. research company, Android held a global market share of 72.4 percent in OS products for smartphones from July to September 2012, and iOS held 13.9 percent.

Most apps were developed for the two products.

Besides Docomo, European mobile phone service companies also are participating in the development of Tizen because they fear the hegemony of the two U.S. companies in businesses using smartphones, such as games and music distribution.

Docomo is the only firm among Japan's three major mobile phone service operators that does not sell iPhones.

As a result, the number of subscribers leaving Docomo for other companies has exceeded the number of new subscribers over the past four years, as users can retain the same telephone numbers after changing companies.

In November, the number of canceled Docomo contracts was larger than that of new contracts for the first time in about five years.

Docomo hopes the smartphone with the Tizen OS will reverse this trend.

Tizen's main developers are Samsung and Intel Corp., a major U.S. semiconductor products manufacturer. Besides Docomo, Britain's Vodafone Group PLC, France Telecom, other European mobile phone service companies, Panasonic Corp. and NEC Corp. are involved in the development.

The Tizen OS will be an open-source product so users can further develop or improve the software.

The development of apps for the new OS system is expected to be simpler.

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2013 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 663 801 325, because you can be sure we can do it.      

Nokia Windows RT Slate at Mobile World Congress

Finnish Company Nokia has been in news headlines recently for extending its Windows-based products and next in line is its forthcoming Windows RT slate.

Nokia is all set to bring a new Windows RT tablet with features somewhat similar to the Microsoft’s Surface Model. Nokia Windows RT tablet runs on an ARM chip and has a 10.1 inch screen. It will also have a cellular networking and AT&T, one of the major carriers in U.S will be the first provide the connectivity.

Nokia Windows RT tablet also boasts a special cover similar to that of Microsoft’s Windows RT tablet. The special cover of Nokia tablet covers it like an envelope and also has a built-in keyboard, kickstand and battery. There are two USB ports in the case of Nokia Windows RT tablet providing it an extra connectivity option.

The price of Nokia Windows RT tablet is indeed as important as it specifications. Nokia has not yet revealed the price range for this Windows tablet, but it may soon be revealed with the tablet itself in February 2013.

This Windows RT tablet from Nokia is planned to be released in the Mobile World Congress, which is considered as the biggest tech event in the world.

Source: http://news.thewindowsclub.com/

If you are visiting Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress, MWC or GSMA in 2013 or just want to make a Tour, Day trip, Attractions or Excursion or are interested in any other tour services, then check out the picture above at the top and if you can't find what you are looking for, call us on +34 663 801 325, because you can be sure we can do it.