BROWSING: OTT

While there are many benefits to living and working in our always-on connected world, there is one downside for business: It takes a lot more to impress mobile consumers than it did just a few years ago. Those awestruck early adopters who interacted with smartphone...

If you were to talk to an average mobile phone user, “4G” LTE access and over-the-top applications would be at the top of the list in terms of what is required from the network operator and handset. We’ve heard for many years now that text messaging is...

Competition between communication service providers and over-the-top players could be set to change. According to Ovum’s "Telco-OTT Tracker" survey, Latin American telecom operators are increasing the number of partnership deals signed with OTT players. The tracker counted more than 500 deals across 11 categories on...

Jibe Mobile said it is working with Deutsche Telekom’s regional operating company Telekom Albania to offer rich IP communications services. The move builds on last month’s announcement of a deployment with SFR in France and two prior announcements last year in partnership with DT...

During Brazil's recent ABTA show, Vivo President Amos Genish said WhatsApp is a clandestine service as it is not regulated in Brazil and not subject to the same regulations or fiscal duties. By calling the over-the-top player, acquired by Facebook, a "pirate," Genish was...

Over-the-top content is a fact of life for network operators and the friend or foe conversation continues. Telekom Austria Group has announced a new offer to ride the wave of traffic its OTT customers drive to its network. The traffic is coming, so why not...

Mobile operators are feeling increased pressure from over-the-top players to provide additional features and services that consumers have come to expect from the application world. Three ways they are looking to counter the OTT threat is through the implementation of Voice over LTE (VoLTE),...

Comverse touts digital messaging platform benefits of $245M deal Comverse announced plans to acquire privately held Acision for approximately $245 million in a move to bolster its digital services business. U.K.-based Acision provides mobile messaging and engagement services, and is used by a number of...

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Daniel Kurgan, CEO of BICS, about the company’s current strategy and his view of the opportunities and risks in the markets the company addresses. But first, a few words about what BICS is in case you aren’t following...

The role of mobile phones today has evolved beyond a general-purpose communications tool to become an extension of a user’s persona and everyday routine. New revenue opportunities for mobile operators will only increase as customers want and expect more services from their phones –...

Partners with Tata Sky to launch new video and OTT content delivery solution Continuing its push into the television and media vertical, Swedish networking firm Ericsson joined forces with Tata Sky to provide Indian customers with a higher-quality television experience. Ericsson will supply Tata Sky with...

WebRTC-based white-label voice, video, messaging platform core to Fring Alliance plans ORLANDO, Fla. – One of the biggest challenges facing telecom operators are over-the-top services that compete against what the operator is providing to consumers – sometimes at a cheaper price – and running over...

“Messaging services are killing SMS” – Beta News “There are more WhatsApps than texts sent each day. A lot more” – TechRadar “Texting is in decline” – Business Insider “How WhatsApp is killing off text messaging” – ITProPortal These are just a few of the recent headlines accompanying...

Technology innovation has been a significant disruptor of established markets for quite some time – and the telecom industry is no exception. In fact, there is arguably more disruption going on in this industry than any other. The growth of messaging apps is unstoppable,...

At the risk of revealing my true age, I can remember how cool I thought it would be to have a camera on the first mobile phone I purchased 10-plus (give or take) years ago. My cell phone service back then was just the...

  Lawsuit revolves around Verizon pay-TV bundles Following up on concerns raised earlier in the month, sports media giant ESPN on Monday filed a lawsuit against Verizon Communications for breach of contract. Verizon’s proposed FiOS TV plan allows customers to break up traditional television bundles. Verizon offers a...

Regulators frowned on Comcast/TWC deal; will Charter/TWC be different? Comcast is dropping its bid for Time Warner Cable after the Federal Communications Commission signaled that it would not approve the deal. Charter Communications may be set to back out of its bid for Bright House...

New antenna law expected to speed network deployments Brazil President Dilma Rousseff approved a new antenna bill (law nº11.116) laying down new rules for the installation of antennas used by mobile operators. The law aims to speed deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in the country, which has been delayed by the shear...

Verizon targeting millennials with mobile-focused OTT service Verizon Communications is tapping college sports in a move to drive customers to its mobile entertainment services and battle over-the-top content providers. The carrier announced a deal with a handful of college sports programming and networks that it said...

Mobile operators expanding their voice over LTE services in 2015 want to make sure it’s not a replay of the massive LTE data outages that plagued the industry from 2011 to 2014. One way they’re accomplishing that goal is by revamping their monitoring approach to...

Jibe Mobile announced the expansion of its global interconnection showcase for next week's Mobile World Congress event being held in Barcelona, Spain. Although this announcement is focused on a demonstration, the functionality behind the demonstration is the more interesting part. Deutsche Telekom, Sprint, Vodafone and KPN...

$7.99 monthly subscription is 39.7% of average Cuban salary Over the Top streaming video provider Netflix on Feb. 9 began offering its service in Cuba following a December policy shift to begin loosening trade restrictions against the Communist dictatorship just 90 miles from the southern tip...

In 2015, voice over LTE will shake up the marketplace in a variety of ways. For example, some mobile operators will use VoLTE-powered unified communication to compete with over-the-top UC providers, particularly in the enterprise market, where customers will value – and pay for...

Last year was one of dynamic change and investment in the telecom sector as a whole as operators across the world launched LTE services. Meanwhile, over-the-top providers and mobile virtual network operators stepped up their game for the hearts and minds of customers through...