Press Releases

O2 first to switch on new superfast 3G 900MHz network

O2 announces that it has switched on a new superfast 3G network across London this week, having gained permission to reuse the 900MHz spectrum for 3G services from Ofcom, the UK Communications Regulator, back in January. O2 is the first UK operator to take advantage of the change to its 900MHz network licence and the new 3G900 network layer in London is expected to deliver a 50% increase in capacity to O2’s existing 3G network.

The 900MHz frequency band was previously only licensed for 2G services in the UK, but it offers the capability to significantly improve the potential of 3G services. Since being granted its new network licence in January, O2 has already deployed 3G900 services in key cities across the UK, including Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, with other cities set to follow in the coming months.

Rigorous customer experience testing has shown that, on average, O2 customers on 3G900 compatible devices* are now receiving data 30% faster than before the new spectrum was allocated for 3G use. Network capacity in the areas where 3G900 has been rolled out has also increased by 50%, allowing more people to take advantage of O2’s high speed data services and in more places.

iPad 2 coming to Three

Three UK today announced it will offer iPad 2 with Wi-Fi + 3G and also dedicated data plans for iPad 2 in the coming weeks. iPad 2 is the next generation of Apple’s magical device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading ebooks and much more. The amazing new iPad 2 improves on the original iPad by being thinner, lighter and faster, all while maintaining the same incredible 10 hours of battery life. For more information about iPad 2 please visit www.apple.com/ipad/.

Posted by: James

7digital and RIM Strike a Chord with Music Store on the BlackBerry PlayBook

Research In Motion (RIM) and 7digital today announced that the 7digital Music Store will come pre-installed* on the BlackBerry® PlayBookT.

The 7digital Music Store will give BlackBerry PlayBook users access to 7digital’s catalogue of over 13 million high quality (320kbps) MP3s. BlackBerry PlayBook users will be able to search for tracks, albums and artists and preview tracks before making a purchase. Users can also discover new music through 7digital’s recommendation technology. Prices for BlackBerry PlayBook users will match the prices on 7digital.com, with individual tracks and albums priced in a customer’s local currency.

QVC Launches New And Improved iPhone App

QVC has launched its new and improved iPhone app, available now as a free download at the App Store. Putting over 15,000 products in the palm of your hand, the app gives customers the convenience and opportunity to search, browse and shop on the go for the first time so they never risk losing out on the best deals.

The app syncs current on-air items in real time and provides access to all the day’s special value products, giving customers the chance to buy at the best possible prices before they sell out. Additionally the app has bolstered its search capability, designed a new page for its latest products and includes a special email function to share the shopping experience online.

Sue Leeson from QVC comments:

Samsung Galaxy Pro Specs

Samsung Electronics have announced the Galaxy Pro Smartphone. Featuring Samsung’s integrated Social Hub Premium and innovative dual-input control via a touch-screen and full QWERTY keyboard, the Galaxy Pro is also the perfect business partner and social secretary.

The Samsung Social Hub Premium gives one-touch access to emails, instant messages and social networking accounts and benefits from the speed and control of the Galaxy Pro’s dual-input interface. Powered by the AndroidT 2.2 ‘Froyo’ platform, the Galaxy Pro has access to over 150,000 high-quality apps and services from Android Market, such as the latest games for entertainment, up to date interactive maps and news feed services.

Pocket Cinema – Makes Popular Films Available to BlackBerry Torch Smartphone Users in the UK

QuickPlay Media, Inc. the leading provider of solutions for the distribution of premium video to portable wireless devices, today unveiled Pocket Cinema by QuickPlay Media – a service that offers consumers the ability to download, rent and watch popular movies on their video-enabled mobile device.  Initially, the service is available exclusively for BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone customers in the UK. Over time, QuickPlay plans to extend the service to additional mobile platforms and geographical markets. Customers who purchase a BlackBerry Torch from UK retailer Phones4U  in March 2011 will receive a voucher for a complimentary movie download from the service. 
Beginning today, BlackBerry Torch users will have access to a catalogue of hundreds of films by simply downloading Pocket Cinema on BlackBerry App World. Users will then be able to access the movies on their BlackBerry smartphone. Once downloaded over Wi-Fi, the film is cached on the device and available for an unlimited number of views for 48 hours. Users don’t need a mobile signal or network connection in order to view films they have downloaded.

Twitter for BlackBerry 1.1 Launches in Beta

RIM has launched a new update to Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones that adds features users have been asking for – including geotagging, which allows users to identify their location with their tweets; new language support; cleaner interfaces; new notifications and more. Twitter for BlackBerry smartphones v1.1 is a beta download available through BlackBerry Beta Zone (www.blackberry.com/beta).

New Twitter for BlackBerry v 1.1 features include:

GoodReader for iOS get an update

GoodReader, named as the 2010’s #2 best-selling iPad app in the U.S., is now available with an amazingly simple-to-use Auto Sync feature which enables users to download documents or entire folders from remote servers and mark them to automatically synchronize. Changes made to documents in GoodReader will instantly be available for others to access on the remote server with a simple tap of the Sync button. Other key new features are the ability to download entire folders from remote servers, rather than only individual files, and support for SugarSync.

“This entire update to GoodReader is dedicated to the ‘Live on the cloud’ idea,” said Yuri Selukoff, president of Good.iWare. “GoodReader’s Auto Sync is a beautiful feature — with the touch of one button, several documents or folders from several different servers can be synced simultaneously and available to everyone with access to the folder.”

RIM announces plans to provide carriers with new BBM Mobile Gifting platform

Research In Motion (RIM) today announced plans for an innovative mobile gifting platform for carriers that will allow one authorised BlackBerry subscriber to use their post-paid or pre-paid account to conveniently, securely and instantly approve and pay for airtime, apps or other carrier services requested by another BlackBerry subscriber.

The innovative BBM mobile gifting platform will integrate with BlackBerry App World and carrier billing systems and allow the gifting requests and approvals to be handled directly between the BlackBerry subscribers using BBM (BlackBerry Messenger) with transactions that are secure, authenticated and non-repudiable. The platform will also allow carriers to more easily sell airtime to BlackBerry prepaid subscribers (for the subscriber’s own use).

“RIM is committed to aligning with carrier business models to deliver innovative and relevant mobile commerce solutions,” said Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO at RIM. “There will be many usage scenarios and circumstances that can be accommodated through the BBM mobile gifting platform around the world, but the easiest for many people to readily envision and appreciate is the simplified act of a parent approving their child’s request for additional airtime minutes or an app purchase with a single click using BBM.”

The introduction of such convenient and tightly integrated services based on the BBM mobile gifting platform will enhance mobile commerce and enable carriers to provide unique value to their customers. BlackBerry subscribers will be able to buy or gift airtime, apps and other carrier services and charge the purchases to their existing postpaid or prepaid account, or alternatively pay for the purchases through various other payment methods.  

Posted by: James