http://www.currentanalysis.com/ Analysis Reports provided by Current Analysis, Inc. en-us All materials Copyright 1997-2010 Current Analysis, Inc. Reproduction or distribution prohibited without express written consent. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 07:34:19 GMT http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41425&rss TeliaSonera is the leading mobile and broadband provider in Sweden and in the top three in Finland, Norway and Denmark; nevertheless the company faces determined and sophisticated pressure from rivals in a highly evolved and mature Nordic market. Jifri, Farah 2010-07-29T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54514&rss Incumbents couch their operational strategies differently, but at the core, their emphasis in the consumer space is strikingly similar, as shown by these five examples: Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, KPN, Swisscom and Telefónica. Rybak, Natasha 2010-07-28T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54465&rss New femtocell launches in Spain and Greece continue the UK services strategy – Vodafone’s femtocell proposition is still focused exclusively on improving indoor coverage, with no traffic offset cost benefit to the end-user. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-07-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54364&rss Telefonica O2’s first Jajah deployment has been interpreted as an aggressive mobile VoIP move, but that misses the point. O2 Global Friends is about defending the operator’s core mobile voice base from the evolving international calling market. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-07-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54360&rss Tele2 NL is acquiring smaller Dutch alternative ISP BBned, including its Alice-branded consumer business. While not especially significant in terms of customer numbers, the deal will nonetheless help consolidate Tele2 NL’s multiplay proposition. Rybak, Natasha 2010-07-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54327&rss This is the first in a series of reports looking at the development of bundled music services in Europe. In Denmark, TDC has seen a 50% reduction in churn in the two years since launching PLAY. Jifri, Farah 2010-07-16T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54170&rss In the past, fixed access providers made a priority of keeping customers on-net. Today, multi-service providers are striving to keep customers ‘on-brand.’ Emerging consumer demand for in-home IT, multimedia and digital support is one way to do it. Rybak, Natasha 2010-07-09T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54167&rss Qualcomm took long strides at its Uplinq conference last week to convince developers that its BREW platform still matters. The report offers an overview of the major announcements and partnerships at the event. Karthikeyan, Deepa 2010-07-09T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43242&rss KPN is the dominant consumer provider in the Netherlands, and the company's challenger strategy in its foreign mobile markets is innovative and aggressive. Mobile broadband will be KPN's next major competitive battleground at home and abroad. Rybak, Natasha 2010-07-06T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41393&rss Telefónica remains the clear leader in the Spanish market, but fierce competition in Germany and the UK presents an ongoing challenge, particularly in the multiplay arena, where demand for service packages incorporating television is increasing. Rybak, Natasha 2010-07-02T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54095&rss Look beyond the plans to the re-balance of power now occurring within the Apple iPhone sales channel. The iPhone 4 could be the device which triggers a revision of traditional operator channel dominance within the smartphone market. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-07-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=54046&rss The UK bundling and multi-services market is active, overcrowded and varied, with legacy operators from both the mobile and wireline sides converging on consumers with packaged offers anchored in fixed broadband provision alongside voice and TV. Rybak, Natasha 2010-06-29T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53973&rss We’re back from E3 and have analysis on all the major announcements, including game consoles that act like set-top boxes, new methods of controlling consoles (and potentially PCs), and how Nintendo intends to counter Apple in portable gaming. Greengart, Avi 2010-06-23T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41267&rss 3 Group continues with its disruptive strategy in the mobile segment, and its increasingly aggressive marketing strategy is cause for concern among its European competitors. Jifri, Farah 2010-06-21T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53946&rss Swedish operators were the first to move away from unlimited mobile broadband, but LTE and competitive pressure, has forced a reluctant return. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-06-21T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53917&rss The ‘unlimited’ mobile data debate is part of a shift away from network to customer-centric marketing. In the Mobile broadband (PC connectivity) market, that trend is already well underway; ‘reassurance’ is the new marketing mantra. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-06-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53851&rss One-size-fits-all data bundles are going out of fashion in the European smartphone services market. This is all about future-proofing the mobile data business, whilst simultaneously reaching out to the low end of the market. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-06-11T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53815&rss iPad recurring monthly plans, albeit prepaid, look and feel like postpaid plans, modeled and marketed in the same terms, often with inclusive WiFi. The actual pricing challenge to postpaid benchmarks, however, is limited. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-06-08T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53721&rss The launch of iPad plans was expected to result in a wave of new price aggression in the area of MBB prepaid day rates. Operators, however, are playing a conservative game. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-06-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53692&rss It will take more than co-branded services to bridge the now unfathomably large gap between Yahoo!, Nokia and their respective competitors. With no results due in Europe until 2011, this effort is a competitive irrelevance. Jifri, Farah - Karthikeyan, Deepa 2010-05-27T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53695&rss Orange’s new ‘Affordable Smartphone’ strategy is aggressive, but half-baked. It misses several opportunities to segment in a meaningful, network-friendly way. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-05-27T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39904&rss Mobile data represents the one and only real revenue growth opportunity in the mobile market today. Protecting that lifeblood is now an industry obsession. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-05-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53680&rss Project Canvas looks more and more likely to launch; now, it only awaits final approval from the BBC Trust. While a positive development for venture partners BT and TalkTalk, this is not a welcome prospect for challengers BSkyB and Virgin Media. Rybak, Natasha 2010-05-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53677&rss The latest Q1 2010 CurrentTrack Mobile Broadband – Small Business survey points up continued problems in marketing and service modeling across Europe today. Small business users are still being treated like consumers. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-05-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53672&rss Google TV promises to marry Internet content with the TV but at the same time adds unnecessary complexity to an already confusing content consumption landscape. Whether Google can stand out in the crowd and make it in Europe remains to be seen. Jifri, Farah - Hettick, Larry 2010-05-25T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53645&rss Telefonica O2 Germany’s newly launched NetzClub ad-funded mobile service is simple and effective. However, the operator will have to contend with the more established Gettings offering from E-Plus. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-21T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53626&rss By focusing more attention on some of the basic desires of consumers, and placing more power in their hands, savvy service providers will have a better chance of catching and keeping customers in a fast evolving and complicated market environment. Rybak, Natasha 2010-05-20T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41233&rss TDC remains the market leader in its home market for both fixed broadband and mobile telephony. The company has shown innovation to cement its position; however, it faces stiff competition from other Nordic operators. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53588&rss Movistar’s new tocAD mobile advertising service doesn’t quite tick all the boxes and risks appearing weak in comparison to rival services. Parent company Telefonica could do worse than look to its UK operation’s Move service for inspiration. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53595&rss The UK mobile Internet market is inscrutable. Operators concerned by a potential negative public backlash should consider extensive policy and pricing revisions. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-05-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53567&rss The CurrentTRACK Mobile Broadband Europe consumer update for Q1 2010 reveals that providers are still uncertain as to how to structure pricing and portfolios, how to exploit channels for better reach, and how to target segment-specific services. Rybak, Natasha 2010-05-17T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53532&rss A merger is a testing time for any organization. ‘Everything Everywhere’ is an emotional rouser, designed to rally T-Mobile and Orange troops behind a single executive team. But as a corporate brand, it is problematic. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-05-12T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53517&rss Ovi Maps is steadily becoming Nokia’s flagship service, but establishing brand primacy in this area will be a challenge – not to mention expensive. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-11T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53506&rss Without device exclusivity, and a limited opportunity for service differentiation, carriers will struggle to establish iPad value-add. For Apple, the iPad data plan is merely the last check item in a device-centric chain of purchasing steps. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-05-10T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53421&rss A deal with TF1 is an incremental enhancement to Orange France’s three screen content proposition, but with no exclusivity, it is a move that can be matched and countered by the incumbent's aggressive rivals in the digital television space. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41418&rss Telenor is the leading mobile and broadband provider in Norway and among the top three in Denmark and Sweden. In spite of coming up against stiff competition in a mature Nordic market, the operator has held its own. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41274&rss Virgin Media is the market leader in bundled service provision in the UK. Thanks to aggressive promotional activity, the service provider saw its quad play customers grow to 511,000 in Q4 2009, accounting for over 60% of its customer base. Jifri, Farah 2010-05-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53400&rss Deutsche Telekom reiterates its 'Fix – Transform – Innovate' strategy, and while the plan plays to the company's consumer services strengths, it is not especially 'transformative' or 'innovative' – although it will assist on the 'fixing' front. Rybak, Natasha 2010-05-04T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39905&rss The MVNO market in Europe is evolving in several different directions, with some countries seeing significant MVNO growth, others very little. Murky regulation and the complexity of reaching agreements with MNOs remain hurdles to development. Rybak, Natasha 2010-05-03T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43248&rss BT still leads the UK consumer broadband market and continues to grow its share of DSL net adds, but the incumbent is competing in an environment with no shortage of heavy hitting opponents, including cable, satellite and LLU-based operators. Rybak, Natasha 2010-04-30T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53323&rss Google’s decision to allow European operators to retail the Nexus One through their own channels is more a strategy hiatus than a fully-fledged admission of e-tailer defeat. This isn’t where the story ends. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-04-30T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53316&rss Virgin Media’s Online Movies provides access to additional eyeballs and creates a billing relationship with a wider customer base. However, the offering does little to steal a march on rivals. Jifri, Farah 2010-04-30T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39902&rss As the mobile media pieces start falling into place, the next big competitive struggle – multi-screen home services – is just starting up. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-04-27T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43247&rss Swisscom remains entrenched as the country’s consumer market leader, but competition will gradually increase as LLU is implemented, cable players enhance their presence with deployment of EuroDOCSIS 3.0, and Sunrise and Orange move to merge. Rybak, Natasha 2010-04-27T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41415&rss Cheap, cheerful and increasingly targeting mobile data, Tele2’s ‘Best Deal’ strategy for its key Western European markets is both disciplined and well communicated. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-04-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53161&rss Virgin Media delves into the emerging UK services area of digital home support, a move that will gradually be followed by other operators as consumers turn to their SPs for help with proliferating devices and the ever more 'connected' home. Rybak, Natasha 2010-04-19T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53125&rss It looks like a fixed phone, sounds like a fixed phone. It’s even plugged into the wall. Tele2 Sweden’s all-cellular ‘Home Telephony’ is a homezone oddity, but that doesn’t make it a femto. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-04-15T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53100&rss If the OMDI series of reports is to be taken as an indication of the state of the wider market, the real blast of the ‘mobile data traffic explosion’ has come... and gone. Mobile data usage is still growing, but at a slower rate. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-04-13T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43249&rss Deutsche Telekom's new Fix – Transform – Innovate strategy is a logical extension of the previous Focus, Fix, Grow initiative, emphasising development of likely consumer growth areas such as mobile Internet and high speed anytime, anywhere access. Rybak, Natasha 2010-04-06T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53062&rss The new Orange/T-Mobile JV stands to lose the most in a proposal to cut UK MTR rates by 86% over the next five years. This will test the new JV’s resolve to work together, and could even accelerate its business transformation. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-04-06T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=48456&rss BSkyB is a heavyweight content provider in the UK and leading the way with HD and 3D TV. However, countering Tier 1 rival Virgin Media remains a competitive challenge in the broadcast arena, and broadband rivals are thick on the ground. Jifri, Farah - 2010-04-02T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=53019&rss The home services market encompasses a wide range of products offered within the increasingly connected home. Operators are moving beyond traditional core competencies and entering new segments to become true one-stop-shop home services providers. Rybak, Natasha 2010-04-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41345&rss Telecom Italia is Italy's dominant consumer provider, exploiting its in-house fixed and mobile assets to offer integrated services. However competitors are aggressive and experienced, skilfully challenging the incumbent at bundling and multiplay. Rybak, Natasha 2010-04-01T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52962&rss Extending Sky Player TV to additional platforms is a good move by BSkyB, and one that may help it move to the Canvas platform. Still, unless it can build out a compelling hybrid OTT proposition, its advantage over competitors will be short-lived. Jifri, Farah 2010-03-29T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43246&rss Belgacom is firmly entrenched as Belgium's fixed and mobile market leader and it is having solid success with its bundles and IPTV offer, but cable players remain a significant threat in the multiplay space and mobile pricing pressure is ongoing. Rybak, Natasha 2010-03-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=41383&rss Vodafone 360, online services and fixed-mobile solutions define Vodafone’s ‘total communications strategy.’ However, Europe’s third-largest DSL provider still needs to establish broadband awareness. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-26T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52924&rss With around two million postpaid customers across Europe, MTV Networks is a figurehead for the brand license partnership model. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-24T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52893&rss TV is getting social, whether it likes it or not, and many major broadcasters and service providers will be rolling out some form of social TV in the next 12 months. However, exactly what shape this social integration will take remains to be seen. Jifri, Farah 2010-03-22T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=42862&rss The evolution of Vodafone live! to My Web and Vodafone 360 is both fast and pan-European. This is a thoroughly Web-centric approach. Mohr-McClune, Emma - 2010-03-17T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52820&rss BT launches dual and triple play bundles with discounted fixed telephony, but given the pricing structure of the portfolio, most UK competitors can still claim cheaper packaged offers incorporating fixed voice, broadband and in some cases TV. Rybak, Natasha 2010-03-15T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52798&rss The latest rendition of Vodafone Spain’s disruptive, ‘free fixed voice’ campaign packs a new, FMS implication which could be better exploited. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-12T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=42860&rss Planet3 has been losing priority within 3Group’s mobile media strategy for some time. Beyond an app store addition in selected markets, Planet3 has seen no significant evolution of late. Mohr-McClune, Emma - 2010-03-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52792&rss Microsoft’s Video Player joins the growing ranks of online video services, coming hot on the heels of SeeSaw and ahead of a planned launch by Hulu. To what extent it can it compete with those rival propositions remains to be seen. Jifri, Farah 2010-03-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=42863&rss At a time in which other operators are pulling back from mobile portal, Orange World is still a work in progress, with a clear multi-platform roadmap. Mohr-McClune, Emma - 2010-03-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=42857&rss The addition of new, integrated services, notably in the area of navigation, has boosted Web’n’walk’s competitive rating. But alignment with ‘Connected Life&Work’ services is still a work in progress. Mohr-McClune, Emma - 2010-03-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=42864&rss Telefonica Europe is working on a wider Mobile Internet project as an alternative to its O2 Active mobile portal for higher-end devices. The O2 Active experience, together with a wider Mobile Internet is evidence of a strong innovation roadmap. Mohr-McClune, Emma - 2010-03-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52762&rss European mobile broadband providers are sticking to old school when it comes to promotions, playing push and pull with local competitors rather than trying to stand out with innovative or unexpected short term incentives and limited time offers. Rybak, Natasha 2010-03-10T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52752&rss The Q4 2009 CurrentTrack Mobile Broadband – Small Business survey points up marketing and service proposition problems across Europe today. Small business users are being treated like consumers. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-09T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52740&rss With the launch of services like SeeSaw and Internet-enabled televisions expected in retail outlets in Q1 2010, all the factors are aligned take Web TV from a niche proposition into the mainstream. Jifri, Farah 2010-03-08T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52720&rss The Q4 2009 CurrentTrack Mobile Broadband – Small Business survey points up marketing and service proposition problems across Europe today. Small business users are being treated like consumers. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-04T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52689&rss Operator billing will strengthen T-Mobile’s Android hand considerably, with tangible advantages for end users. This demonstration of platform integration is the shape of things to come in the mobile apps market. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-02T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43241&rss France Telecom is the clear consumer market leader in its home country, but operations in both Spain and the UK are under pressure from fierce competition. Continued service innovation and multiplay offers are key to countering competitors. Rybak, Natasha - Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-03-01T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43244&rss Telekom Austria is the clear leader in its consumer market despite challenges from alternative players. The company is winning back fixed line customers with bundled multiplay offers and growing both its fixed and mobile broadband customer bases. Rybak, Natasha 2010-03-01T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52661&rss Telekom Austria is the latest in a long line of incumbents to merge its fixed and mobile units to better address customers and convergence. How long the process will take and what the ultimate benefits for consumers will be is an open question.a Rybak, Natasha 2010-02-25T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52663&rss Vodafone UK’s partnership with Qik could kick-start a whole new trend in live video streaming and differentiate it from the crowd. However, Qik is not the only live video streaming application available. Jifri, Farah 2010-02-25T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39906&rss Marketing and bundle innovation, as opposed to new technology, remains the key driver of change in the European mobile voice market. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-23T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52629&rss Service convergence – dare we say it – is back. Fixed-mobile innovation, three-screen content and cloud-based data management were the common consumer service themes of Mobile World Congress 2010. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-19T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52619&rss Expert Assistance is the most impressive customer service announcement of Mobile World Congress 2010. Innovative and highly relevant, Expert Assistance will be familiar to anyone who has ever called an IT helpdesk for remote PC support. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-18T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52594&rss The arrival of ‘free navigation’ from Google and Nokia has challenged mobile operators to underline the value of their own navigation services. T-Mobile sets out a hybrid response, with free ‘Local’ and a subscription GPS alternative. Jifri, Farah 2010-02-17T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52595&rss Operators are thinking hard about positioning themselves as cloud-based data managers for mobile broadband customers. The 3GBox project offers Telefonica’s take on this opportunity. Rybak, Natasha 2010-02-17T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52581&rss Split, back together again – will service providers ever decide on a course of action for mobile applications? The new Wholesale Applications Community sounds like the right step, but needs to be more than brochure-ware. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-16T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52579&rss HD voice penetration will take time and money for Orange to effect; it requires a critical mass of subscribers before end users will experience the benefit. Jifri, Farah 2010-02-16T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52572&rss The iPad will test consumer appetite for new media tablet form factors, with a bandwidth consumption profile more akin to a netbook than a smartphone. This calls for a special service modelling approach. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-12T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52506&rss T-Mobile CR’s Top Program emphasizes premium customer support rather than gifts and lifestyle freebies. This is an appropriately conservative approach to the gray area between the consumer and small business markets. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52493&rss BSkyB’s decision to migrate towards an all-HD proposition is a bold move, and it could give the company a strong differentiator as the UK’s first HD-only service provider. However, a poor transition strategy risks undoing it all. Jifri, Farah 2010-02-02T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52491&rss Having adamantly denied the usefulness and necessity of multi-branding, Vodafone has launched its first fully owned secondary brand in Germany. This crosses one of the most deeply held Vodafone taboos. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-02-02T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52437&rss Nokia’s competitive response to free Google Maps Navigation on Android 2.0 devices could unleash new bundle innovation from the operator community. Is ‘free’ really the future of mobile maps and navigation? Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-01-22T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52409&rss The re-launch of Vodafone Sure Signal underlines the operator’s intention to focus on meeting a real customer need. This anticipates any femtocell service announcement competitors may be planning for MWC. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-01-20T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52398&rss MilleunaTIM Club Premium is an unusual premium loyalty program case study. In a predominantly prepaid market, this program rewards customer engagement as much as spend, from post and prepaid customers on an equal basis. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-01-19T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52382&rss Germany is one of Europe’s most mature and saturated markets for ethnic international mobile calling brands. Establishing a German presence is little more than a kudos move for Lebara Mobile – KPN has this market all sewn up. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-01-15T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52374&rss 3D TV is inching from concept to reality, with service provider competitors starting to jostle for position. Content, hardware, service and business models will start to emerge in 2010. Jifri, Farah 2010-01-14T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=43515&rss From mobile IM to the ‘Internet-of-things’, FMC represents a diverse, complex and unmapped road of linked service opportunities. But even the femtocell basics are proving difficult. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-01-14T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52369&rss Successful market disruptors challenge the assumptions around traditional business models, and then use this knowledge to break them. The Google Nexus One launch strategy may seem like a foolish experiment, but Google is simply trying a new tack. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2010-01-13T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52255&rss TeliaSonera doesn’t know what its first generation of LTE users will do with maximum 100 Mbps downstream, and has created a monster LTE introductory offer to find out. With an open-ended FUP, this is a learning experience all round. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-12-15T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52233&rss Can IPTV compete? Over the past year, some incumbent European providers have shown that the answer is a definitive ‘yes,’ demonstrating impressive IPTV customer growth. Who's winning with IPTV in Europe, and what are the lessons to be learned? Rybak, Natasha 2009-12-10T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52226&rss One of Europe’s oldest premium reward programs, Vodafone Stars stands out as a four-tiered proposition for standard, ‘Silver,’ ‘Gold’ and ‘Platinum’ customers. However, making the success case in the high-churn German market is difficult. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-12-09T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52231&rss Orange could not afford to let the year expire without a big app store launch announcement, and here it is. Critically, Orange has failed to get a pre-loaded client ready for demo and sale in Orange shops across Europe by end-year. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-12-09T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52207&rss Pragmatism and practicality were the hallmarks of Western European M&A activity in 2009, with cost-effectiveness and synergies of scale the end goals of combination, collaboration and cooperation between both fixed and wireless consumer providers. Rybak, Natasha 2009-12-04T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52196&rss Traffic prioritisation, application bans and a set of new definitions of ‘fair usage’ are creeping into MBB marketing speak. Is the fat pipe attempting to be too smart for end-user tastes? Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-12-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52079&rss With around 100,000 registered members, Le Pacte PREMIUM rewards SFR’s highest-spend customers with additional benefits, including a notable emphasis on network, service and support quality guarantees – mobile and fixed. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-12-01T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52067&rss Simple, easy-to-understand and genuinely useful in poor indoor 3G coverage scenarios - this second European consumer femtocell launch once again focuses on the end-user value, thankfully hiding FMC complexity. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-11-25T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52051&rss There’s no need for competitors to get excited; BASE isn’t going anywhere (for now). On the contrary, a near-term mobile broadband launch is likely to make the Belgian ‘challenger’ more of a competitive pain in the neck than ever. Mohr-McClune, Emma - Rybak, Natasha 2009-11-24T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52056&rss The first in a six-part report series looks at best-in-market ‘high-value’ loyalty campaigns, built to reward highest-spend customers with tiered benefits. O2 Priority List is a key driver of the operator’s recent contract churn success story. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-11-24T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52043&rss The Dutch bundling segment is strong on simple, practical service provision, but weak on innovation. Cable has long been a major influence in this country market, not only in bundling, but also in the realms of fixed broadband and digital TV. Rybak, Natasha 2009-11-23T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52030&rss A pan-European Twitter partnership talks up a blending of mobile social media, Web and IPTV capabilities, but the immediate-term challenge is less spectacular. Competitors should already be considering MMS upload to Twitter friends. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-11-19T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52024&rss The German bundles market is an eclectic mix of competitive strategies, from traditional dual and triple play cable and DSL-based bundles, to quad and multiplay combining elements of both fixed and mobile service provision, along with content. Rybak, Natasha 2009-11-18T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=52013&rss Traffic shaping is happening, if slowly. Marketing innovation is starting to address the emerging problem of mobile broadband traffic overload. This advisory reports looks at five emerging practices. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-11-16T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51922&rss This is more of a short-term tactical competitive response to Orange’s iPhone market debut, than a longer-term bundle play. Still, positioning home broadband as a free value-add to cellular tether is an original approach. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-11-11T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51905&rss Virgin Media scores the highest competitive rating in the first of a series of market-by-market reports on service bundling. This report examines the state of bundling play in the unusually crowded UK market. Rybak, Natasha 2009-11-09T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51850&rss Having shown Google Mobile Search the cold shoulder for the best part of a decade, Orange is the first to announce a deal for Google Mobile App, giving the OTT prime real estate on the Signature homescreen. This is an act of calculated pragmatism. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-10-30T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51841&rss Operators are experimenting with bundled mobile broadband and content subscriptions. This is an opportunity for operators to extend existing content deals and relationships out to mobile broadband. Tudor, Ben 2009-10-29T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51815&rss BASE’s latest Member-Gets-Member iPhone reward scheme is as innovative as it is revealing. BASE competitors can learn a lot about the operator’s 3G launch plans by reading between the offer’s lines. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-10-27T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51812&rss Incumbents with IPTV investments should beware of new entrants to their market: OTT players that make use of broadcast technology for delivering linear content and the Internet for delivering VoD. These competitors are flexible and dangerous. Tudor, Ben 2009-10-27T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51784&rss The results of the Q3 CurrentTrack Mobile Broadband – Small Business survey are out, and the writing is on the wall. Small businesses in Europe remain chronically under-served for mobile broadband today. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-10-22T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51781&rss The UK online music market has seen a plethora of OTT players emerging in the last year, threatening both wired and wireless operators. What makes them tick, and, more importantly, how can their success help operators? Tudor, Ben 2009-10-22T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51759&rss 3apps heralds 3 Group’s mass-market app store strategy in Sweden, Denmark and (coming soon) Austria. This is a vanilla, device-centric competitive response in an aggressively value-added, ‘me-too’ market. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-10-20T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51726&rss There’s a value-added future for bundled access with cloud services. Vodafone is looking to claim first mover advantage with suite of services (online storage, anti-virus and others) which are more commonly reserved for business users. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-10-15T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51710&rss Short-term, postpaid promotions dominated mobile broadband competitive activity in Q3, according to the CurrentTRACK Mobile Broadband Consumer service data. With good reason: heavy-user pricing has already sunk below EUR 1/GB in some markets. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-10-13T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51638&rss There have been plenty of consumer MiFi – or 3G router – launches in Europe since May, but the benefit to users of these devices and associated services and tariffs is utterly indistinct, and likely to remain opaque in the foreseeable future. Tudor, Ben 2009-09-30T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51624&rss T-Mobile UK has launched mobile broadband gift packs offering unlimited browsing for three or 12 months. While attractive, this product is not unique in the market, and users cannot view video or download large files. Tudor, Ben 2009-09-30T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51622&rss Spotify’s launch of mobile clients for iPhone and Android could upset the apple cart for mobile operators. But, as with any OTT competitor, the initial threat also hides a great deal of opportunity. Tudor, Ben 2009-09-29T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51613&rss Vodafone 360 should help shake the iPhone-inspired crisis of confidence, which has paralyzed the MNO community. Like the very best mobile solutions, Vodafone 360 is a proprietary approach to service convergence - welcome to the Walled Garden 2.0. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-09-25T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51606&rss Mobistar comes to market with Belgium's first prepaid mobile broadband offer, taking the lead from incumbent Proximus in shaping the country's underdeveloped mobile broadband market and setting customer expectations and basic service standards. Rybak, Natasha 2009-09-24T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51551&rss Rebranding Tele2 to BASE is an important step for the developing integrated operator. But BASE has now to revise its ‘smart follower’ strategy to get ahead with multi-service bundling, where innovation – not following – is the name of the game. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-09-18T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=39903&rss SMS is still the king of mobile messaging, although operators are starting to warm towards IM. MMS remains a widespread industry disappointment. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-09-14T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51503&rss UK grocery retailer Tesco and Microsoft have teamed up to deliver downloadable DVD-quality films with dynamic extra content. While the deal is good news for all, it stands a high chance of failure for all participants. Tudor, Ben 2009-09-11T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51488&rss Hidden, ignored and unexplained–operators are clearly reluctant to do reseller justice to Nokia’s key music service. Of the 18 established operator resellers, none are marketing the product aggressively. There’s a fatal flaw in Nokia’s B2C vision. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-09-10T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51475&rss This planned JV takes asset sharing to the ultimate, logical level, with clear and compelling cost-saving implications. The merger will hand mobile market leadership to the UK’s two weakest MNOs, but the end-user benefits are less clear. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-09-08T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51466&rss Deutsche Telekom has inflicted PR by a thousand e-mails at the IFA show today, but the end result is encouraging evidence of a company moving towards a promising, fully integrated multi-play future. Tudor, Ben 2009-09-04T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51321&rss Lebara Mobile is one of the UK's leading ethnic MVNOs, leveraging a tight focus and targeted marketing to achieve growth. But there is no dearth of competition from like-minded rivals offering near price parity and comparable international reach. Rybak, Natasha 2009-08-20T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51324&rss The tried-and-tested ‘two for the price of one’ retail technique is proving useful for fixed line incumbents seeking to offset mobile broadband pricing competition and underline a ‘complementary’ fixed-mobile message. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-08-20T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51297&rss Prepaid mobile broadband in Germany is evolving almost exclusively in the indirect and secondary brand channel, undercutting WiFi pricing benchmarks. The market is polarizing, with an emphasis on operator-branded ‘unlimited usage’ plans. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-08-17T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51295&rss Orange France’s HiFi decoder adds extra functionality to its Livebox. However, Orange France needs to make sure it uses the device to boost bundles and extend music subscriptions, rather than selling another gadget. Tudor, Ben 2009-08-17T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51273&rss OFCOM’s recent report on real world fixed broadband speeds suggests that the ADSL speeds are still disappointingly low in the UK. But fixed line substitution is still a risky proposition, and mobile operators should consider bundled deals. Tudor, Ben 2009-08-13T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51248&rss Orange UK has introduced Early Bird, a mobile broadband tariff that allows unlimited usage between midnight and 9am. The service is likely to attract students, commuters, and heavy users who consumer vast amounts of mobile data already. Tudor, Ben 2009-08-07T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51217&rss 3 Austria’s Holiday All Inclusive bundle offers a glimpse of best practice future for roaming services. Too bad the operator couldn’t get the proposition out at the start of the summer season. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-08-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51233&rss Virgin Media has abandoned speed-based pricing – for its ADSL products. Instead, the cable company is promising the best connection it can deliver, and pricing on download quotas, contradicting its speed-centric cable broadband marketing. Tudor, Ben 2009-08-05T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51202&rss Cable operators in Europe are beginning to adopt faster cable standards and capitalise on MVNO deals for mobile broadband. Both spell a threat to mobile operators, and competitive tactical responses are vital. Tudor, Ben 2009-08-04T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51192&rss ’Unlimited,’ all-in monthly plans have arrived in the UK; Virgin Media’s new offer comes days after the launch of Tesco Mobile’s own unlimited offer. The flat-rate brigade has sounded the horn. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-08-03T00:00:00-04:00 http://www.currentanalysis.com/COMPETE/FrontEnd/Report.aspx?rid=51182&rss Low-tech, community-centric, handset-agnostic and ‘free’ – Orange Monkey ticks all the service boxes for a youth-segment hit. But Orange UK’s intention to add an advertising consent dimension are unexplained. Mohr-McClune, Emma 2009-07-31T00:00:00-04:00