Qualcomm and Teleepoch
Enter Into a 3G CDMA Subscriber Unit License Agreement, October
6, 2007
MTN chooses Cambridge Broadband
Networks for multi-service wireless network in Rwanda, October 6,
2007
Brazilian government to
publish 3G bidding rules soon, October 6, 2007
KTF 3G service suffers
from technical problems, October 6, 2007
Argentina’s Personal
lunches 3G service in Rosario, October 6, 2007
Russia has it's first 3G
network, October 6, 2007
AT&T could drop Alcatel-Lucent
as 3G mobile network supplier, October 6, 2007
Enea Extends License Agreement
with ZTE for 3G Handsets, October 2, 2007
LG to unveil premium handsets
in Brazil, October 2, 2007
KTF 3G subscribers doubled
in less than 3 months, October 2, 2007
3G policy in India will
be non-uniform, October 2, 2007
- previous news
|
|
Prepaid 3G could rescue 3UK
November 10, 2003
3UK has provided various monthly packages to suit all types of users
such as VideoTalk 1000 for heavy users and VideoTalk 100 for occasional
users. The one type of market they have neglected is the prepaid mobile
sector. Sure enough they have the 3toGo package where users buy the handset
and only pay for calls they make but the problem with 3toGo is users need
to set up a direct debit transaction and have their credentials checked.
3UK lacks prepaid voucher mobiles and if they had them at the start,
it could help a long way in reaching its goal of 1 million customers in
Britain by the end of the year. It is fair to say the explosion in mobile
owners in the late 90's corresponded to the introduction of prepaid voucher
mobiles phone. Around 70% of mobile owners in the UK are prepaid users.
The prepaid mobiles can be easily bought from all types of shops such
as supermarkets and stationary stores. No credit checks needs to be done
and no direct debit account has to be setup. Whenever users runs out of
call credits, they only need to buy vouchers to top up their mobiles.
With 3toGo, users do not have to buy vouchers as the call charge is debited
from their account but it doesn't set a limit to the amount calls you
can make. If a parent bought a 3toGo mobile for their kids, kids can make
as much calls as they want. With prepaid voucher mobiles, the mobile must
have credits before anyone can make calls and is limited to how many credits
are still left. It makes it a great present to give to someone else because
there is no hassle of setting up an account and it's up to the person
receiving the present to buy calling credits.
Mobile usage among the teenage age group is one of the highest in the
UK with many owing a prepaid mobile. The owners in this age group require
small, lightweight and fashionable handsets, which none of the current
3 handsets are. Aiming its service at this age group could reap rewards
for 3. Obviously, 3 would have to provide new cheaper and smaller handsets,
probably at the expense of the video calling function. 3 were keen at
the start of their campaign to market its video calling and data service
as the main function of its 3G service but their recent strategy has been
use to cheap voice calls to attract customers. The state of 3's coverage
outside London is still questionable and makes video conferencing rather
inconsistent. So abandoning video calling functions shouldn't be an issue
as long as customers would still be able to access certain data services
such as downloading ringtones and wallpapers, which is a popular revenue
generator.
Whatever 3 releases out between now and Christmas, few would anticipate
3 achieving its subscriber target.
|
3G Motorola A920
