Israeli start-up seeks to end roaming charges

An Israeli startup is trying to combat a common fear for international travelers: getting socked with hundreds or thousands of dollars in unexpected roaming charges for using cellphones away from home.

   Cell Buddy aims to turn any smartphone into a local one. Travelers can choose from an array of calling and data plans with carriers in dozens of countries. As a result, they pay local rates -- not the pricey fees charged by their wireless carriers at home.

   Here's how it will work once the service starts next year: Customers use a universal SIM card provided by Cell Buddy. Travelers turn on their phones and launch a Cell Buddy app once they reach their destination. The app finds local carriers and lets travelers compare prices, data packages, download speeds and other factors. Travelers are assigned a local phone number and can continue to use their regular phone number back home, at regular prices, using the same SIM card.

   One major caveat: Cell Buddy's SIM works only with unlocked phones, making it difficult for American travelers who have phones still tied to two-year service contracts. Those phones are locked and won't accept other SIM cards. In addition, Verizon and Sprint use the CDMA cellular standard, and some phones won't work with the more common GSM networks elsewhere.

   Cell Buddy's service eliminates the need to order a roaming plan ahead of time, stand in line at the airport to buy a local SIM card or physically switch the cards. Most importantly, it eliminates roaming charges to the home carrier.

source: www.kmov.com

M2M world allaince delivers first multi operator global solution

The M2M World Alliance, which is comprised of Etisalat, KPN, NTT DOCOMO, Rogers, SingTel, Telefonica, Telstra and VimpelCom, today officially unveiled its solution which aims to simplify and promote the adoption of machine-to-machine (M2M) communications worldwide.

The unique solution will leverage the operators' combined global presence to benefit customers who are looking for regional or global M2M deployments. It allows companies to enjoy connectivity throughout the Alliance coverage area with in-market rates. Additional benefits include easier compliance with local market regulations and the potential for multinationals to provide global technical support from a single market.

The name "M2M World Alliance" has recently been created to identify the group's coordinated operations.  Its multi-coloured logo represents the Alliance's aspiration to coordinate the delivery of M2M services globally.

"We believe that our unique and seamless solution will drive rapid growth in the adoption of M2M communications worldwide by giving our customers the ability to operate connected devices globally at a reduced cost," said Angel David Garcia Barrio, Chairman of the M2M World Alliance. "With operations in more than 60 countries, the Alliance's global footprint presents multinational organizations with a seamless approach to deploying connected devices in multiple countries at one time."

M2M communications are used when machines - a broad term for equipment used in all sorts of industries, including consumer electronics, utilities, agriculture and construction - connect and exchange information with information technology infrastructure. It is considered by many as the latest stage in the internet's evolution: when cyberspace reaches beyond the traditional confines of computers to connect to any device with a microprocessor.

Major growth areas identified by the M2M World Alliance for its global solution include connected cars, fleet management, smart meters, consumer electronics, game consoles, wearable electronics, telehealth and security solutions.

"Access to a simple, seamless SIM solution on a global platform presents a significant growth opportunity for global businesses deploying connected devices," said Mansell Nelson, Vice President, M2M, Rogers Communications. "Our single SIM card makes it easier for businesses to deploy connected devices in multiple countries and will drive further growth for the machine-to-machine business at Rogers."

source: www.newswire.ca

ILIAD : free includes 4G in its c2 mobile plan

Free has once again enhanced its mobile offerings by including 3G/4G mobile internet

(50MB data volume) as well as MMS messaging in its €2 Plan.

In so doing, it is bringing superfast mobile internet within everyone's reach by giving them access to 4G through its still unbeatable €2 Plan.

Subscribers who exceed the 50MB included in their plan will continue to be able to access mobile internet at price of only €0.05 per additional MB.

For Freebox subscribers this 4G plan is available for €0/month.

Free is continuing to roll out its mobile network, which currently counts more than 800

4G sites.

For new subscribers this offer will be accessible as from Thursday, December 12. Existing subscribers to the €2 Plan will automatically access those new services as from their next billing month.

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About Free

Free is the inventor of the Freebox, the first multiservice box on ADSL. Free is behind numerous innovations in the broadband access segment (VoIP, IPTV, flat-rate calling plans to multiple destinations, etc.). Free provides straightforward and innovative offerings at the best prices. At the end of 2010, Free introduced the Freebox Revolution, the 6th generation of Freebox units that notably includes an NAS and a Blu-RayTM drive. Free was the first operator to include calls from landlines to mobile phones in its offerings and also calls to French overseas departments (DOM).

Since January 2012, Free has brought mobile phone usage within everyone's reach with straightforward, no- commitment offerings at very attractive prices. Free has over 5.5 million broadband subscribers and more than 7.4 million mobile subscribers (as at September 30, 2013).

Unlimited SMS and MMS messages excluding special, premium-rate and short numbers.
Prices as at December 10, 2013. Offer subject to conditions (see mobile.free.fr) and valid exclusively in Metropolitan France subject to network coverage and the use of a compatible mobile phone. SIM card free of charge subject to the following conditions: (i) on- line subscription to the €2 Plan with number portability, and (ii) activation of the SIM card within 15 days of its dispatch date. In other cases a charge of €10 applies. €0/month offer only for Freebox subscribers, for a maximum of one mobile subscription per household. Any Freebox subscriber who cancels their Freebox subscription will no longer be eligible for this €0/month offer. BlackBerryTM option available for €1/month

source: www.4-traders.com

could pre paid internet be Africa's broadband saviour

Depending on where you live in the world, it might be hard to imagine going about your life without easy access to the internet. For many, it has become more than a source of entertainment and information. From doing business, to keeping in contact with others, to participating in the news and conversation on a global scale, the internet has become an integral part of modern society.

In South Africa, access to reliable, affordable internet isn’t always a given. That’s why companies like Telkom Mobile have launched pre-paid internet programs. Like pre-paid options in the mobile phone market (you pay a fee up front to gain access to cellular service), Telkom’s pre-paid internet offers affordable internet access to areas that typically have to go without.

At its core, the Telkom program provides users with a SIM card to get started and 2.4GB of data usage per year, broken down to about 200 MB per month. And the cost? Just R49. For those without a modem, a 3G USB modem can also be rolled into the bundle, making it a one-time fee of R399.

Those 2.4 GB might not seem like a lot for folks who are used to downloading and streaming movies, music and cat videos every day of their life but, to the people of South Africa, it means finally being able to connect to the world in a whole new way, officially joining the 21st century in terms of technology, communication and information exchange. Depending on usage, those 200MB a month could go a long way.

Telkom isn’t the only company providing such a service, of course. Vodacom, for instance, also offers pre-paid Internet with no contract required. Its program, by comparison, offers 100MB of data per month, the SIM card and an optional 3G modem for R399. Without a modem, the price drops to R149.

And then there’s Afrihost, which offers its own take on prepaid internet. Its package offers 1GB of bandwidth with data validity of up to 12 months for R24. Up to 2GB is available at R48. The plan is adjustable, though, going all the way up to 50GB for R1200.

source: memeburn.com

British Somalis held over telecom fraud

Gambian authorities have arrested two British nationals of Somali origin over allegations of their involvement in a huge communication fraud in the country, intelligence sources said.

Abdourazak Hazi and Faizal Ahmed Jama were arrested by intelligence officers on Tuesday for the alleged fraud perpetrated on Gambia’s state-run network.

They were apparently able to send vast amounts of information, via the internet and phone calls, for several weeks but avoid any charges, which were instead picked up by the state.

A state security agent said on television that there had been devastating consequences on the network because of their actions.

He said the activities of the suspects are believed to cause massive losses to the national telecommunications operator, though he did not give any specific amount.

“Operatives found two illegal sim card boxes installed, connected and operational at the residence of the suspects who came to The Gambia a few weeks ago,” the security agent who was not identified told state television.

source: midnimo.com

new mobile operators for recharge to gambia, indonesia and USA on mobile recharge.com

New mobile recharge operators are now available onMobileRecharge.com for international top ups to mobiles in Gambia, Indonesia and the USA. More specifically, online recharges to Page Plus and Red Pocket are now easy to make, in less than 1 minute directly on the website. Also Africell Gambia and Ceria Indonesia fill in the list of new operators on MobileRecharge.com. This is a great opportunity to send mobile credit gifts to family and friends living in other countries than your own.

Starting October, MobileRecharge.com offers to everyone holding a free account the possibility to send mobile credit to cell phones pertaining to Africell Gambia, Ceria Indonesia or PagePlus and Red Pocket in the USA. They benefit from fast and easy ordering which can be done in less than 1 minute, immediate credit transfer, and sometimes promotional bonus.

Africell Gambia is the second top up operator for this country on MobileRecharge.com, after QCell. The popular Africell is a subsidiary of Africell Holding company, operating not only in Gambia, but Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo as well. A fast growing company, Africell reached over 3 million active subscribers only ten months after its launch in 2012.

Ceria is a much expected new option for phone recharges in Indonesia. It has been active on the market since 2006 under the auspices of PT Sampoerna Telekomunikasi Indonesia. What still makes them stand out as an appealing service is the affordability-quality ratio.

Page Plus and Red Pocket are the"new comers" on the mobile recharge map for the USA, along the other four operators already in service: TracFone, AT & T, Net10, SIMPLE Mobile. Page Plus is known for prepaid cell phones and mobile plans, continuous improvement of services and competitive prices. Red Pocket Mobile is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), that offers no contract wireless service throughout the United States, including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Red Pocket’s product suite includes Unlimited and Pay-As-You-Go plans, all powered by the ultra-convenient Red Pocket Mobile SIM card.

By looking closely at Mobile Recharge.com, there’s no doubt that customers’ feedback has huge influence on product development and new protocols with popular operators.

The mobile recharge process on Mobile Recharge.com takes less than 1 minute. All major credit cards are accepted, and the system guarantees a secure environment, as proved by the certifications on the website.    

source: prweb.com