Communication - Smart Office

Sony Ericsson In Deep Trouble
Sony Ericsson is in strife after net profits for the last quarter crashed 97%. The European manufacturer of mobile phone is finding it hard to compete up against the Apple iPhone, as well as new mobile phone products from Samsung and LG.

New Colourful Desktop IP Phone From Polycom
Polycom has released a desktop SIP phone with a colour display, HD Voice technology, and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.

Government To Share Broadband Infomation
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today released draft instruments setting out the network information that carriers are to provide for the National Broadband Network project, and the rules to safeguard the information.

Apples iPhone Bares Its Business Teeth
Watch out Blackberry-maker RIM as Apple has now given the iPhone the ability to log in securely to enterprise networks, boosting its credentials as a business device. The latest software also supports new third party applications including VoIP, according to techworld.com.

Optus Customers Left Stranded In Queensland
As of 8.30 this morning there are major network problems for Optus mobile and landline customers throughout Queensland and some parts of NSW, affecting voice and broadband services.

Now Its Telstra Versus NEC Over Access
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has recently received another notification of a telecommunications access dispute under the Trade Practices Act 1974 between Telstra and a communications provider.

Nokia Knows Where The Bloody Hell It Is With Navteq Buy
According to AP, Mobile phone maker Nokia has completed its $8.1 billion acquisition of U.S. digital mapmaker Navteq.

New iPhone Packed With Business Apps & Not Just For Geeks
As hundreds of iPhone tragics packed Optus and Vodafone stores in Sydney this morning to get their hands on the new iPhone 3G, Apple announced that more than 500 native applications will be available through the App Store, some squarely positioned in the business PDA environment.

Vodafone Releases iPhone Pricing Similar To Optus
Vodafone Australia today announced that Apple's iPhone 3G will be available on a range of new caps that it says “reflect expected voice and data usage from launch on July 11”.

Consumers Ignoring Recycling Claim Nokia
With Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pushing climate change in Japan it appears that consumers are not taking the enviroment seriously with Nokia reporting that only 3% of people recycle their mobile phones despite the fact that most have old devices lying around at home that they no longer want. Three out of every four people added that they don't even think about recycling their devices and nearly half were unaware that it is even possible to do so.

FIRST REVIEWS: New 3G iPhone Has Problems But The Audio Is Great
The new 3G iPhone has poor battery performance particularly when running 3G applications, however one really big addition is the inclusion of GPS navigation however the antenna is too small to permit turn by turn navigation. On the plus side Apple has improved the audio output of the device over previous iPhones claims Walt Mossberg of All Things Digital, David Pogue of The New York Times, and Edward Baig of USA Today who are among the first technology journalists in the world to conduct in-depth reviews of the new Appple 3G iPhone which will go on sale in Australia on July 11.

Nokia Releases Caring & Sharing GPS Phone
The Nokia 6220 classic comes with a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and Carl Zeiss optics as well as A-GPS with geotagging, this full-featured device makes snapping and sharing pictures online easy and more fun than ever before.

Conroy Gives $8M For More Phone Coverage
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released guidelines for the $8 million Mobile Connect program for 2008-2009.

Nokia Turns Hearing Aids Into Headsets
It seems massive profits and fast-increasing markets are not enough for some mobile phone makers as reports out of the US show that another handset maker, in this case Nokia, opening up a new and unusual niche market.

Telstra Feels The Need For Speed & Rolls Out 4 New Handsets
Telstra will introduce four new Next G mobile handsets in the next week expanding the Next G range to 50 handsets, according to the telco.

Conroy Releases More Details On New Broadband
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, has released new program guidelines, designed to enhance the Australian Broadband Guarantee.

Telstra Blames Nature For Poor Service
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a report Telstra’s pricing and although the reports was generally benign, a couple of the findings on wholesale service went against the telco.

Telstra To Get iPhone As Of July 11
The worst kept secret in the telco space has finally been confirmed: the Apple iPhone 3G will be available to Telstra's 9 million Australian customers as of July 11.

Will Amazon Kindle The Flames Of The Next iPod?
Although it is not available in Australia yet, the Kindle may well become the next iPod- or so some analysts seem to think so.

3 Network Slams Press iPhone Reports
After a number of media outlets claimed last night that the online petition for the 3 Network to sell the iPhone was all a marketing push by 3 and not originally driven by their customers requests, the network came out swinging this morning.

3 Network Pissed At Missing Out On iPhone
Following a flood of requests from customers looking to get the 3G iPhone on 3, the company has unveiled a new website going live tomorrow, which is encouraging people to post their request for the powers that be at Apple to see.

Business Phone With GPS & Push Email From Samsung
The Samsung i780 business phone is designed to enhance work efficiency and is equipped with Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional. This advanced version of the Windows Mobile operating system supports Push email, Java and full document editing capabilities.

Google Mobile Platform To Slash Smart Phone Costs
The Google gPhone will not be delayed with HTC who yesterday rolled out their new Windows Mobile Diamond phone in Australia set to be one of the first Companies to deliver a version of the HTC Diamond running the Google mobile operating system.

HTC Hands Telstra A Gem With Diamond
HTC has today launched its Touch Diamond on Telstra’s Next G network. This new device promises fast internet browsing, captivating 3D touch interface called TouchFlo, all in a small compact size.

NEC Appoints Asentria For Voice Monitoring
NEC Australia has chosen Asentria’s TeleBoss Controllers to monitor and manage its outsourced voice monitoring services.

HTC Working On New Google Phone President To Talk Today
A phone war is set to kick off today with both HTC who are currently working on a new Google phone and LG set to launch new models in an effort to take on the new Apple 3G iPhone. HTC will roll out their new Diamond model while LG is set to roll out a range of new phones including their Secret model.

ISP Named And Shamed By ACCC
Telco provider Gotalk have been named and shamed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Authority for employing overseas spruikers to sell their product using unethical practises.

Internode Scores ADSL Ton & Blasts Telstra
National broadband company Internode says it now offers ADSL2+ broadband services from more than 100 telephone exchanges where its own DSLAM equipment is installed, but its further expansion is being slowed down by Telstra.

Feds To Set Up New Consumer Telco Body
The federal government wants to give consumers more power when dealing with telcos with the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy announcing funding for a new telecommunications consumer peak body.

Email Distraction - A $684 Billion Problem
For those that live and die by their emails, the question increasingly being asked is: ‘Has technology created a monster?’ Email--once a breakthrough in fast and low-cost communication that seamlessly fits into the information worker's day it barely goes noticed in 2008 is starting to get a bad rap, according to Gizmodo.com.

Panasonic Scores Top Marks With Interactive Whiteboards
Panasonic Australia this morning launched its contribution to the governments Connected Classrooms concept with the launch of the 'Panaboard'- an interactive whiteboard concept that has been touted as the 'most important development in public education in 30 years'.

Telstra To Roll Out Worlds Fastest 3G iPhone July 22
Telstra looks set to join Optus and Vodafone in launching the new 3G version of Apple's best-selling iPhone in Australia in July, according to an Australian IT report. It says Telstra chief Sol Trujillo may make an announcement later this week.

Telstra Cuddles Up With Macquarie For Broadband Bid
Macquarie Bank has dropped out of the National Broadband Network bidding competition, apparently satisfied with huge fees in prospect to become an adviser to Telstra in its bid. Telstra chief financial officer John Stanhope announced late on Friday that Macquarie Capital Advisers would act as the telco's financial adviser.

LG Face Phone Downturn From 3G Apple iPhone
LG who is set to roll out new mobiles this week in Australia in an effort to take on the new Apple 3G iPhone could face a downturn later this year according to several telecommunication analysts.

Optus Installs Ciscos Conferencing Suite
Optus has deployed Australia's first multipoint Cisco TelePresence solution, with systems in two locations in Sydney and a third in Melbourne. Cisco TelePresence is an "in-person" meeting experience over a converged network. It delivers real-time face-to-face interactions between people and places, using advanced visual, audio and collaboration technologies.

Telstra Releases Military Technology For Tradespeople
Telstra and AvanTEC have announced a new in-vehicle broadband and mobile computer solution, which was originally designed for the military, but now being marketed to tradespeople.

LinkedIn Gets $56M Injection & Excites Advertisers
Business Networking site LinkedIn said that it has received $AUD 56 million in venture capital funding from Bain Capital Ventures and three existing investors in exchange for a 5 per cent stake in the $1 Billion company.

Plantronics Releases Designer Bluetooth Earpiece
The Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth earpiece is designed for both men and women.

Samsung Launches Finnish Invasion
According to Reuters, the world's No. 2 mobile phone maker, South Koreas Samsung is looking to grow in Finland, the home of rival and No. 1 player Nokia, with its new range of touchscreen phones.

Apple 3G iPhone War Breaks Out Lawyers Called In
An Apple 3G iPhone war has broken out between the world's fastest 3G network run by Telstra and Optus who this week won a deal to sell the new Apple iPhone. At the core of the argument is the fact that consumers who buy the new 3G iPhone will not get the "best of" the new 3G iPhone on the Optus network that according to Telstra runs at up to half the speed of the Telstra network.

Telstra 3G iPhone Deal Essential Say Qantas Customers
A research study of 50 Qantas Frequent Flyer customers has revealed that over 90% had heard of the new Apple 3G iPhone. More than 75% said that they would consider buying a new 3G iPhone however the bulk of those surveyed said that they would not buy a new phone if it meant taking out a new contract with either Vodafone or Optus.

3G iPhone May Not Work In Regional OZ
The current version of Apple's 3G iPhone, launched in San Francisco yesterday by CEO Steve Jobs at surprisingly low prices, may not work in some of Optus and Vodafone's planned extended regional networks in Australia, an Ovum analyst has warned.

WiMax Fails To Fly In Oz Says Frost & Sullivan
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that although the Asia Pacific region can boast of 43 million WiMax subscribers by the end of 2013 and generate estimated revenues of close to US$11 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 45 per cent, Australia will only make up two per cent of the Asia Pacific region’s WiMax.

Microsoft Gets Massive Boost Thanks To The iPhone
Bill Gates should be thanking Steve Jobs this morning- as the newly-released iPhone will not only be a big winner with consumers- Apple has positioned the iPhone to firmly fit into the enterprise space.

Telstra Miss Out On New 3G iPhone
Telstra have missed out to Optus and Vodaphone on getting the new Apple 3G iphone iPhone despite the company having the fastest 3G network in the world. The phone due in Australia on July 11 is expected to sell for less than $250.

Optus And Vodaphone Scores 3G iPhone Deal Claims Apple
Optus and Apple today announced that they will bring the highly anticipated iPhone™ 3G to Australia on July 11. iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast* as the first generation iPhone, built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications already built with the recently released iPhone SDK.

Check Point Gets iPhone VPN Gig
Check Point Software Technologies has today announced Check Point VPN-1 support for the upcoming and much-anticipated Apple iPhone, allowing secure remote access to corporate network systems.

Dirty Dirty Politics Enter Broadband Race
A coalition of broadband carriers, many who are financially struggling and individually have a very small share of the Australian broadband market have now resorted to desperate moves in an effort to get attention claims Telstra. Among them are AAPT, Adam Internet, Austar, and iiNet, Internode, Macquarie Telecom, Optus, Primus Telecom, Telarus, TransACT, Unwired and Westnet.

EXCLUSIVE: Carriers To Sell New Apple 3G iPhone On A Plan
Apple Australia insiders have confirmed that the new Apple 3G iPhone will be sold on plan by carriers in Australia with Optus and Vodaphone confirming with Apple that the plans will range between $39 and $95 per month.

Telstra Puts Another Nail In Airlines Coffin
If high global oil prices and the threat of terrorism are not bad enough, now the airline industry has to contend with a new solution from Telstra that will mean less flying and more sitting around in conference rooms.