Source: http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/qualcomm%E2%80%99s-firethorn-adds-thousands-of-financial-institutions-to-mobile-banking-platform/
March 1st, 2010
Vision: In times to come, Consumers will be able to send money to someone using our mobile phone address books containing email addresses and/or mobile phone numbers.
How does it happen now: - Currently for mobile payments, there is no user friendly way for consumers to send money to each other, other than PayPal, that is, which does not have complete coverage.
Automated Clearing House (ACH) is the most common way to transfer funds electronically in the U.S. Routing this transaction requires users to know the bank ID and account number, the numbers listed on the bottom of paper checks.Most Americans do not know their account number or even carry paper checks anymore. Plus, sharing these numbers is considered risky and invites identity theft.
The mobile payments industry needs a way to map a safe, commonly-known, easily-identifiable ID such as an email address or mobile phone number to arcane ACH bank account information. That looks like exactly what Firethorn and the carriers are doing.
Mr. Eads said that when Firethorn can map email addresses and phone numbers to bank accounts, it becomes the “big directory in the sky” that has been missing from mobile payments in the U.S.
Firethorn is building a database of mobile phone numbers, email addresses, ZIP codes and financial instituion login credentials, and believes that this is extremely valuable for both mobile payments and mobile marketing.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
How are MVNO different from MNO
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_virtual_network_operator
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service.
A company that does have frequency allocation(s) and all the required infrastructure to run an independent mobile network is known simply as a mobile network operator (MNO).
An MNO that does not have a frequency spectrum allocation in a particular geographical region may operate as an MVNO in that region.
MVNO is an entity or company that works independently of the mobile network operator and can set its own pricing structures, subject to the rates agreed with the MNO.
Some MVNO may own their own home location register, or HLR, which allows more flexibility and ownership of the subscriber's mobile phone number (MSISDN)—in this case, the MVNO appears as a roaming partner to other networks abroad, and as a network within its own region.
Some MVNOs run their own billing and customer care solutions known as business support systems (BSS). Many use an MVNE.
There is a distinction between MVNOs and service providers, who purchase wholesale mobile minutes and resell to end-users. Normally they do not have their own SIM cards and the services provided by service providers depend on the services of the hosting MNOs or MVNOs.
The first commercially successful MVNO in the UK was Virgin Mobile UK,[3] launched in the United Kingdom in 1999. Virgin replicated its UK success through its US operation Virgin Mobile USA, which was eventually acquired by Sprint Nextel for a total equity value of approximately USD$483 million.
Mobile operators and MVNOs
There are three primary motivations for mobile operators to allow MVNOs on their networks. These are generally:
Segmentation-driven strategies
mobile operators often find it difficult to succeed in all customer segments. MVNOs are a way to implement a more specific marketing mix, whether alone or with partners and they can help attack specific, targeted segments.
Network utilisation-driven strategies
Many mobile operators have capacity, product and segment needs–especially in new areas like 3G. An MVNO strategy can generate economies of scale for better network utilisation.
Product-driven strategies
MVNOs can help mobile operators target customers with specialised service requirements and get to customer niches that mobile operators cannot get to.
MVNO models mean lower operational costs for mobile operators (billing, sales, customer service, marketing), help fight churn, grow average revenue per user by providing new applications and tariff plans and also can help with difficult issues like how to deal with fixed-mobile convergence by allowing MVNOs to try out more experimental projects and applications. The opportunity for mobile operators to take advantage of MVNOs generally outweighs the competitive threat.
Understanding the MVNO value chain
Mobile network operator (MNO)
The traditional MNO is characterised by having their own mobile licence, their own mobile infrastructure and direct customer relationship to the end user. The MNO can handle Network Routing and will usually have roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MNO can produce and distribute for example voice-minutes, SMS and MMS messaging and data traffic themselves. The MNO can typically handle customer service, invoicing and collect consumption data and handle handset management themselves. Additionally the MNO will usually handle marketing and sales to end users themselves.
Mobile network enabler (MNE)
An MNE is characterised by having their own mobile licence and own mobile infrastructure, but the MNE has - unlike the MNO - no direct customer relationship with the end user. It is therefore only an MNO that can establish themselves as an MNE. The MNE is capable of handling Network Routing themselves and the MNE will typically have roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MNE is able to produce and distribute for example voice minutes, SMS and MMS messages and data traffic. The MNE will typically be able to handle customer relationship, customer billing and collection of consumption data and mobile handset management. The MNE will not handle marketing and sales to end-users, this is a task for the MNE's wholesale customers.The MNE handles the technical side of the business and often also handles areas like customer service and legal assistance for mobile providers without their own network.
Mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE)
MVNEs are characterised by neither having a mobile licence nor mobile infrastructure or any direct customer relationship with the end-users. The MVNE is capable of handling Network Routing and the MVNE has typically entered into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MVNE is not capable of producing and distributing for example voice minutes and data traffic, but the MVNE will typically be able to handle producing SMS and MMS messages. A typical MVNE will handle customer service, customer billing, collection of consumption data and mobile handset management. Additionally the MVNE will not handle marketing and sales to end-users, this is a task for the MVNE's wholesale customers. The MVNE functions as a middleman between the MNO and the mobile providers without their own networks. The MVNE handles the technical side and often also tasks like customer service and legal assistance for mobile providers without their own network.
Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)
An MVNO is characterised by neither having their own mobile licence nor own mobile infrastructure, but the MVNO has the direct customer relationship with the end user. The MVNO is able to handle Network Routing themselves and will typically have entered into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MVNO is often able to produce and distribute for example voice minutes and data traffic, typically by tagging onto their existing fixed line operation, and the MVNO will typically be able to handle producing SMS and MMS messages. A typical MVNO will be able to handle customer service, customer billing and collection of consumption data and handset management. Furthermore the MVNO will usually handle marketing and sales to end-users them self.
Mobile shared spectrum enabler (MSSE)
The MSSE has no mobile infrastructure of its own, but is a technology provider that uses innovative hardware and software to enable MVNOs to create their own actual mini-networks, while preserving and enhancing the relationship between MVNO and MNO. Using its agreement with the MNO, and operating within the MNO's spectrum license, the MSSE helps the MVNO to deploy its own network of low-power base-stations into areas the MNO could not justify, using Pico- and Femto-cell technologies. There is no impact on the MNO's mainstream network and it can, if it chooses, extend the reach of the its network at no cost, while the MVNO can improve its profitability by offering specialist and niche mobile solutions.
Service provider (SP)
An SP has neither a mobile licence nor own mobile infrastructure, but the SP has the direct customer relationship with the end user. An SP is not able to handle Network Routing themselves and a SP will not enter into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The SP is not able to produce and distribute for example voice minutes and data traffic and cannot produce SMS or MMS messages themselves. The SP will typically handle customer relationship, customer billing consumption data and handset management themselves. Additionally, the SP will typically handle their own marketing and sales to end-users.
Branded reseller (BR)
A BR has neither a mobile licence nor own mobile infrastructure, but has the direct customer relationship to end-users. The BR cannot handle Network Routing themselves and the BR will not enter into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The BR cannot produce and distribute for example voice minutes and data traffic themselves and are not able to produce SMS or MMS messages. A typical BR will not handle customer service, customer billing or collection of consumption data and handset management themselves.The BR will primarily concentrate their activities around marketing and sales to end-users. The BRs' positive contribution to the value chain is (naturally) their "brand", but their distribution power will also be a central asset for many Branded Resellers.
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a company that provides mobile phone services but does not have its own licensed frequency allocation of radio spectrum, nor does it necessarily have all of the infrastructure required to provide mobile telephone service.
A company that does have frequency allocation(s) and all the required infrastructure to run an independent mobile network is known simply as a mobile network operator (MNO).
An MNO that does not have a frequency spectrum allocation in a particular geographical region may operate as an MVNO in that region.
MVNO is an entity or company that works independently of the mobile network operator and can set its own pricing structures, subject to the rates agreed with the MNO.
Some MVNO may own their own home location register, or HLR, which allows more flexibility and ownership of the subscriber's mobile phone number (MSISDN)—in this case, the MVNO appears as a roaming partner to other networks abroad, and as a network within its own region.
Some MVNOs run their own billing and customer care solutions known as business support systems (BSS). Many use an MVNE.
There is a distinction between MVNOs and service providers, who purchase wholesale mobile minutes and resell to end-users. Normally they do not have their own SIM cards and the services provided by service providers depend on the services of the hosting MNOs or MVNOs.
The first commercially successful MVNO in the UK was Virgin Mobile UK,[3] launched in the United Kingdom in 1999. Virgin replicated its UK success through its US operation Virgin Mobile USA, which was eventually acquired by Sprint Nextel for a total equity value of approximately USD$483 million.
Mobile operators and MVNOs
There are three primary motivations for mobile operators to allow MVNOs on their networks. These are generally:
Segmentation-driven strategies
mobile operators often find it difficult to succeed in all customer segments. MVNOs are a way to implement a more specific marketing mix, whether alone or with partners and they can help attack specific, targeted segments.
Network utilisation-driven strategies
Many mobile operators have capacity, product and segment needs–especially in new areas like 3G. An MVNO strategy can generate economies of scale for better network utilisation.
Product-driven strategies
MVNOs can help mobile operators target customers with specialised service requirements and get to customer niches that mobile operators cannot get to.
MVNO models mean lower operational costs for mobile operators (billing, sales, customer service, marketing), help fight churn, grow average revenue per user by providing new applications and tariff plans and also can help with difficult issues like how to deal with fixed-mobile convergence by allowing MVNOs to try out more experimental projects and applications. The opportunity for mobile operators to take advantage of MVNOs generally outweighs the competitive threat.
Understanding the MVNO value chain
Mobile network operator (MNO)
The traditional MNO is characterised by having their own mobile licence, their own mobile infrastructure and direct customer relationship to the end user. The MNO can handle Network Routing and will usually have roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MNO can produce and distribute for example voice-minutes, SMS and MMS messaging and data traffic themselves. The MNO can typically handle customer service, invoicing and collect consumption data and handle handset management themselves. Additionally the MNO will usually handle marketing and sales to end users themselves.
Mobile network enabler (MNE)
An MNE is characterised by having their own mobile licence and own mobile infrastructure, but the MNE has - unlike the MNO - no direct customer relationship with the end user. It is therefore only an MNO that can establish themselves as an MNE. The MNE is capable of handling Network Routing themselves and the MNE will typically have roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MNE is able to produce and distribute for example voice minutes, SMS and MMS messages and data traffic. The MNE will typically be able to handle customer relationship, customer billing and collection of consumption data and mobile handset management. The MNE will not handle marketing and sales to end-users, this is a task for the MNE's wholesale customers.The MNE handles the technical side of the business and often also handles areas like customer service and legal assistance for mobile providers without their own network.
Mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE)
MVNEs are characterised by neither having a mobile licence nor mobile infrastructure or any direct customer relationship with the end-users. The MVNE is capable of handling Network Routing and the MVNE has typically entered into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MVNE is not capable of producing and distributing for example voice minutes and data traffic, but the MVNE will typically be able to handle producing SMS and MMS messages. A typical MVNE will handle customer service, customer billing, collection of consumption data and mobile handset management. Additionally the MVNE will not handle marketing and sales to end-users, this is a task for the MVNE's wholesale customers. The MVNE functions as a middleman between the MNO and the mobile providers without their own networks. The MVNE handles the technical side and often also tasks like customer service and legal assistance for mobile providers without their own network.
Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO)
An MVNO is characterised by neither having their own mobile licence nor own mobile infrastructure, but the MVNO has the direct customer relationship with the end user. The MVNO is able to handle Network Routing themselves and will typically have entered into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The MVNO is often able to produce and distribute for example voice minutes and data traffic, typically by tagging onto their existing fixed line operation, and the MVNO will typically be able to handle producing SMS and MMS messages. A typical MVNO will be able to handle customer service, customer billing and collection of consumption data and handset management. Furthermore the MVNO will usually handle marketing and sales to end-users them self.
Mobile shared spectrum enabler (MSSE)
The MSSE has no mobile infrastructure of its own, but is a technology provider that uses innovative hardware and software to enable MVNOs to create their own actual mini-networks, while preserving and enhancing the relationship between MVNO and MNO. Using its agreement with the MNO, and operating within the MNO's spectrum license, the MSSE helps the MVNO to deploy its own network of low-power base-stations into areas the MNO could not justify, using Pico- and Femto-cell technologies. There is no impact on the MNO's mainstream network and it can, if it chooses, extend the reach of the its network at no cost, while the MVNO can improve its profitability by offering specialist and niche mobile solutions.
Service provider (SP)
An SP has neither a mobile licence nor own mobile infrastructure, but the SP has the direct customer relationship with the end user. An SP is not able to handle Network Routing themselves and a SP will not enter into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The SP is not able to produce and distribute for example voice minutes and data traffic and cannot produce SMS or MMS messages themselves. The SP will typically handle customer relationship, customer billing consumption data and handset management themselves. Additionally, the SP will typically handle their own marketing and sales to end-users.
Branded reseller (BR)
A BR has neither a mobile licence nor own mobile infrastructure, but has the direct customer relationship to end-users. The BR cannot handle Network Routing themselves and the BR will not enter into roaming deals with foreign MNOs. The BR cannot produce and distribute for example voice minutes and data traffic themselves and are not able to produce SMS or MMS messages. A typical BR will not handle customer service, customer billing or collection of consumption data and handset management themselves.The BR will primarily concentrate their activities around marketing and sales to end-users. The BRs' positive contribution to the value chain is (naturally) their "brand", but their distribution power will also be a central asset for many Branded Resellers.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Things to Know before setting up Connectivity in IT
1. Who/what will be accessing the network?
2. Where do users need access?
3. What applications will be used?
4. What devices will be used to access the applications?
The answers to these questions will guide IT decision-makers on type, location, and amount of connectivity, device support, and application
integration. It’s important to point out that companies don’t have to, and likely won’t, eliminate borders overnight. Instead, their networks will evolve
and gradually remove borders. By breaking a ‘borderless’ state into components, they can start by upgrading the performance of their network, add
wireless coverage where needed, and enhance security, laying the foundation for the eventual goal of having applications and the network interact.
Source: http://www.webtorials.com/main/resource/papers/cisco/paper156/borderless_infonectics.pdf
2. Where do users need access?
3. What applications will be used?
4. What devices will be used to access the applications?
The answers to these questions will guide IT decision-makers on type, location, and amount of connectivity, device support, and application
integration. It’s important to point out that companies don’t have to, and likely won’t, eliminate borders overnight. Instead, their networks will evolve
and gradually remove borders. By breaking a ‘borderless’ state into components, they can start by upgrading the performance of their network, add
wireless coverage where needed, and enhance security, laying the foundation for the eventual goal of having applications and the network interact.
Source: http://www.webtorials.com/main/resource/papers/cisco/paper156/borderless_infonectics.pdf
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
How CAMEL helps in establishing a VPN Call
How is VPN call established using CAMEL support.
The VPN service translates the dialled number into the public number associated with the destination subscriber, who belongs to the same VPN group as the calling subscriber. Hence,
subscribers of one VPN group, e.g. an enterprise, may call one another by GSM, by dialling the
PABX extension number.
subscribers of one VPN group, e.g. an enterprise, may call one another by GSM, by dialling the
PABX extension number.
In case (1), the CAMEL service connects the calling subscriber to a mobile VPN subscriber. The mobile VPN subscriber belongs to the same VPN group as the calling subscriber. The call is routed to the GMSC of the HPLMN operator, from where the call is routed to the VMSC, where the called subscriber currently resides.
In case (2), the calling subscriber is connected to an extension of the PABX at the company.
In example (3), the calling subscriber is connected to a VPN colleague in an office in the visited country.
In all three cases, the ISUP signalling may take the shortest possible path between the VMSC of the calling subscriber and the PSTN/PLMN of the called subscriber. In these examples, the VPN service may ensure that the called party receives the calling party’s VPN number on her display, instead of the calling party’s public number (Table 3.6).
On-net calls are calls between users of the same VPN group;
Off-net calls are calls from a user of a VPN group to a user outside the VPN group or vice versa.
Referring to the diagram below:
When the calling party (+31 6 516 34 567) dials 3341, the VPN service determines that this number belongs to a subscriber of the same VPN group. The VPN service translates the dialled
number into the public GSM number of the destination subscriber (+31 6 516 34 568). The VPN
service also provides an additional calling party number (3342) in CAP CON. The called subscriber receives 3342 on her display, instead of +31 6 516 34 567. Should the called VPN subscriber return the call, i.e. dial 3342, then the VPN service will connect the call to +31 6 516 34 567. If the calling subscriber dials an off-net number (e.g. +31 70 456 6782), then the VPN service allows the call to continue to the dialled destination, without affecting the routing of the call. VPN does not provide an additional calling party number, since the VPN number should not be presented to a called party that does not belong to the (same) VPN group.
When a call crosses an international boundary, it may occur that the calling party number or the
additional calling party number is not transported in the ISUP signalling link.
A VPN subscriber may receive an on-net call when she is roaming in a non-CAMEL network. In
that case, the VPN service for that called subscriber may remove the additional calling party number from the ISUP signalling flow. The rationale is that the called VPN subscriber might otherwise return a call to the displayed VPN number of the calling party. However, since the network where the called party is currently roaming does not support CAMEL, the VPN service does not have the capability to connect a call from that subscriber to a VPN destination.
Call Forwarding -- Early or Late
What is difference between Early and Late Call Forwarding? Here is a possible explanation ....
Cellular telephones have become increasingly prevalent in today's society. The cellular telephone makes use of a cellular network and traditional telephone networks to route calls using radio communication signals. Two types of cellular networks have evolved—Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) and American National Standards Institute-41 (ANSI-41) type networks. ANSI-41 is also sometimes referred to as IS 41 (TIA/EIA [Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Association] Interim Standard 41).
The two types of cellular networks use message formats that are not completely compatible with one another as they are. Thus, if a mobile subscriber (MS) using cellular communication, roams from one type of network to another, the messages sent by the MS may not be understood by the network into which it roams unless some sort of conversion is performed. In order to allow roaming between “foreign” type networks, a signaling message converter, referred to herein as an IWU (InterWorking/interoperability Unit) operates to interconnect calling and called Mobile services Switching Centers (MSCs). The IWU passes signaling messages back and forth between network entities while converting the format of these messages such that the messages can be properly interpreted by the receiving MSC.
However, even with known signal message converters, GSM standards are inherently different from the ANSI-41 standards mentioned above. One of these differences is in the operation of “late call forwarding” or the action of the system when a call to a mobile subscriber (MS) cannot be terminated, i.e. connection completed, for any of several specific reasons like call collision, no page response of a page request sent to the called MS, and the like. A GSM system expects the terminating Mobile service Switching Center (MSC) to handle the call forwarding while an ANSI-41 system expects the originating or home MSC of the MS to handle the call forwarding.
As is known by those skilled in the art, call forwarding may occur when a call, to a given MS, cannot be terminated. The call forwarding can be “early” or “late”. Early call forwarding is defined as occurring when a contact with the MS has failed due to predetermined circumstances occurring while attempting to extend the call to another network. Late call forwarding is defined as occurring when call forwarding is initiated after the call has been extended to the last known “foreign” public land mobile network location and contact with the MS has failed due to predetermined circumstances.
In view of the above, it would be advantageous to have a converter mechanism that provides for late call forwarding from the originating MSC when a MS roams from an ANSI-41 network to a GSM network.
In summary, If call is forwarded by HPLMN then it is ECF if by VPLMN then it is LCF.
Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6615037.html
Cellular telephones have become increasingly prevalent in today's society. The cellular telephone makes use of a cellular network and traditional telephone networks to route calls using radio communication signals. Two types of cellular networks have evolved—Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) and American National Standards Institute-41 (ANSI-41) type networks. ANSI-41 is also sometimes referred to as IS 41 (TIA/EIA [Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industries Association] Interim Standard 41).
The two types of cellular networks use message formats that are not completely compatible with one another as they are. Thus, if a mobile subscriber (MS) using cellular communication, roams from one type of network to another, the messages sent by the MS may not be understood by the network into which it roams unless some sort of conversion is performed. In order to allow roaming between “foreign” type networks, a signaling message converter, referred to herein as an IWU (InterWorking/interoperability Unit) operates to interconnect calling and called Mobile services Switching Centers (MSCs). The IWU passes signaling messages back and forth between network entities while converting the format of these messages such that the messages can be properly interpreted by the receiving MSC.
However, even with known signal message converters, GSM standards are inherently different from the ANSI-41 standards mentioned above. One of these differences is in the operation of “late call forwarding” or the action of the system when a call to a mobile subscriber (MS) cannot be terminated, i.e. connection completed, for any of several specific reasons like call collision, no page response of a page request sent to the called MS, and the like. A GSM system expects the terminating Mobile service Switching Center (MSC) to handle the call forwarding while an ANSI-41 system expects the originating or home MSC of the MS to handle the call forwarding.
As is known by those skilled in the art, call forwarding may occur when a call, to a given MS, cannot be terminated. The call forwarding can be “early” or “late”. Early call forwarding is defined as occurring when a contact with the MS has failed due to predetermined circumstances occurring while attempting to extend the call to another network. Late call forwarding is defined as occurring when call forwarding is initiated after the call has been extended to the last known “foreign” public land mobile network location and contact with the MS has failed due to predetermined circumstances.
In view of the above, it would be advantageous to have a converter mechanism that provides for late call forwarding from the originating MSC when a MS roams from an ANSI-41 network to a GSM network.
In summary, If call is forwarded by HPLMN then it is ECF if by VPLMN then it is LCF.
Source: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6615037.html
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Fibonacci in Nature
Fibonacci in nature
The rabbit breeding problem that caused Fibonacci to write about the sequence in Liber abaci may be unrealistic but the Fibonacci numbers really do appear in nature. For example, some plants branch in such a way that they always have a Fibonacci number of growing points. Flowers often have a Fibonacci number of petals, daisies can have 34, 55 or even as many as 89 petals!
Finally, next time you look at a sunflower, take the trouble to look at the arrangement of the seeds. They appear to be spiralling outwards both to the left and the right. There are a Fibonacci number of spirals! It seems that this arrangement keeps the seeds uniformly packed no matter how large the seed head.
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