Deutsche Telekom has teamed up with MasterCard to launch a mobile payments service, initially in Poland and Germany. German consumers will be able to take part in a trial using mobile phone tags and cards, to be followed by a "mobile wallet" service that will be open to other issuing banks and partners. The German operator is also talking with other potential partners, including Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), reports Bloomberg. (See DT, MasterCard Team Up and German Operators Team on Mobile Money.)
BT and Fujitsu Ltd. (Tokyo: 6702; London: FUJ; OTC: FJTSY) have emerged as the only companies bidding for a slice of the £530 million ($831 million) in U.K. government funding earmarked to speed the rollout of high-speed broadband to rural corners of Britain, reports the Financial Times (subscription required). In some areas BT is the sole bidder for the contracts, which are to be awarded by local authorities under the so-called "national framework agreement." (See UK Govt Allocates Broadband Funding, BT Preps 'Landmark' FTTC Investment and Fujitsu Unveils UK FTTH Plan.)
Arqiva , the U.K.-based communications infrastructure and media services company, is to acquire Spectrum Interactive, a Wi-Fi hotspot operator with a presence at 2,100 locations, for £23.4 million ($36.7 million). (See Arqiva to Buy Spectrum Interactive and Arqiva, AlcaLu Trial LTE in UK.)
I think the wireless operators are learning they have to partner. I wouldn't be surprised if Google was their next partner of choice, even though they've resisted it so far (with the exception of Sprint).
I think the wireless operators are learning they have to partner. I wouldn't be surprised if Google was their next partner of choice, even though they've resisted it so far (with the exception of Sprint).