Financial Management, Software, Mexico, CLA: Telefónica Mexico has awarded Optimi a planning and optimisation contract to help it manage both its network growth and the increased demand it is currently experiencing for its voice and data services. Optimi will utilise x-Dimension, a capital-efficiency planning solution, to assist Telefónica Mexico’s ongoing planning and design.

Mobile Commerce, Banking & Payments, Migration: A pilot programme aims to tap mobile technology to help the world’s 200 million international migrant workers,  many of whom don’t have bank accounts, send remittances to their dependents easily and securely. Spearheaded by 19 mobile operators in over 100 countries and representing over 600 million customers, the programme has ambitious aims...

Mobile entertainment, India: Bogart and Bacall? Great combinations are nothing new in films. But what about - wait for it - a Bollywood film now showing at your local mobile? Yes, 3GSM at Barcelona rolled out the red carpet as the world’s largest film industry premiered the concept of Bollywood films downloaded onto a mobile device. No autographs, no Oscar but DT offers you royal box coverage…

Standards, SMS, Mobile, Telephony, Global: The SMS Forum has just announced it is to disband. The Forum believes it has successfully achieved its objective of introducing universal standards for SMS, and so further work from the Forum is no longer required.

SMS, Global: Should Auld acquaintance be forgot? Not according to the record numbers of SMS sent this New Year. Thousands of miles, different time zones and even the seas and oceans proved no barrier for friends, family and loved ones this most recent New Year.

Mobile, Messaging, Sustainability, India, Asia-Pacific: The Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) has selected fastmobile and Jataayu to implement the GSM Association’s first personal IM rollout.  

Laptops, Hardware, Education, Global: Professor Nicholas Negroponte, who chairs the non-profit One Laptop per Child project, took the opportunity of December’s ITU summit in Hong Kong to bring the telecoms community up to date with the latest progress in his dream.

Business news, India: Vodafone is set to launch a £7bn plus offer for the Indian mobile phone operator Hutchison Essar as the company prepares to fight off rival bids for India's fourth largest telecoms carrier.

Technology, 3G, EGPRS, China, Asia-Pacific: Shanghai Unicom, a branch of China Unicom, recently took the opportunity of a press conference to announce several new mobile services. 

Business, Acquisitions, Global: French power company Schneider Electric is paying US$6.1 billion to buy American Power Conversion.

Mobile, SMS, Global: Obstacles to sending or receiving SMS messages are likely to be substantially reduced thanks to a new hub-based interoperability scheme currently undergoing trials.