Ericsson says it will continue to pursue the research and development of thin-modem technology, a path it initiated in its failed joint venture with ST. “Ericsson continues to believe that the thin modems hold a strategic value to the wireless industry. With this move Ericsson will create a highly focused ‘thin modem only’ operation, an area in which both [companies] invested significant amounts to establish industry-leading technology and intellectual property,” said president and CEO Hans Vestberg. “Initial customer contacts give support to the belief that our modems will meet the requirements of the manufacturers in the rapidly growing smartphone and tablet market.”

Weve joins Joyn as a must-play ecosystem

While Joyn, the telecommunications industry’s answer to over-the-top (OTT) messaging platforms, slowly gains steam, another four-letter company has entered the fray: Weve. This joint venture between Vodafone, O2 and EE promises to be the platform for mobile advertising, a revenue opportunity that’s yet to be properly exploited by CSPs. Weve combines location-based advertising, loyalty, messaging, and rich media to deliver an attractive offering for brands who want in on the mobile revolution; early sign-ups from heavyweights Nike and Morrisons, a UK supermarket chain, indicate that Weve is one to watch.

“Weve is making a double appeal here,” wrote principal analyst Jason Armitage on Yankee Group’s website in March. “The first is to advertisers looking for a credible mobile marketing platform. The second is to smaller operators and MVNOs [mobile virtual network operators] that are currently not on board. Weve has reached critical mass in terms of audience and should be considered seriously by both groups.”