After much anticipation, third generation (3G) mobile phones are about to appear on the market. The networks are built, most of the technical problems have been resolved and handsets are in production. The new technology promises to revolutionise the way we use our mobiles, delivering live video calls, digital mapping and advanced location-based services. It… Continue reading INSIGHTanalysis: Advertisers Gear Up For 3G

A merger of the cable firms Telewest and NTL will not take place for at least another year, according to a report in today’s Guardian. The newspaper claims that bondholders want both management teams to achieve operational targets before they provide more funds and support amalgamation. This will come as a surprise to many industry… Continue reading UK Cable Merger Put On Hold

The media sector has continued to feel the brunt of the plummeting stock market this week, with all but seven of the media companies listed in MediaTelINSIGHT Sharewatch showing falling prices yesterday. UK stocks have been falling for well over a week now as market uncertainties – particularly the spectre of war – cause company… Continue reading Continuing Share Falls Slash Media Company Values

As expected, Deutsche Telekom (DT) looks set to sell its cable assets to a consortium of financial investors for between â‚Ź1.7 billion and â‚Ź2.0 billion. The price range falls slightly short of the â‚Ź2.2 billion that DT had hoped to secure for the six regional cable franchises. The Financial Times today says that the deal… Continue reading Deutsche Telekom To Net

comScore Networks calculates that US online retail sales totalled $13.3 billion in the last quarter of 2002, a year on year increase of 23%. The figures, reported on eMarketer, do not include travel sales but tally with a survey taken just after Christmas which estimated holiday spending at more than $13.7 billion (see ECommerce Market… Continue reading Holiday Online Sales In Line With Expectations

Broadband continues to win hearts and minds in the UK with new findings from Oftel revealing that 84% of internet customers are now aware of high-speed services and their merits compared to just over 50% in February 2002. New subscribers to permanent connections were wholly responsible for the increase in internet connectivity during November (see… Continue reading UK Broadband Revolution Gathers Pace

Mobile operators are being optimistic if they expect multimedia messaging services (MMS) to be the elixir for the ills of the industry, says a new study by market researchers Datamonitor. The success of short message service (SMS) text messaging has encouraged operators to invest heavily in MMS and it is hoped that mobile data services… Continue reading MMS Study Brings Little Cheer To Operators

Digital TV homes in the UK have, on average, 3.1 sets, making the country more ‘television-centric’ than the US, says a report in New Media Markets. The research, carried out by consultants Understanding & Solutions in association with BBC Worldwide, found that there are 2.9 sets in the average US digital household while French digital… Continue reading UK Is More ‘Television-Centric’ Than US, Says Study

Sir Martin Sorrell, the chief executive of WPP, has reproached his fellow advertising bosses for whingeing about the state of the market, arguing that recessions are part and parcel of managing a business. According to a Daily Telegraph report from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sorrell said that chief executives should ‘stop moaning’ and… Continue reading Sorrell Lambasts ‘Moaning’ Industry Chiefs

Like-for-like radio revenues at Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) rose by 6.5% in the group’s first financial quarter, from October to December 2002. According to the company’s AGM statement, released this afternoon, revenues at the press division, Score Press, were up 5.5% year on year, with growth continuing into January. The group said it has had… Continue reading Scottish Radio Sees Good Start To The Year