Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) looks set rocket over the next four years, with the services competitive pricing causing a stir in the telephony market. eMarketer projects that by 2010, 32.6 million Americans will subscribe to VoIP, equating to nearly 40% of broadband households using the technology. VoIP’s popularity stems from broadbands growth, with increasing… Continue reading VoIP Price Fuelling Consumer Uptake

Advertising on mobile phones is forecast to the become increasingly popular, with a new report from Magna Global recommending that marketers cash in on this emerging channel now. According to Magna, there are currently 2 billion mobile subscribers around the world, with 20% annual subscriber growth rate. New mobile networks are capable of distributing video,… Continue reading Mobile Phone Advertising To Increase

Multimedia and technologically advanced mobile phones are increasing in popularity in the Asia-Pacific, with declining prices fuelling consumer up-take. Over half of the phones shipped within the region in 2005 had camera functions. In-Stat expects this trend to continue, reaching 67% of the mobile phone market by 2009. Commenting on the findings, Victor Liu, In-Stat… Continue reading High-Tech Phones Push Forward In Asia-Pacific

The BBC continued to dominate primetime schedules last night, with Holby City and Dalziel and Pascoe conspiring to create a miserable evening for ITV’s competing programmes.The Corporation drew 6.9 million adult viewers on average with Holby City, followed by 6.6 million for Dalziel and Pascoe, trouncing ITV1’s coverage of the Champions’ League and Take My… Continue reading ITV Floored By BBC Drama Double Bill

Channel 4 has extended its contract for news programming with ITN for a further five years, guaranteeing production of its award-winning Channel 4 News to the end of 2010.The new contract is worth over £100 million, encompassing news content across Channel 4 and More4. The new agreement also covers new media activities such as online… Continue reading ITN Scoops £100m Channel 4 News Deal

Niche digital channel Motors TV has secured the pan-European TV broadcast rights for the Le Mans 24-hour motor race in 2006 and 2007, providing a boost to the channel, which will run a week of programming to celebrate the event this year.The channel’s coverage will begin on 12 June, culminating in the race itself on… Continue reading Motors TV To Drive Audiences Up With Le Mans

Media watchdog Ofcom has unveiled its Annual Plan for 2006/7, placing the transition to fully digital TV and the development of IP-based communication networks at its core.The regulator reports the nation “embracing digital in all its forms and with enthusiasm,” citing the uptake of broadband, digital TV, DAB digital radio and 3G mobile services as… Continue reading Ofcom Focuses On Switchover In Annual Plan

The Association of Online Publishers has released its 2006 Census, revealing a drastic shortage of skills required by the online publishing industry.The research reveals unfilled vacancies in almost three quarters of AOP member companies, compared with 58% in 2005.In addition, publishers rated difficulty in recruitment and retention as one of the biggest constraints on the… Continue reading Online Publishers Face Growing Gap In Skills

Publishing group, Bertelsmann AG Gruner+Jahr AG & Co KG, is reported to be considering buying the French arm of Emap’s magazine business. According to reports in the German newspaper, Handelsblatt, Bernd Kundrun, managing director of Gruner+Jahr, said: “We are open for acquisitions in France. Like all the others, we are looking at the magazines which… Continue reading German Publisher Shows Interest In Emap’s French Division

The concluding half of ITV’s detective drama The Commander aired last night, drawing a healthy 5.6 million adult viewers on average, but failing to top BBC detective stalwarts Dalziel and Pascoe.The Corporation’s detective duo notched up an average audience of 6.2 million adults, securing a 27.8% share to knock ITV, with a share of 26.3%,… Continue reading BBC One Wins Detective Drama Duel