Cisco bullish on mobile Internet

Cisco's proposed $2.9 billion acquisition for Starent Networks, is part of the IT giant's strategy to compete in mobile Internet infrastructure with 3G and later with LTE, reports WiMax.com.

According to Cisco Visual Networking Index predictions, almost 64% of the world's mobile data traffic will be video by 2013.

Simon Aspinall, senior director of service provider marketing, says: “We believe the mobile Internet is a huge transition that is happening very quickly, and we believe this is the right time for Cisco and Starent Networks to combine their strengths to enable operators to release, deliver and profit from the next wave of mobile multimedia applications and services."

AT&T is partnering with mobile phone giant Nokia with plans to subsidise Nokia's Booklet 3G for $299, states InformationWeek.

The netbook has WiFi, 3G capabilities, GPS, a 120GB hard drive, and a 16-cell battery that Nokia claims will deliver up to 12 hours of battery life.

The move comes as smartphones and laptops are becoming increasingly similar in terms of pricing and capabilities. Companies such as Apple, Acer, and Dell are jumping into the smartphone market to capitalise on the mobile computing convergence.

Three telecom units of LG Group are set to merge into a single business entity in the near future, says The Korea Times

The LG Group's plan is expected to accelerate internal talks by SK Telecom to buy its broadband affiliate SK Broadband.

LG says the merger is necessary to compete with KT and SK Telecom, and will enable LG to bundle mobile, fixed-line and Internet services into a single package.