Mobile convergence 'big bang'

Fixed-line service operator Korea Telecom (KT) is planning to address what it calls “the mobile convergence big bang,” reports The Korea Herald.

Suk Ho-ick, KT vice-chairman of corporate relations, says the mobile convergence big bang, led by the introduction of smartphones, has brought major changes in the telecommunications sector, effectively paving the way to the mobile broadband era.

According to Suk, the key success factors behind Korea's ICT convergence stems from a strong network, an applications store business model, and open collaboration. “Such open collaboration will help expedite innovation and provide companies with more growth opportunities,” he notes.

Distributor Westcon reveals its convergence business practice is set to focus on support for Avaya small and medium enterprise (SME) partners, states Channel Pro.

Some of the new services available to Avaya SME resellers include TotalSupport, providing pre-and post-sales technical support to resellers.

Tim Brooks, general manager of Westcon Convergence UK and Ireland explains that today's market is challenging with new technologies and training requirements: “It is increasingly difficult for resellers to stay equipped and ahead of the game to profit from sales opportunities and they are more cautious with where they invest their time and money.”

Samsung Electronics and Polycom have revealed plans to deliver unified communications (UC) solutions to mobile platforms, India Info Line.

Under the agreement, Polycom will develop standards-based video applications to be embedded and distributed on the Android-based Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Industry research firm IDC, says the mobile device market is growing rapidly led by tablets. It projects tablet shipments will grow from 7.6 million units in 2010 to more than 46 million units in 2014, representing a compound annual growth rate of 57.4%.