Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest phone show, was called off after a mass exodus by the participants on the fears of coronavirus that has caused thousands of deaths.

The GSM Association (GSMA), which holds this gathering said it had become "impossible" to organise the event as planned in Barcelona.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-coronavirus-prompts-sony-amazon-sony-and-ericsson-to-join-barcelona-mobile-congress-exodus-280030">Coronavirus prompts Sony, Amazon, Sony &amp; Ericsson to join Barcelona mobile congress exodus</a>

Earlier tech giants, including Amazon, Sony and Ericsson decided to pull off from the event in Barcelona because of the virus outbreak.&nbsp;

However, Spain's health minister, Salvador Illa urged people to trust their health system and "take decisions based on scientific evidence".

GSMA had also tried to alleviate fears by taking certain recommendations for the safety of people attending the event. These measures include avoiding handshakes and placing a ban on visitors coming from the province in China where the deadly virus was first discovered.

The annual event was scheduled to be held from February 24-27 this year. More than 100,000 people generally participate in this event and nearly 6,000 people were expected from China to visit this year. &nbsp;

Thousands of tech companies showcase their latest innovations.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak was recorded with 242 deaths, taking the overall death toll to over 1,350.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest phone show, was called off after a mass exodus by the participants on the fears of coronavirus that has caused thousands of deaths.

Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world's biggest phone show, was called off after a mass exodus by the participants on the fears of coronavirus that has caused thousands of deaths. The GSM Association (GSMA), which holds this gathering said it had become "impossible" to organise the event as planned in Barcelona. Also read: Coronavirus prompts Sony, Amazon, Sony & Ericsson to join Barcelona mobile congress exodus Earlier tech giants, including Amazon, Sony and Ericsson decided to pull off from the event in Barcelona because of the virus outbreak. However, Spain's health minister, Salvador Illa urged people to trust their health system and "take decisions based on scientific evidence". GSMA had also tried to alleviate fears by taking certain recommendations for the safety of people attending the event. These measures include avoiding handshakes and placing a ban on visitors coming from the province in China where the deadly virus was first discovered. The annual event was scheduled to be held from February 24-27 this year. More than 100,000 people generally participate in this event and nearly 6,000 people were expected from China to visit this year. Thousands of tech companies showcase their latest innovations. On Wednesday, the deadliest day of the coronavirus outbreak was recorded with 242 deaths, taking the overall death toll to over 1,350.

MWC 2020: World's biggest phone show cancelled due to coronavirus fears

The annual trade show Mobile World Congress (MWC) was cancelled on February 12 after a mass exodus by exhibitors due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak. While Spanish health officials said that there was no reason to cancel the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona over coronavirus fears, despite major companies pulling out of the event.

Catalonia Health Minister: There is no public health reason to suspend any event

Tech companies <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/impact-of-coronavirus-on-global-economy-278907#tourism-278899">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/impact-of-coronavirus-on-global-economy-278907#tourism-278899">Sony </a>and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/impact-of-coronavirus-on-global-economy-278907#tourism-278899">Ericsson </a>are skipping the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/mobile-world-congress-2017-how-the-saturated-mobile-world-seeks-to-reinvent-itself-12752">Mobile World Congress</a> this year because of fears over the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/impact-of-coronavirus-on-global-economy-278907#tourism-278899">coronavirus</a>.

The companies will stay away from the world's biggest mobile tech fair in Barcelona.

South Korean giant LG and NTT DoCoMo,&nbsp;one of the biggest in Asia will be absent for reasons of "security" stemming from the virus.

<div class="photo-play">
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/impact-of-coronavirus-on-global-economy-278907#tourism-278899">Also see: How coronavirus is affecting the global economy</a>
</div>

The annual gathering is scheduled for February 24-27 this year.&nbsp;It is the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering.

"Due to the outbreak and continued concerns about novel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-coronavirus-faqs-myths-vs-facts-279896https://www.wionews.com/photos/impact-of-coronavirus-on-global-economy-278907#tourism-278899">coronavirus</a>, Amazon will withdraw from exhibiting and participating in Mobile World Congress 2020," the company said in a statement.

A similar statement was issued by Sony, it said "as we place the utmost importance on the safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners, media and employees, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from exhibiting and participating at MWC 2020 in Barcelona."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-coronavirus-faqs-myths-vs-facts-279896">Also read: The Coronavirus FAQs: Myths vs facts</a>

LG, which normally has one of the biggest stands, had said last week that its decision "removes the risk of exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel which has already become more restrictive as the virus continues to spread across borders."

Like Sony, LG plans separate events to unveil its new mobile products.

Other trade shows have also been hit by the virus, with the biennial Singapore Airshow reporting the loss of more than 70 participants, including US group Lockheed Martin and Bombardier of Canada.

The MWC is a major date on tech company calendars and normally draws more than 100,000 people from all over the world to see the latest innovations and gadgets.

The mobile trade association GSMA that organises the congress said Sunday it was taking drastic precautions this year to ease fears that it could become a hub for the virus to spread.

Till date, more than 40,000 people have been infected and death toll has crossed 1000 in the outbreak that began in China's Wuhan city.

Tech companies Amazon, Sony and Ericsson are skipping the Mobile World Congress this year because of fears over the coronavirus. The companies will stay away from the world's biggest mobile tech fair in Barcelona.

Tech companies Amazon, Sony and Ericsson are skipping the Mobile World Congress this year because of fears over the coronavirus. The companies will stay away from the world's biggest mobile tech fair in Barcelona. South Korean giant LG and NTT DoCoMo, one of the biggest in Asia will be absent for reasons of "security" stemming from the virus. Also see: How coronavirus is affecting the global economy The annual gathering is scheduled for February 24-27 this year. It is the telecom industry's biggest annual gathering. "Due to the outbreak and continued concerns about novel coronavirus, Amazon will withdraw from exhibiting and participating in Mobile World Congress 2020," the company said in a statement. A similar statement was issued by Sony, it said "as we place the utmost importance on the safety and wellbeing of our customers, partners, media and employees, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from exhibiting and participating at MWC 2020 in Barcelona." Also read: The Coronavirus FAQs: Myths vs facts LG, which normally has one of the biggest stands, had said last week that its decision "removes the risk of exposing hundreds of LG employees to international travel which has already become more restrictive as the virus continues to spread across borders." Like Sony, LG plans separate events to unveil its new mobile products. Other trade shows have also been hit by the virus, with the biennial Singapore Airshow reporting the loss of more than 70 participants, including US group Lockheed Martin and Bombardier of Canada. The MWC is a major date on tech company calendars and normally draws more than 100,000 people from all over the world to see the latest innovations and gadgets. The mobile trade association GSMA that organises the congress said Sunday it was taking drastic precautions this year to ease fears that it could become a hub for the virus to spread. Till date, more than 40,000 people have been infected and death toll has crossed 1000 in the outbreak that began in China's Wuhan city.

Coronavirus prompts Sony, Amazon, Sony & Ericsson to join Barcelona mobile congress exodus

ZEE5, a multi-lingual digital entertainment platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Apigate, which is a new-breed Application Programming Interface (API) platform, to deliver the largest bouquet of content across languages and genres to audiences globally, said a company statement. The collaboration brings the plethora of ZEE5’s exciting content, including top TV Shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Jodhaa Akbar and Sembaruthi, blockbusters like Kedarnath, Veere Di Wedding and Mersal, and Originals like Abhay (Kunal Kemmu), Final Call (Arjun Rampal), Rangbaaz (Saqib Saleem) and Sharate Aaj (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) to audiences in 11 countries globally, said the statement, adding that it will leverage on Apigate’s next-generation API ecosystem to create innovative value propositions for customers.

Through this partnership, ZEE5 will leverage not only Direct Carrier Billing which offers consumers a secure and convenient payment solution but will also go beyond that to offer bundling, wallets and application to person messaging for all subscribers, the statement added.

Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global, said, “As content creators, we’re creating rich and engaging content across multiple languages for our viewers across the globe. We have an ambitious growth agenda to expand ZEE5’s reach to a wider audience segment across global markets, and we’re very happy to announce our partnership with Apigate which will enable us to do that."&nbsp;

On this partnership, Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer- ZEE5 Global, said “We’ve set out to establish ZEE5 as the clear go-to-market destination for language content for South Asians and beyond, in the shortest possible time. We’re thrilled to partner with Apigate for this, given their ability to remove the complexities of multiple contracts which enables us to scale quickly. We look forward to jointly taking our fabulous bouquet of content to markets around the globe.”&nbsp;

Zoran Vasiljev, Chief Executive Officer, Apigate said, “We are excited to partner with a well-known brand like ZEE5 as this is a testament to the relevance of Apigate’s platform in empowering digital transformation for businesses.”

Raja Mansukhani, Senior Vice President APAC, Apigate added, “Having built a world-class ecosystem of Mobile Network Operators, we are able to give ZEE5 access to customers all around the world by enabling expansion through one connection.”

A part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) - a global Media and Entertainment powerhouse, ZEE5 offers 100,000 hours of Indian Movies, TV Shows, News, Music, Videos and exclusive Originals, across 12 languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. It also offers 60+ popular Live TV channels, including ZEE’s best-loved channels.

ZEE5, a multi-lingual digital entertainment platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Apigate, which is a new-breed Application Programming Interface (API) platform, to deliver the largest bouquet of content across languages and genres to audiences globally, said a company statement.

ZEE5, a multi-lingual digital entertainment platform, today announced a strategic partnership with Apigate, which is a new-breed Application Programming Interface (API) platform, to deliver the largest bouquet of content across languages and genres to audiences globally, said a company statement. The collaboration brings the plethora of ZEE5’s exciting content, including top TV Shows like Kumkum Bhagya, Jodhaa Akbar and Sembaruthi, blockbusters like Kedarnath, Veere Di Wedding and Mersal, and Originals like Abhay (Kunal Kemmu), Final Call (Arjun Rampal), Rangbaaz (Saqib Saleem) and Sharate Aaj (Parambrata Chattopadhyay) to audiences in 11 countries globally, said the statement, adding that it will leverage on Apigate’s next-generation API ecosystem to create innovative value propositions for customers. Through this partnership, ZEE5 will leverage not only Direct Carrier Billing which offers consumers a secure and convenient payment solution but will also go beyond that to offer bundling, wallets and application to person messaging for all subscribers, the statement added. Amit Goenka, CEO, ZEE International and Z5 Global, said, “As content creators, we’re creating rich and engaging content across multiple languages for our viewers across the globe. We have an ambitious growth agenda to expand ZEE5’s reach to a wider audience segment across global markets, and we’re very happy to announce our partnership with Apigate which will enable us to do that." On this partnership, Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer- ZEE5 Global, said “We’ve set out to establish ZEE5 as the clear go-to-market destination for language content for South Asians and beyond, in the shortest possible time. We’re thrilled to partner with Apigate for this, given their ability to remove the complexities of multiple contracts which enables us to scale quickly. We look forward to jointly taking our fabulous bouquet of content to markets around the globe.” Zoran Vasiljev, Chief Executive Officer, Apigate said, “We are excited to partner with a well-known brand like ZEE5 as this is a testament to the relevance of Apigate’s platform in empowering digital transformation for businesses.” Raja Mansukhani, Senior Vice President APAC, Apigate added, “Having built a world-class ecosystem of Mobile Network Operators, we are able to give ZEE5 access to customers all around the world by enabling expansion through one connection.” A part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) - a global Media and Entertainment powerhouse, ZEE5 offers 100,000 hours of Indian Movies, TV Shows, News, Music, Videos and exclusive Originals, across 12 languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Punjabi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Oriya, Bhojpuri and Gujarati. It also offers 60+ popular Live TV channels, including ZEE’s best-loved channels.

ZEE5 and Apigate announce a landmark partnership at Mobile World Congress

Huawei Technologies unveiled a $2,600 folding smartphone on Sunday which it said was primed for next-generation 5G mobile connections, even as the United States campaigns to bar the Chinese company from such networks over security concerns.

Huawei, the world’s second-largest smartphone vendor after Samsung, said it had taken the lead on developing phones for 5G - which promise super fast internet speeds for consumers and businesses - because it was also involved in developing the networks.

"This phone is not only for today for 5G but also for future 5G. On all the benchmarks you can see the performance, the speed is the fastest for 5G in the world," said Richard Yu, head of Huawei's consumer business group.

<img alt="Huawei Mate X" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50c20e2d-76eb-4993-ba61-43753ea5c012" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2815%29_1.jpg" />

<img alt="Huawei Mate X" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fef2e69f-f1f7-41ca-874d-c005a5dfa4dc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2816%29_1.jpg" />

Speaking ahead of the mobile industry's biggest global event, which kicks of on Monday in Barcelona, Yu said the Huawei Mate X will have two back-to-back screens which unfold to become an eight-inch tablet display.

Yu said the Mate X would be able to download a 1-gigabyte movie in three seconds but also be priced at 2,299 euros ($2,607) when it goes on sale later this year, setting a new upper limit for consumer smartphones.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd last week unveiled its own folding smartphone, priced at nearly $2,000, in a bid to top the technology of Apple Inc and Chinese rivals and reignite consumer interest amid slumping sales.

Huawei, which is also the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, is under intense scrutiny in the West over U.S.-led allegations of enabling Chinese state espionage, accusations which the company denies.

Huawei's chairman said on Sunday recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. needed to get ahead in mobile communications through competition rather than seeking to block technology was "clear and correct".

Huawei Technologies unveiled a $2,600 folding smartphone on Sunday which it said was primed for next-generation 5G mobile connections, even as the United States campaigns to bar the Chinese company from such networks over security concerns.

Huawei Technologies unveiled a $2,600 folding smartphone on Sunday which it said was primed for next-generation 5G mobile connections, even as the United States campaigns to bar the Chinese company from such networks over security concerns. Huawei, the world’s second-largest smartphone vendor after Samsung, said it had taken the lead on developing phones for 5G - which promise super fast internet speeds for consumers and businesses - because it was also involved in developing the networks. "This phone is not only for today for 5G but also for future 5G. On all the benchmarks you can see the performance, the speed is the fastest for 5G in the world," said Richard Yu, head of Huawei's consumer business group. Speaking ahead of the mobile industry's biggest global event, which kicks of on Monday in Barcelona, Yu said the Huawei Mate X will have two back-to-back screens which unfold to become an eight-inch tablet display. Yu said the Mate X would be able to download a 1-gigabyte movie in three seconds but also be priced at 2,299 euros ($2,607) when it goes on sale later this year, setting a new upper limit for consumer smartphones. Samsung Electronics Co Ltd last week unveiled its own folding smartphone, priced at nearly $2,000, in a bid to top the technology of Apple Inc and Chinese rivals and reignite consumer interest amid slumping sales. Huawei, which is also the world's biggest producer of telecoms equipment, is under intense scrutiny in the West over U.S.-led allegations of enabling Chinese state espionage, accusations which the company denies. Huawei's chairman said on Sunday recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump that the U.S. needed to get ahead in mobile communications through competition rather than seeking to block technology was "clear and correct".

Huawei breaks price ceiling with $2,600 folding 5G smartphone

The Finnish company affiliated with Nokia, HMD global unveiled&nbsp;new Nokia phones on Sunday during the ongoing Mobile World Congress.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false"><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5pO3k1TQWSo" width="560"></iframe></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Phones that were launched are Nokia 1, Nokia 7 plus (new version of Nokia 6) and Nokia 8 Sirocco,&nbsp;Nokia 8110 4g.

Nokia 1 and&nbsp;Nokia 8110 4g were the key highlights&nbsp;of the launch.

A mid-range phone Nokia 1 is basic feature phone but what is interesting about this is that it is a first Android Go phone.

Android go was launched by Google in 2017 for phones with RAM up to 1 GB targeting&nbsp;markets with expensive data plans like India.

Android go gives full access to Google play store and comes with preloaded reworked google apps like YouTube go and Gmail go.

It also comes with 8 GB internal storage which is expandable up to 128 GB.

It also has 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and front 2-megapixel front camera.

The users buying Nokia 1 will have two colour variants to choose from, warm red and dark blue.

Nokia is priced at $85 and&nbsp;will available from early&nbsp;April.

The phone&#39;s expected price in India would be around 5,000 rupees.

Priced at $921, Nokia 8 Sirocco was also launched and is part of the Nokia premium range smartphones.

According to reports Nokia 8 Sirocco is targetted to compete with Apple and Samsung phones.

Nokia 8 Sirocco with 5.5-inch screen has&nbsp;features like wireless charging, dual camera.

Upgraded version of Nokia 6, Nokia 7 plus is priced at $491 and runs on Android operating system.

Nokia 8110 4g is an upgraded version of Nokia 8110 which was launched in 1996.

Similarly, in Mobile World Congress of 2017, the company launched the remake of its another iconic phone Nokia 3310.

Phones that were launched are Nokia 1, Nokia 7 plus (new version of Nokia 6) and Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8110 4g

The Finnish company affiliated with Nokia, HMD global unveiled new Nokia phones on Sunday during the ongoing Mobile World Congress. × Phones that were launched are Nokia 1, Nokia 7 plus (new version of Nokia 6) and Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 8110 4g. Nokia 1 and Nokia 8110 4g were the key highlights of the launch. A mid-range phone Nokia 1 is basic feature phone but what is interesting about this is that it is a first Android Go phone. Android go was launched by Google in 2017 for phones with RAM up to 1 GB targeting markets with expensive data plans like India. Android go gives full access to Google play store and comes with preloaded reworked google apps like YouTube go and Gmail go. It also comes with 8 GB internal storage which is expandable up to 128 GB. It also has 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and front 2-megapixel front camera. The users buying Nokia 1 will have two colour variants to choose from, warm red and dark blue. Nokia is priced at $85 and will available from early April. The phone's expected price in India would be around 5,000 rupees. Priced at $921, Nokia 8 Sirocco was also launched and is part of the Nokia premium range smartphones. According to reports Nokia 8 Sirocco is targetted to compete with Apple and Samsung phones. Nokia 8 Sirocco with 5.5-inch screen has features like wireless charging, dual camera. Upgraded version of Nokia 6, Nokia 7 plus is priced at $491 and runs on Android operating system. Nokia 8110 4g is an upgraded version of Nokia 8110 which was launched in 1996. Similarly, in Mobile World Congress of 2017, the company launched the remake of its another iconic phone Nokia 3310.

New Nokia smartphones launched in Mobile World Congress

Lenovo, which unveiled the Moto G5 on Sunday at MWC 2017, is bringing the phone to India on March 15. The company has already started sending media invites for the event scheduled for March 15 in New Delhi.

While the next-generation Moto G comes in two variants - the G5 and the G5 Plus, the invite sent to the Indian media hints that only the Plus variant will make its way to India. It, however, is not confirmed yet.

The Moto G5 Plus is encased in a metal body, which happens to be a first for the Moto G. Under its hood is an oct-core processor. The Moto G5 features a 12 megapixel rear with Dual Autofocus Pixels, which is said to lock onto the target in the blink of an eye. &ldquo;By utilizing 10x more pixels on the sensor, you can focus on your subject up to 60 per cent faster than Moto G4&nbsp;Plus,&rdquo; explains Lenovo.
<style type="text/css">.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//KRs9xfjXG8I"></iframe></div>

 
The phone is packed with a 3000mAh battery with TurboPower charging feature, which is claimed to offer up to six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes.

The Moto G5 Plus carries a price tag of $229 for the 32GB model with 2GB RAM and approximately $295 for the 32GB variant with 3GB RAM. The company is yet to announce prices for the Indian market.

Lenovo, last year, had introduced the Moto G4 in both the regular and the Plus variants.

(WION)

The Moto G5 Plus is encased in a metal body, which happens to be a first for the Moto G

Lenovo, which unveiled the Moto G5 on Sunday at MWC 2017, is bringing the phone to India on March 15. The company has already started sending media invites for the event scheduled for March 15 in New Delhi. While the next-generation Moto G comes in two variants - the G5 and the G5 Plus, the invite sent to the Indian media hints that only the Plus variant will make its way to India. It, however, is not confirmed yet. The Moto G5 Plus is encased in a metal body, which happens to be a first for the Moto G. Under its hood is an oct-core processor. The Moto G5 features a 12 megapixel rear with Dual Autofocus Pixels, which is said to lock onto the target in the blink of an eye. “By utilizing 10x more pixels on the sensor, you can focus on your subject up to 60 per cent faster than Moto G4 Plus,” explains Lenovo. The phone is packed with a 3000mAh battery with TurboPower charging feature, which is claimed to offer up to six hours of battery life in just 15 minutes. The Moto G5 Plus carries a price tag of $229 for the 32GB model with 2GB RAM and approximately $295 for the 32GB variant with 3GB RAM. The company is yet to announce prices for the Indian market. Lenovo, last year, had introduced the Moto G4 in both the regular and the Plus variants. (WION)

Moto G5 Plus to be launched in India on March 15

Samsung Electronics said it would launch its next key device in the aftermath of a burning-battery scandal, the Galaxy S8, on March 29.

At the end of a product presentation at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company showed a short video clip announcing the date for its traditional &quot;Unpacked Event&quot;.

In past years, the trade fair was the scene of major Samsung launches. This year, Samsung postponed the presentation of its next major handset.

The company withdrew the Galaxy Note 7 last October due to faulty batteries, which led some devices to catch fire.

That caused a loss of consumer trust, wiping out $5.3 billion of operating profit, and allowing Apple&#39;s iPhone to overtake it in sales.

Besides, Samsung Electronics launched two new tablets on Sunday, marking its first major announcement since being forced to withdraw the flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after some of the devices caught fire.

The Galaxy Tab S3 and the Galaxy Book were presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in past years the scene of major Samsung launches.

The Galaxy Book will run on Microsoft Windows 10. The Tab S3 will have speakers by Harman-owned AKG, Samsung&#39;s first use of the brand since agreeing to buy Harman for $8 billion last year.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

&nbsp;

This year, Samsung has postponed the presentation of the Galaxy S8, its next key device

Samsung Electronics said it would launch its next key device in the aftermath of a burning-battery scandal, the Galaxy S8, on March 29. At the end of a product presentation at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the company showed a short video clip announcing the date for its traditional "Unpacked Event". In past years, the trade fair was the scene of major Samsung launches. This year, Samsung postponed the presentation of its next major handset. The company withdrew the Galaxy Note 7 last October due to faulty batteries, which led some devices to catch fire. That caused a loss of consumer trust, wiping out $5.3 billion of operating profit, and allowing Apple's iPhone to overtake it in sales. Besides, Samsung Electronics launched two new tablets on Sunday, marking its first major announcement since being forced to withdraw the flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after some of the devices caught fire. The Galaxy Tab S3 and the Galaxy Book were presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, in past years the scene of major Samsung launches. The Galaxy Book will run on Microsoft Windows 10. The Tab S3 will have speakers by Harman-owned AKG, Samsung's first use of the brand since agreeing to buy Harman for $8 billion last year. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Galaxy S8: Samsung to unveil new flagship smartphone on March 29

After teasing for quite a few weeks, HMD Global has finally introduced the iconic Nokia 3310 in a redesigned form. The new Nokia 3310 has elements similar to the old model, but it comes in a fresh range of colours.

&ldquo;The new Nokia 3310 takes the iconic silhouette of the original and reimagines it for 2017. The custom designed user interface brings a fresh look to a classic, whilst the 2.4-inch polarised and curved screen window makes for better readability in sunlight,&rdquo; says Nokia.

The new phone boasts 22 hours of talktime and and one month of standby time. The Nokia 3310 is available in four colours - Warm Red and Yellow (both with a gloss finish), and Dark Blue and Grey (both with a matte finish). The phone comes with a micro-USB port for charging.
<style type="text/css">.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//3hlhjGMWpYg"></iframe></div>

 
Like the old Nokia 3310, the redesigned model also comes with the classic Snake game. Besides, HMD Global, the new maker of Nokia phones, has also announced that the Snake game will be making its way back into people&rsquo;s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger. Also, the new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it&nbsp;even more playable than the first time around.

Other features of the new Nokia 3310 include a 2 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, headphone jack, 2G connectivity, FM radio, MP 3 player, 16MB storage with a MicroSD card support for up to 32GB.

The Nokia 3310 will go on sale in the second quarter of this year at 49 euros. It will be available in both single and dual SIM variants.

Besides the relaunch of the Nokia 3310, HMD Global has also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/nokia-is-back-but-now-in-an-android-avatar-12834">announced the first set of Nokia-branded Android phones</a> - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6.

(WION)

The new Nokia 3310 boasts 22 hours of talktime and one month of standby time

After teasing for quite a few weeks, HMD Global has finally introduced the iconic Nokia 3310 in a redesigned form. The new Nokia 3310 has elements similar to the old model, but it comes in a fresh range of colours. “The new Nokia 3310 takes the iconic silhouette of the original and reimagines it for 2017. The custom designed user interface brings a fresh look to a classic, whilst the 2.4-inch polarised and curved screen window makes for better readability in sunlight,” says Nokia. The new phone boasts 22 hours of talktime and and one month of standby time. The Nokia 3310 is available in four colours - Warm Red and Yellow (both with a gloss finish), and Dark Blue and Grey (both with a matte finish). The phone comes with a micro-USB port for charging. Like the old Nokia 3310, the redesigned model also comes with the classic Snake game. Besides, HMD Global, the new maker of Nokia phones, has also announced that the Snake game will be making its way back into people’s hearts with a new version available to play on Messenger. Also, the new free Snake game is designed to be played with groups of friends making it even more playable than the first time around. Other features of the new Nokia 3310 include a 2 megapixel rear camera with LED flash, headphone jack, 2G connectivity, FM radio, MP 3 player, 16MB storage with a MicroSD card support for up to 32GB. The Nokia 3310 will go on sale in the second quarter of this year at 49 euros. It will be available in both single and dual SIM variants. Besides the relaunch of the Nokia 3310, HMD Global has also announced the first set of Nokia-branded Android phones - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6. (WION)

Classic Nokia 3310 makes a comeback

HMD Global, the new manufacturer of Nokia phones, has announced a global portfolio of Nokia-branded Android phones - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 - a day ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 kicks off in Barcelona. Priced competitively, the entire range of Android phones from Nokia will be available globally from the second quarter of 2017.

The Nokia 3 is the cheapest of all and carries a price tag of 139 euros. The Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6, on the other hand, are priced at 189 euros and 229 euros, respectively.

Unlike the Nokia X, XL and XL+ Android phones from Microsoft, the new Nokia phones are pure Android devices. &ldquo;The new Nokia smartphones feature Google&rsquo;s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure&nbsp;the Google Assistant is integrated, allowing for conversations with the Google Assistant to take place easily on Nokia smartphones,&rdquo; says HMD Global in a press note.

The Nokia 3 features a 5-inch display, 8 megapixel rear and front cameras, and comes in four colours - Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White.
<style type="text/css">.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//vLx18cSjM6c"></iframe></div>

 
The mid-range Nokia 5, at 5.2 inches, is a slightly bigger phone than the Nokia 3. The Nokia 5 will be available in the same set of colours as the most affordable Nokia 3.
<style type="text/css">.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//gcucSt7NWjA"></iframe></div>

 
The Nokia 6, on the other hand, is over a month old phone. Introduced in China last month, the phone has now been announced for the global markets. It comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display and includes Dolby Atmos sound.
<style type="text/css">.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed//lhsmcCJlM4w"></iframe></div>

 
Besides these three Android phones, HMD Global has also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/science-tech/classic-nokia-3310-makes-a-comeback-12836">launched the iconic Nokia 3310 in a new avatar</a>.

Nokia was once the world&#39;s dominant cellphone maker but missed the shift to smartphones, and then chose Microsoft&#39;s Windows operating system for its &quot;Lumia&quot; range.

After the 2014 deal, Microsoft continued selling cheaper basic phones under Nokia&#39;s name and Lumia smartphones under its own name, but last year, it largely abandoned both businesses.

HMD in December took over the Nokia feature phones business and struck a licensing deal that gave it sole use of the Nokia brand on all phones and tablets for the next decade.

It will pay Nokia royalties for the brand and patents, but Nokia has no direct investment in HMD.

(WION)

The Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6 are the first Nokia-branded Android phones

HMD Global, the new manufacturer of Nokia phones, has announced a global portfolio of Nokia-branded Android phones - Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 - a day ahead of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2017 kicks off in Barcelona. Priced competitively, the entire range of Android phones from Nokia will be available globally from the second quarter of 2017. The Nokia 3 is the cheapest of all and carries a price tag of 139 euros. The Nokia 5 and the Nokia 6, on the other hand, are priced at 189 euros and 229 euros, respectively. Unlike the Nokia X, XL and XL+ Android phones from Microsoft, the new Nokia phones are pure Android devices. “The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure the Google Assistant is integrated, allowing for conversations with the Google Assistant to take place easily on Nokia smartphones,” says HMD Global in a press note. The Nokia 3 features a 5-inch display, 8 megapixel rear and front cameras, and comes in four colours - Silver White, Matte Black, Tempered Blue and Copper White. The mid-range Nokia 5, at 5.2 inches, is a slightly bigger phone than the Nokia 3. The Nokia 5 will be available in the same set of colours as the most affordable Nokia 3. The Nokia 6, on the other hand, is over a month old phone. Introduced in China last month, the phone has now been announced for the global markets. It comes with a 5.5-inch full HD display and includes Dolby Atmos sound. Besides these three Android phones, HMD Global has also launched the iconic Nokia 3310 in a new avatar. Nokia was once the world's dominant cellphone maker but missed the shift to smartphones, and then chose Microsoft's Windows operating system for its "Lumia" range. After the 2014 deal, Microsoft continued selling cheaper basic phones under Nokia's name and Lumia smartphones under its own name, but last year, it largely abandoned both businesses. HMD in December took over the Nokia feature phones business and struck a licensing deal that gave it sole use of the Nokia brand on all phones and tablets for the next decade. It will pay Nokia royalties for the brand and patents, but Nokia has no direct investment in HMD. (WION)

Nokia is back, but now in an Android avatar

Chinese telecoms giant ZTE has unveiled what is claimed to be the world&#39;s first smartphone compatible with the lightening-fast 5G mobile internet service that networks expect to have up and running by 2020.

The company said the Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) - up to 10 times faster than the first generation of 4G services widely in use today.

The device, unveiled in Barcelona in northeastern Spain on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, the world&#39;s biggest mobile fair, will allow for 360-degree panoramic Virtual Reality video and fast downloads of ultra Hi-Fi music and videos.

&quot;With the new device, the way people stay connected will be changed forever. Focusing on 5G technologies will be one of the key priorities of ZTE&rsquo;s global development,&quot; a ZTE spokesman said.

Tech firms are racing to develop products that will be compatible with 5G, shorthand for the fifth generation of networks, which promise blazing fast connectivity for a generation used to streaming movies and TV directly to phones.

South Korean carrier KT Corp aims to offer trial 5G services during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. 
The first large-scale commercial deployment of the technology is expected in 2020.

Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said ZTE was using the phone to &quot;showcase innovation&quot; and &quot;offer a glimpse into the future when people will be able to download full movies in seconds&quot; but it was not likely to be a big seller.

&quot;The sad reality is that this smartphone will not end up in consumers&#39; pockets because both 5G and Virtual Reality are still years away to be a mass-market consumer reality,&quot; he added.

Founded in 1985, ZTE offers telecom equipment and services and has customers in more than 160 countries, according to the company.

It is the only Chinese smartphone vendor with a meaningful presence in the United States, where its 10 percent market share makes it the fourth-largest vendor.

(AFP)

ZTE's Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps)

Chinese telecoms giant ZTE has unveiled what is claimed to be the world's first smartphone compatible with the lightening-fast 5G mobile internet service that networks expect to have up and running by 2020. The company said the Gigabit Phone is the first smartphone capable of download speeds reaching up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) - up to 10 times faster than the first generation of 4G services widely in use today. The device, unveiled in Barcelona in northeastern Spain on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, the world's biggest mobile fair, will allow for 360-degree panoramic Virtual Reality video and fast downloads of ultra Hi-Fi music and videos. "With the new device, the way people stay connected will be changed forever. Focusing on 5G technologies will be one of the key priorities of ZTE’s global development," a ZTE spokesman said. Tech firms are racing to develop products that will be compatible with 5G, shorthand for the fifth generation of networks, which promise blazing fast connectivity for a generation used to streaming movies and TV directly to phones. South Korean carrier KT Corp aims to offer trial 5G services during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The first large-scale commercial deployment of the technology is expected in 2020. Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said ZTE was using the phone to "showcase innovation" and "offer a glimpse into the future when people will be able to download full movies in seconds" but it was not likely to be a big seller. "The sad reality is that this smartphone will not end up in consumers' pockets because both 5G and Virtual Reality are still years away to be a mass-market consumer reality," he added. Founded in 1985, ZTE offers telecom equipment and services and has customers in more than 160 countries, according to the company. It is the only Chinese smartphone vendor with a meaningful presence in the United States, where its 10 percent market share makes it the fourth-largest vendor. (AFP)

Meet the world's first 5G-ready smartphone

Aiming to take on arch-rivals including Samsung and Apple, LG Electronics has unveiled its new flagship smartphone. Named G6, the newest LG phone is said to have been &ldquo;designed in response to consumer feedback and user opinions&rdquo;.&nbsp; According to the company, the G6 has a focus on the features consumers want, most notably a big screen that actually fits in one hand.

The LG G6 comes with a 5.7-inch QHD+ display with a resolution of 2,880 x1,440 pixels. It has an 18:9 screen aspect ratio, which is claimed to be the first-ever in a smartphone. Compared to conventional 16:9 aspect ratio displays, the 18:9 format offers more viewing space. 
&nbsp; 
If we go by LG&rsquo;s claims, the large screen on the G6 doesn&rsquo;t make it difficult to hold. &ldquo;Unlike other phones with a similar screen size, the LG G6 fits comfortably in one hand, giving you a big screen experience without the inconvenience of a big phone,&rdquo; says LG.
<style type="text/css">.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }
</style>
<div class="embed-container"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6vMLTdgRB8Y"></iframe></div>

 
The phone is encased in an aluminum and glass body, and comes in three colour options - black, platinum and white.

The LG G6 is also touted to be the first smartphone to feature Dolby Vision technology. It not only includes Dolby Vision, but also has support for HDR 10 - both of which are standards for High Dynamic Range (HDR), the picture quality technology which allows for a wider range of colour and luminosity. 
&nbsp; 
Explaining why LG has included support for both Dolby Vision and HDR, LG says, &ldquo;With smartphone screen sizes getting bigger and the speed of the Internet becoming faster, LG decided to support two HDR standards for viewers to have access to as much content as possible. With HDR content from Netflix and Amazon on the rise, watch popular shows in stunning HDR quality on the LG G6. Amazon will also increasingly create 18:9 content for a cinematic viewing experience on the 18:9 QHD+ display.&rdquo; 
&nbsp; 
Coming to its cameras, the LG G6 features two 13 megapixel camera sensors at the back, including a 125-degree lens on the wide angle, and a 5 megapixel front camera. 
&nbsp; 
The LG G6 is both dust- and water-resistant. According to LG, it can be immersed in up to 1.5 metres of water for as long as 30 minutes. Other specifications of the phone include 4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage variants (with support for microSD card up to 2 TB),&nbsp; Android 7.0 Nougat, 3,300mAh battery and built-in Google Assistant.

The LG G6 uses a proprietary technology that dissipates heat via an internal heat pipe, the first in an LG smartphone. And to further disperse heat inside the unit, LG engineers have positioned the components most prone to overheating as far from each other as possible. 
&nbsp; 
Key Specifications: 
 
Chipset: Qualcomm&reg; Snapdragon&trade; 821 Processor 
Display: 5.7-inch 18:9 QHD+ FullVision Display (2880 x 1440 / 564ppi) 
Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM / 32GB or 64GB UFS 2.0 ROM / MicroSD (up to 2TB) 
Camera: Rear Dual - 13MP Wide (F2.4 / 125&deg;) / 13MP Standard OIS 2.0 (F1.8 / 71&deg;); Front - 5MP Wide (F2.2 / 100&deg;) 
Battery: 3,300mAh (embedded) 
Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat 
Size: 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm 
Weight: 163g 
Network: LTE-A 3 Band CA 
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 BLE / NFC / USB Type-C 2.0 (3.1 compatible) 
Colours: Astro Black / Ice Platinum / Mystic White 
Others: Water and Dust Resistant / Fingerprint Sensor / UX 6.0 / Dolby Vision&trade; / HDR10 / Qualcomm Quick Charge&trade; 3.0 / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC

(WION)

The new LG G6 comes with a 5.7-inch QHD+ display, dual 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera

Aiming to take on arch-rivals including Samsung and Apple, LG Electronics has unveiled its new flagship smartphone. Named G6, the newest LG phone is said to have been “designed in response to consumer feedback and user opinions”. According to the company, the G6 has a focus on the features consumers want, most notably a big screen that actually fits in one hand. The LG G6 comes with a 5.7-inch QHD+ display with a resolution of 2,880 x1,440 pixels. It has an 18:9 screen aspect ratio, which is claimed to be the first-ever in a smartphone. Compared to conventional 16:9 aspect ratio displays, the 18:9 format offers more viewing space. If we go by LG’s claims, the large screen on the G6 doesn’t make it difficult to hold. “Unlike other phones with a similar screen size, the LG G6 fits comfortably in one hand, giving you a big screen experience without the inconvenience of a big phone,” says LG. The phone is encased in an aluminum and glass body, and comes in three colour options - black, platinum and white. The LG G6 is also touted to be the first smartphone to feature Dolby Vision technology. It not only includes Dolby Vision, but also has support for HDR 10 - both of which are standards for High Dynamic Range (HDR), the picture quality technology which allows for a wider range of colour and luminosity. Explaining why LG has included support for both Dolby Vision and HDR, LG says, “With smartphone screen sizes getting bigger and the speed of the Internet becoming faster, LG decided to support two HDR standards for viewers to have access to as much content as possible. With HDR content from Netflix and Amazon on the rise, watch popular shows in stunning HDR quality on the LG G6. Amazon will also increasingly create 18:9 content for a cinematic viewing experience on the 18:9 QHD+ display.” Coming to its cameras, the LG G6 features two 13 megapixel camera sensors at the back, including a 125-degree lens on the wide angle, and a 5 megapixel front camera. The LG G6 is both dust- and water-resistant. According to LG, it can be immersed in up to 1.5 metres of water for as long as 30 minutes. Other specifications of the phone include 4GB RAM, 32GB/64GB storage variants (with support for microSD card up to 2 TB), Android 7.0 Nougat, 3,300mAh battery and built-in Google Assistant. The LG G6 uses a proprietary technology that dissipates heat via an internal heat pipe, the first in an LG smartphone. And to further disperse heat inside the unit, LG engineers have positioned the components most prone to overheating as far from each other as possible. Key Specifications: Chipset: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 821 Processor Display: 5.7-inch 18:9 QHD+ FullVision Display (2880 x 1440 / 564ppi) Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM / 32GB or 64GB UFS 2.0 ROM / MicroSD (up to 2TB) Camera: Rear Dual - 13MP Wide (F2.4 / 125°) / 13MP Standard OIS 2.0 (F1.8 / 71°); Front - 5MP Wide (F2.2 / 100°) Battery: 3,300mAh (embedded) Operating System: Android 7.0 Nougat Size: 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9mm Weight: 163g Network: LTE-A 3 Band CA Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac / Bluetooth 4.2 BLE / NFC / USB Type-C 2.0 (3.1 compatible) Colours: Astro Black / Ice Platinum / Mystic White Others: Water and Dust Resistant / Fingerprint Sensor / UX 6.0 / Dolby Vision™ / HDR10 / Qualcomm Quick Charge™ 3.0 / 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC (WION)

LG G6: LG unveils new flagship smartphone ahead of MWC 2017

Seeking to escape a cycle of falling prices and tight regulation, big telecom operators from Vimpelcom to Telefonica are set to reinvent themselves as Internet players to escape the industry&#39;s straight-jacket of low growth.

Next week&#39;s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona will feature phone companies in various stages of acceptance that the industry&#39;s predictable, decades-old business model based on selling data packages by the millions is running out of steam.

Beneath the facade of shiny new phones and dusty debates over network technical implementations, Europe&#39;s largest annual technology fair will see top phone companies&nbsp;parading far-reaching business makeovers.

Spain&#39;s Telefonica is set to introduce a broad plan it calls the &quot;4th Platform&quot; to help both consumer and business customers keep greater control over their data rather than giving it away to web giants Google, Facebook and Amazon.

Russian and emerging markets operator Vimpelcom is tearing up many parts of the telecom rule book to remake itself as a tech player in the fast-growing world of messaging apps.

US telecom giant AT&amp;T has inked a series of huge deals to diversify by acquiring Direct TV for $67 billion and is awaiting approval to buy Time Warner for another $110 billion.

&quot;Regulatory and pricing pressure on telecom operators forces them to look to adjacent areas for new sources of revenue and margins,&quot; said attorney Tom Levine, head of Allen &amp; Overy&#39;s global telecoms practice.

&quot;There isn&#39;t a consensus on how to do this.&quot;

It&#39;s also an open question whether the industry is structurally capable of big change. Telcos have dreamed for decades of breaking free of the shackles of consumer regulation and branching out into Internet services in their local markets, only to be consistently beaten by newer, global upstarts.

Russian laboratory

These dramatic changes come as telcos brace to offer new networks ready to handle not just spiralling data use on phones but in cars, in factories and offices and even crop fields. The new generation of 5G networks will provide them new business options but also spells mounting competition from computer, Internet and industrial players with digital plans of their own.

Russia has emerged as the world&#39;s most advanced laboratory for telecom companies seeking to reinvent themselves as Internet players, as classic telecom business pressures, Western economic sanctions and government rules that reduce Silicon Valley giants to small local players create space to combine forces.

Vimpelcom, Russia&#39;s No.3 operator, has undertaken a top-to-bottom overhaul of its business while gearing up for deeper Internet partnerships with the likes of streaming music and online taxi services. The company also focuses on emerging markets from Bangladesh to Algeria and is the world&#39;s sixth largest operator in terms of number of mobile customers served.

Megafon, the No.2 network provider, has acquired control of sister company Mail.ru, a major Russian Internet player - the Russian equivalent of Verizon buying Facebook - and plans to offer a new mobile version of social media site VKontakte.

Top Russian telecoms player MTS is so far sitting on the sidelines, but its executives have signalled they too believe their long-run future lies in Internet services.

Meanwhile, Telefonica sees its &quot;4th Platform&quot; strategy as a way to stoke faster growth and compete aggressively with globally dominant internet players while being a logical evolution of existing businesses, a senior company source said.

The strategy builds on its long-standing investments in communications services, its broad geographic reach across Europe and Latin America and efforts to offer advanced money-making services on top of basic communication connections, but does not require making huge new investments, the source said.

&quot;Now is the turn of the fourth platform: the data. That is Telefonica&#39;s (new) equity story,&quot; the source said of its bid to boost margins by, for example, enabling customers to analyse mountains of data to make their own businesses run smarter.

Other phone companies are taking more modest steps.

Norway&#39;s Telenor, another emerging markets operator, has pushed into data analytics, while Vodafone is making inroads in new industrial internet and connected car applications, through its 2014 acquisition of Cobra Automotive.

Do they have the DNA?

Still, many telecom operators take a dim view of some of the aggressive moves being made by these peers, especially when it comes to business models based on commercialising customer data.

Deutsche Telekom, Europe&#39;s largest telecom operator by revenue, sees this as no-go territory in privacy-conscious Germany. Instead, it is focused on making strides into new connected industrial arenas and cloud computing.

Telekom&#39;s main growth story is likely to remain the United States where it revolutionized the mobile industry by offering unlimited data plans and international roaming packages. Using aggressive marketing, T-Mobile has gained at the expense of rivals, making it nearly as big Telekom&#39;s core German business.

France&#39;s Vivendi, which embarked on a grand misadventure last decade to combine telecom and media assets, offers a cautionary tale for investors betting on these new reinvention stories.

For telecom operators used to predictable cash flows and firm regulatory boundaries, the main issue may be cultural: Most just don&#39;t have the stomach for such drastic transformation.

&quot;Working out how to bring in that entrepreneurial DNA, without disappointing users&#39; expectations of reliability, and recognising the financial expectations of institutional shareholders, is not easy,&quot; Levine said of healthy dividend payouts which remain the industry&#39;s main draw to investors.

(Reuters)

Europe's largest annual technology fair will see top phone companies parading far-reaching business makeovers

Seeking to escape a cycle of falling prices and tight regulation, big telecom operators from Vimpelcom to Telefonica are set to reinvent themselves as Internet players to escape the industry's straight-jacket of low growth. Next week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona will feature phone companies in various stages of acceptance that the industry's predictable, decades-old business model based on selling data packages by the millions is running out of steam. Beneath the facade of shiny new phones and dusty debates over network technical implementations, Europe's largest annual technology fair will see top phone companies parading far-reaching business makeovers. Spain's Telefonica is set to introduce a broad plan it calls the "4th Platform" to help both consumer and business customers keep greater control over their data rather than giving it away to web giants Google, Facebook and Amazon. Russian and emerging markets operator Vimpelcom is tearing up many parts of the telecom rule book to remake itself as a tech player in the fast-growing world of messaging apps. US telecom giant AT&T has inked a series of huge deals to diversify by acquiring Direct TV for $67 billion and is awaiting approval to buy Time Warner for another $110 billion. "Regulatory and pricing pressure on telecom operators forces them to look to adjacent areas for new sources of revenue and margins," said attorney Tom Levine, head of Allen & Overy's global telecoms practice. "There isn't a consensus on how to do this." It's also an open question whether the industry is structurally capable of big change. Telcos have dreamed for decades of breaking free of the shackles of consumer regulation and branching out into Internet services in their local markets, only to be consistently beaten by newer, global upstarts. Russian laboratory These dramatic changes come as telcos brace to offer new networks ready to handle not just spiralling data use on phones but in cars, in factories and offices and even crop fields. The new generation of 5G networks will provide them new business options but also spells mounting competition from computer, Internet and industrial players with digital plans of their own. Russia has emerged as the world's most advanced laboratory for telecom companies seeking to reinvent themselves as Internet players, as classic telecom business pressures, Western economic sanctions and government rules that reduce Silicon Valley giants to small local players create space to combine forces. Vimpelcom, Russia's No.3 operator, has undertaken a top-to-bottom overhaul of its business while gearing up for deeper Internet partnerships with the likes of streaming music and online taxi services. The company also focuses on emerging markets from Bangladesh to Algeria and is the world's sixth largest operator in terms of number of mobile customers served. Megafon, the No.2 network provider, has acquired control of sister company Mail.ru, a major Russian Internet player - the Russian equivalent of Verizon buying Facebook - and plans to offer a new mobile version of social media site VKontakte. Top Russian telecoms player MTS is so far sitting on the sidelines, but its executives have signalled they too believe their long-run future lies in Internet services. Meanwhile, Telefonica sees its "4th Platform" strategy as a way to stoke faster growth and compete aggressively with globally dominant internet players while being a logical evolution of existing businesses, a senior company source said. The strategy builds on its long-standing investments in communications services, its broad geographic reach across Europe and Latin America and efforts to offer advanced money-making services on top of basic communication connections, but does not require making huge new investments, the source said. "Now is the turn of the fourth platform: the data. That is Telefonica's (new) equity story," the source said of its bid to boost margins by, for example, enabling customers to analyse mountains of data to make their own businesses run smarter. Other phone companies are taking more modest steps. Norway's Telenor, another emerging markets operator, has pushed into data analytics, while Vodafone is making inroads in new industrial internet and connected car applications, through its 2014 acquisition of Cobra Automotive. Do they have the DNA? Still, many telecom operators take a dim view of some of the aggressive moves being made by these peers, especially when it comes to business models based on commercialising customer data. Deutsche Telekom, Europe's largest telecom operator by revenue, sees this as no-go territory in privacy-conscious Germany. Instead, it is focused on making strides into new connected industrial arenas and cloud computing. Telekom's main growth story is likely to remain the United States where it revolutionized the mobile industry by offering unlimited data plans and international roaming packages. Using aggressive marketing, T-Mobile has gained at the expense of rivals, making it nearly as big Telekom's core German business. France's Vivendi, which embarked on a grand misadventure last decade to combine telecom and media assets, offers a cautionary tale for investors betting on these new reinvention stories. For telecom operators used to predictable cash flows and firm regulatory boundaries, the main issue may be cultural: Most just don't have the stomach for such drastic transformation. "Working out how to bring in that entrepreneurial DNA, without disappointing users' expectations of reliability, and recognising the financial expectations of institutional shareholders, is not easy," Levine said of healthy dividend payouts which remain the industry's main draw to investors. (Reuters)