About two months ago, and to much pomp and fanfare, Korean smartphone manufacturer, Samsung, released the highly anticipated Galaxy Note 7. The Galaxy Note line is a phablet – cross between, and supposedly providing the best of, a smartphone and a tablet computer. Accordingly, the device had a loyal followers and users were excited about the new upgrades made to the Note 7.

However, less than a month after its release, there were report of Note 7 devices overheating, catching on fire and even exploding. In response, Samsung indicated that there might be a battery fault, and instituted a programme, where all Note 7s could be exchanged for new, and fault-free ones. However, within days of the programme, there were new reports that the replacement phones were still defective. Hence, on 11 October, Samsung announced that it was discontinuing the Note 7 and existing owners could replace that device for another Samsung smartphone.

To varying degrees, the mobile/cellular phone, along with the wider personal electronic devices, industry appear to be reeling from the spectacular high and downfall of the Galaxy Note 7. Below, we discuss a few nagging questions triggered by this recent incident.

What is the problem with the Note 7?

Although the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has become the poster child for flammable smartphones, the problem is endemic to most phones that use lithium ion battery packs to power them.  These batteries have several benefits: lightweight, high energy density, and low self-discharge, to name a few. However, the batteries have a liquid core, which is highly flammable, and if compromised, for example through a short circuit, can cause a battery to explode.

This character flaw of lithium ion battery packs is well known and documented in the electronics industry. Statistically, the instances of exploding batteries have been quite low, and the benefits of using lithium ion technology continues to outweigh the cons.

Was Samsung premature in cancelling the Galaxy Note 7?

As indicated earlier, and in response to the first reports of exploding Note 7s, Samsung attributed the problem to defective battery packs and instituted measures to recall and replace those devices. However, when the problem persisted even with the replacement phones, causing mobile/cellular carriers, especially in the US, to suspend sale of the phones, and airlines to ban their use during flights, Samsung decided – in the interest of customer safety – to stop sale of the Galaxy Note 7 and permanently discontinue its production.

On the face of it, it could be argued that cancelling the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was a drastic move, and maybe the line could have been salvaged. The Galaxy Note has been a flagship device for Samsung. The Note 7 was recently released to much excitement and demand, and would be a considerable loss to firm. However, the unresolved battery problems had undoubtedly tainted the Galaxy Note brand, from which it may be difficult to recover if the bad and dangerous customer experiences were allowed to continue.

Further, while the source of the problem in the Note 7 was reportedly the lithium ion battery pack, based on how the phone was designed and built, there did not appear to be an easy fix. For example, the battery pack could not be easily replaced by a user, as is the case with other Samsung phones. With those and other considerations in mind, and to limit harm to the larger Samsung brand, whilst being seen to be proactive and customer-centric, it may indeed have been prudent for the firm to cut its losses with the Note 7 and go back to the drawing board.

Are devices being released too quickly?

In the seemingly relentless pursuit of the new and innovative, and to continually drive sales, release cycles for personal electronic devices, especially for smartphones, have gotten considerably shorter to around a year. However, is that sufficient time to adequately test those devices and ensure that they operate properly and safely under a broad range of conditions? That of course is one of the glaring questions that the Note 7 is challenging the entire industry to consider.

Of course, there are no easy answers. There are numerous countervailing issues that device manufacturers must weigh, and more so when a situation goes very wrong. For example, in addition to the embarrassment and cost to date, Samsung may be faced with a class action lawsuit in the US, filed on behalf of Galaxy Note 7 owners.

In summary, the recall and discontinuation of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is indeed unfortunate, and perhaps could have been avoided. Samsung may need to carefully revisit its development and testing practices, along with how best to manage the fallout from the Note 7. However, the wider industry should learn also from that experience, and hopefully limit the chances of such a dangerous situation in the future.

Image credit:  Isriya Paireepairit (flickr)

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The opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics will be held later today, Friday, 5 August, and over the next two weeks, most of us will be stealing time away for our normal schedule, try to watch some of the events. However, even with the best effort, keeping on top of it all can be a challenge, as event are occurring simultaneously, and for some of them, such as the 100m and 200m dash, within 10–20 seconds, they are done.

As expected, there are dozens of apps that will be provide news on the Olympics, be they news or sports apps, for example, that will include the results of events in its updates, to apps dedicated to the Olympics, and will become dormant once the games have ended. Below we highlight three mobile/cellular applications that could help us to have the best Olympics experience, regardless of whether we will be witnessing it remotely, or on site in Rio de Janeiro.

Rio 2016 mobile app

How best to keep abreast of the latest results whilst on the go? The official app for the 2016 Olympics promises to help by providing the event schedule for all of the sports and competition results in real time. To round out the app, details on the various sports that are tested at the Olympics, along with information on all of the venues, just in case you are (or plan to be) in Rio de Janeiro!

Supported platforms: iPhone;  Android;  Windows Phone

Price:  Free

YouTube

In addition to the Running Man, cat, makeup, cooking, and music videos so many of us frequent on YouTube, and similar to what obtained in 2012, some of the events of the 2016 Olympics will be live streamed, so you can witness the happenings in Rio even if you are not home to watch them on TV. Further, if you happened to miss the live streaming, scores of highlights will also be uploaded to the YouTube channels of official broadcasters for the Games, so that we can catch up without the pressure.

The YouTube app, which is still one of the most downloaded and used apps, is also available, just in case you cannot wait until you get home to catch up.

Supported platforms: iPhone;  Android;

Price:  Free

Brazil Travel Guide

For those is us lucky enough to be in Brazil during the 2016 Summer Olympics, a travel guide could be invaluable. Brazil Travel Guide app is one of many available in app stores today. Some of them are for specific cities, but this one covers over 100 cities in Brazil including Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo. For many of us, visiting Brazil will be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and so we might want to cover as much ground as possible!

In addition to maps and a sightseeing section with all major monuments in each city, the app also has an eating out section with the best restaurants, bars, pubs and nightlife for the cities covered. It also includes phrasebook with useful basic Portuguese to help users get around..

Supported platforms:  iPhone; Android

Cost:  Free

Image credit:  Brian Godfrey (flickr)

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It is a growing trend in developed countries: organisations are banning, or at the very least restricting, the use of mobile/cellular phones in the workplace. In some organisations, smartphones are banned, but employees can carry very basic handsets. At a symposium on labour and productivity held in Barbados last week, concern was expressed that employees are becoming slaves to their mobile/cellular phones, which in turn is affecting communication and productivity on the job (Source: Nation News).

Across the Caribbean, there is a general and persistent concern about lowering levels of productivity, especially how it affects the competitiveness of our countries, our ability to attract investment, and consequently, our efforts to grow our economies. Though the factors contributing to lowering productivity in the region might be varied, could the deleterious effect of mobile/cellular phones in the workplace lead to policies that restrict, or outright ban, their use?

Ban: A source of distraction and hinders engagement

Have you ever been at a meeting and some individuals around the table are continually checking their smartphones? Alternatively, you are at an important meeting, and not only does someone’s phone ring, he/she embarks on having a conversation with the caller? For many people, their phone is a constant presence that causes them to split their attention –  what is going on on their phones, versus what is going on around them. To that end, Sheldon Yellen, Chief Executive Officer of Belfor, a USD 1.5 billion company that operates in 31 countries and employs 7,000 people, has banned mobile/cellular phones from company meetings:

My thinking is: Let’s have our meeting; let’s get on with it,” Yellen said. “In a lot of situations, we have a basket in the room or outside the room for cellphones.

(Source:  MSN)

Allow: Phones have become an extension of ourselves

Without a doubt, the mobile/cellular phone is a personal device – not only because it can be assigned to an individual, but there is also an expectation that it will be carried around by individuals. As a result, we have become conditioned to the immediacy of communication. If there is an urgent matter, of which we should be aware, or to which we should respond, we can be contacted in a matter of seconds/minutes, regardless of where we are, as opposed to hours or days, as would have obtained in the past. For people with young children, aged family members, or other important obligations outside the office, having their mobile/cellular phones readily at hand can be a great comfort.

Ban: Potentially limits breach of business secrets

In light of the seemingly indiscriminate use of mobile/cellular phones – even in circumstances where it might not be appropriate – depending on the nature of their operations, increasingly, organisations are taking steps to ban mobile devices in an effort to protect business secrets, or other confidential information resident in an organisation. For businesses that depend on intellectual property, be they copyrighted or patented material, or the use of highly guarded resources or processes, restricting use of mobile/cellular devices on their premises, could at the very least give them some peace of mind that their effects to avoid intellectual loss and leaks.

Allow: Banning can lower staff morale

Although organisations might take the position that the outright banning of mobile/cellular phones is justified, the action of prohibiting employees from either accessing or using the device in the workplace could be demoralising to them. To varying degrees, employees have enjoyed being able to use their devices in the workplace, hence a ban may not only be seen as a drastic step, but also make them them anxious and cause them to find ways and means to still check in with their phones. Ultimately, lower productivity may result, which was may have been one of the reasons why mobile/cellular phones were banned in the first place.

Ban:  Basic etiquette and politeness is being lost

Following from a previous point, thanks to mobile/cellular phones, people are placing greater emphasis on the interactions they are having on their devices than what they should be having with individuals physically in their presence. Many are no longer aware – or no longer care – that speaking on your phone when you are in the midst of having a conversation in person with someone, is bad manners. In the workplace, such behaviour could be fatal, especially among frontline staff, and those dealing with customers, who are expecting care and attention from those who are there to serve.

Image credits:  HandsOffPhone (flickr)

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The Apple iPhone 6S and 6S Plus; the Samsung Galaxy S7; the Sony Xperia Z5; the LG G5. These are some of the most coveted smartphones on the market today. However, by this time next year, most, if not all of them, will all be replaced by newer, and supposedly better, models.

Over the past seven to ten years, more manufacturers have entered the market, resulting in stiff competition for market share, and product release cycles getting shorter to drive continued sales. However, thanks to this wave of competition and innovation, smartphones have transformed how we live and do business. Further, devices are available at a broad range of price points, thus widening the pool of ownership to around 2.6 billion worldwide in 2014, or 36% of the world’s population. By 2020, 70% of the world’s population, or 6.1 billion people will use a smartphone.

However, although smartphone take-up is projected to grow considerably in the coming years, there is a concern that the bottom may already be falling out of the market. Here, we highlight some signs that suggest that the smartphone may already be becoming obsolete.

Innovation has slowed down

Although we, as consumers, might still get excited when a new flagship smartphone is released, experts and techies alike have observed that the most recent releases now tend to just have incremental improvements over previous versions. Further, and almost similar to the automobile, increasingly, the popular smartphones have similar design and features, and are becoming indistinguishable from each other.

Having said this, it could be argued that there is still considerable room for smartphones to be improved, for example, to have better battery life, to charge faster, and to take even better pictures. However, these improvements will not fundamentally change the device, but merely refine the existing and accepted functionality and aesthetic construct.  

Market seems to be reaching saturation point in developed countries

As stated above, by 2020 smartphone ownership is expected to double, with much of that growth in developing countries. According to a report released by Ericsson last year, “[a]lmost 80% of smartphone subscriptions added during 2015–2020 will be from Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa”. It thus means that the customer base for smartphones in developed countries is already close to saturation.

While into the foreseeable future. smartphone manufacturers may seek to focus on developing countries to drive sales and profits, it is the posture of developed countries – their customers, investors and pundits – that to dictates what occurs in the global industry. Though it might take a few years to permeate worldwide, inevitably, those decisions can make or break a device and its manufacturer, as recently occurred with the BlackBerry.

Further, in addition to marginal growth projected in developed countries into the foreseeable future, the slowdown of innovation has affected the frequency with which customers change their smartphones. Essentially, in developed countries the euphoria around the release of new smartphones has begun to die, and customers are beginning to get bored.

Internet of things gaining traction

Finally, although the concept may still seem theoretical, increasingly the Internet of things is becoming more integrated and evident in our lives. Today, most appliances and devices are smart, meaning that possess have some computing technology, they can communicate with users, and can be integrated into a wider computerised system or network.

Hence, with regard to smartphones, the imperative for that device to do a number of things exceptionally well – such take photographs, tell the time, manage our health, to name a few – is eroding. Increasingly, the smartphone is not being seen as a replacement for having certain standalone devices, but rather a convenient substitute. For example, the fact that one can have a good quality, yet budget friendly, camera that has better features and functionality than the typical smartphone, and it can be connected directly to the Internet, and even to specific social networks, means those standalone devices are stepping up their game, to earn their place in the market.

Parting thoughts

As reflected in the above discourse, smartphones are still yet to reach critical mass globally. However, it is beginning to become evident that the evolution of the device has slowed considerably over the past three to five years. While it may not yet be device for the archives – like the floppy disk, or the betamax video cassette player – its prominence and context in our lives is changing, as everything around us also becomes smart. Ultimately, and at the very least, the smartphone will be one in a sea of devices that we will not only need to manage, but also interface.

Image credit:  Fairphone (flickr)

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We have been anxiously awaiting the release of the latest telecoms statistics from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which we use every year to examine the state of development of telecoms – in terms of subscriptions density – across the Caribbean. Table 1 lists the countries that were included in the exercise. Since our 2015 review, we have added Puerto Rico, to bring our total to 23 countries. Again it should be noted that Bonaire, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have not been included, as the needed data does not appear to be publicly available for those countries.

Table 1: List of countries surveyed for 2015 update on state of telecoms in the Caribbean (Source: ICT Pulse)

Approach

The results presented in rest of this piece were drawn from data published by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), and comprised the following for countries across the Caribbean:

• density of fixed-line telephony subscriptions
• density of fixed broadband Internet subscriptions
• density of mobile/cellular telephony subscriptions
• density of mobile/cellular broadband Internet subscriptions.

It ought to be noted that both the ITU and GSMA depend on either the government or the telecoms firms to supply the data that is eventually published. Hence it is not clear the extent to which they corroborate or otherwise validate the data published, and neither have any explanations been given for any anomalies that might be evident.

The per capita Gross National Income (GNI) was drawn from databases managed by the United Nations (UN). The GNI is useful to get a sense of a country’s the level of development, based on the average income of its citizens, and consequently their likely wealth to support the take-up and use of telecoms services examined.

Results: Fixed-line telephony market

Across the Caribbean, there continues to be a wide disparity in fixed-line telephone subscription densities across the 23 countries examined. The highest subscriber densities were reported in Montserrat, at approximately 58 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants; followed by the Cayman Islands, with almost 56 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, and Barbados, with nearly 55 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Fixed-line telephone penetration in select Caribbean countries as at 2015 (Source: ITU, UN)

On the other hand, the lowest fixed-line telephony subscriber density was reported in Haiti, at approximately 4 subscriptions per 1000 inhabitants (not per 100); Belize, at about 6 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants; and Jamaica, at around 9 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Results: Fixed broadband Internet market

Data on fixed broadband Internet subscriptions in 2015 was available for 22 Caribbean countries, as opposed the 14 countries reported in our last review. The highest subscription density was recorded in Montserrat at nearly 116 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, but it is not shown in Figure 2 in order to better present the remaining results. At less than a third of the Montserrat figure, the next highest fixed broadband Internet subscription density was recorded in Anguilla, at over 34 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, followed by Saint Kitts and Nevis, at nearly 30 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Figure 2: Fixed broadband subscription densities in select Caribbean countries as at 2015 (Source: ITU, UN)

On the other hand, the lowest fixed broadband Internet subscription density was reported in Haiti, with considerably less than 0 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Haiti was followed by Cuba, with 7 subscriptions per 10,000 (not 100!) inhabitants, and thereafter, Belize, with nearly 3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Results: Mobile/cellular market

Figure 3 shows the mobile/cellular subscription density in 22 Caribbean countries. Of those examined, 14 countries still reported mobile/cellular subscriptions densities over 100 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. The highest subscription density was found in the Suriname, at approximately 178 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Suriname was followed by Anguilla, at around 178 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, and Trinidad and Tobago, at nearly 158 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Figure 3: Mobile/cellular penetration in select Caribbean countries as at 2015 (Source: ITU, UN)

The lowest mobile/cellular subscriptions densities were recorded in Cuba, at nearly 30 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Belize has the second lowest of the group, at 49 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, followed by Haiti, with approximately 68 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

Results: Mobile broadband Internet market

We have been able to source mobile broadband Internet subscription data for most Caribbean countries as at the end of 2015, which is shown in Figure 4. This metric covers both prepaid and post-paid mobile/cellular broadband subscriptions, but would not include Internet access by Wi-Fi.

Figure 4: Mobile broadband subscription densities in select Caribbean countries as at 2015 (Source: ITU, UN)

For the 21 countries examined, the highest subscription density was recorded in Suriname at around 60 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, and was followed by Puerto Rico and Aruba, with 47 and 43 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, respectively. On the other extreme, the lowest density was recorded in the British Virgin Islands, at 3 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. The British Virgin Islands was followed by Grenada, at 5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, and Saint Lucia and the Turks and Caicos Islands, both with 7 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.

Results: Region-wide trends

Finally, Figure 4 shows the subscription density trends across the Caribbean over the past eight years, 2008—2016, for the fixed-line, mobile/cellular and fixed broadband Internet services.

Figure 5: Averaged fixed-line, mobile/cellular and fixed broadband Internet subscription penetration rates across the Caribbean from 2008—2015

The density of mobile/cellular subscriptions continues to outstrip considerably those for fixed-line telephony and fixed broadband Internet. For mobile/cellular and fixed broadband Internet, there growth was experienced between 2014 and 2015, whilst there was a marginal decline in average fixed-line subscription density in the region. At the end of 2015, subscriptions density for fixed-line voice and fixed Internet broadband were around a quarter and one-fifth that of mobile/cellular service, respectively.

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… ‘low incidences’ of two types of tumors in male rats that were exposed to the type of radio frequencies that are commonly emitted by cellphones. The tumors were gliomas, which are in the glial cells of the brain, and schwannomas of the heart.

(Source: Wall Street Journal)

In our last discussion on the possible health risks associated with mobile/cellular phone use, we noted that the study results released as late as 2015 provided no conclusive evidence of a link between the radiation from mobile/cellular phones and cancer. However, this NTP study, which reportedly is one of the largest and most comprehensive of its kind, is justifying the need for concern.

It is emphasised that the NTP study was conducted on rats, and the incidence of tumours were reportedly found primarily in male rats. Having said this, and as noted in the Wall Street Journal article, all of the biological effects observed in animals may not necessarily occur in humans. However, the report of partial findings released by the NTP stated:

Given the widespread global usage of mobile communications among users of all ages, even a very small increase in the incidence of disease resulting from exposure to RFR [radio-frequency radiation] could have broad implications for public health,

(Source:  National Toxicology Program)

At this juncture, the NTP findings have refueled the longstanding debate on possible health effects caused by prolonged mobile/cellular phone use, and justifies the need for continued study. While a truly conclusive and widely accepted position might still be years away, as suggested in our previous articles, it may be prudent to err on the side of caution and reduce the level of exposure to the radiation emitted by mobile/cellular phones. Below are a few suggested practices:

• Keeping conversations on mobile/cellular phones short.
• Do not carry the phone on your person.
• Use accessories or features that allow hands-free use.
• Limit phone use by children, as they are more susceptible to the effects of radiation.
• Turn off the phone when not needed.
• Choose a device with a low Specific Absorption Rate (which measures the amount of radio frequency radiation absorbed by body tissues).
• Only use your phone when the reception is strong. When signal strength is weak, more radiation is emitted to establish and maintain the connection.

image credit:  Mad House Photography (flickr)

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What a difference a year makes!  Last year June, we updated our findings of most downloaded free software applications (apps) for the Apple iPhone in the Caribbean. In this article, we update those findings. Again, these apps would have been downloaded from the Apple Store, and the data collected was drawn from a number of sources, such as iOSappstats and App Annie, as at 21 Aprl 2016.

Snapchat

In our last review, Snapchat was nowhere on the list; now it is within the top three most downloaded apps for the iPhone in most Caribbean countries. Launched in September 2011, Snapchat began to gain prominence around 2 years ago, and now has over 100 million daily active subscribers, especially those in the 13–34 age demographic (Source: Snapchat). The app is somewhat similar to other instant messaging services, but the ‘snaps’, which could be text, images or video messages, are only accessible for a fixed period of time. Thereafter, they disappear.

WhatsApp Messenger

Instant messaging app, WhatsApp Messenger, continues to be widely popular across the region. Worldwide, it has over a billion subscribers (Source: The Verge). The key features of the app have remained virtually unchanged since last year. However, last week, on or around 14 April, WhatsApp upped the security of communication on that medium by implementing end-to-end encryption of all user messages.

3.  Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger still has some traction in the Caribbean, since our 2015 review. Worldwide it has over 900 million active users per month (Source: The Verge), and can see considered Facebook’s answer to WhatsApp and Snapchat. In the app space, Facebook Messenger is considered an add-on, but separate, app to Facebook, but uses the credentials of the latter to sign-in.

4.  Facebook

As Facebook membership continues to grow across the region, as recently reported in Snapshot: Facebook membership trends, 2016 update, so are the uses of its mobile app. Worldwide, Facebook has 1.6 billion subscribers, and is trying to uncover new and innovative ways to leverage this enormous network to generate revenue and realise profits.

5. Instagram

The photo and video sharing social network, Instagram, rounds out the top five most downloaded apps in the Caribbean. Worldwide it has over 400 million subscribers, and is especially popular among the 16–24 years age group. (Source: DMR). 

image credits:  Sean MacEntee (flickr);  Twitter (Snapchat);  iTunes (WhatsApp); Google Play (Facebook Messenger, Facebook, Instagarm)

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Thanks to the increasing availability and affordability of smartphones and mobile broadband in the Caribbean, with respect to non-voice communication, users appear to prefer instant messaging (IM) services, such as Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and even Viber, to name a few. Generally, when planning to connect with others, those applications (apps) tend to be the go-to options, rather than using the Short Messaging Service (SMS). SMS, also referred to as text messaging, is rarely mentioned.

However, ironically and in this day and age – 2016 to be exact – SMS is still a force in the region. Although frequently it is overlooked, here are four reasons why it is still popular.

Every phone has SMS capability

As sophisticated as the mobile/cellular phone has become, every device – from the most basic of handsets to the most high-end of smartphones – possesses SMS capability. It therefore means that fundamentally, every mobile/cellular device on a mobile/cellular network can communicate with each other: by voice calls and by text messaging.

An attractive channel for marketing and other services

Through the network operator, third parties can connect directly with every phone on the network – once they are prepared to pay. For example, SMS has been popular for marketing campaigns and to provide a broad range of services to people in the lower socioeconomic brackets – a large segment of the population – who tend to own basic handsets. Hence, SMS can provide considerable revenue generation opportunities for network operators.

Not everyone is connected to the Internet

Across the region, much of the attention of policymakers, regulators and the media has  been focussing on securing more affordable mobile broadband services, as currently, prices still tend to be beyond the budget of a large proportion of citizens. As a result, for those who cannot comfortably afford mobile broadband, they either tend to subscribe for it on an ad hoc basis as a prepaid service, and/or rely almost exclusively on free Wi-Fi services for connectivity. Consequently, and more often than not, those individuals are unlikely to have Internet connectivity, but can still message others via SMS.

Second, when service coverage and quality across Caribbean countries are considered, frequently, there are still areas (pockets) in most countries, especially in rural areas, where mobile/cellular service is spotty at best. Further, in those areas, mobile broadband technologies are likely not to be readily available or accessible. Hence in those pockets, and regardless of how fancy a device an individual might have, IM services tend to be rendered useless. Once again, there is a greater likelihood of being able to communicate via SMS.

An important medium for critical services

Finally, the virtually continuous availability of SMS, regardless of device and once mobile/cellular networks are functioning, has made it a preferred medium to deliver critical information. Two circumstances that readily come to mind are during times of disaster, and as part of a two-step authentication process.

In the lead-up to, even during, and certainly following a natural disaster, for example, SMS is essential emergency management and coordination. On a mass scale, public advisories are disseminated via SMS, and residents can communicate on-the-ground developments in their communities, which can feed into the coordination and recovery efforts.

Regarding two-step authentication, increasingly online platforms are requiring their subscribers to provide a mobile/cellphone number to strengthen the security of their accounts. Hence, in addition to correctly providing a password when logging in, those platforms will send a text message with a code to the mobile/cellphone number on file, via SMS, and require that it also be entered to confirm (authenticate) the user.

Closing thoughts…

In summary, although newer text-based services and technologies have been getting most of the attention these days, there is still a need for SMS. Every mobile/cellular phone owner globally can be contacted via SMS, and can communicate with each other via SMS. With IM apps, two parties can successfully communicate when both of them are using the same app. For example, WhatsApp users cannot connect directly with Skype users; Viber users cannot communicate with those of Facebook Messenger. As a result, SMS will remain a powerful medium through which to communicate and to connect older and newer technologies. Hence although it might be overlooked, SMS is still a platform for innovation and disruption.

With IM being so popular and available, do you send SMS? If so, why? 

(Let us know in the Comments section)

Image credit:  Seb Lee-Delisle (flickr)

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… ad control technology at the network level on its networks across the globe to ensure a better experience for customers and to encourage the likes of Google, Facebook and Yahoo to help connect the 4.2 billion unconnected people across the globe. 

(Source: Digicel)

Digicel contended that advertisements (ads) on mobile/cellular phones consume as much as 10% of their customers’ data plans. By blocking the ads customers, it is of the view that customers would have an improved experience. It also expects to benefit directly from the leveraging the control it will wield to secure revenue sharing agreements with major content providers, such as Google, Yahoo and Facebook, which it indicated would be reinvested in its networks.

Digicel, operates in 31 countries, 24 of which are in the Caribbean, and has around 13 million customers. The ad blocking technology it plans to use, which has been developed by Shine Technologies, an Israeli firm, will by default be active and controlled by the Digicel. The technology will be deployed in Jamaica first, and then rolled out in due course to all of the counties in which Digicel has a presence.

Although the announcement is just three days old, there have been vociferous discussions globally, with grave concern being expressed across the Caribbean and calls for regulators to intervene. While it may be possible to challenge Digicel on every point of its reasoning, below a few of what are perceived as the ‘big issues’ are discussed.

A possible shot in the arm for network operators in the net neutrality debate?

In recent years, and with the dominance of the Internet, Digicel, like most mobile/cellular network operators worldwide, have had to wake up to the fact that they can no longer protect the premium revenues they used to be able to generate from voice services. However, although these providers may appreciate that they must now play in the Internet/data space, their revenues would be adversely affected, and would need to be supplemented.

One of the main arguments against network neutrality typically is made by telecoms network operators, is that the services of major content providers (such as the Google, Facebook and Netflix) consume considerable bandwidth, but those providers do not contribute to, or in anyway bear the cost for, maintaining the infrastructure upon which their services are delivered. Hence Digicel ad blocking initiative – which reportedly is the first globally to be implemented by a network operator, and so is being closely watched – potentially could give operators control over some of the content that is being carried over their network. More importantly, it could give them bargaining power when engaging content providers, since although the content providers’ service itself might not be blocked, the means by which they generates revenue, through ads, would be under threat.

Bargaining with large content providers at the expense of the smaller ones

Although Digicel hopes to bring the Googles, Yahoos and Facebooks of the world to the negotiating table, the company plans to block all ads both on the mobile web and in mobile apps. It therefore means that the ads placed in all apps on a Digicel customer’s smartphone will be blocked.

Before we, the app users, jump for joy, do consider the following:

• Through their apps, most developers are trying fulfil a perceived need or void in the market
• Only a select few of the thousand of apps on the market ever generate enough revenues to recover the cost of their development
• Generally, we the users are reluctant to pay for apps; hence the majority of them are free in order to gain an audience or customer base
• Consequently, most app developers have had to rely on ads embedded in their free apps to try to generate revenue.

In a nutshell, blocking the ads would obliterate a critical income stream upon which most developers and their teams rely. However, their demise may just be collateral damage in a battle between network operators and major content providers.

Caribbean app development likely to be in the skids

Having said this, it is important to emphasise that should Digicel’s ad blocking plan eventuate, the Caribbean app development community would not be immune from its effects.

With few exceptions, the majority of the apps developed in the Caribbean are locally driven, that is, seeking to address very specific, national needs. Further, the apps that are having an impact are usually those focussed on the issues of individuals in the lower socio-economic brackets, for whom it is crucial to eliminate as many barriers to take-up (such as price) as possible.

Additionally, although many of the region’s governments, and by extension the countries, are benefitting from some of the local apps being developed and from other initiatives, such open data, frequently they are not compensating the developer teams for their products. Instead, there is an expectation that the developers will figure out ways of generating revenues – in an environment where freeness is expected – which frequently means a reliance on advertising.

It should thus be of great concern that whatever ad blocking technology Digicel plans to introduce could, at the very least, make the region an unattractive market for app take-up. Apps that we might love to access may no longer be available for download in the Caribbean. Further, our local developers may opt instead to create products for overseas markets that are more welcoming of their efforts and the need recover their costs through ad placements.

At the other end of the spectrum, it is also possible that tech innovation, which policymakers have been trying to encourage, could be stifled. Additionally, one might also find that Caribbean problems that could benefit for apps and other digital solutions may not be readily solved, since an ad-based business model may in no way be viable to recover costs.

Image credit:  KROMKRATHOG (FreeDigitalPhot)

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It should be noted that Flow/LIME’s competitor in the mobile/cellular space, Digicel, has already rolled out LTE in some of the countries it serves; hence the technology is not new to the region. However, the terms 4G and LTE have been bandied about for several years now, and one might still be unsure of what they mean, and the implications therein. Here we offer a refresher on the subject.

What is LTE?

First showcased in 2006, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the mobile/cellular broadband technology most telecoms network operators currently aspire to implement. According to the Ericsson 2015 Mobility Report, at the end of last year, less than 20% of the mobile broadband subscriptions worldwide were LTE. By 2020, an estimated 50% of mobile broadband subscriptions will be supported by LTE.

Figure 1: Evolution of GSM technology

LTE has its foundations in GSM, the Global Standard for Mobile Communications, a second generation (2G) digital standard that was widely adopted and used worldwide, especially in the Caribbean.  The transition to 3G technologies, of which EDGE was the most widely implemented in the region, mainly supported voice, with data in a supplementary role. LTE is designed to carry data rather than voice. Hence its network architecture uses the Internet Protocol (IP) standard, but is still compatible with older and currently applied technologies.

Although LTE is widely communicated as 4G – a fourth generation technology – strictly speaking, it does not adhere to the established standard. Among other things, it cannot support download speeds of 1 Gbps and upload speeds of 500 Mbps, which can be achieved with LTE Advanced, a true 4G technology. For LTE, its best performance is around 100 Mbps, download, and 50 Mbps, upload. To varying degrees, and in the writer’s opinion, the use of the term 4G for LTE and other technologies, such as HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) and WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), has been a marketing tactic to distinguish those newer technologies from those that have gone before.

Is improved performance assured with LTE?

LTE and 4G technologies can significantly increase mobile/cellular network capacity, but achieving superior performance will be dependent on factors, such as:

• the budget that has allocated to support the upgrade of the existing network
• the extent of the upgrades that will be undertaken
• the amount of radio frequencies that has been assigned to the network operator.

Without a doubt, the upgrade of existing networks from EDGE or HSPA to support LTE would be considerable and costly. However, outside of the costs and infrastructure requirements, access to adequate radio frequencies bandwidth, especially for base station backhaul, is critical to support the traffic and bandwidth demands on the network.

Mobile/cellular broadband services work optimally in the 300 to 3500 MHz band of the radio frequency spectrum. However, in most countries, such as those in the Caribbean, this band is divided into a number of sub-bands that support a range of other uses, including aeronautical and maritime radio-navigation, maritime mobile, amateur radio and broadcasting (ITU Region 2). Hence, in order to be in a position to offer high-speed mobile broadband service to a significant number of customers simultaneously, there is a need for large amounts contiguous spectrum, which are already allocated to other services.

In summary, the upgrade of existing mobile/cellular networks in the Caribbean to LTE might introduce some efficiencies, which both the network owner and their subscribers might be experience. However, it is unlikely from the outset that users will experience truly high speed transmission – in excess of 10 Mbps – as the operator may not have sufficient bandwidth at its disposal to comprehensively manage the user experience on its network.

Image credit:  Paul Swansen (flickr)

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