Telus Swapping Employees Security Cards for Smartphones:

Canada's Telus is experimenting with allowing employees to replace their security passes that are normally required to unlock access to offices with a tap of a smartphone.

The system can also be used to unlock access to computer services if working remotely.

Telus is partnering with Intercede and Gemalto to equip its employees' smartphones with Intercede technology called MyID powered by Gemalto's Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICC) and IDPrime Personal Identity Verification (PIV).

The technology replaces separate smart cards and security tokens, giving employees access to secure buildings and networks through one highly-secure system housed in their device.

"Intercede has a long-standing relationship with Telus and we are excited to see the real business benefits MyID will bring our partner," said Chris Edwards, Chief Technical Officer, Intercede.

Ericsson Buys USA Bssed Mobile TV Developer:

Ericsson is buying USA-based Azuki Systems, a provider of TV Anywhere delivery platforms for an undisclosed amount.

Azuki Systems extends Ericsson's TV and media portfolio which includes the recent addition of Mediaroom from Microsoft. In addition, Ericsson said that it will gain additional key functionality related to the deployment of TV Anywhere services, including adaptive bit rate and content protection technologies.

Azuki Systems was founded in 2008 and has 49 employees.

The acquisition is expected to close before the end of February, 2014, subject to customary closing conditions. Azuki Systems will be incorporated into Business Unit Support Solutions.

The company is privately owned and backed by Sigma Partners and Kepha Partners.

Vodafone Indicates Support for Ubuntu Based Smartphone:

Vodafone Group has indicated support for an Ubuntu based smartphone after it joined the OS's Carrier Advisory Group.

As a member of the CAG, Vodafone Group will join national and multi-national carriers in discussions that influence the development of Ubuntu for smartphones.

The advisory group currently includes 15 companies, from Hutchison 3G, to China Unicom and T-Mobile.

Members of the CAG have the opportunity to be a launch partner and gain the right to ship Ubuntu based smartphones in markets they serve.

"The mobile industry still needs an independent platform that enables innovation and differentiation. That platform is Ubuntu. The Carrier Advisory Group will have the opportunity to influence the Ubuntu roadmap, and take full advantage of the potential of this emerging platform." said David Wood, CAG Chairman

Canadian Regulator Investigates Use of Satellites for Rural Telecoms:

Canada's telecoms regulator is launching an investigation into the use of satellites to provide telecoms services in northern and remote communities in Canada.

In a previous report last year, the CRTC identified a digital divide between communities that receive these services over terrestrial facilities and those that are served solely by satellite.

This inquiry will examine the impact reliance on satellites have on the quality of the services and on the costs to service providers to offer telecommunications services to these communities.

Some of the issues that will be considered in this inquiry include: the current and future availability of satellite capacity needed for transport services, pricing of satellite services, and the competitive options available to telecommunications service providers that rely on such technologies to provide telecommunications services to Canadians.

Mobile Economy Growing Faster Than Expected - Worth Over $3 Trillion by 2017:

The mobile economy is blooming at an even faster rate than expected -- by 2017 it will be valued at $3.1 trillion, $200 billion more than the $2.9 trillion Yankee Group forecasted in October 2012.

This spike in potential earnings can be credited to all four mobile sectors -- devices, commerce, broadband, and apps and cloud -- seeing increased market interest. 

The report predicts that mobile devices and mobile commerce sectors are growing quicker than previously forecasted, with expectations for mobile devices now reaching $919 billion and mobile commerce reaching $906 billion by 2017.

Although mobile broadband's market growth rate has begun to slow, it continues to represent the largest sector of the new mobile economy in raw terms and is expected to reach $1.121 trillion by 2017.

Huawei Signs Reseller Agreement in the USA:

Huawei has signed a distribution agreement in the USA with ASI, a distributor of IT products and services in North America.

With this agreement, ASI will work through its resellers to bring Huawei Enterprise's portfolio of IP network infrastructure, unified communications and collaboration, and storage solutions to business customers throughout the United States.

"Huawei is proud to partner with ASI to bring our innovative and highly competitive enterprise solutions to ASI's extensive reseller network," said Jane Li, Chief Operating Officer, Huawei Enterprise USA. "This partnership not only expands our U.S. presence, but also cements our commitment to the largest IT market in the world."

Huawei has long struggled with sales in the USA thanks to persistent, if never proven allegations that it is somehow acting as a front for the Chinese military.

4G Connections to Increase at a CAGR of 69 Percent Between 2013 and 2018:

The worldwide population is expected to continue its steady growth over the next five years from its current 7.1 billion people. ­Worldwide wireless connections are also expected to grow from 6.5 billion connections in 2013 to reach almost 9 billion in 2018. Due to the proliferation of mobile devices, the global wireless penetration rate will rise from 91.8 percent in 2013 to 120 percent in 2018.

Aside from the increase in the number of connections, the other major change over the forecast period is the shift from 2G to 3G to 4G.

For example, in 2013, 2G connections comprised 63 percent of all mobile connections. As these 2G connections decline over the next five years, 3G connections will become predominant. Fourth generation technologies, primarily LTE, will also see rapid growth globally, increasing from just 2.7 percent of all connections in 2013.