For Vendor Strategy Professionals

Case Study: How Telenor Jumped To The Big League

A Model Lesson In Strategy Implementation

by Mike Cansfield, December 1, 2008

Over the past seven years, Telenor — the incumbent telco in Norway — has transformed itself from a small operator with limited opportunities in a tiny country into a major global telecommunications group. How? By leveraging repeatable strategic methodologies . . .

For Vendor Strategy Professionals

Case Study: Telefónica Invigorates Its Multinational Corporation Pitch

by Mike Cansfield, October 24, 2008

Telefónica is the fourth largest phone company in the world by market capitalization, and yet it has struggled in the past to attract multinational corporation (MNC) business. A new approach in the way it sells to this customer set is changing this and . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Managing Global Mobility Support Is Getting Harder

MNCs Should Consider Using Third Parties For Managed Services

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., August 11, 2008

Globalization is taking a firm hold on enterprises in every industry sector. Multinational corporation (MNC) IT sourcing experts are keen to obtain insights about what other large firms are doing to address the growing challenges to cost-effectively support . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Shell Signs Megadeals With AT&T, T-Systems, And EDS For Global Network And IT Services

The Three Providers Will Be Shell's Global Strategic IT Suppliers

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., May 16, 2008

On March 31, 2008, Royal Dutch Shell (Shell) announced the signing of three separate agreements with AT&T, T-Systems, and EDS for global IT infrastructure outsourcing and managed network services. The three megadeals have a combined value of approximately . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

Financial Services Sourcing Teams Must Keep Up With A Managed Telecom Services Surge

Globalization And Mobility Momentum Push Firms To Buy Managed Telecom

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., April 11, 2008

Large financial services firms are finding that managing complex network migrations to an IP architecture is hard to do in-house. Moreover, once the convergent telecommunications network is up and running, they want to leverage the investment and roll . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

What MNCs Want: Real Global Mobility Support

An MNC's Wish List

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., April 8, 2008

The bigger the multinational corporation (MNC) and the broader its international business operations, the larger the challenge for IT and procurement groups to manage the company's increasingly complex mobile environment. A global manufacturer recently . . .

For B2B Market Research Professionals

Global Enterprise Telecommunication Initiatives  (148 KB PPT)

by Ellen Daley, April 3, 2008

A look at telecommunications priorities for enterprises in Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe.

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

MNCs Will Prioritize Mobility Support In 2008

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., January 22, 2008

In 2008, telecommunications and networking procurement professionals at large multinational corporations (MNCs) will do more with mobile technologies and services, including enhancing IT support capabilities for their increasingly mobile global workforces. . . .

For Sourcing & Vendor Management Professionals

International Mobile Data Roaming Rates: What Operators Are Charging

3's New Free On-Net Roaming Is The Type Of Offer MNCs Want

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., March 23, 2007

Finally a mobile operator with wireless networks in several countries is stepping up to offer multinationals a break from very expensive international mobile data roaming charges. The 3 Group has introduced a new, Internet services-type pricing model . . .

Orange And Cingular Partner For Mobility

WorldView Enhances Transatlantic Mobile Service Options For MNCs

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., February 2, 2006

Orange and Cingular Wireless are joining forces to help multinational corporations (MNCs) with operations in the US as well as Europe get better visibility and more control of mobile costs. The move will cause competitive ripples — pushing carriers like . . .

Mobile BlackBerry Service Uptake To Grow By 50% In 2005

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., December 13, 2004

Research In Motion (RIM) has licensed its BlackBerry software to manufacturers of most of the handheld devices currently used by multinationals, and more than 70 mobile carriers in 35 countries now offer their customers BlackBerry devices and international . . .

Multinationals Impatient For Multiregional Mobile Voice-Data Services

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., June 30, 2004

Multinational enterprises were early to recognize the value of mobile telecoms, but service providers have been slow to awaken to the opportunity that this business offers, focusing instead on local services and consumers. International mobile voice roaming . . .

Infonet Adds Sky Wi-Fi To Its MobileXpress Global Remote Access Service

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., May 10, 2004

Infonet's market-leading MobileXpress global remote access service will soon be even more attractive to multinational enterprise customers because it addresses the frequent business traveler's desire for always-on/always-available access. The new in-flight . . .

Enterprises Wanting Better Global Mobile Satellite Voice-Data Services Will Have to Wait

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., September 8, 2003

While there is clearly a need for global MSS for defense, military and emergency-service voice applications, much higher costs for both equipment and usage compared with terrestrial cellular services make them hard to justify in this business climate.

AT&T-GRIC Alliance Extends Remote Access Service to Include International Wi-Fi Roaming

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., July 21, 2003

AT&T's announcement to offer its remote access customers additional local access points at 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in 20 countries by year's end will give users a real boost for easy high-speed VPN and Internet access while traveling.

BlackBerry Roaming: Business Travelers Want It, But Can They Get It?

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., June 18, 2003

Enterprise users interested in providing executive and frequent international travelers with international-roaming services need to subscribe to a GSM-GPRS mobile carrier's BlackBerry roaming service.

Global Mobile Satellite Services Providers Need a Viable Business Model

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., March 21, 2003

Companies, such as those in the oil and gas, mining and construction industries, that tend to have some offshore operations located in very remote regions that are underserved by terrestrial telecom networks should consider Inmarsat's GAN service.

Future-Proofing Mobile Telecom Services Procurement

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., January 8, 2003

Companies should poll mobile users in different geographical regions to help the procurement group establish and prioritize the criteria that will be used to evaluate and select new mobile technologies and consolidate mobile service contracts.

International CDMA Mobile Roaming Progressing Slowly

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., January 7, 2003

Companies with frequent international travelers using CDMA-based mobile services in their home market should ask their service provider about its plans to expand international roaming.

GSM vs. CDMA Mobile Service Demand Trends

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., January 6, 2003

Companies with extensive international operations intending to make enterprise applications accessible from mobile devices should prioritize GSM-based access technologies to accommodate users located outside the US and Canada.

GSM-GPRS Will Dominate International Mobile WANs, but Interest Is Growing in CDMA

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., January 6, 2003

Giga believes that while GSM-related technologies will dominate on a worldwide basis during the next several years, CDMA-based technologies are will receive increased attention, especially by new entrants in the largest Asia-Pacific markets.

Global Mobile Satellite Services Operator Iridium Is Likely to Survive — Globalstar's Future Is Less Certain

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., November 5, 2002

While global mobile satellite services may be the only reliable means of calling home in many remote locations, it is still not clear whether there is a viable business case for either Globalstar or Iridium, the two major providers.

IT Trends 2003: Next-Generation Global Mobile Services

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., October 11, 2002

Drivers for change in next-generation global mobile services include user disenchantment with much-hyped next-generation mobile services, complex and confusing pricing models for new services and lack of enterprise-oriented content and applications.

IT Trends: Global Mobile Wireless Services 2002 to 2005

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., June 27, 2002

Important drivers of enterprise adoption and use of next-generation mobile services include: (1) attractive and flexible pricing, (2) coverage and (3) perceived user value related to ease of use and appropriateness of the available applications.

IT Trends 2002, Midyear Update: Global Mobile Services

by Brownlee Thomas, Ph.D., April 8, 2002

Many trends - from messaging to IP adoption - should be taken into account when developing an enterprise mobile services strategy