Location-based services (LBS) which have largely remained untapped in Asia-Pacific are expected to show promising growth in tandem with the introduction of mash-up services and increase in mobile advertising.

New analysis from global growth consulting company, Frost & Sullivan (www.mobileandwireless.frost.com), Asia Pacific Location-based Services Market, reveals that the market - covering 13 major Asia-Pacific economies - was worth US$291.7 million in 2006, and is expected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 15.3 percent (2006-2009) to reach an estimated US$447 million by end-2009.

“LBS is emerging as the benchmark for service differentiation among mobile operators. Despite being a fairly small segment, this niche market is gradually shifting from a mere complementary service into a significant source of revenues,” says Frost & Sullivan industry manager Janice Chong.

LBS, which encompass a complex eco-system of application developers, content providers, merchants and advertisers, demonstrate the progressive demand of mobile users for more control over content and services that operators provide.

“The implementation of a full-spectrum LBS which includes mash-up services can significantly expedite the creation of a robust mobile content eco-system in the various Asia-Pacific countries,” she adds.

Japan and South Korea are by far the most developed LBS markets accounting for nearly 92 percent of the total revenues in Asia-Pacific. Much of this is attributed to the advanced data market in both these countries, the existence of a complete mobile eco-system which is conducive for both application developers and content providers, and the availability of reasonable LBS plans with flat rates.

“These markets also exhibit a much higher consumer-to-enterprise LBS ratio. The consumer segment provides a more durable payoff since there is a tight nexus to mobile advertising, allowing more potential for growth,” notes Chong.

The demand for LBS in the rest of Asia-Pacific however has been primarily inhibited by various issues including privacy infringement concerns, inter-operability issues, lack of advanced GPS (global positioning system)-enabled handsets, and to a large extent, a general lack of a conducive eco-system and user interest. Read more

SunTec Business Solutions, global provider of relationship based pricing and dynamic billing software, today announced the opening of a Singapore office, another milestone in SunTec’s international expansion plans.

Located on Singapore’s well-known Beach Road, SunTec’s new office will primarily focus on company sales in China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The Singapore location will also support SunTec’s APAC clients, including DBS Bank of Singapore and Bakrie Telecom of Indonesia. Read more

The Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) hotel brands portfolio in India will more than triple by year-end 2010, the company announced here today.

Over the next 36 months, the Marriott International hotel portfolio in India will grow to encompass 21 properties; six lodging brands ranging from the luxury to the upper-moderate tier; and 5,524 rooms.

Included in the expansion are:

– three JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts properties and one Ritz-Carlton hotel in the luxury tier.

– one Marriott Hotels & Resorts hotel and one Renaissance Hotels & Resorts property in the upscale, deluxe category.

– one Marriott Executive Apartments property for extended-stay travelers. Read more

Micro Technologies (India) Limited, a company engaged in developing innovative security solutions has launched the new Micro VBB (Vehicle Black Box) - Phantom in South Africa, which is one of the largest markets for security solutions. The new model has added features of voice warning to the driver of the vehicle in case of any illegal activity or unauthorized access as well as a two-way telecommunication between the owner and driver. Read more

Wipro-NewLogic, the semiconductor IP business unit of Wipro Technologies, today announced the release of its Bluetooth 2.0+EDR baseband RTL and software stack.

This low-power and flexible Bluetooth 2.0+EDR architecture is upgradeable to Bluetooth 2.1+EDR by software and builds up on the company’s silicon-proven and fully certified Bluetooth 1.2 solution. Combined with the Wipro-NewLogic Bluetooth 2.0+EDR radio IP, it offers customers a range of system configurations and can be integrated into any application, host or baseband chips, in the mobile, automotive and consumer markets. Read more

Among the largest GSM expansion deals in India

Largest Next Generation Network (NGN) deal in the country for 1.8 million subscriber lines for National Long Distance and International Long Distance Network making Nokia Siemens Networks the leading supplier of fixed line equipment to Airtel

Major expansion of International Calling Card prepaid service adding 4.5 million new users capacity to Airtel network

Bharti Airtel Limited, India’s leading private telecom services provider and Nokia Siemens Networks today strengthened their partnership further by signing a Memorandum of Understanding for a USD 900 Mn. (approx.) expansion contract across Airtel’s mobile, fixed and Intelligent Network platforms. In the first multi platform network contract of its kind to be awarded in India, Nokia Siemens Networks will expand Airtel’s GSM network in eight circles; its National Long Distance and International Long Distance network with 1.8 million Next Generation Network (NGN) ports – the largest ever NGN contract in the country – and its International Calling Card prepaid service capacity by 4.5 million news users. The GSM and NGN expansions are planned over two years and the International calling cards expansion over three years. Read more