Huawei and Ericsson are leading in the area of standards and patents LTE

Analyst firm ABI Research has published a new report on "Intellectual Property Valuation LTE - the prospects of standardization. ' According to the document, Huawei and Ericsson have joined the group of leaders in the development of standards and patents, LTE and LTE-Advanced. Among other companies that have also contributed in this area, - Nokia, Alcatel-Lucent, Qualcomm and Samsung.

The report reviews recent ABI IPR standards and patents LTE telecommunications equipment manufacturers. The document covers all the basic standards and patents related to LTE and LTE-Advanced RAN, introduced in 3GPP.

According to the report, Huawei and Ericsson are leading in the development of standards for LTE and LTE-Advanced RAN and relevant patents. Significant contributions made by other companies such as Nokia (including Nokia Siemens Networks), Alcatel-Lucent, Qualcomm and Samsung indicates that the major manufacturers of telecommunications equipment increased their investment in the development of the standard LTE.

Ericsson explores silicon photonics technology for Terabit super-channels

Ericsson participated in the research project APACHE, Agile Photonic Integrated Systems-on-Chip Enabling WDM Terabit Networks, funded in part by the European Union. The project has resulted in the fabrication of a set of InP opto chips on silicon that aims to enable aggregated Terabit traffic capacities for high-speed broadband services.

Ericsson helped prepare the research results for commercial adaption in products for the telecom market. The devices will play an important role in increasing network capacity cost-effectively when deployed in optical networks.

The project demonstrated photonic circuits capable of handling multiple 100Gbps data rates and a multiplicity of modulation formats that will enhance the transmission efficiency of optical fiber. The "monolithic-on-hybrid" silicon photonics integration approach allows for increasing integration and high-yield fabrication of complex photonic circuits.

The consortium, headed by the National Technical University of Athens (Greece), comprises the Centre for Integrated Photonics (UK), Heinrich Hertz Institute (Germany), PhoeniX Software (The Netherlands), Athens Information Technology Centre, AIT, (Greece), and Ericsson units in Sweden, the UK and Italy. The project started officially April 1, 2008, and concluded in late 2011. Public project results are available on the website, www.ict-apache.eu.

Ericsson strengthens focus on IPR licensing

Ericsson's Chief Intellectual Property Officer, Kasim Alfalahi, will report directly to President and CEO Hans Vestberg
Monetizing its entire patent portfolio and building on its technology leadership and R&D investments, as stated at the Capital Markets Day on November 9, 2011
Any company using cellular connectivity needs a license to Ericsson's industry leading patent portfolio comprising 27,000 patents
Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has the industry's strongest wireless IPR portfolio, comprising 27,000 granted patents that cover a wide range of technologies, from wireless access (2G, 3G and 4G) to WLAN and the whole Information and Communications Technology (ICT) value chain. As wireless access is now being added in new types of devices, Ericsson is reorganizing its Licensing and Patent Development department with the focus on further monetizing its IPR assets.

Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson, says: "The ICT industry is built on standardized and shared technologies, making it possible to create a global mass market for mobile telephony and mobile broadband. Today's 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions, and close to 1 billion mobile broadband subscriptions, would not be possible without this industry mentality.

"As we are entering the Networked Society, we will see built-in wireless access beyond traditional devices like phones, laptops and tablets, providing new services to the consumers. This provides an interesting business opportunity for us, having this industry's strongest patent portfolio, as any company or manufacturer that wants to get in there will need an agreement with Ericsson."

Ericsson's Chief Intellectual Property Officer, Kasim Alfalahi, who currently reports to Ericsson's CTO within Group Function Technology and Portfolio Management, will report directly to President and CEO Hans Vestberg. The reorganization is effective immediately.

Kasim Alfalahi says: "Ericsson complies with, and endorses, terms that are fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory for its patent licensing programs, which make standard-essential patents widely available. This makes Ericsson the partner of choice for new entrants to the market, as well as established companies seeking to license technology at fair and commercially viable rates."

Ericsson is today a net receiver of royalties and has signed more than 90 license agreements. With new devices and other industries entering the world of connectivity, Ericsson targets to grow its IPR revenues above the SEK 4.6 billion net revenue generated in 2010, as stated at the company's Capital Markets Day on November 9, 2011.

Vestberg delivers Networked Society message to Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012

It was a busy Consumer Electronics Show (CES) keynote presentation debut for Ericsson President and CEO, Hans Vestberg, as he enlightened his audience about the company’s role in making an all-connected future in the Networked Society a reality – demonstrating some truly futuristic technology in the process.

Vestberg crammed a lot into his 60 minute January 11 presentation in Las Vegas, including a history of Ericsson’s innovative influence in the development of communications, predictions about the uptake of mobile broadband and the subsequent benefits such global connectivity will bring to people, business and society in the Networked Society. He showed an example, on the huge auditorium screen, of the difference new voice technology can make to the gaming industry through Ericsson’s In-Game Communication solution.

Vestberg also addressed the relevance of the ICT industry and connectivity to the consumer electronics industry.

His presentation included the announcement of new partnerships in shipping and education (with Maersk Line and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)) as evidence of how business in the Networked Society means new opportunities.

He was joined on stage by Michael White, the President of Maersk Line in North America, and Carlo Ratti, of MIT’s Senseable Cities Lab, for the respective announcements.

Vestberg was also joined on stage by Christopher Mikkelsen, cofounder of Refugees United, to show how the global reach of connectivity can change the lives of refugees. About 65,000 people now subscribe to the secure search-engine service – a partnership between Ericsson, Refugees United, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and operator MTN – aimed at reconnecting families and friends separated by tragedy.

Vestberg concluded the fast-paced presentation by demonstrating new "capacitive coupling" technology in which his body was used as the conduit to transfer a photograph from a device onto a laptop, and in turn on to the auditorium big screen.

His audience was impressed. You can see it for yourself, alongside all of the above, in our film of Vestberg’s CES 2012 keynote presentation.

Ericsson closes Telcordia acquisition

Consolidates position as a leading player in operations support systems/business support systems (OSS/BSS) market with key position in service fulfilment, assurance, network optimization and real-time charging
Accretive to Ericsson earnings per share within 12 months
Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) has today completed the acquisition of Telcordia, a global leader in the development of mobile, broadband and enterprise communications software and services, for USD 1.15 billion in an all cash transaction, on a cash and debt-free basis. Telcordia is now part of the Ericsson Group and its approximately 2,600 skilled employees have joined Ericsson.

Today's closing follows the announcement on June 14, 2011, that Ericsson had entered into a merger agreement with Providence Equity Partners, LLC and Warburg Pincus to acquire 100 percent of the shares of Telcordia.

Per Borgklint, Head of Ericsson's business unit Multimedia, says: "The addition of Telcordia's skilled people and knowledge, a good multi vendor product portfolio and an important customer base in North America, complement Ericsson's already established position in the OSS/BSS space.

"OSS and BSS are key to drive the customer experience and serve as the engine to monetizing traffic, offerings and products that operators sell. All in all, these systems are crucial to create the experience users expect in a cost efficient manner."

The combination of the two companies creates the leader in service fulfilment, service assurance and network optimization and gives Ericsson a leading position in real-time charging and significant capabilities to support operators end to end. The combination will address the needs of Communications Service Providers to deliver mobile broadband and operational transformation to their subscribers.

The OSS/BSS is a growing market driven by the demand for business efficiency, innovation and high quality user experience. In 2010, the market for software and systems integration was valued at about USD 35 billion and is expected to show a compound annual growth rate between 6-8 percent between 2010 and 2013. In addition, there is an attractive market for outsourced and hosted OSS and BSS managed services, growing in the same range.

Telcordia is headquartered in Piscataway, New Jersey, and generated revenues of USD 739 million during the last fiscal year ended January 31, 2011. Telcordia will be managed by Ericsson's business unit Multimedia but sales and margins will be shared between Multimedia and Services depending on portfolio mix.

Notes to editors:

Press release from June 14, 2011 - Ericsson to acquire Telcordia:

http://www.ericsson.com/news/1523267

Picture of Per Borgklint:

www.ericsson.com/thecompany/press/photolibrary/management

Our multimedia content is available at the broadcast room: www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room

Telcordia acquisition gives Ericsson strongest and most comprehensive OSS/BSS portfolio

Telecom operators globally are soon to benefit from the most comprehensive operations- and business support systems (OSS/BSS) portfolio on the market, alongside a strong interconnection solutions portfolio, following confirmation today, January 12, that regulatory approvals have been ratified in the acquisition of US-based firm Telcordia.

With work on the integration pressing ahead at full steam, the first products of a combined end-to-end portfolio are expected to be launched in the first quarter of this year.

Per Borgklint, Head of Ericsson’s Business Unit Multimedia, says feedback from operators around the world has been positive since Ericsson announced its intention to acquire Telcordia, in June 2011.

"It is an exciting, but challenging, time for operators as we move into the Networked Society," he says. "Our industry is changing rapidly to become one driven by the increasing demands and behavior of end users, which in turn places huge OSS/BSS demands on operators.

"So the benefit to operators of a single end-to-end provider across OSS/BSS offerings is obvious. That’s what operators have been telling us. That’s why they are as excited by this move as we are at Ericsson and Telcordia. With this acquisition they will simply get the strongest and most comprehensive portfolio in the industry with a global reach – a real boost to operators’ network and service transformation ambitions toward the Networked Society."

The acquisition builds on Ericsson’s existing OSS/BSS portfolio by strengthening its position in revenue management, service fulfillment, service assurance, and planning and engineering.


The acquisition also means some 2,600 Telcordia employees will become Ericsson employees, as a subunit of the company’s Business Unit Multimedia.

"The contribution of these new Telcordia employees will boost Ericsson’s overall OSS/BSS strength, with the combined Ericsson/Telcordia footprint providing charging and billing solutions to more than 1.5 billion global subscribers," Borgklint says.

The integration is expected to be complete by the end of 2012. Details on the process can be found on the related acquisition site: Telcordia is now part of Ericsson.

Maersk Line: real-time connectivity will help us change ocean cargo transport industry

The high seas are to become part of the Networked Society thanks to a partnership Ericsson and Maersk Line, the world’s largest shipping company. Michael White, the President of Maersk Line in North America, outlines the real-time monitoring benefits the installation of Ericsson communication technology will bring to the company’s fleet – and its customers.

Ericsson mobile and satellite communication technology will be installed across the entire fleet of about 500 Maersk Line vessels – 400 of which will be completed in the next two years. Some of the Maersk Line vessels are among the largest to sail the oceans. The partnership also includes a seven-year global managed services support agreement, to include round-the-clock network monitoring and onboard maintenance services in several large ports.

With more than 90 percent of global cargo transport via ocean traffic, White says the deal with Ericsson supports the company’s ambitions to innovate and change the shipping industry.

"There are multiple operational efficiencies that can result from this implementation," he says. "We expect to have real-time access to information about vessel operation, bunker fuel consumption and electric conditions. We might even be able to monitor and prevent any difficulties in systems on board before they happen.

"But the single biggest benefit will come from our ability to proactively manage bunker consumption through real-time data. In this business, with the size of these vessels, the difference of even a few hours of real-time information could make the difference between cost and operational savings."

Ericsson presents game changers at Consumer Electronics Show

Connectivity increases relevance, says Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg
First keynote for Ericsson at world's foremost consumer electronics trade fair
Announced industry-changing deal with the world's largest shipping line
Collaboration with MIT to look at how network traffic portrays human connections
Doing business in the Networked Society requires opportunity and creativity, and Ericsson's (NASDAQ: ERIC) President and CEO Hans Vestberg offered new deals and proof points in his premier keynote appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

Vestberg described the potential inherent in intelligent, real-time communication when devices learn to manage simple tasks to help us through our daily lives. "When you start to use the combination of software, sensors, and hardware, then you can improve processes and enable new ideas to turn into business. The result will be greater than anyone can imagine," Vestberg told the audience of thousands in the room.  The keynote was also webcast live on www.cesweb.org.

Vestberg listed the advantages that the ICT (Information and Communications Technology) industry can bring to other industries. In particular, Ericsson can ensure that any device can be identified, can communicate with payment systems, preference systems, and send and receive relevant information in real-time. The benefits can be realized in business as well as personal contexts.

"Our role is to make connectivity everywhere and in real-time possible. Your role is to innovate on top of that, and perhaps come up with consumer devices that will be launched here at CES in one, two or five years," he told the show attendees in Las Vegas.

Then, Vestberg described cases in which Ericsson is changing communication, in the realms of gaming, personal transportation, and shipping. An agreement with Maersk Line, the world's largest shipping company, was introduced onstage.

Maersk Line and Ericsson have developed a unique GSM and satellite solution that will offer connectivity in the last unexplored territory in modern communications: the sea. The possibilities are endless for the shipping industry, and Maersk Line will lead the way in exploring the possible improvements that will result from this collaboration.

"The implementation of this network will represent a noticeable improvement in connectivity at sea, and we look forward to exploring the benefits this will bring to Maersk Line and our customers in the future" said Mike White, President of Maersk Line Inc, who was onstage with Vestberg to present the deal.

He described the company's ambition of a more customer focused way of doing business, striving for reliability, and making business easier for its customers.
More information on this deal is available at www.ericsson.com/press.

The emotional aspect of the Networked Society was highlighted with the appearance of Christopher Mikkelsen, one of the co-founders of Refugees United.  Ericsson partners with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and operator MTN to enable a global, secure search engine for displaced people looking for loved ones. 65-thousand people are now registered on the service.

In his finale, Vestberg invited onstage Professor Carlo Ratti of MIT's Senseable Cities Lab to introduce a collaboration between Ericsson and MIT that will aim to reveal patterns of human behavior by looking at volumes in mobile data traffic.  "The network is not an abstract concept - rather it allows us to connect and come together. We can use it for work and leisure - and, as the collaboration between Ericsson and MIT will show - as a tool to reflect and better understand ourselves," said Ratti.

Vestberg wrapped up his CES appearance by demonstrating new technology, so-called "capacitive coupling," in which a photograph was transferred from a telephone, then hand-to-hand, through the human body, to the large screen without using radio signals.  "Ultimately, we are the network," he said in describing the research project.  Vestberg added that it's hard to predict exactly how the Networked Society will shape up, but that we can be prepared by embracing the new mindset and enabling new solutions.

Maersk Line and Ericsson bring mobile connectivity to the oceans

Leader in shipping industry to pioneer mobile communication across vessel fleet
Improved interaction with vessels, proactive issue resolution and prompt information sharing with customers
Install and systems integrate mobility on up to 400 vessels over the next 2 years
The oceans are the last "white spot" for mobile communication industry to connect. The world's largest shipping company, Maersk Line, has appointed Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) to address this by introducing end-to-end systems integration and deployment of mobile and satellite communication to its entire vessel fleet.

The Maersk Line fleet comprises more than 500 container vessels. Over the next two years, Maersk Line will outfit 400 of these vessels with Ericsson antennas and GSM base stations, with upgrades to be made to the remaining vessels soon after. As part of the agreement, Ericsson will provide seven years of global managed services support, including 24/7 network monitoring and onboard maintenance services in a large number of ports across all major regions.

"We're proud to be able to connect Maersk Line's fleet with our technology. We believe in a Networked Society, where connectivity will only be the starting point for new ways of innovating, collaborating and socializing. The result will be automated and simplified processes, higher productivity, real-time information allowing quicker, more informed decision making and problem solving," said Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.

For the shipping industry, mobile communication provides the opportunity to employ new and efficient ways of addressing fleet management, managing delivery times, improving interaction with vessels, enabling proactive issue resolution and prompt information sharing with customers and even improving energy efficiency.

Until now, Maersk Line's high-tech modern container ships have been equipped with satellite connectivity primarily intended to support communication for vital shipboard functions. Ericsson's integrated maritime mobile and very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite solution will bring extended connectivity to the entire fleet, allowing for new ways of communicating and contributing to efficiency, reliability and cost reduction. It also paves the way for immediate access to remote expertise, resulting in extended access to information and, in turn, improved efficiency in the vessels' daily operations.

"We're quite pleased to be the first fleet to be connected with mobile communication technology. We believe it would provide us good opportunities to run our fleet more efficiently." said Søren Toft, Vice President Maersk Line Operations.

Notes to editors:

Multimedia content including footage of Maersk headquarters in Copenhagen is available at the broadcast room: www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room

Trucking towards a greener future

Drivers for DB Schenker in Sweden are trucking toward a more sustainable future with the help of an onboard mobile-broadband-enabled intelligent transport system that monitors and reduces fuel consumption in the freight company's fleet.

Smart Transport in Brazil highlighted at COP 17

About Maersk

The A.P. Moller - Maersk Group is a worldwide conglomerate. We operate in some 130 countries and have a workforce of some 108,000 employees. In addition to owning one of the world's largest shipping companies, we're involved in a wide range of activities in the energy, logistics, retail and manufacturing industries.

www.maersk.com

www.maerskLine.com

Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the "prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 180 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.

www.ericsson.com
www.twitter.com/ericssonpress
www.facebook.com/technologyforgood
www.youtube.com/ericssonpress

Mobility - the new opportunity in town

On the first day of CES, Bruce Rosenblum, President of Warner Bros. Television Group, spoke about how mobile broadband is affecting the entertainment industry.

In this video he discusses the massive shifts in the consumer landscape and how TV has moved outside of the home and into a mobile environment.

He says that while all this new technology is enabling consumers to find content more conveniently, he also considers it a great opportunity to make material more accessible and to create a more intimate experience for the consumer.

Ericsson at 2012 International CES

Attendees are beginning to stream in to the biggest consumer electronics show of them all: the 2012 International CES. #ces2012. Ericsson will be there to talk about its vision of a Networked Society, where any device in a consumer's hands gets better with connectivity.

Live online learning from Coventry University with Ericsson solution

Live lectures and interaction with tutors possible via smartphones and tablets
Coventry University known for putting Shakespeare archives in a mobile app
25-thousand students registered for online learning with Coventry University can now learn on mobiles
A collaboration between Coventry University and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) is set to bring learning to the mobile age. Ericsson will make it possible for teachers to give live lessons to up to a half-million students online.  From their smartphones, students can listen and interact with the lecturer and tutors who are also online.

This is a cloud service that is based on IMS architecture: IP Multimedia Subsystem, an industry standard for multimedia communication; and the service In-Game communication from Ericsson, which provides an enriched voice experience for users. By basing the In-Game solution on Ericsson's IMS product portfolio, services can be scaled for a potentially unlimited number of users, with telecom-grade availability and security.

Coventry University has established itself as an institution on the cutting edge of learning.  The Serious Games Institute at Coventry University was set up to conduct research and development into future solutions in education. Tim Luft, Director of the Serious Games Institute, said: "We wanted to work with Ericsson to transform our current range of mobile applications into an interactive experience for our many thousands of mobile learners. Many people who now take short courses on their mobiles have been limited to static images and recorded audio or video.

"We want to change that, and we hope that the expertise provided by Coventry University and Ericsson will help to improve the experience of our learners by allowing them to interact in a number ways, perhaps by listening to a live keynote speech through a smart phone or sharing course notes with a tutor," said Luft.

Magnus Furustam, Head of Core & IMS at Business Unit Networks at Ericsson, says: "Gaming for entertainment has been a driver for hardware and software technology for the last 10 years, and younger generations are familiar with how to use it. Together with Coventry University we will combine our forethought in gaming technology with education, and take online education to a new dimension."

An earlier project led by the Serious Games Institute included an initiative to digitize a host of Shakespeare archive materials and to open up access through a smart phone browser.

Notes to editors:

Serious Games Institute at Coventry University

Our multimedia content is available at the broadcast room: www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room

About Serious Games Institute

The Serious Games Institute (SGI) has a global reputation and was the first Serious Games Institute in the world. The SGI is part of Coventry University and is one of three Institutes located on the Coventry University Science Park. The Institute supports the development of digital media, in particular;- Serious Games, 3D animation/ virtual worlds/ games based training/ mobile applications and associated technology. The SGI incorporates a training division, an applied research team, a dedicated technology incubator and a mobile application development lab. The mobile 'apps' lab rolls out specialist industry training with regard to mobile technology, develops mobile proof of concepts and commercial prototype.

In addition to technical expertise Coventry University understands the needs and demands of SMEs as we work with over 6,000 SMEs each year and we were ranked 1st out of 187 Higher Education Institutions in UK in 2009-10 for the number of SME consultancy contracts we won.

About Ericsson

Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the "prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 180 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.

The world’s largest tech tradeshow gets underway

Devices and technology that will transform people’s lives are being showcased and discussed this week at the 2012 International Consumer Electronic Show.

Ericsson’s participation at the Las Vegas Convention Center event is widespread. Company President and CEO, Hans Vestberg, will deliver a keynote speech on Wednesday January 11, 1pm (Las Vegas time), while Ericsson is also hosting Entertainment Matters seminars with high-profile entertainment industry executives in the Central Hall.

All Ericsson participation will highlight how the company is using devices and improved connectivity to drive a Networked Society that aims to empower people, business and society.

Ericsson IP Networking serving regatta stopovers

Visitors to Volvo Ocean Race stopovers are enjoying high-speed mobile internet thanks to a next-generation IP network solution from Ericsson.

The world’s premier offshore race, now at the third of ten stopovers, generates great amounts of multimedia content, including still pictures and videos, which can now be streamed from boats in-port to the race villages with the microwave solution MINI-LINK PT.

In addition, the high-capacity network is enabling journalists on-site to deliver their stories more quickly, allow shore teams to work online more efficiently as well as let fans access their favorite applications online as they are used to doing in an everyday situation.

"We are in the middle of executing the most exciting Volvo Ocean Race ever, from so many different perspectives, one of which is massively increasing audience media expectations. The race has traditionally been difficult to follow since it happens on the ocean, but recent advances in technology have allowed the public to watch the boats while they are thousands of miles away on any device, internet, phones, TV and at any time," says Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race. When we arrive to a port, the public on site has the same high expectations. They want to see the race up-close even if the race is happening twenty miles out. We are working with Ericsson to make sure the network in the village is fast and efficient, so we can spread information from race to shore, to big screens, to mobile handsets, and online to those who are not in the village."

900-thousand people walked through the gates of Alicante during the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race (2008-2009). That kind of crowd will stress a network, but two weeks later that crowd will leave. This is why Ericsson suggested the MINI-LINK PT microwave solution for Volvo Ocean Race.So far in this race close to one million visitors came to Alicante and Cape Town. The boats are due to leave Abu Dhabi on January 14.

Joakim Nilsson, product manager for MINI-LINK, says: "It provides flexibility in installation, high capacity during the event, and it’s easy to move to the next stopover. And the big advantage is that MINI-LINK has zero footprint. All the stuff is in the mast. You can deploy a gigabit-throughput network in a couple of hours."

Nilsson adds: "Many of these stopovers are in places without an established infrastructure. And unlike fiber, you can provide microwave over water. Then, you can dismantle this network in a short time." Nilsson says such a technology solution is appropriate for other short-term, intensive events like a marathon, an Olympic Games, or for a World Expo.

Ericsson has participated in two previous editions of the Volvo Ocean Race but has transitioned into a technology partner only. Frostad says Ericsson is the right innovation partner for the racing organization. He says: "No other sport had a mobile channel when we launched with Ericsson. Now everybody has a mobile channel. In this race, we are doing something spectacular with microwave transmission inside the race villages. We and Ericsson know each other’s business and they know our sport."

In addition, Ericsson acknowledges the importance of innovative technology and has established the Ericsson Trophy for best yacht design. The winner of that award will be announced at the race finish in Galway, Ireland, in June 2012.

The 10 hottest consumer trends for 2012

As 2011 drew to a close, Ericsson ConsumerLab identified the hottest consumer trends for 2012 and beyond. Some of the highlights included that connectivity has become as essential as roads and electricity, that social media are redefining news reporting, and that anyone can now be a service provider.

Once they have been connected, the internet is one of the last things that consumers would be willing to give up if they had to reduce their expenses, according to ConsumerLab’s findings.

For more than 15 years, ConsumerLab has been conducting research into people’s values, behaviors and ways of thinking about ICT products and services. Ericsson’s global research program is based on annual interviews with 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and more than 10 megacities.

Michael Björn, Head of Research at ConsumerLab, says: "Consumers have taken to smartphone apps like fish to water. Touch and direct access via icons hide the complexity of internet services, and people are now willing to explore many new areas of everyday life – anything from recipes to receipts – that benefit from connectivity. We just concluded a study in emerging markets, and found that even first-time mobile-phone users very quickly become internet users. Connectivity is becoming an increasing part of their daily activities."

Here are the 10 hottest consumer trends:

Connectivity is king. Connectivity has become as essential as the air we breathe. Once they have been connected, consumers say the internet is one of the last things they would be willing to give up if they had to reduce their expenses.
Everyone can be a service provider. There is a huge demand for new services. The internet makes it possible for both companies and consumers to invent new solutions, such as apps.
Social media redefine news reporting. Social media drive consumption of pictures, video clips and music, and now they also help consumers judge the relevance of news by providing necessary social commentary.
Mobile phones play a significant role in everyday life. Consumers show most interest in mobile services that are directly related to nearby places or local services. While 90 percent of all smartphone owners always carry their phones with them, only 80 percent of them mention carrying money.
Transparency greater than privacy. People are getting used to living transparent lives and they also expect companies and other organizations to act transparently.
The cloud makes things easy to use. Sharing information and having several devices connected at all times is becoming the norm for consumers, resulting in the introduction of more cloud-based services. The main driver is ease of use.
Women drive adoption of smartphones. Our 2011 study of smartphone users showed that men still dominate usage of niche services on smartphones while significantly more women use regular services such as voice calling, SMS and Facebook. By actively integrating the use of all communications channels into one device, women are driving mass-market adoption of smartphones.
Making shopping easier. Our survey showed that 67 percent of smartphone users are interested in mobile payments. Payments should not be seen in isolation but must be put into a context of everyday shopping – for example, product information, bonus points, receipts and even indoor-shopping-mall navigation.
Everything connects. Mobile data surpassed voice in the fourth quarter of 2009 and doubled voice in the first quarter of 2011. Consumers are increasingly connecting to the internet and to things around them, such as cars, vending machines, ticket gates and more.
Uncertain times – consumers strive for control. In times of economic instability or when disasters such as earthquakes occur, we see renewed interest among consumers in services related to utilities such as water and electricity. Likewise, a change in disposable income is driving demand for consumers to be in control of service consumption.
See document for more detailed information

Notes to editors

Our multimedia content is available at the broadcast room.

About Ericsson ConsumerLab

Ericsson ConsumerLab is a knowledge-based organization, our main offering is insight. We have more than 15 years’ experience in consumer research, which involves studying people's values and behaviors, including the way they act and think about ICT products and services. We provide consumer insight to influence strategy, marketing and product management within the Ericsson Group. Our knowledge helps operators develop attractive revenue-generating services.

We gain our knowledge through a global research program based on annual interviews with 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and more than 10 megacities – statistically representing the views of 1.1 billion people. We use both quantitative and qualitative research, and spend hundreds of hours on in-depth interviews and focus groups with consumers from different cultures. Our research includes general market and consumer trends and in-depth insights into specific areas.

To be close to the market and consumers, Ericsson ConsumerLab has team members in most of Ericsson’s market regions. Being part of the Ericsson Group gives us a thorough understanding of the ICT market and business models. This broad knowledge is unique and is the basis for our credibility and integrity. We see the big picture, understand where the individual fits in, and know what this means for future trends and services.

Cities involved in the latest research: Beijing, Berlin, Cairo, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, London, Moscow, Mumbai, New York, Paris, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Stockholm, Tokyo.

Regions/Markets involved in the latest research: Argentina, Australia, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan , Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, UK, Ukraine, USA and Vietnam.

Ericsson ConsumerLab research reveals teenagers' communication

A teenage relationship begins with a changed Facebook status
Texting on the phone is great, but nothing beats meeting face-to-face
Same needs but different social tools
How do teenagers prefer to communicate and socialize with each other? At Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC), we think their behavior has important implications for the future of devices and technology.

Between June and November 2011, Ericsson ConsumerLab carried out research into what those implications will be.

"Behaviors are dynamic, and shift as people enter different life stages. As they get older, teenagers start to use communication tools in the same way as adults. They will continue to use 'their' tools such as texting, Facebook and video chat, but at the same time, they understand the need to use voice and e-mail as they move into the next stage of their lives," said Ann-Charlotte Kornblad, Senior advisor at Ericsson ConsumerLab.

The survey shows that the common usage of texting and Facebook has changed the dynamics of teenage dating. The biggest changes can be seen in the courting process, where the goal is to ask the other person out on a date. However teenagers still meet potential romantic partners face-to-face.


Another clear shift is the fact that changing your Facebook relationship status to "in a relationship" or "single" is now seen by friends as the official declaration.

Texting remains the teenager's tool of choice when face time isn't an option.  It is a tool that does not interrupt the flow of their lives. Voice calls, on the other hand, are considered by teenagers to be more suitable for adults.

The report finds that the ownership level for smartphones and regular mobile phones are the same for 17-year-olds, but 13-year-olds are much more interested in getting a smartphone, if they don't already have one.


The study consisted of almost 2,000 respondents and involved a representative sample of 20 million people between 13 and 17 years of age, representative of the entire US. The behavior reported is similar to that in many other countries. The study also consisted of 44 qualitative interviews.

Notes to editors:

Press release: Ericsson at the 2012 International CES

Our multimedia content is available at the broadcast room: www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room

About Ericsson ConsumerLab

Ericsson ConsumerLab is a knowledge-based organization that provides consumer insight to influence strategy, marketing and product management within the Ericsson Group. Ericsson ConsumerLab has more than 15 years' experience in consumer research, which involves studying people's values and behaviors, including the way they act and think about ICT products and services. This knowledge helps operators develop attractive revenue-generating services.

Teens and tech: texting, liking and dating

Technology is an integral part of social life for today’s teenagers. A new study from Ericsson ConsumerLab examines how teenagers are using technology and devices as everyday tools. Facebook plays an important role, particularly in dating, but text messaging and face-to-face communication are ranked even higher.

Connecting ecosystems makes life simpler

Richer experiences, enhanced productivity and a better quality of life are just some of the results when consumer electronics and entertainment meet ICT. For Arun Bhikshesvaran, Chief Marketing Officer at Ericsson, connecting these ecosystems just makes life simpler.

How will all these connected ecosystems and devices affect the way we shop, learn or consume entertainment? Bhikshesvaran believes that connecting things in the Networked Society will simplify life.

"Content and where we experience it takes on a completely new meaning," Bhikshesvaran says.

"My eight-year old completely gets it. She is equally comfortable with Netflix streaming as she is with DVDs, and expects that her playlists are available wherever she goes. Such experiences are completely enabled by emerging ICT solutions."

New devices are getting connected all the time, but Bhikshesvaran says that it is important to think about the ecosystems these devices belong to. For example, connected entertainment is not just about the player but also about the media library, ratings from friends, the ability to share them and new ways of discovering content.

Education is another important ecosystem.


"When learning can happen anywhere, the pace of knowledge development increases dramatically," he says.

"For example, if I want to learn how to make a great Italian entrée, I can look up the recipe and learn the exact steps by watching a video. As a next step, I’d like to be able to get all the ingredients needed with one click and, eventually, for a fee, be able to get the original chef to walk me through the process during an immersive video session. Such an experience will rapidly increase my level of comfort and creativity in the kitchen."

The next frontier is the automobile ecosystem – an environment where cars, gas and charging stations, dealerships, maintenance centers, traffic and navigation systems, as well as public safety providers, all benefit from being connected.

The combination of mobile communications, ICT and consumer electronics also has a powerful role to play in creating sustainable solutions for sectors such as energy and transportation.

"The more we know about where, when and how much energy is being consumed, the more intelligence can be applied to optimize this process."

Smart grids are one example, but new collaborations that reduce travel, and thereby fuel and emissions, are also important solutions for business and industry.

At the 2012 International CES, held from January 10-13 in Las Vegas, the evolution of ICT, entertainment and consumer electronics will be in focus at the world’s largest consumer technology tradeshow. On January 11, 2012, Ericsson President and CEO Hans Vestberg will deliver his keynote address.

"Ericsson's presence at CES signifies the important role that we play in the realization of the Networked Society. Along with key players in the entertainment, education, energy and automotive segments, our story about connecting things, creating new experiences and simplifying life will resonate very well," Bhikshesvaran says.

How we spend time

Internet use has more than quadrupled in the last eight years according to a study by Ericsson ConsumerLab. The Infographs below show that even as we spend more and more time surfing the net with our laptops, smartphones and tablets we still spend a lot of time with family and friends. And with a lot of online time being spent on social networks we are in fact becoming more social.

Ericsson at the 2012 International CES

Ericsson hosting Entertainment Matters seminars with high-profile entertainment industry executives January 10th at 1:30pm N258
President and CEO Hans Vestberg to give keynote January 11, 1pm at the Venetian
Ericsson exhibiting at Las Vegas Convention Center Central Hall Booth #13638
Connected devices in an all-communicating world will take to the stage at the world's largest gathering of consumer electronics enthusiasts and businesspeople in Las Vegas, when Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) President and CEO Hans Vestberg delivers a keynote address to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

In addition, Ericsson will present the Entertainment Matters program Entertainment Everywhere, The Reinvention of an Industry at CES, inviting headliners from the entertainment business to discuss changing business models brought on by mobility and broadband.

Vestberg will emphasize the opportunities that arise when all consumer devices can communicate, and give examples of business potential in industries beyond telecoms.

In addition, new research from Ericsson ConsumerLab offers insights on communication habits of young people between the ages of 13-17. Their behavior has important implications for the future of devices and technology.

At Entertainment Matters, Ericsson has invited speakers from Warner Bros. Television, Sony Music, Pandora and ad Tech. The three sessions aim to spur discussions on how mobility and connectivity are changing the future of entertainment.

Schedule and relevant locations:

Ericsson CEO Hans Vestberg's Keynote Address
The Venetian, Palazzo Ballroom
Wednesday, January 11, 1:00 p.m. PST. A live webcast of the keynote will be available at www.cesweb.org

The Reinvention of an Industry: Entertainment Everywhere
Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall N258
Tuesday, January 10, 1:00-5:00 p.m. PST

Ericsson booth at CES
Las Vegas Convention Center Central Hall Booth #13638
Tuesday-Friday, January 10-13

Demos

Connected Tree

Our "Twittering Tree" senses changes in the electromagnetic field around it as people pass, and sends Tweets that reflect its mood directly to its Twitter account, ConnectedTree. This tree also reacts to people's presence and movements by playing music, speaking and turning on and off lights.

Social Web of Things

Social Web of Things from Ericsson Research shows that people in general find it hard to relate to technical networks and do not feel comfortable managing them. Instead we should set up the internet of things like a human network. We have a relationship with our things, and our things have relationships with each other. We are providing a glimpse of a possible future beyond the internet of things. What is about to happen is that things will have 'friends' - and post messages, follow news feeds, and even chat with other things and/or friends.

Connected Healthcare

Envision how real-time connectivity can change an entire industry. In healthcare, for example, providers can use the existing networks to provide live interactive video between a visiting nurse and a doctor who can use voice, video and file transfer solutions to improve patient care.  Our demonstration will show how these services can be used focusing on Ericsson's solution integration capabilities.

And more.

Notes to editors:

Video: Hans Vestberg excited to come to CES

Ericsson at Consumer Electronics Show 2012

Our multimedia content is available at the broadcast room: www.ericsson.com/broadcast_room

About Ericsson

Ericsson is the world's leading provider of technology and services to telecom operators. Ericsson is the leader in 2G, 3G and 4G mobile technologies, and provides support for networks with over 2 billion subscribers and has the leading position in managed services. The company's portfolio comprises mobile and fixed network infrastructure, telecom services, software, broadband and multimedia solutions for operators, enterprises and the media industry. The Sony Ericsson and ST-Ericsson joint ventures provide consumers with feature-rich personal mobile devices.

Ericsson is advancing its vision of being the "prime driver in an all-communicating world" through innovation, technology, and sustainable business solutions. Working in 180 countries, more than 90,000 employees generated revenue of SEK 203.3 billion (USD 28.2 billion) in 2010. Founded in 1876 with the headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden, Ericsson is listed on NASDAQ OMX, Stockholm and NASDAQ New York.

www.ericsson.com
www.twitter.com/ericssonpress
www.facebook.com/technologyforgood
www.youtube.com/ericssonpress