Opera Offers "Ultra Data Savings" on Samsung Galaxy J2

Opera announced that "Opera Max together with Samsung R&D Institute of India powers Ultra Data Saving feature on Samsung Galaxy J2 in India. Consumers can get the most out of their mobile data plans.

Samsung Galaxy J2’s Ultra Data Saving let users to allow and block individual apps from using mobile data and save data by enabling data optimization at the same time. Each action takes just one click in Ultra Data Saving Mode. Users will also get an overview so they can track how much mobile data is consumed and saved, so they can enjoy the mobile internet with better peace of mind.

.. Opera Max offers unique data-optimization technology. It reduces data consumption on images, webpages, videos and audio streams, especially with image-heavy or video apps, such as Instagram, YouTube, Vine, IMDB and Flipboard. Ultra Data Saving mode provides up to 50% savings in data and also frees up to 11% RAM, thereby refining customer’s experience on a smartphone".

See "Opera Max supports Ultra Data Saving Mode for Samsung Galaxy J2" - here.

Opera Fights Wi-Fi Congestion

Opera Software announced that its "New Opera Max version includes a Wi-Fi data-savings option. The data-compression app will allow users to control their mobile data and Wi-Fi data independently. With 80% of all data usage on Wi-Fi networks, Wi-Fi savings has been the number-one requested feature by Opera Max users.

• Users experiencing Wi-Fi network congestion will enjoy a faster connection experience with this new compression feature, as they can see how apps are using their data and track how their apps behave on Wi-Fi.
   
• With the new App Blocking feature, users can prevent apps from tracking them or using data without their permission, as well as being able to stop apps from running in the background to conserve precious battery life. The “Blocked Apps” section gives users complete control over mobile data access and Wi-Fi data access.

See "Faster Wi-Fi experience with new Opera Max compression technology" - here.

[ABI]: Citrix, Openwave and Ericsson Lead the $400M Optimization Space

ABI Research announced it has evaluated the "..leading vendors for Video, Audio, Web and Data Optimization the Gi-LAN space, and finds Citrix ByteMobile with the most compelling total value proposition, followed by Openwave Mobility and Ericsson. ABI Research finds web and video optimization performance as mainly determined by the x86 architecture, and the vendors differentiate along the lines of packaging and the depth of value adding features such as monetization, big data analytics and traffic management bundles.

The leaders in each category include:

• Overall: Citrix ByteMobile, Openwave Mobility, Ericsson:
   
• The Citrix ByteMobile ATM takes top honors with its long standing market reach and total value proposition of its web and video optimization, content caching, and added value in DPI, traffic policy enforcement
   
• Openwave Mobility takes second honors and keeps up the pressure with an innovation clean sweep in depth and breadth, analytics, subscriber and monetization innovation focus
   
• Ericsson takes a not-surprising third award with the rich value proposition of its Multi-Service Proxy and Service Enablement Platform
   
• Implementation: Citrix ByteMobile, Ericsson, Flash Networks
• Innovation: Openwave Mobiity, Citrix ByteMobile, Ericsson
  

Joe Hoffman [pictured], Practice Director, ABI Research said: “Nobody buys just video optimization, and now that the fundamental technologies are commoditized table stakes, we enrich the evaluation to consider the total value proposition including analytics and monetization, When an operator buys into one of these solutions, it is economically efficient to consider the big picture bundle.” 

"This research covers the leading vendors that offer video, audio, web and data optimizations solutions, including Allot, Avvasi, Flash Networks, Huawei, NEC, Nokia Networks, Opera Software, and Vantrix, and accounts for a large part of the US$400M in 2014 revenues in this market space".

See "ABI Research Ranks Citrix, Openwave Mobility, and Ericsson with Top Honors in the 2015 Mobile Web and Video Optimization Competitive Assessment" - here.

Opera Enables Zero-Rated App Access; Piloted by Telenor Asia

Opera software announced that "Mobile operators can now offer their subscribers free-of-charge access to selected apps for a set period of time, with sponsored and paid passes to apps coming shortly. This has been made possible by App Pass, an innovative new feature for Opera Max, the mobile data-savings and management app from Opera Software.
 
For operators, App Pass is a way to present offers to users when they open any app on their phones. With two clicks, users can gain free access to the data that app consumes via Opera Max: they can then return to the app knowing that any data consumed while using it will be zero-rated for the duration of the App Pass" 

Related posts - Zero rates services in Colombia, Pakistan and Zambia - vs, "Canada: Operators Directed to Stop Zero-Rate Video" - here.

"Telenor will be the first operator to partner with Opera and launch Opera Max with App Pass, testing it out in some of the company’s Asian markets. In the pilot phase Telenor is testing a number of short-term passes for different apps and offers that help its users gain a first-hand, low-risk understanding of the internet. These users can also see and then manage their own personal internet consumption patterns from within Opera Max"

Rolv-Erik Spilling [pictured], Head of Telenor Digital, said: “We’re eager to see how this service is received in our markets. App Pass is designed to give customers easy control over costs related to data usage. The challenge of so-called “bill shock” is high on our agenda, and these kinds of initiatives from Opera play an important part in addressing the issue”.

See "Consumers in emerging markets gain affordable access to apps" - here.

Viettel [Vietnam] Partners with Opera for Affordable Data Plan

Opera Software announced that "Over 50 million Viettel customers can now subscribe to the most affordable mobile data plan in Vietnam. Viettel, the largest local mobile operator, is offering one-day, web-browsing data packages for VND 2,000 (USD 0.09) through the Opera Mini browser. Subscribers to this plan will be able to browse the web via Opera Mini as much as they want for a day. The data plan is part of a partnership, announced today, between Opera Software and Viettel to bring the next million Vietnamese users online.

Opera Mini compresses the size of webpages by up to 90%, resulting in faster, more affordable browsing. With mobile internet, users can access the web on their phones, whenever and wherever they need it.

See "Viettel launches affordable data plan with Opera Mini" - here.

Huawei Enables SkyFire's Optimizer as a Cloud Service

Opera Software's Skyfire today announced a ".. strategic partnership with Huawei in which Skyfire’s Rocket Optimizer platform will be made available to mobile operators in Huawei’s Cloud Edge Virtual Multi-Service Engine (vMSE - see "Huawei Unveils Cloud Edge Solution for Breakthrough Services Agility with NFV" - here).
 

.. Over-the-top video and audio optimization represents a significant application of NFV. Demand for streaming content has grown exponentially in recent years, although its impact on networks can occur unpredictably in various locations at various times throughout the day. 

Mobile operators need the ability to bring up and take down resources for multiple locations throughout the day, which can be expensive if done inline at locations near the network edge. By virtualizing these network functions through Skyfire’s Rocket Optimizer, operators can expand capacity instantly to deliver a positive and cost-effective quality of experience for their subscribers".

See "Opera’s Skyfire unit partners with Huawei to deliver video optimization for Cloud Edge vMSE platform" - here.

Winners of BBTM Awards 2014: NetCracker (x2), Huawei, Avvasi, Sandvine, Skyfire

The Broadband Traffic Congress 2014 awards, shown with relevant links to recent posts in my blog (see also 2011, 2012 and 2013 awards):

• Best Big Data Solution for Improving Customer Experience: NetCracker ‘Big Data solution’
   
• Most Innovative Tool for Driving Real-Time Intelligence: Huawei ‘Real Time Decision Center’ - see "Huawei: Over 3B Subscribers Served by Our SDM" - here
   .
• Best Optimisation Tool for Managing Video Traffic: Avvasi ‘Q-SRV’ Solution' - see "WIND Mobile [Canada] Uses Avvasi to Improve Video QoE" - here and "Virgin Mobile [France] Deploys Avvasi to Improve Video QoE" - here.
   
• Best Real Time Charging Platforms for Customers: Sandvine – 'Sandvine Quota Manager' - see "Sandvine Enables CSPs to Interact Directly w/Subscribers; How does it Work?" - here
   
• Best Cloud Solution for Traffic Management: Skyfire ‘Rocket Optimizer’ Solution - see "Opera Adds Audio to Rocket Optimizer" - here
   
• Best Analytics for Network Management: Netcracker  'Real Time Analytics Solution' - see "NetCracker Launches SDN/NFV Based Service Orchestrator" - here.

[Report] Video and Data Optimization Can Gain $28B for MNO in 5 Years

A new report by ABI Research, commissioned by Opera Software’s Skyfire unit, finds that "Mobile operators globally can benefit from a net gain of at least $28.7 billion over five years by deploying mobile video and data optimization technology in their networks.

Key findings, based on a conservative assumption that if just one in three operators deploys video and data optimization technology, the savings and revenue boost will therefore be as follows:

• Churn-reduction savings: $12,947 million
• Tariff-upgrade revenue boost: $6,481 million
• Total-cost-of-ownership reduction savings: $9,347.6 million
• Total over 5 years: $28,776 million

..The model uses actual country market data, from economic and demographic data to mobile operator subscription and radio access network (RAN) deployment data.

Sample use cases:

• Philippines, churn reduction: Using the Philippines market, where there is some 4G subscriber adoption (2.5 million) but a much larger proportion on 3G (22 million), the average data throughput in the base station cell edge zones is estimated to be 365 Kbps without optimization. Boosting the quality of experience by enabling 30% to 60% greater data throughput can boost overall subscribers by around 2% per year and increase the subscriber retention rate equating to additional retained service revenues of US$204 million over a 5-year period.

• Brazil, tariff upgrade: Using a conservative scenario of 2%, ABI Research calculates that an operator in the Brazilian market can generate an additional US$474 million in service revenue over a 5-year period from its 3G and 4G subscribers, attributed to faster user data rates and improved QoE".

See "Video and data optimization can deliver $28 billion net gain to mobile operators over five years, independent analysis for Opera reveals" - here.

MediaTek LTE SoC will Embed Opera's Optimization S/W

Opera Software announced that "Opera Max, a data-savings app for Android phones, will be embedded into MediaTek’s LTE System on a Chip (SoC). The first two MediaTek SoCs to be shipped with Opera Max are the high-performing 64-bit LTE SoCs MT6752 and MT6732 chips. Opera Max will enable smartphones with these chips to consume half as much the data within the same monthly plan at no extra cost"

Opera Software has leveraged its market-leading video and data compression technology in Opera Max, which compresses video, photos and text across most apps and browsers on a smartphone by up to 50%, extending the life of a user’s data plans at no cost. The app also enables videos to start faster and take far less time buffering.

Users can easily monitor and manage the mobile data consumption of each app from Opera Max’s intuitive dashboard, which also reminds users when they are travelling away from their carrier’s network, so users can adjust their connectivity settings accordingly to avoid paying expensive roaming fees"

See "MediaTek and Opera Software partner to extend consumer data plans at no cost" - here.

Opera Adds Audio to Rocket Optimizer

Opera Software announced that its "Skyfire unit [see "Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M" - here] has added streaming audio optimization as a new feature to Rocket Optimizer, its NFV-ready video and data optimization platform for mobile operators .. Rocket Optimizer manages streaming audio traffic in the same way that it optimizes mobile video traffic. 

It uses its built-in Experience Assurance functionality to automatically detect when the end-user’s live audio stream is about to stall, buffer or drop off entirely due to a poor connection – in real-time, before the problem starts. Rocket Optimizer then instantly adapts the audio stream to fit the available capacity in the network, in order to ensure the end user receives a smooth, uninterrupted, high-quality streaming audio experience. 

Rocket Optimizer’s streaming audio optimization works with most of the world’s most popular streaming music services, as well as with “long tail” streaming content hosted on myriad web sites. It supports both MP3 and MP4 stream formats, and - unlike competing optimization solutions – can also convert streams to the more efficient AAC+ codec, which is able to deliver high audio quality over a low bitrate connection to any compatible device".

See "Opera’s Skyfire unit adds streaming audio optimization to Rocket Optimizer" - here.

Opera/Skyfire Adds Real-Time Analytics

Opera Software's Skyfire (here) unit released "Rocket Insights™ as part of its Rocket Optimizer platform to help operators better manage their network loads by providing a real-time analytics dashboard that analyzes mobile video congestion. Operators can now instantly view key metrics such as stall rates, video start times, bitrate distribution and mean opinion score, and use this data to improve their overall network traffic management.

Rocket Insights elegantly addresses the current lack of existing real-time video monitoring analytics in a graphical and user-customizable dashboard. It provides operators with visibility into the importance of actionable quality of experience (QoE) monitoring that can intervene as needed to improve the video experience for each user on the network. Operators can test and refine their optimization strategies using the dashboard, and measure how these rates improve or change on the basis of real-time adjustments that they make.

Prior to the release of Rocket Insights, traffic management analytics were limited to packet- or URL-level data, which were often a poor proxy metric for application session quality, and did not allow for session mitigation actions in real time. Rocket Insights, on the other hand, now allows operators to easily see the impact of video on their networks, down to individual subscribers and their anonymized location in the network.

Rocket Optimizer is currently deploying with Telenor’s mobile networks across 11 countries, as well as across the national network of a Tier 1 US-based operator. Rocket Optimizer is also currently in live user trials with multiple operators around the world. The new Rocket Insights module is also compatible with leading traffic steering partners of Skyfire’s such as F5, Procera Networks [see "Procera Partners with Skyfire: Detects and Steers Video Traffic for Optimization" - here] and ConteXtream [see "Telenor Manages OTT Video Traffic With: ALU, Opera/SkyFire, ConteXtream and Velocix" - here]

See "Opera’s Skyfire Adds Video Analytics Dashboard to Rocket Optimizer Platform" - here.

Opera Expands Optimization Beta Test

Opera Software announced in its blog that Opera Max for Android will be available to more beta testers: " In December last year, we opened up Opera Max to a limited number of Android beta testers in the USA to see how you enjoy our new data-savings app.

Well, it seems like many of you like it, and now we want more testers. Starting today, we’re rolling out pre-registration of a public beta version of Opera Max to Android users in the United States and Western Europe.

.. Opera Max compresses videos, photos and text across most of your phone’s apps giving you a lot more mobile data for free. It also gives you better control over how your phone’s apps consume data .. With the help of our new family at Skyfire [see "Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M" - here], we were able to bring out the first app of its kind that can shrink down mobile video. That means more Instagram and Vine without having to upgrade your data plan".
 

See "Get in line for the Opera Max beta – soon available in the U.S. and Europe" - here.

Telenor Manages OTT Video Traffic With: ALU, Opera/SkyFire, ConteXtream and Velocix

Alcatel-Lucent and TelenorGroup have "signed a three-year global frame agreement that will give customers fast, buffering-free mobile video and improve overall Internet service quality. The agreement will enable the deployment of mobile Internet optimization for Telenor’s 2G, 3G and 4G networks in Europe and Asia. Alcatel-Lucent will help Telenor address the challenges caused by mobile users accessing ‘over the top’ (OTT) video from sites like YouTube or Netflix"

"Telenor will deploy technology that automatically manages the delivery of Internet traffic over a mobile network, optimizing the experience for customers watching video and accessing web content while ensuring a surge in demand doesn’t affect those using the network for other activities.

The mobile Internet optimization solution includes: Opera’s  SkyfireRocket Controller and Optimizer [see Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M" - here] , ConteXtream’s [here, here] Session Control to manage end-to-end sessions across the network, automatically directing video traffic to Skyfire based on rules or policies decided on by the operator, Velocix 7810 Transparent Caching [here] and  9900 Wireless Network Guardian".

 

See "Telenor Group selects Alcatel-Lucent to enhance mobile Internet experience in 11 countries" - here.

Opera Buys Skyfire for (up to) $155M

Skyfire management team

Opera Software announced it has ".. acquired Skyfire Labs ... Skyfire currently counts three large U.S. mobile operators [here] as customers for its Rocket Optimizer and Skyfire Horizon solutions, and is in trials with ten other operators around the world .. the two companies envision a powerful new set of joint products to be released over the coming year by combining their talents and know-how. In particular, they look to expand on Opera’s Web Pass offering, which allows consumers to purchase innovative data plans such as an unlimited ‘day pass’ of popular apps and web sites for an affordable price, thanks to video and data optimization. WebPass can enable new business models for operators, such as toll free data, ad-supported data, and more"

More on Skyfire's technology - here and here. See also "A Message From Skyfire CEO, Jeff Glueck" - here.

".. The acquisition price includes a mix of cash and stock, with an upfront consideration of US$50 million (including US$8 million of cash on the Skyfire balance sheet) and performance based earn-out payments over three years, including US$26 million in cash held in escrow and funded upfront, that can bring the total deal size to $155 million"

See "Opera acquires Skyfire, broadens its mobile operator solutions beyond the browser" - here.