Vodafone is hoping to enhance their mobile broadband market in the UK by slashing their broadband prices. It is expected to introduce the £15 per month 3GB price plan for the UK consumers. But this dirt-cheap price will be applicable only for a partial ‘promotional period’ along with the business gifts of free USB modems being given away. Vodafone believes that there is a huge demand for consumer mobile broadband and that is why it has slashed its prices in order to provide better value to its customers. It aims to attract consumers by providing cost reductions and/or improved data-usage limits.
Now, business customers can expect more value for the same money. Vodafone said that the monthly fair usage on its Mobile Broadband Business and Mobile Broadband Business Travel packages will increase from the limit of 3GB to 5GB. Customers are given USB modems as free business gifts, if they sign up to a contract of at least 18-month. All business travelers who are using Vodafone Connect Abroad in Europe for every 24-hour session.
Vodafone confirmed that its UK network had a top downlink speed of 7.2Mbps in London as well as major airports and a maximum of 1.44Mbps uplink. On-the-go data lovers should expect much better value for money from Big Red.
The London Stock Exchange (LSE) is mulling over plans to launch a post-trade router with the intention of opening up clearing services, improving stock liquidity and making algorithmic trading more practical. The X-TRM router, managed by Monte Titoli, will permit at least four central counter parties - who will operate as mediators to market trades - to join the present clearing-service provider LCH Clearnet. This execution was driven, partly, by the implementation of MiFID directives by the LSE.
LSE believes that by infusing extra competition, the cost of trades will be driven down. This will, in turn, save the users from coughing up post-trade administration cost of roughly 35 per cent. An LSE spokeswoman was quoted saying that Post-trade costs have an effect on the regularity a user will trade. If that can be reduced, then there can be more liquidity in the market. This service is targeted at high-quantities of short-term trades and will particularly suit algorithmic trading.
The router will also permit the exchange to provide exchange-level settlement netting services. At present, LSE offers this service via a third party, Crest, which is the multi-currency electronic settlement structure for UK as well as Irish securities. By offering this service directly, traders can reduce the administration cost to a great extent.
Chennai –based entertainment group Pyramid Saimira bought Aurona, a London based video games and interactive entertainment software company. The purpose, according to Mr P.S.Saminathan, managing director, Pyramid group is” to develop gaming , animation and special effects using Aurona’s expertise.
The price of acquiring Aurona will be around $20 million according to estimates of other buyouts of similar sized companies. The director has refused to reveal the amount paid for the transaction.
Mr Saminathan said “ We have plans to two of our subsidiaries. Pyramid Samira Production Company, which is in to movie production, is likely to hit the markets in February this yea ,the tentative value of the company could be Rs 1,7OO crore.”
The company is currently in process of finalising bankers to the issue. “We also have a company in the advertising side, Dimple Cine Advertising, for which we intend to file the draft prospectus by May or June “ added Mr Saminathan..
With such diversified interests, their quest for superior and adequate software is perhaps met success by acquiring of London based, Aurona Technologies.