Security mindset grows: The market for network security appliances and software grew 11 percent in 2010 to $5.6 billion worldwide, spurred by high-profile issues like DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, the targeted Stuxnet virus, and the WikiLeaks controversy, according to Infonetics Research. Although revenue is expected to grow to just $6.6 billion by 2015, large companies that are rebuilding their data centers are looking for new, integrated security solutions. News release.
Smartphones impact wireless: The quality of phone calls made on wireless phones is not improving at the moment, J.D. Power and Associates reports, due to shifting trends in the way consumers use their cellphones. More and more calls are being made from indoors--totaling 56 percent in 2010 compared to 40 percent in 2003--and use of smartphone features and texting has grown dramatically. Both trends impact call quality rates and signal that carriers need to improve coverage for indoor locations and bolster network capacity. News release.
Broadband services take hold in Slovakia: Slovak Telecom is girding for a competitive battle with new broadband service providers. The incumbent telco integrated its wireless and wireline divisions in order to offer new converged products even as the country implements EU telecom policies, a move Pyramid Research says will stimulate the market and drive a 5.5 percent CAGR. IPTV and VoIP services stand to gain much in Slovakia thanks to broadband growth and could see revenues of up to 1.75 billion (USD 2.04 billion) by 2015. News release.