aimm News

aimm welcomes new Board members

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

This year we said goodbye to a couple of Board members, who moved onto to new opportunities. They had been a part of aimm for many years and have during their time on the Board, been a great support and have helped shape our direction, so thanks to them for all their help.

Although it was sad to see them go we are pleased to welcome our new Board members who have stepped up to replace them, and look forward to working with them over the next couple of years.  Both our new Board members are from the companies who had already been part of the Board, so provides a nice continuity.

Please welcome our new Board members:

 

Denzil Tapsell-Gunner – Kaleyra

As Head of Legal, Denzil oversees the European regulatory compliance for Kaleyra, a global Communications Platform as a Service company. This includes mobile payment industry compliance in several European countries where Kaleyra operates as an intermediary provider. In that role,

Denzil has broad experience of working with the regulatory bodies and all members of the value chain to ensure that industry and business needs are met without compromising on the need to operate compliantly.

As a qualified solicitor, Denzil has many years experience both advising to, and then working in technology industries, including dealing with the Codes of Conduct for numerous regulatory bodies. He joined the mobile payment and messaging industry in 2017.

 

Victoria Hull – Dynamic Mobile Billing

Victoria is Head of Business Development and has over twenty years of experience in a business-to-business sales environment working with major UK brands. The past decade she has been focussed on telecoms, mobile technology and payments in the UK, Caribbean, Ireland, Australia and South and East Africa.

Prior to this Victoria worked at a large London firm reselling Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard and IBM technology delivering large scale server room projects to insurance and communication sectors, followed by a number of years at a publishing and media company. She also enjoyed two and half years in the Territorial Army, spending many a weekend training in the field as part of the Royal Artillery. Victoria is also a trustee of the charity East Anglian Driveability that support the elderly and disabled to drive.

More recently, Victoria has been instrumental in the creation of a new company, Debit My Mobile, concentrating on ticketing in transport and parking sectors.

 

We will be starting the new Board election process in January with calls for new Board members to join us in April, so if you are a Gold Member you are eligible to become an aimm Board member. If you are interested in becoming a Board member make sure to keep your eyes open for Election announcements.

 

Sam Media unlocks immersive content in a new virtual world

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

 

Dutch leader in innovative mobile content, Amsterdam-based company Sam Media, is further extending its next-generation product line-up. On October 19th, they will launch their latest product, Holozonia, during a launch party at World Telemedia in Marbella.

5G guarantees faster speed, lower latency, and greater capacity, enabling mobile content innovators to create on-the-go, ultra-high-definition video, virtual reality, and other advanced applications.

Sam Media has always had a strong focus on immersive content and launched several VR and AR services in the past years. Last year they launched XR Academy, an impressive e-learning and entertainment service, and in 2020 they won a Meffy Award for their streaming product Mobio 360. Holozonia will be the first service that offers a wide range of VR and AR content in one place. One single subscription will enable end-users to enjoy premium VR Streaming, AR games, spatial music, 360 fitness, and education in 3D, VR, and AR. All of this is offered in one metaverse and can be accessed from a smartphone’s browser anywhere and anytime. It is compatible with all mobile web browsers.

Accessible to everyone, on any device

Holozonia has been designed to be compatible with all types of virtual reality headsets. Even consumers that don’t own a VR headset are able to engage with all the content effectively. All they need is a smartphone with internet access. No 5G, no problem, because streaming capabilities will automatically adjust to the available bandwidth. It’s the mission of Sam Media to ensure that digital content can be enjoyed everywhere, also in markets where access to traditional payment methods is limited. This is why the company has a strong focus on carrier billing and mobile wallets. Holozonia is compatible with all mobile browsers, PC’s, tablets and VR built-in devices e.g Oculus.

How does Holozonia benefit mobile networks?

Holozonia unlocks the full potential of 5G networks. It offers consumers a way to discover and interact with the most engaging virtual and augmented reality experiences. It keeps subscribers highly engaged and entertained. “The metaverse is not just a new way to play games, it is a more natural way to interact and engage. It’s a new mobile experience and consumers want it.”, says Alexis Bartelds, CEO of Sam Media.

What does Holozonia have to offer? 

Users can explore Holozonia using the joystick on their smart phone’s screen. They can create their avatar, hang out in the Holozonia world and access different AR and VR experiences without the need for a headset. Users can play games, learn, listen to music and watch their favourite VR shows on the  spot. This virtual world is also open to external products and services. A mobile network can open a store in Holozonia, for example if an end user needs more data they can go to the operator’s virtual shop and upgrade their bundle. But that is just an example, because any service can be represented in this virtual world, as long as it offers added value to subscribers.

Find out by watching more about Holozonia which will be lauched at World Telemedia on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/Bdu2E8hcnQI

 

Improving Customer Care for the Interactive Media Industry

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

aimm has always championed best practice across the industry, and ensuring that customer care is the focus to help improve consumers’ experience of interactive services has been at the top of the agenda. 

Our extensive and comprehensive Customer Care Best Practice Guide was created to reduce customer escalations to mobile network operators and regulators in the UK. This is intended to work in tandem with the Phone-paid Services Authority’s (PSA) own general guidance on complaint handling. 

The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) is now compiling a similar guide and will be using key elements from our best practice to ensure there is continuity surrounding customer care for the interactive media and micropayments industries. 

Joanna Cox, General Manager of aimm said “The purpose of aimm is to create an environment of consumer confidence and trust within which our members’ commerce can flourish, inside a framework of a strong members’ code of ethics.  aimm has several working groups that bring together the entire interactive media value chain, with a view to making that happen. Our Internal Standards and External Education Working Group is proud to share its Customer Care Guide with our friends at MEF. Sharing best practice in this way can only help Industry self regulate and raise standards, which in turn will benefit the consumer and build trust in phone paid services.”

Ross Flynn from MEF commented “In this succinct White paper, aimm lays down the current obfuscations that lay between the buyer and the relevant merchant and how, through collaboration, each individual player in the Direct Carrier Billing ecosystem can come together to improve the consumer experience through improved clarity and customer support.”

Our Customer Care Best Practice Guide has been well received across our membership value chain, and we are pleased to be able to now share this more widely across industry.

If you are interested in getting your own copy of our best practice guide please contact aimm.

Fonix announces launch into Republic of Ireland and partners with Bauer Media Audio Ireland

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

Fonix logo in blue

Fonix, the leading interactive service provider for mobile payment and messaging solutions has launched this month in Ireland.

Across Ireland, Fonix’s clients can now collect payments for in-app content, games, competitions and digital services from more than 5.1 million mobile subscribers by charging purchases to their postpaid phone bill or prepaid SIM card.

The expansion has started with Fonix managing the mobile interactivity for Bauer Ireland. Bauer Ireland is the country’s largest commercial radio group with five radio brands including the national stations Today FM and Newstalk, two SPIN youth stations and 98FM in Dublin.

Stephen George, Partnerships Director at Fonix comments:

“Heading into Ireland is another step to achieving our strategic growth plan. We are always looking for new ways to innovate; this is just the start to help us magnify our efforts and strengthen our vision.

“Fonix provides a secure, instant and frictionless experience for consumers while also ensuring first-class mobile payment technology, delivering efficiencies for brands.

“We look forward to driving growth across this market; our partnership with Bauer Ireland is a first-class example of our connectivity in Ireland being brought to life.”

aimm speaking at MEF Connects – Digital Transformation

Posted on by Andrea Putnam-Moorcroft

Next week is MEF Connects – Digital Transformation a two day online event July 18th and 19th. As a Trade Association in the same space we are pleased to be able to support this event. We have been invited to speak on 19th July, Day 2 on Regulatory Frameworks at 12pm UK time.

“The increasing growth of mobile payments has provoked a response from regulators. The intersection of financial, telecommunication and technological regulation make this a complex and challenging question. Leaders in the field are ready to share insight and knowledge.”

As our members will know we have spent a lot of time over the last few years working with the Regulators to ensure that the regulatory space our members work in is protected, fair and encourages innovation and growth, especially with the launch of Code 15 this spring.
We will be joined by Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Three UK, MCP Insight Ltd and Empello

This event is free to attend and you can register for your ticket online. Join the event to get the latest information and news on all things, IoT, Identity and Authentication, Security, Direct Carrier Billing [DCB], OTT Sports, NFTs, Crypto and so much more.