Telstra CEO David Thodey said in the company's annual general meeting on
Tuesday that the decision to move the company's BigPond customers to Microsoft's
Windows Live email service is not performing as well as anticipated.
Responding to a shareholder's question, the CEO said that the move had been
straightforward for new users of the service, but issues had been seen in
existing customers that had been on the service when it moved to the Microsoft
platform in February last year.
"It's caused us to go back and relook at what we're doing now," Thodey
said.
"The background to the decision was that we had built our own email
platform ... and we were challenged to keep it up to date with the sort of
functionality we thought we'd need to have in an integrated messaging
world."
"So we took the decision to white-label, in effect, the Microsoft
platform."
"It's been OK, but not as good as we thought it was going to be."
Thodey said that due to the issues encountered with the switch, the company
will be reviewing any future plans.
"The decision when we made it seemed right, and we are going to review
where we go to in the future."
NBN contracts
Earlier in the AGM, Telstra reiterated its previous statements that it
would be focused on maintaining shareholder value should any renegotiation of
its AU$11 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) agreement occur following NBN
Co's 60-day review, which is expected to report in early December.
"A move to predominantly use fibre to the node in the rollout of the NBN
could result in the renegotiation of some aspects of our Definitive Agreements,"
said Telstra chairperson Catherine Livingstone.
"In the meantime, Telstra will continue to fulfil the obligations set out
for us in the existing agreements, and continue to work constructively with the
government and NBN Co in the best interests of our shareholders."
Last month, Thodey called for a quick resolution to any renegotiation
between Telstra and NBN Co.
The existing arrangement between Telstra and NBN Co gives NBN Co access to
Telstra's pit and ducts infrastructure for the NBN rollout, and pays Telstra
each time a customer is transferred over from the copper network onto the
NBN.
For NBN Co to switch from a fibre-to-the-premises network to a
fibre-to-the-node network, the deal would have to be restructured to give NBN Co
access to the last section of Telstra's cooper line from the node to the
premises.
Remediation work for the NBN was suspended earlier this year, with the
discovery of poor asbestos handling practices.
Addressing the issue today, Thodey said that asbestos was not a new
issue.
"We have known about asbestos, carefully tracked its management, and
extensively trained staff, with well-established safety procedures in place for
employees and contractors," he said.
"Remediation work on our pits stopped as soon as we identified concerns
with the work practices used by some of our contractors. We have taken steps to
absolutely minimise the risk of such incidents occurring again."
"Our priority has been — and remains — the safety of our employees,
contractors, and the general public."
The CEO said that the asbestos issues have made no impact on the company's
financials.
The company forecast "low single-digit" growth in revenue and profit, with
capital expenditure to be maintained at 15 percent of sales due to the build out
of the company's 4G network and completing the NBN transit network.
Telstra reported that its cloud services had grown by 33 percent last
financial year, and the company would be looking to continue that growth by
making acquisitions and investments in datacentres.
Monday, 14 October 2013
Microsoft pleaded for patience in getting its Windows Phone
The optimist would say that Windows Phone's prospects have under no
circumstances been brighter. The pessimist would disagree.
On the vibrant side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update 3, which incorporates new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids retain its spec lists searching fresh. In addition, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's largest hardware ally totally into the fold, all although BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this offers the software giant a likelihood to no less than double Windows Phone growth by 2017.
On the other hand, Windows Phone adoption has been slow, using the OS fighting for much less than ten % of mobile's worldwide market share, while Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
Also, Microsoft has a challenge with partners. Right now it really is attempting to woo back HTC to when again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails office 2010 professional plus key, Microsoft might be the only outfit making Windows phones. That single-source method may well operate for Apple, but even the iPhone is getting a difficult time standing as much as Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and once again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in getting its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the latest update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones as well as the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
That is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Even so, Windows Telephone buyers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a private assistant, far better storage help for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. Numerous of these have been requested because the OS debuted and have lengthy existed on Android and iOS.
Then there is Skype, the other company that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.three billion greater than Nokia), but the corporation has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime as well as Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone eight Skype customers can place calls in the Men and women hub, soon after initially downloading the app. What I am talking about is producing this an out-of-the-box function.
We do know, a minimum of, that Microsoft is really hard at function on a individual assistant of its personal called Cortana, which understands natural language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's subsequent update really should be a significant a single that involves this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration in the really least. After the Nokia acquisition is full (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone ought to quickly incorporate Nokia-designed software tools, like its camera add-ons, in to the native OS knowledge.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- is usually to take the significant dangers that make a corporation stand out as a player worth paying consideration to. After the transition, the Windows Phone team should not only use, but push Nokia's venerable style philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft really should waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its work on graphene), publish a handful of wacky proofs of concept (like this one from 2011, also under), and possibly make a high-end luxury telephone of its own.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime being reactionary, wanting to catch as much as Apple and Google devoid of truly managing to help keep pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and functions that happen to be just fantastic sufficient.
On the vibrant side, Microsoft just announced Windows Telephone eight Update 3, which incorporates new support for quad-core CPUs and phablets that aids retain its spec lists searching fresh. In addition, the buyout of Nokia's smartphone arm will bring Redmond's largest hardware ally totally into the fold, all although BlackBerry's apparent demise topples the competition for third-largest ecosystem. All this offers the software giant a likelihood to no less than double Windows Phone growth by 2017.
On the other hand, Windows Phone adoption has been slow, using the OS fighting for much less than ten % of mobile's worldwide market share, while Android and iOS gobble up the overwhelming majority.
Also, Microsoft has a challenge with partners. Right now it really is attempting to woo back HTC to when again expand the Windows Phone ecosystem. If that fails office 2010 professional plus key, Microsoft might be the only outfit making Windows phones. That single-source method may well operate for Apple, but even the iPhone is getting a difficult time standing as much as Android's diverse and seemingly inexhaustible players.
Back in 2010, and once again in 2011, Microsoft pleaded for patience in getting its Windows Phone off the ground. But this year, the latest update's most visible enhancements are a modified interface for extra-large phones as well as the capability to close apps in multitasking mode. You also can customize text tones by make contact with.
That is hardly hearty fare, but Microsoft points out that they are the most-wanted additions requested by fans.
Even so, Windows Telephone buyers also clamor to get a notification center, a file manager, a private assistant, far better storage help for microSD cards, and indicator lights that signal missed calls and alerts. Numerous of these have been requested because the OS debuted and have lengthy existed on Android and iOS.
Then there is Skype, the other company that Microsoft purchased in 2011 (and for 1.three billion greater than Nokia), but the corporation has however to integrate it into Windows smartphones by default to counter Apple's FaceTime as well as Google Plus Hangouts. Yes, Windows Telephone eight Skype customers can place calls in the Men and women hub, soon after initially downloading the app. What I am talking about is producing this an out-of-the-box function.
We do know, a minimum of, that Microsoft is really hard at function on a individual assistant of its personal called Cortana, which understands natural language and will replace the legacy TellMe voice input currently in use.
Microsoft's subsequent update really should be a significant a single that involves this private assistant, notification center, and Skype integration in the really least. After the Nokia acquisition is full (assuming it gets shareholder and regulatory approval), Windows Phone ought to quickly incorporate Nokia-designed software tools, like its camera add-ons, in to the native OS knowledge.
From exactly where I sit, Microsoft's largest asset -- and challenge -- is usually to take the significant dangers that make a corporation stand out as a player worth paying consideration to. After the transition, the Windows Phone team should not only use, but push Nokia's venerable style philosophy into edgier territory.
Microsoft really should waste no time funding projects that explore and apply new finishes and components (like continuing its work on graphene), publish a handful of wacky proofs of concept (like this one from 2011, also under), and possibly make a high-end luxury telephone of its own.
Why? Microsoft's Windows Phone project has spent its lifetime being reactionary, wanting to catch as much as Apple and Google devoid of truly managing to help keep pace. This is not the time for you to be conservative with cookie-cutter style and functions that happen to be just fantastic sufficient.
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