Ovum comments: Microsoft's So.cl network; Vodafone results

"Microsoft So.cl is not a fully-fledged social network and it is far too early to even suggest it could be a rival to Google+ or Facebook, and the chances are it never will be. The fact that So.cl is targeted at students echoes Facebook's beginnings and has made many assume it is a Facebook clone. However, So.cl is, as Microsoft stresses, an experiment and designed to be layer on existing social networks.

"Microsoft is being sensible in positioning So.cl in this way. The opposite approach of Google, which entered social networking all guns blazing with a full on service, is having modest success.

"So.cl is powered by Bing and is about social search and sharing, with little value add beyond this and no-where near the kind of features offered by Facebook or Google+. If So.cl gains significant traction, which we think unlikely, then Microsoft might well ramp up the service with additional features, particularly mobile where Microsoft can tap into the Windows Phone platform.

"For now, however, So.cl will most likely remain an experiment at heart, which is no bad thing and Microsoft will still walk away with valuable insights and experience that can help improve its overall search capabilities, which is its major priority."

Ovum comments: Vodafone's results

Vodafone has announced its results. Emeka Obiodu, senior analyst at Ovum, believes its ability to post encouraging results is largely down to the global scale of its operations.

"While operations in Northern Europe, Emerging Markets and the stake in Verizon Wireless all did well, operations in Southern Europe struggled. This is no surprise. Indeed, at a time of worsening economic conditions, especially in Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal, it would have been too much of a miracle for Vodafone's numbers in those regions to come out well. Spain and Italy were particularly hit hard.

"However, Vodafone has worked hard to stabilise things as the impressive performance of data connectivity shows. Particularly, Vodafone's effort to move customers to 'integrated tariffs' (bundle of voice, SMS & data) is welcome. Not doing so, while persisting with per unit pricing for voice and SMS, opens the way for OTT services such as WhatsApp and Skype to gain inroads in the market."