News In Brief: MS, Samsung, Interoute, Twitter, Ortel

Microsofthas released a preview of its next CRM solution to kick-start applications development and testing. The Community Technical Preview 3 software will also prepare the firm to expand its CRM services into EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.
 
Samsung unveiled its Bada smartphone operating system at CTIA yesterday. The OS was launched alongside 12 new models, which will be shipped to Europe if they prove a hit in the US.
 
Fibre operator Interoute claims to have reduced latency on its Fast Trade service by 15% , with two upgrades connecting Lyon with Paris, and Hamburg with Stockholm. Fast Trade is a point to point service for financial institutions based on Interoute's SDH and wavelength platforms.
 
The UK's major political parties plan to leverage social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube during the upcoming election.
 
KPN subsidiary Ortel Mobile has launched as an MNVO in France, on Bouygues Telecom's network. The operator intends to sell its SIM cards for €9.95, which includes €7.50 worth of credit.
 
ISPs including Comcast have called for the acceleration of the transition to IPv6,stating that IPv6 traffic is nowhere near the level it should be compared to the number if IPv4 remaining.
 
Morgan Stanley has gone against analyst’s consensus regarding Vodafone Europe’s chances of returning to growth in 2010, issuing a double-downgrade on the firm’s stock yesterday, The Telegraph reports.
 
The newly de-merged telecoms arm of Cable & Wireless will examine development of regional hubs in the Caribbean and central America, and could bid for a mobile license in Costa Rica. C&W Worldwide is also considering selling minority stakes in carriers where it sees no chance of assuming overall control, FT.com reports.