Celcom posts a rise of 9.9% in revenues from Jan-Sep’08 (Malaysia)
Celcom reports a rise of 11.1% to RM1.877 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) at the end of 30th September 2008, in comparison to RM1.690 billion in 2007. The operator posts a rise of 9.9 per cent to RM4.135 billion in revenue from RM3.763 billion. The revenue growth is mainly due the company’s segmented marketing approach, particularly within the youth and Malay segments. He said its subscriber base also grew 23 % to 8.25 million despite the highly competitive environment after the introduction of Mobile Number Portability (MNP).
In context of MNP, he said Celcom planned to focus on enterprise segments, which was already showing an overwhelming response. This is one area that we do well. We have also introduced a campaign for the enterprise segment,” he added. The launch of 1+5 campaign by the company in third quarter was a part among its strategies to increase subscriber base through MNP.
D.Phone Mobile to lower mobile phone sales price (China)
D.Phone Mobile Retail Chain, is expected to have a mobile phone sales price decline of over 15% in above 1,200 stores in China before the end of 2008, with the support from the nation’s main mobile phone makers, according to the Beijing-based mobile phone retailer.
The company reaches an agreement with mobile phone-making giants, such as Nokia, Motorola, Sansumg, to purchase 1.5 million mobile phones at the end of this year for sales promotion in following the Christmas day, New Year’s Day, and the Chinese Spring Festival.
Of all the mobile phones, 20% to 30% are estimated to have a price discount of 30% to stimulate the bearish mobile phone sales market, disclosed the president of the chain, noting that the move will cover all mobile phones in the market and is forecasted to sell all mobile phones in storage.
In addition, mobile phone retail stores in Beijing will donate towards coupons, beside a decline in sales price.
About D.Phone
D.Phone, founded in 1993 is a leading retailer of mobile phones in China. Over the last ten years, the Bejing-based company has become a well known and reputable retail brand and has expanded to 25 provinces, covering 60 cities with a network of over 800 stores, including 400+ directly owned stores.
D.Phone’s mobile phone suppliers include major foreign brands such as Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung as well as domestic vendors Bird, Eastcom and Amoisonic.
For more information please visit http://www.3i.com/local/dphone.html
About Wireless Federation
Wireless Federation is an industry research conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The mandate of the Wireless Federation is to provide its members and customers industry knowledge that can further enhance their understanding of the wireless industry. Wireless Federation conducts bespoke research and produces boxed reports in collabaration with Industry Bodies, Telecom Operators for Issues that revolve around ARPU, CHURN and Loyalty.
They have been associated with more than 225 mobile operators globally to set their Pricing/ Tariff Strategies, Go-To-Market Strategies for Mobile Advertising, Mobile Payments, Cutting VAS among others amongst 59 countries globally.
For more information please visit www.wirelessfederation.com
Oi approves to issue promisory notes worth $879Mn (Brazil)
Oi, the Brazilian incumbent approves issuing of promisory notes worth $879Mn. The money will be utilized to finance part of the $5.64Bn acquisition of fellow operator Brasil Telecom. The number of promisory notes to be issued in one go are 80, worth $10.84Mn each. The papers maturiy time is one year, yeilding a 3% hike in Brazil’s interbank lending rate.
Mobilink introduces Mobile Money Order services (Pakistan)
Mobilink and Pakistan Post Office are in an alliance to introduce mobile money order service in the country. Mobilink VP Marketing Bilal Munir Sheikh, said, As a company on the forefront of technological innovation, Mobilink has pioneered mobile commerce in the country. Continuing our tradition, the Mobilink mobile money order service is a unique offer that completely revolutionizes the process of sending and receiving money orders.†This service enables customers to send and receive money orders to any Mobilink subscriber across the country any time, any where, through SMS.
According to Pakistan Post Director General and Secretary Postal Services Division Mohammed Ahmed Mian, the customers can not only remit money to their relatives and friends via mobile SMS but can also withdraw or deposit up to Rs10,000.
German regulator hikes interconnection fees by 4.4% (Germany)
The German regulator, German Federal Network Agency, reportedly will hike the interconnection fees by 4.4% from 1 December. Whereas Deutsche Telekom had requested a raise of 10%. The agency said the moderate increases were necessary to cover cost developments amid growth in Internet and mobile phone usage.
Dialogue instigates mobile payments Norway and Sweden
International mobile payments specialist, Dialogue Communications, launches its mobile billing services in Norway and Sweden to allow consumers to buy products and services over the mobile internet. Norway and Sweden are two of the most highly saturated mobile markets in the world and represent a significant opportunity for Dialogue and mobile internet shops.
Dialogue is expanding its global reach and offering cross network mobile payment services to all vendors selling products and services over the mobile web in Norway and Sweden. This WAP billing solution is currently available for one-off purchases, and set to extend to subscription services in Quarter 1 2009.
To aid this growing market, streamlined mobile payment solutions are needed to allow mobile content sellers to successfully target this increasing customer base. Norway and Sweden have a combined population of 14m and mobile penetration is predicted to reach an estimated 122.5% by 2010.
Guiom Peersman, managing director at Dialogue Communications explains: Sweden and Norway both have thriving mobile markets at present and many of our customers have expressed a desire to move into the Scandinavian region, where large numbers of mobile users are embracing the mobile internet, just as the UK market has. We are delighted to be able to provide our customers with an easy to use billing solution, to allow them to capitalise on this multi-million pound market.â€
We are always looking to expand our international capabilities and by launching our services in parts of Scandinavia, it will enable us to reach a new market and grow the business further.â€
Dialogue has designed its mobile payment framework, which can be integrated into its Mobile Site Builder tool, in both Swedish and Norwegian. The framework allows customers to design their own mobile internet sites and charge customers directly to their mobile phone bill.
The company currently provides mobile payment services in the UK, where it is at the forefront of payment initiative Payforit developments, as well as in Spain, one of the largest mobile markets in Europe, and in Australia where mobile payment solutions are rapidly developing. Dialogue is also looking to launch its billing solutions in other regions around the globe in the coming months.
About Dialogue Communication
Dialogue being a tier 1 mobile services aggregator provides premium SMS facilities in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. In addition we offer Bulk SMS to a global market. We also provide an extensive additional range of aggregation services such as location based services, MMS, shortcodes and virtual mobile numbers. Dialogue Communications was established in 1994 and is a world leading provider in mobile messaging, mobile electronic payments processing and specialises in the development and operation of value added mobile solutions for an international market. Dialogue has its headquarters in Sheffield UK and offices in London and Sydney, Australia.
About Wireless Federation
Wireless Federation is an industry research conglomerate headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The mandate of the Wireless Federation is to provide its members and customers industry knowledge that can further enhance their understanding of the wireless industry. Wireless Federation conducts bespoke research and produces boxed reports in collabaration with Industry Bodies, Telecom Operators for Issues that revolve around ARPU, CHURN and Loyalty.
They have been associated with more than 225 mobile operators globally to set their Pricing/ Tariff Strategies, Go-To-Market Strategies for Mobile Advertising, Mobile Payments, Cutting VAS among others amongst 59 countries globally.
For more information please visit www.wirelessfederation.com
Tigo’s 3G subscribers reaches the mark of 10,000 (Colombia)
Tigo, Colombian Mobile Operator has signed 10,000 subscribers in 3G segment, according to a local media report. The services are offered in capital Bogot¡, as well as in Cali, Barranquilla, Bucaramanga and Cartagena. In October, the services have been instigated including mobile broadband for both prepaid and post-paid subscribers. Comcel, the strong contender in Colombian mobile market is also providing 3G in Colombia. Although, Movistar of Spain’s Telef³nica anticipates to launch 3G services soon.
Virgin Mobile and Yahoo together to ink a mobile search deal (UK)
Yahoo and Virgin Mobile UK together agree to make Yahoo search the exclusive pre-installed search service for its British subscribers. Yahoo looks forward to steal the show away from the no.1 search Google in the very initial stages of mobile search and advertising after, as it enters the European market.
“We will continue to focus on investing in this area. It falls squarely within our strategy of indispensable starting points,” the head of Yahoo’s mobile operations in Europe, Mitch Lazar said. Yahoo aims to become the leading search site for mobile internet customers, providing easy access to popular services and relevant information without needing to own those services and information itself.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Omantel takes a step forward to enter Iranian mobile market
OMAN Telecommunication Company (Omantel) has qualified for the second stage of a competitive process for third nationwide Mobile Network Operator license in Iran, as part of a consortium comprising local and international partners. According to a press release issued by Omantel, the company’s decision to compete for the third mobile network operator in Iran comes within the framework of the efforts exerted by the company’s management to boost its local and foreign investments by joining a global consortium.
