OTE sells Cosmofon to Telekom Slovenije for $251.3Mn (Greece, Slovenia)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: OTE, the Greek telco has agreed to sell off its Macedonian mobile arm Cosmofon and retail chain Germanos Telekom Skopje to the Slovenian incumbent Telekom Slovenije.
OTE will sell the units at a price tag of 190 million euros ($251.3 million). OTE had planned to sell Cosmofon due to regulatory reasons after Deutsche Telekom purchased a 25% stake in the Greek firm.
Chunghwa Telecom reports Operating Results for full year 2008 (Taiwan)
Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd (NYSE: CHT; TAIEX: 2412) (“Chunghwa” or “the Company”), today reported its operating results for full year 2008.
Financial Highlights for Full Year 2008:
- Total revenue increased by 2.2% to NT$201.7 billion
- Internet and data revenue grew by 1.7%
- Mobile revenue decreased 1.9%; Mobile VAS revenue increased by 25.0%
- Net income totaled NT$45.0 billion, a decrease of 6.7%
- Earnings per share (EPS) decreased by 6.1% to NT$4.64, or NT$46.4 per ADS
Financial Highlights for 4Q08:
- Total revenue decreased by 0.3% to NT$49.8 billion
- Internet and data revenue grew by 2.6%
- Mobile revenue decreased 1.4%; Mobile VAS revenue increased by 19.8%
- Net income totaled NT$8.5 billion, a decrease of 18.9%
- Earnings per share (EPS) decreased by 23.7% to NT$0.82, or NT$8.2 per ADS
Ufone offers free minutes & SMS to new subscribers (Pakistan)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Ufone has introduced a new sales promotion for its new subscribers, wherein the subscribers can enjoy 50 on-net minutes and 5,000 SMS on using a balance of Rs 150 and Rs 250 respectively within 30 days of activation.
The promotion is targeted to the new subscribers and when they use an additional balance of Rs 50 along with the free Rs 100 balance in the first 30 days after subscription, they will get 50 free on-net minutes. Furthermore, when the subscribers consume another Rs 100 in the same time period, they will get 5,000 free SMS.
M3 Wireless launches 3G network, brings iPhone 3G to Bermuda
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: M3 Wireless, Bermuda based mobile operator, has launched the island’s first 3G wireless broadband network, offering its subscribers broadband-like data speeds with prices ranging from BMD93 to BMD153 (USD93 to USD153) per month. The incumbent also unveiled the Apple iPhone 3G handset, to support the new network. The company is also offering a number of other 3G-ready smartphones such as the BlackBerry Bold, Nokia E71 and HTC Touch Diamond, Chief Operations Officer, Michael Beckles, said.
RAK issues 3G licences to BH Telecom, M:tel & HT Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Bosnian telecoms regulator RAK has issued 3G licences to BH Telecom, M:tel and HT Mostar, the Bosnian incumbents. Each operator will have to pay EUR 15 million over seven years for the licence, after two years of grace period.
RAK’s director Kemal Huseinovic said this was an important moment for the telecommunications market of BH, one that would further its offering, and reduce prices of services.
Wireless Mobile Telecom Wireless News
Mobily awards Motorola an SA435 Mn contract to expand its network in Saudi Arabia
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced a contract worth approximately SA435 million ($116 million) with Etihad Etisalat (Mobily). The contract marks the fifth major turnkey GSM network expansion that Mobily has undertaken with Motorola in the past four years. Saudi Arabia’s Northwest and Southwest regions will benefit from enhanced GSM coverage and capacity and the contract underscores Motorola’s commitment to Saudi Arabia and further reinforces the strong relationship with Mobily.
The turnkey expansion will enable Mobily to expand its network coverage to increase its subscriber base within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Motorola will deliver its GSM infrastructure solutions as well as comprehensive range of services.
“The demand for reliable communications services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is growing and the Mobily expansion project of our GSM network will help to meet the demands and expectations of new subscribers in the western north and southern north regions,” said Khalid Al-Kaf, CEO of Mobily. “Our relationship with Motorola and other international companies began in 2004 and we have achieved tremendous success in making Mobily the most trusted mobile service provider in the Kingdom.”
“Motorola is a global leader in GSM and our innovative technologies and solutions provide a reliable and scalable network for Mobily to meet growing customer demands,” said Ali Amer, Vice President sales, Middle East, Africa & Pakistan, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility. “This turnkey expansion will allow for maximized return on investment, rapid deployment for Mobily and enhanced services for Mobily customers.”
A portion of revenue on this contract was recognized in the third and fourth quarters of 2008.
Motorola has won a number of significant GSM network expansion contracts over the past few years. Motorola’s GSM is attractive for service providers in both new and mature markets. Some of the recent major contract wins include expansion contracts with VNPT Group in Vietnam, China Mobile in China, and Celtel Nigeria in Nigeria.
About Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily)
Mobily, the official brand name of Etihad Etisalat, is considered the second mobile service provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It acquired its second license to run the mobile service network in KSA in summer 2004 in a SR 12.21 billion bid. Thus, it has become the first Saudi communications company to get an operation license for 3rd generation services and beyond.
In May 2005, Mobily launched its own network to begin with providing its business services. In 2006, the International Mobile Phone Organization described Mobily as the fastest growing company in MENA after it has built the fastest mobile communications network of its kind in the region within 6 months, besides acquiring the biggest number of 3rd generation services subscribers.
In September 2007, Mobily sealed a MOU to acquire the first data company BAYANAT against SA 1.5 billion, which is considered a step towards merging fixed and mobile communications lines.
Mobily had a market share of 40 per cent approximately by the end of Q1 2008.
For more information, please visit www.mobily.com.sa/
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications and is focused on advancing the way the world connects. From broadband communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility and public safety solutions to high-definition video and mobile devices, Motorola is leading the next wave of innovations that enable people, enterprises and governments to be more connected and more mobile. Motorola (NYSE: MOT) had sales of US $30.1 billion in 2008.
For more information, please visit www.motorola.com.
MTS enters the Indian mobile market
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A joint venture between, Russia-based Sistema and India’s Shyam Group, Sistema Shyam Teleservices, has reportedly launched its CDMA mobile services in Tamil Nadu under the MTS brand name.
CEO Vsevolod Rozanov said that the network presently covers 373 towns and cities in 31 districts of the state, covering 40% of its population. In a year that will increase to 566 towns, or 51% of the population.
The incumbent is mulling tower rental agreements with various telecommunication infrastructure companies in India and is open to merging with or acquiring some of the smaller ones, to augment its network.
The company has committed an investment of USD 5 billion, primarily in telecommunication infrastructure development in India, in over the next five years. The firm is operating under the brand Rainbow in Rajasthan which will be changed over to MTS.
Qiao Xing Mobile, TechFaith to co-launch 3G mobile phones in China
Qiao Xing Mobile Communication Co., a China-based domestic manufacturers of mobile handsets operating its business primarily through its subsidiary, CEC Telecom Co. (CECT), announced that it will work with China TechFaith Wireless Communication Technology Limited, an original developed product (ODP) provider focused on research and development of cell phone solutions, to co-launch high-end 3G mobile phones in China.
Under the terms of the agreement, TechFaith will provide total WCDMA and EV-DO solutions to Qiao Xing Mobile for the development of high-end 3G handsets that will be marketed under the Qiao Xing Mobile’s VEVA brand. The handsets are expected to launch in China in the second quarter of 2009.
Wu Zhi Yang, Chairman of Qiao Xing Mobile, commented, ”Chinese government has just authorized three major Chinese operators to operate 3G business and the 3G mobile phone market in China is expected to grow significantly. To capture the growth opportunity, we will make full use of VEVA brand advantage in the market and will cooperate with TechFaith to develop high-end WCDMA and EV-DO handsets under our VEVA brand. We believe that the introduction of these high-end 3G handsets will help to further raise the profile of our VEVA brand, as well as, enhance our profitability and growth.”
Defu Dong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TechFaith, said, ”Developing high-end WCDMA and EV-DO phones is an important step in entering the super high-end handset market in China. Even in this tough economic period, the Chinese consumers still have very strong purchasing power and a large appetite for luxury goods. Qiao Xing Mobile has successfully launched several models of high-end luxury GSM phone models under its VEVA brand and we believe that the VEVA brand will provide us with a solid platform to penetrate the high-end 3G market in China. We also believe that pursuing a high-end product strategy will help to maintain the profit margins of both companies during this period of economic slowdown.”
For more information, please visit www.qxmc.com/
Lebara Mobile launches MVNO service in Australia, partners with Vodafone
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The UK based firm, Lebara Mobile in partnership with Vodafone, has announced the launch of its prepaid mobile phone service in the Australian mobile market. The new service will offer international phone calls at lowered charges as compared to the charges levied by other mobile operators.
Lebara will operate as a MVNO in the Australian mobile market, reselling local and national calls through Vodafone.
It’ll further offer international calls routed via the UK with overseas tariffs starting from 5 cents/min to China, with calls to many major Western countries, like the UK and USA, costing 9 cents/min. The new service will enable subscriber to transfer their existing phone numbers to a Lebara account and use it as a primary mobile phone service.
The calls made to mobile phones in Australia will be charged at a flat rate of 20 cents/min. All Lebara accounts will be prepaid for which the recharge coupons will be available through e-pay or by credit card purchase online or through the phone.
AT&T unveils new integrated devices for texting, email and more (USA)
Text messaging and email are still the ‘killer app’ for mobile phone data use and AT&T is responding with a great new lineup of phones for the Spring season. AT&T today announced a fresh new lineup of smartphones and quick messaging phones that make it easier for customers to message with friends and family and manage their business and personal lives on-the-go. Arriving in AT&T stores and online at www.wireless.att.com in the coming weeks, these integrated devices add to AT&T’s leading mobile phone portfolio.
In the smartphone category, AT&T debuted the Nokia E71x and the Samsung Propel(TM) Pro, two stylish smartphones that inspire fun, while delivering serious functionality. In addition, the Samsung Impression(TM) and Samsung Magnet(TM), and LG Xenon and Neon emerge to the lead AT&T’s lineup of quick messaging phones and expands the number of full-keyboard mobile phones in AT&T’s lineup to seven. Pictures of the new lineup are available at www.att.com/mobilehandsets-news.
“Smartphones and quick messaging phones are no longer for early-adopters and text-happy teens,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The ability to text often, or check your email from a phone is easy and more customers demand these features. These phones are a great addition to our best-in-class lineup and we can’t wait to get them in our customers’ hands in the coming weeks.”
Nokia E71x
The thinnest smartphone on the market, the Nokia E71x, will be available in the coming weeks for $99.99(1) and features a black steel finish and award-winning design. The Nokia smartphone, based on S60 on Symbian OS(TM) offers the Wi-Fi and the flexibility of many Symbian-based applications, in addition to AT&T’s most popular services, including AT&T Navigator. The Nokia E71x is just 10 millimeters thin and will turn heads when you text friends, or check your corporate or personal email. Customers can learn more at http://www.att.com/nokiaE71x.
Samsung Propel(TM) Pro
The Propel Pro, a full-QWERTY silver and chrome compact slider smartphone with Windows Mobile 6.1 allows users to run full enterprise applications on the same platform they use to text and send photos. Evolving from the popular Samsung Propel(TM), business users and consumers looking for a full-feature smartphone with Wi-Fi will look to the Propel Pro, available in April for $149.99(1).
Samsung Impression(TM)
The nation’s first commercially available AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) screen results in one of the brightest and clearest displays in the U.S. and is paired with a keyboard underneath an amazingly slim, metallic blue quick messaging phone that’s all touch screen on the outside, all buttons on the inside. On sale for $199.99(1), the Impression has an included 3.0 megapixel camcorder-capable camera, 3.2-inch screen and full browser to maximize every pixel of color.
LG Xenon
A quick messaging phone boasting a full keypad for text messaging beneath its vibrant colors and large touch screen display with customizable and intuitive user interface, the 3G-powered LG Xenon snaps 2.0 megapixel photos and offers the full suite of AT&T entertainment services such as AT&T Navigator, Napster Mobile, eMusic Mobile, and more. Xenon will be available in three colors: black, blue and red for $99.99(1). The Xenon is also featured in MTV’s upcoming series “The Phone”, executive produced by Justin Timberlake.
LG Neon
Teens and text-happy adults will enjoy the LG Neon, a low-cost touch screen device available in the coming weeks. The green and white quick messaging phone features a full keyboard, 2.0 megapixel camera, and access to Instant Messaging, Mobile Email, AT&T Music, and the mobile Internet.
Samsung Magnet(TM)
The Magnet is an incredibly slim orange and black bar-shaped device that will appeal to teens who need a low-cost, quick messaging phone. The Magnet features a WAP browser and integrated camera in its sleek package and will be offered at an affordable price in the coming weeks.
All six devices can be paired with messaging bundles offering 200, 1500, and unlimited messages that cost $5, $15 and $20, respectively. Unlimited messaging is available for AT&T FamilyTalk(R) plan customers for all lines for $30. Data plans vary per device.
Samsung Impression and Propel Pro will arrive in AT&T stores on April 7 and 14, respectively, and the LG Xenon will go on sale on April 8. The Nokia e71x, LG Neon and Samsung Magnet will be available in the following weeks.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation’s leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company list.
For more information, please visit http://www.att.com.
