M:tel, which operates in Bosnia, is now offering the Huawei U8110 smartphone for US$0.74 to all subscribers of its L package.
The offer will cost US$18.51 per month and includes 100 minutes of calls, 100 SMS and 500 MB of data transfer.
The Huawei U8110 comes packed with the Android 2.1 OS, a 2.8-inch QVGA touch screen, 3.2 MP camera and expandable microSD card up to 16GB. It also comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, GPS and a FM radio.
m:tel, which operates in Bosnia, has launched new benefits for users of its Flex Plus and Flat Plus tariff models within the Total Group.
The company will offer 30 on-net free minutes and 30 free text messages for Flex Plus users within the VPN group of 21 to 50 members. Each member in all VPN groups will also be given up to 60 MB of bonuses for data transmission.
Subscribers to the Flat Plus tariff model in groups of 6 to 20 members and 21 to 50 members, will receive 30 free SMS messages and 30 free minutes (10 minutes in the m:tel network, 10 minutes for other mobile networks in Bosnia and 10 minutes to fixed networks in Bosnia).
Users of the Flat Plus tariff model for VPN groups from 51 to 100 members and 101 or more members, will enjoy a bonus of 60 minutes of free calls.
M:tel has organized its first competition for the best Android application, titled “M:tel Android League”.
The company has invited everyone who is interested to participate in this competition, demonstrate their knowledge and win valuable cash prizes for a total of US$ 21578.41.
The company has stated that the applications have to be made in the local languages of the country and only Bosnian citizens aged 16 years and over can take part.
In addition, the applications have to be fresh and unpublished on Android Market, and will be selected in three categories: best individual applications, best team and best student applications.
Submissions can be sent until September 30, with the winners being announced in December.
m:tel has introduced the BlackBerry Bold 9700 in the country, together with new, lower prices for existing BlackBerry models.
The Blackberry Bold 9700 is available for US$74.97, as part of the Total Group package.
Meanwhile, existing models BlackBerry Curve 8310 and BlackBerry Gemini 8520 are available starting from US$0.79, while the Blackberry Storm 9520 is available for US$74.97. These prices are valid only for members of m:tel’s Total Group.
m:tel is offering a 50% discount on its 3G mobile internet service during the next three months.
In order to benefit from the promotion, customers need to bring in a voucher published in the weekly magazine Reporter or daily Dnevni Avaz to a m:tel sales point.
The price of the cheapest mobile internet package is US$9.16 a month (500 MB of traffic included), while the most expensive costs US$38.15 (10 GB of traffic). Clients can also select an Acer eMachine laptop with 15-inch screen, Acer Aspire netbook with 11-inch screen or a USB wireless modem for prices starting at US$0.76
m:tel has teamed up with local daily Dnevni Avaz to offer the Alcatel OT-305 phone at a promotional price of US$7.56. Interested customers have until 10 May to bring the m:tel voucher published in the paper into shops.
With the purchase of the promotional package, the user gets the Alcatel OT-305 mobile phone and Combine 10 tariff model with a monthly bonus of US$9.08 and 1,000 SMS.
Once the package is activated with an initial bonus of 250 SMS messages, customers receive an additional 250 messages, for the next three months. The bonus can be consumed by 31 August.
BH Telecom has reportedly been warned to halt operations by the Securities Commission of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is implicated that such a move could be made because BH Telecom has only elected six members to its supervisory board, one less than required by the operator’s legal provisions. The telco voted in the current six members in May 2010 for a transitional period of 90 days, and it has now been given until 23 December 2010 to hold a shareholder’s meeting and elect a board that fulfils its legal obligations.
The Securities Commission meanwhile has also reportedly pointed out that any decisions made by the current board could be re-examined.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Croatia-based vendor Ericsson Nikola Tesla and Bosnian telco BH Telecom have signed a two-year agreement which will see Ericsson provide support services for BH Telecom. Besides, Ericsson will also take the responsibility for the maintenance of the operator’s entire network.
It’s a yet another deal inked between the two company and it is worth approximately HRK54 million (USD9.93 million). Earlier, HRK62 million worth contract was signed between BH Telecom and Ericsson and it was announced in September 2009. This deal was aimed at the expansion of B H Telecom’s GSM/GPRS/EDGE infrastructure.
The duo signed two more agreements in the following month relating to the extension of BH Telecom’s 3G network, as well as the upgrade of the telco’s core network.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Bosnia Competition Council (BCC) is planning to set an enquiry against Bosnian telcos BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske following complaints by Sarajevo-based alternative operator Akt.online. Akt’s initial application was filed earlier last year.
The argument given by the company was that both BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske were in violation of existing competition regulations following difficulties in agreeing interconnection terms with both operators.
Although after reaching agreements with both the companies, Akt has contended that these violate current competition norms. Besides, the operator has also not been offered the use of leased line services, violating Article 10 of the country’s Communications Act.
BH Telecom and Telekom Srpske will now be required to submit any documentation requested by the antitrust watchdog.
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: French-US vendor Alcatel-Lucent and Bosnia’s Telekom Srpske signed a deal to consolidate the telco’s IP and optical networks into a leveraged IP network infrastructure. According to Predrag Culibrk, Telekom Srpske’s general manager, the deal will enable the company to provide its business and residential customers a wide range of beneficial, easy-to-use broadband services.
Converged Backbone Transformation solution which more tightly integrates IP and optical transport resources will be provided by Alca-Lu enabling service providers to optimise and leverage their transport networks to deal with the growing demand for bandwidth.
The solution will not only allow for a reduction of the number of required network elements, but will also improve efficiencies in power and rack space, simplify network provisioning and fault management, minimise latency, and enhance reliability.
