Nexus One sale can improve: analyst Mark Mahaney

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Even though the much hyped invention of Google, Nexus One,  failed miserably to have a rocking sale, analyst still believe that it can increase its sale by rethinking its approach to the mobile market. 1-3 million Nexus One handsets could be sold by the company which is also far less than Apple’s sale of 5.4 million iPhones in its first year, and Motorola Droid shipments which could reach 7.5 million in its first year.

Non availability of Nexus One in the stores, poor marketing and the fact that it’s only on T- Mobile are cited as some of the reasons behind the poor sale of the device.

According to Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney, Google only makes approximately $70 per sale, which means Nexus One sales will kick in $500 million to $1.6 billion in revenue and 10%-15% operating margin means the Nexus One could generate between $0.12 and $0.55 in incremental EPS.

US$800 million to be raised by Orascom from shareholders

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: In a move to strengthen the balance sheet and ensure liquidity including financing needs, Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH) has announced to plan a Rights Issue to raise around US$800 million from its shareholders.

The proposed Rights Issue is subject to shareholders’ approval at the EGM to be held on December 27, 2009. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Credit Suisse Securities (Europe) Limited and EFG-Hermes has been appointed by OTH to advise on the Rights Issue.

Weather Investments owning approximately 50.6% of the outstanding shares of the company has expressed its commitment to subscribe for a minimum of its existing pro rata share in the Rights Issue.

According to Naguib Sawiris, Executive Chairman of OTH, the transaction will enable the company to strengthen its balance sheet to benefit fully while the conditions improve across their core markets.

In the meantime the company will work towards the optimal resolution of the tax dispute in Algeria. The Rights Issue has been chosen at par as per common practice in the Egyptian Capital Markets.

Zain brings mobile banking to over 100 million East Africans

Leading mobile telecommunications provider Zain today announces the revolutionary enhancement of Zap, its rapidly expanding mobile banking service currently available  to over 100 million people in East Africa and run in partnership with CitiBank and Standard Chartered Bank. From today Zap customers can swiftly and securely receive money from any bank account around the world and easily send money to any bank in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. This is the first time in the world any mobile bank account has been configured so that its users can receive funds from anywhere in the world directly to their mobile handset as well as send funds directly to their Bank accounts.
In addition Zap allows customers to use their mobile phone 24 hours a day to:
  • Manage their bank accounts
  • Pay for goods and services and settle their utility bills
  • Receive Zap money – and send Zap money to their friends and family
  • Top up their airtime account – or top up someone else’s
  • Check their balance and keep on top of their payments

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