Wireless Federation

Apple offers iPhone 3GS free when taken with a contract (USA)

On 11.07.11, In Mobile, By Editor

Apple Inc. had reportedly slashed the price of its iPhone 3GS model to zero when purchased with a contract, with the launch of its latest iPhone 4S last month. According to reports, industry analysts believe that this move could help Apple in competing with the lower range devices running on Google Inc.’s Android software, without negatively affecting its profits.

While sources say that the two year old iPhone 3GS does not include the latest features such as the voice-activated assistant Siri, offered in the iPhone 4S, users would still prefer it over most of the rival handsets being offered in the market for the similar price.

As per reports, wireless carrier AT&T, which is the only operator selling the iPhone 3GS, sold out its entire stock of the handset after the price change was implemented saying that there has been tremendous demand for the same. Currently, Apple is selling its iPhone 4S between $199 and $399 while the iPhone 4 is being sold for $99. As per sources, Apple reported a total revenue of $11 billion from iPhone sale last quarter.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Apple • AT&T • Contract • iPhone 3GS • iPhone 4 • iPhone 4S

MTN launches borderless roaming across five countries (South Africa)

On 03.09.11, In Mobile, By Editor

South Africa’s MTN has launched borderless roaming across five countries where it has subsidiaries – Botswana, Rwanda, Uganda, Swaziland and Zambia. The service applies to both prepaid and contract customers.

According to Serame Taukobong, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN South Africa, they realize that sometimes their customers do not want to roam or even receive incoming calls due to the costs associated with doing so. Now, with free incoming calls on offer, MTN is empowering its customers to roam with ease.

In addition, MTN’s roaming prepaid customers will be able to top-up their prepaid phones with locally purchased airtime cards.

He added that they now offer their customers another seamless way of maintaining their mobile lifestyles and encourage them to keep their phones switched on while out of the country. This will ensure they remain constantly in touch with their businesses and close contacts.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: borderless roaming • Botswana • Chief Marketing Officer • Contract • Mobile • MTN • Prepaid • Rwanda • Serame Taukobong • South Africa • Swaziland • Top-Up • Uganda • Zambia

SFR awards network upgrade contract to NSN (France)

On 12.21.10, In Mobile, By Editor

SFR, the French mobile network operator has awarded a network upgrade contract to Nokia Siemens Networks to build extra capacity in its existing 3G network.

Under the contract, Nokia Siemens Networks will provide its Flexi Multiradio Base Station to support enhanced High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+) services.

Nokia Siemens Networks has already provided Radio Network Controllers for the operator along with Cell_PCH technology that helps protect smartphone battery life by handling signaling traffic more intelligently and decreasing signaling load on the network.

SFR will begin to launch the technology in its network from the beginning of 2011. SFR’s launch of Dual-cell HSDPA is made possible through a software upgrade to the Flexi Multiradio Base Stations. Financial details were not provided.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • Cell_PCH technology • Contract • Dual-cell HSDPA • Flexi Multiradio base station • France • HSPA • Mobile • Network Upgrade • NSN • SFR

China Unicom’s new service contract of IPhone brings government rebuke

On 12.06.10, In Mobile, By Editor

China Unicom’s new service contract with new users of the iPhone brought a rebuke from government regulators as the contract caused “widespread concern”.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has asked the operator to respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of telecommunications users, improve the service agreement, and improve service quality.

China Unicom said that since this week new users of the iPhone service bundle who break the service contract will be penalized.

It will check the usage of services, SIM cards and numbers via its back office systems on a monthly basis.

If someone is found to be using an iPhone with another operator’s SIM card, the user’s number and mobile phone will be locked.

China Unicom is the sole partner of iPhone in China which means the smartphones sold in the country are expected to belong to its network.

Analysts believe that the new regulation is mainly to curb speculative reselling of iPhones and partly to beat back China Mobile, the country’s top mobile carrier, in the domestic market.

MIIT officials said that China Unicom had promised that the company would maintain the healthy development and promote fair competition o f telecom market and would make great efforts to respect and protect consumer rights and improve its 3G service.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: 3G • China • China Mobile • China Unicom • Contract • Government • iPhone • Ministry of Industry and Information Technology • Mobile • new service • SIM Card • USA

Mobilicity Announces Motorola Spice in Canada

On 11.18.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Mobilicity, Canadian wireless service provider, has announced a new phone on its network- the Motorola Spice.

Exclusive to Mobilicity, the new Motorola handset powered by Android will be priced at $199.99 – a great value to consumers looking for an Android-based smartphone without a contract.

According to Motorola, Spice delivers an excellent smartphone experience with its sliding QWERTY keyboard and large multi-touch screen, which can be customized through seven home screen panels with easy access to Google Search, Google Maps with Google Latitude, Gmail and Android Market.

Users can easily view and manage content from a single application – keeping track of call histories, messages, calendar events, photos and videos, all of which can then be mapped onto a timeline on the home screen. Plus, the device has a unique rear-touch Backtrack panel that makes it possible to navigate and scroll through web sites without obstructing the screen.

The handset will soon be available at Mobilicity stores across Canada.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Android • Android Market • Canada • Contract • Gmail • Google • Mobile • Mobilicity • Motorola Spice • QWERTY

MTN reduces international roaming rates (South Africa)

On 10.29.10, In Mobile, By Editor

MTN South Africa has announced that it will reduce the retail rates for international roaming on both voice and data with effect from today.

According to Serame Taukobong, Chief Marketing Officer at MTN SA, MTN Roaming is now an even more affordable and convenient means for MTN Pay-As-You-Go, Contract and Top-Up customers to always stay connected when travelling abroad.

MTN had introduced Seamless Roaming in March this year to provide MTN Pay-As-You-Go and Top-Up customers with the ability to load airtime using foreign airtime vouchers in Southern and Eastern Africa regions where MTN operates.

Serame Taukobong added that MTN has now decided to further reduce roaming rates to encourage customers to stay connected on the MTN network while travelling in Southern and Eastern Africa regions. This means that all MTN Pay-As-You-Go, Top-Up and contract customers can now travel with their MTN cell phones to MTN Uganda, MTN Zambia, MTN Swaziland, MTN Rwandacel and Mascom Botswana, and enjoy one of the most affordable roaming call and internet rates.

The new roaming rates have been revised substantially and will be charged as: International calls or calls to home (South Africa) at R5.00 per minute, Local calls at R3.00 per minute, Receiving calls at R4.00 per minute, Sending SMSs at R1.50 per SMS and Data at 25c per 25KB

According to Taukobong, with the new voice and data rates, it is intention to encourage company’s loyal customers to make the most of the MTN network, no matter where they roam in Southern and Eastern Africa. The company is also encouraging customers to ensure they comply with RICA requirements by simply taking their ID and proof of residence to their nearest MTN store, thereby ensuring they experience uninterrupted service during their travels.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Botswana • Contract • international roaming rates • Mascom Botswana • Mobile • MTN • MTN Rwandacel • MTN Swaziland • MTN Uganda • MTN Zambia • Pay-As-You-Go • RICA • Rwanda • South Africa • Swaziland • Top-Up • Uganda • Zambia

Vodafone NZ, Telstra Australia launches HTC smartphones

On 10.26.10, In Mobile, By Editor

Vodafone New Zealand has launched HTC 7 Trophy on its network. While Australia’s Telstra launches the HTC 7 Mozart.

Vodafone NZ is selling the Trophy for US$602 with on contract and for US$677 on prepaid. The HTC Trophy is equipped with Qualcomm MSM7227 600 MHz processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, dual band (900/2100) WCDMA / HSPA and quad-band GSM / EDGE run. It also offers an auto-focus camera of 5 megapixels, microSD card slot, GPS / AGPS, a G-sensor and 512 MB RAM flash/256MB. Connectivity includes a 3.5 mm headphone jack and the microUSB port, and TouchFLO 3D user interface with people looking and super charged on Windows Mobile.

Telstra Australia launches HTC Mozart on its network. The Mozart comes with a 3.7? capacitive touchscreen, 8 MP Camera with Xenon flash and 1GHz processor wrapped in a slick aluminum uni-body frame.

The handset comes with high fidelity virtual surround sound using SRS WOW HD drivers. This coupled with Zune makes it a great audio device. The phone has 8GB internal memory. The handset ranges from $49 a month with two-year contract.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Australia • Contract • GSM • HTC • HTC 7 Mozart • HTC 7 Trophy • Mobile • New Zealand • Prepaid • smartphones • Telstra Australia • Vodafone NZ • Wi-Fi

Blackberry 8900 Available at reasonable rates on all the networks (UK)

On 10.01.10, In Mobile, Mobile Phones, By Editor

Blackberry 8900 a new phone from RIM which is very compact yet a stylish phone. The device features BlackBerry OS 4.6, a 3.2 megapixel camera with autofocus lens, GPS and Wi-Fi with UMA calling.

It’s the thinnest BlackBerry by a slim margin and is significantly more compact than the capacious Bold. The screen is bright and large as well as it is packed with a QWERTY keypad which is user friendly and easy to handle.

The phone is available on deals and that to on cheap rates. Blackberry 8900 contracts are offered on T-mobile, O2, orange and Vodafone. These are the pay monthly deals which are available with a contract of 12-24 months. The cheapest deal is offered by T-mobile at US$23.57 with a 24 month contract. With this 300 minutes and unlimited text are also offered.

Orange offer you a 24 month contract deals at US$39.29 with 500 MB Internet data as well. O2 offers you an 18 month contract at US$31.43 in which 100 free minutes and unlimited text. Orange, O2 and Vodafone are also offering unlimited plans with these deals.

Filed under:Mobile,Mobile Phones Tagged with: autofocus lens • Blackberry 8900 • Bold • camera • Contract • GPS • Mobile • O2 • Orange • OS 4.6 • QWERTY Keypad • RIM • T-Mobile • UK • UMA calling • Vodafone • Wi-Fi

HTC Desire and Wildfire up for pre-order

On 09.29.10, In Mobile, By Editor

The White Desire and the silver Wildfire are up for pre-order now in the UK. The exact shipping date isn’t mentioned yet but expected to be with the users soon.

Both the devices can be taken on a 15 GBP/month two-year contract at the point where the Wildfire costs 30 GBP and the Desire is 200 GBP. However one can have them for free if anyone is willing to go for a 20 GBP/month contract for the Wildfire or 30 GBP/month for the Desire. The prices certainly seem pocket friendly.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Contract • HTC Desire • Mobile • Pocket Friendly • Pre-Order • UK • Wildfire

African telco MTN’s CEO to depart by March 11

On 03.04.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: CEO Phuthuma Nhleko of MTN Group will not review his long-term contract of employment, which ends on June 30. He will continue in his current role up to March 2011.

Certain key objectives will be focused by Nhleko in the remaining part of his service including facilitation of a seamless transition once his successor has been appointed.

According to Nhleko, it was the right time to secure the next generation of leadership for the group and for him to start thinking about the next phase of his career.

Filed under:Mobile Tagged with: Africa • CEO • Contract • MTN • Phuthuma Nhleko