Apple releases new iPad in South Korea and 11 additional countries (USA)
Apple launched the new iPad, the third generation of its category defining mobile device, in South Korea and 11 additional countries on Friday, April 20. The new iPad features a stunning new Retina display, Apple’s new A5X chip with quad-core graphics and a 5 megapixel iSight camera with advanced optics for capturing amazing photos and 1080p HD video. The new iPad still delivers the same all-day 10 hour battery life while remaining amazingly thin and light.
In addition to South Korea, the new iPad also will be available beginning on Friday, April 20 in Brunei, Croatia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malaysia, Panama, St Maarten, Uruguay and Venezuela. Beginning on Friday, April 27, the new iPad will be available in Colombia, Estonia, India, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, South Africa and Thailand.
The new iPad Wi-Fi models will be available in black or white for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model and $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The iPad Wi-Fi + 4G models will be available for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model.
The new iPad will be sold through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com) and select Apple Authorized Resellers. Additionally, iPad 2 is available at a more affordable price starting at just $399.
Hrvatski Telekom launches new prepaid solution ‘Simpa’ (Croatia)
Croation telecom operator, Hrvatski Telekom, has launched a new prepaid solution ‘Simpa’, offering its users affordable communication across all networks in Croatia. According to reports, the new plan is well suited for customers who frequently communicate with users on other networks.
As per sources, Simpa offers users the same price for calls and SMS across all networks based on the value of the top up done by the customer, which could range from US $4.6 to $9.2. Company reports suggest that the prices granted to the customers on the basis of the voucher are valid for 30 days. Further, in the event that the customer uses a second voucher to top-up his account within the same period, the more affordable price will be charged to the customer.
4G Cameroon introduces operations (Africa)
4G Cameroon has introduced its operation in Cameroon under the brand name YooMee. The wireless network covers Douala. Yaounde will be operational during the summer. YooMee’s mission will be to offer affordable, reliable and state-of-the-art internet access in Cameroon.
YooMee services are designed for the residential and SME markets, as well as governmental entities. The product range includes various types of wireless broadband internet access.
According to CEO Dov Bar-Gera, the company offers a variety of services using either a mobile internet USB key, or a stationary desktop device. The service offering will start with CFA 1000 for monthly 90 minutes and goes up to an unlimited subscription. The download speed of YooMee is 640 kbps, compared to market offerings of 256 kbps or lower.
YooMee’s services are based on mobile Wimax (16E), upgradable to LTE, should it be necessary. 4G Africa AG, a private Swiss company, was founded in 2009 by a team of telecom entrepreneurs active in emerging countries for the last decade. The team includes the founders of a wireless broadband operator in Europe, which deployed over 200 base stations in Austria, Slovakia and Croatia, and acquired thousands of customers.
Bulgaria to get CallMyName on 1 June
Service for mobile communication CallMyName will be launched in Bulgaria on 1 June. CallMyName uses personal and corporate names rather than dialing mobile phone numbers.
After Bulgaria, the service will be launched in the following countries: Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Serbia, Italy and Croatia.
Any company or person can use their name as a number by using CallMyName (CMN). The service brings together the name of each subscriber with their telephone number, website, Facebook profile and Skype name. Each of the registered names is always accessible from anywhere.
CMN intends to change the calling habits of users in Bulgaria and around the world in mobile phone dialling and simplify communication. Using CMN is free of charge and possible from any mobile device with internet connection. Moreover, Call My Name will provide Android and iPhone applications which will be free to download from its website.
T-Mobile Croatia launches offer for families
T-Mobile Croatia has expanded its portfolio with a new tariff made keeping the family that actively use mobile services needs in focus.
The offer embraces 4 packages: M, L, XL and XXL, available at monthly fees ranging from US$28.28 and US$94.27.
The subscription will also include up to seven family members, of which up to four can be subscribers and up to 3 families can be prepaid users. With this plan, a common account will be held for all family members.
Dubbed ‘Extra obitelj,’ the subscription provides unlimited calls between family members at a fee per call of US$0.04, different amounts of data traffic awarded depending on the chosen offer, up to 650 minutes for calls to other mobile networks in Croatia and up to 700 SMS.
Besides the aforementioned services, the high-end package XL comes with 1,500 on-net minutes, while XXL offers 1,500 minutes for calls to all fixed networks in Croatia or T-Mobile Croatia numbers. Over-the-limit traffic (except for viewing video) is allowed at a lower speed of 64 kbps.
Extra benefits include an option that allows kids to make calls to other family members even if they do not have credit in their prepaid account.
HT Eronet revamps sponsorship of Zrinjski Antom Vidackom (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
HT Eronet will continue to act as a sponsor of the Croatian football club Zrinjski Antom Vidackom.
An agreement concerning this sponsorship has been signed by HT Eronet CEO Vilim Primorac and the president of Zrinjski Antom Vidackom.
Si.mobil modernizes roaming packages (Slovenia)
Si.mobil has unveiled an upgraded offer of roaming packages: “Tujina Zame” for residential and “Tujina Podjetni” for corporate users.
The first costs US$32 per month and includes unlimited on-net calls, 101 calls to other Slovenian mobile and fixed networks, and up to 50 minutes of calls on the A1 (Austria) and Vipnet (Croatia) networks. Tujina Podjetni costs US$64 per month and offers unlimited on-net calls and for fixed numbers, 301 minutes of calls to other Slovenian mobile networks, as well as 100 minutes of calls on A1 and Vipnet.
Si.mobil also reduced the price of its roaming options: “Tujina 30″ with 30 minutes of calls abroad now costs US$12, “Tujina 100″ with 100 minutes costs US$35, while “Tujina 200″ with 200 minutes now costs US$50.
208 operators in 80 countries currently investing in LTE- Report
A recent report by Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has revealed that around 208 operators are now investing in LTE, which is 98 operators more than in June 2010.
According to the report, the number of countries and territories where LTE systems are deployed or planned has increased by 32 in the same period.
The report confirms 154 firm LTE network deployments are in progress or planned in 60 countries, including 20 networks which have commercially launched. A further 54 operators in 20 more countries are engaged in LTE technology pilot trials or tests.
Taken together, it means that 208 operators in 80 countries are now investing in LTE. The report covers both LTE FDD and LTE TDD systems. The 60 countries and territories having firm LTE network commitments are Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong S.A.R., Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore , South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, UAE, UK, Uruguay, USA, and Uzbekistan.
LTE networks are launched in 14 countries, namely Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, USA, and Uzbekistan. GSA forecasts that at least 81 LTE networks will be in commercial service by end-2012.
Croatia telecommunications regulator assigns Hrvatski Telekom additional 1800 MHz spectrum
Croatia’s telecommunications regulator has assigned additional radio frequency spectrum to Hrvatski Telekom (HT) at the company’s request.
In accordance with the Ordinance on the Conditions for the Assignment and Use of Radio Frequency Spectrum and at the request of the operator from March 14, Hrvatski Telekom was assigned additional radio frequency spectrum from May 1, so it currently uses contiguous blocks of 2×15 MHz in total in the 1800 MHz band.
Hravtski Telekom receives additional 1800 MHz spectrum (Croatia)
Hravtski Telekom has been awarded with additional spectrum in the frequency range 1800 MHz by Croatia’s telecommunication regulator Hakom after submitting a request to Hakom on 14 March.
At present, Hravtski Telekom has 2×15 MHz of 1800 Mhz spectrum.
