Oberthur Technologies the world’s second largest provider of Smart Card based solutions today announced the commercialization of its OMHTM (Open Market Handsets) SIM cards for CDMA (Code Development Multiple Access) networks. OMH SIM cards contain subscriber, network and service configuration data that allow subscribers the freedom to easily change and upgrade their handset, but maintain their network configuration.

Oberthur Technologies collaborated with Tata Teleservices Limited, one of India’s fastest growing private telecom service providers, and Qualcomm Incorporated, a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on CDMA and other advanced technologies, to introduce OMHTM SIM cards into the India market.

Olivier Leroux, Head of the Mobile Product Line for the Card Systems Division at Oberthur Technologies said, “Oberthur Technologies is the first to commercially launch OMHTM SIM cards. We are pleased to partner with industry leaders such as Tata Teleservices and Qualcomm who are enhancing the subscriber experience for Indian consumers.”

The OMHTM SIM card, referred to as a removable user identity module (R-UIM), is a state of the art smartcard that stores operator and subscriber specific configuration parameters, separate from the handset memory. By having this configuration parameters located on the OMHTM SIM card rather than the device, subscribers can more easily switch or upgrade their handsets. These cards allow CDMA network operators to increase the selection of devices and services while lowering distribution and inventory costs.

“These are exciting times in the Indian telecom space where innovation, research and development are the key to success and remain competitive in the business. In our constant effort to redefine the telecom space keeping customers at the central point, Tata Teleservices decided to partner with Qualcomm and Oberthur Technologies to further develop the Open Market Handset initiative and offer more choice to customers”, said Lloyd Mathias, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata Teleservices Limited.

“Qualcomm is pleased to work with Oberthur Technologies for its leadership as one of the first companies to develop OMH SIM cards,” said Nakul Duggal, Senior Director and OMH Project Lead, Qualcomm Corporate Engineering Services. “The OMH initiative is focused on increasing device variety by offering new channels and distribution options within the CDMA ecosystem to provide greater subscriber flexibility.”

About Oberthur Technologies

With sales of 882 million Euros in 2008, Oberthur Technologies is a world leader in the field of secure technologies. Innovation and high quality services ensure Oberthur Technologies’ strong positioning in its main target markets:

– Card Systems: The world’s second largest provider of security and identification based on smart card technology and associated services for mobile, payment, transport, digital TV and convergence markets. – Identity: Leading international supplier for the manufacture and personalization of secure identity documents such as passport, identity card, driving license or health care card – traditional and electronic – and associated services for both governmental and corporate markets. – Security printing: World’s third largest private security printer specialized in high security for the production of banknotes, checks and other fiduciary documents in more than fifty countries. – Cash protection: World leader in the emerging market of intelligent systems to secure cash-in-transit and ATM.

Close to its customers, Oberthur Technologies benefits from an industrial and commercial presence across all five continents.

Oberthur Technologies S.A. is a limited liability company (societe anonyme) registered in France with its registered office at 50 quai Michelet 92 532 Levallois Perret, France. Oberthur Technologies S.A.’s corporate registration number is 340 709 534 R.C.S. Paris.

Website: http://www.oberthur.com

About Tata Teleservices Limited

Tata Teleservices Limited is one of India’s leading private telecom service providers, having a pan-India presence across all of India’s 22 telecom Circles. The company offers integrated telecom solutions to its customers under the Tata Indicom, Tata DOCOMO, Photon and Walky brands, and uses both the CDMA and GSM technology platform(s) for its wireless networks. Tata Teleservices Limited, along with Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Limited, operates in more than 325,000 towns and villages across the country. In November 2008, Tata Teleservices entered into an agreement with Japanese telecom major NTT DOCOMO, and this transaction marks a key step in the strategic evolution of Tata Teleservices Limited. Tata DOCOMO has so far launched GSM services in eight telecom Circles, and the remaining part of the country is also expected to be covered shortly. In December 2008, Tata Teleservices announced a unique reverse equity swap strategic agreement between its fully-owned telecom tower subsidiary-Wireless TT Info-Services Limited-and Quippo Telecom Infrastructure Limited, thereby becoming the largest independent entity in this space. Tata Teleservices’ bouquet of telephony services includes mobile services, wireless desktop phones, public booth telephony and Wireline services.

For details, visit http://www.tatateleservices.com, http://www.tatadocomo.com or http://www.tataindicom.com.

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Hutchison 3G Austria is modernizing its radio access network to be ready for HSPA+ and the next generation of mobile broadband, or LTE. At the same time this step will allow the operator to halve the energy consumption of its base stations. Nokia Siemens Networks will undertake this upgrade starting in autumn 2009.

“The demand for increased mobile broadband capacity and throughput in Austria is reflected in the increasing usage of data cards and mobile services like Mobile TV, video download or video sharing,” said Berthold Thoma, CEO of Hutchison 3G Austria. “Mobile broadband is also one of the most pragmatic solutions to bridging the digital gap between cities and rural areas. For rural areas, mobile broadband coverage is simply less expensive and faster to deploy than “fiber to the home” solutions. We hope that with our nationwide coverage we will contribute significantly to this end.” (more…)

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: A mobile communication provider of Laos, Star Telecom has promised to roll-out third generation (3G) system in the country in the coming time, media reports. The company is now studying the market before deciding when to introduce the 3G service to local customers, said Saeng Alounboulana, Head of the Lao Star Telecom Administration.
Saeng said the move had been made possible with cooperation with Viettel, one of the leading mobile communications providers of Vietnam.
Once the 3G service is launched, Star Telecom will provide high level audio and visual communication and internet access services to local mobile users nationwide, added Saeng.

He further said the company had completed installation of 700 base transceivers in Laos and planned to complete 1,200 phone signal stations around the country at the end of 2009.
Currently, Starcom is home to more than 200,000 subscribers.

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam, has reportedly awarded a mobile licence to Indochina Telecom JSC, which makes it the eight mobile operator in the country.
The licence will enable the firm to share a 3G network with Viettel, nation’s leading mobile operator. General Director of Indochina Telecom Le Van Phat said that his company will focus on supplying value-added services and using internet service as a lever to lift his company apart from others in the same market.
The firm anticipates to commence services as soon as possible  after working with current providers in Vietnam and completing its network infrastructure.

The launch of the eighth mobile network is likely to minimise state investment in the sector, since it will piggy-back on the network infrastructure of other local providers.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Ministry of Communication, MIC Vietnam, has reportedly extended the deadline for prepaid subscribers with more than three phone numbers to register their personal details from 10 August to the end of December. The deadline has been extended due the number of subscribers involved i.e, around 40 million. The ministry has decided that individuals will only be allowed to subscribe to three phone numbers from each mobile service provider without registering. Deputy director of the MIC’s information department, Nguyen Xuan Tru, said that nearly 600,000 individuals subscribed to up to 50 phone numbers each, though the majority are likely to be mobile phone card dealers who have registered numbers on behalf of customers who did not want to declare their personal information.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam has reportedly issued 3G licences to four mobile-phone operators to launch services across the nation. The 3G service-providers are VNPT’s subsidiaries, Vinaphone and MobiFone; the military-run Viettel; and a consortium between EVN Telecom and Hanoi Telecom, the ministry said in a statement. “The companies are expected to start providing 3G services from the third quarter of this year or early next year,” the statement said.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Viettel, the Military run Vietnamese telco has introduced international roaming service for its prepaid subscribers. The subscribers who have a balance of at least 200,000 VND can sign up for the service b sending a SMS “CVQT” to 138.
Viettel Telecom’s Director Hoang Son said his firm will initially provide international roaming service to 21 countries and territories worldwide, such as Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Australia, Canada, the US, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Hungary, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan.

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Viettel will reportedly deploy HSPA mobile infrastructure for its 3G network by the end of 2009. According to the report, Viettel has also said that subscribers in both densely populated and remote areas where cable broadband infrastructure is limited will have access to wireless broadband services, multimedia services and high quality content.

In April 2009, Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) has awarded licence to Viettel along with Vinaphone, MobiFone and a consortium between EVN Telecom and Hanoi Telecom to operate 3G services. The quartets were given three months to develop third-generation wireless services under the 15-year licences.

Vietnam adds 8.8Mn subscribers in June

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: There is an addition of 8.8 million new phone subscribers nationwide in June, taking its new phone subscriber base to 17 million in six months. Accordingly, the total number of phone subscribers in the country are 99 million (of which the mobile subscribers accounts 86%), reaching an average ratio of 114 phones per 100 residents. Of which, 58% subscribes to VNPT and 33% chose Vittel.

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www.WirelessFederation.com/news: ZTE has inked an agreement with Viettel, the Vietnamese mobile operator, to build its UMTS network across the nation by offering ZTE’s Soft Defined Radio products to support the network. Under the agreement, the UMTS network will provide fast network access to subscribers and enhance user 3G services experience.
The network deployment is likely to be completed by September’09.