Indosat

Qatar Telecom reports increase in turnover

On 03.09.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Consolidated group financial and operational results for 2009 has been posted by Qatar Telecom in which 20.5% increase in the net profit attributable to shareholders has been revealed, going up from up from QAR2.3 billion in 2008 to QAR2.8 billion (USD765 million) in the full-year. The company showed 15.1 percent increase in the EBITDA going up to QAR 11.3 billion.

The consolidated customer base of the group stood at 60.5 million at December 31, 2009. Entry of Qtel’s first mobile competitor, Vodafone Qatar affected the domestic EBITDA which fell to QAR3.3 billion.

The Indonesian unit of the company, Indosat’s subscriber base at end-December 2009 stood at 33.7 million, down from 37.0 million a year earlier. Removal of a significant proportion of the lower-value, calling card type behavior subscribers’ from its base over the twelve-month period has been cited as reason behind this decrease.

The total active subscribers of Asiacell increased by 20.4% during 2009 as a result of which the year closed at 7.35 million, revenue increased by 40.4% to QAR4.0 billion and EBITDA increased by 43.9% to QAR2.2 billion.

Indosat might be acquired by XL Axiata (Indonesia)

On 02.19.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Indonesia’s second largest mobile operator, Indosat might be acquired by XL Axiata by the end of 2010. Strong subscriber and revenue growth has been aimed by XL Axiata this year and it has also been confirmed by the company that dividend payments were likely to resume this year following a return to profit in 2009.

86.5% of XL Axiata is owned by Malaysia’s Axiata Group and 13.3% is owned by Etisalat of the UAE while the remaining 0.2% is publicly held.

Tagged with: Acquire • ASIA • Axiata group • Etisalat • Indonesia • Indosat • Malaysia • operator • UAE • XL Axiata

Telkomsel warn market saturation in Indonesia, aim for 15m new subscribers

On 01.11.10, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: According to Indonesia’s largest mobile operator, Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel), the growth potential in the local market is ‘shrinking’ and will hit a plateau in two year The company expects to get at least 15 million of about 35 million new users expected.

An aggressively competitive mobile sector driven by a wave of tariff cutting in the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia, has expanded to around 165 million users. With 85 million customers, up from just 16.3 million users at 31 December 2004, Telkomsel aims to reach 100-million subscribers by the end of 2010.

Although a surplus of smaller operators exist in Indonesia, Telkomsel controls a little over 50% of the market ahead of major rivals Indosat and Excelcomindo.

Tagged with: ASIA • Excelcomindo • Indonesia • Indosat • operator • Telekomunikasi • Telkomsel

Verizon to launch Samsung U960 Rogue & U450 Intensity on 8 September (USA)

On 08.28.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Verizon Wireless has reportedly announced that it will launch Samsung U960 Rogue and Samsung U450 Intensity on 8 September. The Samsung Rogue will be priced at $99.99 with a 2-yr contract and after a $100 mail-in rebate. The handset features full QWERTY keyboard, GPS, EV-DO connectivity, a 3MP camera, and a touchscreen display that might use AMOLED technology.

Verizon will offer the Samsung U450 Intensity for only $29.99 on contract. Its features include a QWERTY keypad, Bluetooth and a 1.3MP camera.

Tagged with: Indosat • MNI • MVNO • network reliability • north hudson wisconsin • Paulo • Pleasanton • Telecom Corp. • USA • Visabeira

HTC to launch HTC Qilin as the first flagship handset for China Mobile

On 08.26.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: HTC has reportedly unveiled one of the TD-SCDMA handsets it will introduce on China Mobile’s network is HTC Qilin, a device that features GSM and TD-SCDMA. The new smartphone will be sold under HTC’s Dopod brand, as T8388.
The handset doesn’t feature a QWERTY keyboard but has a touchscreen and resembles the Touch Pro2.

The features of HTC Qilin include:

3.6 inch touchscreen display with 480 x 800 pixels
Wi-Fi
GPS
CMMB mobile TV
5MP camera with autofocus
VGA front camera
600MHz TI OMAP 3430 processor
512MB ROM, 256MB RAM

The handset will be launched as a flagship handset in Q4′09.

Tagged with: Aegis Group • BlackBerry® Internet Service • BlackBerry® Messenger • Carat • CDMA • China • Colombia Movil • Indosat • McDowell • Orascom Telecom • Pleasanton • T-Mobile • The Consumerist • WPP Group

Etisalat and Nokia launch special Mobile Internet offer during Ramadan (UAE)

On 08.26.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Etisalat and Nokia announced a joint promotion, providing a seamless experience to their customers, to enjoy the free Ramadan applications from Nokia during the Holy Month of Ramadan.

With the purchase of any of the featured Nokia devices, customers will get 1GB data package free for two months from Etisalat. The free data package will enable the customers to download the free Ramadan applications directly to their devices without paying for the Internet downloads.

This year’s Ramadan applications can be accessed and downloaded from Nokia’s Ovi Store. Users can launch Ovi Store from the Download! folder on the main menu on their Nokia device or access nokia.com/Ramadan on the PC.

“Etisalat’s robust 3G network and crystal clear voice clarity complements technologically advanced devices from Nokia to provide a truly unparalleled mobile internet experience to our customers. With the two months free 1GB data package that we are offering with Nokia during Ramadan, our aim is to enable users to explore the full Internet experience from downloading applications, to video streaming, to email and browsing, on these fantastic devices, “said Mr. Khalifa Al Shamsi, Acting Chief Marketing Officer, Etisalat. (more…)

Tagged with: Alfa Active • Handsets • Indosat • Mobile broadband • Mobile Broadband Modem • optic broadband • Redknee • WAP

SFR launches Samsung Galaxy smartphone (France)

On 08.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: SFR, the French mobile operator, is reportedly offering the Samsung Galaxy smartphone, the manufacturer’s first Android handset only available through Bouygues Telecom in France since mid-July. SFR has priced the handset at EUR 99 with an Illimythics plan, including rebate, compared to Bouygues’s starting price of EUR 89. The handset will be available at EUR 409 as a standalone product. The Samsung Galaxy features a 3.5-inch AMOLED touch screen, 5 Megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, Google applications, media player, and 8 GB of memory, expandable to 40 GB. It uses the Android version 1.5 (Cupcake).

Tagged with: BT Movio • Easy Charge • GSM EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 • Indosat • Internet Tablet • JCDMA • KukiCel • Motorola Korea • Orascom Telecom • Renova • Retain Partnership • Sawa • WCDMA • WCDMA/HSPA 900/1700/2100 • Wireless network

T-Mobile Europe to launch T-Mobile Pulse in October for €257

On 08.24.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: T-Mobile Europe will soon launch the Android-powered Huawei U8220 as T-Mobile Pulse, The price and release details of the phone remain undisclosed, though it is likely that the handset launches in October.

The handset has also appeared on Dutch retailer site, available for pre order at €257 (about $366) – free of contract, but locked on T-Mobile’s network.

The specs of T-Mobile Pulse / Huawei U8220 are:

3.5 inch touchscreen display with 320 x 480 pixels
HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
Wi-Fi
GPS
Microsoft Exchange support
Bluetooth 2.0
3.2MP camera
MicroSD card support

Tagged with: China Unicom • cooperation deal • Indosat • Irancel • Orascom Telecom • Reliance Globalcom • Samsung • Samsung Messager II • Sawa • terrestrial cable link • U-fone

Alltel Wireless launches BlackBerry Tour (USA)

On 08.22.09, In Mobile, By Editor

Alltel Wireless today announced the availability of the BlackBerry® Tour™ smartphone from Research In Motion (RIM) in Alltel retail stores and online at alltel.com. Offering advanced communications, rich multimedia capabilities and consummate styling, the BlackBerry Tour on Alltel’s advanced 3G network allows customers to stay connected to the people and things that matter most. Plus with support for 3G networks abroad, customers can stay connected from virtually anywhere in the world1.

“Alltel recognizes that for many people, a smartphone has become a lifeline to their business and personal relationships,” said Paul Bowersock, Senior Sales & Operations Leader for the Alltel Divestiture Trust. “If you’re traveling across the world or just across town, the speed and power of the BlackBerry Tour let you easily manage your busy life.”

BlackBerry Tour smartphone users can take advantage of Alltel’s advanced 3G network for faster upload and download speeds, streaming audio and video, and speedier browsing. The BlackBerry Tour will also keep up with your busy schedule and let you update your Facebook® page or edit a Microsoft PowerPoint® presentation for tomorrow’s meeting. The smartphone also features built-in GPS and mapping software, a large 2.44” high-resolution display that’s perfect for viewing videos, photos, and web pages, and a 3.2 MP camera with image stabilization, flash and video recording2. Music and video lovers will appreciate the smartphone’s microSD/SDHC expandable memory slot which supports cards up to 16 GB, making it perfect for taking pictures and downloading tunes and shows on the go.

The BlackBerry Tour also comes with a highly tactile full-QWERTY keyboard, 3.5 mm stereo headset jack and support for the Bluetooth® Stereo Audio Profile (A2DP/AVCRP), 256 MB of Flash memory, and support for BlackBerry App World™, which features a broad and growing catalog of third-party mobile applications developed specifically for BlackBerry smartphones.

The BlackBerry Tour 9630 smartphone is available for $199.99 after a $100 mail-in rebate and with a 1-year service contract. Alltel continues to be the only major wireless carrier to offer 2-year postpaid handset pricing to those signing 1-year contracts, creating enhanced flexibility and greater choice for customers. Customers must also select one of the Alltel Wireless Smart Choice packs that include national voice minutes, unlimited Internet browsing and e-mail, and “My Circle.” Smart Choice packs begin at $69.99.

The BlackBerry Tour smartphone and 1-year contract option is available only to customers in the 91 cellular market areas (CMAs) that Verizon Wireless is required to divest, which will continue to operate as Alltel Wireless until the sale agreements with AT&T and Atlantic Tele-Network are approved by the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission.

Alltel Wireless continues to be an industry-leader, providing choice and flexibility with its exclusive “My Circle” feature, providing unlimited calling to and from any 5, 15, or 25 numbers on any network. Alltel Wireless was also the first to offer Anytime Plan Changes, giving customers the flexibility to change their calling plans at any time without extending their contract.

For more information concerning the sale of the divested markets, consumers can visit and log on to www.alltel.com, and go to the Customer Q&A section.

The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive property and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.

Tagged with: 3G handset • China Telecxom • Eidos Mobile • GSM • Import • Indosat • Kyrgyztelecom • MNI • Pleasanton • Reliance Entertainment • TMN • USA • Viettel Corporation

Crazy John & RIM launch Pink BlackBerry Pearl in Australia at a “Crazy” price

On 08.20.09, In Mobile, By Editor

www.WirelessFederation.com/news: Crazy John’s and Research In Motion (RIM) today announced the availability of the pink BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8110 smartphone, for $0 upfront on a $39 BlackBerry® Service Cap, the lowest bundled voice and data BlackBerry service plan in Australia’s history.

An exceptional lifestyle tool, the pink BlackBerry Pearl 8110 smartphone bundled with Crazy John’s new service plan offers an attractive choice for people who want to make calls, email, manage their organiser, surf the net, take and send photographs, listen to music, watch and record* videos, as well as access a broad range of other mobile applications.

The bundled voice and data plan allows unlimited mobile access to email, instant messaging, social networking sites, Internet browsing and thousands of other mobile applications. The unique and popular BlackBerry service enables access to up to 10 supported ISP email accounts, as well as access to various instant messaging services such as Yahoo! ® Messenger and Windows Live™ Messenger. It is also incredibly easy to stay in touch using the Facebook® for BlackBerry application. With notifications sent straight to their inbox, users will immediately know when someone tags them in a photo, writes on their wall, sends them a message or comments on their status. (more…)

Tagged with: Australia • Happy Hours • Indosat • Innsbruck • Kyrgyztelecom • Mobile Mail Service • Moov • Online Storage • Reliance Entertainment