Batelco and Qtel sign MoU extending cooperation agreement (Middle East)
Following the successful partnership agreement signed between Batelco – the Kingdom’s leading integrated telecommunication services provider, and Qtel, Qatar’s leading telecommunications provider, in August last year, the two companies have recently signed an MoU.
This MoU complements the previous partnership agreement and is in line with Batelco’s ambitious strategy that aims to extend the company’s global reach through successful partnerships with key regional and international players.
The deal is meant to expand cooperation between Batelco and Qtel in areas that cover Products and Services including Voice, Internet, Data, Facility Management & Mobile; Application & Content Services; Business Solution Services; Sales and Marketing collaboration; Carrier Services such as Roaming, Voice & Capacity; and Facility Management Services.
Batelco General Manager Enterprise Division Adel Daylami said that such strategic bi-lateral understanding is vital for Batelco to achieve its prime goal of providing its customers in all segments with the best services wherever they are.
He added that this MoU will enable both parties to provide cutting-edge, end-to-end services to local and international business based in Bahrain and Qatar.
Daylami further said that business customers, in both Bahrain and Qatar, are now enjoying the numerous benefits resulting from the agreement signed last year between Batelco and Qtel and will enjoy more in the future thanks to this MoU.
The MoU is expected to make a difference for customers of both companies, in terms of quality and range of services to be delivered via the reliable, state-of-the-art networks of the two operators.
Ahmed Al-Derbesti Chief Wholesale & International Officer, Qtel, said that they have a partnership of long standing with Batelco, and this MoU opens the door to providing more quality products and services to our customers in Qatar. Qatar’s telecommunications needs are growing daily, in both the consumer and business markets, and agreements such as this keep them well ahead of demand and focusing on the changing needs of their customers.
Vehicles to be equipped with internet services in future
The extensive use of data enabled smartphones and iPhones have got more and more consumers looking for internet services on the go. According to a new survey by KPMG, internet access in the car is likely to become a common feature soon. Further, the survey highlights the future possibility of a vehicle enabled with speech recognition as well as wi-fi and 3G services.
The report also reveals that as many as 37 percent of the car executives claimed that such services in the vehicle are as important as the safety features. Further, keeping the trend in mind, the future could see many agreements being signed between car companies and players in the music and telecom industry.
John Leech, Automative Head, KPMG has said that Intel claims that the connected car is the third-fastest growing technological device, following smartphones and tablets. For a car maker that offers huge potential.
The report also reveals that 53 percent of the executives agree that hybrid cars will consume a large part of the company investment in the coming years.
O2 drops mobile data tethering fees (UK)
O2UK has unearthed a new tariff structure which includes free internet tethering. The company is clearly changing its strategy based on the fact that 70% of new customers are buying net-connected smartphones.
As per the company’s blog, for the first time, Internet Tethering (using your phone as a modem to connect your laptop to the Internet) is completely included in their data allowances, so you don’t have to pay a penny extra for it.
The company has revealed the removal of tethering fee as a US$12.24 additional value, but existing customers will not see charges removed, instead the new deals apply only to new contracts.
The new pay monthly tariffs charge US$4.7 per month for 100MB, US$9.5 for 500MB and US$15.98 for 1GB of data.
Tigo Rwanda introduces dual-SIM phone
Tigo Rwanda has launched a dual-SIM handset, which it claims is the first offer of its kind on the Rwanda market. The phone comes with a price tag of US$41.19.
One of the slots is fixed for a Tigo SIM card, and the other is open for any other SIM card. The phone also comes with a video camera, a still camera, FM radio, internet, MP3 player, Bluetooth, a memory card slot and a color screen.
Integra Telecom partners with Mitel to offer SIP Interoperability with Mitel’s Communication Systems
Integra Telecom Inc., a fiber-based telecom provider for businesses, has created a single-source, end-to-end telecom solution for businesses of all sizes by combining its localized customer service, robust network and certified Mitel telecom equipment into one package.
Products and services designed by separate vendors can lead to confusion, compatibility issues and disappointing resultsâ€
As part of Integra’s program to expand the number of IP PBXs certified to operate with its Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunking service, Integra recently earned Mitel® SIP Trunking Interoperability certification with the Mitel Communications Director (MCD) and the Mitel 5000 Communications Platform (CP). This certification now assures that businesses utilizing or vendors offering these Mitel IP PBXs will work seamlessly with Integra’s powerful SIP Solutions SIP Trunking Service.
In addition, this enables Integra, a Mitel Diamond level Partner, to combine SIP Trunking services and Mitel IP PBX solutions into one package from a single source. The bundled offering provides businesses the ability to consolidate their telecom services and equipment with one carrier that’s supported with project coordination, installation, training, and ongoing customer service. As a result, businesses are able to realize cost savings and infrastructure improvements.
Products and services designed by separate vendors can lead to confusion, compatibility issues and disappointing results,†said Steve Zimba, CMO for Integra Telecom. Integra’s ability to provide robust network services along with the Mitel’s MCD and the 5000 CP solution, combined with locally based customer service ensures a more efficient and reliable telecom experience.â€
“In order to provide the best solutions to our customers, Mitel continues to build an ecosystem of best-in-class companies,†said Philip Keenan, VP of Mitel’s U.S. partner business. Working with partners, like Integra, to deliver customers integrated solutions is an important component of success in the current business communications marketplace.â€
Through Integra Telecom, businesses can utilize voice lines, Internet, MPLS and SIP services integrated with state-of-the-art VoIP systems, data services, unified communication applications and Managed Telephony Solutions.
To learn more, contact Integra at 1-866-INTEGRA or visit http://www.integratelecom.com/services/SIP_Solutions.php
TeliaSonera enables the world’s first mobile voting service
TeliaSonera’s subsidiary, the mobile operator EMT in Estonia, has created a world’s first mobile identification service which makes it possible to vote via a mobile phone. The service enabled the citizens of Estonia to cast their vote to yesterday’s parliamentary elections via their mobile phone for the first time in the world.
Estonia has become the first country in the world to allow its citizens to cast their votes in the parliamentary elections with their mobile phones. TeliaSonera’s subsidiary EMT has created a Mobile ID-service that enables verification of people’s identity over the Internet, digital signature, and now casting votes electronically as well.
It is a technological breakthrough that a mobile phone could be used for giving legally binding digital signature replacing handwritten signature on paper. We are very proud to be able to use this kind of innovative mobile service for voting in elections. Additionally all kind of other e-services can be used with the Mobile ID in Estoniaâ€, says H¥kan Dahlstr¶m, President of Mobility Services.â€
Electronic voting by ID card has been used in Estonia already for six years since the local elections in 2005. The number of e-voters has grown constantly from 1.9% to 15.8% of total voters in 2009 local elections.
Estonia has stood out with adoption of innovative e-solutions in the past as well and I’m pleased that voting with Mobile ID becomes the next step in our pro-tech development, said Juhan Parts, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications.
2011 Parliamentary elections will take place in Estonia on March 6th, 2011.
EMT is TeliaSonera’s subsidiary in Estonia. EMT launched Mobile ID service in May 2007. Mobile ID service was initially available only for EMT customers for using e-services created by both private (e-banking, e-service environments) and public (state portal eesti.ee, e-Tax Board, etc.) sectors. Other Estonian mobile operators joined the service platform created by EMT at a later time. In February 2011, new wording of Identity Documents Act that makes Mobile ID a state-approved electronic document as of February 1st 2011 entered into force. In addition to verification of an identity and digital signatures, new state-approved Mobile ID enables to cast votes in elections as well.
TeliaSonera provides network access and telecommunication services in the Nordic and Baltic countries, the emerging markets of Eurasia, including Russia and Turkey, and in Spain. TeliaSonera help people and companies communicate in an easy, efficient and environmentally friendly way. Our ambition is to be number one or two in all our markets, providing the best customer experience, high quality networks and cost efficient operations. TeliaSonera is also the leading European wholesale provider with a wholly-owned international carrier network. In 2010, TeliaSonera’s net sales amounted to SEK 107 billion, and at the end of December 2010 the total number of subscriptions was 156 million in 20 countries. The TeliaSonera share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Read more at www.teliasonera.com
Apple in talks to offer unlimited downloads of purchased music
Apple Inc. is in talks with record companies to give iTunes music buyers easier access to their songs on multiple devices.
According to sources, Apple is negotiating with music companies, including Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd. An agreement may be announced by midyear.
The arrangement would give users more flexibility in how they access purchased music. Apple and the record labels are eager to maintain demand for digital downloading in the middle of rising popularity for Internet services such as Pandora Media Inc., which don’t sell tracks and instead let users stream songs from the Web with whatever the device.
Sources added that a deal would provide iTunes customers with a permanent backup of music purchases if the originals are damaged or lost. The service would also enable downloads to iPad, iPod and iPhone devices linked to the same iTune’s account. The move would be a step closer to universal access to content centrally stored on the Internet.
1/4 of mobile business workers switched to tablet devices
Over a quarter of business users surveyed by a Wi-Fi roaming provider are using a tablet, typically an iPad, for work. Most mobile employees think that in the next five years there will be just one ¼ber device.
According to researchers, tablet and smartphone use in the enterprise is being driven by the growth of cloud-based applications, in addition to the availability of these devices being reasonably priced.
The report, which drew from the experiences of more than 3,500 mobile employees at 1,100 enterprises worldwide, found a 10% decline in preference for laptops as mobile employees increasingly prefer smartphones and tablets.
The survey also found:
- 20% of mobile workers selected a Tablet as their one device of choice, while 49 percent selected the smartphone (down from 63 percent in 2010), compared to 27 percent who prefer a laptop (down from 37 percent).
- The tablet market is also experiencing phenomenal growth, especially among mobile employees. 65 percent of mobile workers surveyed reported that they use a tablet for applications like sending and receiving email, surfing the Internet, watching video content and reading electronic books, newspapers and magazines. 27 percent report that they use a tablet for work.
- 59 percent of mobile workers use Wi-Fi on their smartphone at least one hour a day. 57 percent are satisfied with their mobile operator’s network coverage but 22 percent are dissatisfied with the cellular network speed.
- 71 percent of mobile workers would go on a data diet if wireless carriers increased charges for cellular data access — 29 percent would not change their behavior mostly because their employer pays the phone bill, while 22 percent would limit use to critical access.
- 94 percent of mobile workers will troubleshoot a problem themselves, while 13 percent will not contact the IT help desk at all when they have a technical problem. These results are in line with last year’s prediction that a mobilocracy will rise in today’s workplace.
- Those 35 and older feel more productive working outside of the office, in contrast with those 34 and under who feel most productive working in the office — not the generation gap that most would expect.
Telekom Malaysia Q4 revenues grow by 2.1%
Telekom Malaysia has reported its Q4 results. As per the results, the company posted revenues of US$2.9 billion in 2010, as compared to US$2.83 billion twelve months ago.
According to the company, much of the growth was due to the increasing demand for internet and data services: sales from its internet unit were increased by 5.9% year-on-year to US$559.63 million.
Net income soared 88% to US$395.03 million, partly increased by the sale of stakes in a number of affiliated companies. In its outlook for 2011, the company stated that it was targeting revenue growth of 2.5%, and an EBITDA margin of 32%, decreased slightly from 33.1% recorded in 2010 and 34% posted in 2009.
CAPEX in 2011 is expected to reach US$987.58 billion as the company continues the launch of ‘HSBB’, its high speed broadband network.
