MTS & True North Launch Winnipeg Jets Mobile App (Canada)
True North Sports & Entertainment Limited and MTS announced the launch of the official Winnipeg Jets mobile app. Powered by MTS, the Official Winnipeg Jets app is free and will be available to users across Apple, BlackBerry, and Android platforms. The app features a variety of content designed to help Jets fans keep up-to-date with their favourite team.
Jim Ludlow, President & CEO, True North Sports & Entertainment, has said that the Winnipeg Jets are constantly exploring new and innovative ways to stay connected with their fans. He added that they are excited about this opportunity on behalf of their fans to stay on the leading edge in digital and mobile interactivity with their technology partner, MTS. Less than half the teams in the NHL offer official team mobile apps, and less than a third make them available across all three platforms. They are proud to remain at the forefront of what fans expect from their sports teams.
The Jets app provides immediate access to a huge amount of Winnipeg Jets content that fans will have at their fingertips, on eligible devices, from virtually any location. The Jets app will include live scores, player bios, stats, league standings, Jets photos, content from jets.nhl.com, content from Jets TV as well as Facebook, Twitter and fan blog updates.
The free app will be available from Apple’s iTunes Store, RIM’s App World, and Google’s Android Marketplace.
Stan Kurtas, MTS’s Vice-President of Marketing, said that Winnipeg Jets fans have a well-deserved reputation for being the most enthusiastic in the NHL, and this app gives them a fantastic new way to stay connected to their team. Further, MTS is very proud to be involved in this initiative as it adds yet another layer to the strong and fulfilling relationship between MTS and True North. The need for a Jets app was made evident by the overwhelming response the return of the team generated throughout their province. Whether they are looking for live box scores or Coach Noel’s post-game wrap-ups, this app will deliver all the content fans want.
Vimplecom and MTS offer joint proposal for Ukrtelecom’s 3G business (Europe)
Russian telecom operators, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) and Vimplecom may join forces in an attempt to offer a joint proposal for the 3G mobile operating business of Ukrtelecom, a Uknranian telecom operator.
According to reports, Ukrtelecom is looking for a buyer its 3G mobile operations after receiving the proposals in the second round. Further, sources claim that Ukrtelecom had announced that it was transferring all assets of its mobile business from its internal Utel division into a newly formed company, TriMob, for sale in September.
Vimpelcom and MTS operate in Ukraine’s mobile and fixed/broadband markets via their respective subsidiaries Kyivstar and MTS Ukraine.
MTS adds nearly 800,000 customers with Android smartphones (India)
MTS, a unit of Sistema Syam TeleServices Limited (SSTL), has reportedly added around 800,000 customers in the month of October alone, with the launch of two low cost Android smartphones – MTS MTag 3.1 and MTS Livewire priced under US$ 100.
According to reports, a spokesperson for MTS has said that they were able to get 7,95,523 customers in the festive month of October because they gave the CDMA consumers the option to choose from a variety of Android phones at different price points and they also initiated a lot of awareness campaign across the country. He added that the launch of the two smartphones in the festive season helped propel their growth.
As per sources, pre-paid users received 150 minutes of calls, 150 SMSs and 150 MB of data free every month for 12 months, with the smartphone. Whereas postpaid users were offered a 12 month contract during which users had to pay Rs 250 each month, against which they received 250 minutes of calls, 250 SMSs and 250 MB of data free each month.
MTS launches international roaming services for prepaid customers (India)
MTS telecom has introduced new international roaming services for its prepaid subscribers allowing them to roam across more than 400 GSM networks in 231 countries. The company offers these services along with a dual mode SIM card, which will work on CDMA networks while in India and on GSM while abroad. With this service, the company claims that it is the first telecom operator in the company to offer international roaming services for the CDMA prepaid customer base.
As per reports, Leonid Musatov, Chief marketing and Sales Officer, MTS India, has said that with a view to enhance connectivity and convenience, they have now introduced international roaming services for their customers. This would enable their customers to stay connected while travelling abroad without changing their phone numbers and also enjoy seamless data connectivity on the go internationally.
Further, the international roaming service also offers users access to the GPRS services in 206 nations across more than 300 telecom networks. Further, this will also provide users access to the High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) services in 114 countries across 145 networks.
MTS launches MBlaze Ultra in Jaipur (India)
Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL), operating under the brand name of MTS, has announced the launch of an upgraded version of its broadband service, MBlaze. According to reports, Vsevolod Rozanov, President and CEO, MTS India, said that the launch will redefine the way customers experience mobile broadband with the roll out of MBlaze Ultra.
The MBlaze Ultra which has initially been launched in Jaipur, offers a speed of 9.8 Mbps and is expected to be available in top metros and other cities over time. Sources claim that in comparision to the earlier version, the new technology can further enhance the base transceiver station cell capacity, spectrum efficiency and peak rate.
Russia’s network-sharing deal in trouble over pricing problems
Russia’s leading mobile network operators MTS, VimpelCom (Beeline), Megafon along with Rostelekom, had signed a deal with Yota to provide mobile broadband services via its LTE network, earlier this year. In the first of its kind, competing service providers will come together to offer their consumers better services via a single network. The said network is expected to serve over 70 million people across 180 cities in Russia in 2014. The deal benefits the operators by saving costs required to build an individual network while at the same time providing users faster access to 4G services. Reportedly, Dennis Sverdlov of Yota says that this network sharing approach will not only help the entire telecom industry but also boost the Russian economy.
However sources claim that this deal may already be facing a few problems especially in relation to pricing. Skartel owned Yota has valued itself at $1 billion creating a cause for concern for the operators. As per the agreement, each operator has the right to buy 20% shares in Yota once the network is completed, in 2014. However, industry insiders claim that the valuation may cause the deal to end as it has been inviting objections by the network operators. Talk are said to be ongoing between Skartel and the network operators.
MTS starts MTS 1055 branded tablet sales (Russia)
MTS has started the sales of MTS 1055 branded tablet.
The tablet runs on Android 2.2 OS and features a 7-inch WVGA touch-screen, supports voice connection, Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth and GSM. The tablet has been designed by ZTE.
The price of the device totals US$464.11 with a subscription agreement, and is available for sale in all retail outlets of the operator.
MTS Ukraine to provide mobile services for gas company
MTS Ukraine has won a tender to provide mobile services to the state-owned gas transport and storing company Ukrtransgas.
The contract is worth US$4, 27,774 in total.
MTS offers free Facebook SMS alerts (Russia)
MTS has announced that it has launched a free Facebok SMS alert offer for subscribers.
An incoming SMS message includes the link to the mobile version of Facebook, and the subsequent internet traffic is charged according to the customer’s tariff plan.
MTS starts Nokia C5-03 and C7 sale (Russia)
MTS has started the sales of Nokia C5-03 and Nokia C7 smartphones in its retail outlets.
On the purchase of the product, MTN Subscribers will be offered free mobile internet for six months. The Nokia C5-03, featuring a 3.2-inch touchscreen, is offered for US$308.39 in retail outlets and for US$278.08 on the MTS online shop.
The Nokia C7, with a 3.5-inch screen and 8 MP camera, sells for US$479.33 in retail outlets and US$489.90 online.
