Nawras Ajel customers get helpful data usage SMS when roaming (Oman)
Nawras, Oman’s customer friendly communications provider, has announced another ‘first’ with the introduction of a free SMS notification service to show data usage when roaming. Nawras Ajel (postpaid) customers are now able to closely track data roaming usage while travelling outside the Sultanate which makes it much easier to stay in control of international roaming charges.
Data roaming charges vary from country to country and in the past customers have sometimes found it difficult to keep track of their spend while on the move abroad. Now with this convenient, new service from Nawras giving regular free SMS updates, the guesswork is taken out of data roaming.
When travelling in another GCC country using SmartRoamer, customers will receive a notification when they have consumed the first 20 MB of data and then further notifications for every subsequent 5 MB they use.
Customers roaming in the GCC countries of United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are able to enjoy SmartRoamer rates for data as well as calls and SMS. Choosing the SmartRoamer partner in any of these countries gives customers the low rate of $3.12 per MB of data.
When using non-SmartRoamer operators or when travelling outside the GCC, the data notification will be received after the first 10 MB of data has been consumed and then a further SMS will be sent by Nawras for every additional 5 MB used. When roaming with Nawras partners, the corresponding data tariff will also be shown to help customers estimate their bill as they travel.
Nawras Chief Executive Officer, Ross Cormack, said that they continue to live the customer experience in every aspect of their business and they constantly look for new ways to make communication even easier to use. Their customers asked for more control over their data roaming charges and in answer they have developed this new notification service.
He added that they are now sending convenient reminders to give Nawras Ajel customers closer control over their telecom spend when travelling and they are excited to be first to offer this greater transparency as part of their commitment to be caring, excellent and pleasingly different.
This new roaming usage notification has been driven by Nawras people who share a singular focus on improving customer experience. Using the combined expertise of engineering, IT, international roaming and customer service, this convenient tool was developed to give customers added confidence and peace of mind when using international roaming.
Nawras begins 4G technology trials (Oman)
Telecom operator Nawras has begun testing 4G technology to launch the service commercially for its consumers. According to reports CEO Ross Cormack told the Oman News Agency that 3G coverage by the company in the sultanate now stood at 53 percent, compared to 87 percent for broadband.
He added that after launching 3G in 2007, Nawras was keen to expand the service to customers across the country. He did not say when he hoped the 4G network would go live. Fourth generation networks will be able to deliver high speed data downloads including high definition (HD) broadband and mobile TV services.
Cormack said the number of subscribers with Nawras stood at 1.9 million by the end of 2011 while the number of fixed line customers totalled 27,000.
Nawras launches postpaid service ‘Business Ajel Share’ for corporate customers (Oman)
In response to the growing needs of the business community, Nawras has launched an exciting, new postpaid tariff plan for corporate customers. ‘Business Ajel Share’ offers the attractive advantage of fixed rate calls to any local number in Oman with shared minutes which can be used by anyone subscribed to the plan within the company.
Offered with a choice of five bundles for companies to choose from, the starting bundle with up to 10 lines for US$ 180 per month is designed for Small to Medium Enterprises. Packed with 2,000 built in minutes to any destination in Oman, the minutes can be used around the clock. Larger companies using this service can provide postpaid lines to almost twice as many employees than possible with a normal postpaid service, without incurring additional monthly line rentals costs.
When people are travelling or away from the office on holiday, the flexible bundle of pooled minutes means calling time can be used by other colleagues. With this new tariff plan, companies can best utilise their mobile telecommunications spend by enjoying the benefits of fantastic calling rates while knowing that their employees will never run out of credit.
With no monthly line fee, ‘Business Ajel Share’ mobile postpaid tariff plan gives a monthly bundle of national minutes that can be shared among all employees, allowing companies to benefit from every minute purchased. Customers who exceed their allocated minutes will enjoy a flat low calling rate as low as US$ 0.58.
As per the company, Ali Bakhit Hassan Kashoob, Nawras Product Manager – Business, has said that ‘Business Ajel Share’ packages deliver the best value for business mobile services in the Sultanate today. He added that they have tailored the packages to suit the varying requirements of businesses based on their size and average call usage, to reduce overall costs and contribute to operational efficiency.
He also said that Nawras is committed to enriching the lives of people in Oman through better communication services. Given that most business customers are constantly on the move, cost-effective mobile solutions are critical to enhancing productivity and performance. With Business Ajel Share, they have introduced a solution with our signature pleasingly different approach by understanding the needs and requirements of corporations and SMEs across the Sultanate.
Presenting a wide range of options that are easy to use and easy to control, the new package is compatible with existing Nawras Business Postpaid products such as Business Group, formerly known as the Closed User Group. Customers wishing to sign up or upgrade their existing services can do so via their assigned Account Manager or visit the nearest Nawras Store.
Nawras offers International Credit Transfer service in eight new countries (Oman)
Responding to great customer feedback and the popularity of the Nawras Mousbak International Credit Transfer service, the operator has added eight new countries to its list of operator partners. This allows customers to conveniently transfer credit to friends and family abroad in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Syria, Morocco, Tanzania, Turkey and Iraq in addition to India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh and Egypt.
Ammar Al-Lawati, Nawras Payment Services Manager, said that the success of Nawras Mousbak International Credit Transfer service is due to their pleasingly different approach as they strive to continuously grow their innovative range of services to help and delight customers.
He added that Nawras Mousbak customers can now get closer to more friends and family abroad by transferring airtime to prepaid customers of over 25 different operators in 13 countries. International Credit Transfers of up to US$ 49.3 per month can be sent in a safe, fast, convenient, reliable and cost effective manner.
Nawras offers Samsung Galaxy Note with free data (Oman, South Korea)
Communications provider Nawras, has joined hands with Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., to offer users the latest Samsung Galaxy Note. The deal priced at US$ 779 also includes 500MB of free mobile broadband internet data to be used over the first three months as well as a free Nawras Ajel postpaid SIM card.
The Samsung Galaxy Note, launched as a hybrid between the tablet computer and a mobile phone, features the world’s first and largest 5.3” HD Super AMOLED display. Further, an advanced pen-input technology, called the S Pen, combines with Galaxy Note’s full touch screen to introduce a unique customer experience.
The device features a 1.4GHz dual-core processor that ensures the performance of Galaxy Note is incredibly fast and it provides a smooth customer interface with seamless usability. Additionally, the Galaxy Note features an advanced 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 2MP front camera.
As per a company release, Nawras customers can continue to enjoy a value-packed, monthly mobile broadband plan with 500MB of data for US$ 8. Also, in the event that a consumer uses the included data before the end of the plan, an additional 150MB of data can be added to bridge the gap until the next plan starts, for US$ 2.5.
Nokia Siemens Networks announces 17,000 job cuts (Europe)
Telecommunications firm, Nokia Siemens Networks, has reportedly announced 17,000 job cuts across the world in an attempt to narrow the gap with market leader Ericsson.
According to reports, the Finland based company has said that the reduction, equivalent to about 22 percent of its workforce, will be completed by the end of 2013, when Nokia Siemens aims to cut $1.3 billion in annual operating expenses and production costs. Further, Nokia Siemens will focus on mobile broadband and services and plans to divest or manage for value units that aren’t central to its focus.
As per sources, the company plans to simplify its organization, consolidate sites and functions, and strip out more jobs from the integration of Motorola Solutions Inc. units acquired this year. Further, Jozefa Terloo, spokeswoman, Nokia Siemens has said that they haven’t yet decided how many jobs will be cut per country. She reportedly added that negotiations with worker representatives will start immediately.
AT&T and America Movil to offer IP services for corporates (Latin America)
America Movil, a leading wireless service provider in Latin America has reportedly tied up with American operator AT&T to offer IP services to large corporate organisations within Latin America as well as in Asia and the Middle East.
According to reports, the agreement between the two operators will allow AT&T to access America Movil’s networks across 15 countries in the region, whereas America Movil will be able to use AT&T’s network infrastructure to provide large corporate IP services in the US along with the rest of the world.
Sources claim that the two operators plan to offer multinational companies working in Latin America with a Virtual Private Network (VPN) as its primary offering. Further, Roman Pacewicz, senior vice president (marketing and global strategy), AT&T Business Solutions has said that as part of AT&T’s commitment to deliver consistent and seamless global services for their enterprise customers, they continue to evolve their strategy to establish alliances in key regions in the world which will in turn enable multinational companies to compete better globally.
Telefonica signs network sharing agreement with China Unicom (Spain, China)
Spanish telecom operator Telefonica has reportedly entered into a strategic partnership with China Unicom, wherein both operators will use each other’s networks to expand their coverage. According to reports, the deal will provide Telefonica access to China Unicom’s network in the regions of Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Australia, France and Sweden.
In return, China Unicom can reportedly increase its presence through Telefonica’s network in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Mexico, USA, Puerto Rico, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
Reports suggest that Telefonica believes this agreement will help both operators expand their capabilities to provide telecom services to various customers in different geographic areas.
Airtel, Vodafone offices searched by Federal officers (India)
Bharti Airtel Ltd. and Vodafone India Ltd., leading telecom operators in India, have reportedly been approached by federal officers on allegations of irregularities in the 2001 and 2002 spectrum allocation.
According to reports, said Dharini Mishra, spokeswoman at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that officers from the bureau entered the carriers’ offices in Mumbai and NCR, after registering a case against them. She added that the probe seeks information about possible malpractice in spectrum allocation during 2001-02 when Pramod Mahajan was the telecom minister under the National Democratic Alliance government led by Bhartiya Janta Party, the main opposition in the current government.
As per sources, the residences of Shyamal Ghosh, the telecom secretary during 2001-02, and J.R. Gupta, then director at Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), were also searched by the CBI. However, sources claim that both network operators have reportedly said that they have secured the spectrum bands as per the government policy.
