Nokia unveils new mobile phones for faster internet experience (Pakistan)
Nokia has unveiled two new mobile phone models as it continues to accelerate its strategy to connect the next billion consumers to information and the internet. The Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 have been designed to appeal to young, urban consumers who want to experience a fast, affordable online experience.
Both devices are perfect for communicating across Facebook, Twitter and social media networks. The internet experience is also smooth thanks to the Nokia Browser. This innovative technology allows users to consume less data by up to 90 percent, by compressing websites in the cloud. Both devices offer direct access to Facebook and Twitter from their home screens. The Nokia 112 also features preloaded eBuddy instant messaging service right out of the box, so users can use popular chat services to keep conversations going 24/7.
In common with other Nokia mobile phones, consumers can choose from thousands of apps to download on the Nokia Store. With the upgraded camera, they can now customize their contacts with pictures, and share them with friends via social networks and Bluetooth.
Mary T. McDowell, executive vice president, Mobile Phones, Nokia, said that today’s mobile phone users want a quick internet experience that allows them to discover great content and share it with their friends – but without being held back by high data costs. The new Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 devices combine browsing, social media, apps, world-class entertainment and long battery life to create a great package for young, urban consumers who want to do it all.
The devices all feature a generous 1.8″ display optimized for a great gaming experience. In the coming months, the Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 will bring free 40 key EA Games, valued at EUR 75 if bought separately, including well known titles like Tetris, Bejeweled, Need for Speed(TM) The Run, Monopoly Here & Now, and SimCity(TM) Deluxe. Consumers will be able to easily access the content by clicking on the Games Gift EA icon on their home screen which will take them to the Nokia Store to download the games. Once they have accessed the offering, they will have 60 days to download the games of their choice, keeping the games forever.
Both new phones offer an improved VGA camera for sharp and clear pictures with support for up to 32GB of external memory, enough for more than 6000+ songs or 90,000 pictures. Consumers can tune into their favorite radio stations and share their favorite songs with friends over Bluetooth. The phones have been optimized to provide a long-lasting battery life, with over 10 hours of talk time and nearly a month’s standby, meaning that consumers can stay in-touch and entertained all day long.
The Nokia 110 and Nokia 112 are both Dual SIM phones, featuring the benefits of Nokia’s unique and industry leading Easy Swap technology. This enables users to switch between SIMs quickly without having to remove their battery or turn off their phone. The Easy Swap technology can personalize and remember up to five different SIM cards, giving consumers full control over their costs.
The Nokia 110 will also be available as single SIM versions - Nokia 111 and Nokia 113, with this last one available in Europe and Eurasia only. The estimated retail price for Nokia 110 and its single SIM versions is about $45 and they are expected to start shipping in the second quarter of 2012. The estimated retail price for Nokia 112 is about $49, excluding taxes and subsidies, and is expected to start shipping in the third quarter of 2012.
Telenor and BCG study: mHealth to change the face of healthcare (Norway)
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), in cooperation with Telenor Group, has now released the complete report on the “Socio-Economic Impact of Mobile Health”. The report explores the potential impact of mHealth solutions, such as how Norway can save $2 billion each year with remote monitoring solutions for the elderly and how Thailand can cure 40,000 cases of tuberculosis through SMS treatment compliance.
The report dives into the healthcare situations in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. It presents potential solutions for each of these markets that are possible through mobile communications.
Jon Fredrik Baksaas, CEO, Telenor Group, has said that they commissioned this report because they wanted to better understand how their solutions can help improve the healthcare situations in the countries where we operate. For instance, how can they increase efficiency in modern healthcare through remote monitoring solutions that enable the elderly people to live longer in their own homes?
The most notable healthcare challenges faced in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro include their aging population and the rising costs of healthcare services. Solutions such as home monitoring aided by mobile technology can keep the elderly in their homes longer, easing the burden on care facilities. However, barriers to widespread mHealth solutions include privacy issues, interoperability challenges when sharing information electronically, and the lack of industry incentive when remuneration is often dependent on nights actually spent in the hospital, nursing facility or face-to-face consultations.
As countries in transition, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand face shared difficulty in ensuring proper maternal health and infant care, combating communicable diseases, and confronting new challenges such as obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Remote diagnostics and remote patient monitoring can be critical to bringing healthcare to the rural populations in these countries. However, the lack of common standards can prevent the spread of mHealth, along with limited commitment from regulatory bodies to ensure that mHealth happens.
Nations such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India are struggling to deliver affordable healthcare to their citizens. Their resources are limited and much of their population is rural. mHealth deployment is currently limited in these countries, partly due to lack of awareness and action from the regulatory bodies. From maternal and infant health challenges to reducing disease, these countries need cost-efficient and widespread solutions that will help their citizens live longer and healthier. mHealth can fill these gaps, but access to mobile services needs to improve, along with government commitment and the creation of incentives to encourage the spread of mHealth.
Baksaas said that mHealth can be one of the keys to redefining and reinvigorating their struggling healthcare systems, as well as enhancing the healthy lifestyles and longevity of the citizens. The telecommunications industry is well-positioned to play a central role in the evolution of mobile health solutions worldwide.
Warid to invest US$ 25 million towards network expansion (Pakistan)
Mobile telecommunication firm Warid Telecom is planning to invest an additional US$ 25 million this year towards network expansion and improvement, as said by Sriram Yarlagadda, the Warid chief executive officer and the director for telecom business.
Yarlagadda said that they would concentrate on their core business of brand building, boosting customer base, new area coverage and network expansion. He added that they have limited capabilities to run the call centres. This is not a core role for telecoms world over. Further, they are not best placed to run the concept.
He also said that they needed to bring experts in this field like Spanco to help enhance the kind of service they want to offer their customers. Yarlagadda added that Spanco will expand the call centre base, which will help provide superior quality customer care service to boost our customer satisfaction. Further, he said that the company will concentrate on growing market share and revenues.
Alan Harper, the Eaton Towers chief executive, said thatEaton Towers’ expertise in tower management and commitment to top quality service will allow Ugandan operators to focus on providing innovative mobile services and expanding its subscriber base. At the same time, their ownership and management of the telecoms network infrastructure will ensure that the local networks will continually be enhanced and expanded, whilst maintaining low operating costs for the mobile operators. He added that these partnerships, with local operators, bring significant benefits to all parties.
PTA to auction 3G licence on 29 March 2012 (Pakistan)
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is reportedly planning to auction the 3G licences on 29 March 2012. According to reports, the authority will auction three licences, each with a base price of US$ 210 million. Further, as per sources, bidders will be required to deposit US$ 31.5 million as an initial deposit.
Reports reveal that Mohammed Yaseen, Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that licence would be offered for 8-15 years to both existing as well as new operators. However, operators currently not offering services in the country will be able to commercially launch their services only after March 2013.
As per PTA, the existing operators include Mobilink, Telenor , Warid Telecom, Zong and Ufone.
PTML receives US$ 182.6 from PTCL for network upgrade (Pakistan)
Pakistan Telecommunication Mobile Ltd. (PTML) has reportedly received an amount of US$ 182.6 million from parent company, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), for development of the opertaor’s network infrastructure along with improving its marketing efforts.
According to reports, PTML is required to pay back the loan in eight quarterly installments after a period of three to four years. Sources claim that PTML has been losing its share in the market to rival operators Telenor Pakistan and CMPak (Zong). The operator hopes to upgrade its network and offer customers an improved quality of services in the future in an attempt to maintain its stronghold in the market. Further, sources claim that the increase in the operator’s operational costs have also been an added factor for the requirement of additional funds.
PTCL may buy another mobile carrier to improve revenues (Pakistan)
Pakistan Telecommunications Company Ltd. (PTCL), owner of mobile carrier Ufone, may be on the lookout to buy another mobile service provider ahead of the 3G auction expected this year. According to reports, Walid Irshaid, CEO, PTCL has said that he doesn’t rule out any acquisition and that they are not selling but are infact buying. He further said that Pakistan cellular rates are the cheapest in the world and cannot continue. He added that the market has to consolidate; otherwise this will be a losing proposition for every operator.
As per sources, the government may auction 3G bandwidths this year, but is yet to specify how many licences would be up for grabs among the country’s five mobile service providers. Mr. Irshaid also claimed that there can’t be five 3G operators when the revenue per user is too low and that there should be only two or three operators with better control on prices.
SingTel to raise stake in AIS to 23.32 percent (Singapore, Thailand)
Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SingTel) may be planning to raise its stake in Thailand’s Advanced Info Service (AIS) to 23.32 percent from 21.27 percent for about US$ 260 million. According to reports, SingTel has said that that Shin Corp PCL will sell 61 million shares in AIS. As per sources, Shin Corp owns a 42.6% stake in Advanced Info Services.
Further, reports suggest telecom giant SingTel has said it continues to look out for investment opportunities in Asia and other emerging markets, and that it will focus on strengthening the operating and financial performance of its associates. SingTel also has a stake in other foreign mobile operators such as Bhart Airtel (India), Telkomsel (Indonesia), Pacific Bangladesh telecom, Globe Telecom (Philippines) and Warid Telecom (Pakistan).
As per industry reports, SingTel has over 400 million mobile customers across 25 countries.
Telenor Pakistan to outsource customer service operations to Sybrid (Pakistan)
Telenor Pakistan has reportedly signed an agreement to outsource part of its customer services operations to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, Sybrid, a subsidiary of Lakson Group. Consequently, Sybrid plans to establish a contact center in Islamabad, initially comprising of 100 customer relations officers but with the capacity to increase it to 500 if required by the business. As per reports, business conglomerate, Lakson Group will also port-in 800 postpaid business connections to Telenor Pakistan.
Christian Albech, CEO, Telenor Pakistan has reportedly said that Telenor Pakistan is strongly focused on enhancing its customer services and they are delighted to be partnering with Sybrid, a credible name in Pakistan’s contact centre industry, to be able to benefit from their expertise and serve their customers even better. He added that hopefully the partnership will result in the creation of around 500 jobs in one year.
As per sources, Iqbal Ali Lakhani, Chairman Lakson Group & CEO Sybrid has said that Sybrid intends to provide Telenor Pakistan a holistic customer services package. Further, Sybrid’s engagement with Telenor Pakistan reinforces their position as a long-term strategic outsourced partner that is equipped to enhance an organization’s service processes and technical capabilities thereby providing it with cost and efficiency advantages.
Warid Telecom launches international roaming service: Roam Info (Pakistan)
Warid Telecom, a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Group & SingTel Group, has recently launched its new international roaming service ‘Roam Info’. This short code based SMS service allows users travelling to international destinations to receive detailed tariffs of any foreign mobile operator before they leave Pakistan. Subscribers of Warid Telecom are required to send an SMS to 4747, providing them with details to help choose an operator once they have landed in the country abroad.
Further, it also offers in-flight roaming with Aero-mobile and On-Air that allows subscribers to use their mobile phones during flights and marine time roaming that facilitates sea travelers. Warid offers its users an international roaming network that connects to 249 International partners in 148 countries for 2G roaming followed by 164 partners in 102 countries for GPRS/Data roaming. Warid also offers its prepaid users a pre-activated roaming that is available in major countries across the globe.
