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.
Orange to launch new roaming app next month (France)
Mobile operator Orange France is looking to launch the Orange Travel App that will allow owners of Android, iOS and BlackBerry devices to track their data usage and SMS details in real-time, as per a report by Mobile Magazine. They can then compare this within the app to their local tariff plans to ensure they have not exceeded their allowances. The app was launched in France last year and has already attracted more than 15,000 downloads.
The report reveals that the app was initially looking at a summer launch but with might be released as early as next month. The roaming bundle will offer daily, weekly or monthly tariffs incorporating voice, SMS and data. For example, customers travelling in France will be able to buy a bundle that includes 10 minutes of voice, 10 SMSes and 10MB of data for around $6.5 per day from June onwards
When the services were first launched outside of the UK, Orange said it was to counteract the risks of high roaming charges. Orange executive VP for consumer mobile services Vincent Brunet said that by putting in further safety nets, they are helping customers to manage their consumption while they continue to introduce competitive offers that respond to their customers growing needs.
As per the report, Orange also plans to roll out a ‘rest of world’ alert and cap for customers travelling outside of the European Union. As customers approach their data limit, they will receive an SMS alert and can then choose to purchase more data or be cut off when the limit is reached.
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.
du announces ‘The Executive Plan’: the new business class mobile plan (UAE)
du has introduced ‘The Executive Plan’ for its users which is a premium experience that ensures total comfort and ease during their business travels. It offers the ultimate communications solution to keep one connected no matter where they are in the world, with bundled national and international minutes; generous roaming benefits; a choice of national data or international BlackBerry service; a special number inclusive of a smartphone.
In addition, the plan entitles the customer to a free annual membership to Priority Pass with access to over 600 airport lounges in 300 cities over 100 countries. Additionally, dedicated Customer Care services are available 24/7 to take care of any communications needs. Users can avail all these benefits and conveniences for US$ 273 per month.
Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du, said that they wanted to create the perfect plan for busy business executives and small business owners across the UAE – a plan that’s reliable, that makes business travel convenient and even easier, and delivers a premium experience time and again. The executive plan is an essential communications and experience tool for business executives on the move. The benefits not only give peace of mind, but also help to make business life easier whether in the UAE or abroad.
Business customers can subscribe to ‘The Executive Plan’ at du Shops in more than 40 locations across the UAE or contact their account manager or du’s channel partners.
Hutchison partners with Vodafone for enhanced roaming and business services (Hong Kong)
Telecom operator Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong (HTHK) has entered into a strategic partnership with Vodafone in an attempt to increase its customer base as well as offer improved services to its business clients. According to company reports, under the agreement, HTHK will be able to sell to its multinational customers, a range of managed communications services provided by Vodafone Global Enterprise, the business within Vodafone that manages the communications needs of multinational companies.
Amy Lung, COO (Mobile), HTHKH has said that their collaboration with Vodafone will provide them with a hefty boost in terms of broadening their customer base and growing their share of the corporate market, and will help further strengthen their leading position in the sector.
Further, the report also reveals that as per the partnership, several new destinations have been added to HTHK’s flat-rate data roaming daily pass offer. HTHK now covers 52 destinations and 65 networks. Both individual and corporate customers will benefit from attractive data roaming offers, as well as a better roaming experience across more countries.
China Mobile launches new daily data roaming package (Asia)
China Mobile, the world’s leading mobile phone operator, has reportedly launched a new daily data roaming tariff package for its users. The company had earlier introduced a package offering reduced international roaming tariffs for voice, text messages and mobile data across 23 countries and regions.
According to reports, currently, the new tariff plan has been launched in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and Thailand, and is largely aimed at international travelers using their mobile handset to surf the internet. As per sources, customers subscribing to the daily data tariff package can access unlimited roaming data in specific operator networks for a daily fixed charge while roaming in any of the aforesaid places. Further, reports suggest that the per day charge for the service will be around $14 in Hong Kong as compared to $15.3 payable at the other places.
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.
KT offers free incoming MMS messages on roaming (Korea)
KT Olleh is offering free incoming MMS messages on roaming when customers travelling overseas.
KT is already offering free incoming SMS and LMS messages. Furthermore, KT has launched a data roaming limiting service.
When service fees exceed US$89.3, the data roaming service will be blocked. KT has also strengthened its secure roaming service by offering a flat rate of US$0.44 per message for roaming MMS messages to any destination in the world.
Cricket inks a 4G roaming agreement with LightSquared (USA)
LightSquared has signed a national roaming agreement with Leap Wireless. This arrangement will allow Cricket, Leap’s operating subsidiary, to supplement the LTE coverage that Cricket plans to deploy across its own networks over the next few years with LTE roaming services from LightSquared.
According to Doug Hutcheson, Leap’s President and CEO, the company intends to deploy their LTE networks beginning this year to complement the existing nationwide 3G services they currently offer to customers. This new roaming arrangement will allow them to offer customers an even-greater 4G service area as LightSquared expands its own network.
The Financial and other terms of the roaming agreement were not disclosed by the company.
Beeline continues expanding its roaming geography
Beeline single mobile operator informs about further expansion of international roaming network. Now voice roaming is available in Telecom Seychelles (Seychelles), Elisa (Finland), Wana (Marocco), Wind (Italy).
The company signed GPRS roaming agreements with Cellplus (Mauritius), Latelz (Cambodia), Vodafone (Hungary), Cable&Wireless (Guernsey), Orange (Madagascar), U-Mobile (Malaysia), Alands (Finland), Manx Telecom (Mann island). CAMEL roaming is available in Bakcell (Azerbaijan) and Africell (Gambia).
“In 2010 we were first in Uzbekistan in number of roaming partners around the world,” Anton Golikov, Technical Director of Unitel LLC commented the event. “Beeline has been a roaming operator number one for a long time, and we are proud to prove this image in our country.”
Today Unitel subscribers enjoy international voice roaming in 380 networks of operators from 159 states, GPRS roaming by 182 operators from 95 states. Beeline also leads in 3G roaming (123 operators in 80 states) and CAMEL-roaming (110 operators in 69 states).
To be noted, CAMEL roaming is a unique service when Unitel subscribers can use Beeline connection at any positive balance, i.e. without paying $50 guarantee fee, until the balance is equal to $0.
At that, fee is charged in real time mode. CAMEL roaming doesn’t need any activation, the service is automatic. The service is available for all subscribers individuals using prepaid tariff plans, at any positive balance.
