Turkcell, Garanti Bank to roll out Cep-T ParaCard service (Turkey)
Turkcell (NYSE: TKC, ISE: TCELL), the leading communications and technology company in Turkey is delighted to announce that together with Garanti Bank, the leading bank in payment systems, it has launched a co-branded prepaid card named “Cep-T ParaCard”.
The Cep-T ParaCard is a no name prepaid card with MasterCard logo issued by Garanti Bank. Turkcell customers can purchase the Cep-T ParaCard and subscribe to the Cep-T Para service from any Turkcell Communication Center (TIMs) and top-up money to the card via Garanti POS machines at TIMs, or from any Garanti ATM. Customers can use their cards for payments worldwide wherever MasterCard is accepted. The Cep-T Para service is a SIM based secure service that can be used with any handset. Cep-T Para subscribers can use this service to transfer money to any operator’s mobile subscribers. Recipients can withdraw their money instantly from Garanti ATMs by simply using a secure code sent to them, without a debit card. Subscribers can also use the service to top-up their prepaid lines.
Garanti Bank CEO Ergun Ozen has said that “We are starting a new era with the Cep-T ParaCard, a joint project with Turkcell. This new product integrates the mobile world with banking to provide privileges to mobile users. 2/3 of the population in Turkey does not utilize banking services, either due to their age or income. We target to reach 3 million people through our prepaid ParaCard, and 1.5 million people via Cep-T ParaCard within 3 years.”
Turkcell CEO Sureyya Ciliv has said that “Turkcell is always proud to introduce another first for mobile finance services. We aim to provide the advantage of mobility to those who cannot make full use of the banking system. Accordingly, we have introduced Cep-T Para as a mobile financial service platform available for all banks to facilitate our customers’ daily lives. We also provide the banks an alternative platform, on which they can reach nearly 20 million people currently beyond the financial system. We believe that Cep-T Para, which combines the advantages of mobility with financial operations, will become an indispensible part of our lives. We expect to reach 5 million users, including 2 million newcomers to the banking system within 3 years.”
About Turkcell
Turkcell is the leading communications and technology company in Turkey with 33.1 million subscribers and a market share of approximately 54% as of March 31, 2011 (Source: Our estimations, operators’ and Authority’s announcements). Turkcell is a leading regional player, with market leadership in five of the nine countries in which it operates with its approximately 60.4 million subscribers as of March 31, 2011. Turkcell reported a TRY2.1 billion (US$1.3 billion) net revenue with total assets of TRY15.2 billion (US$9.8 billion) as of March 31, 2011. Turkcell covers approximately 83% of the Turkish population through its 3G and 99.07% through its 2G technology supported network. It has become one of the first among the global operators to have implemented HSDPA+ and achieved a 42.2 Mbps speed using the HSPA multi carrier solution. Turkcell has been listed on the NYSE and the ISE since July 2000, and is the only NYSE-listed company in Turkey. 51.00% of Turkcell’s share capital is held by Turkcell Holding, 0.05% by Cukurova Holding, 13.07% by Sonera Holding and 1.19% by others, while the remaining 34.69% is free float.
Vodafone extends World Calling Club promotion (Qatar)
Vodafone Qatar has extended its World Calling Club international call rates to more than 180 countries for just US$17.69 a minute until June 30.
All of the most popular calling destinations are included in this promotion, which included Bahrain, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Iran, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Yemen.
Vodafone is also extending until 30 June its International Calling Card 25 offer that gives customers 51 minutes of talk time at a rate of US$0.13 a minute. The countries included in this are India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
ZTE Wins China Telecom’s IMS Network Development
ZTE Corporation, a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced it has won the IMS network development contract for five key developed provinces in China, including Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Sichuan.
With its advanced IMS+xPON fixed network transformation solution and innovative ETCA (Enhanced Telecom Computing Architecture) platform, ZTE is now the major player in China Telecom’s IMS commercial network construction in China.
Based on its vision of Driving business growth from its network development programs, China Telecom has been actively building its IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) network since 2009. Key project milestones included network testing were completed in July 2010, and the IMS commercial bidding was kicked off in January 2011.
ZTE is the only vendor to support all different access technology (include H.323, No-IMS SIP, MGCP, H.248, V5, PRI etc) with unified ETCA platform in China Telecom. By working closely with China Telecom, ZTE also builds together the IMS+xPON fixed network transformation model, which is fully compatible with the existing network services The two parties also worked together to ensure smooth network evolution, commercially developed by Fujian Telecom first.
By having a deep knowledge of China Telecom’s existing network, ZTE provided a full range of IMS network elements based on its ETCA platform, delivering operational benefits of higher integration, stronger performance, seamless scalability and increased energy efficiency.
As the world’s leading IMS vendor and a long-term strategic partner of China Telecom, ZTE is committed to building a top performance IMS network that delivers an enhanced end-user experience with greater network convergence and efficiency, said Ye Zheng, Vice President of Core Network Product, ZTE. With our IMS network benefit and efficient project deployment capabilities, ZTE is confident in delivering a top quality solution for China Telecom to enhance its network services.
As one of the few vendors that provide end-to-end IMS solutions and efficient project deployment, ZTE’s zMILE (ZTE’s Multimedia Integrated Life Experience) solution can seamlessly interface with any operator’s overall service development and evolution. It can provide seamless access over multiple networks, and solutions that help operators deliver multimedia services for enterprise, home and individual users.
As of Q4 2010, ZTE leads all telecommunication brands in China on IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) deployments having signed 110 commercial deployment or solution testing contracts in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Albania, Philippines, Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia, U.S. and China.
Google introduces AdSense for mobile content in 15 countries
Google has introduced AdSense for mobile content in 15 countries. Following are the fifteen countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Slovenia, Thailand, and Turkey.
AdSense is an ad serving application run by Google Inc. Website owners can enroll in this program to enable text, image, and video advertisements on their websites. These advertisements are administered by Google and generate revenue on either a per-click or per-impression basis.
For mobile websites, AdSense will automatically detect the type of phone viewing the site and deliver ads to match.
Vodafone NL reduces mobile internet rate in Passport states
Vodafone Netherlands has extended its Internet op Reis travel packages from 16 EU countries to 42 Passport countries. From 1 June, Australia, Turkey and Japan will also be included.
The Internet op Reis deals can be opted per day or per month. The mobile data used abroad is taken from the at home bundle use. Per day, the deal offers 35 MB for US$2.86 per day, for every day the user surfs abroad.
The monthly deal offers up to 1 GB for US$7.13 per month. The prepaid bundle is 20 MB. The present cost is at US$3 per MB.
From 1 June Vodafone Passport will charge a connection fee of US$1.12 and US$0.27 per minute for calls. For incoming calls, only the connection fee applies.
Turkcell to launch services for visually impaired people (Turkey)
Turkey’s mobile operator, Turkcell will launch a series of applications specially designed for its visually impaired customers.
Talking invoice is one of such services which is designed to notify visually impaired Turkcell customers about their invoices. More specifically, customers will get a call two days after the invoice date and be informed about its payment deadline and content.
Furthermore, Turkcell has launched ‘Prose E-Invoice’ for visually impaired customers who subscribe to its e-invoice service. With this service, visually impaired Turkcell customers can receive their invoices as a ‘Prose E-Invoice’ and access the information from their invoices by using text-to-speech programmes.
Turkcell Technology appointed to ITEA 2 board (Turkey)
Turkcell Technology and technology centre, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Turkcell, has been selected into the board of directors of the cooperation platform ITEA 2.
ITEA 2, summarized to the successful ITEA programme, is a strategic pan-European programme for advanced pre-competitive R&D in Software-intensive Systems and Services (SiSS).
Alongside, Turkcell Technology, global technology giants such as Nokia, Telefonica, Philips, Daimler, Siemens and Bosch also have seats on the board of ITEA 2.
Vodafone Turkey to sell HTC devices
HTC Corp. has inked a global cooperation deal with Vodafone Group Plc that will draw the two partners closer in markets around the world, starting with Turkey.
According to HTC CEO Peter Chou, Turkey has become their second-largest market in Europe and one of their fastest growing markets in the world. Although Turkey has run the 3G (third generation) mobile network for only two years, its smartphone market has grown surprisingly during the period so that they decided to put a lot of resources in the country.
According to HTC, the deal will tighten the relationship between it and Vodafone and expand the range of HTC products available through the telecom’s network.
Vodafone’s Turkey unit is the second-largest mobile network operator in the country, with 16.7 million subscribers as of 2010 and a market share of approximately 27 percent, behind Turkcell’s 54 percent.
HTC expects to ship 11 million to 11.5 million smartphones worldwide in the traditionally slow second quarter, up from 9.7 million units in the previous quarter, which will help generate revenue of US$4.2 billion.
Vodafone introduces promotion on Calling Card 25 (Qatar)
Vodafone Qatar has introduced a new promotion on its International Calling Card 25 that will offer calls to 15 popular international destinations at US$0.13 a minute.
The promotion will run until 31 May, and customers will get 51 minutes of international calling when they buy the card to call India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Thailand, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, Bahrain, UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The International Calling Card 25 can be used by all Vodafone customers on their mobile phones.
Unlike other calling cards, consumers do not need to dial special numbers and enter PIN codes to use the card; with Vodafone’s International Card 25 all they need to do is load the card as they would any other scratch card.
Turkcell selects OTI’s Copni m-payment service for NFC project (Turkey)
Turkcell has inked a partnership agreement with On Track Innovations (OTI).
Turkcell has selected OTI’s Contactless Payment and NFC Insert (Copni) mobile payment service for its NFC program, dubbed ‘Turkcell Cep-T Cuzdan’.
Turkcell has started the rollout of its NFC program with initial focus on contactless payment applications. OTI’s Copni offering is expected to enable Turkcell’s handsets to support NFC functionality and contactless payment applications from card associations.
Following payment applications, other applications such as transportation, ticketing or loyalty are expected to be available to Turkcell Cep-T Cuzdan subscribers by year-end. Copni is an add-on to mobile phones’ SIM cards, designed to enable users to have one device that is both a mobile phone and a mobile wallet.
The service works by tapping the phone near a contactless reader, while payments are automatically confirmed and deducted from consumers’ bank accounts, credit cards or pre-paid accounts.
