Mobile operator strategies - 05/04/06

Digital mobile TV broadcast service is free in Japan and can be accessed in major urban areas. Carriers say sales are good.

Seniors are the target for a new mobile service offered by GreatCall (California). Phones are delivered with large buttons, easy-to-read text and a cushion that cups around the ear to improve sound quality. Special call assistance will be accessed just by pushing a button. Phones are provided by Samsung.

TDC (Denmark) has launched MVNO service in Norway, at its local phone and broadband subsidiary, TDC Song, targeting businesses.

AOL is launching a new service that automatically adapts Web pages for mobile screens, and a new GPS navigation service.

Mtel (Nigeria) plans to increase the capacity of the network by 2.5m lines to reach 3.7m installed lines. The vendors are Ericsson, Huawei, ZTE, Motorola, Nokia and Siemens.

Virgin Mobile is launching MVNO service in France; the target is to have 1m users within 3 years.

Telenor will team wit Egypt NTC to jointly bid for a mobile phone network license in Egypt.

MTS (Russia) bought stakes in four regional companies: 100% in Krasintel, 50% in Telecom-Service, 50% in Uraltel-Plus telecommunication companies, and 99% in Shchittelecom.