Mobile operator strategies - 01/10/06

Vodafone is to introduce a Vodafone-branded 3G phone, Vodafone 710, probably manufactured by Huawei.

Celtel, the pan-African mobile operator, has launched One Network, the first ever borderless mobile network in the world that abolish roaming charges between three East African countries.

Sonofon (Denmark) is launching 3G services in many Danish cities.

Carlos Slim is most likely interested in buying Telecom Italia's Brazilian unit TIM Participações,

China Unicom and SK Telecom have agreed upon a joint procurement process for mobile handsets. The two mobile phone operators are negotiating to buy millions of mobile phones from Motorola, Samsung, and LG .

China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved the purchase by China Mobile of about 20% of Phoenix TV, a leading satellite television operator broadcasting into China and the Asia-Pacific regions.

Telecom Egypt has bought an additional 5% stake in Vodafone Egypt for about $1.8bn, and is bidding to gain a further 24% stake to bring its shareto about 50%.

SFR (France) is launching a new offer, called Happy Zone, for €15 per month with unlimited calls to French fixed numbers from their mobile handsets used at home.