Mobile operator strategies - 05/10/06

T-Mobile USA has launched a new service (myFaves) allowing its users to have unlimited calls to five favorite people, regardless of the carrier used.

M6 Mobile (France) will remain an Orange licensee, is on the way to gain 1m users in three years (from 600K to day).

Cingular has completed the integration of ATT Wireless GSM network.

Vodafone will focus on gaining 10% of total revenues from fixed-line Internet, office and home communication services in three to four years.

Vivo (Brazil) has proposed sharing networks in order to reduce costs and limit investments. Brazilian cellphone operators have EBITDA margins of around 15%, which is one of the lowest in the world. Brazilian regulator, however, views this as unlikely in the immediate future.

UMC (Ukraine) has received a CDMA-450 license for voice services.

Cosmote (Greece) has completed the acquistion of a 42% stake in Germanos. Iy now holds almost 63% of the retailer.

T-Mobile (Germany) has put on hold its contracts with insolvent cellphone manufacturer BenQ Mobile.

Proximus (Belgium) has acquired Euremis, the leading Belgian provider of mobile sales force solutions.