Mobile operator strategies - 29/11/06

Ten, a MVNO in France, is launching free Live Messenger, instant messaging and e-mail (without attached files) services included in its various packages. Ten is offering also two additional e-mail services Mail Standard (with attached images) and Mail Pro (with attached files).

T-Mobile USA will trial MediaFlo (from Qualcomm)' s mobile TV service.

Orascom increased its stake in Algeria unit by 1.2% for $61m.

New World Mobile Holdings (HK) will sell its almost 24% stake in CSL (HK), a JV with Telstra.

DOT (India) has selected 7 companies to trial 3G services across 17 cities in the country. The companies are Bharti Airtel, MTNL, Aircel Cellular, Reliance Telecom, Idea Cellular, BSNL, and Hutchison Essar.

Claro (an American Movil company in Brazil) should have acquired TIM Brazil from Telecom Italia for €8bn; but Telecom Italia denied the sale.

Vodacom (S. Africa) plans to deploy a 3G network in Tanzania from the beginning of 2007.

China Unicom will launch a GPRS service in January next year.

Verizon Wireless distributes YouTube videos.

M1 (Singapore) will launch HSDPA service on Dec. 6.