Mobile operator strategies - 29/06/07
In France, mobile number portability is a success with over 110,000 numbers were switching operators while retaining their phone number in one month.
3 UK plans to launch BREW handsets to offer highly-integrated, feature-rich applications.
Telekom Malaysia is negotiating to raise its stake in MobileOne (Singapore) to below 30%, from about current 24%. It plans to spend $145m per year on 3G network in Malaysia.
Orange (FT), in association with Mid Europa Partners, took over the Austrian mobile telco, One Austria, in a deal valued at €1.4 bn. Orange Romania has launched 3G+ services.
T-Mobile USA plans to sell its tower assets, a portfolio of about 5,500 towers valued at around $1.5bn.
Ancel (Uruguay) plans to introduce UMTS/HSPA technology-based 3G services by August.
Airbus/ SITA have been granted authorization using their in-flight mobile calling system by EU agency. It is a GSM-based system. The question now is: which airlines companies will start deploying this system?
DoCoMo has announced flat-rate unlimited wireless internet tariffs for its customers using internet over computers.
Reliance (India) would form a JV with Accenture to manage and operate its IT infrastructure.
Verizon will work with Obopay to launch a mobile payments service in the US.
Mexico will be the first country in Latin America to deploy number portability for fixed and mobile lines
Telefonica and Yoigo (both in Spain) are negotiating sharing mobile antenna costs.
Brazil will launch a 3G tender for the remaining frequencies in the second half of this year.
AT&T has said it will begin shutting down its TDMA network this year, as well as Telecom Personal in Argentina, and Movistar in Ecuador.
Orascom Telecom has bought an 11 % indirect stake in its Pakistan-based GSM Mobilink in Pakistan for $290m.
KDDI will become MVNO in the US, using Telcordia' s hosted solution.
Vodafone is among the front runners to become the network operator for Apple's iPhone when it comes to Europe.
Visa USA is teaming up with Wells Fargo to pilot a mobile payment service, while Cetelem made a similar deal with Paypal.