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Jordan Telecom profits down
Jordan Telecom Group (JTG) has said its H1 2009 net profit had declined by 2.6% to JD51.2m, compared to JD52.6m during the same period last year, the Jordan Times has reported. Operating expenses had climbed 3.4% to JD109.1m at the end of last June, while gross operating margin had dropped by 3.8% as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation stood at JD87.3m, compared to JD90.7m at the end of June 2008. Capital expenditures were lower by 31.6% as they totalled JD14.9m during the first half of this year, compared to JD21.8min the same period of last year, JTG has said.
LG launches online app store
LG Electronics has become the latest vendor to launch an online application store to enhance the mobile experience of its handset users, according to Gulf News. 'It aims to provide additional value to consumers by promising quality and providing a wide-ranging selection of software in one location. The LG Application Store is fully optimised for the LG handsets,' Min Jang, Director, China and MEA, MC New Business PBL, LG Electronics has said. The application was launched last month and this facility will be available in the UAE this month. LG doesn't intend to make profit out of the application store, and expects to offer Arabic contents by 2010.
Etisalat 'eyes Lanka investment'
UAE-based Etisalat is scouting for investment opportunities in Sri Lanka's telecom sector, according to Sri Lanka's telecom regulator, quoted in Lanka Daily. A senior Etisalat official, who was on a scouting visit to the island, was told by the Sri Lankan Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) that the country is open for investments into new or existing operations. In 2006, Etisalat had said they were looking for investments in mobile operations in Sri Lanka, Greece and Yemen. Sri Lanka's mobile operator Tigo has now been put up for sale by its parent company Millicom International Cellular as part of an exit from Asian operations.
Etisalat offers location based service for free
Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat) has announced a special promotion for its location based services for its prepaid and post-paid customers. LBS enables customers to determine their geographical location on their mobile device, in addition to exploring nearest points of interest, like malls, ATM machines, restaurants, lodging, and entertainment options available in that location and sending maps of their location to their family and friends. The service will be free of charge, till August 10, Etisalat said.
Bahrain blocks illegal use of telecom spectrum
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced that members of the public wishing to establish communications links for private use between different locations can use the 5.8GHz frequency band so long as the radio communications equipment used is approved by the TRA and is used in accordance with its regulations. TRA staff monitoring the use of the radio spectrum have located a number of sources and have taken action to stop the illegal transmissions, the regulator said.
Egypt will rule on Mobinil dispute on Tuesday, says report
Egypt's Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) has said it will rule on Tuesday on an appeal by France Telecom over an offer to buy all outstanding shares in mobile operator Mobinil, Reuters has reported, citing the local Al-Borsa newspaper. France Telecom was seeking to buy the outstanding shares for 237 Egyptian pounds each, significantly lower than what the regulator has previously demanded it pay, the newspaper said. A ruling in France Telecom's favour could pave the way for the purchase to go through the following day, Khaled Serry Seyam, the newspaper has quoted FSA deputy chairman, as saying.
Qtel and Doha Bank sign SME deal
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has signed an agreement with Doha Bank to provide specialised support for the country's Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Under the new agreement, Qtel will provide dedicated communications and technology support to members of Doha Bank's Tatweer Programme, which targets SMEs, while Qtel's business customers will be entitled to a range of financial solutions and special offers.
Batelco offers Sony Ericsson in mobile deal
Bahrain's mobile operator Batelco has announced a mobile package deal, offering Sony Ericsson mobile handsets free with every new contract mobile package for customers subscribing to its Batelco Freetime 400 or 2000 or Valuetime package. Sony Ericsson's latest model S312 is included in this deal and is exclusively available from Batelco.
Mobinil Q2 profit climbs 26%
The Egyptian Co for Mobile Services (MobiNil) has reported that its second-quarter profit climbed 26% as subscribers increased, according to Bloomberg. Net income rose to 536m Egyptian Pounds ($96.5m) from 426m Egyptian pounds a year earlier. MobiNil's revenue had advanced 11% to 2.7bn Egyptian pounds as subscribers increased 30% to 22.85 million.
Kuwait's ISPs protest against price hikes
Kuwait's major Internet Service Providers have asked the Ministry of Communication to review its 2007 decision of increasing the cost of international Internet-based phone calls by 60%, the Kuwait Times has reported. All countries neighbouring Kuwait had reduced the prices of Internet services, with the reductions in Saudi Arabia reaching 80%, in direct contrast to the situation in Kuwait which had remained unchanged for years, one ISP official has said. Kuwait's major ISPs have seen their share prices fall by 50%, while continuing to spend large amounts of money on providing their customers with services, the official added.
Du CEO predicts H2 profit
Osman Sultan, CEO of Du, has said that the company will overcome the 'challenging economic conditions' to report a second-half profit, Bloomberg has reported. 'We will be growing our marketing plans in terms of new products, new services, new offerings and it's making me feel comfortable that we will be able to sustain this momentum in market growth,' he told the news sservice.
KIA may sell its stake in Zain
The Kuwait Investment Authority, Zain's largest single shareholder, has said it would consider selling its 24% stake in the telco if the right offer came along, Kuwait's Arabic daily Al Rai has said. Zain's chairman, Saad al-Barrak had recently said that he wants to see the KIA sell its Zain stake as soon as possible. The motivation was to ensure the company could operate without political interference, he added.
Du Q2 profit climbs 231%
UAE-based telecoms firm Du said it posted a 231.5% jump in its net income in the second-quarter to Dhs57.65m ($15.7m) from a loss of Dhs43.84m in the corresponding period in 2008, Reuters has reported. Quarter-to-quarter net income rose 22% as it gained 155,900 mobile telephone customers in the three months to June. Du's total active subscribers now stand at 2.9 million.
Samsung unveils slimmest watchphone
Samsung Electronics has announced the launch of the S9110, an 11.98mm thick watchphone. Featuring a 1.7-inch full touch screen customized for the wristwatch form factor, the S9110 aims to attract mobile phone users who want a unique fashion item that keeps them connected on the go. The device also enables the users to check their e-mail through Outlook.
Du launches 'credit back' offer
Du has launched a new offer for BlackBerry service subscribers. The credit back offer for new or existing customers can give a total of Dhs904. Customers who buy a BlackBerry and Du's Elite Plan can either receive six months of unlimited national BlackBerry internet service, or receive a 50% discount on the unlimited international internet service. Customers will also receive free credit of Dhs31 for four months. The UAE telco provider has also assured its BlackBerry subscribers that it has not sent out any software that risks the usability or 'normal performance' of the devices. This is in reaction to the 'spyware' sent out by Etisalat to its 145,000 BlackBerry subscribers, which manufacturer RIM distanced itself from and issued a patch to allow its removal.
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