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Batelco acquires 49% stake in Indian firm
The chairman of Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) has announced that the company has completed all formalities to acquire a 49% stake in Indian telecom company S Tel Limited for $225m. S Tel has licences to operate in 6 Indian states - Bihar, Orissa, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North East and Assam.
Zain launches cross-border data services
Mobile operator Zain has launched cross-border data services across the Middle East and East Africa on its One Network platform. The GRX-based data access is provided to Zain customers roaming in other markets where the company is active and provides for data use at the local country rate. The One Network already offers local pricing for voice and SMS, with no charges for incoming calls while roaming on another Zain network. Customers can also top-up using local country vouchers.
Etisalat loses mobile lincence in Iran
Iran has reversed a decision to award the country's third mobile phone license to UAE-based Etisalat, saying the company had failed to meet its payment terms. Tameen Telecom consortium, led by Etisalat, announced the win of the third mobile license in December 2008. The license was to be valid for a period of 15 years at a cost of Euro 300m, together with revenue sharing of 23.6% of an agreed business plan with the Iranian government. The license also gave the consortium 3G exclusivity for a period of 2 years. Zain, the Kuwaiti operator that was the runner-up in the original round of bidding, will now take over the contract.
GCC to be among first to get Nokia N97
Gulf countries will be among the first in the world where the new Nokia N97 will be offered next month, reported The National. The company hopes the new top-of-the-line handset will be a direct competitor to the Apple iPhone as it also offers a large touch screen and deep integration with the internet.
Etihad Atheeb begins high speed net trial
Saudi Arabia's fixed-line operator Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication, has said in a statement on the Saudi bourse website that it has started a trial operation with of its high-speed internet service in the Saudi cities of Riyadh and Jeddah. The trial involves customers who have subscribed to the company's internet service during the initial campaign it launched in early April.
HTC launches Touch handset
HTC Corporation has unveiled its latest personal navigation handset with inbuilt GPS. The new HTC Touch Cruise is the first mobile phone to offer HTC Footprints, an application which helps users chronicle moments with photos, audio and specifying exact geographical locations. When placed into its accompanying car cradle, the HTC Touch Cruise also functions in-car navigation system and automatically transforms its user interface into a one-touch interface.
Qtel tracks down scam callers
Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has announced that it has successfully tracked and contacted fraudsters who are trying to convince people to purchase and send the details of prepaid Hala scratch cards on the pretext that they have won a major prize. In total, over 500 calls were made to Qatar in a 24-hour period, reflecting the speed with which the fraudsters operate. The numbers used by the fraudsters have since been blocked from calling Qatar, the details of the original PIN numbers traced and logged, and all necessary information and recordings have been passed to the authorities. The callers have been traced to Pakistan, and their whereabouts reported to the authorities.
Etisalat warns users not to respond to unknown e-mails
UAE's Etisalat has issued a warning today requesting all Etisalat Internet Mail users to ignore any unknown and unsolicited email that requests them to change their password, after receiving reports from some subscribers. Etisalat cautioned subscribers not to divulge any confidential information like passwords, bank accounts, PIN or eVoucher/recharge card numbers to unsolicited email messages.
Zain Bahrain to be 'minimally affected' by Zain Group cuts
A planned layoff of 2,000 employees over the next two years by Zain Group will have only a 'minimal effect' on Zain Bahrain, a top official told Gulf Daily News. Zain Bahrain general manager Mohammed Zainalabedin said Bahrain already runs a 'lean and keen outfit' and so a planned restructuring of the company's operations will help it grow further. He was reacting to an announcement, christened Drive 2011, by Zain group chief executive officer Dr Saad Al Barrak, who said earlier this week the move will result in Zain reducing its current 15,500 global workforce by 2,000 - a 13% reduction across the board.
Zain posts Q1 profit, revises budget
Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunication Co, Zain, has posted a 3.3% Q1 net profit rise at KD75.7m on higher number of customers, compared to KD73.3 million in the year-earlier period, Reuters has reported. However, a Zain spokesman said the company is revising its budget and may miss its 2009 target of 30% net profit rise due to the global financial crisis.
Zain to cut workforce
Kuwait's Zain has said in a statement it is planning a 13% reduction of its workforce in Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Malawi and Sierra Leone through 2011 and outsourcing some back-office operations, which the company expects to improve its operating margin by 5% within 12 months and help capture 'the future growth potential of the markets.' The company said the cuts are part of the 'Drive 2011' plan to centralize and subcontract operations.
Etisalat cuts iPhone prices
Etisalat has announced a significant 22% reduction on the two models of iPhone 3G packages for both Wasel and postpaid subscribers. As per the new price plan, the iPhone 3G 8GB device will be available in black for Dhs2,680, while the 16GB device will be available in both white and black for Dhs3,055 without any additional monthly fee. Additionally, Etisalat is also offering a free 250MB monthly data package for six months and one free Wasel SIM Card with every device.
RIM to link BlackBerry, Cisco phones
Research In Motion and Cisco Systems are teaming up to let enterprises integrate their BlackBerrys with Cisco IP phones, providing single-number capability amongst other features. By bringing together their BlackBerry and Cisco infrastructures, enterprises can make users reachable with one number, one caller ID and one voicemail box for both their mobile and desk phones.
Vodafone Qatar IPO raises QR3.38bn
Vodafone Qatar QSC has raised QR3.38bn ($928m) in its initial public offering, when 82,000 Qatari nationals subscribed to 65% of the shares and 273 institutional investors bought the remaining 35%. The company said that allocation of the shares will be completed on or before May 10, while listing the shares on the Doha Securities Market is expected by the end of July.
Global handset sales dive
Mobile handsets have suffered their fastest ever fall in annual sales dropping 13% to 245 million units, compared to 282 million units for the same period last year. Market research firm Strategy Analytics said the fall was due to changing consumer habits and retailers not holding inventory.
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