Nokia phones running Skype. Source: Skype.com

Skype and Nokia has announced the release of Skype for Symbian, a Skype client for Nokia smartphones based on the Symbian platform, the world’s most popular smartphone platform. Skype for Symbian will allow Nokia smartphone users worldwide to use Skype on the move, over either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). It is now downloadable for free from the Ovi Store, Nokia’s one-stop shop for mobile content.

Skype for Symbian enables Nokia smartphone users to:

• Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world*
• Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad.
• Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
• Share pictures, videos and other files.
• Receive calls to their existing online number
• See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or IM
• Easily import names and numbers from the phone’s address book

Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using Symbian 1, the latest version of the Symbian platform. Skype will soon introduce this client to Symbian mobile devices from other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson.

“Symbian enables us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and compelling services, such as Skype. We’re seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day on Ovi Store now and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones will have wide appeal to Symbian users,” said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President for Smartphones, Nokia.

“Skype, the king of Internet communications, running on Symbian, the world’s dominant smartphone platform, makes for an explosive combination,” said Larry Berkin, Head of Global Alliances and GM USA, Symbian Foundation. “With Symbian’s global reach, Skype is that much closer to becoming the ubiquitous real-time communications platform for hundreds of millions of Symbian-based mobile users.”

Russ Shaw, General Manager, Mobile at Skype said, “With Skype for Nokia smartphones, more than 200 million smartphone users worldwide** will be able to take the Skype features they love with them on the move. Alongside Skype’s relationships with operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, making Skype available direct to consumers will help millions of users keep in contact with the people that are important to them without worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a computer.”

The initial Skype for Symbian application is compatible with the following Nokia touchscreen models: Nokia N97, Nokia N97 mini, Nokia X6, Nokia 5800 XpressMusic and Nokia 5530 and the following non-touch devices: Nokia E72, Nokia E71, Nokia E90, Nokia E63, Nokia E66, Nokia E51, Nokia N96, Nokia N95, Nokia N95 8Gb, Nokia N85, Nokia N82, Nokia N81, Nokia N81 8 Gb, Nokia N79, Nokia N78, Nokia 6220 classic, Nokia 6210 Navigator, Nokia 5320.

All these devices are available in authorized Nokia retail outlets in Ghana and come with 12-months warranty and after sales service. Ovi Store is available in Ghana and offers free downloads for Nokia Maps, games and mobile phone applications content.

Ovi Store is an evolving media service that consolidates Nokia’s existing content services into a one-stop-shop for free and paid content. Thousands of the content industry’s biggest names along with independent application developers are distributing their media, applications and games through Ovi Store. Content providers and application developers can continue to sign up to distribute their content through Ovi Store by visiting publish.ovi.com

For more information on Skype for Symbian, including the latest supported handset list, at http://www.skype.com/go/symbian.

* Skype recommends use of an unlimited data plan to avoid incurring additional charges from operators. Users should also be aware that extra charges may apply if they use Skype over a mobile data connection when abroad.
** According to Informa Telecoms and Media
Nokia and the product names referenced in the release are trademarks of the Nokia Corporation.

Africa

In South Africa, Nokia Siemens Networks selected AIRCOM to provide 2G network optimisation consultation services. These services included both pre- and post-analysis drive testing, capacity planning, site verification and frequency planning. AIRCOM’s expertise was also used to assist in the planning of more than 4,500 cell sites across South Africa in a limited time duration, whilst maintaining the necessary quality levels.

Nokia Siemens Networks also turned to AIRCOM to assist in improving 2G mobile network quality in Nigeria. AIRCOM delivered a range of services to NSN, including drive testing consultancy and Line of Sight (LoS) transmission surveys to optimise network throughput and minimise dropped calls.

“There are now, on average, four mobile operators in each African country, so competition is fierce,” said Fahd Burki – Director EOT, Nokia Siemens Networks Nigeria. “African subscribers do not tolerate poor service quality. We therefore chose to work with AIRCOM to help drive network performance improvements and benefit from its vast knowledge of the African mobile market and competitive pricing tariffs.”

“Africa still has vast growth potential across its wireless communications market,” said Graham Kemp, Regional CEO, Africa, for AIRCOM. “African mobile operators are acutely aware of this and are focusing on driving the best possible service quality to their

customers. By optimising 2G voice and SMS delivery, African operators are laying the best possible foundations for future growth, minimising cost and reducing churn.”

About AIRCOM International

AIRCOM is an independent provider of network and data management tools and services. The company specialises in end-to-end network planning, sharing, outsourcing and OSS optimisation for IP and cellular networks.

Zain

AIRCOM has deployed a team of more than 20 consultants from offices throughout Africa to deliver a service solution for both radio and transmission network planning that supports Zain’s ambitious 3.5G network rollout targets.  Following the planning and optimisation of the network, AIRCOM will spend a year in the country training the Zain Ghana local team, prior to a complete competence transfer upon commercial launch.

Formerly MTC, Zain has pledged to invest more $400 million (USD) in Ghana to deliver a reliable, high quality 3.5G mobile network and position the country as one of Africa’s leading mobile communications innovators.

“Zain is investing in Ghana as its people need and deserve a reliable, up-to-date mobile network that allows customers to communicate easily by voice, text, picture and video, while accessing internet content and services on the move,” said Siyabongo Zulu, Operations Director at Zain Ghana.  “It is apparent that AIRCOM’s network expertise and understanding of Ghana’s specific market requirements meant it was the perfect partner to help deliver these services, so we’re delighted to welcome the team on board.”

Commenting on the deal, Graham Kemp, Hub MD for AIRCOM in Africa said:  “To be selected by a leading innovator like Zain to support its ambitious growth into Africa is further evidence that AIRCOM is quickly becoming the service partner of choice in the developing mobile communications marketplace.  We look forward to working with the Zain team to deliver a reliable, quality network to the people of Ghana.”

Mobile Premier Awards

The Mobile Premier Awards recognize the year’s best in Mobile Startup Innovation and are the largest open, global startup competition in the mobile industry. The awards are the point of reference in startup premiers during the Mobile World Congress on February 15, 2010 in Barcelona and are organized in collaboration with some of the main networks in the industry.

The Mobile Premier Awards 2010 will include the following awards:

• MPA in Innovation – The best grassroots startup innovation chosen by their peers

in partnership with MobileMonday

The MobileMonday chapters will vote for their local most innovative startup. An international jury of the most recognized mobile industry experts will select the 20 finalists from all the local chapter nominees to pitch at the event in Barcelona in front of investors, operators, media companies, peer entrepreneurs, and press and influential bloggers.

• MPA in Marketing – The best startup in Mobile Marketing
• MPA in Entertainment – The best startup in Mobile Entertainment in partnership with the Mobile Entertainment Forum
• MPA in User Experience – The best startup in Mobile User Experience in partnership with MEX.
• MPA in Social Change – The best startup using mobile for social change in partnership with MobileActive.org
• MPA in Female Entrepreneurship – The best woman-lead mobile startup in partnership with Women2.0 and the Women in Mobile Data Association

Participation to these awards is free and open to any startup with a mobile angle.
Go to http://www.mobilepremierawards.com and take your chance to the red carpet in Barcelona!

Nokia N97 mini

Also this week, Nokia N97 mini makes its big debut in stores. With its stainless steel cues, the Nokia N97 mini is designed for style-conscious people who are active with social networks. The device features a tilting 3.2″ touch display, QWERTY keyboard and fully customizable homescreen. The Nokia N97 mini features same software with the Nokia N97 and will be in stores with an estimated retail price of EUR 450 before taxes and subsidies.

“In September, 2009, we exceeded 2 million Nokia N97 devices sold, and now introduce the Nokia N97 mini, underscoring the success of the design. We have also listened to consumer feedback about the performance of the device. The Nokia N97 software update 2.0 is a way for us to optimize the device and add new features and functions,” said Jose-Luis Martinez, Vice President, Nokia Nseries. “We are also excited about the early feedback that we have received on the Nokia N97 mini, which carries a very similar feature set to the original Nokia N97 and comes in a pocket-friendly size for those out and about.”

Among the new experiences available with the free 2.0 software update are:

• ‘flip scrolling’ has been added in the entire user interface, making scrolling in all views very smooth
• shortcuts to personalized homescreen
• Ovi Maps 3.1 with 3-D maps
• Nokia e-mail (Nokia Messaging)
• Ovi Contacts
• Ovi Store.

Nokia is constantly updating and enhancing its devices with new features, functions and fixes so people can get even more out of their Nokia device even years after buying it. Nokia owners can automatically check for new software by going to Menu > Applications > SW Update and enable automatic checking, or visit http://www.nokia.com/softwareupdate to download the version that is best for them. Additionally, MyNokia members will also receive an SMS when their local version of the software becomes available. People can register to the service at www.nokia.com/mynokia.

About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways – fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

MTN

The two companies have teamed up in a bold move to address the growing demand for content in emerging markets. This strategic partnership will entail providing MTN’s 21 markets access to a repository of current and globally popular content through enhanced delivery platforms. Content categories will include music (with local and international flavour), sports, games, entertainment, news and much more.”

It will also enable MTN to launch new income-generating voice and data services across its global footprint, with revenues from mobile content and services estimated at around US$150.2 billion in 2011, up from US$89,3 billion in 2006, worldwide.

One of MTN’s new content streams will be the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ of which the mobile operator has exclusive global mobile content rights. Accordingly, MTN will leverage its IMImobile partnership to deliver exclusive 2010 FIFA World Cup™ content on subscribers’ handsets, including soccer match news, fixtures, match results as well as team and group profiles.

The appointment of IMImobile as a strategic managed services and hosting partner follows an extensive review of MTN’s mobile content and media services landscape across its global footprint.

MTN is now aligning its mobile content and media services strategy across its 21 markets in Africa and the Middle East to standardize and enhance its media content offerings to its subscribers.

MTN also wants to capitalize on the rapidly converging data content and voice market, with Africa, the Middle East and Latin America poised to witness the highest growth in revenue as additional mobile data services are being deployed in these regions.

Nozipho January-Bardill, MTN Group Corporate Affairs Executive, says IMImobile was selected from a group of major global telecom software and service providers because of the scalability of its technology platforms and proven managed services business model.

“IMImobile’s value proposition and technology solutions will enable MTN to reduce the time-to-market for new services, boost Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) and keep MTN at the forefront of innovative services.

“We have found a partner in IMImobile that has the insight and expertise of the appropriate managed service business model and technology solution necessary to continue to deliver premium content and services to our customers,” said January-Bardill.

MTN has already introduced a number of exciting products and services on its portal and on www.mtnfootball.com during the FIFA Confederations Cup in June this year. This content is currently being archived to allow football fans to re-live the moment long after the games.

IMI mobile will deploy its Service Delivery Platform (SDP), including its industry leading DaVinci Content Management System (CMS). The content strategy includes tailoring content for local consumer preferences, including French and Arabic as well as exploiting MTN’s sponsorship of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ through www.mtnfootball.com.

Vishwanath Alluri, Founder and CEO of IMImobile said: “This is a major commercial milestone for IMImobile as we continue to build our offering to support leading operators worldwide. To be chosen by MTN as their strategic partner ahead of a strong list of competitors is testament to our unique service which is based on industry leading technology platforms, content management expertise, a managed services and SaaS business model combined with 24/7 technical support and strict SLA compliance. We are excited by the opportunity and are looking forward to helping MTN achieve its objectives of creating substantial additional revenue streams.”

Interactive Intelligence

Dave Paulding, Interactive Intelligence’s regional sales director for UK, Middle East and Africa says that connected consumers in Africa are driving the demand for call centres in the banking industry.

The banking sector in Africa, particularly in Nigeria and Kenya, are implementing call centres for the first time.  It is interesting to consider why they are doing this now, when banks in South Africa and other parts of the world embraced the call centre revolution 10-15 years ago.

Nigeria and Kenya’s growing economies and relative stability provide part of the picture, but another important factor is that African consumers are more connected.  They are looking for new ways to contact their banks, rather than by visiting a branch.

The explosion in cellphone adoption in Africa has seen a rapid increase in contact centres for network operators.  Because of this, consumers are accustomed to connecting with their cellular service provider over the phone, and are calling for the same level of sophistication from other services like banks.

Because this is new territory for African banks, the relationship between the call centre vendor and the bank is critical. There is no historical data to work from, and it is difficult to plan and predict requirements.  The banks, therefore, require advice and guidance with putting together their strategies and creating a solid foundation for improved customer service.  Generally there is a rapid expansion once the call centre is up and running, with more agent seats required to service the level of customer enquiries.

While Africa has lagged in the deployment of call centres, there have been benefits.  From a technical point of view, many call centres are built from the ground up with the latest, cutting-edge technology.  African banks and cellphone operators do not have to deal with many of the legacy issues that companies in other countries have to face.

In addition, recent technological developments mean that call centres have a smaller hardware footprint and fewer moving parts.  This is particularly beneficial for businesses based in Africa.  Because there are fewer flights in and out of Africa, getting spare parts for hardware maintenance is a challenge.  If a contact centre experiences a fault, African companies may have to wait days to get a spare part, impacting on customer service.

However, given that call centres are less hardware-based these days, this is less of an issue for African-based businesses.  This means an increase in uptime, lower upfront costs and lower maintenance fees.

From a vendor point of view, the potential in Africa is great.  In the rest of the world, there are very few greenfield opportunities for call centres.  There is the legacy replacement market, or the opportunity to plug a weak point, e.g. workforce management, in an existing contact centre.  In Africa, there is the potential to start from scratch and share knowledge on how to run an efficient call centre.

So while African companies may have lagged behind the rest of the world in uptake, they can benefit from the rest of the world’s years of experience and leapfrog many of the development stages that businesses in other countries went through.

While most call centres in Africa currently focus on voice, as consumers become more tech-savvy, there will be a move towards converting call centres into multimedia contact centres.  Given that most African businesses use the latest technology, the switch from a call centre to a contact centre will be fast, seamless and cost effective.  Africa wins again.

About Interactive Intelligence
Interactive Intelligence Inc. (Nasdaq: ININ) is a global provider of unified business communications solutions for contact centre automation, enterprise IP telephony, and enterprise messaging. The company was founded in 1994 and has more than 3,000 customers worldwide. Interactive Intelligence is among Software Magazine’s top 500 global software and services suppliers, is ranked among NetworkWorld’s top 200 North American networking vendors, is a BusinessWeek “hot growth 50” company, and is among FORTUNE Small Business magazine’s top 100 fastest growing companies. The company is also positioned in the leaders quadrant of the Gartner 2008 Contact Center Infrastructure, Worldwide Magic Quadrant report. Interactive Intelligence employs approximately 600 people and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It has six global corporate offices with additional sales offices throughout North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. Interactive Intelligence can be reached at +1 317.872.3000 or info@inin.com; on the Net: http://www.inin.com

BlackBerry Curve 8900 - marketed as the thinnest and lightest full-QWERTY BlackBerry smartphone

Speaking at the launch of Blackberry solutions, Mr. Phillip Sowah, Country Manager of Zain Ghana, said “Successful businesses in the 21st century would require superior technological solutions that give them the edge over their competitors. Zain Ghana offers the full and current range of Blackberry devices offering our customers the mobility, convenience and efficiency that is necessary to run their virtual office”.

Mr. Sowah said the Blackberry storm, Blackberry curve 8900, Blackberry bold, and Blackberry pearl flip 8220 smartphones are well balanced mobile phones that deliver advanced features, refined usability and stylish designs.

Babar Khan, Chief Executive Officer of EMS, said “We are delighted to partner with Zain to bring the many benefits of Blackberry solutions to its customers and will be supporting Zain in its everyday mission by bringing the latest products and services to the market”.

Zain is a leading telecommunications operator across the Middle East and Africa, providing mobile voice and data services to 69.5 million customers. EMS is a Dubai based solutions and service provider, whiles RIM is a strategic partner in the world communications market. 3 Sep. 09

MTN Mobile Money promo image

Ghana’s leading telecommunications provider, MTN, has successfully launched MTN Mobile Money in partnership with 9 banks ahead of its competitors to allow Ghanaians to perform a range of basic financial transactions using their handsets.

Subscribers can reap the benefits of this service without the need to open or have a bank account.

The service, which was launched at the International Conference Centre in Accra, will allow subscribers to have access to money beyond banking hours or at anytime.

MTN Mobile Money gives cash management freedom to subscribers in line with MTN’s pay off line: ‘everywhere you go’ for as long as users can access MTN’s network.

This service which will also be available on the Internet will enable users to save time for other activities.

Mr. Brett Goschen, MTN Ghana CEO, said “the introduction of MTN Mobile Money which is convenient, accessible, safe and easy demonstrates the company’s commitment to bring world class mobile services to subscribers in all parts of the country.” The Mobile Money platform allows non MTN customers (even those who do not have a cell phone) to transfer or receive money by using the services of the Authorised MTN Mobile Money Merchants. The secured system and processes conforms to best practices in the industry and highly regulated by relevant authorities.”

With this innovative product, subscribers would enjoy the convenience of easily transacting from the comfort of their homes or offices at any time of the day, instantly.

* CAL Bank, Ecobank, Fidelity Bank, GTBank, Intercontinental Bank, Merchant Bank, UBA, Stanbic, Zenith Bank

MobileWorld Telecom Africa Awards

MobileWorld magazine, a leading telecommunications publication, which focuses on Africa, has announced plans to stage its first awards for the telecommunication industry in the continent.

According to a statement released by Instinct Media, publishers of MobileWorld magazine, the award ceremony is billed to hold in London, United Kingdom and will feature 19 categories covering various aspects of the telecommunications industry.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Instinct Media, Mr. Akin Naphtal, said the award was aimed at recognizing the great strides made by individuals and firms in the continent that have helped fostered growth of the sector.

He added besides the recognition of the strides made in the continent in telecommunication development, the event would further expose the investment potential of the great continent so that development would continue to reach people everywhere in Africa.

The awards, among others, will recognise the best fixed line operator, Internet Service Provider, mobile operator and vendor of the year. Some other categories of award include African Regulator of the year, African Phone of the year and value added services company of the year.

Naphtal said the awards would also recognize contributions made by government at providing effective regulation in their various countries and would also feature regional performances among operators.

“We want to recognize and celebrate those who have contributed immensely to the growth of telecommunications in Africa. We see the telecommunications revolution happening in virtually all parts of the continent-Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Africa – and want celebrate those that are behind this,” Naphtal stated.

In addition to recognizing the primary services offered to users, Naphtal said the awards intended to also identify and reward the strides made by telecommunication companies in bringing about mobile money and electronic payment revolution in Africa and would therefore have a special category for this.
He noted that telecommunications growth had become the cornerstone upon which many other sectors have derived their development.

Instinct media said the ceremony itself promises to be a world class event that would have strong African presence of Africans both within the continent and the diaspora

The firm added that nomination had started already and that it would soon unveil those in contention in the various categories.

Nokia N96 is a mobile TV compatible handset

With DStv Mobile from MTN innovation, 11 channel bouquet are available including Africa Magic, SuperSport, Cartoon Network, BBC & CNN which are currently only accessible through television sets can now be easily accessed   by MTN customers in Accra & Tema on their mobile phone

The  DStv Mobile from MTN was launched at an impressive ceremony at Rhapsody in the Accra Mall to introduce the latest innovation from MTN to  customers and the public.

The launch of the DStv Mobile from MTN follows a chain of exciting services and products launched by MTN since the beginning of 2009.
Some of the innovative products include the community phone aimed at ensuring that MTN subscribers reach their relations in the remotest areas of Ghana with the MTN experience. The 3.5G technology was also introduced services like Video Calling which enables customers to see people they talk to as well as things they need to see, others are the MTN Mobile Broadband & MTN Loaded. The 3.5 G product was introduced with a variety of features to provide enhanced mobile telephony for MTN customers There was also the new network code, 054, to enable more people join the MTN family.

MTN Mobile TV has been introduced at a time when the world is looking forward to South Africa 2010 with much excitement. The prospects of seeing the beautiful game on mobile handsets increases the  thrill for the forthcoming global soccer event.

As the lead sponsor of, South Africa 2010 MTN is working to bring the soccer fiesta as close to its customers as possible. The  DStv Mobile from MTM, a service which transforms mobile phones into a mobile TV enable football lovers follow every detail of the event conveniently via their phone.

In a message to Ghanaian MTN customers CEO of Digital Mobile Television International DMTV Francois Theron expressed his excitement about the introduction of the Mobile TV in Ghana. He said plans are underway to ensure that subscribers get the best available and relevant programmes.  He added that “In a few weeks we will show all the matches of the 2009 Confederations Cup and later this year in August we will show LIVE matches of the English Premier League.”
The General Manager for Nokia West and Central Africa, Mark Pritchard, also said that Nokia is especially pleased to work together with DMTV and MTN, to offer consumers 12 months access to DSTV Mobile when they purchase a compatible handset.  He said some of the compatible handsets are Nokia N96 and N77, Nokia N79, N85, N86, N97, E75 and 5800.

MTN would continue partnering with strategic stakeholders and experts like these to bring innovative products and world class telecommunications to Ghana.

MTN continues to lead with even more innovative products for the benefit of our cherished customers and the public.

Nokia N97

The highly anticipated Nokia N97, Nokia’s flagship mobile computer, will begin selling in June in more than 75 countries. Along with a tilting 3.5″ touch display, QWERTY keyboard and a fully customizable home screen, the Nokia N97 will offer instant access to the full range of Ovi services.

“The Nokia N97 is an important step towards our vision of delivering a highly personalized Internet experience,” said Jonas Geust, Vice President and head of Nokia Nseries. “Fuelled by a multitude of music, maps, games, media and applications via Ovi, the Nokia N97 transforms the Internet into an experience that’s completely tailored to the tastes and interests of its owner.”

The Nokia N97 is Nokia’s first device to feature a personalizable home screen, which can be customized with a range of widgets which bring live information directly to the device. These widgets include key social networking destinations like Facebook and Hi5, news services like the Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters, as well as shopping and weather information. The Nokia N97 is the first device to ship with the Ovi Store, which offers easy access to applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services, and much more. Ovi Store has paid and free content from a range of global and local content providers and developers, including Paramount Pictures, Facebook and Qik, as well as a selection of Twitter applications.

Enjoy your upgrades
The beauty of this Nokia device is that taking it out of the box is just the beginning. As with any computer, people can constantly improve and refresh their Nokia N97 with new features, functions and fixes so they can do even more with the device. An exciting roadmap of new features and functions is planned to roll out in the second half of 2009.

Entertainment ensured
The Nokia N97 also has direct access to the huge catalogue of music in the Nokia Music Store. With multiple high-speed connectivity options and 32GB of storage (up to 48GB using a microSD card) it is possible to directly download and store tens of thousands of songs on the handset. And you can listen to your favourite music on the Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-905, which Nokia also launched today. This headset brings crystal clear sound, eliminates background noise, and is the ideal accessory for listening to music and making calls on the Nokia N97, as well as being compatible with a diverse range of other mobile and music devices.

High-quality images and video clips at 30 frames per second (fps) can be captured using the 5 megapixel camera with integrated Carl Zeiss optics. Images can also be geo-tagged to specific locations and shared instantly with friends or uploaded online via Ovi Share, Twitter or Flickr.

About Nokia
Nokia is a pioneer in mobile telecommunications and the world’s leading maker of mobile devices. Today, we are connecting people in new and different ways – fusing advanced mobile technology with personalized services to enable people to stay close to what matters to them. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ; and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

Opera Mini

Opera Software ASA has again released its latest State of the Mobile Web report. The report provides information on the top global trends affecting the mobile Web. In addition to the top global trends and country snapshots, the report highlights trends in Africa and aggregate operator data for the top 10 countries.

On a global scale, Opera Mini usage in Nigeria continues to surge, pushing past Poland and taking the #9 spot.

The top 12 countries using Opera Mini in Africa are South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Zambia, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, Namibia, Ghana and Gabon.

From April 2008 to April 2009:

• Overall page-views in the top 12 countries listed increased 422%.
• Overall unique users in the top 12 countries listed increased 169%.
• Overall data transferred in the top 12 countries listed increased 348%.

Important milestones

• Since the last spotlight on Africa in September 2008, Nigeria jumped from #4 to #2 and Zambia jumped from #9 to #6. Mozambique, Namibia, Ghana and Gabon are new to the spotlight.
• Growth rates continue to soar in Africa–especially in Libya, with 4,155% user growth since April 2008, and in Nigeria, with 2,353% user growth since April 2008.
• Kenya leads the top 12 countries in page views, with each user browsing 372 pages on average each month.

Operator data trends

• Customers of U.S. operators view more data-intensive pages than subscribers in any other country. The average page viewed over U.S. operator networks is approximately 32 KB compressed or almost 320 KB uncompressed.
• Operators in the Ukraine were the big winners. Their customers view 582 pages per month, on average. Ukraine operators also sport the highest data transfer per user at more than 10 MB per month compressed. This is as much as 100 MB of mobile data per user uncompressed.

“Opera Mini has helped create and define the mobile Web experience for consumers around the world,” said Jon von Tetzchner, CEO, Opera. “Our relentless focus on delivering the best possible mobile Web experience helps drive adoption of mobile data plans. We believe that Opera Mini is the perfect win-win solution for both operators and consumers alike.”

About Opera Software ASA

Opera Software ASA has redefined Web browsing for PCs, mobile phones and other networked devices. Opera’s cross-platform Web browser technology is renowned for its performance, standards compliance and small size, while giving users a faster, safer and more dynamic online experience. Opera Software is headquartered in Oslo, Norway, with offices around the world. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol OPERA.

Nokia

Ovi Store by Nokia is now available globally to an estimated 50 million Nokia device owners across more than 50 Nokia devices including the forthcoming flagship device, the Nokia N97. Customers can visit store.ovi.com through their Nokia device browser to immediately begin downloading, personalizing and making their devices smarter and more fun with applications, games, videos, podcasts, productivity tools, web and location-based services and much more.
 
“Ovi Store is open for business and we’ve stocked the shelves with both local and global content for a broad range of Nokia devices,” said Tero Ojanperä, Executive Vice President, Nokia Services. “Ovi Store makes shopping for content and applications easy and fun for feature phone and smartphone owners alike.”
 
In available countries, customers can update their devices with the Ovi Store mobile application by selecting the Ovi Store icon in the Download! folder on their device. The mobile client is available in English, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish and supports operator billing in Australia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Russia, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom. Globally, credit card billing is available through the mobile application and the mobile website. Additional countries, languages, devices and features will be added throughout the year.

Ovi Store is an evolving media service that consolidates Nokia’s existing content services into a one-stop-shop for free and paid content. Thousands of the content industry’s biggest names along with independent application developers are distributing their media, applications and games through Ovi Store. Content providers and application developers can continue to sign up to distribute their content through Ovi Store by visiting publish.ovi.com.
 
About Nokia
Nokia is the world’s number one manufacturer of mobile devices by market share and a leader in the converging Internet and communications industries. We make a wide range of devices for all major consumer segments and offer Internet services that enable people to experience music, maps, media, messaging and games. We also provide comprehensive digital map information through NAVTEQ and equipment, solutions and services for communications networks through Nokia Siemens Networks.

MTN Ghana

MTN Ghana, the leading mobile telecommunications operator in Ghana has announced the commercial rollout of its ultra powerful 3.5G technology at an impressive ceremony in Accra. The launch event themed Go Beyond, Experience our better life today took place at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons in Accra and brought together members of the media, staff and Regulators. There were live demonstrations about the technology and the various services available to MTN customers. The occasion also marked the launch of an Internal Innovations Hub Project.

With the largest market share, widest coverage and competitive pricing, MTN’s ultra powerful 3.5G technology complements its existing 2G network to provide MTN subscribers with the widest coverage and consolidate its position as the leading telecommunication provider for Ghana whilst positively impacting every aspect of the lives of its customers. MTN will at this phase of the launch offer subscribers the flexibility to access a variety of services to customers in Accra and Kumasi as the rollout continues nationally. In addition to voice services, initial applications will include high-speed internet access at speeds significantly faster than dial-up, or GPRS connections, as well as video messaging and other multimedia services.

The MTN 3.5G launch marks an evolution in mobile technology for Ghana. Building on the existing superior coverage footprint, MTN 3.5G will initially achieve data speed transmission of up to 3.6megabits per second and will be expanded beyond 7.2 megabits per second. This major step forward by MTN will essentially put Ghana at the forefront of technology, in the league of top mobile operators globally.

Chief Executive Officer, MTN Ghana Brett Goshen said, “We are very pleased with the significant progress we have made in building an extensive 3.5G network and making it available to a large number of our valued customers.

Mr. Goshen added, “we are launching our 3.5G network with more than 7 times the number of 3.5G base stations than the next competitor. In addition, we are launching with the widest and best connection in Accra, Tema and Kumasi and will be expanding aggressively to all major cities in the months to come.”

With the commercial launch of the 3.5G services, MTN continues to show its commitment as the leading mobile operator in the Ghanaian market offering a wide range of services and technologies to suit different types of customers and situations including MTN Zone, Blackberry Services, Web Recharge, Community Phones and Seamless Roaming Services, calling USA, Canada and the UK at local rates to mention but a few of our myriad of innovative and compelling services.

Chief Marketing Officer George Kojo Andah added, “at MTN we are not just a company, we are a community that lives your passions and champions your aspirations. We will continue anticipating the current and emerging needs of all our targeted stakeholders and work with our people and the best technology to provide the highest service quality and speed. Our teams have already finished extensive testing of the 3.5G network, and we are extremely pleased with the results. We can also assure our customers that our tariffs will continue to be extremely competitive and our targeted customers will be able to enjoy our services with the best connection everywhere they go.”

Today’s launch follows the formal announcement of MTN’s 3.5G services earlier this year to introduce the technology and provide 3.5G services on a pilot basis.

The introduction of this latest service fulfills MTN’s pledge to bring world class telecommunications service to its subscribers and the general public. MTN will continue rolling out more innovative services into the market as promised.

About 3.5G

MTN 3.5G allows greater speed and efficiency in transmission of existing services including voice, text and data (that are available today) and more. For the corporate customers, having data download speeds equivalent to an ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) line at home means convenient business connectivity, efficiency, mobility & profitability.

For the young consumers, 3.5G brings endless possibilities to support a whole new suite of exciting multimedia services such as video streaming, games, music videos, sports, news and more.

Lastly, apart from voice calls, our customers can also make video calls with 3G enabled handsets, bringing them closer to their loved ones – a richer communication experience, the ‘?can see and speak’ at the same time!

The service is based on HSDPA, short for High-Speed Downlink Packet Access, which is a new protocol for mobile telephone data transmission. Commonly known as 3.5G (G stands for generation) technology, HSDPA is based on a packet switched suite of protocols (which offers several advantages over the existing circuit-switched techniques used for carrying mobile voice) and utilizes a number of techniques in parallel to increase the efficiency and reduce the latency. This allows higher call volumes and support for new and exciting multimedia data applications such as broadband access to the internet, emailing, mobile TV, video telephony and video conferencing from a mobile phone, PDA, or laptop.

Vodafone logo

After buying a 70 per cent shareholding in the Ghana Telecommunication Company in August 2008, partnering with the Government of Ghana, Vodafone has made significant investments to improve the performance and to expand the capacity of its networks.

Vodafone has also signed a multi-million dollar deal with Huawei Technologies to bring its 3G network services to the Ghanaian market, giving customers access to high speed mobile internet services in the future.

David Venn, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, commented: “Today’s announcement is the next step in a telecommunications renaissance across Ghana. Vodafone will offer the most reliable and cost effective services in the Ghanaian market and we will set the benchmark for customer satisfaction. Our customers should expect an excellent network as the basis for these services and we are committed to delivering it.”

He added: “I would like to thank all Ghanaians for the welcome we have received and the tremendous interest they have shown in Vodafone since we arrived here in this market. We have also invested in the social fabric of Ghana, deploying community booths, supporting National Farmers day and helping the educational funds of a number of the traditional areas. I look forward to announcing similar initiatives in due course.”

The official launch of Vodafone follows the successful joining together of the Ghana Telecommunications Company with Vodafone Group, which serves over 290 million customers in 27 countries around the world.

About Vodafone Ghana
Vodafone Ghana, originally the Post and Telecommunications Department of the Civil Service, went through several transformations before being renamed Ghana Telecom in 1996. It was divested first to a consortium called G-Comm Limited led by Telekom Malaysia and was later managed by a Norwegian management services company known as Telenor Management Partners (TMP).

It employs close to 3,400 Ghanaians and is a major source of employment in the communications industry. As the industry leader, providing fixed, mobile and broadband services, the company serves as the backbone for economic growth and development in the ICT sector.

About Vodafone Group Plc
Vodafone is the world’s leading international mobile telecommunications company, with equity interests in 27 countries and Partner Markets in more than 40 countries. As of 31 December 2008, Vodafone had approximately 289 million proportionate customers worldwide.

Vodafone

Reports reaching Mobile Africa indicate that Ghana Telecom has been slated for re-branding after the Easter holidays. This follows a 70% acquisition of the erstwhile state-owned telecom company by Vodafone. The Government of Ghana retains a 30% stake in the company.

Although Vodafone took over the operations of Ghana Telecom since last year, it had retained the Ghana Telecom brand until now. The rebranding is expected to herald a stiff competiton with other leading telecommunications companies in the West African nation.

Ghana Telecom has about 1,400,000 customers which translate into a 17% market share.

Vodafone is a mobile network operator with its headquarters in Newbury, Berkshire, England, UK. It is the largest mobile telecommunications network company in the world by turnover and has a market value of about £75 billion (August 2008). Vodafone currently has operations in 25 countries and partner networks in a further 42 countries.

Advertfarm provides advertisers with permission-based targeted marketing.

Advertfarm, a mobile content network, has emerged today from private beta. This start-up is privately funded and based in Lagos, Nigeria. Advertfarm, as a stand-alone company, focuses on delivering mobile contents to users across Africa through Short Message Services (SMS). Our services include but not limited to SMS marketing, SMS Recruitment, Events Broadcasting, Sponsored Mobile Services and Mobile Alerts.

Advertfarm provides advertisers with permission-based targeted marketing. These advertisements are delivered to subscribers based on specific interests and demographics. Advertfarm only sends its network members localized subscribed mobile content that matches their interest, and gives them total control of when they want to receive it, and how frequently they want to receive it through settings available on the Advertfarm platform.

With over 200 million mobile subscribers in Africa, Advertfarm allows advertisers to target a specific base of consumers in a meaningful way while allowing them to see a much higher rate of return on their investment. The system is developed to fully ensure that advertisers do not waste money on a demographic target that is irrelevant to their goals.

The Advertfarm network has a strict privacy policy on all data collected from its members. The Advertfarm mobile content delivery solution is the first of its kind in Africa as they not only deliver permission-based content to their subscribers but also pay their subscribers for subscribing.

Meanwhile, Advertfarm rewards its subscribed members through a revenue sharing model. The income earned by members of the network is automatically sent to the ATM cards attached to their account.

Advertfarm is currently running its pilot mode only in Nigeria and will launch it 2-WAY SMS interactive system by July 2009. This system would include features such as “SMS Service Un-subscription” where subscribers to a particular service could un-subscribe for certain services without having to visit the web portal. We will be launching services in other African countries in the next quarter.

glo

Globacom Limited, operators of Glo Mobile, has acussed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of was slowing the company down with delays in the issuance of permits to erect masts to start operations.

Mr Idowu Olumodeji, Head of Technical-Rollout at Glo, told the GNA that the company had had to push back deadlines several times because the EPA had not issued permits for masts.

He noted that to date Glo had submitted over 500 applications for permits to mount masts and other infrastructure in most of the regional capitals, but EPA was yet to issue a single permit.

“Originally the EPA had issues with proof of neighbourhood consent from the communities we have earmarked for our cell sites but we have provided those proofs for about 300 of the applications and yet they have refused to issue the permits,” he said.

Mr Olumodeji, who sounded frustrated, said Glo had asked EPA not to wait for all the applications to be complete but to issue permits for those which were complete but the EPA had not been co-operative on that either.

He noted that the situation was particularly hard for Glo because unlike the other network operators, which inherited existing infrastructure, Glo was starting from scratch and had no infrastructure to start with without the EPA permits.

“We were issued with a licence in May last year and the government and people of Ghana have since been waiting for us to rollout our services but the EPA is really slowing us down,” he said.

“We have done all the necessary promotions and sponsorships to whip up public interest in Glo but we feel very frustrated by the EPA’s attitude towards us.”

He noted that apart from the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), which had issued all the necessary permits to Glo, all the other permit agencies such as the Ghana National Fire Service (GFS) and the District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies were waiting on the EPA permit as a pre-requisite for them to also issue their respective permits.

Mr Olumodeji said Glo had millions of dollars worth of equipment gathering dust and rusting at its warehouse off the Spintex road due to delays by the EPA.

“I have one of my staff members permanently present at the EPA head office in Accra collaborating with them to expedite action on our permits but that has not yielded fruits yet,” he said.

He noted that Glo had shown commitment to following through with laid down procedure for acquiring the necessary permits for operations but its commitment had not been duly reciprocated.
“We know the EPA had issues with some of the networks regarding the erection of masts and we do not want to be in that situation so we have shown commitment to the process all through.”

He said powerful agencies like the EPA could sometimes frustrate investors and that could negate Ghana?s effort to attract investors into her economy.

“Glo has delivered in Nigeria and in the Republic of Benin but Ghana is slowing us down.”

Glo was the sixth mobile telecom operator in the country after TIGO, MTN, Kasapa, Onetouch and Zain.

Source: GNA

GSA

The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has welcomed the decision by the European Parliament to accept the amendment of the GSM Directive to allow UMTS (WCDMA-HSPA) technology to be deployed in the 900 MHz band. The political agreement for this new move was reached by the European Parliament on 24th March 2009.

According to a press release from the GSA, Mobile broadband services enabled by WCDMA-HSPA technology have been successfully deployed throughout the world and are a huge success. There are 120 live HSPA commercial systems in the European Union alone, and 259 systems launched in 111 countries worldwide, according to GSA’s latest research. Deploying HSPA mobile broadband systems in the 900 MHz band (UMTS900) brings substantial efficiencies and lower costs for network operators because lower frequencies travel further and penetrate buildings more easily than the higher frequencies (2100 MHz) which most 3G systems currently use.  As a result, 900 MHz is an ideal band for extending the benefits of broadband connectivity to rural and semi-urban areas, thus helping to bridge the digital divide, and is a perfect complement to 2100 MHz systems, which ensure the capacity layer.

Alan Hadden, President, GSA said: “This groundbreaking spectrum agreement in Brussels enables more Europeans to benefit from mobile broadband services. It is a clear signal to all regulators (NRAs) to prepare the path in their respective markets for a new wave of HSPA deployments in the 900 MHz band.”

According to GSA’s latest research, eight UMTS900-HSPA systems are now in commercial service in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific region. GSA recently announced that 115 HSPA/mobile broadband devices capable of operating at 900 MHz (as well as 2100 MHz) are already launched by manufacturers, and this frequency combination is becoming commonplace for products destined for European and APAC markets.

HSPA Mobile Broadband in Africa

The GSA HSPA Operator Commitments survey in January 2009 reveals that 10 HSPA operators have commercially launched mobile broadband services in North Africa. HSDPA is commerically available in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. HSDPA is at a pilot trial/testing stage in Senegal. The survey also reveals that 2 HSUPA commercial networks are already launched in Egypt.

Under the deal, SMS Mac will use TynTec to power the SMS sending capabilities of its Mac-based Dashboard widget, address book plug in, Vista sidebar gadget and Windows XP Yahoo! Widget.

An Apple Dashboard Widget Contest Winner, SMS Mac is an easy-to-use, downloadable PC/Mac-to-SMS service, enabling users to send SMS from their computer’s desktop.  SMS sent via the service are charged at a flat rate of €0.10 each with a €10.00 annual subscription charge for use of the software.

SMS Mac selected TynTec for its global reach into more than 430 mobile networks in 160 countries.  In addition, TynTec can offer SMS Mac’s users unparalleled reliability through its unique multiple points of deep level (SS7) mobile network access.

Alco Blom, CEO, SMS Mac, said: “TynTec offers us excellent connectivity into almost every mobile network worldwide, and that’s a major selling point for a service like ours.  When you combine that with TynTec’s renowned reliability and great technical support, then selecting them became an easy decision for us to make.”

Michael Kowalzik, CEO of TynTec, said: “SMS Mac is about letting computer users send and receive SMS quickly and easily direct from their desktop.  We believe that SMS as a messaging technology has much more to offer than just the traditional handset-to-handset format we’ve seen to date and SMS Mac is a fantastic demonstration of this.”

About TynTec
TynTec is a mobile messaging operator, offering enterprise-quality SMS services to mobile network operators, enterprises, internet companies and mobile services providers.

The company offers operator-level messaging services through its unique multiple points of connectivity into the deep level (SS7) global mobile network and its proprietary technical infrastructure.  Because TynTec acts as a messaging operator it can offer more advanced and reliable services than traditional SMS providers and can back up its services with rigorous service level agreements (SLAs).

TynTec offers its clients a broad range of messaging services including outbound mobile messaging (Enterprise and banking messaging, SMS Hubbing), unified inbound communications (e.g. reception of voice, SMS, fax, etc.) and real time network data (e.g. home network, location and/or subscriber availability information).

Based in the UK, Germany and Singapore, TynTec works with clients including O2, Lufthansa Systems, Accenture, British Airways, Unilever and Skype.

Swiss Army knife mobile

ForgetMeNot Africa launches Message Optimiser bringing email and instant messaging to simple mobile phones without need for PC or Internet across Africa

London, 24 March 2009: ForgetMeNot Africa, a specialist in unified messaging for telecommunications operators, has announced that it is launching its Message Optimiser service throughout Africa.  The service will be publically demonstrated for the first time in Africa at East Africa Com on the 1st and 2nd of April in Nairobi, Kenya.

In November 2008 LonZim plc acquired a controlling interest in FMN Africa. LonZim has established a strong presence in both the communications sector and financial services technology in the region, through its investments in Celsys, and Paynet, both of which offer strong synergies with FMNAfrica and further opportunities to enhance LonZim’s portfolio of investments.

Message Optimiser (MO) allows carriers to immediately provide cost-effective comprehensive unified messaging services (email, instant messaging (IM) and SMS) without the end user requiring any Internet access, device upgrades, or application downloads.

With an implementation cycle of a matter of weeks, carriers can quickly enjoy additional revenue streams, monetizing channels previously unavailable to them, and offering a unique differentiator point; an array of value-added messaging services to their entire customer base.  Since it does not require a data contract, Message Optimiser allows operators to increase ARPU and reduce churn amongst its pre-pay customers.

End-users benefit from the simplicity of ForgetMeNot’s Handset Initiation technology, which turns even the most basic mobile phone into a “smarter” Internet-capable, multi-channel messaging device, instantly providing two-way email and two-way instant messaging for both pre-pay and post-pay users alike.  Handset Initiation technology is becoming vital not only for developing nations where PC and Internet access is very low but also allows users globally to have access to email and instant messaging without the need for more expensive smartphones, a PC or Internet connection.

Jeremy George, Chief Operating Officer of ForgetMeNot Africa comments: “In today’s maturing mobile markets, mobile operators are increasingly focused on customer retention and service differentiation.  Message Optimiser meets both needs offering a new revenue stream from their existing subscriber base while offering customers a unique service”.

About ForgetMeNot Africa
ForgetMeNot Africa Ltd. is a “software as a service” (SaaS) company specialising in Unified Messaging that supports seamless interoperability between SMS, email and Instant Messaging clients for telecommunications operators.  The core product is Message Optimiser which allows telecom operators to immediately provide cost effective comprehensive unified messaging services to all of their customers without any upgrades to the device or any need for downloading new applications onto the device. This opens up a range of previously inaccessible services to many of their customers including 2-way email and 2-way instant messaging communication capability. ForgetMeNot Africa is a division of ForgetMeNot Software Limited, based in Hong Kong with operations in London and Los Angeles which recently sold a controlling interest in its former wholly owned subsidiary FMN Africa to LonZim plc.

MTN

The MTN Group has announced that the successful launch of Mobile Money Transfer (MMT) in Uganda marks the beginning of a series of planned launches across its operations in Africa and Middle-East.

The product, called MTN MobileMoney, is a convenient, secure and affordable way for MTN subscribers to send money, buy airtime and pay bills using the mobile phone. Whether users have an existing bank account or not, they can register for MTN MobileMoney as long as the sender is an MTN subscriber. Those who do not have MTN SIM cards or even a phone can still receive money from MTN MobileMoney users and send money through a network of agents in their country.

MTN has been piloting MMT services through MTN Uganda and at the Group’s West and Central Africa (WECA) region operations (Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria) since October 2008. Four additional pilots were recently launched in Benin, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry and Liberia.

The pilots are aimed at waterproofing the systems and operational processes in preparation for the commercial launch. MTN’s WECA region vice-president, Mr Christian de Faria says the pilots are assisting with fine-tuning the processes and systems and have given MTN the first insights into subscriber demand. “Initial subscriber responses in the different countries have been encouraging and we are confident that the service could be introduced rapidly in our various markets.”

In each market, MTN has partnered with local banks to ensure that its MMT services are fully compliant with financial services regulations. Discussions are currently on-going with relevant authorities in various countries to ensure that all regulatory requirements are met.

Says MTN Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, Ms Nozipho January-Bardill: “The piloting of MTN’s MMT services reaffirms MTN’s leadership in telecommunications and the company’s commitment to providing products and services that meet customers’ needs and expectations. We believe our MMT offering will make money transfer and basic payments more convenient and more affordable to our subscribers. We acknowledge our partner banks and the banking regulators in our different markets for the enthusiasm and support they are giving us.”

ABOUT THE MTN GROUP
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”. As at 30 September 2008, MTN recorded 80,7 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East.

MTN

MTN customers can now finally use the much anticipated MTN Mobile Money transfer service following the commercial launch of the product today. Upon registration, users will be able to send and receive cash using their mobile phones.

The introduction of the product to the market brings to a close a comprehensive test period that saw the product undergo a rigorous five months market test and subsequent approval by Bank of Uganda. The planning and development process which included software development , extensive market research, planning, vendor selection, and careful product roll-out implementation was intended to provide a secure and reliable service that MTN customers can trust to deliver an innovative world class service.

Officiating at the launch of MTN Mobile Money, the newly appointed Minister of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Hon. Aggrey Awori lauded MTN’s innovation and ability to always bring to the Ugandan market products and services that are relevant to the people. He reiterated the endorsement given by the Bank of Uganda Governor Emmanuel Tumusiime Mutebile who last week, during a visit to the MTN offices, endorsed and gave regulatory approval to MTN to carry out the money transfer service. Awori commended MTN for pursuing a policy of constantly innovating in order to provide products and services that meet the needs of the people. Emphasizing technology as an essential tool for economic growth, he applauded MTN in working with the government to contribute to national development.

MTN Mobile Money is the first such service in Uganda and is expected to revolutionalise money transfers and payments through the use of mobile phones. The service is expected to tap into rural areas where formal money services hardly penetrate and are deemed to be out of reach of the common man.

In remarks made during the official launch of the Mobile Money product, MTN Chief Executive Officer Noel Meier said MTN had carried out all the necessary market tests required to ensure a reliable and secure service to MTN customers.

“We know that the market has eagerly waited for this service and we’re proud to be the first to bring it to Uganda . We believe this product will help our customers transact as they go about their daily life and the Bank of Uganda is satisfied that adequate measures have been put in place to protect people’s money” he said.

“Our initial service is simple and user friendly and customers will find it very easy to interact with. However this will progressively be upgraded to include other functionalities as the market demands.”

MTN is partnering with Stanbic Bank which will hold the MTN Mobile Money account. The bank’s Managing Director, Philip Odera was enthusiastic about being part of the initiative.

“Stanbic Bank Uganda is very pleased to act as the collection bank for this product.  Our country-wide footprint will give MTN Mobile Money users an added advantage as they will reach out to their counterparts in all corners of Uganda backed by our branch network.” said Odera.

He further clarified that there are no charges applicable on this account. However Odera also made it clear that MTN Mobile Money users will not be able to transfer more that UGX.1 million per day or  maintain a balance of more than UGX.1 million on their Mobile Money accounts at any one time.”

MTN Uganda appointed Oscillyte Ltd., a consultancy firm to define the mobile money strategy and provide the project management expertise to bring the MTN Mobile Money service to market. Oscillyte provides specialist strategy, marketing and product development skills and knowledge to organisations active in the telecommunications market and mobile in particular.

ABOUT THE MTN GROUP

Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a multinational telecommunications group, operating in 21 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East . The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN”.  As at 30 September 2008, MTN recorded 80,7 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. The MTN Group is a global sponsor of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ and has exclusive mobile content rights for Africa and the Middle East.

MTN

MTN Ghana, a telecommunication network, on Sunday assured its Northern Region customers that technical teams were working with other stakeholders to improve the company’s services in the area, within the next seven days.

The company said its attention has been drawn to media reports of the Consumer Advocacy Agency and the Right of the People, to embark on various actions to expresses their dissatisfaction with the company’s quality of service in the Region.

A statement signed by Ms Mawuena Dumour, Corporate Service Executive, of the company, explained that in the last three weeks, MTN has experienced disruptions in service in the region due to cuts made on its fiber by contractors from other competitor organizations. It said “MTN articulated those challenges to the National Communications Authority (NCA) and subscribers in the region with an understanding that the issues were being addressed.” The statement said MTN subsequently received commendation from some stakeholders in the region when marked improvements were noted in service quality.

It said the company viewed as very unfortunate the fact that the two groups both based in the region would plan such actions without making their concerns known to MTN.

The statement said ironically, this was happening “at a time MTN is engaged in extensive roll out of additional telecommunications equipment and latest optical fibre technology infrastructure to expedite the improvement of quality of service.” It said over the last two years since entering the Ghanaian market, MTN has invested more than 25 million dollars in the region, in telecommunications infrastructure compared with three million dollars prior to the company’s entry into the market. The statement said “Current roll out plans for the region expect to put in place more than 200 new telecommunications, cell sites this year and more than 280 infrastructure upgrades in the second quarter of this year.”

It said “MTN remains fully committed to open and constructive dialogue and is taking steps to engage, with leaders of the two groups, to fully arm them with information about, the actions the company has taken to ensure world class service in the Northern Region and in Ghana as a whole.”

Source: GNA

glo

Glo Mobile Ghana is set to change the face of communication in Ghana as it engages ZTE, a highly-rated international telecoms vendor, to deploy additional access network infrastructure including hundreds of indoor and outdoor Basic Trans-receiver Stations (BTS) for its imminent roll-out.

The Ghana access network ZTE is deploying for Glo is in addition to those being installed for Glo Ghana by other reputable equipment vendors. In addition to the BTS, the ZTE deployment also includes many Base Switching Centres (BSCs), 3G NodeBs, RNCs, PDH MW links, EDGE and HSPA, OMCs, planning and optimization tools. ZTE will also install for Glo the Accra metro fibre backbone configuration spanning Accra-Kumasi-Tokaradi, Accra-Ho, Kumasi-Suyani, and Kumasi-Tamale. Other cities and roads to be covered by Globacom in its strategic partnership with ZTE in the Ghana telecoms revolution are in the Brong-Ahafo region.

A statement by Globacom’s Executive Director (Special Projects), Mr. Mike Jituboh, said the microwave transmission extension Glo was deploying would ensure voice and data clarity and eliminate bottlenecks usually encountered with pre-expansion technology. The new network elements with multi-media components will be linked to the Glo 1 submarine Optic Fibre Cable thereby providing a golden opportunity for Ghanaians to establish private call centre operations with attendant economic benefits to the people.

The Glo 1 submarine cable will have landing stations in London, New York, Lisbon and major cities in 16 other African countries including Accra, Dakar and Lagos. The Glo 1 submarine cable will land in Ghana shortly. Globacom and ZTE representatives are optimistic that the deployment of these facilities and provision of additional platforms will give communication in the West African country a significant boost.

Bill Gates

Mobile Money for the Unbanked programme to extend reach and reduce cost of mobile money services for people living on less than US$2 a day

17 February 2009, Barcelona: The GSMA, which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced an innovative programme that will expand the availability of financial services to millions of people in the developing world through mobile phones. The Mobile Money for the Unbanked (MMU) programme, supported by a US$12.5 million grant from the foundation, will work with mobile operators, banks, microfinance institutions, government and development organizations to encourage the expansion of reliable, affordable mobile financial services to the unbanked.

“There are over 1 billion people in emerging markets today who don’t have a bank account but do have a mobile phone,” said Rob Conway, CEO and Member of the Board of the GSMA. “This represents a huge opportunity and mobile operators are perfectly placed to bring mobile financial services to this largely untapped consumer base. Based on the initial findings of research conducted with the microfinance centre CGAP and McKinsey & Company, we believe that mobile money for the unbanked has the potential to become a US$5 billion market opportunity over the next three years.”

The MMU programme will fund regulatory and market research to help overcome some of the barriers of providing these services and demonstrate the business case for serving this market. The programme includes a US$5 million fund to catalyse a new wave of mobile money innovation, encouraging mobile network operators to create new services for previously unbanked people in emerging markets. The MMU programme will support approximately 20 projects in developing countries, focusing on Africa, Asia and Latin America, with the goal of reaching 20 million previously unbanked people with mobile financial services by 2012.

“Traditional financial services are often too costly and inconvenient for people who earn less than US$2 a day to obtain, and too expensive for banks to provide,” said Bob Christen, director of the Financial Services for the Poor initiative at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Technology like mobile phones is making it possible to bring low-cost, high-quality financial services to millions of people in the developing world so they can manage life’s risks and build financial security.”

This grant to the MMU programme is part of the foundation’s Financial Services for the Poor initiative, which is working with a wide range of public and private partners to harness technology and innovation to bring quality, affordable savings accounts and other financial services to the doorsteps of the poor in the developing world. The foundation believes that setting aside small sums in a safe place allows people to guard against risks, build assets, and provide opportunities for the next generation.

About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry.  Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites more than 750 of the world’s mobile operators, as well as 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media and entertainment organisations. The GSMA is focused on innovating, incubating and creating new opportunities for its membership, all with the end goal of driving the growth of the mobile communications industry.  For more information, please visit http://www.gsmworld.com

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.  In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.  In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people – especially those with the fewest resources – have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life.  Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Jeff Raikes and Co-Chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett. For more information about the foundation, please visit www.gatesfoundation.org

MTN

According to MTN, the 3.5G launch marks an evolution in mobile technology in Ghana and will put MTN Ghana at the forefront of technology and in the league of top mobile operators globally. 3.5G is the generic term used for the next generation of mobile communications systems that support the effective delivery of a range of data-orientated services. The technology also provides more efficient systems for the transmission of existing services such as voice, text and data, supporting far greater speeds than what is available today.

The Ag CEO Mazen Mroue said, “I am extremely delighted to announce the roll out of the 3.5G technology which puts MTN on the road to providing leading services to our valued customers.”

The Chief Technical Officer, Eben Albertyn and the Chief Marketing Officer, George Andah, took turns to explain the new technology and the benefits it will bring to MTN Customers.

‘I am especially delighted because the new technology being introduced today will enhance the overall network experience for our cherished customers as it will provide more efficient systems for the transmission of existing voice, text and data services,’ said George Andah.

‘While we continue to increase investments in network infrastructure and working in partnerships with all stakeholders, we are excited that the introduction of this new technology will complement initiatives aimed at improving the overall network quality.’ he continued.

‘3.5G brings with it a new suite of exciting multimedia services such as video streaming, games, music videos, sports, news and more. ’’ Mr Andah continued.

MTN will offer at this phase of the launch, mobile broadband and video calling that will enable fast data speed and allow users to see and talk to people they call in real time. More services will be introduced by MTN in due course.

The media was given the opportunity to experience the 3.5 G technology in a specially-constructed booth that will soon be placed at selected locations in the capital, to enable more subscribers to also experience the new technology.

MTN Ghana had recently launched services in the telecommunications industry including segmented tariffs, WECA (West and Central Africa) tariffs, BlackBerry and Seamless Roaming. MTN is currently the biggest cellular telecom operator in Ghana.

MTN

MTN is piloting a domestic money transfer service in South Africa using its MobileMoney system, as an added value to its customers.

Customers will be able to transfer and receive money from designated MTN outlets across South Africa in a pilot project to test market acceptance prior to a possible broader rollout during 2009.

“The development of this Money Transfer service is a joint venture between Standard Bank and MTN Banking, offering a safe and secure way for customers to send money home. The service will allow money to be sent directly to the recipient, removing the hassle and cost of locating a traditional ‘cash-out’ location such as a bank’s branch,” says Tim Lowry, MD of MTN SA.

“Convenience for our customers has been the motivating factor in developing this service, and we have identified the stores most frequented by our customers, for the implementation of this service. This has enabled MTN to provide the service in areas typically under-serviced by the banks.”

The person sending the money goes to a participating outlet with the cash and receives a code from the money transfer agent. He then sends the code via sms or a phone call to the recipient of this cash. The recipient then goes to his or her nearest participating outlet and produces the code in order to receive the allocated amount of money. This transaction is as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Carefully selected outlets such as the Kosi Bay Supatrade Spar, Langa Spar in Flagstaff, the Spargs outlets in Umtata, Ncogbo, Mount Frere and Idutywa, and Multisave Baragwaneth are included in this pilot. There are currently 14 outlets linked to the service, which is not restrictive to MTN customers.

MTN already has a significant non-urban footprint and its popular Community Payphone network could also provide a base from which to further enhance the reach for the Money Transfer customers.

“As with the success of the Community Payphone network, we see the Money Transfer service as possibly providing increased employment opportunities whilst ensuring that even the most rural community is able to gain access to basic financial services.

“Following technical testing of the base system for the past year, this pilot project is intended to assess the demand for such a service prior to a possible wider rollout in 2009

MTN is also actively seeking partners in the targeted distribution areas to come on board and assist in the rollout of this project, to ensure a broader accessibility to the service,” concludes Lowry.

David Venn (left) of Vodafone Ghana and Jay Xu Junjie (right) of Huawei Technologies Ltd.

Mr. David Venn, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Telecom Company and Mr. Jay Xu Junjie, of Huawei Technologies signed for Vodafone Ghana and Huawei Technologies respectively.

Vodafone last year acquired 70 per cent shares in Ghana Telecom.

The contract is one of a series that Vodafone Ghana plans to sign with partner organizations over the next couple of months to provide equipment and service.

The technology will significantly enhance network quality and increase customer satisfaction on the Onetouch network. It will enable  customers enjoy ultra high-speed internet access and the ability to make video calls, use rich multimedia content on their handsets including the ability to send video clips and music at the touch of a button.

The expansion of the network to is expected to be completed within the next 18 months.