SK Telecom and Google Partner for Next Generation Mobile Browsing Service

Joint development of technology that allows provision of browsed web content to mobile phone.

Oct. 30. 2006 -- On October 27, SK Telecom announced that it had established a strategic partnership with the global Internet company Google (CEO Eric Schmidt) to provide mobile browsing services.

The service uses Google's transcoding technology to restructure web pages real time to fit the mobile phone screen, and although Nate has used its own search engine until now, a new mobile browsing service will be jointly developed so that Web content can be directly browsed and provided through wireless Internet Nate in the future. SK Telecom users will be able to find search results through their mobile phone that are identical to wireline Internet sites.SK Telecom and Google have decided to release the mobile search services in phases for each handset in November. The Company explains that the partnership is significant as the searching ability of SK Telecom's wireless portal Nate is upgraded to a new level, to present an advanced wireless / wireline integrated search service.

SK Telecom's Managing Director Yoon Song Yee of CI Division remarked, "As the most important function of a portal is search services, through the partnership with Google, we will provide more convenient wireless Internet services to our customers to expand usage of wireless Internet services in the long term. Also, the alliance is significant as it means that SK Telecom has acquired a new global partner that will be an important step for entry into global markets in the future."

Google's Mobile Product Director Deep Nishar remarked, "We are happy to be able to release Google's search services to the numerous mobile phone users in Korea through a top-notch company as SK Telecom. This is an important decision that adheres to Google's strategic direction of providing the best search services to mobile phone users around the world."

Source: SK Telecom

Airtel Presents 'SongCatcher' - India's First Ever Instant Music on Mobile

The shortest cut to music downloads powered by Music Recognition Technology

New Delhi, November 17, 2006: Bharti Airtel, India’s leading mobile services provider, today announced the launch of ‘Airtel SongCatcher’ – India’s first instant music on mobile. This innovative service completely transforms the way mobile users can download songs of their choice.

Anytime, anywhere an Airtel mobile customer listens to a song and wants it as a Hello Tune he can download it in a matter of seconds. The Music Recognition Technology that enables this quick and easy access to music is based on an algorithm that is capable of identifying patterns in music by matching voice frequencies. The ‘DNA’ of the requested song is matched with the 25,000 songs available on Hello Tunes! and is accurate to the point of distinguishing between the music and the chatting of a DJ or a reporter.Mr. Gopal Vittal, Director, Marketing & Communications, Bharti Airtel Limited said, “Music consumption, especially on mobiles, is impulse based. Research shows us that our customers don’t just want more music, but want it to be more accessible and in the least possible time. ‘SongCatcher’ caters to that intuitive music need. This product will dramatically change the dynamics of music purchase on mobile. For a nation of music lovers, the simplicity and ease of this service is a big boon."

According to, Mr. Kee Jin Son, Director, Overseas operations, SKC&C Co., Ltd. “SongCatcher is an exciting innovation that has immense potential to perform well here. We are extremely pleased to partner with India’s largest mobile services provider and bring this product first to their growing community of music lover’s.�

Trends indicate that mobile music reach cuts across age and gender barriers. More and more subscribers from varying socio-economic strata, different age groups spanning 12-60 years of age and with varying tastes are opting for music choices on their mobiles. Airtel ‘SongCatcher’ caters to this spectrum of music lovers by providing easy access to choicest music.

About Airtel Hello Tune

Airtel’s launched the Hello Tune service in 2004, marking the debut of mobile music in India. Two years down the line, the service is supremely popular with a host of categories to choose from viz. western music- pop, rock, ballads, trance, blues, techno, rap, reggae, Western Classical and so on and in the Indian context we have ghazals, a large repertoire of Bollywood songs, old film classics, remixes, devotional songs and Indi-pop.

Hello Tunes cuts across socio- economic boundaries, geographies as well as the classical divide between urban and rural markets. Airtel offers over 25,000 songs in 20 languages all across India.

Airtel Hello Tune downloads are available via four different platforms – 678 SMS service, 678 dial service, Easy Music (purchase via catalogues available at 2,00,000 retails outlets across India) and now via the latest service ‘Song Catcher’.

About Bharti Airtel Limited:

Bharti Airtel Limited is one of India’s leading private sector providers of telecommunications services with an aggregate of 30.27 million customers as of end of October‘06, consisting of 28.61 million mobile customers. Bharti Airtel has been rated among 10 best performing companies in the world in the BusinessWeek IT 100 list.

Bharti Airtel is structured into three strategic business units - Mobile services, Broadband & Telephone (B&T) services and Enterprise services. The mobile business provides mobile & fixed wireless services using GSM technology across 23 telecom circles. The B&T business provides broadband & telephone services in 94 cities. The Enterprise services provide end-to-end telecom solutions to corporate customers and national & international long distance services to carriers. All these services are provided under the Airtel brand. Airtel’s high-speed optic fibre network currently spans over 36,000 kms covering all the major cities in the country. The company has two international landing stations in Chennai that connects two submarine cable systems - i2i to Singapore and SEA-ME-WE-4 to Europe. For more information, visit http://www.airtel.in

Source: Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel inks USD 400 million network expansion contract with Nokia

The three years service contract with Nokia will enable Airtel to reach out to all towns and cities in 8 telecom circles in the country; Nokia to also deploy a pan India WAP Solution across its networks.

October 31, 2006: Bharti Airtel today announced the signing of an estimated US$ 400 million contract with Nokia to expand its managed GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks in eight Airtel circles and deploy a pan India WAP solution across its networks.

As per the three year contract, Nokia will provide managed services and expand Airtel networks to cover all towns and cities in the eight telecom circles of Mumbai, Maharashtra & Goa, Gujarat, Bihar (including Jharkhand), Orissa, Kolkata, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh (including Chattisgarh). The network monitoring operations will be carried out from Nokia’s state-of-the-art Global Network Services Center in Chennai.Nokia will also deploy its WAP solution across Airtel’s national network to enhance its mobile packet core network capabilities. The WAP gateway to be implemented by Nokia shall enable easy usage of data services, thereby increasing the consumption of content on the Airtel network. Nokia will provide consulting services and integrate the WAP gateway into a multi-vendor environment.

Nokia will deploy the latest radio and core network equipment including softswitch, flexi-base stations and mini-Ultrasite base stations and provide services based on Bharti's capacity requirements, delivering a cost-efficient rollout of on-demand capacity. The contract also has stringent service level agreements and performance metrics for both parties which are designed to provide consistently high quality services to subscribers and continuously enhance the user experience.

Mr Manoj Kohli, President, Bharti Airtel said, "Our network leadership across India is a critical driver in the Bharti Airtel success story. Our partnership with Nokia reinforces our commitment to this cause and Nokia will provide us the latest technology and expertise to drive growth in the latent market in Eastern India and rapidly expand our coverage in Western parts of India.

“Nokia is proud to collaborate with Bharti on its initiative to take mobile services to millions of unconnected Indians and enhance the mobile data experience of its existing customers,� said Mr. Ashish Chowdhary, Country Director, Networks, Nokia India. “Our extensive managed services capability, powered with a comprehensive and high quality product portfolio makes Nokia a catalyst for providing affordable mobile services to rural consumers.

About Bharti Airtel Limited:

Bharti Airtel Limited is one of India’s leading private sector providers of telecommunications services with an aggregate of 28.69 million customers as of end of September‘06, consisting of 27.06 million mobile customers. Bharti Airtel has been rated among 10 best performing companies in the world in the BusinessWeek IT 100 list.

Bharti Airtel is structured into three strategic business units - Mobile services, Broadband & Telephone (B&T) services and Enterprise services. The mobile business provides mobile & fixed wireless services using GSM technology across 23 telecom circles. The B&T business provides broadband & telephone services in 94 cities. The Enterprise services provide end-to-end telecom solutions to corporate customers and national & international long distance services to carriers. All these services are provided under the Airtel brand. Airtel’s high-speed optic fibre network currently spans over 36,000 kms covering all the major cities in the country. The company has two international landing stations in Chennai that connects two submarine cable systems - i2i to Singapore and SEA-ME-WE-4 to Europe. For more information, visit www.bhartiairtel.in

Source: Bharti Airtel

MTS offers international roaming at a flat rate

Motorola A840 handset allows customers to roam without borders

Winnipeg, MB, November 15, 2006 – MTS Allstream Inc. (“MTS�) and Motorola are making communication without borders possible through MTS’s new International Roaming Service. The new service allows MTS customers to roam on both CDMA and GSM networks in over 140 countries worldwide.

MTS’s International Roaming Service allows customers to benefit from simple and predictable flat-rate global GSM roaming, eliminating the need to keep track of where they make phone calls or what type of calls they are making.“It’s like a passport for your cell phone,� said Kelvin Shepherd, President Consumer Markets, MTS Allstream Inc. “With one phone, one phone number and one straightforward flat rate, frequent international travelers can seamlessly send and receive calls and text messages almost anywhere in the world. This service allows them to stay connected to their business, friends and family without worrying about unpredictable rates and charges.�

The Motorola A840 handset is available for $199.99 on a two-year contract and can be purchased, along with additional accessories, at any MTS Connect store or MTS dealer location across Manitoba.

MTS’s current flat-rate International Roaming Service on GSM networks will cost users $2.49 per minute for all in-country and country-to-country calls. This rate includes all air time and long-distance charges. A wide range of regional voice calling plans are also available with the Motorola A840, providing affordable service and coverage in Manitoba, across Canada, and throughout North America. For more details on international roaming or any other MTS product, visit www.mts.ca.

About MTS Allstream
MTS Allstream Inc. is one of Canada’s leading national communication solutions providers, delivering innovative products and services through its Consumer Markets and Enterprise Solutions divisions. Our Consumer Markets division serves small business customers nationally and residential customers in Manitoba with a full suite of wireline voice, high-speed Internet and data, next generation wireless, digital television, security and alarm monitoring services. Our Enterprise Solutions division provides national business customers with a world-class portfolio of IP-based connectivity, managed network services, and professional services. MTS Allstream's extensive national broadband fibre optic network spans more than 24,300 kilometres, and provides international connections through strategic partnerships and interconnection agreements with other international service providers. MTS Allstream is a subsidiary of Manitoba Telecom Services Inc. whose common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange (trading symbol: MBT). For more information, please visit: www.mtsallstream.com .

Source: MTS

TeliaSonera strengthens its position within integrated enterprise services through the acquisition of Cygate

11/16/2006 -- TeliaSonera has acquired 98.66 percent of the shares in Cygate, a leading supplier of secure and managed IP network solutions as well as system integration in the Nordic market. The acquisition underlines TeliaSonera’s strategic direction to strengthen its position in the management of enterprises’ total telecom and IT solutions in order to capture growth.

TeliaSonera, the leading telecommunications company in the Nordic and Baltic regions, has today reached an agreement with the main shareholder of Cygate AB, the Swedish investment company Bure Equity AB, to acquire 98.66 percent of the shares in Cygate AB for a cash consideration of SEK 567 million on a cash and debt free basis.“This transaction strengthens our position as an integrator of our corporate customers’ total telecom and IT solutions, a major future growth area for TeliaSonera,� comments Anders Igel, President and CEO of TeliaSonera AB. He continues “This is an additional step to become the leading player within IT and IP integration and to secure long term growth in integrated enterprise services�.

The transaction is a strategic acquisition which provides TeliaSonera with competence within sales, technical and project management within LAN and IP applications. Cygate provides solutions within networking, security, IP telephony and services within support, maintenance and IT management. Cygate, which has a strong brand recognition in the market, will operate as a separate business within TeliaSonera.

The acquisition will be subject to regulatory approval.

Brief description of the company
Cygate

2004 2005
Net sales (SEK million) 854 837
EBITDA (SEK million) 47 46
Number of employees (*) 240 241

(*) at end of period

Customer groups: Public 1/3, Service Providers 1/3 and Enterprises 1/3
Sales force in Stockholm, Malmo and Gothenburg in Sweden as well as in Helsinki, Joensuu, Tampere, Kouvola, and Oulu in Finland.

_____________________________________________
For further information journalists can contact:
Corporate Press Office, TeliaSonera AB, +46-(0)8-713 58 30

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements made in the press release relating to future status or circumstances, including future performance and other trend projections are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements due to many factors, many of which are outside the control of TeliaSonera.

TeliaSonera is the leading telecommunications company in the Nordic and Baltic regions. At the end of December 2005 TeliaSonera had 19,146,000 mobile customers (69,887,000 incl associated companies) and 7,064,000 fixed telephony customers (7,688,000 incl associated companies) and 2,263,000 internet customers (2,331,000 incl associated companies). Outside the home markets TeliaSonera has extensive interests in the growth markets in Russia, Turkey and Eurasia. TeliaSonera is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange and the Helsinki Stock Exchange. Net sales January-December 2005 amounted to SEK 87.7 billion. The number of employees was 28,175.

Source: TeliaSonera

Yoigo has signed a managed services contract with Ericsson

11/07/2006 -- TeliaSonera’s mobile operator Yoigo in Spain, has awarded Ericsson with a three-year managed services contract for its new 3G network in Spain. The contract covers operation, management and maintenance of the whole network.

Under the partnership agreement, Ericsson will be fully responsible for the operations, management and maintenance of Yoigo´s 3G network. Also included are the field operations, management of the network and related services, such as the network operation center, system support of software and hardware, engineering, and network optimization.“This agreement is in line with our aim to keep a slimline operation and therefore we strive to outsource services to other qualified partners. This Ericsson agreement is an example of a new kind of partnership where you leave the network operation to another part,� says Kenneth Karlberg, President of TeliaSonera Norway, Denmark, Baltic and Spain.

Ingemar Naeve, President of Ericsson Iberia, says: “We are very proud to have been chosen to take on the responsibility for the operations of the Yoigo network. This contract is another example of the close collaboration between our companies as this agreement is an extension to the contract signed last summer where Ericsson was chosen by Yoigo to supply and implement a complete UMTS core and access network as well as service network�

About Yoigo
Yoigo is the new brand of TeliaSonera’s subsidiary Xfera that was awarded the fourth 3G-licence in Spain. TeliaSonera, the leading telecoms operator in the Nordic and Baltic region has a 76.6% stakeholding in the company. ACS, the construction and services group, has a 17% stake, FCC, a 3.4% stake and Telvent, a 3% stake.

About Ericsson's Managed Services Offering
Ericsson has the telecom industry's most comprehensive managed services offerings, ranging from designing, building, operating and managing day-to-day operations of a customer's network, to hosting service applications and enablers, as well as providing network coverage and capacity on demand. As the undisputed leader in managed services, Ericsson has officially announced more than 100 managed services contracts with operators worldwide since 2002. In all current managed services contracts, excluding hosting, Ericsson is managing networks that together serve more than 65 million subscribers worldwide.

Source: TeliaSonera

TeliaSonera proposes lower interconnection rates for all operators in Swedish mobile market

11/02/2006 -- TeliaSonera Mobile Networks AB is extending an offer to all telecom companies in Sweden to sign a mutual agreement to sharply reduce interconnection rates in mobile networks in Sweden. Equal terms for all operators are required for competition to function in the Swedish mobile telephony market.

TeliaSonera has always recommended having interconnection rates that are mutually beneficial to all operators. Today’s initiative by the company opens the door for establishing interconnection rates that would be considerably lower than today’s prices.“Due to regulation of the industry, there has been a lack of interest in entering agreements about interconnection rates, but now we hope we can quickly reach an agreement on interconnection rates that are long-term and stable,� says Björn Lindegren, chief legal counsel at TeliaSonera Sweden.

The initiative is a consequence of a verdict made by the County Administrative Court to annul a decision by the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS) in which TeliaSonera AB was characterized as being a Significant Market Power (SMP) in mobile termination. Despite the fact that both Tele2 and Telenor (formerly Vodafone) are SMP operators in Sweden, they have refused to reduce their interconnection rates which are very high in comparison to TeliaSonera's. This imbalance has helped maintain interconnection rates on an unreasonably high level and has also distorted competition in the Swedish mobile market.

Now TeliaSonera is offering operators in the Swedish telecom market the opportunity to sign a mutual agreement on interconnection rates for traffic to and from mobile networks. In accordance with TeliaSonera’s proposal, the interconnection rate would initially be reduced to SEK 0.64, which would be in line with a proposal made by the PTS.

Mobile operators in Sweden are currently charging interconnection rates ranging between SEK 0.80 and SEK 1.40 per minute. Differences in opinion about interconnection rates during the past few years has led to far-reaching and long, drawn-out legal conflicts. In TeliaSonera’s opinion, the ruling by the County Administrative Court underscores the necessity of reaching an agreement quickly about interconnection rates in Sweden; otherwise the long, drawn-out cases will continue in Swedish courts.

About interconnection: Interconnection is the term used when the mobile user of an operator wants to call a person in another operator’s network. The operator passing the call reaches an agreement with the receiving operator about connecting the call to its customer. For connecting, the calling operator pays the receiving operator an interconnection rate. SMP operator: a Significant Market Power or company with significant influence in the mobile termination market.

Source: TeliaSonera

Yoigo and The Phone House sign distribution agreement

10/31/2006 -- TeliaSonera’s mobile operator Xfera in Spain, with its new brand Yoigo, has signed its first distribution agreement with The Phone House. The agreement will enable Yoigo´s services to be sold through the chain’s 400 stores in Spain.

The Phone House, the biggest independent telecommunications chain in Spain and Europe, and Yoigo, Spain’s fourth mobile phone operator, have reached an agreement whereby The Phone House will distribute the new operator’s entire supply in its 400 stores. The Phone House agreement is exclusive for the first three months from the commercial launch allowing the retail chain to be the sole distribution channel for Yoigo´s services.Yoigo’s entry as a mobile phone operator in the Spanish telecoms market means that there will be a broader range of supply and competition in the sector. Spanish customers will benefit from a greater variety of prices, products and services.

“With this agreement, we gain access to one of the most qualified distribution channels operating in Spain. We are very pleased about this alliance with The Phone House, which will enable our products to reach the end consumer,� says Kenneth Karlberg, President of TeliaSonera Norway, Denmark, Baltic and Spain.

Fernando Urrutia, Chairman of The Phone House in Spain, says: “We want to thank Yoigo for placing its trust in The Phone House to distribute its products. Yoigo´s offering will strengthen our leadership in the market and will broaden the range of supply to customers in our 400 sales outlets."

About Yoigo
Yoigo is the new brand of TeliaSonera’s mobile operator Xfera that was awarded the fourth 3G-licence in Spain. TeliaSonera, the leading telecoms operator in the Nordic and Baltic region has a 76.6% stakeholding in the company. ACS, the construction and services group, has a 17% stake, FCC, a 3.4% stake and Telvent, a 3% stake.

Source: TeliaSonera

Xfera launches its new brand - Yoigo

10/26/2006 -- TeliaSonera’s mobile operator in Spain, Xfera Móviles, today announces its new brand identity - Yoigo.

“We are glad to present Yoigo and we are convinced that the new brand will strengthen our efforts to make the fourth Spanish operator successful,� says Kenneth Karlberg, President of TeliaSonera Norway, Denmark, Baltic and Spain.The brand values are Simplicity and to be Fair, Witty, Honest and Efficient. The brand personality is to be human, friendly, urban, contemporary and hungry.

“Yoigo fits perfectly with our intention to start something new in the Spanish market which is also reflected in the new brand,� says Kenneth Karlberg. “It is an accessible and transparent brand with which consumers can establish a relation of trust.�

Xfera will launch mobile services under the Yoigo brand before the end of the year.

About Xfera
Xfera is the mobile telecommunications company that was awarded the fourth 3G-licence in Spain. Xfera operates under its brand Yoigo. TeliaSonera, the leading telecoms operator in the Nordic and Baltic region has a 76.6% stakeholding in the company; ACS, the construction and services group, has a 17% stake, FCC, a 3.4% stake and Telvent, a 3% stake.

Source: TeliaSonera

"Top ten" in mobile phone sales in Telia stores in October 2006

10/26/2006 -- A mobile with push e-mail seems to be the handset to have this autumn. Seven out of the ten best-selling mobile phones in October have an e-mail function. The Top Ten List for the month also features three newcomers, all from Sony Ericsson. One of them, the 3G mobile K610i, captured second place. For the third month in a row, another 3G mobile placed No. 1 on the list – the Sony Ericsson K800i.

Mobile phones that are a little more advanced sold best in Telia’s retail stores during October. A total of three 3G handsets made the Top Ten list for the month, which is the record so far this year. The majority of the ten mobile phones on the list are equipped with push e-mail, camera and MP3 player. Seven out of ten can be used for navigation together with Telia Navigator. In addition to the K610i, Sony Ericsson’s M600i and W710i were new for the month.October September Handset model

1 1 Sony Ericsson K800i SP + K + @ + MP3 + TN 3G
2 New Sony Ericsson K610i SP + K + @ + MP3 + TN 3G
3 2 Nokia 1110
4 3 Sony Ericsson Z530i SP + K + @ + MP3 + TN
5 9 Motorola V360 SP + K + MP3
6 5 Sony Ericsson K750i SP + K + @ + MP3 + TN
7 4 Sony Ericsson W810i SP + K + @ + MP3 + TN
8 New Sony Ericsson M600i SP + @ + MP3 + TN + 3G
9 New Sony Ericsson W710i SP + K + @ + MP3 + TN
10 10 Motorola C380

Explanation for abbreviations under Note: R – sold with Telia Refill prepaid card; SP – sold with preconfigured Telia SurfPort subscription; K – with built-in camera; 3G – for both GSM and 3G networks, MP3 – with built-in MP3 player, @ – with built-in e-mail reader, TN – can be used with Telia Navigator.

The statistics are based on sales in 76 Telia retail stores in Sweden. Telia has the largest retail chain in Sweden for telecom products and is one of the biggest resellers of mobile phones in the country.

Source: TeliaSonera