Mobile Content Russia

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC («MTS» – NYSE: MBT), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, today announced that it will launch iPhoneв„ў 3G in Russia on October 3.

iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast , built-in GPS for expanded location based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs the hundreds of third party applications available through the new App Store.

Major Russian home electronics and cell phone retailers said on Friday they would kick off Apple Inc's iPhone sales in Russia beginning on October 3, and estimated that 150,000 units could be sold by year end.

"All retailers will begin sales of iPhone in Russia at the same time, during the night between October 2 and October 3. Our company will be also selling them," Nadezhda Senyuk, a PR director at retail chain Tekhnosila, said by telephone.

Mobile TeleSystems, the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the CIS, Microsoft, the worldwide leader in operating systems and productivity software, and Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Europe's leading developer of IT systems, today announced the launch of the first integrated 3G notebook solution in the CIS. The companies collaborated to deliver a 3G-enabled Fujitsu Siemens notebook running on the Microsoft Vista operating system with an embedded SIM card and a special data tariff plan from MTS.

Russian WiMAX operator, Enforta says that it is planning to expand its operating footprint by another 22 cities during June increasing the total service territory to 55 cities. The new cities include Kemerovo, Bratsk, Angarsk, Biysk, Rubtsovsk, Prokopyevsk, Tolyatti, Novokuybyshevsk, Saratov, Dimitrovgrad, Ujno-Sakhalinsk, Astrakhan, Krasnodar, Taganrog, Shakhty, Novocherkassk, Novomoskovsk, Novotroitsk, Rybinsk, Magnitogorsk, Orsk, and Kamensk Uralskiy.

Mobile TeleSystems, the largest mobile network operator in Russia and the CIS, announced the commercial launch of its 3G network in Saint Petersburg and technical readiness of 3G networks for commercial launch in Sochi, Yekaterinburg and Kazan.

Richard Branson's Virgin Group has launched a WiMAX network covering 20 cities in Russia - through an agreement with Swiss based telecoms investors, Trivon. The WiMAX network will be branded as Virgin Connect.

Trivon launched its network in 32 Russian regions including Moscow, St. Petersburg and the 20 largest cities where it holds the required licenses and frequencies for WiMAX-based services. The company has started delivering services to customers in Moscow region, Belgorod, Orenburg and Ufa.

Ericsson and Russian operator VimpelCom have signed an agreement for the supply and implementation of a WCDMA/HSPA network, plus associated services, to cover seven out of nine macro regions across Russia, including Moscow, the North Caucasus, Siberia, Volga, Northwest Russia, South Russia and the Urals.

MTS intends to launch commercial 3G network in Krasnoyarsk and Norilsk. The company plans to invest about $1.55 bln into 3G development by 2011. Vimpelcom and Megafon do not name the regions, in which modern 3G networks will be launched in 2008. Specialists are sure networks will be launched in not more than 15 cities, Moscow is not included as there are difficulties with frequency release in Moscow.

MTS plans to invest 38 bln rubles ($1.545 bln) into the development of infrastructure for 3G networks till 2011, while additional 35 bln rubles ($1.423 bln) will be invested into the development and implementation of telecommunication applications till 2020, RBC reports. MTS explains that the company plans the amount of investment on the forecasts for 3G services development within the coming five years. Thus, by 2013 the broadband penetration in Russia is forecasted to grow by 50% from the current 10%.

Comstar, Russian telecom operator, and Intel announced the agreement to create the first mobile WiMAX network in Russia. The first WiMAX network will be launched in Russian capital Moscow. The network will be operational by the end of 2008 and will cover the whole city. Intel will provide Comstar technical devices with embedded WiMAX solutions.