Mobile Content Russia

Euroset, the largest mobile phone and consumer electronics retail chain in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Brightstar, the leading global provider of services and solutions for the wireless industry, announced today the signing of a multi-year agreement. Brightstar will immediately begin assisting Euroset on the sourcing of mobile devices, as well as mobile device strategy and category management.

As part of this agreement, Brightstar will also provide Euroset with various supply chain and retail operations services, and the two companies will also identify and pursue additional joint market development opportunities.

Russia's Svyazinvest is reported to have suspended plans to merge its mobile network subsidiaries with the smallest of the country's three dominant mobile networks, MegaFon. (Though by some reports MegaFon overcame VimpelCom in April and now it's the second largest mobile operator in Russia in terms of subscribers base - Mobile Content Russia note). A Svyazinvest spokeswoman told Dow Jones News that the company is no longer negotiating with Megafon and the proposal is on hold until next year. No explanation was given for why the talks were suspended.

Svyazinvest is primarily a landline operator, but also owns 14 mobile networks, which operate in four federal districts. The mobile networks had around 16 million subscribers at the end of last year, equivalent to a market share of 9%. A study carried out by consultants, McKinsey recommended merging the networks with another company.

“VimpelCom Ltd.” (“VimpelCom Ltd.” or the “Company”) (NYSE: VIP) today announced that it has delivered the squeeze-out demand notice and related material required to be provided under applicable Russian law to OJSC "Vimpel-Communications" ("OJSC VimpelCom").

As described in VimpelCom Ltd.'s final prospectus dated March 25, 2010, all OJSC VimpelCom shares and American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") not tendered to VimpelCom Ltd. in its exchange offers to holders of OJSC VimpelCom shares and ADSs are subject to a mandatory squeeze-out procedure under Russian law. Today, VimpelCom Ltd. commenced the squeeze-out procedure through which it will acquire all remaining OJSC VimpelCom shares, including those represented by ADSs, for a cash payment of RUB 11,800 per share (which is equal to approximately US$382.18 per share at the exchange rate as of May 25, 2010).

Russian WiMAX operator Yota said on Friday that it is to switch to LTE technology in a significant blow to the WiMAX camp. Reuters reports that Yota plans to spend US$100 million rolling out LTE networks in five Russian cities in 2010, while total investment is estimated at up to US$2 billion. It plans to launch LTE in Moscow and Russia's second city of Saint Petersburg at the end of 2011.

OnAir will start offering connectivity services onboard by June, 2010, following the signature of an agreement with , a leading Russia-based mobile network operator.

Under the agreement, MegaFon will operate its own branded air network onboard Aeroflot’s fleet under a license agreement with OnAir. Passengers flying on Aeroflot equipped A330 and A320 family aircraft will be offered attractive mobile communication packages from MegaFon. The service will be based on Inmarsat’s Swiftbroadband (SBB) and will include GSM/GPRS and WiFi Internet.

MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS, has become the first Russian operator to outsource its network operations, in a deal with Nokia Siemens Networks. The company aims to reduce its overall costs while increasing organizational flexibility, transparency and the predictability of its operational expenses. With this managed services agreement, MTS will be able to simplify its overall network operations model, which is especially important with the rollout of 3G services for millions of subscribers in Russia’s central region.

SmsCoin is happy to announce latest achievements in the process of expending our worldwide coverage. Impressive number 70 was completed by connecting: Slovenia. One rate is currently available in Slovenia based on major mobile carriers.

SmsCoin notes that such high number of countries is unique not only on Russian market but is quite impressive in international scales as well. The list of the company latest unique surprises includes the following countries: Cyprus, Turkey, India; countries you won't find in any other worldwide service, - claims SmsCoin.

A mysterious and minor shareholder in VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark) on Friday withdrew its lawsuit against Telenor, removing the final obstacle for the Norwegian telecoms firm and Alfa Group to merge their stakes in Russia's second-largest mobile operator and Ukraine's Kyivstar.

A federal arbitration court in Tyumen dismissed a decision from a lower court in Omsk, which had ruled in favor of Farimex Products on fining Telenor $1.7 billion.

VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark) today announced its operating and financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

The Company changed its reporting currency from the US dollar to the Russian ruble effective as of January 1, 2009. The Company presented certain financial information for the first three quarters of 2009 in Russian rubles.

Out There Media announces the signing of a partnership agreement with VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark). Within the framework of the agreement, Out There Media enables VimpelCom to offer targeted Mobile Advertising through Mobucks™, its multi-channel Mobile Advertising marketplace technology. In addition, Out There Media is also responsible for monetization, sales, business development and operations support.