Mobile Content Russia

MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS,
has reported that its first-quarter revenues dropped by 24% to US$1.8 billion, due to local currency depreciation and seasonal factors. The company also reported a net loss for the quarter of $57.7 million, compared to a profit of US$610 million a year ago. The loss was due to US$462.4 non-cash foreign exchange losses through US GAAP translation of US dollar-denominated debt.

Mr. Mikhail Shamolin, President and CEO of MTS, commented: "In spite of the volatile macroeconomic situation in Russia and the CIS, MTS demonstrated year-over-year revenue growth in national currencies in all of its markets of operation with the exception of Ukraine, where growth dynamics were inline with the market's overall performance. The changes in the foreign exchange rates impacted our US dollar-denominated results that led to a decline in the Company's main US dollar-based financial indicators, however, the stable financial position of MTS allows us to continue to execute on our business development strategy."

Research and Markets has announced the addition of IE Market Research Corp.'s new report "2Q09 Russia Mobile Operator Forecast, 2008 - 2013" to their offering.

Total subscribers in Russia to reach 201.8 million in 2013 with MTS losing market share to Vimpelcom and Megafon over the next five years

Mobile Operator Forecast on Russia provides over 65 operational and financial metrics for Russia's wireless market and is one of the best forecasts in the industry. We provide six-year forecasts at the operator level going out to 2013. We also provide quarterly historical and forecast data starting in 1Q2003 and ending in 4Q2013. Operators covered for Russia include: MTS, VimpelCom, and MegaFon. Our Mobile Operator Forecasts are updated quarterly and are available for one-time delivery or through regular updates.

MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS, announces that its consolidated subscriber base reached 92.19 million users on March 31, 2009.

During March, MTS consolidated subscriber base increased by 0.4 million subscribers with 280 thousand subscribers added in Russia. MTS owns a 49% stake in Mobile TeleSystems LLC, a mobile operator in Belarus, which is not consolidated.

MTS (Mobile TeleSystems) announces its consolidated US GAAP financial results for the three months (unaudited) and full year ended December 31, 2008.

Consolidated revenues up 24.2% y-o-y to $10,245 million due to subscriber growth and increasing contribution from voice and data usage Consolidated OIBDA up 21.7% to $5,140 million y-o-y with 50.2% OIBDA margin due to continued revenue growth and cost control Consolidated net income down 6.8% y-o-y to $1,930 million due to non-cash FOREX loss through US GAAP translation of US dollar-denominated debt Free cash-flow positive with $2,148 million for the full year 2008 due to the overall revenue growth of the Group

Key Corporate and Industry Highlights:

J'son & Partners reports that in February 2009 the number of registered SIM cards in Russia reached 190.4 million. Penetration rate in Russia increased to 134%, in Moscow region – to 185%. Compound subscribers base increased by 1.1 million (0.56%) in February 2009. During February 2009 monthly subscribers base growth decreased by 44% since February 2008.

During last 12 months compound user base of Russian operators increased by 23.9 mln. subscribers, or 14%. In March 1, 2009 MegaFon took the first place in growth figures – its subscriber base grew by 7 mln. VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark) got the second position, adding 6.6 new subscribers. The third place went to MTS with 6.4 new subscribers.

Inform-Mobil/IMMO has published Top 10 rating of the best-selling Java games for mobile phones and smartphones in Russia in February 2009. As source data for the analysis the company used statistics of mobile games sales through all its distribution channels in Russia during February 2009.

There are 2 games in the rating from CIS publishers and developers - Aquasim 2 by Dynamic Pixels and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Mobile by Nomoc Publishing (developed by Qplaze).

VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark) (which operates under the Beeline trademark) published the rating of content-providers for February 2009. Top-20 is based on total fee paid to companies by VimpelCom for providing services via partner programs (voice, SMS, WAP). Top 5 companies in the rating are A1, i-Free, INFON, Iricom, Neva Line.

1. A1
2. i-Free
3. INFON
4. Iricom
5. Neva Line
6. SMS Online
7. IncoreMedia
8. Inform-Mobil/IMMO
9. Next Media Channels
10. Plastic Media

MTS, the largest mobile networld operator in Russia and the CIS, announces that its consolidated subscriber base reached 91.77 million users on February 28, 2009. During February,

MTS consolidated subscriber base increased by 0.4 million subscribers with 340 thousand subscribers added in Russia.

(1) Note that MTS owns a 49% stake in Mobile TeleSystems LLC, a mobile operator in Belarus, which is not consolidated.

According to a new research report by J'son & Partners, by the end of 2008 number of mobile internet users in Russia grew up to 32.5 million. Mobile internet users, by J'son & Partners Consulting understanding, are mobile subscribers who use WAP/GPRS/EDGE and since second half of 2008 also 3G (UMTS) subscribers. Moscow license region share is 43% (that's 13,97 mobile internet users), while Saint-Petersburg license region share is 8%. Share of other regions does not exceed 50%.

Compound annual increase in user database in 2008 was 14.7 million - by 82% comparing to 2007. In 2007 subscriber base increase was 68% comparing to 2006. 57% of all mobile internet users are from Volga region, Central and South Federal regions. North-West, Ural and Far East shares are decreasing.

Inform-Mobil/IMMO has published Top 10 rating of the best-selling Java games for mobile phones and smartphones in Ukraine in February 2009. As source data for the analysis the company used statistics of its mobile games sales in Ukraine during February 2009. The best selling game in February in Ukraine is arcade simulator of helicopter battles «Black Shark 2: Siberia» by Herocraft.

A collection of well-known computer games (Minesweeper, Free Cell and Spider Solitaire) updated for mobile phones took the second position in the rating. RPG Gothic 3 (HandyGames is the developer of the game) took the third place.

Top 10 rating of the best-selling Java games for mobile phones and smartphones in Ukraine in February 2009 has changed dramatically since January, and welcomed nine new games. Action game «Journey to the Center of the Earth» is the only game that remained in the top moving down from the first to the fifth position in the list.