Mobile Content Russia

Russia's smallest of the big three dominant operators, MegaFon has reported a 10.8% drop in second quarter profits, which it put down mainly to currency changes. The company reported a quarterly profit of RUB 9 billion (US$284.8 million), while revenues rose by 3.4 percent to RUB 43.9 billion (US$1.4 billion).

Sergey Soldatenkov, Chief Executive Officer of MegaFon, said: "We had a very good overall performance in the six months ended June 30, 2009, showing growth in financial indicators versus the corresponding period in the previous "pre-crisis" year. The first quarter of 2009 was not easy, our subscribers reduced their monthly usage and spending, and new subscriber additions slowed, but we were able to offset this by pursuing a conservative approach to costs and by efficient business management. As a result, by the end of the current period we managed to reverse the negative trends which were evident at the beginning of this year and were able, through effective marketing initiatives in the second quarter of 2009, to realize improved MOU and ARPU".

Russian cellular carrier MegaFon has launched bundled service В«Unlimited Internet with Opera MiniВ» for its subscribers in Moscow. Now MegaFon network users signed up to the package can view websites all day and night without any data transfer limits for only 0.22 dollars (7 Russian rubles) a day.

To use the new opportunity subscribers have to install Opera Mini mobile browser on their mobile phone and sign up to bundled services �Unlimited Internet with Opera Mini'.

MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS, has announced test launch of 3G network in Khabarovsk. Any MTS subscriber in Khabarovsk can now test carrier's 3G services. When MTS 3G network is commercially launched, 3G features will automatically become available to all MTS subscribers in the city.

Users can get a test SIM card with 3G service subscription and free 1GB data at any MTS store in Khabarovsk. Also those who want to use high speed internet features in mobile 3G networks should have a handset or a dongle with UMTS/HSDPA support and be in MTS 3G network coverage area. MTS 3G network provides theoretical maximum download rates up to 3.6 Mbs.

Russian WiMax network operator Yota (Scartel) announced that the number of its subscribers has exceeded 100 000 active users who pay for data.

Since the commercial launch of Yota in Moscow and St.-Petersburg on 1st of June 2009, operator has registered about 60,000 new subscribers in addition to those who stayed with the carrier after testing the network in the two cities. At the end of June, Yota network was rolled out in test mode in Ufa where it will be trialed till September 30. In a month after beginning of handsets official sale, the number of subscriptions in Ufa reached 5,000 people.

J'son & Partners Consulting presents the key results of conducted research includes analysis of current situation and regions (America, Europe and Asia), a detailed review of mobile the further market development. The research contains the analysis of such mobile VAS as SMS, transfer, mobile commerce, mobile marketing and mobile TV.

Size and structure of Russian mobile VAS market

J'son & Partners Consulting estimates the volume of the mobile VAS market in Russia at 94 bln RUR (3.8 bln USD) in 2008, and at 55 bln RUR ($1.681 bln; at average currency rate 32,71 rubles per 1 US dollar) in the 1st half of 2009.

Further confusion over Iran's 3rd mobile license after Russia's MegaFon denied earlier reports that it had been awarded the contract. Although the company has previously suggested it would be interested in a license in the country, it is now saying that it has lost all such interest.

The Iranian TV channel, Press TV reported earlier this week that Megafon had been granted a license to build a mobile phone network in the country.

"MegaFon does not plan to enter the market of Iran," said Peter Lidov, PR Director of MegaFon. "We monitor opportunities to enter promising markets outside Russia but Iran is not among them", he added.

MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS, announced commercial launch of 3G networks in largest cities of Kuznetsk Basin – Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk.

Now when 3G networks are rolled out MTS subscribers in Kemerovo and Novokuznetsk can use mobile internet with speeds up to 3.6 MBit/s.

Subscribers who want to use 3G services should have a 3G handset, subscription to GPRS service and stay in MTS 3G network coverage area. Registration of users in 3G network is automatic and free of charge.

VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark) published the rating of content-providers for June 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, Zed Russia, IncoreMedia and Neva Line.

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

MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS, announces that the boards of directors of MTS and Sistema JSFC («Sistema» – LSE: SSA), the largest public diversified financial corporation in Russia and the CIS, have approved the acquisition by an MTS subsidiary of a 50.91% stake in COMSTAR – United TeleSystems («COMSTAR-UTS» – LSE: CMST), a leading supplier of integrated telecommunication solutions in Russia and the CIS, from Sistema.

VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark) announced commercial launch of mobile 3G network in Lipetsk. 3G networks support all services provided in 2G networks and some additional features such as high data transfer rate, comparable with broadband internet access (up to 7.2 MB per second).

Now Beeline UMTS network is covering central sales office area and two other districts of the city. More districts are expected to be covered by the end of 2009.