World Briefs

London

Following its launch of an MVNO service in the United Kingdom promoted through a multimillion-dollar ad campaign, British Telecommunications Inc. launched a new service, BTringtones.com, on its public Internet kiosks. The new service offers ring tones, as well as multimedia messaging service backgrounds, logos, pictures messages and Java games, for mobile phones. BTringtones.com is free to access from more than 1,400 BT kiosks across the country. Customers can select, buy and download the items they want through touch screens. They can pay with cash, credit cards, by text messaging or by calling a premium-rate phone number. The site, provided by Ringtones Online, caters to Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Siemens, Motorola, Samsung, Sagem, Sharp and Panasonic handsets.

Oman

Siemens AG said it won a $40 million contract with Oman Telecommunications Co. to expand its GSM network in Oman. The expansion will bring service to the country’s remote regions, such as al-Dahkilia, al-Sharqiya and al-Dhaira. Siemens will supply and install base stations and fit GSM technology along the country’s main highways.

Singapore

Vodafone Group plc added a new operator to its Partner Network Agreement program, making Singapore’s MobileOne its exclusive partner in the city state and its first partner in Asia. Under the agreement, the operators will cooperate in developing and offering products and services to international and domestic customers. M1 will offer Vodafone’s and its partners’ customers seamless access to Vodafone’s international mobile services while traveling in Singapore, and M1 customers can access Vodafone’s roaming services across its footprint.

Taiwan

Taiwan’s Far EasTone Telecommunications has chosen Amdocs’ Enabler product for convergent voice, data, content and commerce billing. The billing solution will allow FET to offer improved customer service.

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