Latin America
Millicom International Cellular S.A. said MIC Latin America recently commenced offering dial-up Internet and e-mail services to its mobile telephony customers in Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Paraguay. “In Colombia and Guatemala, we have already secured market shares for dial-up Internet access of 11 percent and 24 percent, respectively, and both dial-up Internet and e-mail services are likely to grow rapidly,” said Marc Beuls, president and chief executive officer of MIC.
China
GSM provider Omnipoint Communications launched international roaming in Beijing and most other major cities in China, the company said. China Mobile now will offer digital wireless service to Omnipoint subscribers traveling throughout China, Omnipoint said.
Japan
Puma Technology Inc. said it entered into a strategic partnership with Japanese cellular carrier IDO Corp. to enable wireless synchronization to personal information management software. The partnership will allow IDO to offer its EZaccess phone customers access to their corporate data. Under the agreement, IDO will promote Puma’s Intellisync technology, which customers will buy through Puma’s distribution channels.
Italy
Telecom Italia Mobile said Europe’s first urban call using a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System third-generation network was made in Italy. The call was made Nov. 16 from the center of Turin to the UMTS center in Telecom Italia’s research center, said the company. The test used equipment supplied by L.M. Ericsson. TIM, owned by Olivetti, has more than 15 million wireless subscribers.
Sweden
Nokia Corp. announced Swedish carrier Telia Mobile has agreed to buy Nokia’s Artus Messaging Platform to extend Wireless Application Protocol services to customers over its Global System for Mobile communications network. Telia said it will provide the service through its MyDOF platform.
