Global mobile subscriptions slump

The most recent snapshot of the global telecoms industry has dialled up some bad numbers for managers at Vodafone and other mobile phone operators, states The Herald.

Figures compiled by Informa Telecoms & Media, a London-based telecoms industry consultancy, show the number of net new mobile phone subscribers in the world fell sharply in the fourth quarter of 2008 and the growth of mobile data revenues stalled for the first time.

The report provides further evidence of the impact of the global economic slump on the mobile telecoms sector.

The next-generation cellular services, commonly known as 3G, will be introduced in Pakistan this year, an official said last week, reports The Peninsula.

Federal secretary for information technology and telecom, Hafeezur Rehman, said the policy for launching these services has already been submitted to the federal cabinet and after its approval within three to four weeks spectrum will be auctioned.

He said despite the global recession and a worrying security situation, the government wants 3G services to be available for Pakistani cellular customers.

Cellular operator Cellcom Israel has introduced a new application, 8hands, which enables subscribers to link to social network sites, according to Globes Online.

Cellcom says the 'Cellcom Click' hotspot, which has been set up on the company's Web site and cellular portal, supports recreation and entertainment, chat, information, social networks, and other applications. 8hands supports Facebook, Flicker, MySpace, RSS, Twitter, and YouTube.

Cellcom VP of marketing, Adi Cohen, says, "Social networks are among the most popular and commonest means of communications and interaction....We have no choice but to enable our subscribers to be have mobile, immediate, and spontaneous contact with all social networks 24/7.”