iTouch has extended its iNfotext service to MTN subscribers, allowing them access to a wealth of information, from sport to weather updates, while at the same time nearly doubling iTouch`s client base.
"This has made iTouch one of the largest wireless application service providers in sub-Saharan Africa," says iTouch`s new sales director, Wayne Levine.
"The arrangement will allow us to provide our value-added cellular services to another 32% of the existing mobile population, which is something we have been working towards for some time."
He says that iTouch already processes over a million requests for information via its iNfotext service every month, even though the service was only available to Vodacom subscribers until now.
"The ability to extend this offering to MTN`s subscriber base is a natural extension of our business plan," says Levine.
"The iNfotext service includes a wealth of information such as sports, finance, lotto, movies and weather updates, so we offer a wide variety of information and expect our number of requests to increase dramatically now that we have MTN on board."
A premium SMS rate of R1.50 is charged for Vodacom and R1.71 for MTN.
In other news, the MTN Group has reported a 10.8% increase in Ugandan subscribers since 30 June, taking the total number of subscribers to MTN Uganda`s service to over 400 000.
"MTN Uganda has managed to retain its leading position in the Ugandan telecommunications market, where it holds a 64% total market share, which includes both its fixed and mobile services," says Yvonne Muthien, group executive: corporate affairs, MTN Group.
"MTN has pioneered many innovations in the cellular and technological industries, including the erection of the first solar-powered payphone on Lake Victoria in Uganda, providing local fishermen with access to a telephone, for business or personal use."
"MTN has also installed over 2 400 community payphones in Uganda over a period of five years, demonstrating its ability to operate both fixed and mobile services," she says.
According to Muthien, since October 1998, MTN has significantly increased teledensity in Uganda to 2%, from just 0.2%.
"Our initial capital investment of $40 million has increased to $175 million as we continue to expand our coverage throughout the country and improve telecommunications access for Ugandans."
She says that the MTN Group`s other international operations on the continent - namely Rwanda, Cameroon, Nigeria and Swaziland - continue to perform well, driven by a steady increase in subscriber numbers.
"As of 30 June 2003, MTN had recorded 2 238 000 subscribers on its networks operated outside of South Africa. This is an 11.6% increase since financial year-end 31 March 2003," says Muthien.
"The group`s international operations comprise approximately 31% of the total subscriber base which means that if one includes its South African operation, subscriber figures stand at more than seven million subscribers."
iTouch is a London-listed company
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