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Did you fall victim to the cellphone virus hoax?

If you received an e-mail warning you not to answer your cellphone in certain circumstances, or "you will have to buy a new phone", you can relax. The warning, which apparently caused panic in Lebanon where it is thought to have originated, is another virus hoax. "There is no substance to this rumour. Use your cellphone as much as you like and listen to your e-mail with confidence," says Joan Joffe, group chief executive for corporate affairs at Vodacom.

Ericsson SA invests R17 million in service infrastructure

Ericsson South Africa is investing R17 million during the current financial year to establish a national network of service facilities throughout the country. Tor Nordli-Mathisen, director of mobile phones for Ericsson SA, says the company will have rolled out 200 service outlets by the end of 1999 and will continue to introduce new outlets in response to market demand.

2:50

GSM

Apr 26, 1999

Vodacom predicts g-force G-Mail

Vodacom has predicted a quantum leap in data transmission on its GSM network. This follows the announcement by the GSM Association that a staggering one billion GSM text messages will be sent in April 1999 alone. "We are clearly moving from a verbal to a visual GSM world," said Richard Midgett, chairman of the GSM Association. The Association represents the interests of 347 global network operators, regulators and administrative bodies from 133 countries or areas.

Vodacom earns ISO 9000 certification

In what it says is a first for the SA cellular industry, Vodacom`s entire R6 billion cellular network company has achieved ISO 9000 certification. Vodacom says this will result in enhanced network quality and lower dropped call rates.

Connecting Africa with GSM <P>

One in every three phone calls made in SA involves a cell phone and the local cellular market is set to grow by another million this year. However, after 1999, a reduced growth is expected and experts warn that the third and/or fourth cellular license be awarded soon otherwise the new operators will not be able to survive.

NextCom joins cell fray

Another black empowerment company has joined the rush to bid for the upcoming third cellular license, reports Business Day. According to the daily, the NextCom consortium will submit its bid with black-owned partner Maluti Telecommunications.

Staff Writer