Another $400 million handset deal goes to motorola! i said a few days back cdma sales were on fire in brazil qcom/brazil better get it's act together fast as motorola has 2 cdma phones to their one qphone i predict biggest growth will be in prepaid phones i know motorola have one --
'Baby'' is the first product available to cellular customers in Sao Paulo to combine simplicity and complete cost control:
subscribers are not tied to contracts and they decide the level and timing of their consumption.
The ''Baby'' kit includes a dual mode handset with free activation and R$100 in airtime credit valid for 90 days, and is priced at
R$599. ''Baby'' subscribers will enjoy no monthly service charges.
Credit recharges can be made electronically through ''Baby Machines'' which are linked to the major Brazilian banking
networks, or in person at Telesp Celular shops and soon through authorized retail banks. Electronic recharges represent a
major innovation over the cellular products currently available in Brazil, offering lower operating costs along with increased
security.
When the initial R$100 airtime credit has been used up, ''Baby'' customers will have two recharge options available: R$50 for
90 days or R$100 for 1 year. Airtime for both options is priced at a single rate of R$1.4 per minute, including VC1 (local),
VC2 (intrastate) and VC3 (interstate).
''Baby'' subscribers will have instant access to information on their remaining credit and recharge date (when current airtime
credits expire) by dialing a dedicated number linked to an automated answering system. Additionally, an automatic warning call
is generated by the system when a customer's credit reaches a minimum level. ''Baby'' customer service will be available 24
hours a day.
''Baby'' subscribers will be offered voice mail service which will store up to five 30-second messages free of charge.
''Baby'' will initially be distributed in Greater Sao Paulo only, and will gradually be introduced in the interior of the State.
Commenting on this launching, Telesp Celular's management stated:
''We are very happy to make this unique product available in the Sao Paulo cellular market. This fits well in our strategy of
speeding up the rollout of new products and services aimed at differentiating Telesp Celular from its competitors while meeting
market needs and expectations.
Based upon our previous experience in Portugal, we expect ''Baby'' to become a success and contribute strongly both to our
aggressive growth targets and to reinforcing the Company's brand name.''
Telesp Celular Participacoes, which spun-off from Telebras in July 1998, is the principal cellular telecommunications provider in
the State of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Telesp Celular Participacoes' Common shares trade on BOVESPA, the Sao Paulo Stock
Exchange, and its ADRs, each equal to 2,500 preferred shares, trade on the New York Stock Exchange. Information may be
accessed on Bloomberg under the symbol TCP and on the Reuters 2000 Service under the symbols TSPP3.SA and
TSPP4.SA
Contact:
Telesp Celular, Sao Paulo
Cidalia Morgado, 55-11-3059-7590
or
Taylor Rafferty Associates, New York
James Prout, 212/889-4350
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Motorola strengthened its presence in the Brazilian market with a nearly $400 million
agreement to supply one million CDMA phones and CDMA cellular infrastructure to
Telesp Cellular.
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