SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Nokia (NOK) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


To: Puck who wrote (8869)1/19/2001 10:44:38 AM
From: Eric L  Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 34857
 
re: GSM in Austria (New #1 in Penetration)

>> Austria Records End 2000 75.5% Penetration - As Finland Is Ousted From Second Slot

Dan Dickinson
Research Analyst
EMC

GSM penetration in Austria reached 75.5% (EMC World Cellular Database) at the end of 2000, up from 52% at the end of 1999. It is the highest rate in Western Europe, after Iceland. Based on December 2000 figures it compares to 77.3% in Iceland and 71.4% in Italy and 68.6% in Switzerland.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Operator 		Subs YE 1999 	Subs YE 2000 	Market share YE 2000
_____________________________________________________________________________

Mobilkom 2,235,650 2,800,000 45.5%
max.mobil 1,500,000 2,100,000 34.2%
Connect Austria 'ONE' 480,000 1,150,000 18.7%
tele.ring (May launch) 100,000 1.6%

Total 4,215,650 6,150,000 100%


Source: Operators, EMC Research
Mobilkom figure includes TACS D-Netz
_____________________________________________________________________________

The GSM market in Austria is relatively small compared to the leading markets in Europe. Its high penetration rate is due partly to strong public awareness of the availability and value of mobile communications, but also the competitive nature of the market. The launch of tele.ring in May 2000, brought the number of operators to four serving a population of 8.14 million. Greater competition has brought lower tariffs and the development of more services.

What the operators say

Mobilkom

The former state monopoly said the sale of subscriptions boomed before Christmas 2000 with 130,000 new subscribers recorded in December 2000, 40% of all new subscribers in Austria according to the operator. It said its growth rate in 2000 had beaten expectations. For Christmas 2000, it was offering subscriptions for ATS 1000 (inclusive calls worth ATS 1000) with a 25% off handset prices.

Mobilkom targeted young subscribers from November 2000 with its prepaid tariff plans B-Free. The 'Komix' package which included a Nokia 3210 handset featured reduced call rates of ATS 4.20/min for weekday calls between 1300 and 1800 and all weekend calls.

The major network development at Mobilkom was the launch of a commercial GPRS service.

Subscribers were also able to use handsets throughout the Vienna subway network.

max.mobil

Austria's second largest operator reached its YE 2000 target of two million subscribers at the end of October 2000. It says its business tariff plans (max.business.class) have been particularly successful with its market share increasing from 20% at YE 1999 to 29% at October 2000. The VPN Option Zero for small and medium-sized companies, which allows free internal company calls, has been key to the success according to the operator. International roaming has also been improved with agreements with 191 partners in over 92 countries.

Prepaid has also performed well with max.mobil saying it is the market leader with 43%.

SMS has also been booming according to the operator with up to 200,000 SMSs recorded per hour on the network at peak times.

On the infrastructure front max.mobil increased its network capacity by introducing GSM-1800 across the country, providing a population coverage of 97%.

Connect Austria's ONE

Connect Austria's GSM-1800 ONE network bucked the trend for cheaper tariffs by increasing the cost of sending SMSs to between ATS 2/message and ATS 3/message from a flat rate of ATS 1/message. It also eradicated the difference between local and long distance calls to fixed lines within Austria by introducing a flat rate at all times of ATS 2/min for ONE Classic subscribers and ATS 3/min for ONE 99 subscribers. Connection costs for ONE Classic, ONE 99 and ONE Business packages were increased by ATS 99 to ATS 499. For prepaid subscribers, TAKE ONE Quickload was introduced enabling 24-hour a day telephone recharging for scratch cards.

The operator also boosted its retail infrastructure opening 35 ONE retail shops in addition to 1500 other retail outlets.

tele.ring

The GSM-1800 network launched in May 2000 and two new tariff options, tele.ring clever 60 and tele.ring clever 150 aimed at families, small businesses or friends were introduced in October 2000.

The Austrian telecommunications regulatory authority, Telekom Control Kommission (TCK), played its role in fueling the GSM boom calling on network operators to pass on cheaper interconnection charges to their customers. It said there had been little price competition on the mass market for around eighteen months. TCK also ordered a reduction in charges for rerouting mobile phone calls from ATS 2.20/min to ATS 1.90/min from August 2000. (As a new entrant to the market, tele.ring was permitted to continue levying a fee of ATS 2.70/min until further notice).

Handsets also became cheaper with retailers dramatically cutting prices including a March 2000 reduction in the price of the Ericsson T28s from ATA 9990 to ATS 990. With the market nearing saturation point dealers were saying that 90% of handsets are sold to existing GSM subscribers as opposed to new subscribers. <<

- Eric -



To: Puck who wrote (8869)1/19/2001 10:47:33 PM
From: Diamond Jim  Respond to of 34857
 
"The market doesn't seem to respond to care, as Nokia's stock price is up"

NOK 39 1/8 -1 7/8 -4.57%



To: Puck who wrote (8869)1/20/2001 5:38:32 PM
From: Eric L  Respond to of 34857
 
re: Nokia & Fujian MCC (China) - Location Positioning Trial

>> Fujian MCC to Lead the China Positioning Market Together With the First Nokia mCatch Positioning System Trial

January 19, 2000
BusinessWire

Nokia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fujian Mobile Communications Company (FMCC) in China to trial the revolutionary Nokia mCatch positioning system for Fujian MCC's GSM network.

With new Location Based Services, mobile subscribers can access a range of new, exciting services, relevant to their location, such as tourist information, weather and traffic reports, tracking, restaurants, regional advertisements, shopping and theatre ticket bookings.

The Nokia mCatch trial is the first of its kind in China and Fujian MCC will be one of the first operators in the world to implement GSM-based Nokia mCatch. Trials of the system are expected to start during first quarter 2001.

Nokia mCatch is part of the comprehensive Nokia mPosition Solution and supports open standards and industry forum developments for GMLC (Gateway Mobile Location Centre) application interfaces. It enables Location Based Services for the positioning of all existing GSM phones, using various technologies like Cell Identity (Cell ID). Timing Advance and Received Signal Strength levels (RX levels). Nokia mCatch supports different location methods (Enhanced Observed Time Difference, Network Assisted Global Positioning System, Round Trip Time and Idle Period Downlink Observed Time Difference of Arrival) and can be easily upgraded for 3G mobile networks.

Nokia mCatch is based on GSM and 3G location specifications and is part of the Nokia mPosition Solution that also includes location applications and Nokia mPlatform.

"As networks in China evolve towards higher data speeds, location based services and applications play an increasingly important role and Nokia is taking the lead together with key players in mobile Internet and the mobile developer community, stimulating the creation of new innovative applications, now," said Matti Lankinen General Manager of Location Communication Systems Business Program, Nokia. "We are pleased to sign this agreement with Fujian which will enable the rapid introduction of exciting new services early this year. This will enable Fujian to become a leader in the arena of location services and will eventually impact the whole China market as location services get more widely adopted."

Nokia is committed to a long-term development and preferred partnership in China. With innovative technology, Nokia has continuously strengthened its market position as a leading supplier of mobile and fixed network system and mobile phones in China. China is Nokia's second largest market. Nokia's investment in China has surpassed USD 1 billion. Nokia has established over 20 representative offices, seven joint ventures, one wholly owned manufacturing plant and one R&D center, and has over 5,000 employees in China. <<

- Eric -