Nokia signs strategic pact with MTS

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:40:13 -0400

Recognising the growing importance of the Russian and CIS markets has seen Nokia sign a MoU with the region's largest operator, MTS, for the supply of Nokia products and services.

The deal, signed at the recent 2009 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, will see Nokia directly supplying handsets to the retail outlets of MTS, together with joint marketing campaigns to promote Nokia's handsets and a special training program for staff at MTS retail sites. The first example of this new partnership will involve the recently launched Nokia N97 equipped with software specifically developed for MTS.

Commenting on the MoU, Niels Nielsen, director-general of Nokia in Russia, said that, working with MTS, Nokia had developed applications and widgets tailored to the Russian users. "The primary difference of the N97 from currently available smartphones is not just the availability of touch display and QWERTY keyboard on one device, but the fact that it is a mobile computer with a range of applications that allow individual customisation of the handset."

MTS said it has also developed a number of branded applications for the N97 aimed at business users that will be distributed on a free 2GB micro-SD card when the handset goes on sale later this month in MTS stores in Moscow.

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From Russia with concern - where next for MTS and VimpelCom?

Paul Rasmussen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:09:18 -0500

Russia's two largest MNOs took giant steps in October to reposition themselves in Russia and the CIS region. For MTS, a strategic partnership with Vodafone followed a two-phase attempt to place 20 billion roubles in bonds. VimpelCom has also sought to raise funds and has scooped a 49.9 per cent stake in Russia's largest mobile handset retailer. However, despite these concerted attempts to reposition themselves, the effect of the global economic downturn and political exigencies could wreak havoc. For MTS and VimpelCom, the Russian mobile market is fast maturing. Mobile penetration is running about 130% and Ovum forecasts that it will exceed 150% by 2013. Speculation is rife that either of them could even expand beyond their regional Eurasian footprint to target markets in Africa and Asia. Article