VIEW: Mobile News in Iranian Mass Media, Tuesday, April 29, 2008

• Mellat Bank, TCI to be privatized in June
• Hamrah Aval to disconnect 400,000 indebted mobile users
• “Bumps in third mobile operator”
• Approach to mobile technology usage needs change
• Espadan reduces rates of prepaid SIM change
• Subscribers’ criticisms

Articles’ Digest:
• More than ten foreign mobile operators tend to bid for third mobile operator auction, said Communications Minister in an interview with Fars News Agency. This was the major mobile news published today in the Iranian mass media, including Iran, Hamshahri, Keyhan, Resalat, Donya-ye Eghtesad, Sarmayeh, Khabar, Fanavaran, Arman, Abrar-e Eghtesadi, Tehran-e Emrouz, Tafahom, Javan, Sobh-e Eghtesad, Jahan-e Eghtesad, Jahan-e Sanat, Poul, Kar-o-Kargar and Eghtesad-e Pouya dailies.
• All rural areas recently become cities would become under mobile network coverage till the end of the year, said TCI CEO in an interview with ISNA. This was published today in Iran, Hamshahri, Siasat-e Rouz, Fanavaran, Donya-ye Eghtesad, Abrar-e Eghtesadi, Ebtekar, Hambastegi, Javan, Sobh-e Eghtesad, Jahan-e Eghtesad, Poul, Kaenat and Etemad dailies.
• Presently, the only barrier to TCI privatization is that the company must be first changed to a public company, and it must be then notified that its transfer in June is certain, said Deputy of Privatization Organization. This was published today in Hamshahri, Sarmayeh, Khabar, Asrar, Qods and Tehran-e Emrouz.
• Hamrah Aval will disconnect 400,000 indebted subscribers, which include six percent of its subscribers, after sending an SMS alert to them, said Marketing General Manager in an interview with MOBNA. This was published today in Fanavaran, Donya-ye Eghtesad, Sobh-e Eghtesad, Jahan-e Eghtesad and Eghtesad-e Pouya dailies.
• MOBNA yesterday published an article titled “Dumps in third mobile operator” written by Kourosh Shams that discusses in detail the problems of attracting foreign investment and establishment of the third mobile operator. This was published today in Jahan-e Eghtesad daily.
• A leading communications expert said in an interview with MOBNA the approach to using mobile technology in our country needs some changes, while there is no solution for creating culture and best usage of SMS service but training users.
• Group of Mobile Communications Company of Isfahan said about cut in tariffs for changing Espadan’s prepaid SIM cards, HAMNA reported.This was published today in Fanavaran daily.
• HAMNA published yesterday an article titled “Active market of Iran’s third mobile operator” that discusses in detail the reception of foreign investors from third mobile operator project.
• Iran daily published today a subscriber’s criticism about weak mobile network coverage in some districts of Karaj County.
• Khorasan daily today published a subscriber’s criticism, saying that TCI does not inform about SIM card deactivation.
125