Nigeria: CDMA Ops Draw Battle Line With Dual-Sim Technology Part 1

RELTEL Wireless, one of Nigeria's major players in the telecom industry using the CDMA (code-division multiple application) technology last week unveiled its model Reltelphone, a dual-SIM card carrying handset that enables subscribers to install both CDMA mobile and GSM networks in a strategic move aimed at consolidating its market position.

The Reltel Wireless management who stated that the device has been on test run since the last quarter of 2007 said it's introduction is meant to bring about revolutionary changes to the way Nigerians do telephony business.

Reltelphone's entry into the market have unwittingly ignited a tech war for strategic market placement in the Nigerian telecom space. It would appear the dual-SIM phone device is what major players in the CDMA operators needed to drive competition in a market that has already seen GSM operators take advantage of flexible trends to take the front burner.

With a subscriber of 39 million, out of a total 41 million, the GSM operators have total domination of the Nigerian mobile space.

Mr. Tony Okonkwo, Group Managing Director of Reltel Wireless, stated that the with the introduction of Reltelphone, the "market would never remain the same again, as we're poised to claim leadership position which actually belongs to us."

He noted that Reltel Wireless covers more cities and towns than any other operator in the sector. According to him, Reltelphone is a "result of months of consultations and research, in conjunction with our foreign technical partners to alleviate the inconvenience of carrying multiple handsets around by Nigerians."

Just as Reltelphone was making it's entry to the Nigerian market, a new operator, visafone is running a blaze of media campaign preparing consumers for a grand entry. First, it was "Have you got the Visa"? And this week, it started a new campaign theme: "Visa Granted".

Jim Ovia, Chief Executive of one of Nigeria's best known new generation banks, Zenith Bank is behind the scene at visafone, making industry watchers to conclude that better days are expected in the telecom market, especially in the CDMA sector where the competition hasn't been as fierce as in the GSM.

The visafone promise include "superior technology for enhanced services: clear voice calls, picture messaging, data e-mailiing and super-fast 3G technology. Our wide coverage means your visa is granted to any part of the world. Visafone is your passport to reach the world."

But not to be out-done, Nigeria's leading CDMA operator, Starcomms Limted, with more than one million subscribers as at early January 2008 also introduced its "One Phone, Two Worlds" dua-SIM phone.

Describing it as the Starcomms World Phone Series, the management stated that "now you can do away with the worries of carrying multiple phones with the new Starcomms world phone that works on Starcomms 0702-8 CDMA mobile network and GSM network simultaneously."

The new phone, according to Mr. Maher Qubain, Starcomms CEO is a specially customised phone for the company and allows simultaneous use of both CDMA and GSM networks.

"This allows subscribers to enjoy benefits of cheaper outgoing calls by using starcomms network while they can still continue to use their existing GSM network SIM card in the same phone."

Qubain also underlined the fact that the WORLD PHONE series is an effort on the part of Starcomms to provide alternatives to telecom subscribers carrying multiple phones

Meeting needs of consumers "We always ask ourselves what currently inconveniences the subscribers, which we can tackle?

Carrying two phones about creates a huge inconvenience, that is why we are introducing handsets that have the ability to take two different technologies.

This unique phone, which is configured to host a Reltel Wireless SIM and that of any other GSM service provider, has been on a trial run in the market for several weeks now, and we are encouraged by the performance and market acceptance of the product. We are poised to provide leadership in this market category on all fronts, including product innovation," said Okonkwo, Reltel GMD.

The features of the reltelphone which are in two variants include: Dual technology carriage - CDMA & GSM.. LCD 2.0" TFT, 128MB memory (also expandable), SMS, MMS, 2.0mpx camera, Mp3, Video, WAP enablement and comes with separate bills (for prepaid subscribers)/ separate aitime recharge.

Mr. Fab Uzor, Chief Commercial Officer, Reltel Wireless noted that the unique features of the new phone also includes "synchronisation with Laptop or Desktop computers via data cable, active Bluetooth, Integrated PDA with High Resolution Touch Screen display and easy-to-use soft keys, GPRS and MMS capable ith all features of DG networks".
End of Part 1
Source: allafrica.com