Communications

MTS and Microsoft deliver value on mobile services

12 February 2008

Mobile TeleSystems OJSC (MTS), the largest mobile phone operator in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and Microsoft will cooperate to deliver new mobile communications services for MTS customers. The collaboration is aimed at extending the range of products in the MTS portfolio of value-added services.

Through the agreement, MTS and Microsoft will develop a road map for delivering new services to satisfy rising demand for data products and services throughout MTS’ markets. Initially, through MTS Connect, the company’s tariff class dedicated to data transfer and mobile Internet access, the companies will introduce Windows Vista-based notebook PCs, which offer built-in mobile broadband access, and make them available to customers through a subscription payment model.

At comparatively low prices, MTS aims to bring to market a best-in-class proposition featuring an innovative laptop design, a variety of tariff plans to address the needs of a wide array of users, customer service and support, and equipment fully tested and certified to meet MTS customers’ high expectations. The subscription PC program is expected to be available to MTS consumers by June 2008.

“Our engagement with Microsoft allows us to fulfil our brand promise of delivering more for our customers,” said Cynthia Gordon, vice president and chief marketing officer for MTS. “Customers of all types will be able to choose a bundled mobile broadband service at a price that fits their budget.”

“The breadth of operator-enabled services that Microsoft has available today opens up a huge opportunity for MTS to deliver exciting experiences to their subscribers,” said Martha Béjar, corporate vice president for the communications sector at Microsoft. “And for Microsoft, MTS represents a significant channel to market for our software and services to give more people access to better mobile technology.”