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FRiENDi mobile goes live in Oman today

MUSCAT -- FRiENDi mobile, the Sultanate's first mobile reseller goes live today. Oman is the first country in the region to have gone in for Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) business model. Addressing a press conference here yesterday, Mohammed Yousuf Alawi al Ibrahim, Chairman, FRiENDi Mobile Oman, said: "The launch will see the release of FRiENDi mobile starter packs in hundreds of shops across Oman." FRiENDi mobile has tied up with Oman Mobile as a mobile reseller, offering attractive call rates and a number of added services and features that have not been seen in the market before, said Antti Arponen, CEO, FRiENDi Oman.

In response to a question on the initial investment made by FRiENDi Oman, Arponen said: "We have made a heavy investment". Arponen also said, "It is not just the prices that differentiate FRiENDi, but also a range of added services and features. FRiENDi mobile provides a high quality customer experience plus exciting and relevant services that sets us apart from the competition. We provide services, including customer service and website in six languages which is a first for Oman". To get started, customers should purchase a FRiENDi mobile starter pack, priced at RO 2, which includes the SIM along with 100 free minutes and 100 free SMS for those who are among the first to purchase a FRiENDi mobile starter pack.

FRiENDi mobile offers three different recharge card values, with the users being able to choose from convenient recharge amounts of 500 baisas, RO 1.5 and RO 4. In addition, its advanced systems provide the latest technology in flexible recharge, where the users can choose recharge amounts as low as 10 baisas, which is unique in the Omani market, said Arponen, who distributed free FRiENDi mobile starter packs to journalists and all other attendees. Arponen said: "Our SIM not only offers a competitive rate for local calls as well as exciting value added services, but our international call rates are the lowest mobile rates in the market, with for example calls to India starting at 164 baiza per minute.

The call rate for FRiENDi mobile to FRiENDi mobile is a flat rate of 39 baisas per minute anytime, with no peak or off-peak timing, while FRiENDi mobile users can call to other local networks for 39 baizas per minute off-peak". The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Oman (TRA) issued the operating license to FRiENDi mobile in 2008. Speaking to media Ibrahim said: "We are grateful to TRA for their support throughout the period preceding the launch of FRiENDi mobile, and I believe everyone in Oman should be proud that the mobile reseller business model that has been successful in highly developed telecom markets in Europe and North America from has been introduced in Oman from today as the first country in the MENA region".

FRiENDi mobile starter packs are now available from Lulu, Safeer, Zahra phones, KM Trading , Zahrath al Hanna and hundreds of other outlets throughout the Sultanate. FRiENDi GROUP offers mobile services across South Asia, Middle East and Africa regions as a mobile reseller/MVNO, which is a proven business model that brings significant benefits to customers, telecom operator partners and the countries where FRiENDi GROUP operates. FRiENDi GROUP has its global headquarters in Dubai Internet City in the UAE, and has established a number of local operating companies and joint ventures across the region.

By Hasan Kamoonpuri

© Oman Daily Observer 2009