(Telecompaper) The number of applications downloaded from the Apple App Store has reached over 1.5 billion, in one year since the online service was launched. Apple announced that there are now more than 65,000 apps available from the store in 77 countries, and more than 100,000 developers registered with the iPhone Developer Program. The App Store works with both the iPod touch and the iPhone. Apple has shipped over 40 million of these devices that run apps from the App Store.

(Telecompaper) GTel Mobile is expected to launch services in Vietnam on 20 July. The company will offer services under the Beeline brand, the Thanh Nien Daily reports. Beeline will provide services in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Gtel Mobile is a joint venture between Russian and CIS mobile operator VimpelCom and Vietnamese state-owned enterprise Global Telecommunications. Earlier this year the company awarded a contract to Alcatel-Lucent for a GSM/Edge network.

(Telecompaper) The Bahamas government has rolled out the formal sale process for a 51 percent stake in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). State-owned operator BTC currently serves over 334,000 mobile subscribers (GSM and CDMA), 132,000 fixed-line customers and 18,500 broadband users throughout the Bahamas. Interested investors can register for the BTC privatization process and pay the corresponding fee of USD 25,000 by 28 July. Once the payment of the registration fee is confirmed, interested parties will enter a pre-qualification stage, receiving additional details on the process and a list of information requirements for evaluation by the government. Pre-qualification applications should be submitted by 14 August. Those who pre-qualify will then be invited to participate in a formal due diligence exercise, ultimately resulting in an economic bidding process for the 51 percent stake in BTC. The government will maintain the remaining 49 percent of its stake in BTC.

(Telecompaper) Vodafone plans to abandon its Vodafone live! brand for its portal services and switch to a new mobile internet marketing called My Web. According to marketing publication New Media Age, My Web has already been soft-launched in the UK and will gradually take traffic as Vodafone live is phased out over the summer. After the UK switch-over, roll-outs will follow in 11 international markets. My Web features a set of links to popular sites such as the BBC, Twitter and Facebook, and allows users to customise the interface with their own services and feeds. Simon Ryder, marketing planning manager at Vodafone, said the change is about making the data services easier to use, with quicker access and more personalisation options. Vodafone subscribers can also manage My Web from their PC, and the operator has developed a toolbar that can be embedded in browsers to let people add their favourite sites for access via mobile. Vodafone will continue to sell content such as ringtones, games and video via a Shop tab on the My Web portal as its commercial agreements with content providers remain unchanged. It will also continue to sell mobile ad inventory and offer mobile search via Google. The Nokia N85 and 6210 phones will be the first to be switched over to the My Web experience. The shift forms part of the launch of the Vodafone Homescreen user interface, which also includes the launch of the Vodafone Apps Shop.

(Telecompaper) UK cable operator Virgin Media announced the completion of its roll-out of Docsis 3.0 technology on its network, making broadband at up to 50 Mbps available to over 12 million UK households. In addition to the ongoing tests in Ashford for broadband at 200Mbps, the company announced plans to start trials of upload services at up to 10Mbps in selected areas in the North East and Midlands area. The company is also cutting the price of its 50Mbps service plan. From 1 September, the top-speed plan will cost GBP 28 if taken with a fixed-line voice plan, or GBP 38 as a standalone product, down from respectively GBP 35 and GBP 50 per month. Also this week, Virgin Media is launching its own-branded netbook. The Freedom laptop, valued at GBP 300, is available in black or red and weighs 1.1kg. The computer features a 10.2-inch screen, Windows XP, Intel Atom processor N270, 1GB memory, 120GB Sata hard drive, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, webcam and 2-in-1 card reader. New and existing customers will be able to get the laptop free with certain 24-month contracts for both fixed and mobile broadband services.

(Telecompaper) T-Mobile has unveiled its second Android-based smartphone, the T-Mobile G2 Touch. The smartphone offers direct access to Google services such as YouTube, Gmail and Picasa as well as to Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. The phone is HSDPA 7.2 enabled and offers a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus. The G2 Touch will be available from 1 August in Germany, from EUR 9.95 in combination with a Combi Flat L service plan. The device will also be available with all other Combi Flat or Combi Relax tariffs in combination with a 24-month contract. The G2 Touch will also be available in Austria, but no details about the launch date and prices were revealed.

(Telecompaper) Research In Motion reported revenues of USD 3.42 billion for its fiscal first quarter to May, up 53 percent from the year-earlier period. The company shipped 7.8 million phones during the quarter, while the number of BlackBerry subscribers rose by 3.8 million to a total 28.5 million. Net profit improved to USD 643.0 million, or USD 1.12 per share, from USD 482.5 million, or USD 0.84 per share diluted, in the same quarter last year. The figure was helped by a tax benefit on currency rules of USD 175 million, offset by a charge of USD 75 million for employee taxes. RIM forecast second-quarter revenue of USD 3.45-3.70 billion and EPS of USD 0.94-1.03. Net subscriber account additions in the second quarter are estimated at 3.8-4.1 million. RIM finished May with USD 2.42 billion in cash and investments.

(Telecompaper) Vietnamese carrier EVN Telecom and Ha Noi Telecom have inked a VND 6 trillion strategic agreement on 3G technology, reports Viet Nam News. Under the agreement, the two sides will invest in building 5,000 base transceiver stations to provide 3G technology to consumers. The service will cover 50 percent of residential areas. The two telecommunication providers said they would provide consumers with 3G services nine months after receiving their licence. Currently, EVN Telecom has more than 3,000 BTS nationwide and Ha Noi Telecom has 1,200 BTS. As planned, EVN Telecom and Ha Noi Telecom will bring the number of BTS to 8,000 this year.

(Telecompaper) Brazil added 2.905 million new mobile lines in May, finishing the month with growth of 1.88 percent to a total 157.502 million mobile users. Prepaid users made up 81.75 percent of the base, and postpaid accounted for 18.25 percent. CDMA technology has fallen to 6.7 percent of lines, while GSM accounts for 86.34 percent and WCDMA 3.71 percent. The teledensity increased to 82.44 percent of the population from 68.23 percent a year ago. According to the figures from market regulator Anatel, Vivo remained market leader with 29.38 percent of subscribers, followed by Claro Brasil with 25.51 percent, TIM Brasil with 23.59 percent and Oi with 21.14 percent.

(Telecompaper) US-based regional fixed-line carriers CenturyTel and Embarq are to become CenturyLink following regulatory approval of their merger. CenturyTel will be listed on the stock exchange as CTL, with full deployment of the new brand identity expected over the next few months and customers notified in advance. As part of the new brand identity, CenturyLink will be used on building signage, company vehicles and marketing materials.