HUAWEI Technologies has been selected by the world-leading telecom operator TelefГіnica as the key provider for Vivo, the largest mobile telecommunications operator in the South Hemisphere, to construct a 3G-oriented GSM network. This signifies that the strategic collaboration between TelefГіnica and HUAWEI has been elevated to a new phase, and recognizes that HUAWEI’s innovative wireless solutions are able to meet strict requests of any high-end markets.

The TelefГіnica VIVO GSM project entails constructing the largest GSM network for 2006 in Latin America. According to the contract, HUAWEI will construct GSM networks for the most economically developed states along the coastline in Brazil, including Rio de Janeiro, EspГ­rito Santo, ParanГЎ, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, which cover world-famous tourist cities such as Rio de Janeiro. Thousands of HUAWEI’s Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) will be deployed in the first phase of the contract.

The entire network constructed by HUAWEI will adopt its EnerG GSM solution featuring 2G/3G compatibility and new generation GSM stations, outfitted with equipment that is capable of smooth evolution to 3G. This way, HUAWEI helps the operator to maximize their value and profit by lowering long-term network construction costs and network life-cycle operational & maintenance expenditure.

“The VIVO GSM project is one of the largest mobile projects of TelefГіnica in recent years. For us, the compatibility with 3G services is very important to assure its future upgrade to WCDMA/UMTS in a cost-effective way. TelefГіnica is very happy to further develop its relationship with HUAWEI in Latin America,” commented Mr. Cesar Alierta, Chairman of TelefГіnica.

“Thanks for TelefГіnica and Vivo’s trust on HUAWEI, and we are delighted to have become TelefГіnica’s key partner in wireless area and meanwhile,” said Ms. Sun Yafang, Chairwoman of HUAWEI, “As the world’s leading multinational telecom operator, TelefГіnica is very strict in selecting suppliers in terms of comprehensive ability. HUAWEI’s leading solutions and quick-response and quality services will help VIVO to maintain its leading position in the market, and will bring its customers with more novel services and more abundant experiences.”

As the world’s fastest-growing mainstream operator, HUAWEI GSM solution has served 120 million subscribers. In the mean time, HUAWEI has won over 30 WCDMA/HSDPA commercial contracts worldwide. The cooperation with TelefГіnica and Vivo further consolidates HUAWEI’s leading position in the Brazilian and Latin American markets.

Italian carrier Telecom Italia recorded a 13.4 per cent year on year increase in consolidated net profit for the first quarter to reach Eur744m (ВЈ511m). On the back of strong growth in Brazil and the broadband sector, revenues also increased 6.5 per cent year on year to Eur7.48bn.

The wireline division delivered first quarter revenues of Eur4.47bn, up 2.6 per cent on 2005, with Telecoms Italia’s broadband lines in Italy topping 6.1 million at the end of April. Considering 1.5 million broadband lines in France, Germany and Holland, and increase of 202,000 from the end of 2005, Telecom Italia’s total portfolio of broadband lines in Europe stood at over 7.6 million at the end of March.

The operator’s mobile subscriber base increased to 50.7 million during the quarter, with the operator topping 30 million connections in Italy.

Revenues at TIM Brasil increased 15.9 per cent year on year to Real2.2bn (ВЈ574m), while TIM’s GSM subscriber base reached 17.8 million.

Cesar Bachelet, analyst with Ovum, said that within its domestic market, “Telecom Italia keeps running harder to stand still…and is therefore increasingly dependent upon its overseas ventures, notably its Brazilian mobile operations, for growth.”

But, “as its main source of growth is highly vulnerable, the group’s focus in the years ahead will have to be the successful integration of its domestic fixed and mobile units. Capitalising on the resulting synergies and savings will be key to restoring the bottom line,” the analyst said.

The Palm(R) Treo(TM) 650 smartphone is now available to businesses and consumers on the Vivo network in Brazil.

The Treo 650 smartphone joins Vivo’s portfolio for its Smart Mail corporate service, which allows real-time access to email, calendar, contacts and tasks. The service is compatible with corporate servers, such as Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, as well as with private IMAP and POP accounts, such as Terra, UOL, BOL, iG and Gmail. Vivo Smart Mail uses the CDMA 1xRTT network available in 19 Brazilian states and the Federal District, allowing data transfer and Internet access speed at 144kbps.

With carrier activation, the Treo 650 smartphone combines a compact, full-featured mobile phone with email, a Palm OS(R) organizer, messaging and web access, MP3 player, synchronization with Microsoft Outlook and a digital camera that allows users to take photos and videos. The QWERTY keyboard makes it easy to send and receive email. The Treo 650 comes with DataViz(R) Documents To Go(R), which enables users to create and edit Word and Excel compatible documents as well as view PowerPoint files. Users also can personalize their Treo 650 with accessories and any of the 29,000 applications available on the Palm OS platform.

“We believe the Treo 650 will be very successful with our consumer customers because of the convergence of telephone, personal organizer, email and Internet, not to mention the strength of Palm’s brand that adds a great appeal to the product,” said Roger Sole, Vivo director of Premium Segment. “And Treo 650 makes Vivo even more competitive in the business segment, due to the available business functions combined with access to corporate email through Vivo Smart mail.”

“The Treo 650 smartphone works not only for executives who need to be connected on the go to their email, tasks and schedule, but also for those consumers who want to have fun with MP3, pictures and video,” said Alexandre Szapiro, country manager, Palm Brazil.