Samsung mobile connects customers to ' RockeTalk'

Through RockeTalk application, Samsung mobile phone users will now be able to use RockeTalk’s unique and interactive features of voice and video blogs directly from mobile phone, sending of photos and video clips, live multimedia discussion forums and much more To enrich the consumers’ platform available across its WAVE series of experience on its proprietary ‘bada’ mobile handsets, Samsung is now making available RockeTalk, the leading mobile social media network, available on its ‘bada’ platform. Through RockeTalk application, Samsung mobile phone users will now be able to use RockeTalk’s unique and interactive features of voice and video blogs directly from mobile phone, sending of photos and video clips, live multimedia discussion forums and much more. In addition to being a personal gateway to communicate with friends, family and the world at large; RockeTalk will facilitate an enriching experience of hassle free and smart mobile social networking. “India is at the forefront of interactive mobile social networking interface and our effort is to continuously provide consumers with an enhanced social networking experience on our mobiles. RockeTalk is a very popular and user friendly mobile social network; their huge user base, cutting edge technology, advanced platform and their commitment to the mobile users’ has made them our preferred choice states .Sarfaraz Borah, Lead, Applications & Services, Samsung India. “We are delighted to partner with Samsung Mobile. The inclusion of RockeTalk to Samsung phones reiterates our commitment of providing quality applications, flexibility for customisation and social media networking experience as per the demands of our users. We are confident that this association will generate a favourable response and will deliver great customer satisfaction as always" stated . Rajiv Kumar, Founder & CEO, RockeTalk. In addition to the interesting and engaging services available on RockeTalk; the Samsung Mobile users will get a chance to experience the unique video chat.  The RockeTalk application can be downloaded through samsungapps.com. The Samsung app store - samsungapps.com can be accessed through an ODC in the phone, through a desktop client called KIES and through the web portal www.samsungapps.com. As per mobile analytics firm Informate, RockeTalk is ahead of Facebook and Twitter on mobile in India. Rocketalk is also one of the top downloaded applications with numbers floating around 87,931 in the week of February 4-10, 2011 from App Stores of most service providers. (Feb results - http://djuzz.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/djuzz-weekly-charts-4-10-february-2011/) Additionally, RockeTalk has recently opened its APIs to third party developers for the first time. The Company has extended its technologically advanced platform for creation of a subscription based rich content distribution application.

Etisalat to introduce Western Union mobile money transfer service in 18 countries

UAE based mobile operator Etisalat Group has signed an agreement with Western Union to introduce the Western Union international mobile money transfer service in the 18 countries where Etisalat operates.

Western Union said once the agreement is introduced, it will enable Etisalat's subscribers to send and receive Western Union Money Transfer transactions using their mobile 'wallets,' or accounts tied to their mobile phones.

Subscribers who initiate transactions from their mobile phones would be able to send funds to a receiver for cash payout at more than 400,000 Western Union Agent locations in 200 countries and territories.

In addition, this agreement will enable Etisalat subscribers to send funds to other selected mobile subscribers who have mobile wallets.

Etisalat subscribers who receive a Western Union money transfer in their mobile wallets would be able to use the funds to pay bills, top up airtime, send money domestically or internationally, or withdraw cash at a cash-out agent or any participating ATM, according to Western Union.

Western Union senior vice president of Electronic Channels Khalid Fellahi said their research shows that many of their customers want to send and receive money via electronic channels like the mobile phone.

"This alliance with Etisalat, a leading and rapidly expanding mobile operator in the region, will offer Etisalat's extensive subscriber base a convenient service they can use anywhere, anytime," Fellahi said.

Western Union offers the Mobile Money Transfer Service in the Philippines with Smart Communications and Globe Telecom; in Kenya with Safaricom; in Malaysia with Maxis; and in Canada with EnStream.source

Ambani questioned over telecom scam (AFP)

 Indian telecom tycoon Anil Ambani met police investigators on Wednesday to answer questions over a suspected mobile licensing fraud that robbed the government of billions of dollars.

Ambani's Reliance ADA group, which controls India's second-biggest mobile group Reliance Communications, said the visit by the billionaire to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in New Delhi was voluntary.

"No summons of any kind has been issued by the CBI," the Reliance statement said.

Ambani, India's fourth-richest man with an estimated $13.7 billion fortune, according to Forbes, met CBI officials "to clarify ongoing issues relating to telecom matters", the group said.

The CBI would not immediately comment on Ambani's visit in connection with the widening police probe into the alleged fraud, one of the biggest corruption cases in Indian history that has badly damaged the Congress-led government which is also battling a slew of other scandals.

Television channels showed the 51-year-old Ambani leaving the CBI offices mobbed by TV crews.

Reliance ADA Group has denied any wrongdoing over the second-generation (2G) licensing scandal in which the government sold mobile licences at knockdown prices in 2008.

Ambani's CBI appearance came after the group said last weekend police had questioned several of its officials over alleged irregularities in the awarding of licences.

The industrialist's CBI visit came after Premier Manmohan Singh earlier Wednesday, in a rare media roundtable, defended himself against accusations of "inaction" in fighting corruption and vowed anyone found guilty would be punished.

The national auditor said late last year irregularities in awarding the sought-after licences cost the public exchequer up to $40 billion in lost revenues.

The CBI is looking into companies which may have benefited from suspected rigging of licence bidding rules under then telecom minister A. Raja and whether kickbacks were paid.

Raja was arrested with two former aides earlier this month in the scandal along with a senior executive of one of India's biggest real estate firms DB Realty which has a joint telecoms venture with Abu Dhabi's Etisalat.

The police agency has not alleged that any of the Reliance ADA Group firms profited from the scam.

It has, however, named India's Swan Telecom -- now known as Etisalat DB Telecom -- and India's second-largest listed real estate Unitech as allegedly having benefited. Unitech has joint telecom venture with Norway's Telenor.

The government auditor accused Reliance Communications, through its Reliance Telecom unit, of violating licensing rules by holding over 10 percent of rival Swan Telecom when it applied for a licence.

However, Reliance said on Wednesday no Reliance group company "held even a single share in Swan Telecom Ltd at the time of granting of the 2G licence."

All individuals and companies being probed have denied any wrongdoing.source