Etisalat has unveiled ePlus, a next-generation technology portal, offering a comprehensive range of applications that will allow subscribers to make high quality video and voice calls, leveraging VoIP technology in addition to utilising social networking applications and e-commerce.

Etisalat’s ePlus supports the most popular social and instant messaging platforms and synchronises mobile contacts with online friends to consolidate all contacts into one single screen, called Radar View.

Linked to the Etisalat Content Portal and apps store, ePlus provides users with the latest music, games and apps available for download. Within the same interface, customers can manage bill payments and check data usage.

The ePlus application provides consumers with full mobility through its PC and mobile synchronisation, allowing customers to make and receive calls across a range of mobile and fixed line devices with a simultaneous connection to all or any single device. The service leverages a Near Field Communication (NFC) platform and is m-commerce enabled. It currently works across the 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi networks and supports the Android 2.2 platform. It will also encompass other operating systems in future.

Motorola’s proprietary group communications technology iDEN has been largely successful across the Americas and in parts of Asia, without ever having taken Europe, the Middle East, or Africa by storm. Razi Sayyed, Motorola Solutions’ iDEN MEA regional account manager believes that is about to change with particular reference to Africa, where he believes significant potential for adoption exists

Razi Sayyed is excited about extending iDEN’s footprint to a new continent for the first time

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Sony is reported to be close to buying Ericsson out of their long-running mobile phone joint-venture, Sony Ericsson.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal said that Sony aims to integrate the smartphone operation with its businesses in tablets, hand-held game machines, and personal computers to save on costs and better synchronise development of mobile devices.

One of the people said talks are still ongoing. Negotiations between the two companies to unwind the venture have broken down in the past as the two sides struggled to reach an agreement over price, the people familiar with the matter added.

Analysts estimate that Ericsson’s stake could be valued between US$1.3 billion to US$1.7 billion.

The key advantage as seen from Sony’s perspective is that it can tie the smartphone portfolio with its other consumer devices and critically tap into its content division in much the same way that Apple was able to synchronise content with hardware.

Sony Ericsson was established in 2001.

Ahmad Julfar was confirmed as CEO of Etisalat Group in August this year, and in his first official interview since his appointment, details his plans to build on the telco’s strong history in order to overcome very real, modern, and complex challenges

Julfar believes very few other telecommunications company in the world have a more complete portfolio of products, capabilities and talent than Etisalat

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South Africa’s MTN Group has increased its stake in MTN Rwanda by a further 25 per cent to take its holding to 80 per cent.

Crystal Ventures and the government of Rwanda collectively sold the 25 per cent stake in MTN Rwanda for an undisclosed amount.

Crystal Ventures will retain a 20 per cent interest in MTN Rwanda and will remain an active minority shareholder in the company.

In July MTN had said it would support plans by the Rwandan government to float its 10 per cent stake in cellco onto the local stock market, which at the time had ended speculation that MTN would try to buy the interest instead.

Rwanda has three mobile operators, with MTN Rwanda leading the way with a subscriber base of around 2.7 million, representing a market share of 53 per cent.