Mobile number portability between the UAE’s two telcos will not take place in Q311 as previously announced, the director general of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said today.

“Mobile number portability will be postponed because the operators are not technically ready,” Mohamed Al Ghanim mentioned. “We will make an announcement soon, after they [the operators] finish all technical trials,” he added.

Research In Motion (RIM) may be the next target to be split up given market speculation that investor Carl Icahn had taken a stake in the struggling company.

Rumours are that he has taken a stake, but there has been no confirmation at this time. The company’s shares rallied by over eight per cent at one point on the rumours.

Typically, when Icahn- through his investment companies – takes large stakes in companies he seeks a seat on the board for one of his nominees and tries to force the company to break up its assets and return the cash to shareholders.

The most likely option that has been talked about in recent months is splitting the messaging service of RIM from the handset hardware division and selling the two services as distinct entities. The company also owns around 2,000 patents, and Icahn was pushing Motorola Mobility to sell its patents before it agreed to the Google takeover.

RIM is under pressure over its recent performance, and there is ongoing shareholder disquiet about the way the top job is split between two people.

Zain Iraq is reported to have started the procedure to offer 25 per cent of its shares on the local stock exchange, following its failure to meet a clause of its operating licence to list on the exchange by August 31, 2011. According to Reuters, which quotes a statement from the company on local news sites, Zain Iraq will soon list 25 per cent of its shares on the Iraq Stock Exchange.

Zain’s announcement said: “The company would like to mention that it has finished a lap in the process of changing into a shareholder company. It will inform the citizens through the available media means on the dates of the public offering and its conditions.”

International banks, including BNP Paribas and Citibank, are also part of the evaluation process of the operator. In August 2007, the group was awarded one of three new 15 year national mobile licences for US$1.25 billion. At the end of June 2011, Zain Iraq counted 12 million customers, representing over 50 per cent market share.

Nokia’s fortunes in the high-end, smart- and feature-phone market have plummeted since the introduction of the first iPhone in 2007. Since then, other manufacturers including Samsung and Research In Motion have also done their best to further carve into Nokia’s market leadership position, leaving the Finnish manufacturer needing to adapt and reinvent itself or risk being left behind in the social media-driven communications world that exists

Tom Farrell was appointed GM of the Lower Gulf region for Nokia in April 2011

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Etisalat today launched its LTE network upgrade in the UAE. For the LTE network, more than 700 base stations have been renovated and equipped to provide 4G services in the country. Etisalat is planning up to 1,000 fully operational base stations by the end of this year.

“We’ve witnessed the positive impact of the 3G network. LTE will now bring in new waves of innovation, transforming our customers’ digital lifestyles,” Ali Al Ahmed, Etisalat’s chief corporate communications officer said.

Etisalat’s customers will be able to access the service as soon as the LTE enabled bundles become available in the country.

The UAE operator becomes the third provider in the region behind Saudi Arabia Zain and Mobily to launch LTE commercially.