Qtel announced today that it is taking steps to comply fully with the national regulator’s instruction to close down Qtel’s Virgin Mobile reseller service. ictQatar recently issued orders instructing Qtel to close down Virgin Mobile and remove the Virgin Mobile brand from the market. The orders also require Qtel to migrate all existing Virgin Mobile customers to another Qtel mobile offering or provide them with a full refund of unused credits in their Virgin Mobile accounts.

Qtel has confirmed that it intends to automatically migrate all existing Virgin Mobile customers to Qtel’s Hala service. This will allow Virgin Mobile customers to retain their distinctive ‘333’ mobile numbers as well as any existing mobile balances. From that point onwards, Qtel’s Hala prices and validity rules will apply and customers will be able to recharge using Hala Recharge cards.

Last July ictQatar announced that Qtel would face a fine and appropriate action in regards to its launching of Virgin Mobile-branded services in May that year. However at the time it was determined by the regulator that Virgin Mobile’s services did not constitute a third mobile licensee and therefore did not breach the terms of Vodafone as second licensee, though, the way it was marketed did deceive consumers as to its genuine nature.

On May 17, 2010, just four days after the launch by Qtel of Virgin Mobile services, the regulator issued orders to Qtel requiring certain changes in the marketing and presentation of Virgin Mobile services, followed by further instructions on May 20 on the same matter. On July 15, 2010 Qtel was ordered to “correct any wrong or misleading perception created by Qtel about Virgin Mobile services, and to ensure compliance with the telecommunications law”.

SoftAtHome, a software provider of home operating platforms that help service providers deliver convergent applications to the digital home, announced it is opening a new office in Dubai to support the current deployment of its technology with Etisalat.

SoftAtHome provides a software platform that enables operators and third party developers to create convergent applications for the digital home by combining services such as voice, video, content sharing, security, broadband access, connectivity or management, and deploy them across different devices in the home including TV set top boxes (STB), home gateways and connected televisions.

In 2010, Etisalat selected SoftAtHome to deploy its multiplay offering across the UAE, including IPTV, video-on-demand, personal video recording, Internet TV, digital content sharing, application store and broadband access. Etisalat has a small equity stake in SoftAtHome

Lebanon’s interim telecom minister, Charbel Nahhas has confirmed that the country’s two mobile networks will launch their 3G services by the middle of this summer.

“No one can stop us from launching the 3G, and not even a new government, because we have already signed the contracts needed for that purpose,” Nahhas told local media.

There are concerns that legal action from an ISP, Cedarcom could delay the launch as it is claiming that the government does not have the authority to issue the 3G licences.

The company also says that the regulatory regime is blocking it from selling landline DSL based services, which it considers to be unfair competition.

Motorola Solutions has opened an office in Egypt to manage its operations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The company said it would also enhance the Cairo base of operations to be the newest Regional Engineering Centre supporting customers outside of Egypt.

“Egypt’s technology market is gaining significant momentum during this dynamic time of change, and with an enhanced local presence Motorola Solutions will be able to provide a sharp strategic and operational focus that is both clear and purpose-driven,” commented Motaz Hourani, VP, Motorola Solutions, Middle East and North Africa.

Microsoft is alleged to have agreed to a US$19 billion purchase of Nokia’s handset division – as was recently suggested by a blogger in Russia.

Talk of a sale to Microsoft has been rampant since Nokia tapped former Microsoft executive, Stephen Elop to head the company, and its subsequent decision to switch from its in-house Symbian operating system platform to the Windows Phone OS for its smartphones.

However, Nokia dismissed the report of talks between the two companies.

The current market capitalisation for all of Nokia is around US$25 billion.