ANCL secures landmark deal with Dialog, Mobitel, Etisalat
Launch ‘e-Mobile Adz’ :
Shirajiv SIRIMANE
For the first time in Sri Lanka, The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon
Limited (ANCL/Lake House) secured a landmark deal with the three leading
mobile service providers, Dialog, Mobitel and Eitsalat to facilitate its
subscribers to send their classified advertisements to the Sunday
Observer and Silumina newspapers through their mobiles.
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Director Editorial ANCL, Seelaratne Senerath, Chairman ANCL,
Bandula Padmakumara, Senior General Manager Dialog Axiata,
Fariq Cader, CEO of Mobitel Kapila Chandrasena, CCO Etisalat
Robert Lee, signing the agreement. Pictuers by Sulochanana
Gamage |
This service which is now operational would be extended to Daily News
and other ANCL publications soon. Chairman, ANCL, Bandula Padmakumara
speaking at this ground breaking venture held at Galadari Colombo last
morning said that this was a historic gathering since three mobile
operators were jointly signing on a single paper. “While this has opened
a new gateway in the mobile communication industry it has also help to
create a stronger bond between the three operators and ANCL.”
New CEO of Mobitel, Kapila Chandrasena said that this was a classic
example of the future of mobile applications. “Sri Lanka has over 20
million mobile subscribers and ‘e-Mobile Adz’ service will encourage
more mobile transactions.”
“The service would also help customers to save time, particularly
travel time since they could place their ads via mobile phone from
anywhere in Sri Lanka or even from overseas and the e-Mobile Adz’ would
create a win win deal for all partners.” CCO, Etisalat, Robert Lee said
that he was extremely happy to see the three leading mobile operators
working on one common platform. “We are excited to see a newspaper
joining in this endeavor,” he added.
Top executives of Dialog Axiata, SLT Mobitel and Etisalat were the
signatories to the historic agreement with the ANCL that would allow
mobile telephone subscribers to place advertisements in Lake House
newspapers using their phones - dialing #429# and following the
instructions that appear on the screen.
This was the first time in history that the three leading mobile
service providers have signed an agreement of this nature for a
commercial entity. Prior to this, they had only teamed up to send short
messages (SMS) for television programmes. |
