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March 20, 2009 19:56 PM

Maxis: iPhone To Boost Mobile Internet Use

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (Bernama) -- Maxis Communications Bhd expects mobile Internet users to increase with the launch of Apple iPhone 3G (third-generation) today.

Its chief marketing officer, Matthew Willsher, said with the availability of the phone, it could generate more interest in mobile Net usage.

He said currently, of its 11 million customers, 4.4 million were using mobile Net.

"We are seeing exponential potential in mobile data growth. With the launch of iPhone, I think it will strengthen Maxis' competitiveness," he said at the launch of the phone by Deputy Minister Energy, Water and Communications, Datuk Joseph Salang, here today.

Willsher said the company planned to tap the Smart phone market on the back of its year-on-year growth of 25 percent.

He said thousands had pre-booked the iPhone since it was opened for registration nine days ago. However, he declined to elaborate.

Currently, Maxis holds 42 percent market share in terms of subscriber base.

Maxis has been negotiating with Apple for the past five months on the iPhone deal.

The phone is sold in 85 countries and has about 25,000 applications that can be downloaded.

Apple is currently the third largest mobile phone maker by value behind Nokia and Samsung.

Maxis also presented iPhone 3G to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a separate event in Cyberjaya.

-- BERNAMA

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