SFR: Mobile data and connected handsets for Christmas

Frank Esser, President of SFR, opened the press conference presenting the new releases from the carrier. On show were roaming devices that combine specific handsets with adapted data subscriptions.

The different presentations, from SFR representatives and their partners, also showed the carriers vision of enlarging connected mobile use. Their success is based on adequate hardware (compact, battery life) and software (ergonomics, ease of use). The new offerings featured put both of these aspects to the forefront.


In place of the MID!
After having counted on smartphones, and having seen the possibilities of mobile internet and the success of the Asus Eee PC, the netbook showed immediate success and thrived despite the arrival of market competition. These new mobile devices that were presented are similar but also have different interfaces and applications.

SFR is preparing themselves for the uses of tomorrow, notably those that are seeing a passage to everything being IP, with mobiles being connected, to increase revenue streams away from just voice traffic.

With a coverage of 72% of the population in 3G/3G+ and more then 19 million mobile clients, the carrier has everything required to be able to succeed in this migration. But SFR has other tricks in their pocket, with the first mobile music platform in France, with 1 million songs being downloaded each month.



New handsets, news uses
Besides this, the launch of the Ma Sfere SFR service in August opened a passage to web services and cloud computing, while creating partnerships with numerous makers (currently Archos and Asus) and the support of the imposing Vodafone to assure exclusivities and long duration partnerships.

In this wide mobility vision, there is a place for numerous kinds of devices, from small smartphones, the kings of roaming users, to netbooks that provide a richness of uses. Between the two you will find hybrid products, taking a bit from both sides.

It is in this context that SFR has announced their MID (Mobile Internet Devices) offerings for the holiday period at the end of this year of netbooks and accompanying subscriptions that are adapted for everyone’s use.