Vietnam Overseas

HA NOI — Viettel is offering a prepaid mobile package designed with foreign tourists in mind, called Tourist SIM.

Users would receive free information on services, tourist sites, hotels, taxis, foreign exchange rates and weather forecasts, according to Viettel.

Available in US$5 and $10 packages, it would offer international calls at VND3,240 ($0.18) per minute and an international messaging at VND2,160 ($0.12) per message.

Viettel deputy director Nguyen Viet Dung said that Viet Nam welcomed around 4 million foreign visitors each year and telecommunications were a basic service to be offered during their stay in the country. Tourist SIM would be sold at airports, tourist sites, hotels and resorts, he said. — VNS

HCM CITY — SAP AG said it had launched SAP® BusinessObjects™ Explorer, new software that empowers business users with the clarity and insight to act quickly and make effective decisions.

The new software brings together search and navigation capabilities from the SAP® BusinessObjects™ portfolio with SAP NetWeaver® Business Warehouse Accelerator (SAP NetWeaver BW Accelerator) software, enabling customers to navigate mountains of business data at high speed, according to the company.

With an internet-style search box as its interface, it is designed for users without any prior IT expertise.

HCM CITY — US-invested GES Viet Nam Co Ltd has opened a US$36 million semiconductor technology centre in HCM City’s Sai Gon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP).

The 8,000sq.m centre, opened by the subsidiary of the US-based Global Electronics Service&Manufacturing Inc (GES) two years after receiving the investment certificate, will design, manufacture and upgrade semiconductor equipment to supply to semiconductor manufacturers and flat-panel manufacturers.

Through the centre, GES Viet Nam will deliver customised equipment lifecycle management services in the electronics industry, according to the company.

HA NOI — By the end of April 2009, Viet Nam had 89.5 million phone subscribers, reaching a ratio of 105 phones per 100 people, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Last year, the Viet Nam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) took the lead in revenue from postal, telecom and internet services, earning VND45.29 trillion (US$2.66 billion), and paying taxes of VND6.81 trillion ($400 million). Ranking second was Viettel, with VND33 trillion ($1.94 billion) of turnover, tax payment of VND4.89 trillion ($287.8 million), followed by EVN Telecom with VND3.7 trillion ($217.6 million) of revenue and VND160 billion ($9.4 million) of tax payment.