Bharti and Vodafone have tied up again, though for a different purpose. Jersey Airtel Limited and Guernsey Airtel Limited, subsidiaries of Bharti Enterprises, announced on Tuesday that they have entered into an agreement with Vodafone, to bring a range of Vodafone global products to customers in Jersey and Guernsey, in the Channel Island (between France and Britain). Bharti is soon going to start mobile services in the Channel Islands in Europe.

This tieup would also mean that Vodafone products would be available on these islands for the first time. Last year, Bharti was granted licenses to operate 2G and 3G mobile services in Jersey and Guernsey. Bharti has been offering comprehensive telecom services even in Seychelles, through its subsidiary Telecom Seychelles. The Vodafone products will be sold, along with other services from Bharti to customers in these parts of Europe. The services will be offered under the ‘Airtel-Vodafone’ brand name. The prime services on offer would include 2G (voice) and 3G (Advanced voice and data) services. Commenting on the development, Bharti Enterprises chairman and managing director Sunil Mittal said "At Bharti it has always been our endeavour to bring world-class services to our customers. We are happy to partner with Vodafone to offer services tailored to the needs of customers in this region." Airtel will bring a range of Vodafone services, in the islands, said an official communication from Bharti. The products will include Vodafone Passport, a simple roaming price plan, Vodafone Simply, a straightforward voice and data package; and Vodafone mobile connect card for laptops.

Also on offer will be a range of services for business customers. The business association between Bharti and Vodafone was in the news recently as Vodafone which had a 10 per cent stake in Bharti Airtel had to exit after acquiring controlling stake in Hutch Essar. It was decided that Bharti will buy back 5.6 per cent stake and the remaining 4.4 per cent stake of Vodafone would remain as a ‘financial investment’. Vodafone, has also signed an MoU with Bharti Airtel on infrastructure sharing in India.

Courtesy : Asianage.com

Country's largest car manufacturer Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) on Tuesday posted 17 per cent increase in domestic car sales for the month of April, selling 48,652 vehicles compared to 41,574 vehicles sold in the same period last year.

Over all, the company sold 50,352 vehicles in domestic and international markets in April, compared to 43,127 in the year-ago period, a company release said.

MUL's volume in the domestic A2 segment, which includes models like Zen, Swift, Alto, sales grew by 20.3 per cent and in the C segment which houses Omni, Versa by 21.1 per cent last month compared to the same period in 2006.

Meanwhile, in A1 segment, which comprises the popular M800 model, MUL posted a fall of 9.8 per cent growth and the A3 segment (Baleno, Esteem) sales recorded a downfall of 12.7 per cent, it added.

Courtesy : Expresindia.com