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Great things are happening at Partner Communications Company Ltd. (NASDAQ: PTNR). Partner is a leading Israeli mobile phone operator, the only company offering Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) services. Partner, a world leader in data and value added services, was the first in Israel to offer subscribers cutting-edge cellular technology – the first to launch a cellular portal, and the first to launch WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) cellular Internet services, allowing customers to surf the net and access a wide range of sites and services, especially adapted for cellular users.
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Since the company commenced full commercial operations in January 1999 under the international Orange brand, Partner has distinguished itself in providing its customers with cutting-edge technology. Among its other initiatives is an innovative, wireless, prepaid phone card for customers, and the introduction of over 100 information services, accessible to all subscribers anytime, anywhere.
Staying ahead of the technology curve is essential in Israel’s highly competitive cellular market. Over 50 percent of Israelis use cellular phones – one of the highest penetration rates in the world. Israelis spend more time on the phone than anywhere in Europe – an average of 340 minutes a month, compared with 136 minutes in Europe. Israelis are also very technology friendly, avidly espousing new gimmicks on the market. "We live in a good market," Mr. Cohen said, "and we have unique competitive advantages
that assure our continued success.
"First, we are the only Israeli provider of GSM, the most popular cellular system in the world, with 300 million users", Mr. Cohen added. "We also have a highly qualified work force that has maximized its GSM system.
Our subscribers enjoy seamless access to over 173 networks, in over 73 countries.
"Our subscribers have available the widest range of handsets on the market, which they can use for sending and receiving (SMS) messages. We can push information to customers, and customers can pull information from us on their cellular handsets – all in the most secure way. Finally, we provide the excellent voice quality our subscribers have come to expect."
With these competitive advantages, Partner has rapidly penetrated the Israeli cellular market, and caters well to the needs of business and residential customers alike. By the end of the second quarter of 2000, only 18 months after its commercial launch, Partner had over half a million subscribers, and had captured approximately 15% of the market.
Taking advantage of Israel’s technology-oriented society, Partner has been working closely with a number of start-ups to develop services, applications, and enabling technologies, for second and third generation cellular networks. Through its fully owned subsidiary, Partner Future Comm., it is well positioned to create new revenues from value added services, data and information services, and mobile commerce.
"In the future," Mr. Cohen promised, "Partner will continue to lead the market with new services and applications, which will become an integral part of the daily lives of our subscribers. We have shown our ability to meet the present challenges, and are ready to meet the future challenges of the new communications revolution."