Telenor introduces a global Android Market initiative

In Hong Kong today, Telenor and Google launched a global agreement to stimulate further growth of the Android ecosystem. Telenor’s Android users will be able to access a carefully selected and continuously updated suite of relevant apps inside a fixed destination on the front page of Android Market, in a store-in-store concept. Customers will be able to pay for apps via their mobile operator, considered crucial in driving app adoption. Local developers benefit by the increased exposure of their apps and the potential of increased revenues.

The agreement covers all of Telenor’s 11 international markets, with initial launch in the first quarter 2012 in Thailand, Malaysia, Hungary, Sweden and Denmark. The deal meets the insatiable demand for mobile content in established European markets as well as in the faster-growing Asian economies. While smartphone penetration might be lower on a percentage basis in Asia, they easily beat their European counterparts in absolute user numbers.

“This deal between Google and Telenor is designed to inject even more energy into the Android ecosystem. Most importantly, it means that millions of Telenor customers will experience easier access to more and richer mobile content, as well as flexible payment solutions,”

said Jon Fredrik Baksaas, President & CEO of Telenor Group.An editorial team in each market will be responsible for selecting and presenting up to 5

0 apps – with high local relevance. Operator billing makes it easy for Telenor’s Android users to pay for apps, via prepaid or postpaid subscriptions, and enables developers to more easily monetize on their products. Industry data shows that, given the option of paying via credit card or operator billing, approximately 70% prefer the latter.

The upgrade requires no effort on the part of Telenor’s Android users. All they need to do is to enter Android Market on their handsets and select the Telenor (or local subsidiary, Uninor for users from India) tile on the front page.

Customers in Telenor’s remaining global markets (India, Bangladesh, Serbia, Montenegro and Norway) will be able to enjoy the upgraded Android experience later in 2012.