Vietnamobile this week put into service its new prefix 0188 as the mobile phone network had run out of digits 092 that started to appear in the market in April last year when the operator was launched.

A Vietnamobile staff member (L) helps a customer select services (File photo)

The network is a partnership between Hong Kong-based Hutchison Telecom and local operator Hanoi Telecom.

Hutchison Telecom said in a press release issued last November in Hong Kong that its Vietnam operation reported a sound quarterly growth of 63.3% to a customer base of 1.02 million from the beginning of July to the end of September.

On Feb. 4, Vietnamobile launched its latest promotion “Circle of friends,” offering a rate of VND990 per minute for inter-network calls and the service available for group-based communications.

At VND1,490 a day, Vietnamobile’s subscribers can choose up to three mobile phone numbers to form a caller’s group. The group of three numbers can be changed via one sms according to customers’ demand. This promotion applies to pre-paid subscribers.

Vietnamobile chief executive officer Elizabete Fong said, “From various studies at Vietnamobile, we discovered that for most of our customers, voice calls are often made to only three main numbers. That’s why Vietnamobile has unveiled “Circle of friends” to our users.”

Regarding business strategy, she said Vietnamobile would continue to increase investment for further expansions and diversifying services.

The operator says it currently has about 5,000 base stations across the country, and the total will increase to 6,000 by the end of this year.