Mobile news announced recently:

Patni Computer Systems Inc., a global IT services provider, has announced that it has signed a multi-million GBP multi-services telecom contract with The Carphone Warehouse, the UK's largest independent retailer of mobile communications.

Patni will support The Carphone Warehouse's delivery platform encompassing fixed line, wireless and Mobile Virtual Network Operator capabilities for the pan-European market.

This will be a fixed price engagement with program management and end-to-end systems implementation responsibility across multiple vendors.

Simon Post, Chief Technology Officer, The Carphone Warehouse, says the deal proposed by Patni will "reduce the long-term total cost of ownership of our billing and CRM systems."

Avaya (News - Alert)'s taking it on the road: the provider of business communications software, systems and services will be demonstrating enterprise mobility products during a twelve-city road show kicking off in Dubai this week.

Titled "IP Telephony Roadshow," the seminars feature presentations by Avaya experts who will explain how IP Telephony can help companies improve their bottom line by reducing costs, lowering risk and growing revenue through increasing access to any device and network, providing the right functionalities in a mobile environment.

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For those of you who've been following it, Verizon (News - Alert) Wireless and MySpace have announced five finalists from more than 4,000 entries in the "Calling All Bands" contest.

The Arrival, Unset, Berto Ramon, Aroarah and Parlour Boys are now one step closer to becoming the first unsigned band to launch its career on V CAST Music from Verizon Wireless, a mobile music service.

The initial bands were winnowed down to 15 semifinalists; votes from MySpace.com community members selected the five finalists. The lucky winning band will have the opportunity to have its song, music video, ring tone and ring back tone released on Verizon Wireless, wireless provider to 51.3 million customers.

This reporter's pulling for the Parlour Boys. Isn't this how the Rolling Stones got started?

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Some home town news here: In Istanbul Turkcell, the biggest provider of mobile communications in Turkey, announced today that the Turkcell Board of Directors has decided to recommend payment of a total net cash dividend of TRY 509,075,181 (approximately $379 million) at the Annual General Meeting on April 28, 2006.

The Turkcell Board of Directors has determined that the company's 2005 profit calculated in accordance with Capital Markets Board of Turkey is about $798 million.

David Sims is contributing editor for TMCnet. For more articles please visit David Sims' columnist page.