Telecom service provider VimpelCom today announced its partnership with social media network Twitter.

The Amsterdam-headquartered VimpelCom will launch free Twitter services aimed at its Vimpelcom’s 223 million customers in emerging and developed mobile markets, and additional customized Twitter programs for local markets where VimpelCom operates.

VimpelCom will utilize the Twitter mobile services aimed at emerging markets, including Twitter SMS and Twitter USSD designed to tap first-time mobile data users and Twitter Access in order to drive customer engagement.

The strategy of VimpelCom is to accelerate mobile internet usage.

VimpelCom Q3 revenue decreased 3 percent to $5.15 billion, while service revenue fell 5 percent to $4.85 billion and net income dropped 59 percent to $104 million.

The global telecom operator said its mobile data revenue grew 21 percent. Mobile customer base increased 5 million to 223.4 million.

VimpelCom will have its own Twitter timelines and engage with customers even without a Twitter account. They will also use customized Twitter support for local and international social, sports or cultural events.

VimpelCom will re-define customer care and turn customer service into customer engagement to connect with mobile users. VimpelCom customers will be able to receive essential account, service and promotional information by sending direct messages to their local VimpelCom operation on Twitter.

Twitter social network has 284 million active users per month and 80 percent tweets from their mobile devices.

Mikhail Gerchuk, chief commercial officer of VimpelCom, said: “Our partnership with Twitter will offer our customers new reasons to use internet on their mobiles every day and it will re-define customer service using world-class customer support via Twitter.”

Mobilink Pakistan is the first VimpelCom operating company to launch Twitter mobile services under this partnership. VimpelCom will expand the service to its other operations.

Baburajan K
[email protected]