Challenger Mobile announces the opening of the company's new offices in Singapore. The announcement follows on the heels of the recent hiring of two key Challenger Mobile executives and a commitment to a significant Asian marketing partnership.
According to Gartner Inc., while worldwide sales of mobile phones increased by 13.6 percent from Q1 2007 to Q1 2008, sales in the Asia/Pacific region increased by 26.6 percent, nearly twice the worldwide growth rates, over the same period. Most Asian countries remain strong markets in large part because mobile phones are the primary means of communication for many individuals. Mobile VoIP is well-suited for these markets because it offers significantly lower costs for roaming, long-distance and international calling, and international calls are commonplace for many Asians.
On May 28, 2008, Challenger announced the addition of Esa Pollari to its executive team as the company's Director of Business Development. Pollari will lead Challenger's in-region initiatives from the new Singapore offices, including day-to-day interaction with the company's new Asian marketing partner. Pollari is a seasoned leader in the mobile industry with 15 years' experience -- most recently as Nokia's head of business development for rich media Internet applications.