Tigo Rwanda has announced that it is now providing mico-SIM cards for subscribers with smart phones, particularly those using the 3G iPad and latest iPhone 4.

"With the use of the new micro-SIM, mobile devices can store a larger battery, and we already see that in the new iPhone which has 16 percent more capacity. With Face book, Twitter and all these utilities, users browse the Internet all day so they want a large screen, and that kills the battery of most smart phones,” The Company’s Marketing Manager, Nina Ndabaneze said in a press release on Monday.

She added that the mico-SIM is sold at the same price of Rwf350, adding that Tigo subscribers can purchase and use the card as new or also by swap. 

According to Ndabaneze, the company is set to introduce two ZTE low cost smart phones, which are equally useful as any other smart phone when browsing the Internet. The phones include the G-R352 that costs Rwf33,700 and the F102 that goes for Rwf35,700 with each handset coming with free internet subscription for one month.

The new iPhone 4 is the first mobile phone to forgo the use of the usual SIM card and move to micro-SIM. Tigo officials said that subscriber who have recently purchased or intend to purchase the iPhone 4 don’t need to worry about the availability of the micro-SIM.

All the telecom companies in Rwanda already provide the usual mini-SIM card. The new micro-SIM card, which is the creation of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, is basically over 50 percent smaller, measuring only 15 mm × 12 mm × 0.76 mm.

Meanwhile, Tigo has also slashed prices on its Wireless data modem from Rwf25,000 to Rwf19,700, making the device the most affordable 3G modem in Rwanda.

"From January 10 to 16, the price per megabyte for our Go Wireless modem subscribers will be Rwf15 from Rwf30/MB,” Ndabaneze added.

Ends