Hutch launches BlackBerry Curve 8300 smartphone

* Smallest and lightest BlackBerry® smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard

Mumbai, June 22, 2007 "� Hutch, one of India's leading telecom service providers, today announced the launch of BlackBerry® Curve™ 8300 smartphone. This latest offering from Hutch and RIM (Research In Motion) is the smallest and, at 111.4gms, the lightest smartphone in the world with a full QWERTY keyboard.

Harit Nagpal, Director "� Marketing and New Business Development, Hutch, said, "The BlackBerry® Curve 8300 is the smartest handset in the market, designed to bring to its users a new level of convenience and style."

The BlackBerry Curve 8300 gives Hutch subscribers access to emails, instant messaging and organizing capabilities in a highly convenient design. It has interesting user-friendly features including an enhanced media player, high-performance browser and a 2.0 mega pixel camera. The BlackBerry® Curve™8300 features best-in-class technology and is incredibly easy-to-use.

Powered by Hutch, this sleek BlackBerry® device exudes a glossy liquid silver finish and has clear lines. The soft edges make maneuvering easier and more stylish. This BlackBerry® smartphone comes with a full QWERTY keyboard.

The BlackBerry® Curve 8300 is available at Hutch Shops at a cost of Rs. 24,990/-.

Please visit www.hutch.in for further information.

About Hutchison Essar Limited: Hutchison Essar established its presence in India in 1994 by acquiring the cellular license for Mumbai. It now has operations in 16 circles accounting for 70% of India's mobile customer base. With over 29.2 million customers, it is one of India's most reputed telecom companies.

Hutchison Essar, under the Hutch brand, over the years, has been named the 'Most Respected Telecom Company', the 'Best Mobile Service in the country', and the 'Most Creative and Most Effective Advertiser of the Year'.

Hutchison Essar is now part of Vodafone - the world's leading international mobile communications company. Vodafone now has operations in 26 countries across 5 continents and 36 partner networks with about 225 million proportionate customers worldwide. Vodafone has tied up with Essar as its principal joint venture partner for the Indian operation.

The Essar Group is one of India's largest corporate houses with interests spanning the manufacturing and service sectors like Steel, Oil & Gas, Power, Telecom & BPO, Shipping & Logistics and Engineering & Constructions. The Group has an asset base of over Rs.20 billion (US$ 4.4.billion) and employs over 4000 people.