SingTel steps up effort to push take-up of wireless data services
· Introduces new wireless data plans
· Partners HP in exclusive launch of first converged data/voice device in Asia Pacific
· Launches more mobile content offerings
Singapore, 20 August 2004 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced new initiatives to encourage greater wireless data usage among consumers.
Mr Low Ka Hoe, SingTel’s Director (Consumer Sales), said: “SingTel is seeing and targeting more contribution from data services. We believe that what will continue to drive greater use of data services today are three main factors – the data price plan, availability of wireless devices and content.”
New wireless data plans
Two new plans – Data3 Plus and Data3 Plus Unlimited – that bundle together wireless broadband access at home, have been added to SingTel’s suite of data packages.
Under these plans, customers will be able to:
· Access SingTel’s IDEAS WAP portal on their mobile phone for information and downloads.
· Use their GPRS or Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone as a modem to connect to their PDA or laptop to surf the Internet or access email.
· Surf the Internet wireless at more than 250 SingTel wireless hotspots islandwide.
· Connect to the Internet at broadband speed anywhere in their own homes.
Data3 Plus offers customers free S$15 worth of data usage and 200MB of SingNet 512kbps broadband access with a monthly subscription of S$26.25. Data3 Plus Unlimited provides free unlimited data usage and unlimited SingNet 1500kpbs broadband access with a monthly subscription of S$176.40.
Mr Low said: “You have all these different platforms that offer wireless access, such as your GPRS handsets, wireless hotspots and wireless LAN at home. Previously, customers had to subscribe to separate packages to be able use all these platforms. SingTel is now offering a single subscription that allows them four ways to enjoy wireless mobility.”
Exclusive launch with HP’s first converged data/voice device
The arrival of more GPRS-enabled handsets and laptops with built-in wireless LAN in the past year has helped to increase data usage.
Taking this a step further, SingTel will be the first operator in the Asia-Pacific to launch Hewlett-Packard’s first converged data/voice device, the HP iPAQ Pocket PC h6365.
The device is the first and smallest handheld with QuadBand and integrated three-way wireless capabilities - GPRS, Wi-Fi, and BluetoothÒ.
The HP iPAQ Pocket PC h6365 is targeted at both mobile professionals and individual consumers. With it, customers can send, receive, and reply to email in real time while on the go, connect to the Internet at a wireless hotspot, and wirelessly synchronise to a Bluetooth-enabled PC.
Robin Seow, General Manager for HP Personal Systems Group Singapore, said: “HP’s collaboration with SingTel will provide a ‘one service, one device’ value-added solution to provide more real time information and entertainment while on-the-go. With the iPAQ h6365, HP aims to deliver a unique, innovative and simple global communications solution that meets consumers’ needs for one device offering data and communications functionality. By leveraging on our worldwide mobility leadership in Pocket PC devices, software, infrastructure and services, we are in a unique position to integrate these technology elements into complete solutions that work better together.”
Mr Seow added: “HP aims to drive the next wave of growth and innovation in all aspects of voice and data mobility. This launch with SingTel is a significant milestone towards enhancing our customers’ personal and professional lives and positively impacting their businesses."”
The HP iPAQ Pocket PC h6365 will be available at all SingTel hello! stores from 20 August 2004. It costs S$980 with a year’s subscription to Data3 Plus Unlimited and a year’s mobile subscription.
Content for business and leisure
SingTel will continue to work with third-party content providers to introduce useful and interesting content for its customers, especially mobile data.
Mr Low said: “Now that the customers have an attractive bundling package and a new integrated wireless device, what is needed to complete the picture is data content and applications.”
It has launched a new Java-based mobile news service with Reuters, one of the most established news agencies in the world. SingTel mobile customers will have real-time access to Reuters’ international content including six channels of Asian news. They will also be able to access Reuters’ gallery of award-winning photographs.
Together with Warner Music Singapore and service provider, Phee! Phoo!, SingTel also launched MusicVibes, a mobile music download service. The service allows customers to browse, preview, purchase and download CD-quality and full-length music tracks over SingTel’s GPRS and upcoming 3G networks. SingTel customers will get a free trial of MusicVibes till 30 September 2004.
Growing wireless data usage
SingTel has more than 1.5 million mobile subscribers in Singapore, over a third of which are users of mobile data services. As of 30 June 2004, mobile data contributed 18 per cent of SingTel’s cellular ARPU (average revenue per user) as compared to 16 per cent a year ago.
Usage of SingTel’s Wi-Fi service has also been increasing. Compared to a year ago, the minutes of use of the service have more than doubled. SingTel sees more than a hundred thousand minutes of use on average for its Wi-Fi service every month.
The new data initiatives were introduced in conjunction with the opening of Wireless Zone@Funan. This is the first wireless concept shop launched by SingTel and one of its largest authorised dealers, MENEL. Located at the technology hangout of Funan the IT Mall, the shop is targeted at IT consumers to get them on to the wireless bandwagon.
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