SINGAPORE: StarHub mobile Net service trial gets big response
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- Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 07:39:44 +0800
SINGAPORE: StarHub mobile Net service trial gets big response
StarHub gives out 4,000 Pfingo free trial mobile Internet service accounts,
1,000 more accounts than planned
Straits Times
Monday, April 16, 2007
By Alfred Siew
The higher-than-expected response to a free trial of StarHub's Pfingo mobile
Internet service has resulted in some applications being delayed -- even after
1,000 more accounts were given out than was originally planned.
StarHub had hoped to sign up between 2,000 and 3,000 users in three months, in a
bid to get user feedback for the three-month trial.
But with the response stronger than it had projected, it decided to give out
4,000 accounts in three weeks.
Launched on April 2, the trial promises to let users receive their e-mail, make
cheap Internet calls and chat online while on the move.
Each person who signs up gets a telephone number starting with "3." Some of
these are choice numbers that come with "3" and "8," signifying good luck in
Chinese.
Mr Chan Kin Hung, StarHub's head of advanced multimedia services, said that
users who want to sign up now should visit the Pfingo.com website and leave
their contact details. They should be getting an account in about a month.
However, it is not known how many more accounts StarHub would be giving out.
StarHub said the feedback has been positive for a service which is expected to
come with a "competitive" flat monthly fee when launched by June.
Senior consultant Janice Fang, 28, who activated her account three weeks ago,
said she liked the service, but was not sure how much she would be willing to
pay for it eventually.
"I've been making hour-long calls to my husband in the UK and avoiding expensive
IDD charges," she said.
Not so lucky was dogwalker Yenni Yap, who failed in her bid to sign up. Ms Yap,
who is in her 40s, told The Straits Times that she had wanted to make cheap
calls to her sister in Melbourne after finding out about the service from a
friend.
"If they (StarHub) open subscriptions again, I'll give it a try," she added.
StarHub is seeking to move away from offering just voice calls and Internet
access as the revenues for them continue to be squeezed with tougher
competition.
Rivals SingTel and MobileOne (M1) have also been busy pushing out new services
of late.
M1, for example, has its MeTV service, which lets users post cellphone video
clips and get paid when others watch their short movies.
SingTel launched its mio service in January, which, among other things, lets
users of selected Wi-Fi phones make unlimited local calls for $15 a month.
Date Posted: 4/16/2007
http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southeastasia.asp?parentid=67799
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