· New Options and Packages for the Ultimate Hubbing Lifestyle
· StarHub introduces higher speeds for its Mobile and Broadband networks
Singapore, 25 April 2005 - StarHub, Singapore’s integrated info-communications provider, takes Hubbing to the max as it launches new options and packages for its Mobile and Broadband customers!
From tomorrow, StarHub Mobile customers will get to experience a whole new world of mobility as StarHub introduces a broad portfolio of new and exciting mobile content for its 2G and 3G services; the latter service being publicly launched as well. In addition, StarHub will simultaneously launch MaxOnline Ultimate, offering residential broadband speeds of up to 25 Mbps, almost four times higher than its market leading MaxOnline 6500.
“As digital content becomes more pervasive, customers will want the freedom to view their choice of content, wherever they are and whenever they want. StarHub’s 3G and 2G services provide that freedom, giving customers more choices without compelling them to buy a 3G handset. In addition, while at home, StarHub’s customers can access content of their choice with the highest Internet access speeds in Singapore,” said Mr Terry Clontz, President & CEO of StarHub. “This is precisely the power of Hubbing. StarHub’s services enhance the lifestyle that each customer wants.”
Rich Mobile Video Content for 2G and 3G
StarHub will be bringing a whole new meaning to living out one’s passion on the move, with its new and comprehensive suite of video-rich mobile content. Customers will be able to indulge in their passions - be it sports, entertainment, news or music - wherever they are. This suite of fun and exciting content is accessible over a good selection of video-supported 2G and 3G handsets.
“StarHub has constantly set the pace for innovation in the Singapore mobile market with many ‘first-to-market’ services such as Free Incoming Calls, Per Second Billing, Free IDD 018 Calls and PushMail by BlackBerry and Duality - all of which have proven to be immensely popular with mobile users enhancing their mobile lifestyles,” said Mr Chan Kin Hung, Head of StarHub’s Mobile Services.
“Tomorrow, we will be introducing a compelling suite of video content to our customers to further enhance their mobile lifestyles by introducing their favourite content anytime, anywhere on their mobile phones. Apart from our daily ‘live’ streaming news channels, seven exclusive mobile channels will be offered - with more than 200 new video clips updated daily and/or weekly, giving our customers more than 500 minutes of fresh entertainment and informational content. All this reflects our focused strategy of Hubbing - providing the content and connectivity to our customers that directly address their own personal choices. Hubbing with their favourite content over our mobile network will become truly powerful!”
Through StarHub’s Gee! Portal, 2G and 3G customers can live out their passions in the four genres of interesting content (available in streamed and download formats):
Sports - Experience the full excitement of sports action with our comprehensive selection of sports content, including -
· [Exclusive] Barclays English Premier League
· Spanish Primera Liga
· Italian Serie A
· [Exclusive] Inside Grand Prix 2005
· [Exclusive] Golf-European Tour Weekly
· Extreme Sports
Entertainment - Watch the latest entertaining shows with -
· [Exclusive] E! Entertainment
· Asian Entertainment (Mandarin)
· Fashion TV
· Style Interviews
· [Exclusive] Comedy Hub
· Latest box-office movie trailers
Music - Groove to the beat of the latest music videos from leading record labels EMI, Sony BMG and more, and catch up with interviews of popular artistes
News - Broaden your understanding of world issues with access to -
· [Exclusive] CNN International (‘Live’ streaming)
· Channel News Asia (‘Live’ streaming)
· [Exclusive] Daily updates from Bloomberg Financial
To get customers started on this new exciting content discovery, StarHub mobile customers will enjoy free access to all streamed video content from tomorrow till 31 July 2005. Video clip downloads are chargeable at S$0.90 or S$2 depending on the nature/size of the video clip.
“Though there has been a lot of buzz created in the industry about 3G,” added Mr Chan. “we always believe that it is not about the technology. What our customers want is to mobilise their passions, to enjoy their favourite content whether it is Sports, Music, News, or Entertainment anytime, anywhere. More importantly, we are not limiting this only to 3G customers. Our mobile customers will have the choice to select the content that interests them the most, using the handset they like the best, whether it is 2G or 3G.”
Besides making the content available to all customers, StarHub is also making 2G and 3G price plans simpler for consumers. StarHub’s subscription plans will have the following features:
· StarHub will offer only one set of price plans - for both 2G and 3G customers. All subscription charges, voice call charges, data charges, subscription charges and its associated free entitlements/benefits will be standardised. Video call rates will be the same as voice call rates;
· For customers who have 3G-enabled handsets, they will enjoy free incoming video calls just as they are enjoying free incoming voice calls today (1); and
· Customers with 3G-enabled phones can also make 100 minutes of free outgoing video calls (2);
StarHub’s diverse genre of content will be updated constantly and new content will be added regularly to allow customers to indulge in their passions, wherever they are.
The Ultimate in Broadband Experience
In addition to its popular plug-and-play broadband service offerings, MaxOnline 6500 (6.5 Mbps), MaxOnline 2000 (2 Mbps), and MaxOnline FlexiSurf 2000 (2 Mbps - pre-paid broadband), StarHub introduces yet another unprecedented high-speed broadband service in Singapore - MaxOnline Ultimate - at speeds of up to 25 Mbps.
Targeted at heavy Internet users, MaxOnline Ultimate allows subscribers to enjoy always-on, unlimited broadband access to the Internet at an unparalleled download speed of up to 25 Mbps. In addition, MaxOnline Ultimate provides upload speeds of up to 1 Mbps, almost four times higher than what is presently available in typical Singapore residential packages. This is also a perfect solution for home networking households with multiple Internet users and devices connected to the Internet. Like subscribers of MaxOnline 6500, MaxOnline Ultimate subscribers will also enjoy free subscription to two value-added services:
· i.View, a broadband video service which delivers broadcast quality cable TV channels to their computers; and
· SafeSurf, a broadband Internet content filtering service, in which parents can have peace of mind when their children are surfing the Internet.
“Continuing from the leadership position of MaxOnline 6500, the new MaxOnline Ultimate is indeed ground-breaking as it raises the bar further for broadband services in Singapore,” said Mr Thomas Ee, Senior Vice President of Online Services. “Unlike many other broadband operators around the world that provide higher-end broadband access to only selected locations, MaxOnline Ultimate will be available nation-wide in Singapore immediately upon its launch. With cable access available to more than 99% of all homes throughout Singapore, our consumers enjoy the convenience of signing up for the service anytime they want. Whether it is heavy surfing and downloading content from the Internet, intensively engaging in online games with Xbox Live, or having fun enjoying quality video streaming, StarHub customers can expect the ultimate experience with our broadband connectivity.”
MaxOnline Ultimate with up to 25 Mbps of download speed, and at a monthly subscription fee of S$116 (S$121.80 with GST) offers great value, considering the per-unit rate is at a mere S$4.87/Mbps per month. Other competing residential broadband access plans that are available locally are priced at much higher per-unit rate.
To enhance the overall customer value as StarHub celebrates the launch of MaxOnline Ultimate, StarHub will be offering an attractive promotional deal by giving away a free HP Notebook together with a 10% discount off the monthly fee of a two-year MaxOnline Ultimate subscription.
Added Mr Ee: “With Hubbing as our focus, our customers can continue to hub and enjoy the richness of Internet content and services at higher broadband speeds than ever before. With the launch of MaxOnline Ultimate, we are preparing the foundation to introduce the next generation of broadband Internet content and applications that are relevant to the higher capacity platform.”
In that regard, the introduction of i.View and SafeSurf are just some recent initiatives by StarHub to provide value to our MaxOnline users. More details on these upcoming Internet content and services will be made known later.
Hubbing - It’s All About the Customer
Commenting on StarHub’s new initiatives in Mobile and Broadband, Mr Clontz said: “We aim to connect StarHub customers to the content of their choice, wherever they are, and with whatever device they choose, regardless of the access network - 2G, 3G, or broadband. It is not about the technology; it is about the experience! Such is the power of Hubbing!”
(1) Free incoming video calls across all StarHub mobile price plans until 31 Dec 2007
(2) Free 100 video call minutes / month until 31 Dec 2005
- END -
Some of the statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. These forward-looking statements reflect our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Because actual results could differ materially from our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements contained in this news release with caution.
QUOTE SHEET
The below quotes from industry players may be used for your article -
On Rich Mobile Video Content for 2G and 3G
Richard Scudamore
CEO
FA Premier League
“The Premier League, as the world’s most exciting domestic league competition, recognises the importance of mobile media in enabling greater access to our competition and enhancing our fans enjoyment of their team and the league. By teaming up with StarHub we are sure that, with their experience and technological expertise, we will reach the largest geographical audience possible with the level of quality that will showcase all the best Premier League action for fans in Singapore via their mobile phones.”
John Najarian
Vice President, New Platform Development
E! Networks
“E!’s content is perfect for wireless and our new deal with StarHub underscores our commitment to expand our brand in this emerging area. We’re pleased to give StarHub customers, who already enjoy our E! Entertainment Television channel, another way to access the latest news about their favorite stars.”
On MaxOnline Ultimate
Leong Keng Thai
Deputy Chief Executive and Director-General (Telecoms)
Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore
“IDA commends StarHub on its introduction of a 25 Mbps broadband service. This is a significant boost in currently available broadband access speeds that StarHub is bringing to all its customers nation-wide. As broadband household penetration becomes more pervasive in Singapore, IDA hopes that keen competition in broadband services will continue to drive up access speeds and lower prices.”
Chuck Dougherty
Vice President and General Manager, IP Systems
Motorola Inc., USA
“As StarHub's Technology Partner, we are excited about the company's launch of MaxOnline Ultimate today, following the introduction of its innovative pre-paid FlexiSurf broadband service last year. With MaxOnline Ultimate's unparalleled download capability of up to 25 Mbps, StarHub's nation-wide delivery of this highest-in-speed Internet access service to users certainly spells the beginning of an exciting Internet era for residential broadband in Singapore as well as setting a trend for the global broadband scene. We are proud to be working with StarHub to deploy the latest technologies in Singapore.”
Alex Chua
Home & Entertainment Division Manager, SEA
Microsoft Singapore Pte Ltd
“MaxOnline provides TV console gamers with the very much needed reliable and easy access to Xbox Live service with no complicated username and password login procedures, proxy configuration or domain name system settings. This was a key consideration when Microsoft chose to partner with StarHub to bundle Xbox with MaxOnline for the online gaming community in Singapore, in order to take the fullest advantage of Xbox Live gaming service.”
