The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has entered the entertainment production business with a new studio and content partnerships aimed at developing content tailored for mobile consumption.
The operator has announced the launch of Globe Studios, which will develop original video productions for modern audiences accustomed to consuming and sharing content through social media via mobile pones.
Globe Studios is backed by local and Asian media houses including Viva Films, Reality Entertainment, Quantum Films, Spring Films and Astro of Malaysia.
“Consumption of mobile entertainment has grown exponentially over the past years. Today, customers no longer wait for their favorite shows on their TV screens. Instead, they dictate what they want to watch when and where they want to,” Globe chief commercial officer Albert de Larrazabal said.
“With Globe Studios, we will now produce our own clips, series and even movies. Backed up with the biggest director partners and entertainment companies in the industry, we are set to show what customers want today.”
In addition, Globe has announced the launch of Globe Live, which will produce live shows and events. Globe Live’s first production will be a Philippine staging of the Broadway musical Green Day’s American Idiot.
To support its media ambitions Globe has formed new content partnerships, including becoming the first mobile and broadband Philippine partner for Netflix.
Nepal’s Ministry of Information and Communications is reportedly planning to amend spectrum usage policy to allow the nation’s operators to commercially launch 4G services.
The ministry has decided to adopt a technology neutral policy to allow operators to launch 4G using the 1800-MHz spectrum band.
The ministry had asked previously asked telecoms regulator NTA to devise a 4G action plan within a week that would involve allocating 4G spectrum by the end of the fiscal year in mid-July, the report states.
In response the NTA appointed a consultant to determine spectrum prices, and expects to have the action plan and pricing policy ready to present by tomorrow.
The NTA has repeatedly denied requests from operators including Nepal Telecom and Ncell to allow them to launch 4G services due to confusion over spectrum usage policy. Amending the legislation would clear up this confusion and pave the way for rollouts.
The ministry has also asked the authority to submit a draft of a new M&A policy for telecom operators and prepare a detailed plan for the proceeds of the Rural Telecom Development Fund.
Sandwiches made with light rye bread, a salad bar and desserts like gula melaka and coconut Swiss roll are among gourmet food options to be offered at McDonald’s Singapore’s new flagship restaurant at East Coast Park in Singapore, which will seat more than 300 diners.
Opening on July 2, the 8439 sqft (784 sqm) McDonald’s Marine Cove will be a test bed for the chain, says McDonald’s Singapore MD Robert Hunghanfoo. New products will be trialled before being implemented in other outlets in Singapore.
A recreational and dining enclave, Marine Cove was home to an iconic McDonald’s branch from 1982 until 2012, when it closed for redevelopment.
At the salad bar, diners can choose from more than 10 ingredients and sauces to add to three types of salad. A dessert bar features in the outdoor seating area, offering sundaes and ice cream with a selection of 17 toppings.
Hunghanfoo says the menu and research teams took a year to develop the concept, noting food trends and consumer feedback.
As well as the usual McDonald’s burgers and fries, there will be a trio of premium burgers.
New Sa Sa stores are set to open in train stations and near the Mainland China border as the beauty retailer adapts to the changing demographic of Hong Kong shoppers.
During a press conference discussing the group’s results last week, Sa Sa chairman Simon Kwok Siu-ming said in light of the evolving trading environment, the company recognised the need to adjust its store strategy.
Larger stores in traditional tourism destinations would be closed over time, replaced in the network with new stores in the New Territories giving Mainland Chinese daytrippers easier access to its range of products.
At the same time, the company will develop new stores with smaller, compact footprints located in residential shopping centres and train stations, to serve younger, local customers and commuters. These stores will have a footprint of less than 1000 sqft (93 sqm) and stock the top 20 per cent selling lines of large format stores, with a skew towards increasingly-popular Korean and Taiwanese brands.
Kwok said rents in high-profile tourist locations are so high, closing one store there would save enough to open “five to six stores in the New Territories”.
Sa Sa plans to seek rent reductions of between 40 and 50 per cent when renegotiating terms of leases for 22 stores which are due for renewal this year.
The retailer currently operates 291 stores in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Last week, Sa Sa reported a 12.8 per cent drop in turnover for its latest fiscal year to March, sliding to HK$7.85 billion (US$1011.4 million).
With the Philippines’ population of 20 times more than that of Singapore, the city state’s F&B brands are finding an attractive market in the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia.
Executives from Singapore food brands flew into Manila this week as they look to expand into the Philippines through franchising.
During an exclusive business matching event “Master Franchise Meet and Match” yesterday at Le Jardin in Bonifacio Global City, Singapore-based entrepreneurs and business organisations announced their interest in looking for potential partners to penetrate the Filipino market, known for its food enthusiasm.
Johnny Mayani, CEO of Wing Zone, said one of the reasons for choosing the Philippines is the big percentage of young consumers. He indicated that this market is suitable for their business, which targets the young food enthusiasts willing to customize products and try new flavours. Another reason is the Filipinos’ appreciation for Western food.
“The Philippines is a very exciting market for us because of the fact that it is very Western concept friendly,” said Mayani.
Wing Zone is an Atlanta-based restaurant chain which serves hamburgers, french fries, and buffalo wings. It’s headquartered in Singapore to look over its operations in Asia.
Another DIY brand that expressed interest in the Philippines is BurgerUP, a gourmet burger chain that has branches in Pungol and Yishun in Singapore.
BurgerUP executive chef Alvin Poon showed the restaurant’s ordering system that uses touchscreen technology. Customers can pick one or more patties, as well as toppings, to go with their burgers – through an app, and pay at the counter with generated QSR codes, avoiding long queues.
Coffeeshop Joe & Dough serves hand-crafted coffee made with Arabica beans and offers artisan breads and pastries. Asked who will be its biggest competitors in the Philippines, MD Damien Koh said its focus is not in the competition.
Koh recognises the growing artisanal cafe and bakeshop scene in the country, but he said the company prioritises its philosophy of providing everyone an access to good coffee.
Other brands that joined the event were Maki-San, considered as Southeast Asia’s first DIY sushi and salad bar where customers can choose from more 70 ingredients; Xiao Pan, which offers innovative soya bean based products for a good and healthy snack; and H20 Life Source, a water filtration systems provider, which plans to have at least 1000 stores in the Philippines in the next three years.
Gourmet bakeshop Swissbake, restaurant chain Keisuke Ramen, and casual dining restaurant PastaMania also expressed interest in franchising in the Philippines.
The franchise partnership event was organised by Francorp Philippines, together with U-Franchise Sales and Management, the Philippine Franchise Association, Franchise and Licensing Association (FLA) Singapore, and Astreem Consulting.
Hong Kong company ePayWeb Asia has invested US$100 million in the up-and-coming AW Virtual Mall in exchange for a 10 per cent stake.
AW Virtual Mall is forecast to have more than 3 million independent stores and more than 1 billion shoppers a day in the next four years. It will enable online shoppers to find an item they want at the best price available simply by taking a photo of it.
Founder/CEO Andy Khawaja says that with eCommerce projected to reach $3.5 trillion by 2019 “we’re on track to provide the most state-of-the-art shopping experience in the industry”.
Once users upload a photo of a desired item, store owners will be notified instantly. If they have a matching product, they will bid with their best price. The website creates a modern shopping-mall experience online, complete with a social-media element that lets users personalise their profile, communicate and share.
Tops Thailand parent Central Food Retail has committed Bt6.5 billion (US$183 million) to open new stores during the next five years.
At a function marking the Central Group’s supermarket subsidiary’s 20th anniversary this week, president Alistair Taylor said the company plans to add about 70 new stores annually to reach 600 by the end of 2021. It currently has 205.
“For this year alone, we plan to allocate between Bt1.2 billion and Bt1.3 billion of investment capital in two areas,” he said.
“Between Bt200 million and Bt300 million will be spent on a system to support our growth. Another Bt600 million will be spent on new stores, and between Bt400 million and Bt500 million on renovations of our existing supermarkets.”
Central Food Retail operates 85 Tops Market stores, 51 Tops Daily and seven Central Food Hall stores, among other formats.
The focus of the expansion plan will be rolling out new Tops Daily and Tops Market stores.
Taylor says the plan will help the company maintain average growth of 10-15 per cent.
Central Food Retail is also considering opportunities outside Thailand.
“There are also many opportunities we have seen in neighbouring countries. However, there is no fixed plan decided by the company at this moment.”
Following the success of the first-ever The Simpsons store in Taikooli Sanlitun, Beijing, more outlets are to be rolled out in China.
Three will open this year – at Shanghai’s Grand Gateway 66, at Xi An Wu Huan Department Store in Xian, and at Joy City in Beijing, 20th Century Fox Consumer Products and HerChain Clothing Company have announced.
The stores will feature more than 125 specially curated items related to The Simpsons animated television series.
“The new locations – in high-traffic city centres and department stores – position The Simpsons store to attract a wide and diverse composition of consumers,” says 20th Century Fox Consumer Products VP for worldwide brand marketing, strategy and partnerships, Peter Leeb.
The Simpsons is the longest-running scripted show in US television history, launching in 1990 and now in its 28th season.
Reports indicate that Vodafone is preparing to conduct an IPO of its Indian business in the fourth quarter that could raise as much as $2.5 billion.
The operator is expected to file a draft prospectus for the IPO in August, citing sources close to the deal.
According to the report, Vodafone has hired Bank of America, Kotak Investment banking and UBS AG as the global co-ordinators for the IPO. The bank selection process commenced in April.
With a potential value of up to $2.5 billion, the IPO would be India’s largest public listing since 2010. Previous reports indicate that the value of the offer could be much larger, to the extent that the IPO has the potential to be India’s largest ever float.
Vodafone has been considering an IPO of its Indian operations for years, but the process has been complicated in part by disputes with the government over tax demands and the merger of its operating businesses.
Indonesia and the Philippines, as immediate neighboring countries, have many to offers in the fields of among other things trade, culture and security.
In fact, the Philippines is a significant trade partner as its contributed around US$2.3 billion in trade surplus to Indonesia last year.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Johny J Lumintang said recently that the surplus was the third largest for Indonesia in its international trade.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that the countrys imports from Indonesia during the period between January and December 2015 stood at $2.927 billion, while exports to Indonesia were only valued at $628.2 million.
However, the figures declined from the previous year when Philippines imports and exports from and to Indonesia reached $3.037 billion and $759.658 million, respectively.
Three major Indonesian products imported by the Philippines, include automotive, coal, and coffee, with total values of $619.8 million, $519.4 million, and $208.6 million, respectively.
There are great demands for coal for Filipino power plants, the diplomat said.
The two nations have also intensified bilateral cooperation in various fields such as in economic, politic, socio-culture, and sea patrol security.
“With the Philippines, Indonesia should not compete but cooperate as our products are mostly similar,” the ambassador said.
Indonesias Trade Attach in Manila Irawan said 16 Indonesian food and beverage products have been marketed widely in Filipino supermarkets.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino (R) speaks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) at the presidential palace in Manila.
Among the products as Kopiko 78 Degree, Indofood instant noodles, Bimoli and Mitra cooking oil, Tiger and Oreo biscuits, Extra Joss, You C-1000, Fruit Tea, nata de coco, Kopiko candy, Energen, and Diabetasol biscuits and powder milk.
Indonesias food and beverage product market share in the Philippines is 8.13 percent.
Last year, the Philippines imported food and beverages worth US$ 452.1 million from Indonesia, and exported US$15.8 million.
Having economic growth at 6.9 percent, the Philippine is a potential market as its population is also big, he said.
He hoped more small and medium scale industries products could be marketed in the Philippine.
Eight food and beverage producers participated in the ASEAN Salon International de l Agroalimentaire held in Manila on May 31-June 2 2016.
In the meantime, The Philippine government is also eager to promote its products in Indonesian markets.
Filipino retail brands were exhibited at the “Lifestyle Philippines” event in Jakarta, on June 10, 2016.
“Lifestyle Philippines” was a branding initiative led by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Jakarta which aimd to promote and create more awareness of Filipino-made products.
During her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen Isleta stated that, It is an initiative to which our Embassy with the support of the Filipino community, have given our best efforts because we believe it can contribute to the friendship and close cooperation between our two countries.
The event included a fashion show featuring Karimadon and Rusty Lopez, two iconic brands in the Philippines that have begun to create a following in the Indonesian forward-clientele market.
Other brands displayed were Plains and Prints, Cruzzini Barong Tagalog, and Barong Batik, a fashion innovation that has successfully fused Philippine barong and Indonesian batik, a creation that many diplomats and dignitaries have begun to favor for its elegance.
Apart from apparel, the event also showcased Filipino food products, hand-woven crafts, cosmetics and neutraceutical, tourism and travel, as well as education services.
Flavors Philippines featured products with potentials to be exported here such as Goldilocks polvoron, Mama Sitas sauces and mixes, Leslies snack products, Destilleria Limtuacos spirits and liquors, among others.
Artisanal food products sourced from the various regions in the Philippines such as dried fruits and nuts, jams and marmalades, bottled sardines, and chocolate dipped dried mangoes will be at the exhibition as well.
Woven Chic, a special section on hand-woven crafts will show indigenous textiles from the Philippines, traditional dresses, linens, and modern and traditional pieces of jewelry.
“This initiative hopes to increase trade with Indonesia, which in 2015 stood at US$3.6 billion. The Philippines exported about US$628.27 million of goods and services to Indonesia, while the Indonesia had US$2.93 billion trade with its counterpart,” Philippine Embassy Trade Representative Alma Argayoso said in a statement recently.
“The regional integration in ASEAN presents opportunities for Philippine companies to expand to Indonesia and other ASEAN markets, and we certainly would like to actively take part in supporting Philippines companies in their regional expansion. We look forward to make Filipino products more available in the Indonesian market, particularly since there are many Indonesians who have visited and studied in the Philippines who look for our products,” she added.
Singtel has announced a new partnership with the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) to train cybersecurity talent.
The work-study program will support SIT students in the areas of Information Security and Software Engineering, which is expected to lead to career pathways such as cyber security R&D, product development, and management, cyber analysis and forensics, operations and cyber architects.
Singtel country CEO and CEO, Group Enterprise Bill Chang said the undertaking aims to address two critical skills needs locally – the short supply of trained software engineers and the growing worldwide threat posed by cyber threats.
“The economy is in great need for trained cybersecurity professionals,” he said.
Under the work-study programs, participating students are trainees of the supporting company. They get to gather meaningful work experiences through industry induction, close mentorship, attachments and capstone projects to deepen industry-relevant skills.
The students would acquire skills and experience relevant to the needs of the company while the company gains a productive contributor and an avenue to recruit, assess, groom and retain talent.
Singtel has also worked with the InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) on the Cyber Security Associates and Technologists Program.
South Korean fashion giant Sungjoo Corp., which owns and runs German luxury bag brand MCM, on Friday said it will adopt the latest technology to create an innovative fashion code and lead the new luxury trend.
“We will combine technology and fashion to create the new framework in the luxury market,” Sungjoo Group said in the newly published book, titled “The Story of Sungjoo.”
Sungjoo Group is a fashion retail group that operates franchise stores for leading British retail group Marks & Spencer, Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci in South Korea. It acquired Germany luxury leather goods brand MCM in 2005.
“We will make MCM the ‘new school luxury’ that caters to various lifestyles and brings changes, not just making luxury products appealing to a small number of affluent customers,” it said.
As part of efforts, MCM will present “wearable luxury” by collaborating with mobile devices and offer product information on smartphone applications.
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of its foundation this year, Sungjoo Corp. said it aims to increase the number of MCM stores to 700 across the world and generate 2 trillion won (US$1.7 billion) in sales by 2020.
When Kim Sung-joo first founded Sunjoo Group as a rare female entrepreneur of the country at the time, few would have expected the small firm could join the world’s top 50 fashion groups.
Born into a prosperous family in South Korea in 1956, the youngest of six children is in all senses a maverick in her own family and the nation’s male-dominated business circle.
Her father is Kim Soo-keon, the founder of Daesung Industrial Corp., a Korean conglomerate whose businesses range from energy and auto parts to oil and industrial gas.
Graduating from Yonsei University, Kim defied her father’s demands not to enter business, and instead, went abroad to study at Amherst College in Massachusetts and the London School of Economics.
Then while continuing her studies at Harvard University, she met a Canadian classmate and married him. Her furious parents disowned her, and she had to drop out of school and work at Bloomingdales in New York to support herself.
After her apprenticeships in the luxury American department store, she came back to Korea and founded her own fashion business in 1991.
As she couldn’t get any financial support from her father, Kim had to start her own business from scratch in a small office in Seoul.
Witnessing changing consumption trends in South Korea in the 1990s, Kim believed that importing foreign luxury brands to the local market could be a good business venture and won franchise rights for British retail group Marks & Spencer, Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci. In years, Korea became the world’s fifth-largest market for Gucci.
But the company had to streamline its business in the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which made royalty fees skyrocket and put icy water on consumer sentiment.
After managing to stay afloat during the tough years, Sungjoo Corp., which had the licensing rights of German craft handbag maker MCM, decided to take over the then-struggling company in 2005.
Under Kim’s leadership, Sungjoo Corp. resuscitated MCM’s slumping business with a series of innovative products and new way of marketing strategies targeting younger customers.
Breaking the prejudice that practical backpacks can’t be part of luxury, MCM released unisex backpacks and big bags that have space for laptops. They turned out to be a big hit among younger customers and became signature items for the brand.
Kim also started to open flagship stores in Europe, the United States and Asia, rapidly expanding the number of stores in China. Now, MCM sells in 30 nations, and China is one of its biggest markets.
The spirited female entrepreneur, who always sticks to a signature short cut, bold eye makeup and red lipstick, has built her wealth from scratch, but monetary success is not her ultimate goal.
The dedicated Christian always stresses that her employees “succeed to serve, not serve to succeed,” the book quoted her saying, presenting the 60-year-old CEO’s thick, wrinkled hands as a gesture of her support on the last page.
EVER get that sinking feeling when the last of the battery drains from your mobile phone while in the middle of something? What makes it worse is that you haven’t got your power bank with you, and there’s not a plug point in sight! Now, a cute-looking product called MoBeeGo – a one-time mobile phone charger may just be the answer you have been waiting for.
The cute black and yellow miniature barrels are able to juice up your dying mobile phones for another four hours maximum. Produced by NASDAQ-listed Life Clips Inc, MoBeeGo is an innovative one-time charger that does not require any pre-charging nor the use of cumbersome cords. Brought in to Malaysia by Kelvin Hun and Edric Foong, the founders of Veloster Technology, a local company that specialises in cutting-edge devices and technological gadgets, MoBeeGo is designed with two elements.
One is a re-usable ultra-compact adapter – there are separate ones available for Google Android and Apple iOs smartphones – that connects to the phone’s charging outlet. The second element is the battery can (shaped to look like a can of an energy drink) or charging unit, which is mounted onto the adapter that attaches to the phone. The charger is tiny and can be easily stored in pockets, purses, and bags. The battery has a 10-year shelf life, enabling consumers to keep them on hand for prolonged periods.
According to Hun, the battery is hardy enough to withstand extreme temperatures of up to minus 12 and still be able to function well. That’s certainly good news for those planning to travel to cold places this winter. He also added that MoBeeGo is intended to offer convenience and safety, and to be an immediate solution to complement the busy lifestyle of today’s mobile consumers who often carry multiple devices at a time. “With today’s busy lifestyle, we rely heavily on our mobile devices to keep us connected to the world around us.
Whether we are searching for places to eat on our mobile or playing games during our commute, today’s mobile apps consume lot of power from your devices. The problem lies in trying to squeeze a full day’s worth of power into such mobile devices. Hence, MoBeeGo is designed with ease of use in mind and lets you charge instantly when you need it – anytime and anywhere,” said Hun. The charger and battery is easily available from local stores from next week onwards.
In the meantime, Veloster Technology is planning to further expand the network of stores where MoBeeGo can be made available. “We are thrilled to have myNEWS as the first convenience retail chain for our award-winning charger. We look forward to expanding our distribution network to even more stores and new markets such as check-out counters in pharmacies, grocery stores, cafes, magazine kiosks, shopping malls, airports and other places where people shop in the near future. So the next time you are running low on battery, just grab a can from the stores, plug it in and go!” said Hun.
MoBeeGo batteries are recyclable. MoBeeGo is currently sold in 14 countries including Canada, United Kingdom, Malaysia, France and Russia. It recently received an Honourable Mention on the Red Dot Design Award: Product Design this year. The Red Dot Design Award is an international product design and communication design prize awarded by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany.
Shares of Sa Sa International are up 27% in the past month as Chinese tourist arrivals to Hong Kong showed signs of a recovery – but it may not yet be time to put the marked down cosmetics retailer in the shopping basket.
Once a market darling, Sa Sa has sagged 70% from its peak in September 2013 as rising online competition and a fall in the number of mainland Chinese shoppers visiting its ubiquitous neon pink stores squeezed sales. Slumping sentiment and spending among Hong Kong consumers hasn’t helped. The cosmetics retailer released its full year results on Thursday and it wasn’t pretty: earnings plummeted 54% year-on-year as revenues slipped and margins were squeezed. However, there is stirring interest in Sa Sa as a recovery play as the slump in Chinese visitors appears to be waning, while investors also get paid to wait for a turnaround given the juicy 8% yield. But the stock may have rallied too hard, too fast as a recovery in mainland visitors – if it happens – doesn’t necessarily mean fuller tills at stores, while pressures on margins abound.
Sa Sa’s yearly revenues suffered their first decline since its public listing in 1997. The retailer reported a 12.8% fall to HKD9 billion as same store sales in Hong Kong and Macau, which account for around 80% of revenues, fell 11.8%. While the volume of transactions decreased around 4%, a 10% fall in the average value of each transaction hurt the top line. Mainland tourists made around 8% fewer transactions and on average spent 11% less on each transaction. The weaker spending by mainland shoppers reflects the growing number of tourists from smaller cities who have lower disposable incomes. Additionally, restrictions limiting Shenzhen residents to only one visit to Hong Kong a week have shrunk the number of day trippers who account for the bulk of Sa Sa’s mainland clientele.
But it’s not just mainland tourists who are weighing on Sa Sa’s top line: local shoppers, who account for around 48% of transactions, are also spending less amid Hong Kong’s weak economy. Consumer confidence is at its lowest level since 2013, while retail sales tumbled nearly 8% year-on-year in April after reporting the steepest plunge since 1999 in February. A weak finance sector and falling property prices threaten to further depress consumer sentiment spending. Transaction volumes for local shoppers slipped roughly 1% for Sa Sa last year, while average spending decreased just over 3%.
Morgan Stanley analyst Edward Lui expects near term trends “to stay challenging” for Hong Kong retailers and expects Sa Sa to record a double digit decline in same store sales this year. The analyst said Sa Sa, as well as jeweler Chow Tai Fook, have the “greatest de-rating and earnings risks.” Lui has an underweight rating on Sa Sa with a HKD1.40 a share target price, which is 51% below the stock’s current level of HKD2.85 a share. Sa Sa shares also aren’t cheap: they trade at 19 times forward earnings, which is above a five-year average of 17 times and compares to 14 times for fast food chain Fairwood Holdings, which is geared to benefit from a weak economy.
Competition between Sa Sa and rivals like Bonjour Holdings has also intensified. More aggressive promotions and discounts lowered Sa Sa’s net profit margin to roughly 7% last year from around 12% the prior year. Staffing costs as a share of sales also increased as the company forked out more remuneration to retain staff. Macquarie analyst Linda Huang is concerned about the outlook for profits as “margins will likely be under pressure” due to high rent, labor costs and promotional spending. Huang has an underperform rating on Sa Sa with an HKD1.80 a share target price. A weak Hong Kong property market could lower rent for the retailer, argues Core Pacific-Yamaichi analyst Kevin Tam. Tam – who is the lone analyst with a buy rating on Sa Sa – expects an 11% decline in rent this year to be a major earnings driver. However, Sa Sa management has indicated savings on leases would show up in total rent costs only over “an extended time of several financial years.”
While Sa Sa has diversified away from Hong Kong and Macau with stores in Southeast Asia and mainland China, its Malaysia business was the only bright spot last year. Sa Sa has also hedged itself against the squeeze of ecommerce on brick and mortar retailers with its sasa.com portal but growth has been disappointing compared to dedicated online retailers such as Vipshop.
Thailand’s AIS has launched Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services, and Taiwan’s APT has announced plans to do the same.
AIS, Thailand’s largest mobile operator, is initially offering VoWiFi for selected iPhone models, including the iPhone 5s, 5c, 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus and iPhone SE.
The company will offer VoWiFi as a complementary add-on for AIS’s 4G services, offering calls at standard rates as well as the ability to send and receive SMS.
AIS has announced plans to expand its WiFi hotspot network from 120,000 to 160,000 this year and to 200,000 by 2017. The operator is aiming to have more than 10 million 4G subscribers by the end of 2016.
Taiwan’s APT has also announced plans to launch VoWiFi services, without announcing a timeframe.
Comments from APT suggest that the operator will initially support selected iPhone models and the Android-based InFocus M372 with the VoWiFi service.
Currently the operator’s 4G network covers around 94% of Taiwan, including 98% of metropolitan areas. The company passed the 4 million subscriber milestone at the end of May.
Last week, Singtel announced that it is planning to launch VoWiFi services in August following successful HetNet trials.
