A morning without DiGi Data Service

Today, it was a morning without DiGi mobile Internet(EDGE & 3G) for me. The time was about 8am and I wasn't able to receive any email on my Blackberry, surf using mobile Internet or use Twitter as I normally do. On top of that I needed to use Google Maps but the maps wasn't loading although my GPS worked.

DiGi did not pick up my calls to the customer service(016-2211800) when the problem occurred. But later today a notice was posted on the DiGi website:

Data Service Interruption
Dear DiGi Customers,

We are currently facing intermittent interruptions to our data services. Our engineers are investigating the issue now and working as fast as they can to restore services.

We truly apologise and regret the inconvenience caused. You can also follow us on Facebook for updates. Thank you.

It appears that the problem started with a "network interruption" in Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, according to DiGi via its official Twitter account-

Followed by this tweet, probably indicating a nationwide issue-

DiGi's data network resumed back at about 10am.

Mobile Telecom Predictions for 2009

I know this post is extremely late and there has been lots of email since January about this. I apologize for that as I never had the time to write my predictions for 2009.

Here's a very short list on what to look out for in the local telecom industry this year:

Aggressive 3G services

I know that everyone has been saying that it is a year for 3G since it was launched like back in 2005(Celcom in May, Maxis in July and U Mobile in March, 2008). The reality is, 3G has a goal when it was introduced and I don't see that goal being achieved in Malaysia, yet.

3G was created to to offer high speed broadband services on the mobile phone. But till now, I don't see many people out there who are using 3G services and applications on their 3G phone. The only thing that the mobile operators could pride them self on 3G is the wireless broadband services that they are offering, an alternative broadband service to your fixed broadband service.

I am not going to talk about this further, but I hope to see more 3G service for mobile phones this year, such as services that make use of video call, maps/navigation services on phone, enhanced location based services, better online mobile payment, shopping services, music streaming, social networking and thousands of other services when you look at i-mode.

I know that most of these services are available, but I hope to see it coming from our very own telcos and more than 500 content developers in Malaysia out there.

World Economy: Impact on the Local Telecom Industry

I predict that the current world economy situation will have no impact on our local telecom industry. I don't see any reason why people will not SMS or talk less on their phone. That being said, however, people might not change phone as frequent as they did during the previous years.

In general, they should be no impact on our local mobile operators unless they have any business relationship with US-based companies.

WiMAX Heats Up

I have high hopes on P1 to drive the WiMAX and broadband adoption in Malaysia. You will see more WiMAX coverage areas as P1 expands their wireless coverage. On top of this, P1 will be launching their USB modem(MIMO supported) by Q3 this year(about June) and their new fixed WiMAX modem with VoIP support, replacing the current DS 300 model.

P1 does not seem to only focus on providing broadband service but also on content as well. Expect to see more content and services from Ruumz, an online social networking site created by Green Packet, the parent company of P1.

As for the other WiMAX players, personally, I don't expect and don't see much development from them although I must say that I do have a little hope for Asia Space since they are working on Digital Media Broadcasting (DMB) services. It is really interesting to see them trialling the service but I doubt that they could take it further since it involves a lot of investment while they are trying hard to expand their WiMAX coverage.

Asia Space DMB Receiver

It will also be great to see YTL e-Solutions to meet their own deadline this year but personally, I doubt it.

IPTV Services

Well, it is true that IPTV has nothing to do with mobile telecom. The reason I am talking about this is because it could drive the adoption of broadband services in this country. I like what Malaysian based-Syqic has to offer and their partnership with Hypp.TV. I believe that that they are working on a mobile IPTV application. Although they don't have high hopes on it, I hope to see them launching it with a mobile operator later this year.

Other local technology companies working on IPTV services includes MOL, TM , TIME, REDtone, WorldIP.TV and more.

Hope on MVNOs

I have not seen any serious impact from the current MVNOs players yet. When I last spoke to Jason Lo, the CEO of Tune Talk, he said that Tune Talk will be launching the services later this year. I am still trying to get more details about Celcom's investment on Tune Talk.

Another MVNO player appears to have some new developments too. Sumitomo Corporation of Japan has invested RM30 million in Merchantrade Asia Sdn Bhd. And why would a Japanese company do so, especially during the recession period?

As of January 2009, Merchantrade appears to have over 94,000 active subscribers and this is something positive. Hope to hear more about them this year.

Don't know whether if you still remember Happy, looks like Happy makes you sad afterall.

HSBB to Become Reality

As scheduled, TM should be rolling out the High Speed Broadband (HSBB) for wholesale on second quarter and for retail in the fourth quarter this year.

Speed should be starting from 10Mbps to 100 Mbps for residential customers and up to 1Gbps for businesses for high economic impact areas delivered via fibre optic infrastructure.

More Choices on Mobile Broadband

There has been many talks about 3G/LTE technology competing with WiMAX. I predict there will be more competition in the mobile broadband market once P1 launches their USB Modem. At the moment, only Asia Space offers a WiMAX USB modem, but it has limited coverage areas.

If the signs are right, I see that Celcom Broadband will be focusing more on their 3G broadband offering this year while Maxis Broadband could be coming up with more content and services. Competition between the 3G players will also heat up with DiGi 3G coming into the picture, however, DiGi needs to be aggressive in expanding their 3G coverage this year.

I don't have any predictions for U Mobile as for now. I believe there will be not much impact from U Mobile on the local mobile industry this year, unless if they are able to offer more broadband packages, expand their 3G coverage areas and also launch their much awaited DVB-H services.

NetBook is the Killer Mobile Device

I expect to see more Netbook offerings this year to complement the mobile broadband services. The attractive offerings should be coming from the mobile operators and also the WiMAX operators. If things goes as plan, there should be WiMAX-powered notebook/netbook devices sometime this year.

The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 with Maxis Broadband is a good bundle but I hope to see something more attractive with complete wireless broadband service(Maxis Broadband is included for the first 6 months only). Also expect to see some attractive netbook offerings from Celcom within the next few weeks.


P/s: If you think I have missed something, kindly post a comment.

Mobile Number Portability coming soon

With mobile number portability in Malaysia just months away, Telcordia and Unified Communications have joined forces to bring their world-class number portability solution to the country.

In March, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced that the consortium of Talian Gerak Alih, Unified Communications and Telcordia was selected to build, operate and manage the mobile number portability clearinghouse in Malaysia.

The proven solution, which will be implemented in the first half of 2008, enables carriers to comply with the country’s timeline for the implementation of mobile number portability.

At the core of the comprehensive solution is Telcordia’s number portability clearinghouse solution.- TelecomAsia.net

HAPPY gets "happy" by making money from "HAPPY" users

HAPPY, the no-frill prepaid service, launched by DiGi, but not by DiGi(according to the Happy team) is a move by DiGi, I mean HAPPY to dominate the Voice and SMS market in Malaysia.

With 60 days validity on any reload, 1sen/sec and up to 99sen for a 45 minute call and 10sen per SMS.

WHAT IS THE CATCH?

Ok, lets see. A 1 minute call on HAPPY will cost RM0.60, and that's the most expensive rate in the country for making a call to a local number. Now lets go to the most painful part:

• MMS- RM1(the most expensive rate in country)
  
• International MMS- RM2(Again, the most expensive)
  
• International SMS- RM1(this must be a "diamond" SMS, the most expensive again!!)
  
• IDD- RM5/min to any country (including Singapore which will cost less than RM1 on "normal rates")
• GPRS Activation- RM2 (no telco is charging for this now. Are we still in the GPRS era?)
• GPRS- RM0.50/10Kb (wow, this must be for secured, important use..:)............)
• Call Center (014-3333800)- RM2 per call (High class customer service)

Source

HAPPY is for:

• Anyone who makes a call longer than 99sec(1 min 39 sec) and lesser than 45 minute. (so make sure that your call last that long to make BIG savings.-RM0.99
• For people who sends tons of SMS everyday/everymonth, and of course to any LOCAL numbers.-RM0.10
  

So, is HAPPY really for you? Plus with limited places to purchase a reload(until their e-pay service is available).

Any "HAPPY" users around? Leave a comment.

Happy launched to make all of us HAPPY(updated-video)

DiGi has launched Happy, a new prepaid service targeted to people who makes a lot of calls and sms.

With just 1sen/second and up to 99sen per call to any number in Malaysia, I believe Happy offers the cheapest call rate in Malaysia. That even beats TM's fixed line offerings. SMS cost only 10sen to local numbers.

Users could reload any of the available amount starting from RM5 which has a validity of 60 days regardless of the amount reloaded. You could do the reload at Happy's website with a credit card or via e-pay outlets.

The sim pack that I received comes with no fine print(nothing inside it except the sim card), Happy is currently using the prefix 014.

Sadly, although the Voice call and SMS rate is low, but the MMS, data, call center and international services are too expensive. Refer the table below.

What upsets me is that Happy did not mention that the 99sen rate is up to 45 minute per call in its press release. It was mentioned during a session with Morten Lundal(DiGi CEO) on the other day after Happy was officially launched. I did not find this info on Happy's website either and this will confuse a lot users as the table above mentions about max. RM0.99 PER CALL without saying anything about the 45 minute per call limit.

Check out other Happy features here. Happy will ride on DiGi's network and users using Happy will see "Happy" as the operator logo on their phone.

I was given a free Happy number that goes 014-320202x but sadly I lost my Nokia 6680 with the Happy number the day I activated it. I tried to get back the same number since I had registered myself before activating Happy but according to their customer service, I cannot get a replacement sim card since the service it not available. Now that makes me SAD.

When asked about about how will DiGi earn money, CK Koay, Head of Happy told me that the earning comes from the usage of other services like MMS and Data.

According to CK, Happy will not be recognize if you take it to a DiGi center, that's because Happy is maintained by an independent team within DiGi which consist of 4 main people including him.

Based on analysis, DiGi's made this move because it was preparing itself from U Mobile which is expected to launch its service on march next year. Currently U Mobile's postpaid service which is under trial offers no monthly fee with a lot of free services and low priced voice call. Imagine if they launch a prepaid service that could effect all the other three telco's business.

If you make a lot of Calls and SMS, Happy is designed for you.

You could purchase a Happy starter pack here with a credit card that will cost you RM25(preloaded of RM20 airtime) with free delivery or you could drop by at selected Giant hypermarket by referring here and purchase the starter pack for only RM5 without preloaded airtime.

Call 014-3456789 or visit http://www.happy.com.my for more info.

P.s: Apologies for the late update as I was so busy with work. Thank you for all the emails but I was already updated.....;) Hmn.......Now, can someone buy scamboy a new phone?