SingTel offers data tie-up plans with WhatsApp, Opera for pre-paid customers
In a bid to recapture revenue lost from the large user shift to data-based messaging and file-sharing apps, local telco SingTel has moved to introduce new data tie-up plans for its pre-paid mobile users.
Teaming up with social messaging giant WhatsApp, SingTel is offering an unlimited usage plan for a daily, weekly or monthly fee of 50 cents, $3 or $6 respectively. With mini browser Opera, the telco is offering prices of $1, $5 and $10 for unlimited web usage, without hinging on prepaid data.
According to terms on its website, SingTel says usage abuse of the WhatsApp plan (that is, usage that exceeds 1GB in a day) is subject to suspension or modification, while usage of the Opera browser on the plan does not include music or video streaming.
When contacted, StarHub's senior vice president for personal solutions Chan Kin Hung said the telco plans to implement a common communication platform that allows its customers to send messages, files and make data-based calls to any number, regardless of the apps used. It also said it is "too early to comment on any impact this (SingTel's tie-up) would have" on it.
"Having said that, we do not rule out collaborating with (other data-based communication and file-sharing apps) as we believe we can leverage their unique strengths to offer our customers choice and a better overall experience with StarHub," he added.
Yahoo! Singapore was unable to reach M1 for comment, although it is understood the telco plans to proceed on a common app platform that reaches all phone numbers as well.
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