The market is now abuzz with fibre broadband plans. In fact, they seem to be even cheaper than ADSL or Cable plans. Currently, 5 telco Fibre plans operators try to outsmart one another with plans. All of them are 24 mths contractual plan. Which one will you choose ? Let’s take a closer look :

Singtel 150Mbps Fibre Broadband goes for S$49.90/mth. It comes with free home line and 10GB Store and Share account. They also throw in a free integrated wireless modem worth $188.

Starhub changed it’s plans on the 1st day of Comex and offers the 150Mbps MaxInfinity Elite 150Mbps plan at S$47.94/mth. It comes with a wireless Home Gateway, a 1.2Mbps mobile broadband (30GB bundle data) and SafeSurf Online.

M1′s advertised plan is the popular 100Mbps Fibre plan. It comes with a Mobile Broadband mData 1GB (7.2Mbps) and Home Fixed Voice service. It costs only S$39/mth.

The 150Mbps plan is priced at S$59/mth and 200Mbps at S$79/mth.

New kid on the block MyRepublic offers their 24mth 100Mbps fibre broadband at S$59/mth and they offer a 5 mths free subscription. That is effectively S$46.71/mth.

MyRepublic throws in an ASUS N15U WiFi Router and Home Fixed Line worth S$5/mth (number cannot be chosen and no porting of existing numbers from other telcos allowed yet). It also throws in Norton Security 3 user pack worth S$89/year.

The 5th player is Viewquest. Their Firebnet 100 + OneVoice + IPTV costs S$65/mth. Freedom VPN add on for IPTV allows you to watch UK and US IP restricted videos, a service known as freedom VPN can be added on at S$10.70 per mth.

Of all the 5 different plans, Starhub and Singtel are quite similar. Both are 150Mbps plans. Singtel charges S$49.90 while Starhub charges S$47.94. Singtel has 10GB online storage but Starhub offers a 1.2Mbps mobile broadband (SIM only). If you are going for local content, Starhub seems to be a better choice as it throws in a mobile broadband and the total package is in fact cheaper than Singtel. Both international traffic are capped at 15Mbps.

M1, MyRepublic and Viewquest offers 100Mbps plans and they have no cap on international traffic. M1 is the incumbent. It has grown in popularity with it’s low cost. 100Mbps for S$39 is really a good catch. In the past, if you need to have the home fixed line, you have to pay S$2/mth to rent the Huawei Remote Gateway. Looks like M1 has solved this issued. New subscribers will require just one box. The phone line can be plugged direct into the box (in replacement of the Nucleus connect’s ONT). If you need wireless connectivity, you will need to purchase one to connect it to the device. You can port existing Singtel or Starhub fixed line numbers to M1 for unlimited free incoming and outgoing local calls.

As for MyRepublic, their price offer after discount is S$46.71. On their advertisement, they claim that they do not restrict international traffic. That is something I like about them. They promised Smooth HD video streaming and works fine even at peak hours. They also mentioned that they don’t do bitTorrent Throttling unlike other RSPs. They also have a Home Voice Line service that will launch in OCT 2012. It would require a Telephone adapter and a installation fee off S$49 per new line. It will offer free 1000 outgoing local minutes per month, free incoming calls, free voice mail and caller ID vAS. You can’t port existing fixed line number to MyRepubilc to date.

Viewquest bundles in IPTV service using it’s Freedom VPN. That allows you to watch online shows that are restricted to UK (BBC iplayer) or contents that are only viewable in the USA. Of course you would have to pay additional subscription to the content providers over there. The is also OneVoice for making local calls, a WD TV live media player provided. In fact, you want to watch overseas content, you will require to pay an additional S$10.70/mth.

Conclusion

Starhub might be a good choice as it is 150Mbps, (ahem just a larger number). It offers free mobile broadband and free wireless gateway. The only catch is that they do have a international traffic bandwidth cap. Throttling users might not like it but it also saves your the bandwidth by preventing downloaders from hogging the bandwidth for themselves. Singtel is more expensive and seriously who needs that 10GB of storage. You can get more on other cloud storage providers.

As for 100Mbps plan, M1 is the choice! It is S$39/mth and throws in mobile broadband. It is cheaper than the other two and provides uncapped international traffic. So far, throttling works pretty Ok for me. Things should have improved by now as they use their own ONT now instead of that Huawei RG that has poor wifi signal. No WIFI router provided.

MyRepublic and Viewquest are worth trying too. They are still evolving. MyRepublic seems to be more mature as they put up more information of what to expect from their service. The only turn off is that they can’t port existing voice lines number over to theirs yet. There is also additional costs involved.

As for Viewquest, if you an expatriate that can’t stand local cable/iptv/free to air, this might be the solution for you. It is a no frills method of getting to watch what is IP blocked content from the UK and USA. It is unsure which other VPNs in other countries will they offer. I am sure more users are more interested in downloading than watching video streams.

Do take note that the deals are only for COMEX, the pricing will revert back to their normal rates afte the exhibition ends tomorrow. If you intend to subscribe to any of the 5 operators, do check with them for any installation charges and penalty charges for early termination.

So, which one will you choose. Post your comments below.

More COMEX 2012 Price lists can be found here

MUZEE Multimedia player ICD-7 USB Stick
Bluetooth 5 Sep 2011

Are you a frequent traveller or residing in another country ? If you missed your country’s radio or tv station, the MUZEE multimedia player ICD-7 might be able to help you.

MUZEE is a multimedia solution provider. If you have read our review of the ASUS O Play multimedia device, you would have noticed that it also uses their solution to provide on line streaming of radio and tv stations.

The ICD-7 can be considered as an enhanced edition of the software.  The MUZEE ICD-7 is an application software embedded in a USB flash drive that provides users with convenient and quick access to a database which filled with links up to 350,000 Internet videos, 200,000 e-books, 20,000 radio stations, 10,000 magazines, 5000 TV channels,10,000 games and 10,000 news sources. With a click, you can watch TV in US, listen to radio in France, read a newspaper in Japan and play a video game all in a matter of seconds.

As all contents are found on the internet, there is no need for subscription. Furthermore the list gets bigger when more media provides an alternative means of reaching to it’s audience and listeners worldwide. Simply plug the staple look alike device into the USB stick, launch the application and you have access to the world, with radio and tv in all languages, genres etc.

Enjoy non-stop online entertainment and users could prerecord or record their favorite real-time programs and read all kinds of worldwide e-books/magazines/news with the translation function. All the contents are filtered in advance and updated 24/7 with new sources.

The internet is a fantastic resource where the best deals are to be had. Downloading films, playing online games, checking emails, bidding goods or services and so on, the Internet ideally serve pretty much all your life.

None of us has time to spare, so any tool that can make light work of online tasks is welcome. ASRock XFast LAN is a smart productivity tool to help you manage your priorities of internet applications, simplify your digital life and accomplish more.

When Internet Explorer loads very slowly for no clear reason, it’s usually due to inefficient management. ASRock is rolling out super efficient web management in the motherboard industry. The XFast LAN is a convenient tool that controls the internet applications easily and efficiently. Creating a perfect Internet environment, all you need is a smart manager. The ASRock XFast LAN allows you to enjoy more speed, easier multitasking, enhanced multimedia experience, and more – all without weighing you down.

The innovative features of XFast LAN include:

1. Internet Application Prioritization
ASRock XFast LAN utility provides user-friendly options in an advanced viewing interface. You can configure your internet application priority ideally and/or add new programs.

2. Lower Latency in Game
Fast response is incredibly important in games. The PC offers lightning fast responses that are essential for positioning the camera or lining up the scopes for a headshot. After setting online game priority higher, XFast LAN can lower the latency in games to assist you easily become the winner.

Time latency in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

3. Traffic Shaping
Are you tired of waiting buffering of Youtube video? Traffic Shaping allows you to watch Youtube HD video and download files simultaneously. You will never have to wait long time for anything to load again.

Watch Youtube HD Video &
Download Files Simultaneously

4. Real-Time Analysis of Your Data
The Real-Time analysis interface ensures you to obtain more precise control of the web programs. With the status window, you can easily recognize which data streams you are currently transferring.

Download:

Hong Kong high speed Fibre broadband 500Mbps is only HKD 132 pm (USD 16.90 or SGD 20.70)

Competition is good for consumers. This is definitely the case for Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, there are currently about 3 or 4 Broadband players. Most of them are triple play or quad play bundling TV, Voice with broadband and sell with 2 to 3 years contract.

To most people, having a high speed internet and broadband/cable tv would definitely cut down costs. As long time favourite TV programmes like EPL or ESPN are tied to certain operators, a subscriber has difficulty choosing which operator to go to.

Well, this time round PCCW, an operator is throwing a good bundle at a ridiculous low price.

The new service comes with Free WIFI access at hot spots, WIFI at home and NowTV channels when you sign up for the 500Mbps Fibre Broadband plan with them.

Guess what, the 500Mbps Fibre broadband plan only costs HKD 132 pm for 30 mthse (USD 16.90 or SGD 20.70) with a 36 mths contract. The first 6 mths is FREE.

In Singapore, the cheapest deal comes from operator M1 Ltd. It has a Fibre Broadband plan at 50Mbps and comes with Digital Home Fixed line thrown in at SGD 29 (USD 23.75 USD, HKD 184.80).

It is really shocking that customers in Singapore are paying so much more, for a 50Mbps (HKD 184.80) vs a 500Mbps (HKD 132).

Intel Z68 based motherboards should be on the shelves today in most parts of the world. As you are probably already aware, Z68 offers some features missing from the P67 and H67 chipset. In fact, it is a hybrid of both. It still comes with integrated graphics and allows you to hook up external graphics card. It can also do what the P67 offers, overclocking of BCLK, CrossFireX etc.

One unique feature introduced on the Z68 is the ISRT – Intel Smart Response Technology. ISRT basically allows you to install a SSD on your system and becomes the cache of your HDD. Unfortunately, most of the boards shipped might have the older version of the CDROM and BIOS. Thus, chances of getting it working out of the box is almost 0.

To get it working, you have to wait for an official BIOS (we are running on beta). A new version of the ISRT also needs to be installed.

We got it working and able to achieve the speed improvements which is not really visible other than through benchmarks.

StarHub Joins top Asian carriers to Build Asia Submarine-Cable Express (ASE)
Singapore, 31 January 2011 — StarHub today announced that it has joined top Asian carriers to build and operate the Asia Submarine-Cable Express, a 7,200 kilometre undersea cable system linking Singapore directly to Japan, the Philippines and Hong Kong. The system will also have connectivity to Malaysia and potentially future connectivity to Mainland China, as well as other Southeast Asian countries.
Set to operate by June 2012, the ASE will boast a total bandwidth carrying capacity in excess of 15 terabits per second and will incorporate latest 40G optical technologies. The ASE is also future-proof and has the capability to incorporate 100Gbps optical technology in the future.  In addition, the new submarine cable system is specifically designed to avoid earthquake and typhoon-prone regions, such as the Bashi Channel south of Taiwan while at the same time covers the shortest possible distance between Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, in order to ensure maximum reliability and minimum latency.

“The launch of ASE in East Asia will be a great complement for our strong connections into the US via the Asia-America Gateway (AAG). Together with the AAG, the ASE will well equip us to handle the next level of challenges and competition where network operators will compete on speed and reliability. For the average consumer, the ASE is great news given the rapidly increasing popularity of video streaming, advanced multimedia applications, and gadgets like smartphones and tablets.  For businesses – especially those that deal with time-critical transactions, a network that minimises latency is vital and can make or break a deal,” said StarHub’s Chief Operating Offer, Tan Tong Hai.
The ASE is being built jointly by StarHub, Japan-based NTT Communications, Philippines-based PLDT and Malaysia-based Telekom Malaysia. The total cost of construction is estimated to be about USD430 million.

We have seen the comparison chart of the various telcos offering Fibre Broadband running on light speed Fibre optical network in Singapore. M1, now with a level playing field is ready to take on the two bigger telcos in Singapore.

With an attractive price of S$39 for 100Mbps for students. It is for sure users without any outstanding contract will take up this plan with a recontract of their existing mobile line.

So, how does the new 100Mbps plan perform. Below is a screen shot sighted in a local forum. The test is done at 12 noon on a Saturday. With speedtest.net to local server, it is able to outperform by almost 25%, reaching almost 125Mbps for downlink. As for the uplink, it is able to achieve 32Mbps (falls short of the up to 50Mbps rating).

Comparing the price plans here

Yesterday, Starhub announced their price plans for their Fibre Broadband Plans. They announced 7 different plans for end consumers, 4 normal plans and 3 Hubber plans with Starhub TV.

To our surprise, Starhub did not have any low speed plans e.g. 25Mbps or 50Mbps plan. The lowest speed is already 100Mbps/50Mbps at $68.27. Lowering the tier plans would probably affect their cable price plans too. That is probably the reason why they start off from 100Mbps instead.

Other plans include a 150Mbps, 200Mbps and 1 Gbps plan at $82.18, $102,93 and $395.90 (no discount rate). Although it is more pricey, they throw in a 2Mbps mobile broadband, free fixed line,  free 10 music DRM download. A slightly more expensive plan includes the 3 basic groups of PAY TV with discounts for hubstation hd rental and upsize groups.

 Singtel does not have low speed plans  (<100Mbps) but focus more on bundling tv and video services to their plans. Their plans starts from 150Mbps priced at S$85.90 which is similar to Starhub’s 100Mbps cable broadband plan. M1 will offer a 3-month free trial of the fibre broadband service at 100Mbps to residential customers whose homes are ready for service. Customers can sign up for the free trial only on 1 September at any M1 Shop.

The other plans offer a speed of 200Mbps which are quite similar as they’re bundled with tv and video services. Prices range from $95.90 to $109.90. If you are a football fan, the exPlore Home Sports Package might interest you. Of course, you would also get some discount with your singtel mobile line.

M1, the new comer has more variety ranging from 25Mbps to 1Gbps. 1Gbps would be too costly at S$399 per month. The more affordable plans would be the 25Mbps at S$39, 50Mbps at S$49 and 100Mbps at S$59. Just like Singtel, M1 also offer a Fixed Line thrown in for free incoming and outgoing calls.

Starhub has yet to offer their pricing structure. LGA telecoms has revealed on straits times that they do have a S$50 for 50Mbps plan in line. The other operator SuperInternet is prepared but yet to reveal pricing information of their services.

We have consolidated a chart which comprises of the existing data we gathered from various press releases and news over the internet for your easy reference.

StarHub Launches Four New Home Broadband Plans for

Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (Next Gen NBN)

To Complement Existing High-Speed Services over Cable

- Current MaxOnline Express and MaxOnline Premium Customers Can Expect Speed Boost in Near Future

- Introduces New Wireless Home Gateway to Access StarHub Services and Content -

- Announces Internet TV and Online Gaming Initiatives ?C

Singapore, 2 September 2010 will soon be able to enjoy ultra-high speed broadband services from StarHub, and experience a whole suite of new value-added services that will enhance their Digital Home of the Future.

This announcement follows the recent commercial launch of Nucleus Connect, Singapore’s Next Gen NBN Operating Company, which provides Retail Service Providers (RSPs) such as StarHub with open access and wholesale connectivity services on the Next Gen NBN. Nucleus Connect was appointed by the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA Singapore) on 3 April 2009 to design, build and operate the active infrastructure of this super highway.

Neil Montefiore, chief executive officer of StarHub said, “StarHub has been spearheading the digital revolution in the home for many years, by providing Singapore’s first 100Mbps home broadband service through MaxOnline Ultimate since 2006. We have offered a complementary range of value-added content services such as StarHub TV Online, StarHub TV on Mobile, StarHub Music Store, interactive digital television and so on. Now with the Next Gen NBN, it gives us more opportunities to extend our leadership in both technology and content, both in the home and out. We will not only remain competitive with our value-packed plans, but we will be more focused on developing a comprehensive suite of home solutions that everyone in the family can interact and enjoy with peace of mind.”

New Residential Broadband Plans

With the commercial availability of the Next Gen NBN in homes, StarHub is pleased to announce four new home broadband plans under the ‘MaxInfinity’ brand. Utilising the new fibre-optic network, MaxInfinity will provide customers with local broadband speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 1Gbps. One major feature of the plans is the good level of international bandwidth provided, including up to 100Mbps for MaxInfinity Supreme, the highest international broadband capacity on offer than any other local operator in Singapore. In addition, all MaxInfinity plans will be bundled with a 2Mbps MaxMobile mobile broadband service and a free MicroSIM card. As usual, StarHub will also be offering a comprehensive series of Hubbing packs which bundles three basic pay TV groups. Details of these four plans as well as their associated Hubbing packs, are outlined in Appendix A.

To celebrate the introduction of MaxInfinity, customers can enjoy a three-month free trial of StarHub’s new MaxInfinity Ultimate plan. They should visit www.starhub.com/maxinfinity or visit StarHub’s booth at COMEX (Level 3, rooms 325-326) at Suntec Exhibition and Convention Centre, from 2-5 September 2010 to register. StarHub will select 1,000 trialists for this free trial, if they register anytime in September. Note that the trialists’ homes must already be connected to the Next Gen NBN before they can be selected and the service activated. StarHub expects to launch all four MaxInfinity plans shortly.

In addition to the introduction of the new MaxInfinity plans, StarHub is announcing that it will be revising some of its current MaxOnline offerings. Both MaxOnline Express and MaxOnline Premium customers will also receive a speed boost in the near future.

Introducing StarHub’s Wireless Home Gateway

Beyond just access, StarHub will also be focusing on delivering significant premium branded content and more wireless value-added services to homes across Singapore. To ensure that StarHub customers can enjoy the full suite of these services, StarHub will be introducing a new device for the home.

Called the StarHub Wireless Home Gateway (HG), it will serve as the enabler for all of the operator’s range of current and future broadband, voice, Internet TV and IPTV services. Not only will the device act as a conduit to access StarHub services, it will also allow home users to seamlessly connect a multitude of wired and wireless devices including fixed line phones, web cameras, surveillance equipment, smart mobile devices, network-enabled television sets and more, for a complete Home Networking experience.

The HG supports complete Gigabit Ethernet (GE) networking in the home, allowing users to connect all Internet-based home devices together, either directly via wires or wirelessly through its in-built 802.11N functionality. The HG is equipped with 4 GE LAN ports and comes with a comprehensive suite of built-in security features to help parents control what content their children are able to access online.

New Value-Added Entertainment Content

With high-speed broadband access becoming a reality, content will soon become a key differentiator for StarHub. With its leadership in offering over 150+ pay TV channels ranging from news to entertainment, kids and lifestyle genres, StarHub also aims to provide unique value-added entertainment content over multiple platforms to all homes in Singapore.

One such initiative is StarHub’s intention to launch Internet TV with over 1,000hrs of TV-quality paid video content and a multitude of English and ethnic channels from StarHub’s comprehensive suite of pay TV content. Users will soon be able to choose the movie or TV series they most want to watch easily and quickly from a central library of video content. The service will be available to all broadband customers in Singapore, and will be feature both free and paid video content. It is accessible from any local Internet connection in and out of the home, and will support a variety of video formats. StarHub will soon be opening up trials for the service soon.

As a complement to watching video content on multiple devices, StarHub will be introducing a new online gaming portal for all broadband customers in Singapore. The online games portal will allow users to play selected online games for free as well as purchase other game titles. They may also purchase game credits, enjoy game previews and special offers with StarHub gaming partners. In addition, StarHub will soon introduce Singapore’s first multiplayer 3D racing game set in a realistic and beautiful Singapore city racetrack. Up to eight players will meet in an intense head-to-head racing with eight different vehicles. The game will feature a real road racing experience with 3D VisionTM technology and highly simulated vibration feedback system to reproduce realistic vehicle collision, leaping and drifting experience. More information on StarHub’s 3D gaming initiative will be disclosed soon.

Added Neil, “StarHub now can offer a complete range of home broadband services to suit every consumer’s needs; for those that simply require a basic broadband package for simple surfing, to those that require ultra-high speed connections to enable advanced multimedia services. We continue to maintain our leadership in the broadband space with the launch of the new 1Gbps broadband plan with up to 100Mbps of international speeds. In addition, we offer the best combination of fast fixed and mobile broadband services, with a full suite of Digital Home solutions and a comprehensive entertainment bundle. Customers will be able to enjoy significant benefits when they join the growing StarHub family.”

For more information on StarHub, visit www.starhub.com.

- END -

APPENDIX A: STARHUB’S NEW AND REVISED PLANS

ACCESS PLANS

Features MaxInfinity Ultimate MaxInfinity Elite MaxInfinity Platinum MaxInfinity Supreme
Promo Price w/GST $68.27 $82.18 $102.93 $395.90
Download Speeds of up to 100Mbps 150Mbps 200Mbps 1 Gbps
Upload Speeds of up to 50Mbps 75Mbps 100Mbps 500Mbps
International speed 15Mbps 15Mbps 25Mbps 100Mbps
Mobile Broadband Free 2Mbps x 24mths promo + Free micro SIM (Valid till 30 Sep 2010)
Home Phone Line Free till 31 Dec 2011
SafeSurf Free till 31 Dec 2010
Hub Troopers Service Call P P P P
Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking) P P P P
Music Store 10 Free DRM-free songs worth $10

HUBBING PACKS

Features MaxInfinity Ultimate

Hubbing Pack MaxInfinity Elite

Hubbing Pack MaxInfinity Platinum Hubbing Pack
Promo Price w/GST $86.88 $102.72 $118.77
Download Speeds of up to 100Mbps 150Mbps 200Mbps
Upload Speeds of up to 50Mbps 75Mbps 100Mbps
International Speed 15Mbps 15Mbps 25Mbps
Cable TV 3 Basic group with up to 28 channels of world-class content + 50% off HubStation HD rental + free 6 months Basic Upsize Groups
Home Phone Line Free till Dec 2011
SafeSurf Free till Dec 2010
Hub Troopers Service Call One Free Service Call within 12 months
Music Store 10 Free DRM-free songs worth $10
Hardware Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking) Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking) Wireless Home Gateway (Gbps home networking)

Update : New chart included Starhub consumer plans can be read here.

Today, 3 telcos announced their Fibre broadband plans which runs on the Opennet fibre to the home infrastructure. With new telcos jumping onto the bandwagon, prices will be pushed down for end consumers.

So far, Singtel is the first to release it’s price plans and M1 followed just hours ago. Singtel does not have low speed plans  (<100Mbps) but focus more on bundling tv and video services to their plans. Their plans starts from 150Mbps priced at S$85.90 which is similar to Starhub’s 100Mbps cable broadband plan. M1 will offer a 3-month free trial of the fibre broadband service at 100Mbps to residential customers whose homes are ready for service. Customers can sign up for the free trial only on 1 September at any M1 Shop.

The other plans offer a speed of 200Mbps which are quite similar as they’re bundled with tv and video services. Prices range from $95.90 to $109.90. If you are a football fan, the exPlore Home Sports Package might interest you. Of course, you would also get some discount with your singtel mobile line.

M1, the new comer has more variety ranging from 25Mbps to 1Gbps. 1Gbps would be too costly at S$399 per month. The more affordable plans would be the 25Mbps at S$39, 50Mbps at S$49 and 100Mbps at S$59. Just like Singtel, M1 also offer a Fixed Line thrown in for free incoming and outgoing calls.

Starhub has yet to offer their pricing structure. LGA telecoms has revealed on straits times that they do have a S$50 for 50Mbps plan in line. The other operator SuperInternet is prepared but yet to reveal pricing information of their services.

We have consolidated a chart which comprises of the existing data we gathered from various press releases and news over the internet for your easy reference.

The annual PC SHOW 2010 will start in 2 days time. Are you ready for the best bargain at the show? Looking for price lists and updates, do check out our dedicated forum with latest flyers posted and recommended star buys updated regularly from the following brands

PC SHOW 2010 pricelist Pluto, imation, ovation, A4tech, Buffalo, Canon, Seagate, WD, Aztech, Epicentre, Lenovo, Toshiba, Fujifilm IOmega, LG, Dell, Fujitsu, ASUS, Palladine, HP, Starhub, Singtel, M1, Sony, Acer, MSI, Compaq, Auzentech, HIS, Seasonic, Zyxel

Bookmark the link today.

MobileOne Ltd changes name to M1 Limited

SINGAPORE, 12 April 2010 – M1 Limited (M1) has announced that the name of the company has been changed from MobileOne Ltd to M1 Limited with effect from 8 April 2010, following approval for the change of name by the company’s shareholders at its Annual General Meeting held on the same day.

M1’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms Karen Kooi, said : “The company has grown over the years and is no longer a pure mobile operator. We have over the past 13 years built M1 into an established and well recognized brand and are better known to our customers and the market as M1. The new name of the company is intended to reflect these developments. It also signals our plans to be a full-service telecommunications company offering both fixed and mobile voice and broadband services.”

“The well-known M1 logo has also been modernized and refreshed while retaining the design integrity of the original. The key change is the incorporation of a full orange circle to signify the evolution of M1 to a full-service company. Secondly, we have brought the ‘M’ and ‘1’ closer to demonstrate that M1 wants to be closer to the customer, listening and understanding. This also signifies our commitment to maintaining the high level of service that M1 is known for.”

M1, Singapore’s most exciting and innovative mobile, broadband and IDD service provider, was launched in April 1997. Since then, it has made significant inroads into the local mobile communications market, gaining considerable brand presence and market share. M1 aims to be the leader in personal voice, business and data communications, focusing on value, quality and customer service. More information on M1 is available at www.m1.com.sg

Huawei recently announced that MobileOne (“M1”), a leading mobile communication operator, has selected Huawei as its sole provider of ATCA (Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture) based IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) solution. Huawei will help M1 enrich the national bandwidth network service and build its FMC (fixed and mobile convergence) capacities. Based on Huawei’s leading IMS solution, M1 can continue to provide rich multi-media services for its subscribers, including IP Centrex, IPTV and HD video etc.

With the all-round starting of Singapore’s national bandwidth construction, the FTTH based voice and multi-media service will be the key point of development of Singapore’s future network, which brings good opportunity for M1. Through the cooperation with Huawei, M1 will realize smooth transformation from mobile operator to Fixed and Mobile Convergence on an all-round base.

“Based on Huawei IMS solution, M1 will establish a leading future-faced network frame, which will be helpful to improve the network capacity and will at the same time provide various innovative multi-media services for fixed mobile users.” said Mr. Patrick Scodeller, CTO of M1.

Huawei’ s customized ATCA-based IMS solutions allow operators to achieve rapid network deployment and shorten time to market and support M1? s business transformation by providing subscribers with advanced multi-media services,” said Mr. Jin Huang, vice president of Core Network, Huawei.

Today, YouTube began testing a lightweight version of its video-player page that should help videos load faster and reduce playback problems. YouTube’s Feather pages default to the standard-definition version of videos and significantly reduce the number of on-page features.

You can try Feather out on our youtube channel at http://www.youtube.com/ocworkbench

M1 (MobileOne) Singapore cuts broadband pricing with two new plans.
At Sitex 2009, M1 will introduce two new plans. It is a 5Mbps plan and 8Mbps plan at S$25.20 and S$36.40. These two plans will be delivered through the telephone line using ADSL technology. It seems that these two attractively priced plans were formerly from the acquired Qala which M1 acquired a few months ago.

Mobile broadband plans is priced at S$11.21 for 1Mbps and u to $34.65 for 7.2mbps plan.

See the Sitex special section in our forums for more.

http://forums.ocworkbench.com/forumdisplay.php?f=82