Yes, you heard it! Finally! Well done SingTel

Singapore, 7 May, 2010 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced that it has secured the broadcast rights to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ to be held in South Africa and will offer all 64 matches ‘live’ on mio TV and mobile, with complimentary viewing on the internet. All mio TV viewers will be able to enjoy the matches in high definition. Viewers in Singapore can catch all the action with SingTel’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package (the “Package”), available for purchase from 7 May 2010.

Mr Edward Ying, Chief of Content and Media Services, SingTel, said: “We are very pleased to bring the World Cup to Singapore. Despite the challenging negotiations, the focus at the heart of it all was the football fan in Singapore, and we are very happy that our customers will be able to catch all the action and excitement of this premier event all in HD format on mio TV, the real home of sports.”
“We are very pleased to confirm the successful conclusion of negotiations with SingTel, and that viewers throughout Singapore will be able to celebrate the best that football has to offer at this year’s 2010 FIFA World Cup™,” said Mr Niclas Ericson, FIFA Director of TV.

Immersive World Cup action with two dedicated channels and HD broadcast
The 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package will comprise two dedicated channels, FIFA World Cup Channel 1 (Channel 88) and FIFA World Cup Channel 2 (Channel 89). The main World Cup channel, FIFA World Cup Channel 1, will air the ‘live’ telecast of 56 matches, primetime repeats of the matches, delayed telecast of eight simulcast matches, as well as pre- and post-match features and daily match highlights on all platforms. FIFA World Cup Channel 2 will offer the ‘live’ telecast of eight simulcast matches on mio TV and SingTel Mobile.

Special early bird discounted price
All SingTel mio TV customers1 who purchase the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package on or before 31 May 2010 will enjoy the early-bird price of $66 ($70.62 with GST). The Package is priced at $88 ($94.16 with GST) after 31 May. To purchase the Package, customers can call 1800 737 1111 or visit www.singtelfootballfrenzy.com/worldcup from 7 May to purchase online or purchase instantaneously via their mio TV Menu by pressing the “menu” remote control button, and selecting “buy”, “channels”.

Instant access to World Cup action on-the-go
As part of SingTel’s multi-screen offerings, mio TV customers with the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ Package will also enjoy the simulcast of matches via the internet and mobile at no additional cost2.

mio TV customers simply need to activate their complimentary viewing on the internet by visiting www.singtelfootballfrenzy.com/worldcup and keying in their NRIC and mio TV account number.

SingTel Postpaid Mobile customers who are mio TV subscribers will enjoy free unlimited mobile video streaming of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ matches using the IDEAS mobile portal on their 3G phones.

SingTel is in discussions with MediaCorp to offer the ‘live’ broadcast of FIFA World Cup™ matches via MediaCorp’s free-to-air channels.

The FIFA World Cup™ is the most widely-viewed sporting event in the world, with a cumulative global audience of over 715 million people watching the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ held in Germany. To be played from 11 June to 11 July 2010, the first match between host nation South Africa and Mexico kicks off at 10pm (Singapore Time).

It seems that SingTel have already begun preparing MicroSIM for users. Accordingly to the user “MorpheusV” who posted in this thread, Looks like SingTel has started saling MicroSIM, states that when he sign up for SingTel’s 7.2Mbps 2 years contract, it comes with a Huawei E5832 and the sales person told him that the SIM card of the plan would be MicroSIM.

Sorry for the late news, but when I was in Hong Kong, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 was launched in Singapore and SingTel customers are the first one to get it. I hope they will bring in iPad next =D

The RRP for the Xperia X10 is SGD$1,088 (without contract).

Press Shots

Sony Ericsson will launch the XPERIA X10 to SingTel customers on Saturday, April 3, 2010. The breakthrough device is the first phone in Sony Ericsson’s family of phones to feature an Android-based platform, delivering a consistent user experience where communication truly becomes entertainment. Building on Sony Ericsson’s entertainment heritage and combining rich graphics with intelligence capabilities, the XPERIA X10 introduces a new UX platform that will evolve across the product portfolio and expand over time continuously introducing new features and capabilities.

The Android-based UX platform builds on top of the Open Operating System and creates a unique Sony Ericsson user experience by combining best-in-class entertainment features with signature applications, unrivalled integration of social media services and a rich graphical user interface. The XPERIA X10 is the first mobile phone to truly “humanise” the way people interact with their phones.

For SingTel customers, the XPERIA X10 will be preloaded with exclusive SingTel services such as MobileTV where customers can watch LIVE TV on the move – from prime time drama series on Channel 8, Cantonese movies on Mei Ah Movies Channel and UEFA matches on Football Frenzy. Customers will also enjoy TrafficLIVe, an intelligent traffic planning guide, allowing them to plan their trip with the fastest or cheapest routes and receive alerts on real-time traffic conditions. Customers on 3G Flexi Plans will be able to enjoy both services free for two months.

For the first time, SingTel’s award-winning music service, AMPed is available on an Android device. XPERIA X10 users can enjoy free unlimited music downloads and exclusive music content. This marks another key milestone for the music service since its launch a year ago, following its recent win as “Best Mobile Music Service” at GSMA Asia Awards 2009.

Ong Chim Peng, General Manager, Singapore, Sony Ericsson said: “The XPERIA X10 fully illustrates our commitment to an open and multi-platform strategy that maximises choice for the consumer and delivers the best possible user experience. With the X10, we are building upon our heritage of offering entertainment-rich phones like Aino and Satio and then raising the bar further.

With Sony Ericsson’s signature Timescape and Mediascape applications, the X10 makes communication even more fun and playful and guides our users to discover new experiences and even more opportunities to connect.”

Shane Da Silva, Vice President, Consumer Sales, SingTel said: “SingTel continues to lead and shape the multimedia space by integrating our customers communication, social media and entertainment needs effortlessly in one screen. The XPERIA X10’s powerful Android-based UX platform complements SingTel’s suite of unique services like MobileTV and TrafficLIVE perfectly, offering endless possibilities for customers’ mobile lifestyles. For the first time, AMPed, the award-winning music service is available on an Android device, expanding our AMPed-enabled portfolio of devices and providing our customers with greater choices.”

Introducing signature applications like Mediascape and Timescape, the XPERIA X10 lets users organise everything in their phone in an intuitive way:

• Sony Ericsson Timescape enables users to manage all their communication in one place. Browse through conversations from Facebook and Twitter, photos, emails, and texts all in one go
• Sony Ericsson Mediascape is the smart way to get all the music, photos and videos users want from their favourite friends and artists. It accesses content from everywhere – mobile phone, YouTube, PlayNow mobile application – and presents everything for them easily.

Intelligence capabilities, integrated into Mediascape and Timescape, can automatically recognize connections between contacts, content and media. By recommending alternative ways to communicate or guiding to new media experiences, consumers can discover more in a truly open way. For example:

• Pressing the new “infinite button” guides users through the connected world, aggregating all their interactions with one person into one view
• Intelligent face recognition features recognise up to five faces in any picture, automatically connecting them with a user’s social phonebook and all other related communications with that person.
  Sony Ericsson’s open approach gives customers maximum choice and with the XPERIA X10, users can download any application that they want direct from a wide variety of stores including PlayNow and the Android Market, co-creating an experience that is entirely unique to them.

The XPERIA X10 supports GSM GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 and UMTS HSPA 800/1900/2100.

Pricing and availability details:
SingTel customers will be among the first to own the XPERIA X10 from April 3, Saturday 2010 from S$388, on a 2-year 3G Flexi AMPed plan. Customers can enjoy free incoming calls, up to 100 minutes of outgoing talktime and 12GB of free local data, with data capped at S$30 per month. Bundled for free is the AMPed music service, singtelamped.com where customers get unlimited song downloads and latest entertainment news at no data charges, exclusive content and music showcase invites.

Customers on SingTel’s other free incoming calls plans (excluding 3G Flexi plans) who sign up for SingTel AMPed will enjoy an additional $50 discount. The recommended retail price is S$1,088 without contract.

The phones are available in the attractive colours, Sensuous Black and Luster White.

To purchase XPERIA X10, visit any SingTel retail store or SingTel Exclusive Retailers, and SingTel’s online store, www.singtelshop.com

The XPERIA X10 is also available at Sony Ericsson concept stores and Sony Style at a recommended retail price of S$1,088 without contract.

Log on to The Sony Ericsson Product Blog for more information: http://blogs.sonyericsson.com/products

Press Release: Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 introduces an open and integrated world of social media, communication and entertainment

I think I am no longer qualify being a youth =(

BlackBerry Flexi Youth Plans from $48/month, first to offer bundled data and talktime. Exclusive youth benefits like free unlimited SMS, outgoing calls from campus and army camps
Singapore, 25 March 2010 — Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) today announced that it will introduce the first BlackBerry service plans for youths in Singapore called BlackBerry® Flexi Youth and BlackBerry Flexi Value Youth Plans, The new plans, available from 26 March cater specially to students and Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs).

The plans are ideal for youths who want to be connected while on the go. The comprehensive BlackBerry service plans offer free incoming calls, up to 200 minutes of outgoing talktime and 15GB of data. In addition, BlackBerry Flexi Youth Plans come with free unlimited SMS and free outgoing calls from 37 tertiary institutions and 11 army camps. Students and NSFs can now enjoy instant access to their emails, online messaging, and internet surfing on the go. BlackBerry Flexi Youth and Flexi Value Youth plans are priced at S$48.00 and S$68.00 a month* respectively, and are the most affordable BlackBerry service plans for youths.

Source: SingTel introduces the lowest BlackBerry service plans for youths

New SingTel BlackBerry Youth Plans

BlackBerry Flexi Youth (NEW)

Monthly Subscription: SGD$48.00
Local Bundled Data: 15GB
Free local outgoing talktime: 100 minutes anytime, Campus and Camp calls
Free local SMS: Free unlimited SMS, Free 20 MMS
Free incoming calls: Yes

BlackBerry Flexi Value Youth (NEW)

Monthly Subscription: SGD$68
Local Bundled Data: 15GB
Free local outgoing talktime: 200 minutes anytime, Campus and Camp calls
Free local SMS: Free unlimited SMS, Free 20 MMS
Free incoming calls: Yes

Could not make it for this event as it is held during office hours, but nevertheless, I want to see how LTE can take mobile network to the next level. With the increasing number of smartphone users in the market, the demand for faster bandwidth and speed for mobile data transfer have also increased. I hope they do eventually trial the LTE in the MRT as I can’t even get a proper 3G signal in the MRT (blue and red line).

Press Release:

First showcase in the region of concurrent next-generation multimedia applications over a single LTE device, SingTel’s 42Mbps network ready from second half of this year

Singapore, 16 March 2010 – Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) and Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) today unveiled their LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology trial showcase at SingTel’s headquarters, Comcentre. The showcase in Singapore is the first among SingTel Group’s regional LTE trials that aims to better understand the field experience of LTE.

SingTel is also the first in the region to successfully power on air the 42Mbps mobile broadband network at the showcase. Even though the 42Mbps network will be available in the second half of the year, SingTel, together with Ericsson, is already featuring even higher speed technology with LTE – supporting very high speed mobile download and upload on the move. Powered by the latest LTE technology, mobile devices can even support multiple high-bandwidth mobile applications. This is not possible with current mobile broadband speeds.

The objective of the LTE trial is to demonstrate the network capability to industry players like application developers, content providers and game producers so that they can start thinking of breakthrough products and services.
SingTel and Ericsson are showcasing a myriad of next-generation, interactive multimedia applications on the move, such as 3D virtual mapping, voice over LTE, high definition (HD) multiplayer online gaming as well as ‘live’ images with augmented reality, which is an engaging way of superimposing digital information or objects onto ‘live’ images.

Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, Executive Vice President of Consumer, SingTel, said: “This trial gives a glimpse into what the future can offer our customers in the mobile broadband space. We are excited by the breakthrough applications that will be supported on an ultra high-speed and robust mobile network that is able to satisfy consumers’ growing appetite for bandwidth.
“LTE technology will further enrich our customers’ multimedia mobile lifestyle and experience, offering them access to a wide range of 3D and HD services concurrently. SingTel is working closely with our pool of mobile applications developers to turn ideas that work on the latest technology into reality.”

Mr Fadi Pharaon, President and Country Manager, Ericsson Singapore & Brunei, said: “Today’s demonstration is one clear example of how LTE enables richer lifestyle for consumers and businesses alike. Ericsson is proud to be part of this exciting showcase and we will continue to use our leading technology and services to support SingTel in offering even higher quality services and more extensive applications to their customers.”
SingTel’s mobile broadband network will be upgraded progressively over the next 12 – 24 months to be LTE-ready. Commercial deployment is slated to take place in phases, subject to the availability of frequency spectrum and commercial LTE mobile devices.

Business users can also look forward to machine-to-machine (M2M) applications and rich multimedia applications in the cloud. With cloud computing, businesses can use LTE and central remote servers to store rich multimedia data and applications, giving individual users on-the-move constant access to their data as well as business applications without installing them on their devices. Businesses will achieve more efficiencies and cost savings by centralising storage, processing and bandwidth.

Examples of new high-speed mobile broadband applications

1) 3D content and HD video viewing
With the increased mobile bandwidth and connection speeds, users can make use of real-time services such as traffic monitoring applications to view ‘live’ street, traffic or weather conditions of Singapore roads in HD on LTE-enabled devices. Drivers can use such tools to plan their next destination or simply navigate their way around town using a 3D Location Based Services (LBS) map.

Students can also learn on the move by accessing HD videos and sharing information like real-time recording of lectures through video hyper linking.

2) Augmented Reality
By combining ultra high-speed mobile broadband, users can make use of ‘Augmented Reality’ to view additional information on places and things of interest. For instance, users can simply point at a landmark with any mobile device, and information, digital images or links will be displayed on the mobile gadget.