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Malaysia's Maxis and DiGi open "interest form" for iPhone 4

Both Malaysian operators, Maxis and DiGi, open "interest form" for iPhone 4, letting consumer know when the iPhone 4 is finally available. The list won't be considered as pre-order, so when the time is due consumers need to re-register. Malaysia is not yet listed in upcoming listed countries of iPhone 4, but according to previous experience with 3G and 3GS, it won' take long after Singapore's release. No pricing scheme is revealed. 

The iPhone 4 is scheduled to be unveiled in Singapore this July, along with its sibling, iPad. The iPhone 4 features include video call via Wi-Fi using FaceTime, crystal bright retina display, HD video recording, and multitasking. 

With two operators join bandwagon to sell iPhone, only Celcom that has not. There's speculation that Celcom will eventually follow its competitors. We'll see.

[via]

   
Click here to download:
Malaysias_Maxis_and_DiGi_open_.zip (71 KB)

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Filed under  //  DiGi   iPhone   iPhone 4   Malaysia   Maxis  
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Posted 10 days ago by Amir Karimuddin 

HTC Desire will hit Malaysia tomorrow via Maxis

Malaysia's Maxis will bring the current hype HTC Desire in the market starting tomorrow. Informed via its official Twitter account, HTC Desire will be available at 28 Maxis Centre nationwide and selected Maxis exclusive partners. The subsidized price is RM1,499 (US$452) with contract and either 500MB, 1.5GB, or 3GB data plan, or RM2,199 (US$663) without contract.

HTC Desire will be offered with Android OS 2.1, with OS2.2 (Froyo) update in coming months. Beside that, it sports 3.7 inch AMOLED touchscreen, 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 5 megapixels camera, and Flash Lite (do not confused it with Flash Player 10.1 that will be available for Froyo).
 
From what I perceive, seems the Desire is quite desire-able there. Previously, it has already hit Singapore and soon all over Southeast Asia.

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Filed under  //  Android   HTC   HTC Desire   Malaysia   Maxis  
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Posted 2 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Malaysia's DiGi unveiled HTC Legend price plan

After Singapore, HTC Legend sets its introduction in Malaysia via DiGi. Not only full cash offering, DiGi gives two other alternatives, involving contract attachments. For 12 months contract, you may save RM600 (US$187), while 24 years contract will save your pocket up to RM1000 (US$311). The standard price is RM1999 (US$622). Of course as trade off, during that period you need to think twice on switching to new phone. 

HTC Legend is the update of the hugely popular HTC Hero, brought with Android OS2.1 and new Sense UI. Legend is crafted to set debut in Indonesia too, but the arrangement is behind schedule from the supposed April introduction.

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Filed under  //  Android   DiGi   HTC   HTC Legend   Malaysia  
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Posted 2 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Malaysia Airlines to be the first airline in Asia to enable in-flight mobile service

Malaysia Airlines, nation's carrier flag, in collaboration with Maxis and UK's AeroMobile Limited will offer in-flight mobile service for Maxis postpaid users during flights across Europe, Australia, and several Asia countries, including China and Japan, and installed in Boeing 777-200. Dual/Triband/Quadband GSM phone and BlackBerry devices are allowed to be used in this system.

The rate is relatively high, but understandable for such exclusive service. RM15 (US$4.7) per minute to make and receive call, RM3 (US$0.94) per SMS, and RM100 (US$31) for each MB of data. BlackBerry users are advised to turn off the own BIS package to avoid inadvertent charges.

Malaysia Airlines  will be the first among carriers in East Asia and Southeast Asia region. Previously, Qantas and Emirates have already jumped into this bandwagon. Mobile phone service has been banned in aviation industry for years, allegedly accused to have interference with plane's frequencies and may disturb aviation indicators.

[via AviationRecord and AirTreks]

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Filed under  //  AeroMobile Limited   in-flight call   Malaysia   Malaysia Airlines   Maxis  
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Posted 3 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Leaked information about Malaysia's DiGi iPhone price plan

     
Click here to download:
Leaked_information_about_Malay.zip (544 KB)

We covered this news previously about DiGi to be the next operator to offer iPhone in Malaysia. Yet no price plan is confirmed until the D-day. Today, there's a riot, as someone at @biznewsMY has unlocked a leaked information about DiGi's iPhone price plan. 

This news brings surprise (and shock) to official DiGi twitter account, @DiGi_Telco. The DiGi's official iPhone launch will be held tomorrow, March 31, at Penang Beach Street DC.

I am kinda dizzy actually reading the price plan, but DiGi promises to bring cheaper plan, compared to Maxis. What I noted, however, DiGi states to give unlimited Internet Roaming with max MYR36 per day in selected countries, that around US$11. Quite promising. 

[hat tip to @liewcf, @biznewsMY]

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Filed under  //  DiGi   iphone   iphone 3G   iphone 3GS   Malaysia  
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Posted 4 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

BlackBerry App World now available in Malaysia

BlackBerry App World, the app market store for BlackBerry devices, finally hit Malaysia. This app actually has been around for a while, but just getting into this country now. As for most countries, this version of App World will not feature paid apps, thus only allow BlackBerry users to search for free apps. While App World is available for mos handsets, it's suggested to use OS4.6 or above and having 128MB at minimum. 

This is a good move for BlackBerry to embrace more consumers, yet it won't be completed if not offering paid apps too. PayPal has been available for most Asian countries, so it's time for RIM to provide more options. 

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Filed under  //  App World   BlackBerry   BlackBerry App World   Malaysia  
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Posted 4 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Nokia N900 most likely be available in Southeast Asia region this March

While Nokia N900 has already available since November 2009 in selected European countries, countries in Asia haven't enjoy such luxury. It was stated previously that N900 will not come to Asia or as being evaluated, and seems like the question has been already answered now.

Take a look at this landing page in Nokia Malaysia site and information retrieved from @gadtorade. Those two confirm about availability of Nokia N900 in Southeast Asia region, in particular, in near future. The latter even states that it will be available in Indonesia in mid of March.

While we haven't had further information about pricing list, it is said that N900 is the best Nokia smartphone so far. Sporting Maemo 5 operating system, Nokia brings native Linux based system into its handset, just like Google develops its Android. Some examples reveal that Nokia N900 loads Google Wave and Google Earth perfectly, enough reasons to back earlier statement.

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Filed under  //  Indonesia   Maemo   Malaysia   N900   Nokia   Nokia N900   Southeast Asia  
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Posted 4 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Malaysia's DiGi to sell iPhone, no more monopoly by Maxis

Following Singapore, Malaysia to end monopoly era of iPhone selling when DiGi -- 3rd largest operator in country -- announced to join the party. According to DiGi's CEO, they will offer iPhone 3G and 3GS in coming months after signing three years agreement with Apple. 

This deal ends monopoly by Maxis, country's largest, that solely offer iPhone 3G and 3GS since last year. Previously, neighboring country Singapore also ended iPhone exclusivity when both StarHub and M1 have the same opportunity as SingTel. Yet, not all Malaysia operators are in the house since Celcom doesn't do the same the thing.

Malaysia's market is quite hefty for expansion since mobile phones ownership is now larger than number of population. Total population of Malaysia is 27 million and the country has already implemented Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allowing subscribers to switch operator without changing their phone numbers. The competition now lies more on quality offered. 

[via Business Week]    

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Filed under  //  DiGi   iPhone   iphone 3G   iphone 3GS   Malaysia   Maxis  
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Posted 5 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Malaysia's Maxis creates own marketplace 1Store

Another nice move from Malaysia's Maxis. They are preparing their own marketplace, named 1Store. As for now, Maxis is calling all app developers, local and international to join. From what I observe, the marketplace is focused on Java and Symbian based app, thus suitable for Android, BlackBerry, Symbian/Nokia, and non-smartphone that supports Java. No word on supporting Objective-C based app for iPhone.

1Store online marketplace is yet to be opened. So for developers, start register and follow their Twitter account for any development. Consumer needs to wait a little longer to enjoy all advantages. 1Store is imitating the success of Apple's App Store, Android Market, and other form of marketplace that offers tons of applications since that now differs one platform to another.

Some excerpts about Malaysia's telecommunication condition:
Competition is intense in Malaysian cellular market. Pricing no longer an effective competitive advantage; price war can only go so far. Mobile Number Portability (MNP) has eliminated the hassles of changing carriers. Differentiation takes different forms.

Smartphone players use the apps to enhance the perceived value of their phones and enhances lock-ins; Maxis is planning to use applications to enhance the perceived value of the Maxis ecosystem and ultimately, increase subscribers and decrease subscribers’ churn rate.

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Filed under  //  1Store   app   developer   Malaysia   Maxis  
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Posted 6 months ago by Amir Karimuddin 

Malaysia's Maxis and Limkokwing Uni to encourage iPhone 3GS usage

This is something that can be added as one alternative to push iPhone sales (esp. for Indonesia's Telkomsel). Limkokwing University and Maxis -- as exclusive partner for iPhone -- made an agreement to encourage iPhone 3GS usage among students and faculty members by offering subsidized rates and tools (apps?) for viewing course notes and downloading study materials.

Maxis will be bundling the device with several service packages that will feature free phone calls, MMSes and SMSes between the subscribers at Limkokwing, and more.

“We are also working to introduce prepaid and postpaid plans for the staff and students, and will even introduce a leasing scheme to lower the take-up cost,” said Fitri Abdullah, Maxis’ vice-president and head of enterprise and carrier business.

For added convenience, there will be a Maxis centre set up on the campus to provide onsite customer service. 

Please note that although encouraged, it's not a compulsory, stated Limkokwing VP. We don't have much information about iPhone data sales in Malaysia, but obviously Maxis is doing their homework better.

[via thestar, thanks to liewcf]

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Filed under  //  iphone   iphone 3GS   Limkokwing   Malaysia   Maxis  
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Posted 6 months ago by Amir Karimuddin