KUALA LUMPUR, 5 MAY 2011 – Celcom Axiata Berhad, the country‟s first and foremost mobile telecommunications provider, has enhanced its end-to-end touchpoints to offer the best experience for all smartphone users in Celcom Territory. The customer service enhancements are designed to support the company‟s broad base of smartphone users, and will complement its wide range of customised packages and superior network coverage. “Customer experience is our topmost priority. With our unbeatable network in place to cater to the growing number of smartphone users in Malaysia, it is only natural to now focus on enhancing the end-to-end experience, offering our customers absolute peace of mind when they are in Celcom Territory. These elements combined with our competitive data plans and phone packages will ensure the richest smartphone experience for our customers, be it for voice, video, email, music, surfing or multi-media messaging,” said Chee Pok Jin, Chief Marketing Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad. Celcom‟s commitment to providing the optimum customer experience can be seen in various projects over the past 12 months, including enabling over-the-air settings for almost all devices, so that when new phones are turned on they are automatically configured to work seamlessly with Celcom‟s data services. For smartphone users, a specific menu option is available in Celcom‟s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system to help them configure their smartphones when they dial in to the contact centre. This option will not only shorten the waiting period but calls will be immediately routed to specially trained personnel. After which, an exit poll rating will be sent to these customers via SMS for their feedback which will then be used to gauge customers‟
expectations and to further improve on service delivery. Comprehensive and continuous training is provided to contact centre staff members by smartphone experts to ensure these front liners are equipped with the relevant and necessary knowledge pertaining to the wide range of smartphones offered by Celcom. Customers are welcome to experience first-hand the latest range of smartphones available at about 80 Celcom Blue Cube and branches nationwide, with “smart” personnel at hand to answer any queries, be it device or package-related. Other methods of improving the overall user experience include Celcom‟s collaboration with CIMB and Maybank to offer enhanced payment convenience to customers. All bill payments using the banks‟ online portals are now processed in real-time and accounts are updated immediately, therefore minimising cases of call barring. “Celcom has invested heavily in network infrastructure and we are set to cater to our customers‟ high demands especially for data. Now, with renewed and intense focus on our customers and their needs, we are confident we will dominate the smartphone ecosystem. The recent award of the much coveted Service Provider of the Year Award by Frost & Sullivan for the third consecutive year is a testament that our strategic plans are on the right track. However, we will not rest on our laurels but will continuously improve upon our products and services to deliver the best of the best experience to our customers in Celcom Territory,” added Chee. Some of the key network infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing Celcom‟s smartphone network include the upgrading of all 3.5G sites to support data speeds of up to14.4Mbps, with additional „filler‟ sites to compensate for the weaker range of smartphone antennas; the appointment of Ericsson and Huawei to replace the current 2G and 3G infrastructure nationwide with the latest Single Radio Access Network (RAN) technology that will triple
Celcom‟s network capacity; ongoing trials towards deploying even faster LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G infrastructure; and the appointment of Celcom Timur (Sabah) Sdn Bhd and Sacofa Sdn Bhd to fiberise the company‟s Node-B and base stations in Sabah and Sarawak which will enable upgrades of up to 100Mbps.
As part of Celcom‟s customer appreciation programme, Celcom hosted an exclusive event to introduce the extraordinary price plans for the latest addition to its smartphone portfolio. Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin, Celcom‟s Director of Marketing presented the various attractive packages available for this latest smartphone by Celcom. The iPhone 4 experience with Celcom is available from as low as RM248 for the 16GB model, and RM538 for 32GB, giving customers savings of RM1,942 and RM2,052 respectively. Customers can
choose from three specially tailored plans – Celcom Exec i98, Celcom Exec i148 and Celcom Exec i248.
Celcom is the only operator to offer 6,000 free minutes for calls to other Celcom numbers as part of its plans. Besides that, data allowances are also much higher compared to current market offerings, catering to our customers‟ myriad usage patterns and lifestyles. Additionally, to safeguard our customers‟ investments, 12-months insurance coverage is provided free for those who sign up for the Celcom Exec i248 plan.
The company plans to launch several easy payment options and various installment programs in the near future, making these devices more affordable to a larger section of the populace, so that even more can enjoy the benefits of smartphones in Celcom Territory. To find out more about Celcom‟s unbeatable packages for this newest smartphone addition, please visit any of Celcom‟s 80 Blue Cube outlets or branches nationwide or log onto www.celcom.com.my/iphone.
click : sources
Sunday, 31 July 2011
BILL PAYMENT MADE EASY WITH CELCOM AIRCASH
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 June 2011 – Celcom Axiata Berhad, the first and foremost mobile telecommunications provider in the country, is proud to introduce mobile bill payment service via Celcom AirCash. Celcom AirCash is a revolutionary mobile financial service available exclusively for Celcom subscribers. It offers customers the convenience of mobile payment to Celcom postpaid, Telekom Malaysia (TM), Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), and Syarikat Air Johor (SAJ) using Celcom AirCash facilities anytime, anywhere. Payment for Celcom postpaid via AirCash will be processed in real time. There will be no more hassle to
pay any bills on time, even when you travel overseas, as there are no charges for access and service fee.
Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad said, “As one of the leading telecommunications service provider in Malaysia, Celcom is constantly introducing new and exciting products to ensure its customers can enjoy the mobility and benefits of Celcom AirCash. Hence, we are striving to improve our service by applying bill payment channel via Celcom AirCash. We are already in talks to collaborate with other financial institutions, corporations, regulatory bodies, utility companies and merchants in the near future to provide the convenience for Celcom subscribers to meet their social and regulatory
obligations. Starting from 3 June until 31 August 2011, 10 Celcom customers stand the chance to win
monthly cash prizes up to RM500 when they make at least two bill payments from any of these four merchants’, namely Celcom Postpaid, TM, TNB and SAJ via Celcom AirCash. If they continue to make two payments monthly for three consecutive months, they can also be in the running to win one of the 10 grand prizes worth RM1, 000 cash each. The eligible Celcom AirCash subscribers will need to answer two simple questions to be qualified as monthly and grand prize winners.Since the launch of Celcom AirCash in 2009, it has provided customers instant access to their financial transactions anytime and anywhere via their mobile phone, enabling over 11million Celcom customers to perform mobile financial transactions such as payment of utility bills; money transfer to Indonesia and the Philippines; airtime reload to customer’s own number or others as well as request transfer airtime to their families and friends locally and to nine other countries namely Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Furthermore, subscribers who perform reload airtime for them or for others via AirCash, will enjoy bonus airtime for every reload. In order to access Celcom AirCash, customer simply need to dial *133# from any mobile phone to register. Access is free of charge. Via USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), all transactions are secure, where the subscriber’s PIN and transactions information are not stored on the customer’s SMS (Short Messaging Service) outbox like any other offerings today. This is to ensure customer’s peace of mind and enhance Celcom’s credibility and reliability as the ultimate telecommunications service provider in Malaysia. All transactions will be confirmed via SMS for reference. As one of the mobile network operators in Malaysia to offer mobile financial services through a dedicated USSD channel, Celcom strives to make Celcom AirCash the preferred mobile payment platform for mobile users in general. Now, with Celcom AirCash, customers can manage their financial account and social duties at the end of their fingertips by simply
dialing the 3-digit code and select their transactions options. This method of transacting is applicable via any mobile phone through USSD and is being accepted globally due to its security, ease-of-use and real time response factors.
click : sources
pay any bills on time, even when you travel overseas, as there are no charges for access and service fee.
Dato’ Sri Shazalli Ramly, Chief Executive Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad said, “As one of the leading telecommunications service provider in Malaysia, Celcom is constantly introducing new and exciting products to ensure its customers can enjoy the mobility and benefits of Celcom AirCash. Hence, we are striving to improve our service by applying bill payment channel via Celcom AirCash. We are already in talks to collaborate with other financial institutions, corporations, regulatory bodies, utility companies and merchants in the near future to provide the convenience for Celcom subscribers to meet their social and regulatory
obligations. Starting from 3 June until 31 August 2011, 10 Celcom customers stand the chance to win
monthly cash prizes up to RM500 when they make at least two bill payments from any of these four merchants’, namely Celcom Postpaid, TM, TNB and SAJ via Celcom AirCash. If they continue to make two payments monthly for three consecutive months, they can also be in the running to win one of the 10 grand prizes worth RM1, 000 cash each. The eligible Celcom AirCash subscribers will need to answer two simple questions to be qualified as monthly and grand prize winners.Since the launch of Celcom AirCash in 2009, it has provided customers instant access to their financial transactions anytime and anywhere via their mobile phone, enabling over 11million Celcom customers to perform mobile financial transactions such as payment of utility bills; money transfer to Indonesia and the Philippines; airtime reload to customer’s own number or others as well as request transfer airtime to their families and friends locally and to nine other countries namely Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. Furthermore, subscribers who perform reload airtime for them or for others via AirCash, will enjoy bonus airtime for every reload. In order to access Celcom AirCash, customer simply need to dial *133# from any mobile phone to register. Access is free of charge. Via USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), all transactions are secure, where the subscriber’s PIN and transactions information are not stored on the customer’s SMS (Short Messaging Service) outbox like any other offerings today. This is to ensure customer’s peace of mind and enhance Celcom’s credibility and reliability as the ultimate telecommunications service provider in Malaysia. All transactions will be confirmed via SMS for reference. As one of the mobile network operators in Malaysia to offer mobile financial services through a dedicated USSD channel, Celcom strives to make Celcom AirCash the preferred mobile payment platform for mobile users in general. Now, with Celcom AirCash, customers can manage their financial account and social duties at the end of their fingertips by simply
dialing the 3-digit code and select their transactions options. This method of transacting is applicable via any mobile phone through USSD and is being accepted globally due to its security, ease-of-use and real time response factors.
click : sources
Saturday, 30 July 2011
CELCOM FIRST TO LAUNCH THE SONY ERICSSON XPERIA PLAY, WORLD’S FIRST PLAYSTATION-CERTIFIED SMARTPHONE
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 JUNE 2011 – Celcom Axiata Berhad, the first and foremost mobile telecommunications provider in the country, is proud to be the first telcoto offer our customers the experience of the world’s first Playstation certified smartphone, the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY.“We are indeed very pleased to be the first telco to offer the Sony Ericsson Xperia. PLAY experience to our customers. To meet the varied needs and demands of our customers Celcom is constantly introducing the latest smartphones to our existing lineup. Supported by the widest and most stable network coverage combined with our competitive data plans and phone packages, it is not surprising that our customers’ smartphones come alive in
Celcom Territory be it for voice, video, email, music, surfing, gaming or multi-media messaging,” said Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin, Chief Marketing Officer of Celcom Axiata Berhad, adding that the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is the perfect combination of work and play, it being the world’s first Playstation certified Android smartphone. About Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY. Xperia PLAY delivers the smartphone functionality that the most serious power users could need, teamed with the immersive gaming
experience that any gamer would want. This best-in-class entertaining smartphone is preloaded with five games namely Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, FIFA 2010, Madden NFL 2011, SIMS 3 and Star Battalion for completely free in the 8GB memoy card. Additionally, users can download the latest installment of one of the leading and top-selling racing games –Asphalt 6 – via the Xperia PLAY launcher, an application that is activated by sliding open the iconic Playstation gamepad. There are more than 100 games available for download via the launcher and its recommends games plus enables users to search for the top titles optimised for Xperia PLAY. The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY also comes with a FREE DK 300
experience that any gamer would want. This best-in-class entertaining smartphone is preloaded with five games namely Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, FIFA 2010, Madden NFL 2011, SIMS 3 and Star Battalion for completely free in the 8GB memoy card. Additionally, users can download the latest installment of one of the leading and top-selling racing games –Asphalt 6 – via the Xperia PLAY launcher, an application that is activated by sliding open the iconic Playstation gamepad. There are more than 100 games available for download via the launcher and its recommends games plus enables users to search for the top titles optimised for Xperia PLAY. The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY also comes with a FREE DK 300
docking station worth RM99. Targeting the young generation and gaming fans, Celcom has tailored several
special offers exclusively for our customers. The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY experience with Celcom is available from as low as RM848, giving customers savings of RM801. Normal retail price for the Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is RM1,649. Customers can choose from three specially tailored plans – Celcom Exec with bundled data plan commitment of RM88, RM118 and RM250. The Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY is available at all Celcom Blue Cube outlets and Celcom branches nationwide now. For more information on Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY attractive packages, please visit
http://www.celcom.com.my/smartphones/index.php.
http://www.celcom.com.my/smartphones/index.php.
click : sources
Thursday, 7 July 2011
NEWS TODAY #2 - SENIOR GM FRANCIS QUITS MAS AFTER 6 YEARS
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) senior general manager (sales and marketing) Datuk Bernard Francis has called it quits about five months ahead of the expiry of his contract.
Francis, who had been at the carrier for nearly six years, handed in his resignation letter on July 3, and on July 5 MAS managing director Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin, who is also now the commercial director, sent an e-mail to the management team informing them about Francis' departure and that a restructuring was on the cards.
Azmil's letter did not explain why Francis quit and he also did not offer a reason. However, Francis did say that “the months ahead will give me enough time to look at new opportunities. For now I want to take a short break.”
Asked if he had to pay the company for giving the 24-hour notice, Francis said: “We are working out an amicable solution.''
Due to his departure, and as part of the restructuring, all the regional senior vice presidents, who were relocated to the Subang office, will now report to the commercial director.
Other than the six, there is speculation that the head of MASKargo and Enrich may be re-designated to take on a bigger role following Francis' departure, but this could not be verified at press time.
The move to bring back the six regional heads was “done to ensure better coordination and cooperation among sales, revenue management, network and distribution.'' However, it is too early to see the impact of this on MAS bottomline.
In a recent interview with StarBiz, Francis said the airline had recorded 18% and 10% higher international and domestic pre-loads respectively for the second half of this year compared with the same period in 2010.
He had also been instrumental in changing the way the front end of the cabin was marketed and that in a short time span he managed to bring in the results by hitting 23% against the 25% target set for revenue contribution for the year. The 25% target would translate to MAS earning RM650mil in revenue from the front end.
Francis joined MAS in December 2005 as executive vice president of network & revenue management from rival AirAsia Bhd after being cajoled by the then-MD of MAS, Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
As head of network and revenue management, Francis had instituted the dynamics of pricing management and precise inventory management practices that led to the highest yield and operating profit ever achieved in the 40 years of history of MAS in the year 2007.
He also played a big role in the rationalisation and optimisation of the international and domestic route networks to provide the optimum aircraft utilisation and the highest return on asset.
In November 2008 Francis took on a new post as executive vice president of global sales and marketing to bring in revenue management and pricing capabilities to transform MAS sales organisation. He was also the regional manager for Malaysia/Asean.
As the EVP of global sales and marketing, he had lead the sales team in the most difficult times of the aviation history where the industry was plagued with many challenges.
With the changes he instituted the airline in 2009 and 2010 achieved its highest seat factor in the last 10 years and it also managed to achieve operational profit despite challenging times.
In the last two years, he made more than 50 changes by rotating, removing and bringing in the right people for the right job in the sales organisation and in 2011 MAS should achieve the highest seat factor ever in the history of the company.
At AirAsia he was one of the founding team members and responsible for strategic and commercial planning to restructure the company's revenue and cashflow management, debt restructuring, overall business profitability and viability options, pricing and routes, sourcing and setting up of a new reservation system that best suited the low-fare airline's distribution platform.
ARTICLE BY >
SOURCES > THE STAR ONLINE
Francis, who had been at the carrier for nearly six years, handed in his resignation letter on July 3, and on July 5 MAS managing director Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin, who is also now the commercial director, sent an e-mail to the management team informing them about Francis' departure and that a restructuring was on the cards.
Azmil's letter did not explain why Francis quit and he also did not offer a reason. However, Francis did say that “the months ahead will give me enough time to look at new opportunities. For now I want to take a short break.”
Francis: Taking a short break
Due to his departure, and as part of the restructuring, all the regional senior vice presidents, who were relocated to the Subang office, will now report to the commercial director.
Other than the six, there is speculation that the head of MASKargo and Enrich may be re-designated to take on a bigger role following Francis' departure, but this could not be verified at press time.
The move to bring back the six regional heads was “done to ensure better coordination and cooperation among sales, revenue management, network and distribution.'' However, it is too early to see the impact of this on MAS bottomline.
In a recent interview with StarBiz, Francis said the airline had recorded 18% and 10% higher international and domestic pre-loads respectively for the second half of this year compared with the same period in 2010.
He had also been instrumental in changing the way the front end of the cabin was marketed and that in a short time span he managed to bring in the results by hitting 23% against the 25% target set for revenue contribution for the year. The 25% target would translate to MAS earning RM650mil in revenue from the front end.
Francis joined MAS in December 2005 as executive vice president of network & revenue management from rival AirAsia Bhd after being cajoled by the then-MD of MAS, Datuk Seri Idris Jala.
As head of network and revenue management, Francis had instituted the dynamics of pricing management and precise inventory management practices that led to the highest yield and operating profit ever achieved in the 40 years of history of MAS in the year 2007.
He also played a big role in the rationalisation and optimisation of the international and domestic route networks to provide the optimum aircraft utilisation and the highest return on asset.
In November 2008 Francis took on a new post as executive vice president of global sales and marketing to bring in revenue management and pricing capabilities to transform MAS sales organisation. He was also the regional manager for Malaysia/Asean.
As the EVP of global sales and marketing, he had lead the sales team in the most difficult times of the aviation history where the industry was plagued with many challenges.
With the changes he instituted the airline in 2009 and 2010 achieved its highest seat factor in the last 10 years and it also managed to achieve operational profit despite challenging times.
In the last two years, he made more than 50 changes by rotating, removing and bringing in the right people for the right job in the sales organisation and in 2011 MAS should achieve the highest seat factor ever in the history of the company.
At AirAsia he was one of the founding team members and responsible for strategic and commercial planning to restructure the company's revenue and cashflow management, debt restructuring, overall business profitability and viability options, pricing and routes, sourcing and setting up of a new reservation system that best suited the low-fare airline's distribution platform.
ARTICLE BY >
SOURCES > THE STAR ONLINE
NEWS TODAY #1-BANK GOLD SEEMS TO BE THE BEST INVESTMENT IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
KUALA LUMPUR: In an investment climate shrouded in uncertainty, gold seems poised to provide a desirable annualised return of 13% over the next three years and should peak at US$2,100 per ounce in 2014.
Standard Chartered Bank chief investment strategist Steve Brice said gold remained the group's favourite and most interesting long-term commodity.
Brice was bullish on the outlook for gold. A reason for this was attributed to stronger economic growth in China and India is expected to lift disposable incomes in the coming years, therefore providing a boost in demand for gold.
Aside from this, rising debt levels and fears of sustainable economic recovery in the West have reduced central banks sensitivity to inflation. Gold has typically done well during negative real interest rates environments, which are likely to continue for some time in the US and UK with inflation accelerating and interest rate hikes to be done in the distant future, said Brice during a media briefing yesterday on the investment outlook for the second half of this year.
“Based on history, gold has done well during periods of negative US real yields and gold falls when in positive real interest rate environments. We expected the Fed to hike interest rates from the third quarter of next year,” he added.
Another reason for his bullish take on gold was Asian central banks remaining underweight on gold and the shift from global central banks being a source of net supply of gold to a situation where they are increasing their gold reserves.
“For as long as I've been working, central banks have always been net suppliers of gold but we saw them turn into net buyers last year,” he said.
Finally, gold supply is likely to be constrained in the near term although investment activity is starting to pick up considerably.
“The lead-lag relation between increased investment and increased output suggests prices will remain high for some time,” he added.
For the second half of this year, Brice said equity markets were expected to generate “normal” returns of between 18% and 30% on an annualised basis, while traditional assets classes such as cash and bonds will generate meagre returns.
“We are neutral on the global equity market, underweight on bonds, neutral on cash and overweight on alternative assets. For the Malaysian equity market, we are also neutral as the equities are neither cheap nor expensive. We would only be overweight on the Malaysian equity market if the PE was 12 to 13 times,” he said.
The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KL Composite Index is currently trading at a price to earnings ratio of 16.8 times.
Key potential risks that could have implications on the investment climate include the European sovereign risk and prolonged slowdown in the United States. Brice said sentiment had improved as the odds of Greece avoiding a near-term default increased with the passage of austerity measures.
While there were concerns over how effective the implementation of these measures would be, Brice said another concern among investors would be how the European Central Bank (ECB) would react should the rating agencies downgrade the country's sovereign debt rating to default, as the ECB has previously said that it would not allow defaulted debt to be used as collateral in money market operations. Thus, a default would likely bankrupt the country and increase the contagion risk.
ARTICLE BY > JEEVA ARULAPALAM
SOURCES > THE STAR ONLINE
MAXIS OFFERS DEDICATED DATA PLANS for THE APPLE iPAD in IN MALAYSIA
It may not be selling the iPad devices, but that´s not stopping Maxis Berhad from offering dedicated iPad data plans to those who already own one in Malaysia.
A prepaid plan is also available for RM70 for 30 days validity and up to 3.5GB worth of data.
Both plans also offer data upgrades or top-ups for an additional fee.
Do note that the iPad plan only applies to local data usage and doesn´t include international data roaming, voice or SMS services. If you do use it for roaming overseas, applicable roaming charges will be applied.
Maxis has even thought of those owning Wi-Fi-only iPads. After choosing a plan, subscribers also have the option of purchasing a WiFi modem.
"We are glad to offer data plans in Malaysia specifically created for the iPad. The plans are designed to enable Maxis customers to enjoy more internet connectivity and the growing number of applications available for the rich interface, more affordably," said Jean-Pascal van Overbeke, Maxis´ Chief Operating Officer.
More information is available at the Maxis website.
ARTICLE BY > -
SOURCES > MY GADGET PLANET
Maxis unveiled two the plans on its website today -- a pre-paid plan and a post-paid plan that neither has an activation fee nor a contract.
The post-paid plans start from RM70 per month for 3.5GB and goes up to RM200 per month for 15GB of data. There´s also a 6GB data plan for RM90 per month. Additionally, existing iData or iValue users will receive a RM10 rebate by subscribing to the postpaid iPad plan. A prepaid plan is also available for RM70 for 30 days validity and up to 3.5GB worth of data.
Both plans also offer data upgrades or top-ups for an additional fee.
Do note that the iPad plan only applies to local data usage and doesn´t include international data roaming, voice or SMS services. If you do use it for roaming overseas, applicable roaming charges will be applied.
Maxis has even thought of those owning Wi-Fi-only iPads. After choosing a plan, subscribers also have the option of purchasing a WiFi modem.
"We are glad to offer data plans in Malaysia specifically created for the iPad. The plans are designed to enable Maxis customers to enjoy more internet connectivity and the growing number of applications available for the rich interface, more affordably," said Jean-Pascal van Overbeke, Maxis´ Chief Operating Officer.
More information is available at the Maxis website.
ARTICLE BY > -
SOURCES > MY GADGET PLANET
YTL HOPING MALAYSIANS WILL SAY YES to NEW CONVERGED 4G MOBILE INTERNET SERVICE
The latest 4G service in Malaysia, Yes by YTL Communications, is hoping to entice Malaysians with a pay-as-you-go converged 4G mobile Internet service that includes data, voice and SMS, and doesn´t come with a contract or data throttling in place.
Yes will be based on the utility model, where consumers will pay just for what they use, like water or electricity, said Tan Sri Francis Yeoh, Executive Chairman of YTL Communciations.
Consumers will simply pay 9 sen for either every 3MB of data or for every one minute of calls or for each SMS. According to YTL Communications, the data speeds will be three to five times faster than regular 3G speeds.
"Every Yes account comes with high speed Internet access and a mobile phone number, making the convergence of data and voice seamless. Our subscribers will not only have high speed mobile data access but will also enjoy voice, online chat and SMS services," he said.
Consumers will have to buy credit to use the services but there is no expiration date for the credit. Users will only have to reload when they run out of credit.
Additionally, instead of enforcing a data cap or reducing speeds for heavy data users, Yes will also offer rebates to users who consume at high amounts of data. There´s a RM9 rebate for 2.5GB of data usage, a RM23 rebate for 3GB of data usage and for 4GB of data usage or more, Yes is offering a 30 percent rebate for every GB used.
Besides the service, YTL Communications and Samsung also announced the introduction of a 4G mobile phone called Yes Buzz. The SIM-less phone that has a keypad and slide-out keyboard can also be used as a modem for your laptop and all contact details are synchronised with the 4G network. It is expected to be available in December 2010 and priced at RM499.
Other Yes 4G devices include the Yes Huddle, a 4G mobile wireless router that can connect up to five devices simultaneously, Yes Go, a 4G USB dongle and Yes Zoom, a 4G WiFi router designed for home and office use.
The Yes Go 4G dongle is available for RM99 and includes the device, RM100 worth of Yes credit and access to Yes Life and Yes Mail.
Meanwhile, the Yes Huddle 4G mobile hotspot is available for RM399 for the device only. Alternatively, a package that includes RM1,200 of Yes credit, Yes Life and Yes Mail is available for RM1,199.
However, like the Yes Buzz phone, the Yes Zoom 4G gateway is also expected to be available in December.
Besides the 4G devices, data and voice services, Yes will also offer Yes Life, a unified communications application that turns any Internet device into a phone.
Yes Life can be accessed via phone or computer and synchronises your contacts into one address book anywhere you sign in. It also synchronises your Yes email account and can be used for instant messaging.
The application also enables you to make voice calls and SMS, as well as video calls at local Malaysian rates.
And starting next month, the new release of Yes Life will be able to support six-way audio calls and four-way video calls.
ARTICLE BY > AIMIE PARDAS
SOURCES > MY GADGET PLANET
Consumers will simply pay 9 sen for either every 3MB of data or for every one minute of calls or for each SMS. According to YTL Communications, the data speeds will be three to five times faster than regular 3G speeds.
"Every Yes account comes with high speed Internet access and a mobile phone number, making the convergence of data and voice seamless. Our subscribers will not only have high speed mobile data access but will also enjoy voice, online chat and SMS services," he said.
Consumers will have to buy credit to use the services but there is no expiration date for the credit. Users will only have to reload when they run out of credit.
Additionally, instead of enforcing a data cap or reducing speeds for heavy data users, Yes will also offer rebates to users who consume at high amounts of data. There´s a RM9 rebate for 2.5GB of data usage, a RM23 rebate for 3GB of data usage and for 4GB of data usage or more, Yes is offering a 30 percent rebate for every GB used.
Besides the service, YTL Communications and Samsung also announced the introduction of a 4G mobile phone called Yes Buzz. The SIM-less phone that has a keypad and slide-out keyboard can also be used as a modem for your laptop and all contact details are synchronised with the 4G network. It is expected to be available in December 2010 and priced at RM499.
Other Yes 4G devices include the Yes Huddle, a 4G mobile wireless router that can connect up to five devices simultaneously, Yes Go, a 4G USB dongle and Yes Zoom, a 4G WiFi router designed for home and office use.
The Yes Go 4G dongle is available for RM99 and includes the device, RM100 worth of Yes credit and access to Yes Life and Yes Mail.
Meanwhile, the Yes Huddle 4G mobile hotspot is available for RM399 for the device only. Alternatively, a package that includes RM1,200 of Yes credit, Yes Life and Yes Mail is available for RM1,199.
However, like the Yes Buzz phone, the Yes Zoom 4G gateway is also expected to be available in December.
Besides the 4G devices, data and voice services, Yes will also offer Yes Life, a unified communications application that turns any Internet device into a phone.
Yes Life can be accessed via phone or computer and synchronises your contacts into one address book anywhere you sign in. It also synchronises your Yes email account and can be used for instant messaging.
The application also enables you to make voice calls and SMS, as well as video calls at local Malaysian rates.
And starting next month, the new release of Yes Life will be able to support six-way audio calls and four-way video calls.
ARTICLE BY > AIMIE PARDAS
SOURCES > MY GADGET PLANET
P1 LAUNCHES HOME PLUS ON THE GO BROADBAND SERVICE IN ONE PLAN
The latest broadband bundle plan by Packet One Networks (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (P1), called the One Plan, isn´t only about providing a plan for those who need broadband connectivity when at home and on-the-road but ensuring that the right devices are used for a better broadband experience.
He explained that their studies have shown that most of their customers are using the portable modem inside their homes. However, unlike the Home modem, the portable modem isn´t optimised for indoor usage as it uses less power, has a weaker signal and a smaller antenna, which compromises the quality of the broadband service.
P1´s findings in a consumer study conducted by Frost & Sullian on Malaysian broadband behaviour showed that only seven percent of portable modem users correctly utilise the device for on-the-go broadband while 45 percent of subscribers use their portable modems exclusively at home. The remaining 48 percent is split using their modems for both home and on-the-go.
"By using the devices according to their functions, consumers will have better 4G broadband experience," Lai said.
"The P1 4G One Plan primarily aims to provide our users with great indoor and on-the-go 4G broadband experience with the appropriate devices. It also offers one of the highest usage quotas in the market today with up to 30GB per month."
Additionally, there´s a high chance that people are subscribing to two broadband plans -- one for the home and one for when they´re on-the-go, he added.
"From two service providers, the One Plan offers one service provider, one bill, one shared quota and one simple and easy plan starting from RM89," Lai explained.
There are three One plans to choose from -- One 89, One 129 and One 169 -- and the plans are priced at RM89, RM129 and RM169 respectively.
However, those who sign up for the One 129 package will pay RM109 for the first three months, while those who sign up for the One 169 package will pay RM139 for the first three months.
All the plans come with two free P1 4G modems -- one home modem and one portable. The Home modem is also Wi-Fi and Voice ready. Additionally, subscribers are also able to use the Wireless@KL wireless broadband Internet access service in Kuala Lumpur.
The plans come with different usage quotas as well, starting with 5GB for the One 89 plan. If you need a higher quota, the One 129 plan comes with a 15GB usage quota and the One 169 plan comes with a 30 GB usage quote. The usage quota will be shared between the Home and portable modems.
However, download speeds between the two modems may differ depending on the plan, with a faster speed for the portable modems. With the One 89 plan, you´ll get a 600Kbps download speed for the Home modem but a 1Mbps speed for the mobile modem. The One 129 plan sees a 2Mbps speed for the Home modem and a 5Mbps speed for the portable modem.
Only the One 169 plan has a 5Mbps download speed for both the Home and portable modems.
No registration fee is required but there is a one-time RM100 activation fee.
The One plan will be available starting 8 July.
ARTICLE BY > AIMIE PARDAS
SOURCES > MY GADGET PLANET
USING ICT TO COMPETE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY
KUALA LUMPUR: Local businesses must make use of the latest information and communication technology (ICT) solutions to enhance their productivity and to compete in the global economy, said SME Corp Malaysia CEO Datuk Hafsah Hashim.
She said one of the criteria for developed countries was that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should contribute to at least 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP), but local SMEs currently contributed 31% to GDP.
“This means that SMEs have to grow 1% or more per annum to reach the desired 40% by 2020 (the year Malaysia aims to achieve a developed-nation status). We need a leapfrog growth driven by innovation and productivity,” she said at the launch of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud computing service.
The launch marked the beginning of a private-public partnership between SME Corp and Microsoft Malaysia to enhance the take-up of cloud computing among Malaysian businesses.
Office 365 is Microsoft's newest ICT solution that utilises cloud computing to integrate business function over four primary products - office, sharepoint online, exchange online, and lync online.
“SME Corp and Microsoft will also promote the cloud service through joint roadshows as well as a Microsoft booth in SME Corp's new one-stop referral centre in KL Sentral,” Microsoft Malaysia managing director Ananth Lazarus told StarBiz.
Hafsah also said SME Corp would use the SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement (Score) programme to evaluate the ICT effectiveness of SMEs. SME Corp will take the lead in adopting cloud computing by using Office 365 in their KL Sentral office.
ARTICLE BY > JOHN LOH
SOURCES > THE STAR ONLINE
She said one of the criteria for developed countries was that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) should contribute to at least 40% of the gross domestic product (GDP), but local SMEs currently contributed 31% to GDP.
“This means that SMEs have to grow 1% or more per annum to reach the desired 40% by 2020 (the year Malaysia aims to achieve a developed-nation status). We need a leapfrog growth driven by innovation and productivity,” she said at the launch of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud computing service.
The launch marked the beginning of a private-public partnership between SME Corp and Microsoft Malaysia to enhance the take-up of cloud computing among Malaysian businesses.
Office 365 is Microsoft's newest ICT solution that utilises cloud computing to integrate business function over four primary products - office, sharepoint online, exchange online, and lync online.
“SME Corp and Microsoft will also promote the cloud service through joint roadshows as well as a Microsoft booth in SME Corp's new one-stop referral centre in KL Sentral,” Microsoft Malaysia managing director Ananth Lazarus told StarBiz.
Hafsah also said SME Corp would use the SME Competitiveness Rating for Enhancement (Score) programme to evaluate the ICT effectiveness of SMEs. SME Corp will take the lead in adopting cloud computing by using Office 365 in their KL Sentral office.
ARTICLE BY > JOHN LOH
SOURCES > THE STAR ONLINE
ICT FOR EDUCATION IN RURAL MALAYSIA
Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan (SMK) Tenom in a remote part of Sabah state boasts a wireless connection and computer-aided programmes for its students. This connection is meant to help these students keep pace with others in larger, more privileged districts in the state and across Malaysia.
Abdul Aziz Mohamed Zain Headmaster of SMK Tenom says having ICT in place has promoted excellence in teaching and enhanced students’ learning. “Students are excited about using computers in their lessons. Interest in learning and computer skills has improved.”
Under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the Education Ministry has allocated US$6.3 million for the replacement of ICT equipment and infrastructure.
Recently, the internet service speed has been upgraded by the ministry from 2MB to 4MB and this infrastructure is shared by primary and boarding school students. Currently, there are 80 personal computers located in the computer labs, a kiosk, offices and classrooms. On average, one personal computer is allocated to every 13 students.
Other than using ICT in school subjects, students are exposed to applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Flash and downloadable online software.
ARTICLE BY > ALICE KOK
SOURCES > ASIA PACIFIC FUTURE GOV
Under the 9th Malaysia Plan, the Education Ministry has allocated US$6.3 million for the replacement of ICT equipment and infrastructure.
Recently, the internet service speed has been upgraded by the ministry from 2MB to 4MB and this infrastructure is shared by primary and boarding school students. Currently, there are 80 personal computers located in the computer labs, a kiosk, offices and classrooms. On average, one personal computer is allocated to every 13 students.
Other than using ICT in school subjects, students are exposed to applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Flash and downloadable online software.
ARTICLE BY > ALICE KOK
SOURCES > ASIA PACIFIC FUTURE GOV
MALAYSIA LOOKS FOR HIGHER ICT SPEND
Malaysia's ICT spending is expected to rise this year and growth will be driven by several emerging technological trends, say industry watchers.
In its annual ICT predictions, research firm IDC noted that IT spending in the country will grow by 9 percent from US$5.9 billion in 2010 to US$6.5 billion this year. Spending in the telecommunication sector is expected to hit US$7.3 billion in 2011, up 5.3 percent from 2010.
Roger Ling, research manager for IDC Asean, said more changes are expected in the local ICT market that will drive this year. The total IT spending for Malaysia, driven mainly by purchases of hardware and packaged software, grew 6 percent in 2010, he added.
Ling said: "The growth in IT spending in 2011 is expected to be driven by factors such as the government's continued efforts to increase the level of broadband penetration, and outsourcing initiatives by organizations looking to address the increased IT complexity." Other factors include the continued adoption of system infrastructure software to operate and manage computing resources, he added.
In its annual prediction, Frost & Sullivan pointed to wireless broadband and cloud computing as two growth areas in the local ICT sector.
"The wireless broadband subscriber base overtook its fixed counter in 2010 and we expect this trend to accentuate leading to, among other things, the increased demand for smartphones and more competition among wireless players," said Nitin Bhat, Asia-Pacific partner and vice president for ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan.
In an e-mail interview, he noted that cloud will gain significant traction this year, driven by the "twin factors of supply-side maturity and demand-side understanding". "We see a high propensity of trials, and some transactional-based cloud computing adoption among enterprises in Malaysia," Bhat said.
-Talking cloud
According to Ananth Lazarus, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, IT investments in both the private and public sector will shift toward the cloud this year, driven by two key factors.
The first, he said, is business needs. Second, Lazarus said the government's transformation programs will see key projects taking off this year.
"The promises of the cloud are applicable [to these programs]. Reducing costs, providing flexibility and agility in how organizations use their IT resources, ease of adoption and implementation, and not least, allowing organizations to explore and develop innovative services with a low cost of entry is what the cloud can do," he said in an e-mail interview.
Customers will also start to explore the tradeoffs between private and public cloud offerings. Large enterprises that have been testing the waters will begin more earnest deployments and will aggressively look at building their own private clouds, he noted.
Early adopters will serve as proof-points and best practices will encourage cloud adoption among small and midsize, he said, adding that government agencies would initiate discussions on key issues such as data sovereignty and public policy.
Johnson Khoo, managing director of Hitachi Data System (HDS), noted that businesses this year, in particular, will start looking at new investments in IT infrastructure and services, such as data centers, while continuing to focus on keeping costs low and maximizing their existing IT investments.
In an e-mail interview, Khoo noted that with the announcement under the government's Economic Transformation Program (ETP), Malaysia is seeking to be a world-class hub for data centers in the region. The ETP is designed to boost the country into a high-income nation by doubling its per capita income to US$15,000 by 2020. A bulk of the program involves infrastructure-driven projects such as the Mass Rapid Transport system due to kick off in July.
He said HDS expects to see growing interest in data center infrastructure and related services such as co-location and Web-hosting, managed networks, disaster recovery and other outsourcing services.
-Skilled workers needed
Khoo, however, cautioned that Malaysia still lacked a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to complement these infrastructure investments. He noted that the country faces a shortage in human capital with skills that are particularly crucial for the ICT industry.
"Malaysia is globally recognized as a profitable regional hub for shared-services activities," he said. "It is vital that both the government and [industry] intensify efforts to address this to remain competitive against our neighbors in the region."
Yuri Wahab, country general manager for Dell, concurred. "More initiatives such as the newly established Talent Corporation aimed at attracting human capital, including Malaysians working overseas, are vital to ensure the nation's talent pool grows and that our knowledge workers contribute positively toward the development of the country," Wahab said.
He also expressed enthusiasm for Malaysia's ICT industry, pointing to the rollout of the country's high-speed broadband initiative. He added that it will promote greater digital inclusion, which is a key contributor to economic growth.
"This would allow more Malaysians and local entrepreneurs to connect to and participate in an increasingly global and borderless economy… We believe that this will also drive ICT consumption in the country," he said.
ARTICLE BY > EDWIN YAPP
SOURCES > ZDNET ASIA SPECIAL REPORT
In its annual ICT predictions, research firm IDC noted that IT spending in the country will grow by 9 percent from US$5.9 billion in 2010 to US$6.5 billion this year. Spending in the telecommunication sector is expected to hit US$7.3 billion in 2011, up 5.3 percent from 2010.
Roger Ling, research manager for IDC Asean, said more changes are expected in the local ICT market that will drive this year. The total IT spending for Malaysia, driven mainly by purchases of hardware and packaged software, grew 6 percent in 2010, he added.
Ling said: "The growth in IT spending in 2011 is expected to be driven by factors such as the government's continued efforts to increase the level of broadband penetration, and outsourcing initiatives by organizations looking to address the increased IT complexity." Other factors include the continued adoption of system infrastructure software to operate and manage computing resources, he added.
In its annual prediction, Frost & Sullivan pointed to wireless broadband and cloud computing as two growth areas in the local ICT sector.
"The wireless broadband subscriber base overtook its fixed counter in 2010 and we expect this trend to accentuate leading to, among other things, the increased demand for smartphones and more competition among wireless players," said Nitin Bhat, Asia-Pacific partner and vice president for ICT Practice, Frost & Sullivan.
In an e-mail interview, he noted that cloud will gain significant traction this year, driven by the "twin factors of supply-side maturity and demand-side understanding". "We see a high propensity of trials, and some transactional-based cloud computing adoption among enterprises in Malaysia," Bhat said.
-Talking cloud
According to Ananth Lazarus, managing director of Microsoft Malaysia, IT investments in both the private and public sector will shift toward the cloud this year, driven by two key factors.
The first, he said, is business needs. Second, Lazarus said the government's transformation programs will see key projects taking off this year.
"The promises of the cloud are applicable [to these programs]. Reducing costs, providing flexibility and agility in how organizations use their IT resources, ease of adoption and implementation, and not least, allowing organizations to explore and develop innovative services with a low cost of entry is what the cloud can do," he said in an e-mail interview.
Customers will also start to explore the tradeoffs between private and public cloud offerings. Large enterprises that have been testing the waters will begin more earnest deployments and will aggressively look at building their own private clouds, he noted.
Early adopters will serve as proof-points and best practices will encourage cloud adoption among small and midsize, he said, adding that government agencies would initiate discussions on key issues such as data sovereignty and public policy.
Johnson Khoo, managing director of Hitachi Data System (HDS), noted that businesses this year, in particular, will start looking at new investments in IT infrastructure and services, such as data centers, while continuing to focus on keeping costs low and maximizing their existing IT investments.
In an e-mail interview, Khoo noted that with the announcement under the government's Economic Transformation Program (ETP), Malaysia is seeking to be a world-class hub for data centers in the region. The ETP is designed to boost the country into a high-income nation by doubling its per capita income to US$15,000 by 2020. A bulk of the program involves infrastructure-driven projects such as the Mass Rapid Transport system due to kick off in July.
He said HDS expects to see growing interest in data center infrastructure and related services such as co-location and Web-hosting, managed networks, disaster recovery and other outsourcing services.
-Skilled workers needed
Khoo, however, cautioned that Malaysia still lacked a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to complement these infrastructure investments. He noted that the country faces a shortage in human capital with skills that are particularly crucial for the ICT industry.
"Malaysia is globally recognized as a profitable regional hub for shared-services activities," he said. "It is vital that both the government and [industry] intensify efforts to address this to remain competitive against our neighbors in the region."
Yuri Wahab, country general manager for Dell, concurred. "More initiatives such as the newly established Talent Corporation aimed at attracting human capital, including Malaysians working overseas, are vital to ensure the nation's talent pool grows and that our knowledge workers contribute positively toward the development of the country," Wahab said.
He also expressed enthusiasm for Malaysia's ICT industry, pointing to the rollout of the country's high-speed broadband initiative. He added that it will promote greater digital inclusion, which is a key contributor to economic growth.
"This would allow more Malaysians and local entrepreneurs to connect to and participate in an increasingly global and borderless economy… We believe that this will also drive ICT consumption in the country," he said.
ARTICLE BY > EDWIN YAPP
SOURCES > ZDNET ASIA SPECIAL REPORT
Friday, 1 July 2011
NEW YORK SCHOOLS TO USE ADAPTIVE LEARING SOFTWARE
Under the School of One (So1) math programme in New York City, adaptive-learning software gears math lessons towards students’ individual progress. So instead of one teacher checking on an entire class’ performance indicators, assessments and instruction planning, the teacher can just “focus on the delivery of instruction”, said Mafa Edwards, a teacher involved in the SO1 pilot in 2009.
PHOTOS
The SO1 programme maps out the specific academic needs of each student through data collection and surveys, then match the information, using SO1’s learning algorithm, to digital educational resources. Each day, this learning algorithm takes updated data about students and available materials and create a unique schedule, a ‘playlist’, of each of them to follow the next day.
90 six grade students enrolled in the first SO1’s proof of concept in summer 2009 at MS131. This proof of concept found a 28 per cent rise in scores between pre-test and post-test for the participants. Researchers then concluded that the result, combined with positive qualitative data from the classroom, warranted the expansion of the programme to serve students in after-school or in-school settings.
During spring of 2010, after-school and in-school pilots were held and evaluated by the New York City Department of Education’s Research and Policy Study Group (RPSG). Comparison between students who participated in the programme and those who did not,RPSG estimated that SO1 students learn at a rate 50-60 per cent higher than those in traditional classrooms.
The SO1 programme has since won a US$5 million federal investment grant to develop its technology platform, expand into four new New York City schools in 2012–2013 and eventually and serve an estimated 3000 students annually. In 2009, SO1 was named by Time magazine as one of the top 50 inventions of that year.
Jonathan Werle, SO1’s Project Manager, will report directly to the Department of Education’s Deputy Chancellor for Talent, Labour, and Innovation.
ARTICLE BY >> Xinghui Guo
SOURCES >> ASIA PACIFIC FUTURE GOV
PHILIPPINE IT SECTOR TO LAUNCH FIVE-YEAR DIGITAL STAREGY PLAN
The Commission on ICT (CICT) will launch this month the Philippine Digital Strategy (PDS) plan for 2011- 2015 aimed at mapping out the country’s ICT direction.
PHOTOS
With the theme ‘Transformation 2.0: A Digitally Empowered Nation’, the plan seeks to contribute to the administration’s ‘Social Contract with the Filipino People’, mainly by leveraging the use of ICT for national development.
The PDS identifies four strategic thrusts, namely: 1) transparent government and efficient services delivery, 2) internet opportunities for all, 3) investing in people: digital literacy for all, and 4) ICT industry and business innovation for national development.
In terms of providing internet opportunities for all, CICTChairman Ivan Uy told FutureGov all sectors of the community should benefit from technology and connectivity.
“Access to information helps remote and marginalised sector all over the country like out-of-school youth, fisherfolks and farmers become more economically progressive,” he said.
The plan is a redevelopment from the plan of former CICT chief of Ramon Sales.
CICT Commissioner Monchito Ibrahim said they have concluded 10 regional stakeholder consultations and are collating the suggestions and comments that will be included in the new plan.
Suggestions made by participants in public consultations are the establishment of a geographical information system to improve tax collection, land use, and monitor climate change effects.
Providing technical and financial assistance to local government units (LGU), strengthening private and public sector partnerships and promoting successful e-government implementations in other LGU’s, were also proposed.
The PDS is also aligned with the principles and thrusts of the ASEAN Information and Communications Technology Masterplan 2015, which was adopted in January 2011. AIM2015 was developed to serve as a guiding document to advance ASEAN regionalICT cooperation.
The month of June is declared the National ICT Month in the country under Presidential Proclamation No. 1521 (Series of 2008).
ARTICLES BY >> Pia Rufino
SOURCES >> ASIA PACIFIC FUTURE GOV
US LAUNCHES COMPUTER PROGRAMME FOR POOR KIDS
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced early this month announced a programme to offer low-income families discounted computers and affordable Internet services in an effort to narrow the digital divide.
PHOTOS
He further said many children in Chicago are falling further behind in school because they don’t have computers at home.
The city government together with Comcast Corp., Philadelphia-based internet service provider, will implement the programme aimed at “making Chicago the first city of its kind in the country to deal comprehensively with the digital divide,” Emanuel said.
“[We will] make sure every child has a chance to compete in the 21st century economy,” he stressed. Under the Internet Essentials programme, families of the 330,000 public school students can get vouchers from Comcast for US$150 each that will allow them to buy computers — some valued at up to US$500.
The programme likewise allows families with students to avail broadband Internet service for US$9.95 a month.
There are no installation or activation fees and Comcast will also provide free computer training.
Emanuel said the city government along with the churches and non-profit agencies will ensure families will be informed about the programme before it starts in the fall.
He noted many only 15 to 45 per cent of households have Internet connections.
James Martinez, a spokesman for the National PTA, said the programme addresses a growing problem around the nation, where computers and the Internet have taken on a larger, crucial role in classrooms.
“Families that can’t afford digital equipment, their kids (fall) back more and more,” Martinez said. “Statistics show an achievement gap when families aren’t able to afford technology … and this (Chicago’s program) helps close the digital divide between the haves and the have-nots.”
ARTICLE BY >> Pia Rofino
SOURCES >> ASIA PACIFIC FUTURE GOV
AUSTRALIA INVESTS ON E-MENTAL HEALTH PORTAL
The Australian government is investing A$14.4 million (US$15.5 million) over five years to develop a single e-mental health online portal to make it easier for people with mental illness to access information and services.
The portal seeks to provide online training and support to general practitioners, indigenous health workers, and other clinicians working in the mental health field. In addition, it will be a substantial help to those in regional Australia struggling to gain access to face-to-face treatment as well as those who seek for information and medical attention anonymously.
The e-mental health portal will consolidate existing but often “scattered” websites and telephone services to give people access to a range of online or telephone-based services through a “virtual clinic”.
It will give consumers access to a range of online assistance at different treatment levels and give health workers access to information, training and other related resources that would help them deliver health services and treatment.
The portal joins a roster of single-stop Web shops announced by the government, including the allocation of A$38.7 million (US$41.2 million) to the Human Services portfolio over four years for the completion of its single website and telephone number.
According to the federal government, a part of the funding will be met from agency resources, and will support the continued development of a single portfolio website which will include a personalised Web browsing that will enable users to find information relevant to their personal circumstances.
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