Maxis Communications Bhd (Maxis), Celcom (Malaysia) Bhd (Celcom) and DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd (DiGi), will be connected to Ericsson's IPX solution, providing a secure, reliable and simple charging environment for their customers to purchase content over their mobile phones.
A signing ceremony was held today to formalise the individual agreements between Ericsson and the three mobile operators for the deployment of Ericsson’s IPX solution in Malaysia. This includes payment settlement as well as mobile premium and non-premium connectivity via SMS and WAP initially, with plans to include MMS in the near future. The integration between the Ericsson IPX solution and all the three operators are completed and is ready to be deployed.
Maxis was represented by its General Manager & Head of Content & Mobile Data, T Kugan, while the Vice President of Marketing, Zalman Aefendy Zainal Abidin, signed on behalf of Celcom. Digi was represented by its Head of Product Management, Loong Tuck Weng. Ericsson South East Asia’s Vice President & Head of Services & Solutions, Christian Ahlberg, signed on behalf of Ericsson for the three agreements with the respective operators.
At the signing ceremony, Mans Burman, Ericsson’s IPX Business Development Director for Asia Pacific, explained how IPX would benefit consumers, content providers and operators.
“What IPX does is to simplify business models between operators, content providers and consumers. Operators will have a single interface to a large pool of content providers, both locally and from across the globe. Consumers will gain access to a broad portfolio of new and exciting digital content, and will have peace of mind knowing that there is a secure and reliable charging environment supporting their purchases over their mobile phones,” he explains.
For content providers, Burman says that IPX would facilitate the payment and distribution of mobile content by seamlessly interconnecting the content providers and mobile operators.
“IPX helps decrease operating costs by interacting directly with the billing systems of each operator to disburse payments to individual content providers,” he adds.
“Past experiences show that customers are reluctant to enter new billing relationships to pay for content. With Ericsson’s IPX solution, they will be using their existing charging relationships (prepaid and postpaid) that they have with their operators,” Burman further explained, adding that Ericsson IPX solution also opens new market opportunities for local content developers to grow their business, not only locally but globally.
“IPX provides us with a cost-efficient and reliable environment for payment while we can concentrate on developing more innovative applications for the consumers,” says Tan Teck Seng, the CEO of iGuanaMobile.com, a leading Mobile Technology and Mobile Infotainment Service Provider in Asia who had earlier signed up with Ericsson’s IPX for the Singapore and Taiwan markets.
“Ericsson’s global presence and track record as a partner were the key factors as to why we select Ericsson’s IPX. We also see this as an avenue to market our content beyond the confines of geographical boundaries,” he adds.
As the IPX markets expand, so does the reach of a Content Provider. Ericsson IPX is available to more than 440 million mobile subscribers in 16 countries, with new markets being added on every month. IPX has more than 250 content providers worldwide, providing mobile applications and services through SMS, MMS and WAP over GSM/GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA networks. Ericsson IPX is a non-branded white-label service and is never visible to the end user.
Among the content providers who have signed with Ericsson IPX for the Malaysian market are Ingenium Solutions Sdn Bhd, IT Connect Sdn Bhd, LTT Global Communications Sdn Bhd, Mobile Media Asia Pacific Limited, Mobile Media Partner AS, Mobile Multimedia Sdn Bhd (a wholly owned subsidiary if M-Mode), PT99Photo.com (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB.
Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.
Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Azlyn Abd Rahman, Media Relations, Ericsson South East Asia
Phone: +60 8314 6066 or +6016 336 3327
About Ericsson Malaysia
Ericsson’s presence in Malaysia dates back to 1965, when it supplied the country’s first electro-mechanical switch (crossbar exchange) to Jabatan Telekom Malaysia. Over the past 40 years, Ericsson has supported all the telecommunications operators in Malaysia to establish an evolving communications infrastructure that meets the needs of Malaysian consumers. As such, it has been a partner in most of the country’s telecommunications milestones. Ericsson Malaysia is a prime supplier to Celcom for its 2G network, and provides 2G and EDGE infrastructure for DiGi. It is also a key supplier to Maxis for 2G and 3G, and operates Maxis’ 3G network on its behalf under a Managed Operations contract. Ericsson also supports Malaysian operators in launching new and innovative services to their customers. This includes the hosting of services such as Maxis’ music portal (M-Use) and Ericsson’s pushmail solution, the Ericsson Mobile Organiser (EMO).
About Maxis Communications Berhad
Maxis is Malaysia’s premier telecommunications company and a market leader with over 40% share, providing high quality voice and data services to more than 5 million customers. Its mobile postpaid and prepaid services are offered under the maxis and Hotlink brands respectively. The company has achieved its leading position through a clear strategy of developing premium brands, providing quality network and customer services, as well as introducing innovative services and products. In support of its mobile business, Maxis also operates an international gateway as well as a domestic fixed line network, which offers voice and data services to business customers. Its broadband infrastructure includes fiber optic, microwave and VSAT technologies.
About Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad
Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad is now the country's most experienced and premier mobile cellular telecommunications company with 5.79 million customers. It currently has the most comprehensive network coverage covering 96% of the populated areas in the country. Celcom offers international roaming service in more than 90 countries over almost 200 networks worldwide. It currently offers mobile telephony services in Malaysia for postpaid and prepaid products under the 019 and 013 access codes. For more information on Celcom, log on to www.celcom.com.my
About DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
DiGi is a leading mobile communications company providing a comprehensive range of affordable, convenient and easy to use wireless services to simplify and enrich the lives of its customers. We create value for our customers by selecting the most appropriate cutting edge technology so that they benefit from products and services that give them choice, convenience and control. We have an established presence as a leader in voice and data prepaid services with a number of firsts that have set industry benchmarks for creativity and innovation. These services are offered under the Beyond Prepaid brand name. Our postpaid service under the DiGi Postpaid and DiGi Business brand names deliver high quality voice as well as value-added mobile content and data services to both individual and corporate customers.
