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Tag: Smart Communications

  • Lionsgate Play & Smart partner for affordable binge-watch deal in Philippines

    Lionsgate Play & Smart partner for affordable binge-watch deal in Philippines

    Mumbai: Premium streaming platform Lionsgate Play has announced its groundbreaking partnership with mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) aimed at redefining the landscape of digital entertainment for Filipinos. Starting today, all Smart Prepaid and Smart Postpaid subscribers in the Philippines may enjoy affordable premium streaming subscriptions as they dive into Lionsgate Play’s expansive library of blockbuster franchises and innovative original series. Whether they’re movie enthusiasts or binge-watchers, Smart customers can take advantage of the best rates to access Lionsgate Play’s curated library.

    Since it entered the Philippines market in June 2022, Lionsgate Play has been making waves with its entertainment offerings that lean toward the provocative, thrilling, and edgy. The official streaming platform of the renowned Hollywood studio Lionsgate, it offers blockbuster franchises (including John Wick, The Hunger Games, Twilight, Step-Up, and Saw); award-winning Lionsgate feature films (such as La La Land and Wonder); original series that cut across multiple genres (like Power, Gaslit, Party Down, The Serpent Queen, Ramy, Minx, and more).

    Pocket-friendly prices for world-class entertainment

    “Our partnership with Smart is an integral part of our continued expansion efforts across Southeast Asia,” said Lionsgate Play Asia president Rohit Jain. “This collaboration aligns with our vision to distribute our content more broadly and to diversify our subscriber base, enabling audiences to ‘play more, browse less.’ We’re committed to strategic partnerships, and Smart is the perfect partner to help us achieve that goal.”

    “This collaboration with Lionsgate Play solidifies our commitment to delivering the widest breadth of world-class entertainment to the fingertips of Filipinos. Through this partnership, we reinforce our mission to make sure that every Smart user has more options to enjoy the content they want to consume,” said Wireless Business at Smart head of consumer Alex O. Caeg.

    “Powered by Smart, our customers can enjoy seamless streaming of their favourite movies, and access their beloved series from Lionsgate Play’s phenomenal library. Whether at home or on the go, they have the option to indulge in uninterrupted entertainment and immerse themselves in top-notch streaming at their convenience,” adds Kristine A. Go, SVP for Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

    Smart subscribers will be able to enjoy these cinematic offerings at incredibly affordable rates. An LGP subscription is priced at just PHP 99/month for Smart subscribers, compared to the standard rate of PHP 129/month. Smart will also be rolling out an extra affordable 7-day subscription for a mere PHP 39, making LGP’s exceptional entertainment available to everyone. 

  • GSM Association announces shortlist for first Asia Mobile Innovation Awards

    GSM Association announces shortlist for first Asia Mobile Innovation Awards

    MUMBAI: The GSM Association (GSMA) has announced the six finalists for the first Asia Mobile Innovation Awards, a competition for young, small and start up companies across Asia that are developing technologies, applications and compelling content for the fast moving mobile space.

    The six short-listed companies have been selected from more than 70 entries by a panel of judges comprising innovation leaders from mobile operators, vendors and venture capital firms.

    The competition will culminate at the 3GSM World Congress Asia in Singapore on 16 October 2006, when a representative from each of the companies nominated will present an ‘elevator pitch’ style presentation to the judging panel for final selection of the winners. There are two Awards categories – Most Innovative Mobile Application or Content; and Most Innovative Technology Development.

    The Innovation forum session will also include presentations and panel discussions on the mobile innovation theme by Smart Communications, Bharti, Ericsson and SpinVox – this year’s winner of the GSMA’s global innovation award.

    Each category has three nominations:

    Category 1 – Innovative Mobile Application or Content

    · GSTL (India) for Geneva NDIS

    Geneva NDIS is a disaster information dissemination system that rapidly processes data from emergency information sources and sends it to mobile users as a text message alert or a voice call.

    · N2N Consulting for M-Bit Network

    M-Bit Network services supports mobile media applications such as mobile music and video, and TV tie-in competitions, making billing easier for operators and enabling end-users to share files, uncover additional content, or create their own for sharing with others.

    · Microimage Ltd for localised messaging and content browsing

    Microimage claims to have developed the world’s first patented local language messaging and content application, to provide customised local language support for entry-level mobile devices in emerging markets.

    Category 2 – Innovative Technology Development

    · Open-Plug for ELIPS

    Open-Plug for ELIPS claims to be the first open software framework designed for mobile phones, which enables ELIPS-based handsets to be tailored and configured far more quickly according to the requirements of operators.

    · Radius ED for Global 1 Number

    The Global 1 Number (G1) solution is a simple universal short code that lets mobile users access information from anywhere in the world, via a single secure hub that also handles call-routing, billing and data rights management.

    · Dialog-UOM Lab & Microimage for Disaster Early Warning Network (DEWN)

    DEWN uses a centralised mobile messaging platform and also device-based technology to disseminate early-warning emergency messages, audio and visual alarms, to warn communities of impending disasters.

    The six finalists will also be exhibiting at the 3GSM World Congress Asia, as part of a special feature ‘Innovation Zone’. The two winners will receive an automatic place on the shortlist for the innovation category of the GSMA’s Global Mobile Awards at the 3GSM World Congress in Barcelona next February.

  • DoCoMo & Hutchison partner for i-mode deal

    DoCoMo & Hutchison partner for i-mode deal

    MUMBAI: Japan’s NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong, have jointly announced a partnership to bring i-mode services to Hong Kong and Macau by the end of the year, thus, extending Hutchison Telecom’s outreach in Asia.

    The parties also agreed to launch an IC card technology service, often referred to as the wallet-phone in Japan, on i-mode enabled handsets.

    According to a release, DoCoMo will provide the technology and marketing expertise to the partnership, enabling Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong to offer i-mode services. Hutchison phone customers would be able to download credit onto their cell phones, swipe and use it whenever required. However, the financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

    First introduced in 1999 by NTT DoCoMo, i-mode allows mobile phone users to access the Internet and provide for facilities such as emailing, web surfing, paying bills and shopping.

    Stating that the service will be available within a few months, Hutchison Telecom CEO Dennis Lui, added, “We are delighted by this partnership. In addition to providing cutting-edge services for our customers, it consolidates our position as Hong Kong’s most forward-looking mobile operator, as we continue to lead innovative developments in the mobile industry and seek to shape the communications market into the future.”

    NTT DoCoMo senior VP and MD of Multimedia Services, Takeshi Natsuno commented, “We are confident that this strategic partnership will bring multiple synergies for both companies as well as other member operators. We are also proud to announce our common strategy in bringing our wallet-phone experience from Japan to the region. This new partnership will certainly drive further expansion of i-mode in the global arena.”

    “With its proven business model and unique service platform, i-mode creates an open gateway for content providers. They will be able to immediately tap into the vast potential of one of the largest mobile customer bases in Hong Kong supported by one of the most advanced mobile networks in the world. We will work with content providers to spearhead the next generation of mobile Internet development in Hong Kong,” added Lui.

    In addition to DoCoMo in Japan, the signing of this agreement, will have licensed 16 i-mode operators in 24 countries around the world. Also, SMART Communications, Inc. is currently preparing to launch the service in the Philippines, adds the release.