U Mobile and WeChat Introduces Unlimited Data For Chinese Tourists

U Mobile and WeChat Introduces Unlimited Data For Chinese Tourists

U Mobile today announced a partnership with WeChat to launch the U Mobile WeChat Go SIM. This new prepaid SIM will offer Chinese tourists unlimited data to enjoy social messaging on the WeChat app and free Lingcod TV subscription whilst having unlimited data to stream over 100,000 hours of high-definition movies, documentaries, and educational content out of China.

The new U Mobile WeChat Go SIM will be the only WeChat Go cobranded prepaid SIM in the country and it is packed with other value-added services including 1GB of free roaming data for Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia and 60 minutes’ worth of IDD calls to China or calls made in Malaysia.

The launch of U Mobile WeChat Go SIM is very timely as the Malaysian Tourism and Culture Ministry is targeting to attract eight million Chinese tourists by 2020. With more and more tourists from China visiting Malaysia, the U Mobile prepaid WeChat Go SIM is well positioned to meet all their connectivity demands.

“With the new U Mobile WeChat Go SIM, the whole WeChat ecosystem goes beyond just social messaging. Together with WeChat, we will work on packing even more benefits like mobile commerce into the WeChat Go SIM not just for Chinese tourists but for anyone who is a user of WeChat,” said Jasmine Lee, Chief Marketing Officer, U Mobile.

U Mobile WeChat Go SIM will be available from 6 December 2017, and Chinese tourists may opt to purchase the prepaid SIM pack from Sunway Media retailers in China prior to travelling. The SIM card will also be available at 138 U Mobile outlets in Malaysia as well as the various international airports in the country such as KLIA and KLIA 2.

Resourced from Tech ARP | 6 December 2017

Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link to open by 2024

Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link on track to open by 2024, should cut down Causeway jams: Khaw Boon Wan



Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan visiting the site of the future RTS Link and Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) stations at Woodlands North.

Works on the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which will allow commuters to take the train across the border, are on track for completion in 2024, the Land Transport Authority said on Tuesday (April 17).

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan shared photos and videos of the progress of the RTS Link.

He visited the sites at the Woodlands station, as well as Bukit Chagar station in Johor.

"We are bullish about the upcoming RTS Link, linking Woodlands North Station to Bukit Chagar Station in JB," he wrote. "When completed in 2024, it should be the preferred mode of transport for commuters crossing the Johor Strait."

He added that the trip between the two stations takes just five minutes.

"Over at Bukit Chagar, ample provisions will be made for Malaysian commuters to park their vehicles," wrote Mr Khaw.

He added that the development "should shift commuters currently using the Causeway", and said the RTS Link is expected to "significantly cut down the Causeway jams".

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak had witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement to build the RTS Link on Jan 16. 

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

Singapore - Malaysia Bus Services

Travellers using Changi Airport to pay higher fees and charges from July 1

Travellers using Singapore Changi Airport to pay higher fees and charges from July 1

Passengers who now pay $34 to fly out of Changi will have to fork out an extra $13.30 from July 1, to help fund major expansion plans for the airport that aim to cement Singapore's status as a key aviation hub.

Transit passengers will have to pay $3 more for each flight, with the increases to be included in their air fares.

Airlines will also have to pay more in aircraft parking and landing fees, said the Ministry of Transport, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Changi Airport Group on Wednesday (Feb 28).

By April 1, 2024, the total departure fee for passengers departing from Changi Airport will go up to $62.30, the authorities said, even as they stressed that the bulk of the costs for the Changi East development, which includes the construction of Terminal 5, will be borne by the Government and Changi Airport Group (CAG), which operates the airport.

It is not clear if the departure fee will be reduced when the Changi East development is completed and T5 opened around 2030.

The departure fee is made up of a passenger service and security fee, an aviation levy charge and the new airport development levy.

The Sunday Times had reported in January that passenger fees will increase by between $10 and $15 to help pay for the works, which include a third runway, ground improvement works at the site of more than 1,000ha and the building of massive drains and tunnels, some of which will move bags and people between T5 and the current airport.

The total bill is expected to run into tens of billions, the Government said on Wednesday, without divulging actual numbers.



When completed, T5 is expected to eventually handle up to 70 million passengers a year - more than T1, T2 and T3 combined. However, the third runway being built in the same project will be operational in the early 2020s before the completion of T5.

CAAS director-general Kevin Shum told journalists: "Changi East is our investment to secure Singapore's future. We need to cater to increasing air traffic as Singaporeans travel more. At the same time, we want to plug into the growth of the region. That is why we are doing all of these to ensure that Singapore remains the premier air hub for the region."

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan stressed in a Facebook posting that the Government will be the main funder through grants, while CAAS and CAG will dip into their reserves and future surpluses to help fund T5.

"Airport users, like airlines and passengers will also have to do their part in funding this project... Having the Government and the airport community contribute towards the project is a fair way to finance the project, which will bring benefits to our people, businesses and the Singapore economy."

CAG said in a statement that the airport handled a record number of 62.2 million passengers in 2017, with growth expected to continue with the demand for air travel in the Asia-Pacific region projected to triple over the next two decades.

Based on its projections, the airport's current handling capacity of 85 million passengers per annum is expected to be fully utilised by the late 2020s.

"Without further expansion, service standards may drop, with passengers experiencing delays," the airport said.



Other airports have introduced user charges to support growth plans.

In 2016, Hong Kong International Airport, which is building a third runway due to be completed in 2024, started collecting between HK$70 and HK$180 (S$11.85 to S$30.50) a traveller. Also in 2016, airports in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Doha in Qatar introduced a departure tax for travellers - the equivalent of about $13 - to help fund ongoing expansion projects.

The International Air Transport Association - the global voice of airlines - has, however, said repeatedly it does not support pre-funding, where airlines have to pay for services and facilities they do not currently utilise.

Its regional vice-president (Asia Pacific) Conrad Clifford told The Straits Times: "While we recognise that the (Singapore) Government will be bearing the majority of the costs for the development of Changi East and Terminal 5, we are still disappointed with the decision to proceed with the pre-funding model despite the feedback provided by the industry.

"We are also hoping to have greater transparency on what is the projected cost of Changi East and Terminal 5, and how the costs are being apportioned between the Government, CAG, airlines and passengers."

He noted that aviation is an economic catalyst and the added capacity does not just benefit the aviation community but the entire Singapore economy, including tourism, trade and manufacturing.

He said: "Making air travel more expensive for passengers will have a negative impact on travel, tourism, and as a result, aviation's contribution to an economy. Increasing charges for airlines could also affect the financial viability of their services to and from the airport."

Despite the higher charges for travellers and airlines, some aviation analysts said they do not expect that this will have a significant negative impact on Changi Airport and Singapore's aviation hub status.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~

DPM: Vmy2020 to help boost tourism

DPM: Vmy2020 to help boost tourism

Visit Malaysia Year campaign will be held again in 2020, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“The campaign seeks to ensure that Malaysia remains a desirable destination for visitors from all over the world,” he said.

“Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VMY2020) is a national mission. It will be the catalyst to drive the tourism industry further and achieve the visions outlined in the Malaysian Tourism Transformation Plan.

“I want all ministries and agencies to give their full support towards this programme,” he said after chairing the Cabinet Committee on Tourism meeting yesterday.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Transtar Cross Border (Malaysia - Singapore)

SIA flip-flops again, this time on auto insurance feature for online booking

SIA flip-flops again, this time on auto insurance feature for online booking



SIA has amended the booking flow to offer travel insurance as an 'opt-in', rather than 'opt out', feature.PHOTO: REUTERS

Singapore Airlines (SIA) has removed an online booking feature that automatically includes travel insurance unless travellers opt out.

This is the second time in about a month that the airline has been forced to do a U-turn: the first one had to do with credit card fees.

Unhappiness about the travel insurance feature surfaced about two weeks ago after The Straits Times reported on complaints from SIA customers.

The airline said on Thursday (Feb 1): "SIA encourages customers to take up travel insurance to safeguard their travel plans.

"We have taken customer feedback into account, however, and have amended the booking flow on our website to offer travel insurance as an 'opt-in', rather than 'opt out', feature."

Before the change, once payment was made, asking for a refund was tedious, said those who realised they were charged for insurance only after their flight bookings were confirmed.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) had said then that it frowns upon such practices.

Its executive director Loy York Jiun told The Straits Times then that it is common for consumers to overlook that such options have been ticked for them as they complete the transaction.

This can lead to additional charges for extra services or items that the consumers may not be aware that they are purchasing.

"Such options should be left unticked so that consumers have to consciously tick them if they wish to include them," Mr Loy had said.

On the credit card issue, the airline had earlier said it would impose a credit card fee on bookings made by some travellers departing Singapore. The charge - 1.3 per cent of the total fare amount, capped at $50 - was to apply to those who bought its cheapest Economy Lite tickets, the airline said.

A day later, SIA, without giving any reasons, said it had decided not to go ahead with the credit card fee.

~News courtesy of Straits Times~