Bangkok--1 Jun--DTAC
‘Happy’ introduces “Happy Internet”, the new SIM that require neither minimum charges nor any service package subscription but impose a flat rate of only 25 satang per minute. The new product is to support social media, which are serving the users of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and bloggers. On this occasion, Thai Twitter gurus turn up to share their views in the discussion on the “Power of Twitter”.
Pakorn Pannachet, senior vice president of dtac’s Product Division, said with the increasing number of smartphones and featured-phone users, the usage of dtac’s network for data transmission was growing tremendously. From 3 million users in 2008, the number almost reached 4 million in 2009. The figure is expected to rise by about 40% this year from its level last year.
When important situations occur, people tend to use social media to receive updates and information right away. The usage is rising as social media are becoming more popular. Twitter proves to play important roles in keeping people informed especially in recent crises. dtac decides to meet the need of the people who use social media, especially Twitter, and has developed the new, suitable and user-friendly SIM cards.
“According to latest information, social media are mostly used via mobile phones, both smartphones and featured-phones. Statistics show that more Thai people are using Twitter. Among the top 50 popular and interesting websites for Thai people, Twitter was 21st in April up from 26th. As users can tweet with messages, each of which must not exceed 140 characters, they can do that conveniently via mobile phones. Besides, the number of people using other social media including Facebook via mobile phones is twice as much as the number of people using them via computers. Moreover, Twitter is another channel that companies and shop owners use to communicate with their customers and provide them with information and updates directly,” Pakorn said.
As Twitter has become very popular especially during recent crises and drawn a large number of Thai users who want real-time updates, dtac organizes the discussion on the “Power of Twitter” to look into case studies and the merits of social media in recent incidents. It invites four Twitter experts to share their views.
They are Thunyawat Chaitrakulchai (@mktmag), Pongsuk “Nui” Hiranyaprueck (@nuishow), Sarawut “New Klom” Hengsawad (@roundfinger), and Noppatjak Attanon (@noppatjak).
“To please social media users, ‘Happy’ by dtac launches the new SIM cards, ‘Happy Internet’, which do not require a minimum fee. They charge only 25 satang per minute and users can activate the new SIM cards right away without having to subscribe to any service package. They will pay for what they really use. This is the first of its kind in Thailand to meet the currently strong trend. Besides, users receive 300 minutes of free internet service within 30 days and have 100 additional days of service validity (but not over 365 accumulative days) whenever they refill credits. Phone calls with the new SIM cards are also cost-effective as they charge only 1 baht per minute for phone calls to all networks. Users can connect to the internet by using the new SIM cards with smartphones, feature phones and aircards plugged in notebooks and enjoy faster and better internet performance with dtac’s network that leading IT shop owners voted the best mobile phone network in respect of internet services in a survey by TNS Research International,” Mr Pakorn concluded.