Telcos start next-gen price war

Even as the first Singapore telcos unveil connectivity packages under the country's next-generation national broadband network, analysts claim that services, rather that price, will be the competitive edge going forward, reports ZDNet Asia.

M1, SingTel, StarHub and SuperInternet have released price plans for different connectivity options.

A SingTel spokesperson states: "Our key differentiator is that we leverage our fibre network resources to deliver personalised customer-centric applications which focus on entertainment, convergence and productivity enhancements."

Provider of unified communications as a service CallTower and Sprint Mobile Integration have rolled out CallTower Mobility, states Market Wire.

Businesses on the Sprint mobile network that choose CallTower Mobility will have access to all the benefits of a unified communications solution through both their mobile and fixed-line corporate phones.

"Mobile workers now have the freedom to access powerful communications tools with one device, one number and one mailbox whether they are on the road, in the office or working from home,” says Bob Barnes, executive vice-president of sales, marketing and business development, at CallTower.

Distributor Wick Hill is to work with Panasonic to tap into what it describes as the “under-utilised convergence space”, says Channel Pro.

Both Panasonic and Wick Hill claim the convergence market is under-utilised, as many resellers are still on the sidelines.

According to Steve Gerrard, marketing manager at Panasonic's network communications group, convergence has historically been a “toothless tiger”. He says: “Everyone announced plans for convergence without actually delivering anything. It got sidelined into various components such as unified communications.”