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| Low-cost VoIP calls becomes reality as MediaRing rolls out prefix-3 numbers ahead of competition |
• VoIP service is tied to a prefix-3 phone number, allowing full interconnection with fixed-line and mobile services
SINGAPORE - 1 August 2006 - Mainboard-listed MediaRing Limited (“MediaRing” or the “Group”), a leading pure-play VoIP telephony service provider in Asia, is all set to make low-cost international calls a reality for VoIP users in Singapore. In a ground-breaking move, the Group announced today that it will roll out its prefix-3 VoIP numbers, with full interconnection capabilities, ahead of other VoIP players in the market.
Unlike previous frameworks for VoIP services, MediaRing can now offer real phone numbers to its VoIP users that will allow them to receive incoming calls from traditional prefix-6, prefix-8 and prefix-9 phone numbers. This is because MediaRing’s VoIP services are fully interconnected to the fixed-line and mobile services of local telecoms operators, SingTel, StarHub and M1.
Said a jubilant Mr Khaw Kheng Joo, Chief Executive of MediaRing “While VoIP users are currently able to make outgoing calls direct from their PCs to traditional phone numbers, receiving incoming calls is an issue as it requires the VoIP service to be tied to a phone number. MediaRing’s fully interconnected prefix-3 service solves this quandary. By mapping the VoIP service onto our prefix-3 eight-digit phone number, our customers can now make and receive VoIP calls to and from anywhere in the world on the same number.”
In June last year, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (“IDA”) liberalised the local IP telephony market by issuing licenses and phone numbers, starting with the prefix-3, for the provision of IP telephony services. MediaRing was among a handful of VoIP players that successfully won the bid for these prefix-3 phone numbers in September.
IDA’s Director-General (Telecoms), Mr Leong Keng Thai said, “Newer technologies like
VoIP provide new and existing players another viable route into Singapore's competitive telecoms market. The new business opportunities and revenues, inject the market with greater choices in cost-effective telephony services for the consumer.”
As the first VoIP player to introduce the prefix-3 numbers since IDA’s liberalisation of the Singapore IP telephony market, MediaRing expects to see a number of benefits.
Mr Khaw commented, “MediaRing is very excited to be the first to roll out this plan as it means that VoIP services will have phone numbers that consumers are familiar with. A key benefit is that we can now compete with incumbent telecoms players on a better footing as two-way VoIP services can now be offered to users using numbering that are familiar to them. Moreover, as a pioneer in launching the numbers in Singapore, we will gain a first mover advantage in capturing market share for VoIP calls.”
About MediaRing
Headquartered in Singapore, and with subsidiaries or rep offices in Malaysia, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Silicon Valley (Sunnyvale, CA) USA, MediaRing is the leading VoIP telephony service provider in Asia and enjoys a significant share of the global VoIP market. Through its strong technological capabilities and extensive call termination network, MediaRing brings high-quality voice services to carriers, enterprises, service providers, and consumers with its wide range of service offerings. Its extensive partnerships with carriers around the world allow call terminations in more than 240 countries worldwide. As a pioneer in VoIP services with unique proprietary technology, MediaRing derives more than 95 per cent of its revenue from outside Singapore.
Media Contacts:
Singapore:
August Consulting
Tel: (65) 6733 8873 Fax: (65) 6733 9913
Silvia HENG – silvia@august.com.sg
Lynn LI – lynn@august.com.sg
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