Maxis Berhad and Alcatel-Lucent unlock Malaysian e-book market by focusing on local language content and wide accessibility

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31, 2012 – With the help of Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext and NYSE: ALU), Maxis Berhad - Malaysia’s leading integrated communications service provider - has launched the country’s first integrated e-book service. In full support of the Malaysian government’s knowledge society program, Maxis Berhad will provide access to an extensive digital library with content in the various (local) languages, and accessible via a wide range of devices.

According to Juniper Research, worldwide mobile e-book sales will represent a market opportunity of $9.7 billion by 2016 (growing from $3.2 billion in 2011). At the same time, however, non-English speaking markets are underserved by the traditional players in this space: many e-readers are only available in a few countries and finding content in local languages typically is a challenge. Malaysia is a “textbook example” of this: a relatively small, multi-ethnic and multicultural society where many different languages are spoken.

Backing the government’s project to continue to develop Malaysia as a leading knowledge society, Maxis Berhad has engaged with Alcatel-Lucent to launch an extensive library of e-books – novels as well as scientific publications – that can easily be accessed via a wide range of devices including tablets, dedicated e-readers and PCs. Currently, the library includes approximately 300,000 international and local books. The total number is growing weekly.

The service runs on Alcatel-Lucent’s cloud-based Digital Media Store (DMS), enabling Maxis Berhad to launch their e-book offering quickly and with limited upfront capital investment. DMS also allows Maxis Berhad to provide recommendations in line with customers’ preferences - bringing consumer engagement to the next level.

T. Kugan, Maxis’ Vice President and Head of Product, Device, Innovation & Roaming: “Maxis has recognized the shift towards digital content and with the launch of Maxis e-books, we are looking at providing Malaysian readers with the hassle-free experience of browsing, purchasing and reading their favourite local and international books on their tablets or PCs. This will also provide local publishers, authors and educational institutions with a formidable platform that makes it possible for them to reach a larger audience.”

Mohd Fazlin Shah Mohd Salleh, President and Managing Director Alcatel-Lucent Malaysia: “This initiative underscores Maxis’ commitment to help Malaysia transform into a true knowledge society. Leveraging Alcatel-Lucent’s Digital Media Store solution, Maxis can deliver a variety of books - including novels and bestsellers, but also educational material - to subscribers across Malaysia.”

New Autodesk SketchBook Ink App Delivers Stunning Creative Tools for iPad

Pen-and-Ink App Offers Vibrant, Resolution-Independent Interface for New Retina Display

MALAYSIA, May 31, 2012 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) launched Autodesk SketchBook Ink for iPad paint and drawing app, the latest release from the company’s popular SketchBook family, which has more than 10 million downloads to date. Powered by a brand new engine, Autodesk SketchBook Ink introduces unique technology for artists to create stunning, high-resolution ink-style artwork. The SketchBook Ink addition to the SketchBook family increases the number of choices available to artists to express their creative visions in a digital environment.Unlike traditional vector drawing apps, SketchBook Ink enables users to produce very fine detail in their artwork, independent of resolution, building on the intuitive freehand-drawing Autodesk SketchBook Pro platform. This new technology also supports the ability to export and print large, high-quality images right from the iPad. Final artwork can be exported at optimal sizes to the photo library on iPad, email, Dropbox, or iTunes file sharing. Images exported to Dropbox or iTunes file sharing can exceed 100 megapixels.“We are fortunate to collaborate with many talented artists, so we know how important it is for them to have a variety of tools for not only different tasks in their creative process, but also to express their personal styles. SketchBook Ink provides more choices for artists. And with its ability to produce high-resolution output, it makes a huge leap for content creation on the iPad,” said Chris Cheung, product line manager, Autodesk.Complementing Autodesk’s popular app for the iPad, SketchBook Pro, which offers a variety of sketching and painting tools, SketchBook Ink is dedicated to pen-and-ink drawing. The inking behavior gives it a distinct feel but builds on the intuitive and familiar interface valued by SketchBook users worldwide. SketchBook Ink launches with seven preset ink styles and two types of erasers. The app supports importing images from the photo library on iPad that can be used as references or backgrounds.
“With more than 10 million downloads to date, we’re proud that the SketchBook family is changing how, where, and with what tools people unlock their creativity. People who never considered using a digital app for their artwork before, are now turning to SketchBook to produce incredible illustrations,” said Samir Hanna, vice president, Consumer Products, Autodesk.The Autodesk SketchBook Ink App is available for $4.99 exclusively from the App Store on iPad or at www.iTunes.com/AppStore. For a limited time at launch, SketchBook Ink will be available for a special introductory price of $1.99.

CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia a Springboard to Regional Growth Opportunities

Returning exhibitors MEASAT and Telekom Malaysia will ramp up Malaysia’s presence at Asia’s most distinguished ICT business event

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 MAY 2012 – CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia, the most established infocomm technology (ICT) and media communications event of its kind in Asia, will return with a large showing from 19 to 22 June 2012 at the Marina Bay Sands and Suntec Singapore respectively.

As the premier global business networking platform and launch pad for companies to introduce cutting-edge technologies and solutions, CommunicAsia2012, EnterpriseIT2012 and BroadcastAsia2012 will highlight pertinent industry developments and address emerging trends as well as provide enhanced networking opportunities for industry professionals from around the world.
EnterpriseIT, held in conjunction with CommunicAsia, will showcase innovative applications and end-to-end solutions across the entire value chain and transform the way companies operate and communicate internally and beyond. And once again, the event will present Asia’s largest contingent of satellite companies witnessed at any single event.

Fuelling ICT Sector Crucial for Malaysia’s Economic Growth
Malaysia’s ICT sector has experienced robust growth over the past decade. Rallied by an encouraging eight to 10 per cent growth reported last year, the industry continues to play a crucial role in contributing to Malaysia’s aim of achieving a high income status by 2020 .

With several technology drivers such as mobile computing, mobile broadband and cloud well in place to pave the way, the industry is expected to see further developments with an estimated RM31.5 billion expenditure expected this year, a 6.1 per cent increase from 2011 .

Understanding the growing significance of ICT to economic competitiveness, the business community and government agencies are actively promoting a conducive regulatory environment for emerging technologies like cloud delivery models in attempts to match global standards and expand into foreign markets.
Strong Malaysian Presence at CommunicAsia
Fueled by the emerging industry, visitors to CommunicAsia2012 and EnterpriseIT2012 can once again expect exposure to a wide array of solution providers and industry professionals from Malaysia. The specialised trade shows provide local players the perfect avenue to showcase their products, gain visibility into foreign markets and foster international partnerships with various organisations from around the globe.

Malaysia is set to occupy a presence of about six per cent in the exhibition, the largest participation compared to other ASEAN countries outside of Singapore. The last edition saw participation from more than 90 Malaysian exhibitors.This year, visitors can expect to meet representatives from local telecommunications giants such as Telekom Malaysia, Maxis and Digi Telecommunications led by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Other exhibitors include MEASAT Global, a participant since 2002, Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) as well as first time exhibitors MIMOS in the segment of Cloud Computing and NIS Solution in Network Performance Solution.

“CommunicAsia offers us a unique and relevant platform to showcase our technologies and solutions in the satellite arena to the Asian region. In addition, it offers visitors from around the world a space to see and discuss the latest developments in the market and ICT industry. It has a long track record of success that speaks for itself and is what has made us return every year since 2002,” affirms Mr. Jarod Lopez, Senior Director, Sales and Marketing, MEASAT Satellite Systems.Malaysia will also be brilliantly represented at the CommunicAsia2012 Summit. Confirmed speakers include Mr. Michael Lai, CEO of Packet One Networks, who will be presenting on “The Paradigm Shift from Voice to Data” in the Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure track; Mr. Praveen Rajan, Head of Internet & Services at DiGi Telecommunications, who will be speaking about “Broadband Strategies in Developing Markets” for the Next Generation Broadband Business Models track; and Ms. Susan Bryant, Director South Pacific CIO department of Huawei Technologies (Malaysia) who will seek the audience’s understanding in “Demisting the cloud –realizing cloud opportunities” at the Telco Rising Cloud track.

“CommunicAsia is one of Asia’s most established and premier platforms for enterprises to showcase their technological innovation and share insights into the industry. I am very pleased to share my views on the rapidly changing landscape in Next Generation Broadband Infrastructure and hope to generate further discussion among my industry peers,” says Mr. Michael Lai, CEO of Packet One Networks.

Mr. Praveen Rajan, Head of Internet & Services, DiGi Telecommunications comments, “Understanding how the developing markets in the region use Internet on a small or big screen opens the way to formulating winning strategies to help nations drive much needed Internet adoption. CommunicAsia2012 Summit offers a viable platform to drive conversation with industry and government leaders, as well as my fellow peers on delivering the ‘Internet For All’ promise to make life easier, and enable socio-economic development in developing markets.”

“Malaysia is a very exciting market in today’s global ICT scene. Malaysian exhibitors will truly benefit from CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT as it provides an efficacious launch pad to showcase the latest and best that technology has to offer. As the only truly international shows in Asia where business professionals across a range of industries come together in one city for one week, and with strong support and endorsement from over 20 leading trade associations including Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council (APSCC), Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF) and others, CommunicAsia and EnterpriseIT continue to play a pivotal part in driving the conversation for development within the industry,” says Mr. Victor Wong, Project Director of Communications Events, Singapore Exhibition Services (SES).

Latest technological developments
Following the success of last year’s event, which attracted a total of over 53,000 professional attendees from more than 100 countries/regions, attendees to this year’s shows can look forward to a myriad of the newest technologies, products and solutions from close to 2,000 multinational and small and medium companies. Visitors will have opportunities to listen to industry luminaries, network with business leaders and government officials, as well as forge business partnerships.

CommunicAsia2012 will feature breakthrough developments in NextGen Networks, Broadband and satellite technology, as well as a sneak peek into mobile apps and solutions. Leading returning exhibitors include 3M, ADTRAN, AsiaSat, Comba Telecom, CommScope, Conax, Eltek Power, FiberHome, GlobeCast, Huawei, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Irdeto, National Instruments, Netop Technology, Prysmian, Rosenberger, SES, Tata Communications, Tektronix, ThinkCube and ZTE; new participants include AMOS-Spacecom, Anritsu, Calix Networks, CE+T Power, Dowslake Microsystems, Integrasco, Kavveri Telecom, Mentum, NovelSat, SLA Mobile, Smaato, Softlayer Technologies, SPB TV, Vidiator, and Yokogawa Engineering Asia.

Shows at a glance:

CommunicAsia2012/EnterpriseIT2012

Date:	19 - 22 June 2012
Venue:	Basement 2, Levels 1, 4 & 5 Marina Bay Sands Singapore
Opening Hours:	19 - 21 June: 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 22 June: 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Admission:	Business and trade professionals only

BroadcastAsia2012

Date:	19 - 22 June 2012
Venue:	Levels 3 & 4 Suntec Singapore
Opening Hours:	19 - 21 June: 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 22 June: 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Admission:	Business and trade professionals only

Intel Capital Invests US$17Million in South-East Asian Companies

Investments announced at World Economic Forum East Asia demonstrate rapid growth of online media and e-commerce in the region

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
• Intel Capital invests in Reebonz.com and Vietnam Communications Corporation
• Intel Capital has invested more than US$139 million globally in 2012
• Intel sees Southeast Asia as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for high technology, driven by robust economic growth and a rising middle class

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, Kuala Lumpur, May 31, 2012 – Intel Capital, Intel Corporation’s global investment and M&A organization, today announced investments in two Southeast Asian companies: Singapore-based Reebonz.com, one of the largest private sales e-commerce groups in Asia for luxury goods, and Hanoi-based Vietnam Communications Corporation (VC Corp), an internet infrastructure and services company. Totaling approximately US$17 million, the investments support the continued development of engaging local online experiences to help drive technology adoption and increased high speed broadband usage across Southeast Asia.

“Ubiquitous access to high speed broadband along with compelling online destinations for broadband users are critical to help us realize Intel’s vision of creating and extending computing technology to connect and enrich people’s lives,” said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and executive vice-president for Intel. “Reebonz and VC Corp are examples of companies that are successful in getting Southeast Asians online because they provide engaging experiences tailored towards the needs and cultural preferences of consumers in the region.”

“Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for high technology, driven by robust economic growth and a rising middle class. As a result, we’re seeing strong demand for e-commerce and cloud-based services across the region and these investments will help to accelerate that trend,” said Gregory Bryant, vice-president and general manager, Intel Asia-Pacific.

Reebonz.com (Singapore) is one of the largest private sales ecommerce groups in Asia. It sells luxury goods, including fashion items such as handbags and accessories to customers across Southeast Asia, North Asia and Australia. VC Corp (Vietnam) offers online content, e-commerce, social media, ad networks and mobile value added services, creating the largest ecosystem of online and mobile services in Vietnam. Intel Capital has lodged an application for registration of its investment in VC Corp with the relevant licensing authority in Vietnam.

Intel began operation in the region since 1972 and has a workforce of more than 10,000 employees. In addition to Intel Capital’s ongoing investment activities, Intel helped to enhance the region’s competitiveness by training 520,000 teachers in the region to leverage information technology in the classroom through the Intel Teach program.

Intel Capital started investing in Southeast Asia in 1999, since then it has invested more than US$95 million in over a dozen technology companies. In Southeast Asia, Intel Capital is represented by Sudheer Kuppam, Managing Director and Deepak Natarajan, Investment Director. Deepak Natarajan is the investment manager for both the Reebonz and VC Corp deals.

For more information about Intel in Southeast Asia, please visit Intel’s website at WEF www.intel.sg/wef.

Yahoo! launches a bevy of advertising products for digital and mobile marketers

Mobile Video Ads, Smart Ads and Targeted Ads make a debut across Southeast Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 MAY, 2012 – Yahoo!, the premier digital media company, announced the launch of a new series advertising products that will bring tailored, targeted and interactive ads to Southeast Asia. The mobile rich media ads, Smart Ads and targeted ads will leverage Internet's real-time interaction and Yahoo!’s in depth consumer insights to deliver innovative marketing campaigns across connected devices.

Audiences are spending more time on phones and tablet devices consuming content; this offers marketers the opportunity to engage them through mobile advertising. As the largest publisher of content with an audience of more than 200 million users[1] across Asia Pacific region, Yahoo!’s popular content properties provide the context to create engaging experiences.
Delivering on the promise of bringing an artistic canvas to marketers and unleashing their full creativity by exploiting the interactivity of video, Yahoo!’s rich media ad formats -- including streaming, expanding, floating, surveying, and wrapping units -- offer the most innovative digital advertising solutions. These, coupled with geographic and demographic targeting options, ensure that the ads reach relevant audiences with precision and at scale.

Clickable Mobile Video Ads: With some of the highest quality inventory available and a highly engaged audience, Yahoo! enables marketers to reach a mobile audience through a variety of mobile advertising opportunities and formats. Yahoo’s new ad units include screen takeover, expandable and iPad tap-to-video ads.Clickable video ads have user cues that overlay an ad and encourage consumers to interact, including a click-to-site call to action that drives direct response performance. Clickable video ads play pre- or post-roll within the video player window. They are easy and fast to execute and outperform traditional video ads by 3:1.

Smart Ads: Yahoo! Smart Ads can optimize each ad for each user so that you can drive your objectives, from awareness to conversion. Yahoo!’s deep understanding of its audience powered by the Smart Ads technology delivers the right messages and products to the right audience at the right time.

Targeting Ads: Powered by sophisticated modelling technology to meet advertisers’ complex business objectives and an unparalleled depth and scale of data, Yahoo!’s proprietary targeting algorithms help advertisers reach audiences based on interest and content consumed within Yahoo! across PCs and mobile devices.

"Yahoo! has distinguished itself as the premier advertising and marketing platform; its combination of coverage, tools and reach make it an ideal partner for monetizing and delivering value via a variety of leading media properties and advanced advertising products," said Jon Tjin Kee, Sales Director of Yahoo! Malaysia.

“We want to push the boundaries of mobile and video advertising by extending the real-time interactive experiences and delivering ads that are fun and compelling for both users and advertisers,” said Kee."The launch of today’s advertising products reaffirms our commitment to personalize experiences across devices whilst offering dynamic marketing solutions to advertisers.”

Mobile video ads, Smart Ads and audience segmented targeted ads have been launched in Singapore and will be carried across the Southeast Asian markets of Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam in the coming months.

MAXIS BRINGS SAMSUNG’S LATEST FLAGSHIP ANDROID SMARTPHONE, THE GALAXY SIII TO ITS CUSTOMERS

• Samsung Galaxy SIII available for as low as RM999 from 31 May to 3 June at all Maxis Centres and Maxis Exclusive Partners Nationwide

• Maxis strengthens its device ecosystem and provides customers with the most enriching Android experience with the Samsung Galaxy SIII


Kuala Lumpur, 31 May 2012.

Maxis Berhad (Maxis), Malaysia's leading integrated communications service provider, is pleased to bring to its customers Samsung’s brand new flagship Android smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy SIII. In conjunction with the launch, customers will be able to purchase the Samsung Galaxy SIII with a 3GB X 24 months Maxis plan for just RM999 from 31 May to 3 June at all Maxis Centres and Maxis Exclusive Partner stores nationwide.

“Maxis has always been the leader in data enabled devices and with the addition of the Galaxy SIII in our stable of offerings, we are strengthening our device ecosystem and providing our customers with the most enriching Android experience in the market todate. Backed by the widest data network and highest network speeds in the country, customers will be able to fully appreciate the Galaxy SIII’s many unique features, making the most out of its capabilities in providing lightning fast browsing with enhanced connectivity, enjoying rich media such as music and videos and staying up-to-date on social networks,” said T Kugan, Maxis’ Head of Product, Device, Innovation & Roaming.A customer with the newly launched Samsung Galaxy SIII

“Today, smartphones have the capability to change lives – to make it simpler, more efficient in many more ways beyond our imagination. And we are ensuring that even the latest devices are affordable so that we can continue to enrich our customers’ lives,” he said.
The early-birds queuing up at Maxis Centre at Gardens, Mid-Valley, Kuala Lumpur

As a value-add, Maxis customers will also receive a Loker account with 25GB of storage space for free with the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Loker is Malaysia’s first mobile-centric cloud-based solution available on multiple devices that enables users to sync, store and share their digital content including pictures, videos, music, and contacts from their mobile phones, tablets or PCs. Customers will also be able to share their content on social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.Eager customers checking out the Samsung Galaxy SIII at Maxis Centre Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC)

In addition, Maxis customers can enjoy over 20 exclusive Maxis Apps on the Samsung Galaxy SIII, such as Maxis BPL, Maxis ONEMusic and Maxis PayPal.

Maxis Price Plan Options for the Samsung Galaxy SIII

		12 months		18 months		24 months
Recommended Retail Price RM	Data	Price RM	Advanced Payment	Price RM	Advanced Payment	Price RM	Advanced Payment
2,199	1GB	1,799	100	1,699	200	1,599	300
	3GB	1,699	200	1,599	300	1,399	500
	3GB	-	-	-	-	999*	900

* Available from 31 May – 3 June only

Ingram Micro to Distribute Silver Peak WAN Optimization throughout Asia Pacific

Leading IT Distributor to Support Growing Demand for Virtual and Data Center WAN Optimization Products in Key Asia Pacific Markets

Singapore. May 31, 2012 – Silver Peak Systems and Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) today announced distribution agreements across Asia Pacific (APAC) that include offering Silver Peak’s leading data center class wide area network (WAN) optimization products to resellers and customers in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“With increased adoption of virtualized Infrastructures and more centralized, cloud-based applications, there is a good growth opportunity for Silver Peak data center class WAN optimization,” said Shailendra Gupta, senior EVP and president, Asia Pacific for Ingram Micro. “Silver Peak’s advanced solutions and keen desire to work with the channel provide a good complement to our portfolio. We are hopeful that this alignment will bring value to our customers throughout the region.”

Silver Peak virtual and physical appliances provide the highest-capacity and most comprehensive options for deploying WAN optimization anywhere—from data centers, to branch offices, and to the cloud. Silver Peak’s Virtual Acceleration Open Architecture (VXOA) also aligns well with Ingram Micro’s virtual infrastructure offerings from companies such as VMware (vSphere), Citrix (XenServer), Microsoft (Hyper-V), and KVM. This enables enterprises throughout Asia Pacific to accelerate and optimize IT initiatives while reducing WAN infrastructure costs, including added costs for multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), Internet virtual private networking (VPN) and satellite WANs common to the region.

“APAC is a critical region for WAN optimization because of highly distributed IT environments and the inherent lower-quality WANs,” said Arturo Cazares, senior vice president of worldwide sales for Silver Peak. “By teaming with Ingram Micro and our reseller partners throughout the region, we will help customers cost-effectively maximize their WAN resources and accelerate the adoption of business-critical applications between data centers, branch offices, and the cloud.”

As part of the new value-added distribution relationship, Ingram Micro and Silver Peak are co-investing in dedicated technical support staff, market development, and cross-trained sales engineers.

MY DAD, MY CHAMPION

Groupon Malaysia celebrates Father’s Day this year by rewarding your lifelong champion with an exclusive family getaway to Krabi, Thailand

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 MAY 2012 – For something extra special this Father’s Day, Groupon Malaysia has launched a special Wall of Fame Photo Contest so you can treat your lifelong champion to a breathtaking family getaway to Krabi, Thailand.

“Father’s Day is a special time to honor the men who raised us and thank them for their selfless dedication and love. With that in mind, Groupon Malaysia aims to foster and cultivate an appreciation for dads and their role in our lives through a fun and engaging manner,” said Joel Neoh, CEO of Groupon Malaysia.

Because dad’s love is larger than life, let your hero know that you appreciate the time he has shared with you, whether when patching a scraped knee, helping you with your homework or sharing a cone of ice cream together. Simply upload a picture perfect moment of you and your dad on the Groupon My Dad, My Champion microsite at dad.groupon.my, describe his strengths or signature trademark in 2 to 5 words and get your family and friends to vote.

Participants with the most amount of votes will stand a chance to walk away with a 3-day, 2-night stay at Ananta Burin Resort for 4 persons (Grand Prize), a Samsung PL120 Digital Camera + RM50 worth of Groupon Credit (Second Prize) and a RM150 worth of Groupon Credit(Third Prize).

The contest which runs from 4 June to 17 June, 2012invites consumers to recall and share memorable experiences with their respective dads through a dedicated festive microsite, which also provides consumers with unique gift ideas by featuring some of the most amazing deals such as Android tablets, car accessories, fitness equipment, sailing courses as well as dining experiences – making it perfect for dads.

The country’s most successful and fastest growing group buying site recently also won a prestigious award as the Best Brand in e-Commerce for the Brand Laureate Best Brand Awards 2011 - 2012. The inaugural Online Tech Award category was introduced specially to recognize and acknowledge efforts of up-and-coming companies in the online and e-commerce industry.

“Winning the Online Tech Award in the BrandLaureate Best Brand Awards 2011 – 2012 Ceremony marks a significant milestone for Groupon Malaysia. Within two years, the company has demonstrated a continuous and positive development. With our growing customer base and unique product offerings, we are confident that we will grow from strength-to-strength in the years to come and live up to our promise of providing our consumers with the best experience possible,” Joel added.

Customers who wish to be a part of the run to win a family getaway are invited to visit dad.groupon.my

Driving smartphone market with DG Prepaid Smart Plan

In another innovative move to drive mobile internet in Malaysia, DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd ("DiGi") is introducing a new prepaid plan for smartphone users. From 31 May 2012, the DG Prepaid Smart Plan(tm) will be available nationwide at all DiGi outlets.

The new prepaid plan joins the DG Smart Plan family of bundled services, targeting consumers who prefer a more data-rich package with worry-free plans and value-for-money services for their smartphones. With DG Prepaid Smart Plan, new customers can enjoy four times more value in terms of data, voice, SMS and MMS from as low as RM10 reload.

Says Praveen Rajan, Head of Internet & Services in DiGi: "We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy a richer mobile surfing experience, supported by the most affordable plans available - a belief that stems from our mission to deliver Internet For All. As of 31 March 2012, DiGi has over 5.3 million Mobile Internet users for both small and big screens, and we foresee demand will escalate even more as smart devices and data plans become more affordable.

"This growth spurt is inevitable as consumers become more reliant on their mobile devices to stay connected with family and friends anytime, anywhere. At the same time, customers are demanding more flexibility and control over how much they wish to spend on their data packages. With DG Prepaid Smart Plan, they are empowered to do just that."

Available at RM25, the starter pack offers zero commitment with 100MB and other freebies valued at RM45. Customers can reload in denominations of RM10, RM30, RM50 and RM100, which offer four times the value of data, voice, SMS and MMS.

For more details on DG Prepaid Smart Plan, please visit www.digi.com.my/prepaid

Eyefinity made simple with SAPPHIRE HD 7950 FleX

Direct support for 3 DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode now on 7K series

SAPPHIRE Technology has just announced the SAPPHIRE HD 7950 Flex Edition brining the company’s unique solution for multi-screen gaming to the highly acclaimed HD 7000 series of graphics cards based on the Graphics Core Next architecture from AMD.

Most graphics cards based on AMD technology require the third monitor in an Eyefinity set-up to be a DisplayPort monitor, or connected with an active DisplayPort Adapter. The SAPPHIRE FleX family can support three DVI monitors in Eyefinity mode and deliver a true SLS (Single Large Surface) work area without the need for active adapters. The first two monitors are connected to the two DVI ports and the third to an HDMI to DVI cable (supplied) with no extra hardware required.The SAPPHIRE HD 7950 FleX is now the highest performing card with this feature, allowing gamers to use low-cost DVI monitors for all three screens. Additional monitors can be added to the setup, but must be DisplayPort connected. With its core clock speeds of 860MHz and 1250Mhz (5 Gb/sec effective) for the memory this model is slightly faster than the HD 7950 standard edition and brings easy to configure multi-screen enjoyment to even hard-core gamers.

For enthusiasts wishing to maximise performance, a new version of the SAPPHIRE overclocking tool, TriXX supporting this latest generation of technology is available free to download from the SAPPHIRE website. TriXX allows tuning of GPU voltage as well as core and memory clocks, whilst continuously displaying temperature. Manual control of fan speed is supported, as well as user created fan profiles and the ability to save up to four different performance settings. The HD 7000 series is the third generation of DirectX 11 compatible solutions from the graphics division of AMD - formerly ATI. The SAPPHIRE HD 7950 is ready for DirectX 11.1 and the new Windows 8 operating system as well as delivering all the features of the current DirectX 11 such as DirectCompute11 and multi threaded communications with the CPU. Communication with the host PC is optimised with the implementation of the latest high speed PCI-Express Gen3.0 interface, and multiple cards can be used to further enhance performance in CrossFireX mode on a suitably specified mainboard.

HDMI specifications have also increased in the HD 7000 series. Fast HDMI 1.4a supports Stereoscopic 3D with enhanced frame rates of 60Hz per eye - 120Hz total. It is also ready for the next generation of 4K displays that can be driven from a single high speed input of 3GHz HDMI 1.4a or DisplayPort 1.2 HBR2.

APP Acceleration is the name given to the enhanced performance of a wide range of applications using the stream processing capabilities and specific hardware features of the graphics architecture. The HD 7000 series has been optimised for this type of task. Typical applications include Video encoding and decoding, compression and multiplexing for media distribution, gaming or video conferencing. APP acceleration can also enhance everyday tasks such as Internet browsing, Office applications and file compression with supported software suites.

GoMobile 2012: Where Apps Took Centre Stage

Malaysian mobile developers showcased their apps and services to thousands of visitors.

The fourth edition of GoMobile, Malaysia’s premier mobile lifestyle show that consists of a conference, awards night and expo was held from 10-13 May 2012. Kashminder Singh, co-organiser of the event said that this year the focus was on app developers and on that score, all three events did well.

GoMobile Conference
The GoMobile Conference at Royale Chulan which was sponsored by U Mobile was a resounding success. More than 200 delegates benefitted from listening to the strong line-up of leading mobile speakers from many countries. Jari Tammisto, Global Head of Mobile Monday, led the powerful contingent of international speakers who shared insights of latest mobile trends from around the world.(L to R) Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi, PEMANDU’s Director of Communications Content & Infrastructure, Business Services NKEA, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, MDeC CEO and Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, Chairman of MCMC launching GoMobile AppCity

Not to be outdone, top local mobile industry speakers added more lustre to the conference. Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of MDeC and U Mobile Chief Technology Officer, Too Tian Jen and Toh Swee Hoe, Special Functions Officer at MCMC delivered keynotes, alongside speakers from leading mobile organisations in Malaysia.

GoMobile Awards Night
The Malaysian mobile industry came together at the GoMobile Awards Night where the best mobile products and services in Malaysia were recognised. Maxis and HTC took top honours at Malaysia’s premier mobile awards.
Lam Swee Kim, Group General Manager, New Media & Integrated Marketing of Media Prima, receiving inOvation Malaysia award from Dato Joseph Salang for the Tonton mobile portal.

The event was graced by the presence of Dato’ Joseph Salang, the Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture. Also present were Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, CEO of MDeC, Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, MCMC Chairman and numerous senior officers and executives from the mobile industry and government agencies.

Maxis was named Operator of the Year at the GoMobile Operators Awards. The company also took home the Best Content and Services Award as well as the Best Mobile Broadband Award. The Mobile World Star Awards saw the HTC One X winning the Device of the Year Award. Another premier Award handed out that evening was the APAC Mobile Learning Initiatives Recognitions with recipients from Malaysia, Thailand, India and USA.T Kugan, Maxis VP receiving Best Operator Award from Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, Chairman of MCMC

The event’s finale was reserved for app awards. Three promising ICON2 apps developers were called up first before the final awards of the night saw ten emerging and established mobile app companies honoured with inOvation Malaysia awards that were presented jointly by GoMobile and Maxis. Among the winners were the Tonton mobile portal, m2u mobile banking app and mobile development companies, Ahead Mobile and Studio 212.

GoMobile Expo

The CEO of Multimedia Development Corporation, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali and Dato’ Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, Chairman of MCMC, opened the expo accompanied by T. Kugan, Vice President Maxis and senior representatives from the Ministries and Strategic Partners of GoMobile.

The GoMobile Expo, for the first time, saw half the expo setting taken up by AppCity, a zone dedicated to mobile apps. AppCity was powered by the MSC ICON2 developer programme and supported by MCMC and Maxis.

AppCity was the largest ever platform for local mobile developers to showcase their apps to Malaysians. More than a hundred locally developed mobile applications were showcased at GoMobile 2012. The developers were especially pleased to be able to introduce their apps to the Malaysian public. Tai Aik Keong, a mobile developer said on a Facebook post, “"Thanks everyone for making GoMobile 2012 a success! I have met a lot of good friends, entrepreneurs, developers and marketing experts. Masatu has received great response and feedback. Looking forward for GoMobile 2013."

The organisers were also delighted to welcome some international developers to showcase at AppCity, with representation from Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Pakistan and India.
Many other companies and organisations came together to put on an exciting event. Visitors could grab bargains at one of the many exciting booths selling mobile gear, check out local mobile apps, learn about the world of app development at the AppCity workshops or just have fun at the many experiential exhibits and activities.

GoMobile 2012 received wide recognition and support from the government and private sectors. The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) provided vital support as Strategic Partners, alongside Maxis.
Kashminder Singh said that the organisers would continue their efforts to grow GoMobile into an international show that focussed on mobile apps and services. “GoMobile is an event the Malaysian mobile industry can truly call its own,” said Kashminder Singh, adding, “We look forward to putting up an even more spectacular show next year. Our vision is to make GoMobile the hub of this region’s mobile apps industry.”