News

Thai telco starts content service for Internet devices

March 24, 2002

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thai telephone company TelecomAsia (TA) and seven partners have launched a multi access portal service called MAP, the Bangkok Post reported in June. MAP is an Internet gateway that can be accessed from Internet kiosks, mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), ATMs, cable TVs or fixed phones.

Plans are for MAP to combine content and applications for all Internet access devices into one service, the Bangkok Post reported. TelecomAsia and its partners will invest nearly $20.32 million to start the service.

TA president and chief executive officer Supachai Chearavanont said that MAP would create potential for business to customer e-commerce and help standardize data for content developers.

TA's partners are United Broadcasting Corp, CP Seven-Eleven, Verizon, CP-Orange, Freewill Solutions and content provider M-Web. The Post reported that the service is expected to be available in the first quarter of next year.

Bangkok-Thailand-based TelecomAsia provides voice, video, data and Web-based applications in Thailand, according to the company's Web site. Last year, TA rolled-out the Personal Communications Telephone (PCT) service that allows its customers to use their fixed line number as their mobile number by using a special handset called the Personal Handyphone System (PHS), a small, low-power, light handset, according to the Web site.

TelecomAsia also operates a nation-wide Hybrid Fiber-Optic Coaxial (HFC) network to provide multimedia services through Asia Multimedia Co. Ltd, and a pay-TV subscription service, the Web site stated.

TelecomAsia is a strategic alliance between the Charoen Pokphand Group (C.P. Group), an Asian conglomerate, and Verizon Communications, a U.S.-based global telecommunications operator, according to the company's Web site.