Tag: Singtel

Singapore – Customer engagement platform Twilio has teamed up with communications technology group Singtel to provide Singaporean businesses with Rich Communication Services (RCS) messaging. The move aims to offer secure and branded connections between businesses and their customers.

The collaboration allows businesses in Singapore to reach their customers directly to their mobile inboxes without compromising data security. It comes at a crucial time as Twilio’s report in 2024 reveals that 79% of Singaporean consumers trust a brand’s communication more if it features a verification badge, while 68% say branded text messages enhance the brand’s trustworthiness.

As Twilio streamlines the adoption of RCS messaging, businesses can benefit from an automatic SMS to RCS upgrade, while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Through the Twilio console, immediate testing can be facilitated and activation can be done without any code modifications.

Singapore marks Twilio’s first RCS Business Messaging offering in Asia, following deployments in the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Brazil among others.

“As consumers grow increasingly savvy and discerning, they demand trusted and immersive experiences at every touchpoint. RCS messaging offers an enhanced alternative to SMS and bridges the gap between traditional messaging and the interactive experiences offered by over-the-top channels. It provides the perfect solution to deliver interactive, dynamic communications while assuring customers of the sender’s identity,” Robert Woolfrey, vice president, APJ, communications at Twilio, said.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Singtel to empower businesses in Singapore to deliver exceptional customer experiences and foster trusted, meaningful relationships,” Woolfrey added.

“Businesses in Singapore must adapt to the evolving expectations of consumers who are seeking more immersive interactions, especially through their mobile devices. Our partnership with Twilio, enables businesses in Singapore to tap on RCS messaging to deliver rich and interactive communications that can improve their engagement with their customers in new and exciting ways,” Terence Lai, vice president of digitalisation, products and partnerships at Singtel, said.

Singapore – Singtel has launched an AI-driven storytelling campaign celebrating Singapore’s 60th year of independence. The campaign, titled ‘Project NarrAItive,’ highlights how technology can eliminate language barriers among generations.

In a four-minute film, Singtel features its employees and their families to tell the legend of Pulau Ubin, a folktale set in pre-colonial Singapore. Each participant narrated the tale in their native language.

Through AI, the narrated story was translated into other languages. The film, accompanied by an accurate dub and lip-sync animations, maintains the participants’ natural tone and style. The dub aims to allow older generations to connect with their younger relatives speaking different languages.

Project NarrAItive features the languages English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil, Teochew, Hokkien, and Malayalam. This reflects Singapore’s diverse languages.

The project was made in collaboration with Hogarth and Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Film & Media Studies. It used AI-powered voice generation, lip-syncing, and generative art technology for authentic multilingual storytelling. Various AI tools were also used for voice-to-voice analysis, AI avatars, voiceovers, and custom imagery.

Throughout the production process, Singtel maintained its commitment to data security and privacy through compliance with protocols.

Lynette Poh, head of marketing and communications at Singtel Singapore, said, “We wanted to celebrate the rich cultural tapestry that defines Singapore and highlight Singtel’s commitment to building bonds and connections using cutting-edge technology this SG60.  Many of the family members who watched the film, teared seeing their onscreen parent or grandparent communicate so seamlessly in a language they understood and felt a strong sense of connection to them, like never before. We see AI as a powerful enabler, that can help us to bridge communication gaps and build strong bonds among communities.”

Singapore – Telecommunications company Singtel is encouraging stronger family connections in its latest film highlighting the capabilities of its 10Gbps broadband.

The film, titled ‘The Corridor,’ travels years back to the time of dial-up modems and pagers until reaching the availability of 10Gbps broadband in a span of a 90-second short film. It aims to showcase how Singtel has contributed to forming bonds between families and communities over the years.

Held in the familiar corridor of a Housing & Development Board (HDB) building, the film captures how families find a bridge in the shared space, connecting them with their neighbours.

‘The Corridor’ tells the story of a teenager reminded of her memories with her neighbours after seeing a photograph of them. Restoring their ‘Big Family’ group chat, they all reunite to recreate the photo in the HDB corridor.

Singtel’s latest film is part of the ‘Possibilities Anthology’, a collection of seven short films included in its ‘Hello Possibilities’ brand platform campaign.

Additionally, Singtel is offering deals on its 10Gbps plans in celebration of Chinese New Year, including significant discounts.

Ng Tian Chong, CEO of Singtel Singapore, said, “Technology plays such a significant role in helping communities to build connections and maintain relationships. As the leading connectivity provider in Singapore, Singtel is privileged to have been a part of countless memories and shared experiences of millions of people over the decades. With Chinese New Year being a time for reunions and reconnections, we wanted to share a slice of the Singaporean experience and highlight how technology has brought families and communities together over the years. As Singapore gears up for SG60, it’s an opportune time to reflect on how far we’ve come, the connections we’ve forged and the values that unite us as Singaporeans.”

Singapore – Telecommunications company Singtel spotlights the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) in its latest Chinese New Year (CNY) film.

The ‘Once Upon a CNY’ film, which injects humour while highlighting the importance of technology, shows how AI saves a family’s CNY celebration.

Singtel has recently been integrating AI into its businesses, including its offering of free Perplexity Pro subscriptions to customers. In line with this, the new short film is a reference to Perplexity, highlighting its abilities.

Following the story of wife and mother Mei who is struggling to prepare for CNY, the film shows how an AI assistant immediately makes her tasks lighter.

An AI assistant suddenly responds to her troubles after expressing how she cannot be “everything everywhere all at once,” a reference to the Hollywood film that presents a woman learning from the different versions of her life.

Like in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ Mei is also shown an alternate reality where all her worries are eliminated through technology. Inspired, Mei uses Singtel’s WiFi 7 to easily handle smart appliances, including a fridge and a vacuum.

Singtel produced ‘Once Upon a CNY’ in collaboration with Akanga Films, set to run on Singtel TV and social media channels from January 17 to February 12.

Yuen Kuan Moon, Singtel group chief executive officer, said, “We have always strived to stay abreast of technology to serve our customers better and this year, AI-driven innovation will definitely be front and centre as we bring its transformative powers to our retail and enterprise customers. By showing how AI can even transform everyday life at home, we are underlining our commitment to making AI accessible to all by enriching consumers lives and empowering enterprises to innovate, reinvent themselves and grow.”

Lian Pek, Singtel’s vice president of group strategic communications and brand, said, “The burnt-out mom is both universal and relatable, which is why we chose her to demonstrate the very real benefits of deploying best-in-class connectivity and technology at home. This is especially pertinent during festive occasions like Chinese New Year where everyone can arm themselves with the latest technology to make their lives easier. As a company that derives its purpose from empowering customers, this film is about how technology can do wonders in helping us keep traditions alive!”

Singapore – Telecommunications company Singtel is offering its broadband, television, and mobile customers a free one-year subscription to Perplexity Pro. All customers are set to receive the activation code for the subscription via their My Singtel App.

The offering comes after Singtel observed an increase in broadband and mobile traffic to AI domains recently, showcasing a higher demand for AI tools.

The artificial intelligence (AI) search service, ‘Perplexity Pro,’ aims to simplify how customers find information while responding to the demand for AI-powered tools.

Perplexity Pro provides concise and conversational answers to queries by consolidating information from multiple sources in real time, supplemented with in-line citations. It also summarises the response while allowing advanced file analysis and AI-image generation.

Additionally, users of Perplexity Pro can choose from AI models such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Grok to ensure their experience is tailored to their needs.

Perplexity Pro supports various languages, including English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.

Ng Tian Chong, chief executive officer (CEO) of Singtel Singapore, said, “Consumers are increasingly using AI search platforms to help them with their everyday tasks, from looking up recipes and planning a travel itinerary to more academic uses like school research and business competitive analysis. We are offering this solution, created by leaders in AI, so our customers can get personalised assistance. This is in line with our commitment to bringing cutting-edge technologies into the hands of our customers, so more people can take advantage of what AI has to offer.”

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, said, “Telecoms make it possible for people to use Perplexity on their devices. As we expand to new markets, partnerships with leading telecommunications providers play a key role in our growth strategy. We appreciate Singtel’s commitment to innovation and utility and welcome the opportunity to make Perplexity Pro available to their subscribers for free for a year.”

Singapore – Travel Alliance is set to launch a cross-border telco rewards programme for its customers with ride-hailing and delivery company Grab and travel brand Trip.com.

Travel Alliance, comprised of Singtel, AIS, Globe, HKT, Optus, Taiwan Mobile and Telkomsel, is set to roll out the rewards programme starting January next year.

Through the partnership with Grab and Trip.com, customers of Alliance members can save on accommodations, flights, rides, and food deliveries.

The launch reflects Travel Alliance’s aim of providing incentives to its customers when travelling, including for transport, dining, merchandise, and lifestyle services. Since Travel Alliance’s establishment in February 2024, Grab and Trip.com are the first to become partners that provide rewards for customers.

As part of the rewards programme, Travel Alliance customers can gain discounts from Trip.com hotel and flight bookings. Additionally, they can also upgrade to Trip.com’s top-tier status, enjoying rewards such as access to VIP lounges and upgrades for car models when travelling.

Meanwhile, Grab is set to launch a Grab Tourist Pack in 2025, providing exclusive deals for Alliance customers.

“As a customer-focused company, Trip.com is delighted to partner with the alliance of seven telcos to bring exceptional travel opportunities to their users across the Asia Pacific region. This collaboration reflects our commitment to making travel more accessible and rewarding by leveraging innovative partnerships. By combining the convenience of our platform with exclusive discounts for the telco customers, we aim to inspire more people to plan the perfect trip for a better world,” Han Feng, head of marketing at Trip.com, said.

“With our presence in over 700 cities across 8 countries in Southeast Asia, Grab believes we can be the one app travellers need for hailing rides, ordering food, dining out or getting emergency supplies delivered to their doorstep. We are pleased to partner the Travel Alliance to support the travel needs of their vast combined customer base,” Chuck Kim, managing director of group business development & strategic partnerships at Grab, commented.

Singapore – Major telco player Singtel has announced that it intends to sell its mobile wallet Dash to Western Union. As the sale is subject to regulatory approvals, Singtel assures that Dash customers will continue to have access to all existing services in the meantime.

Launched in 2014, Dash is an all-in-one mobile wallet that lets customers pay, remit, save, invest and insure from one app. Currently, it has it has over 1.4 million users and is available to everyone regardless of their telco or banking relationship.

For Singtel, the sale is part of their ongoing measures to simplify its structure and portfolio to boost innovation and growth opportunities.

Moreover, the acquisition aligns to Western Union’s purpose to provide accessible financial services to aspiring populations worldwide. It underscores Western Union’s Evolve 2025 strategy to expand its financial ecosystem, as well as double its digital business by focusing on product innovation and scalable market investments.

Anna Yip, deputy CEO of Singtel Singapore, said, “In line with our Group’s Singtel28 strategy to focus on our core business and competencies, we have decided that Western Union is best placed to bring Dash to the next level. We will work closely with Western Union to ensure that our Dash customers and business partners continue to be well-supported and the transition is seamless.”

Meanwhile, Sohini Rajola, head of Asia-Pacific at Western Union, commented, “We are excited to have the opportunity to welcome Dash to Western Union and are working collaboratively with Singtel to secure regulatory approvals. Our business in Singapore is a unique blend of branded digital services and owned locations, serving citizens and residents across the country. This strategic move accelerates our Evolve 2025 vision, and strengthens our global digital capabilities.”

Evercore Asia (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. acted as exclusive corporate finance adviser to Singtel on this transaction.

Singapore – Singtel, a telecommunications group in Singapore, has released film campaign ‘Lights Out’ promoting a sense of community and neighbourhood in time for the Deepavali festival.

The film shows how the Deepavali celebration can become more meaningful by nurturing friendships. It follows the story of Raju, who is struggling to fix his lights before the festival until his neighbours help him find a solution.

Using a variety of visual and audio techniques, the film emphasises the different emotions of Raju as the story progresses. It especially focuses on the lighting as it first uses dimness before shifting to bright colours, further signifying the festival’s meaning.

When Raju’s lights are back, he shares his experience on social media, spreading how his Deepavali celebration was saved by his friends. 

The film captures the essence of the Deepavali celebration in the present context, incorporating relatable experiences. It also reflects Singtel’s commitment to connecting people while ensuring security to support its customers.

‘Lights Out’ has been released on Singtel’s social media channels, including Instragram, YouTube, and TikTok.

Singapore – Major mobile network operators (MNOs) in Singapore has assured the public of their compliance to Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA)’s Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF) for phishing scams. 

MAS and IMDA recently announced the implementation of the SRF, which assigns duties to financial institutions and telecommunication companies to address phishing scams. In a joint response, MNOs M1, Singtel, StarHub and SIMBA emphasises their collective adherence to protect its customers.

“The MNOs have already implemented the telco duties set out in the Shared Responsibility Framework (SRF). On top of these duties, the MNOs have also complied with other scam prevention measures such as stringent SIM card registration requirements and offering the option for subscribers to block international calls and SMS,” the statement read. 

The SRF holds network banks and telco liable for customers suffering from scams, requiring them to perform real-time fraud surveillance. If a customer is scammed, telcos may be expected to bear the losses if the guidelines are not followed.

The MNOs said they will collaborate with authorities to enforce measures and avoid scams. 

“In line with the SRF, the respective MNOs will review the eligibility of claims made, with consideration of fair recourse,” the joint statement read.

Earlier this year, the major MNOs have strengthened their anti-scam efforts by partnering with IMDA to allow their customers to block international mobile numbers.

MAS and IMDA is set to implement the SRF starting Dec. 16, 2024. The SRF was first published on Oct. 25, 2023 for a consultation, gathering responses from the public and business representatives.

Singapore – Infobip, a global cloud communications platform, has joined forces with Singtel, a communications technology group, to improve how Singaporean businesses engage customers through communication services.

Rich Communication Services (RCS) allows interactive messaging for companies, turning business messages into brand experiences for customers. Through its messaging capabilities, it helps businesses in various industries, including finance, gaming, retail, and e-commerce.

Through RCS, businesses can have access to branded messaging options. It allows them to share rich messages that can include images, videos, and carousels. This helps brands build trust and recognition among their customers while nurturing relationships.

Additionally, RCS allows two-way communication between brands and customers. The approach empowers customers to directly respond to the branded message or make purchases conveniently.

Infobip’s partnership with Singtel is part of its efforts to provide RCS to businesses globally, partnering with various telecom companies. The partnership extends this initiative to Singaporean businesses, contributing to their business growth.

“Companies want to better engage their customers in more interactive ways, especially on their mobile devices. RCS provides customers with more personalised communication that will help businesses build stronger relationships and drive business results. We look forward to empowering organisations with this capability to help them build brand affinity with their customers,” Terence Lai Tuck Leong, vice president of digitalisation, products, and partnerships at Singtel Singapore, said.

“The introduction of RCS messaging marks a significant step for customer engagement in Singapore as businesses aim to elevate their communications to meet evolving consumer expectations. Singtel’s deep understanding of the Singaporean market, combined with Infobip’s global experience and expertise in RCS, will empower local businesses to connect with customers securely through rich, branded two-way conversations,” Lim Jiun Kei, head of operator partnership region at Infobip, said.