MEDIA-I: Far EasTone launches mobile mall in Taiwan
<p>TAIPEI: Taiwan-based cellular provider Far EasTone
</p><p>Telecommunications has linked up with the country's e-tailers and banks
</p><p>to launch a trading platform and a secure transaction system.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>Far EasTone expects its 3.7 million subscribers will use the wireless
</p><p>platform to shop for books, CDs, airline tickets, hotel reservations and
</p><p>tickets for concerts and movies.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>The telecommunications company's vice-president of business development
</p><p>and investment, Andrew Wong, said: "The uniqueness is it's a complete
</p><p>mobile shopping environment. Users can browse for products, place orders
</p><p>and make payment in a single stop.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>"M-commerce accounts for only three per cent of Taiwan's cellular
</p><p>network traffic. With the new platform, we expect it to grow to 10 per
</p><p>cent for Far EasTone by the end of next year."
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>The platform will feature e-tailers such as book.com, ezfly.com.
</p><p>ezTravel.com.tw, mobilehome, music.com.tw, springnetwork.com, olemap.
</p><p>com, goolu.com and other major sites.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>To encourage early adoption, user charges are minimal - NT$5 per
</p><p>completed transaction. Far EasTone said it would absorb the SMS traffic
</p><p>cost, while affiliated e-tailers would pay to push content to
</p><p>shoppers.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>Payment can be made through a variety of avenues, from credit cards to
</p><p>telephone settlement, ATMs or 7-Eleven, while delivery to the home will
</p><p>be available through the post office or Federal Express or pick-up at
</p><p>7-Eleven stores.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>Technologically, Far EasTone's platform is a leap ahead of competing
</p><p>systems launched in June by Chunghwa Telecom and TransAsia
</p><p>Telecommunication.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>The earlier systems use SIM tool kits, said Wong, adding that Far
</p><p>EasTone uses the latest generation SIM browser.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>"With the SIM tool kit, the customer can only complete transactions
</p><p>through a single bank," he said.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p>
by
|
09/14/2001
TAIPEI: Taiwan-based cellular provider Far EasTone
Telecommunications has linked up with the country's e-tailers and banks
to launch a trading platform and a secure transaction system.
Far EasTone expects its 3.7 million subscribers will use the wireless
platform to shop for books, CDs, airline tickets, hotel reservations and
tickets for concerts and movies.
The telecommunications company's vice-president of business development
and investment, Andrew Wong, said: "The uniqueness is it's a complete
mobile shopping environment. Users can browse for products, place orders
and make payment in a single stop.
"M-commerce accounts for only three per cent of Taiwan's cellular
network traffic. With the new platform, we expect it to grow to 10 per
cent for Far EasTone by the end of next year."
The platform will feature e-tailers such as book.com, ezfly.com.
ezTravel.com.tw, mobilehome, music.com.tw, springnetwork.com, olemap.
com, goolu.com and other major sites.
To encourage early adoption, user charges are minimal - NT$5 per
completed transaction. Far EasTone said it would absorb the SMS traffic
cost, while affiliated e-tailers would pay to push content to
shoppers.
Payment can be made through a variety of avenues, from credit cards to
telephone settlement, ATMs or 7-Eleven, while delivery to the home will
be available through the post office or Federal Express or pick-up at
7-Eleven stores.
Technologically, Far EasTone's platform is a leap ahead of competing
systems launched in June by Chunghwa Telecom and TransAsia
Telecommunication.
The earlier systems use SIM tool kits, said Wong, adding that Far
EasTone uses the latest generation SIM browser.
"With the SIM tool kit, the customer can only complete transactions
through a single bank," he said.
