Thesun 2009-08-05 Page16 Maxis Launches Iphone 3gs In Malaysia

16

theSun

| WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5 2009

media & marketing

Maxis launches iPhone 3GS in Malaysia MAXIS recently launched the muchawaited iPhone 3GS with attractive price plans, enhanced iValue packages and upgrade offers for their customers. The iPhone 3GS 16GB is offered at RM1,290 and iPhone 3G 8GB at just RM790 with the iValue plan that comes with a monthly commitment of RM155 and a 24month contract. “Current music smartphones in the market are in the range of RM1,400, while email phones are priced within the range of RM1,600,” said Maxis vicepresident and head of consumer marketing Tan Lay Hon. “With the iValue service plans, the iPhone 3GS come at an affordable price and customers can enjoy the complete voice and data package,” added Tan. Maxis has also introduced new features in the iValue plan which offers new and existing customers free SMS and multimedia messaging service (MMS), free local calls and SMS to family lines. The retail price without the iValue service plans of the iPhone 3GS 16GB is RM 2,490 while the iPhone 3GS 32GB is priced at RM2,990. There are also easy payment schemes offered to customers where they can buy an iPhone 3G 8GB for as little as RM60 per month. Customers can purchase the iPhone 3GS interest-free over 12-month or 24-month periods.

‘Most Wanted ruumates’ are admin assistant, writer (From left) Maxis senior general manager and head of product development and infotainment services T. Kugan, Tan and Maxis head of broadband Afizuzha Abdullah during the launch of the iPhone 3GS.

This offer is open to all Maybank, functions and offerings. HSBC, Citibank and Public Bank “iPhone 3G keeps our customVisa and MasterCard customers. ers connected and entertained The new iPhone 3GS is said with an attractive and easy to be the fastest and most pow- browsing interface and has erful iPhone yet, packed with increased Maxis customers’ monew features which includes bile data usage. There is a very improved speed and diverse range of performance, longer iPhone users battery life, highfrom 12 years For more, log on quality 3 megapixel upwards,” he www.maxis.com.my/iphone3gs autofocus camera, said. easy-to-use video Tan added recording and handswith the improved free voice control. communications features and The iPhone 3GS includes the applications, the iPhone 3GS will new iPhone OS 3.0 with over further “enhance and enrich our 100 new features such as MMS, lives.” landscape keyboard, Cut, Copy Maxis customers who bought and Paste functions and more. the iPhone 3G and subscribe to It also allows customers access the iValue and iData can also to more than 50,000 applications upgrade to the latest iPhone from Apple’s App Store. 3GS and enjoy at least a RM500 Tan said the introduction of rebate. the iPhone 3G in Malaysia in For more information on March this year has changed the iPhone 3GS plans from Maxis, way Malaysians communicate at visit www.maxis.com.my/iphonwork and play due to its diverse e3gs.

Winners and runner-ups of the ‘Most Wanted ruumate’ contest.

RUUMZ, Malaysia’s first social networking website, has found two of its “Most Wanted ruumate” in an administrative assistant and a writer. Rachel Beh, 27, and Derek Yap, 25, attained the most attractive, creative and sociable title after two months of social networking to gain votes. “This has been a tough and interesting campaign. It was amazing to see how young Malaysians today are so savvy in the way they connect to the public. “Rachel and Derek are names to look out for as advocates of our future generation,” said ruumz.FM’s DJ Ross. First runner-ups for the female and male category was blogger Amanda Choe, 20, and postgraduate student Kingston Liu, 25, respectively. Design student Raeesa Shahirah, 19, and engineering student John Lean, 20, were second runner-ups. The winners were selected based on the amount of votes acquired from ruumz members and judges encompassing online radio ruumz.FM DJs Fly Guy and Ross, actress and model Sarah Lian, Faces magazine editor-in-chief Lu Jing Shia and journalist Niki Cheong. The contest required participants to upload pictures

and videos on the ruumz website while showcasing personality, lifestyle and talents through various tasks. The winners used the social mediums of ruumz, Facebook, Twitter and personal blogs to garner votes. However, Beh and Yap made extra effort to meet voters and fans. The two winners will be featured in Faces magazine. They also each won an Acer Aspire Timeline notebook, W1MAX Wiggy two-year subscription, a 32-inch Samsung LCD TV, a Samsung M7500 Emporio Armani mobile phone, Mooks apparel voucher amounting to RM1,000 and RM300 Blings! worth of rummz virtual currency which can be used for photo printing, music downloads and more. Sub-category winners include Raeesa Shahirah and Reuben Samuel for Mooks Most Stylish ruumates, Pearlyn Sin and Dicky Oscar for Most Wanted Acer Travelmates while Amanda Choe and Asran Zakry won the Most Desired rummates titles. According to ruumzNation chief executive James Chong, the company plans to have the campaign as an annual contest. “The search for the ‘Most Wanted ruumate’ was more than about good looks and online popularity but also a campaign to showcase how the new online generation is able to leverage on social media as opposed to the use of traditional channels that entails a high cost,” said Chong. For more information on winners and website, please visit www. ruumz. com.

No change in MNPA top posts THE Malaysian Newpaper Publishers Association (MNPA) annual general meeting on June 23 saw no changes to the top leadership, with Utusan Melayu Bhd group executive director Mohd Nasir Ali reelected chairman, and Star Publications (M) Bhd group managing director and CEO Datin Linda Ngiam honorary secretary. New Straits Times Press Bhd head of circulation Azman Che Chin was elected honorary treasurer. The AGM also saw the election of executive committee members, among whom were: » Rita Sim, Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd » Lee Hin Chan, Kwong Wah Yit Poh Press Bhd » S.M. Periasamy, Makkal Osai Sdn Bhd

» Wee Tee Fatt, Nanyang Siang Pau Sdn Bhd » Charles Peters, Sun Media Corporation Sdn Bhd; and » Liew Sam Ngan, The China Press Bhd. In his address, Mohd Nasir spoke of challenges faced by the industry. “The first agenda for the committee is to follow through its appeal to the government to consider an abolition of customs duty on newsprint in rolls from Canada, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines. The US customs duty applicable to newsprint imported into Malaysia ranges from 5% for imports from Asean countries to 10% for imports from other countries,” he said. “The production costs of newspapers in 2009 will continue to increase as a result of higher transportation rates,

electricity tariff and labour costs. “The newspaper publishing industry is facing severe challenges. “We have seen a long-term decline in Adex, declining circulation sales, and advertisers moving budgets from newspapers to new advertising vehicles. “To meet these challenges, newspapers have to be innovative in creating new products and new revenue streams to add value and enhance their offerings to readers and advertisers.” The association will organise seminars to help newspaper professionals leverage on their online portals and to find ways to increase revenues online for future growth. The first such seminar is planned for November.