Mobile service monster

ITelecom launches mobile service By Van Ly A user holds a 4G SIM card from ITelecom – PHOTO: VAN LY HANOI – Indochina Telecom Joint Stock Company (ITelecom) launched mobile service ITelecom with the prefix 087 on April 25. Instead of having its own spectrum or network infrastructure, ITelecom is powered by Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group. It is the first mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service in the local market. In the initial stage, ITelecom will offer products and services to workers in industrial zones in nine provinces and cities: Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Binh Duong, HCMC, Long An and Dong Nai. In addition, multiple mobile packages will be provided for different groups of users. Moreover, the firm will connect with other mobile networks that have spare capacity to bring convenience and the best connection quality to users at reasonable prices. “ITelecom is ready to team up with all the mobile carriers that own … [Read more...] about ITelecom launches mobile service

Mobile users wait to take photos at a Vinaphone service store in Hà Nội in April 2018. — Photo vietnamnet.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC) has suggested lifting a controversial requirement for mobile phone users to register their photos in a stunning policy turnaround just six months after the regulation was put into force. The MoIC, under the leadership of new acting minister Nguyễn Mạnh Hùng, released a draft decree to terminate the regulation which required all mobile phone users to register a portrait photo to their service providers by April 24, 2018. The idea was meant to help the Government manage mobile users, said the MoIC at the time, despite mounting criticism of personal invasion and concerns of personal information leaks. However, there seems to have been a u-turn. It said in the draft decree that in order to guarantee the personal information provided by users, there should be an information cross-check … [Read more...] about Mobile users no longer need to register profile pics: MoIC

Vietnamobile launches new mobile voice services By Van Ly Two people are seen using their mobile phones. Vietnamobile has launched new mobile voice services and a preferential data package to woo customers – PHOTO: THANH HOA HANOI - Mobile carrier Vietnamobile on July 2 launched two mobile voice services and other affordable data packages to attract users, after three months under the management of its new general director. Vietnamobile collaborated with Samsung to offer the two voice services, VoLTE and VoWIFI. VoLTE allows Vietnamobile subscribers to make phone calls on 4G networks with high sound quality. Meanwhile, the VoWIFI service enables two Vietnamobile subscribers to call each other when one phone uses the carrier’s network and the other is connected to any carrier’s WiFi. Speaking at a press briefing on July 2, Christina Hui, general director of Vietnamobile, said that Vietnamobile now holds a market share of a mere 3% on the local mobile service and … [Read more...] about Vietnamobile launches new mobile voice services

Two H’mong ethnic minority women in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai’s Bắc Hà District. A new report on social mobility and equality shows that ethnic minority groups are still trailing behind the majority Kinh ethnic group in access to skill learning and subsequently better employment. — VNS Photo Việt Thanh Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Though Việt Nam’s economy has grown rapidly over the last decade, social mobility is lagging as the country’s poor still lack access to learn new skills and gain better jobs. A new report "Social Mobility and Equality of Opportunity in Việt Nam: Trends and Impact factors” launched by Oxfam on Thursday highlighted the problem and the threat it poses to the country’s sustainable growth. The report consolidates data from the Việt Nam Household Living Standards Survey 2004 -14 and interviews with about 700 people over the last two years in three provinces of Lào Cai, Nghệ An and Đắk Nông in the north, central and Central Highland regions, … [Read more...] about Việt Nam social mobility slowing: report

By April 24, 2018, all mobile subscriptions activated before April 24, 2017 must be registered with accurate information about the owners including name, identification number and a profile picture. Otherwise, telecommunication service providers will block incoming calls after 15 days and stop providing services in the next 15 days.— VNS Photo Đoàn Tùng Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI –Mobile subscribers may have their SIM cards deactivated if they fail to submit profile photos following a new regulation. Decree 49, issued last year, stipulates that by April 24, 2018, all mobile subscriptions activated before April 24, 2017 have to be registered with accurate information of owners including name, identification number and a profile picture. If they fail to register, the providers will block incoming calls after 15 days and stop providing services in the next 15 days. Viettel said that their only strategy for encouraging customers to comply with the regulation was providing sufficient … [Read more...] about No photo, no phone: Customers may lose service

Mobile phone subscribers at a service station in Hà Nội’s Xã Đàn Street.— VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Thousands of mobile phone subscribers are rushing to service providers across the country to update their personal information. Under the government’s Decree No. 49/NĐ-CP, issued on April 22, 2017, mobile connection can be blocked by service providers if customers fail to update their personal details before April 24. Under the decree, all mobile phone subscriptions activated before April 24, 2017, have to be registered with accurate information of owners, including name, identification/passport number and a profile picture. If they fail to register, the service provider will block incoming calls after 15 days and stop providing services in the next 15 days. The nearing of the deadline has caused a huge rush of customers to service providers overloading them, prompting the two giant telecommunications MobiFone and VinaPhone to … [Read more...] about Mobile phone subscribers rush to update personal information

A customer gets a portrait photo taken at a Vinaphone store. — VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Some 34 million users out of 38 million pre-paid mobile phone numbers nationwide have not yet provided their personal information, including portrait photo. The information was revealed by Việt Nam Telecommunications Authority until mid-March. Decree 49, issued last year, stipulates that by April 24, 2018, all mobile subscriptions activated before April 24, 2017, have to be registered with accurate information of owners, including name, identification/passport number and a profile picture. If they fail to register, the providers will block incoming calls after 15 days and stop providing services in the next 15 days. The number of customers who need to complete the process is very high, especially those who activated their numbers before Decree 49 took effect, the authority said. As the deadline of updating the personal portrait photo is coming to a close, … [Read more...] about Mobile phone users yet to complete registration process

Mobile Money to boost noncash payments in Vietnam: minister The Saigon Times Daily A person uses ViettelPay app to make online payments. Mobile Money once launched in Vietnam will boost the growth of non-cash transactions - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Mobile Money, once being put into pilot service in Vietnam, will be an effective solution for promoting noncash payments, stated Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung. The Mobile Money service allows users to transfer and receive money as well as make payments through mobile accounts. It uses a network of transaction points such as customer service agents and ATMs. The service must also be available to people with no bank accounts. Many topics such as ecommerce, startups and innovation have been discussed at meetings, but an effective payment method, which is the most important tool for encouraging the growth of these areas in the digital age, has yet to be mentioned, Minister Hung told an international … [Read more...] about Mobile Money to boost noncash payments in Vietnam: minister

HCMC proposes excise tax on mobile phones By Thanh Thom An individual checks the Facebook app on her mobile phone. The HCMC government has suggested slapping excise tax on mobile phones – PHOTO: THANH THOM HCMC – The HCMC People’s Committee has suggested the Ministry of Finance levy a special consumption tax on mobile phones and some other products and services that only high income earners can afford. The city government said in its proposal that the value-added tax (VAT), the special consumption tax and the environmental protection tax, among others, are areas with potential for further tapping. Products such as mobile phones, cameras, perfumes and cosmetics, as well as gaming business services and beauty services, should be subject to the special consumption tax. According to the city government, perfumes and beauty services fall within the category of high-end goods and services. This helps widen the adjustment of income taxes among high earners. The … [Read more...] about HCMC proposes excise tax on mobile phones

VNA launches new mobile app By Le Anh A screenshot of Vietnam Airlines’ new mobile app – PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC – The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (VNA) released a new mobile app on February 5 to support its passengers with flight-related issues, aiming to improve its digital service quality and offer a better flight experience to passengers. The new app is more modern and user-friendly and helps users stay updated on the latest trends of major airlines around the world. In addition, the app’s features that support passengers have been completely revamped. With the app, passengers can search for flights and itineraries and book flight tickets online more conveniently, or they can book flight-related services at any time. Users can also check-in online and get mobile boarding passes to save time, while the notification function enables passengers to closely follow their flight itineraries. VNA puts the latest promotions, such as discounted flight tickets and … [Read more...] about VNA launches new mobile app