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 service providers
Mobile users no longer need to register profile pics: MoIC
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
No photo, no phone: Customers may lose service
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 users yet to complete registration process
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 phone subscribers rush to update personal information
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
Passenger transport service app rolled out in Hanoi
Passenger transport service app rolled out in Hanoi By Van Ly Passengers wait at a coach station in Hanoi. Vihago has launched a transport service app that connects passengers and transport operators – PHOTO: VNA HANOI - Hanoi Innovative Business Incubator of Information Technology and Vihago JSC on March 5 launched a transport service website and a mobile app, called Vihago, to help connect passengers with transport operators. Vihago’s operations are similar to those of ride-hailing service firms, such as Grab, but Vihago will not take part in the pricing policies of and not collect commissions from its transport service provider-partners. Instead, it will charge VND200,000 per vehicle serving 100 passengers per month through the Vihago service. Transport operators joining the Vihago platform can map out pricing policies and access and connect with passengers more easily, stated Nguyen Tuan Vinh, director of Vihago, at the launch event. In addition, each … [Read more...] about Passenger transport service app rolled out in Hanoi
Mai Linh rolls out QR payment service
Mai Linh rolls out QR payment service By Le Anh A customer pays the taxi fare by scanning a QR code – PHOTO: HOANG NGUYEN HCMC - Mai Linh Corporation, a traditional taxi operator, signed a cooperation agreement with Vietnam Payment Solution JSC (VNPAY) today, March 7, to enable taxi fare payments through scanning quick response (QR) codes. Customers of Mai Linh can now pay taxi fares in a fast, convenient and safe manner without using bank cards or cash. They just need to scan QR codes on mobile banking apps. The QR code payment solution has been integrated into the mobile banking services of 19 local banks and four international card service providers in Vietnam, such as BIDV, Vietcombank, Agribank, VietinBank, VPBank, TPBank, Visa, MasterCard and UnionPay. Mai Linh Chairman Ho Huy remarked that passenger transport services have been developing rapidly and taxi firms need to always improve their services and apply new technologies to enhance their … [Read more...] about Mai Linh rolls out QR payment service
Vietnam Airlines to launch phone check-in service
Vietnam Airlines to launch phone check-in service By Le Anh Vietnam Airlines’ hotline operators are pictured in this file photo. Hotline operators will support customers in completing the check-in process through the phone check-in service – PHOTO: VIETNAM AIRLINES HCMC – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will roll out a telephone check-in service that allows passengers to use their phones to check in for their domestic flights. The service, provided by the Vietnam Airport Ground Services Co., Ltd., a member of the Vietnam Airlines Corporation, will start from April 26 and is applicable to flights departing from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. It will later be expanded to other airports nationwide. Customers can call the hotline 1-900-6265 from 12 hours to two hours prior to the departure time to complete the check-in process. The call is charged at VND5,000 per minute. The hotline serves customers between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day. Using the service, … [Read more...] about Vietnam Airlines to launch phone check-in service
Mobile Money to boost noncash payments in Vietnam: minister
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
Vietnamobile launches new mobile voice services
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