Is it for sale or not? A report earlier this week suggested Star Telecom International had taken on an investment bank to find a buyer for its Internet service subsidiary with a figure of $400 mentioned. On Wednesday, Star denied this, having been assured by its main shareholder this was not the case. Now Hutchison appears to have made Star look rather foolish by conceding it has been talking to Star management - controlled by China Strategic Holdings - on a potential deal.
The Government now says the second round of consultation for its telecommunications review will not be published until 'about August'. After allowing a month for comments, it hopes to come up with final proposals by the 'end of the year'. Dragging out of a decision effectively leaves the three new fixed-line rivals to Hongkong Telecom as the only legitimate entrants to the international market when it is deregulated on January 1 next year.
Hongkong Telecom says iTV had signed up 100,000 customers by the end of May. iTV boss William Lo said 50,000 subscribers had been connected since the service launched officially last March. He was speaking at the launch of a new product - radio-on-demand, a joint venture with Commercial Radio.
Hutchison Telecom has introduced a new tariff on Everyday PCS. It offers 200 minutes airtime a month for $190. The package also includes free caller number identification and call waiting. Subsequent minutes after the first 200 are charged at 90 cents a minute. It cheapest package is still $120 for 120 minutes free airtime. Extra minutes are charged at $1 per minute. Its other tariff is $330 for 400 minutes. Rival PCS network Sunday offers 100 minutes for $88 a month.
SmarTone has launched more products aimed at the wireless data user. It is offering the Ericsson GC25 card phone for use with laptop computers and the Ericsson MC16 handheld computer. The MC126 is a mixture of mobile phone and computer, using Windows CE 2.0 operating system and software including Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Powerpoint.
