HKT, SmarTone gird for more intense rivalry in mobile services
HKT and SmarTone are racing to unveil services that exploit the capabilities of smartphones
Days before the iPhone 5 makes its debut in Hong Kong, two of the city's leading telecommunications services providers have separately unveiled new mobile strategies designed to harness the capabilities of Apple's new handset and other advanced smartphones.
PCCW subsidiary HKT, which runs 4G operator PCCW Mobile and the city's largest fixed-line network, yesterday launched its "Smart Living" service to help local consumers use their smartphones and media tablets for so-called home automation.
The carrier will assist customers in automating controls, over Wi-fi connections, of multiple home settings - including lighting, curtains, air-conditioning, surveillance system, internet-linked "smart" television and other home entertainment devices - using a single interface on their smartphone or media tablet, such as HKT's Eye Tab.
Apart from providing technical assistance, HKT will also sell what it calls best-value smart TVs and internet-ready hi-fi stereo systems through its refurbished PCCW-HKT retail stores.
"Our design philosophy has been to put up-to-date information at customers' fingertips in a high-class, high-quality and paperless environment - and to make them feel at home," said Alex Arena, the group managing director at HKT.
Arena said many of the 60 existing PCCW-HKT shops would be renovated over a two-year period. The flagship store for this new retail strategy was opened in Mong Kok last night.