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SmarTone

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SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited
Company typeMobile telecommunication
IndustryMobile broadband services and fixed fibre broadband services
Founded1992
HeadquartersHong Kong, China
Key people
Raymond KWOK Ping-luen, Chairman & Non-Executive Director
Anna YIP, CEO & Executive Director[1]
Number of employees
2,128 (30 Dec 2015)[2]
ParentSun Hung Kai Properties
WebsiteHong Kong: http://www.smartone.com　
Macau: http://www.smartone.com/mo/

SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited (Chinese: 數碼通) (0315.HK) is a major telecommunications company, with operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong and Macau. SmarTone provides voice, multimedia and mobile broadband services through its territory-wide 4G and 3G networks, as well as fixed fibre broadband services for the consumer and corporate markets.[3]

Company overview

The company is a mobile phone operator in Hong Kong. It provides service on GSM-900, GSM-1800, W-CDMA (on the 2100 MHz frequency) and LTE-2600 with the brand SmarTone.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited SEHK: 315. 67%[4] of its stake is held by Sun Hung Kai Properties. SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited also holds 72% stake in SmarTone Macau. Anna Yip is the Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

SmarTone has 31 stores in Hong Kong, including 8 on the Hong Kong Island, 11 in Kowloon and 12 in the New Territories.[5]

History

SmarTone was launched by Sun Hung Kai Properties and ABC Communications in 1992. It started operations in March 1993. It used to have another branding EXTRA for its GSM-1800-only packages obtained by the acquisition of P Plus Communications in March 1998. The brand EXTRA ended in 2002 and was merged into SmarTone’s dual-band network.[6]

A new branding "SmarTone-Vodafone" was officially launched in April 2005, following a partnership agreement with Vodafone in December 2004. This brand name was used only in Hong Kong. SmarTone retained its original brand name in Macau.

On 19 September 2011, SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited announced that it would not renew its marketing co-operation with Vodafone and reverted its brand to SmarTone from December 2011.[7]

Network Development[8]

Hong Kong

2G

  • March 1993 – Launched Asia's first GSM mobile service
  • December 1993 – Launched Asia's first auto-GSM roaming service
  • December 2002 – Launched SmarTone iN! – Proprietary advanced multimedia services mobile portal for customers

3G

  • December 2004 – Launched 3G services
  • July 2007 – Became the first company in the world to enable customers to stream flash video when browsing on any 3G feature phone
  • April 2010 – Debut 28.8Mbit/s HSPA+ network

4G

  • August 2012 – Launched 4G service
  • October 2016 – Extended 4G coverage to the new MTR Kwun Tong Line Extension, covering the new Whampoa and Ho Man Tin stations[9]

Macau

2G

  • July 2001 – Launched GSM mobile service in Macau

3G

  • July 2010 – Launched 3G service in Macau

4G

  • November 2015 – Launched 4G service in Macau

Awards[10]

  • Most Popular TV Commercial Awards Highest Distinction Award (1997)
  • Hong Kong Retail Management Association Special Award – Best Team Performance (2003 -2004)
  • Next Magazine Top Service Award - Mobile Network Service Operators Category (2003-2009 & 2011-2015)
  • Yahoo! Emotive Brand Awards (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014)
  • Capital Weekly The Excellence of Listed Enterprise Awards (2011)
  • Sing Tao Excellent Services Brand Award (2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013)
  • PC Market Best of I.T. Award (2010 and 2013)
  • HK Golden IT Award Best Telecom Provider – Mobile Service (2013)
  • Next Magazine Top Service Award - Internet Service Providers Category (2015)
  • The 2016 CAHK STAR Awards - The Best Mobile Network Operator (Gold Award), The Best Brand Campaign (Silver Award), and The Best Enterprise Service (Silver Award)

Service Plans[11]

SmarTone offers a range of fixed data allowance options to suit different customer needs:

  • SuperCare Plans
  • SuperCare Family Plans
  • ExtraCare Plan
  • GoodCare Plans

In June 2016, SmarTone introduced its new Flexi-switch service, giving customers time to better understand their actual data usage, and the flexibility to change their plan once within the first three months of a new mobile subscription.[12]

For the latest updates on service plans, please visit SmarTone Hong Kong's website.[13]

Data Roaming Services [14]

To suit the needs of business and leisure travellers, SmarTon offers different data roaming products:

  • Enjoy data roaming with a fixed daily rate in over 150 destinations with the high-speed Roaming Data Day Plan - for SmarTone customers only
  • Enjoy all the benefits of traditional WiFi egg without any of its hassles with the value-for-money Virtual WiFi Egg - for SmarTone customers only
  • Enjoy data roaming in multiple popular destinations with a fixed fee with Prepaid Travel Data Cards - for both SmarTone and non-SmarTone customers

Exclusive services

SmarTone’s exclusive services include: Call Guard, Add-on Numbers, HealthReach, loop and Spend it. These services can be used on smartphones and tablets of the iOS, Android and Windows Phone platforms.[15]

SmarTone also offers support to customers such as powerbank free rental, free phone content transfer service, SmarTone Screen Replace™ and mobile devices repair service.[16]

Membership Programme

SmarTone has a membership programme named PriorityPlus™ for its elite customers. Membership is valid for 12 months. The company invites eligible customers to become a member of PriorityPlus™, or renews their membership, based on their cumulative eligible spend within the past rolling 12 months has met the qualifying spending level of the PriorityPlus™ membership tier.[17]

Online Store

In February 2016, SmarTone launched its online store at shop.smartone.com, bringing consumers smartphones and accessories from brands internationally, as well as prepaid travel data card and stored-value SIMs for use in Hong Kong.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Appointment of Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Cessation to act as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Change of Authorised Representative and Process Agent" (PDF). SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  2. ^ "2015/2016 Interim Results Announcement" (PDF). SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  3. ^ "irasia.com - SmarTone Telecommunications Holdings Limited". irasia.com.
  4. ^ Sun Hung Kai Properties Annual Report 2014/15 P.201
  5. ^ SmarTone> Contact Us> Store Locations 2016-07-26
  6. ^ Chinese media report: 數碼通統一品牌結束Extra下月合併十二門市 客戶可轉用雙頻網
  7. ^ [1]
  8. ^ SmarTone> >About Us > Our Company > Milestones 2016-07-26
  9. ^ SmarTone deploying 4G at two new HK rail lines 2016-10-24
  10. ^ SmarTone > About Us> Awards
  11. ^ SmarTone> Consumer > Mobiles & Service Plans > Service Plans 2016-07-26
  12. ^ SmarTone asks, when was the last time you smiled? 2016-07-04
  13. ^ SmarTone> Consumer > Mobiles & Service Plans > Service Plans 2016-07-26
  14. ^ SmarTone> Consumer > Mobiles & Service Plans > Roaming & IDD > Travelling Abroad 2016-08-17
  15. ^ SmarTone > Apps & Services> 7-Star Apps & Services
  16. ^ SmarTone> Consumer > Privileges and Support > Support 2016-07-26
  17. ^ SmarTone> Consumer > Privileges and Support > PriorityPlus 2016-07-26
  18. ^ SmarTone> shop.smartone.com
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