(Ref no. PR-HM-2003-003)

 

Launches New Service

Allowing Customers to Personalise Connecting Tone

 

26 January 2003, Hong Kong - , the mobile multimedia service of SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited, today launched the new service - connecting tone service, enabling its customers to personalise the connecting tone that they want callers to hear before they answer the calls.

 

SmarTone customers can now replace the standard network call connecting tone with a wide selection of personalised voice greetings and melodies, which will continuously be updated and expanded.

 

"This new service enables a customer to express his individuality, character, humour, taste, or even mood, or a combination of these elements.  Thus, the over-riding proposition of this new service is to allow the customer to project a desirable image to callers or impress them, with some sense of fun, through personalisation of connecting tones," said Douglas Li, Chief Executive Officer of SmarTone.  "We will continue to explore and develop new services with the ultimate goal of helping our customers get closer to the people, the information and the entertainment that are important to them."

 

SmarTone customers can go to any SmarTone shop or call the 24-hour SmartLine (2880 2688) to subscribe the new service.  Upon service activation, customers can preview a list of connecting tone easily and conveniently via which provides very user-friendly navigation, before making their own selection.  Alternatively, customers can listen to the connecting tones one by one by simply keying in #0199 SEND and select the connecting tone during the play back.

 

While the new service is applicable to all mobile phones, customers using Sharp GX-12 mobile phone will be able to enjoy the best user experience via because of the mobile phone's xHTML browser.

 

The monthly subscription of the personalised connecting tone service is just HK$15.  One connecting tone will be available for free upon new subscription, after which the charge for each new connecting tone is HK$5. 

 

For details, please call the 24-hour SmartLine (2880 2688), visit any SmarTone shop or the SmarTone website.

 

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About SmarTone

 

Established in 1992, SmarTone is a leading provider of mobile communications services in Hong Kong. It is a customer-oriented Company and aims to bring its customers closer to the people, the information and the entertainment that is important to them and, through this, to generate greater shareholders’ value.

 

With our strong technological heritage and deep commitment to quality service, we intend to bring our customers into the new world of 2.5G/3G mobile infotainment and media. With a clear focus on customer needs, we have marketed numerous compelling services which deliver substantial benefits to our customers — recent branded offerings include , , , , and .

 

Our commitment to quality service is well recognised in Hong Kong, validated by recent retail and service industry awards.

 

 

Hong Kong Retail Management Association’s Annual Service and Courtesy Awards

 

 

Best Team Award         

2001 & 2002

 

Supervisory Level Award

2001

 

Junior Frontline Level Award

2002

 

 

Hong Kong Retail Management Association’s Mystery Shoppers Programme

 

 

Service Category Leader

2001

 

Service Retailer of the Year

2002

 

 

Hong Kong Management Association’s Distinguished Salesperson Award

 

 

All five SmarTone-nominated staff members

2002

 

 

Hong Kong Retail Management Association’s Mystery Shoppers Programme

 

 

Call Centre Team Leader - Silver & Bronze

2002

 

Call Centre Professional - Bronze

2002

 

 

We were the first operator to launch GSM mobile services in Asia in 1993 and the first in Hong Kong to introduce automatic international roaming. We were the first in the world to implement Enhanced Full Rate technology in our network in 1997, greatly improving voice quality for our customers. We were the first in Hong Kong to pilot launch GPRS in 1999.

 

SmarTone (SEHK: 0315) has been publicly listed in Hong Kong since 1996. The Company’s major shareholder is Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (50.97%).

 

 

 

 

 

- END -

 

Issued by SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited. For further information, please contact:
Ms Desiree Chan                                                       

Corporate Communications                          

SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited             
Tel:  (852) 3128 2250                                                 

Fax: (852) 3128 2460                                                 
Email: desiree_chan@hksmartone.com