AIS inches away from SMS focus

Bangkok Post | February 23, 2011 | Suchit Leesa-nguansuk
With mobile operators moving more toward social networking and chat services, market leader Advanced Info Service (AIS) is introducing new packages aimed at cashing in on this growing demand.
Somchai Lertsutiwong, the executive vice-president for marketing, said the number of social network and chat users in Thailand was 5 million out of a total 68 million mobile users.
Potential social networking users are estimated to number 20 million.
To capitalise on this growing demand, AIS is introducing a series of “Chat’n Share” packages. Using a chat SIM card, customers can access unlimited chat services for 17 baht a week for MSN users, 29 baht for Nokia users and 79 baht for BlackBerry users.
AIS has also developed an AIS Instant Messenger application to support devices using Google’s Android, Nokia’s Symbian, Apple’s iPhone, Microsoft’s Windows, BlackBerry and Java systems. The charge is 49 baht a month for unlimited use.
Anake Anantwatanapong, the assistant vice-president for prepaid management, said AIS is spending 60 million baht to promote the new campaign, targeting users aged 16-19.
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