fredizzle: My Negro Amigo Bites Back #2

Good news for mobile phones users. IDA (Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore) finally gave the green light for portable phone numbers. What this essentially means is that mobile subscribers will no longer be slaves to mobile phone companies - Singtel, Starhub and M1. Before this rule was enforced, mobile users could not retain their mobile numbers if they switched providers, the only thing these companies were willing to do was forward calls from the old number to the new one. So comsumers were reluctant to switch providers because retaining their mobile numbers was critical for them. BUT now, these companies are forced to provide more flexibility to the comsumers.

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" It is a change phone users will welcome, and one which all three service providers - Singtel, M1 and Starhub - resisted "

- [ The Straits Times, 3 August 2006, Page 1]

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My Negro Amigo says, of course they would have resisted, all they desire is to use the consumer's achilles heel to keep them in their pockets, so no matter what they do - like creating ridiculous charges like caller ID or increasing monthly subsciption fees - the consumer would have no choice but to give in, all for the sake of avoiding the hassle to re-inform their family, friends and business associates of their new mobile number. You think My Negro Amigo is paranoid?

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" It removes a key barrier for customers who may be tempted to switch to a different telco, but do not because of the hassle of getting a new number "

- [ The Straits Times, 3 August 2006, Page 1]

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So now the tables have turned and these companies have to work extra hard to retain their customers. How's that for justice? Now those jerks will have to stop acting like dictators and stop abusing their position as the only 3 telco companies in Singapore. Who do we have to thank for that? Lets give a round of applause for IDA's chief executive for Competition and Enabling Infrastructure Development - Leong Keng Thai. Lets end this column by looking at how these 3 telco companies are whining about their new predicament (they call it challenges). How do they respond?

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" The three local telcos said the new system offered benefits of convenience for customers and added they would "work closely" with all parties "

- [ The Straits Times, 3 August 2006, Page 1]

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By stating the obvious. Peace out homey.