TM eyes 1,000 subscribers a month with Panasonic tie-up

Source From (Business Times): http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/tmpana/Article/index_html

Published: on 04 May 2012
By Kamarul Yunus

KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) is targeting at least 1,000 subscribers a month for its office-in-a-box (OIAB) and Unifi services beginning next month, following the its tie-up with Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

TM and Panasonic Malaysia yesterday signed a collaborative arrangement agreement to empower local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through various joint initiatives.

TM executive vice president for SME Azizi A Hadi said since the group launched the OIAB and Unifi in 2010, some 80,000 and 44,000 subscribers have signed up for the respective services.

"We foresee that there would be an incremental number of subscribers for both OIAB and Unifi. We are looking at an additional 1,000 subscribers per month beginning June until the end of this year," he told reporters after the agreement signing ceremony.
Unifi is a broadband service using TM's high speed broadband network, while OIAB is a combination of broadband and voice network.

Azizi said under the collaborative deal, TM and Panasonic will team up in various initiatives to enhance SMEs' business operations by offering information, communications and technology solutions and devices.

"The initiatives include an SME office solution product bundling that combines TM services and Panasonic devices; leveraging on both TM's and Panasonic Malaysia's sales channels to push products and services into the market; joint participation in events and marketing activities; and collaboration in loyalty programmes," he said.

He hopes the partnership with Panasonic Malaysia will strengthen TM's go-to-market approach, particularly in reaching out to the SME segment.

Both parties are already exploring several joint ventures, which include bundling TM's attractive broadband packages with the latest Panasonic devices as well as providing SMEs with more convenience to subscribe to TM's solutions such as OIAB and Unifi BIZ.

"TM will be leveraging on 50 Panashop outlets in Klang Valley in the first phase, followed by 450 Panashop outlets nationwide in the next phase as additional contact points for SMEs," Azizi said, adding that SME is one of the major segments for TM, contributing at least 20 per cent of the company's revenue.

Panasonic Malaysia managing director Jeff Lee said the collaboration is aimed at strengthening the brand awareness for both companies.

There will be a cross-selling, where Panashop outlets will be a new distribution channel for TM products such as broadband and fixed telephone line, and Panasonic will showcase its range of communication products including digital enhanced cordless telecommunications phones at all TMpoint centres.

On another matter, Lee did not dismiss the possibility of Panasonic selling its smartphones in the Malaysian market.

"The smartphone that will be manufactured in Johor is initially dedicated for the European markets and not for the local market. But we may sell it in the Malaysian market after it makes to the European markets from next year," he said, adding that Panasonic Malaysia is just the marketer for Panasonic group and not the manufacturer.