Update (09122010 1514hrs): TM issues an official statement on the outage. Work to restore service is still underway.

TM confirms via its official Twitter account that some 2,000 UniFi subscribers are affected by a network outage. Though TM didn’t immediately indicate what is the cause of the outage which UniFi areas are affected by it. The tweet only mentioned that restoration works are underway and that further update will be coming.

We’re awaiting updates from TM on details of this outage. Stay tuned.

	Players on the Field, TM, UniFi
	outage, TM, Unifi, UniFi outage

UPDATE (110717) : Broadband Pricing Comparison in Malaysia updated for 2011! Check out the latest update here.

UPDATE (101130 2100) : Broadband Pricing Comparison in Malaysia updated with Maxis iPad Plans.

UPDATE (101120 1230) : Broadband Pricing Comparison in Malaysia now with Yes data pricing including rebates.

Recently after the appearance of yes 4G rates, everybody gets cost conscious all of a sudden about Broadband pricing. Some had quickly mentioned that yes 9 sen/3MB ain’t cheap with some pointing out that it costs RM900 for their average 30GB of download usage.

Since cost per GB is a hot topic now, we figured why don’t we compare all broadband offerings in Malaysia and find out how much they cost per GB. Below is our findings ranking from the cheapest to the most expensive.

Cost per GB

NOTE: So far we only considered plans either postpaid or prepaid that offer monthly access. Also added are the standard PAYU (Pay as you go) rates which includes yes and Tune Talk. There are different policies and terms for each plans with some only calculating download quota while others include uploads. There are also other factors to consider such as download speeds and excess charge if you exceed Fair Usage Policy. Streamyx ADSL was excluded due to the fact that they offer “unlimited access” with unspecified quota on a best effort basis.

We do admit that it is unfair to compare cost per GB across the board as there’s an obvious differentiator when it comes to application. In general, obviously fixed broadband is cheaper per GB but it compromises on mobility which often comes at a higher cost. To make it clearer, we have segregate the broadband offerings into 3 categories: Fixed Broadband, Mobile Broadband (Pure Data) and Mobile Internet (Add-on for Phone). Check out the other 3 tables in detail after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

	Celcom, DiGi, Industry in General, Maxis, P1, Players on the Field, Streamyx, TM, TuneTalk, U Mobile, UniFi, Yes
	Broadband Comparison, Broadband Price, Celcom, Celcom Broadband, Comparison, Malaysia, Malaysia Broadband, Malaysia Broadband Comparison, Malaysia Broadband Price, Malaysia Broadband Rates, Malaysia cost per GB, Malaysia Internet Rates, Maxis, Maxis Broadband, mobile broadband, P1 4G, P1 WiMAX, streamyx, TM, Tune Talk, U Mobile, U Mobile Broadband, Unifi, yes 4g

UniFi subscribers have more content to watch on HyppTV. They have added 6 new premium channels including MUTV and SyFy Universal. Other channels include Universal Channel, Baby First, iConcerts and Screen Red.

In addition to that, UniFi subscribers can still watch premium HyppTV channels free for an extended period until 31st October 2010 this month. After this, normal charges will apply.

[ SOURCE ]

	Players on the Field, TM
	HyppTV, HyppTV Channels, HyppTV Content, IPTV, TM HSBB, Unifi, UniFi IPTV

TM has announced that they are waiving the installation fee for VIP20 and BIZ20 plans that offers 20Mbps. This comes right after they announced that they will be charging RM200 fee for UniFi installations beginning next month.

Since VIP20 and BIZ20 plans are quite premium at RM249/month for home and RM899/month for 20Mbps, this is the least they can do to drive adoption. As mentioned before, RM200 for installation fee isn’t that bad considering the free 802.11n router and IPTV set up box with each installation. This offer last until 31st December 2010.

	Players on the Field, TM, UniFi
	TM, TM HSBB, TM Unifi, TM Unifi installation, Unifi

TM announced today that come 1 October 2010 TM will begin charging for UniFi installations.

From 1 October onwards TM will charge RM200 per installation for any UniFi package however the equiptment that comes with the UniFi package — the fiber modem, wireless router, IPTV set-top box, DECT cordless phone and additional outdoor terminals — will still be provided for free.

TM’s executive VP for consumer products, Imri Mokthar said in the announcement that although there will be an installation charge, those who has registered for UniFi before the changeover date will not have to pay for installation.

We think RM200 is a fair charge considering the amount of work required at the various equipment that you get for free. The fibre-optic cable that is laid in your house alone will cost more than RM200. So it’s a decent charge. What’s more the RM200 installation charge will be spread across five months at RM40/month, so you don’t actually feel the pinch right away and that’s ok too.

What we don’t like is how TM makes is sound that you’re actually getting an additional RM200 off if you sign-up for UniFi from now until 30 September. Technically you’re not, TM’s just going to start charging for installation after 30 September.

It’s really confusing for customers and very underhanded for TM. Shame on you TM for using such a tactic.

If you’re not up for paying the RM200, then sign-up ASAP. Though what is not being mentioned is what happens if an interested customer wants to sign-up for UniFi but stays in an area that is not yet covered.

Does the customer get to sign-up and have the RM200 installation charge waived when the UniFi service eventually becomes available in their area or will they have to wait for the service to be available and then sign-up?

On a side-note, there’s currently 9,000 UniFi subscribers and another 12,000 who have already signed-up waiting for the service to be installed. In July 2010, there was about 3,200 UniFi subscribers. No bad in a span of just a month.

You can read the full TM announcement after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

	Players on the Field, TM, UniFi
	FTTH, FTTH Malaysia, HSBB, HSBB Malaysia, TM, TM to charge for UniFi installation, Unifi, UniFi installation charge, Unifi Pricing

This video first made its online appearance in May and we have to admit, this is the first time we’re seeing this. It starts off showing an irate customer giving a TM Point front-liner a hell of a mouthing about, from what we can gather, is a problematic Internet connection.

Then the, we can only assume, branch manager steps in trying to find an amicable solution to the problem but the customer is having none of it and walks out. The branch manager look distraught and sets in motion a bee-hive a activity from the TM workforce to solve the customer’s problem. How the video ends, you have to watch it for yourself.

We guess the video-mercial was made with good intentions but it begs the question, why let it get to that point to begin with? We’re pretty sure if the antagonist in the video was a real customer he would’ve called TM customer service numerous times to get his Internet fixed. It’s not in the psychology of a customer to just barge into a shop and make noise without first being completely frustrated with the service being rendered.

Read the rest of this entry »

	Players on the Field, Streamyx, TM
	streamyx, Streamyx customer service, Streamyx customer service video, TM, TM custoemr service, TM customer service video

Both the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said that social media savvy employees need to be careful what they put online about their employers or risk disciplinary action even dismissal for their words.

There is one caveat however and that is what’s mentioned must be “backed by facts and figures“.

Looks like this rule doesn’t apply to Parliament members when it comes to presenting arguments in the Dewan Rakyat.

In a recent Parliement session, Bandar Kuching Member of Parliament Chong Chieng Jen argued that TM favours UniFi customers of Streamyx. The MP claims that Streamyx subscribers are getting slower speeds after UniFi was launched citing that TM is giving priority to its fiber optic service subscribers.

What logic possessed him to think that his beyond us. According to the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, Dato’ Joseph Salang, there are over 1.4 million Streamyx subscribers and about 6,000 UniFi subscribers’ and if you have any common sense you’d know that favouring 6,000 over 1.4 million doesn’t make much sense for TM.

What a douchebag.

Check out the Parliament session video after the jump.

[via]

Read the rest of this entry »

	Industry in General, Players on the Field, Streamyx, TM
	Bandar Kuching MP, Chong Chieng Jen, DAP, Dewan Rakyat, Joseph Salang, KPKK, Malaysian Parliament, streamyx, Streamyx Slow, Streamyx speed, TM, Unifi, UniFi speed

Streamyx, the self-proclaimed #1 broadband provider in Malaysia, can really inspire the best out of Malaysians – the best irate customers that is.

We recently discovered this parody Twitter account taking pot shots at Streamyx and find the musings of its mysterious writer very funny. So much so that it’s worth a mention for you to have a look.

Lacking any social media presence whatsoever, we’re not going to expect Streamyx to respond to this or to the many other anti-fan Streamyx sites online. Streamyx is the only major broadband provider that doesn’t have any official social media presence, even newcomers like P1 have official representation in Facebook and Twitter.

They are quite a number of people out there who hate Streamyx with a passion capable of rivaling South American football fans. All you need to do it google “streamyx sucks” and you’ll see what we mean.

So where do you stand? Are you a Streamyx lover or hater? Hit us up with your comments!

	Players on the Field, Streamyx, TM
	parody, parody Twitter account, streamyx, streamyx parody, streamyx sucks, TM, Twitter

TM has put up an announcement on its website to tell subscribers that there has been a disruption of its Internet services due to circuit faults on the Asian American Gateway (AAG) submarine cable network at Lantau in China and at the domestic international link at Genting Sempah, Pahang, linking Malaysia to the United States (US) and Hong Kong.

If you’re keeping count, the last time TM put out an announcement about some cable fault in some sea somehere was about a month ago.

So TM subscribers can expect slow browsing while accessing content hosted in the U.S. and Hong Kong. That means, people using TM internet services, you’re screwed

Though, TM did say that they have rerouted some link to alternate routes to improve connectivity.

TM says that they’re working on a fix but as usual, they didn’t set a timeline on when it will be completed, so for all you know, it might take forever.

If you’re on Streamyx or UniFi, can you tell us how bad your service is affected or if you haven’t noticed any problems at all.

	Players on the Field, Streamyx, TM
	streamyx, streamyx announcement, streamyx service down, streamyx service interuption, Streamyx Slow, TM

TM has just issued a release saying that it will expand availability areas for UniFi to include Penang, Johor and more areas in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor from July 1

Specifically, TM will extend UniFi to Kulim Hi-Tech Park (Kedah), Bayan Baru (Penang), Senai and Permas (Johor) industrial areas and residential areas in Wangsa Maju, Sungai Buloh, Melawati, Kepong, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya and Damansara.

Currently, the UniFi FTTH service is only available in four urban areas within Klang Valley – Shah Alam, Subang Jaya, Bangsar, and Taman Tun Dr. Ismail.

TM claims that UniFi can now serve over 375,000 premises in its coverage areas with over 3,200 customers currently using the service. By the numbers, it looks like UniFi’s uptake is worryingly slow considering that the service has been available since March. With just 3,200 subscribers, you’re looking at just over 1,000 subscribers a month, less than 40 subscribers a day.

With over 375,000 premises within the service’s availability areas, the total number of subscribers on UniFi is less than 1% of that number.

We’re not sure what’s going on here. Is it that Malaysian’s don’t want or need high-speed broadband or that TM’s not promoting the service enough.

We suspect it’s a bit of both further compounded by security risk UniFi customers are exposed to when using the service.

More alarming, TM has spent a whooping RM2.3 billion on UniFi to date. If you do the math, with just 3,200 subscribers using the service right now, that equates to a cost of about RM7.2 million per subscriber.

Fast internet is definitely not cheap people.

[press release]

	Players on the Field, TM
	areass with UniFi, Malaysia UniFi, TM Fibre to the home, TM High Speed Broadband, TM HSBB, TM Unifi