THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THE HUTCHISON WHAMPOA GROUP SPHERE 10
STREET SMART SPHERE CONTENTS Number 10 December 2003
2 12 UPDATES NETWORKING NEWSBITES TALK TANK Dispatches from the HWL press box. Hutchison helped set the agenda at ITU Telecom World 2003.
16 COVER STORY STREET SMART The A.S. Watson Group has embarked on a major expansion drive into Europe. 9 COMMUNITY ALL TOGETHER HWL volunteers show that great things can come from small beginnings. 28 TELECOMS A WARM RECEPTION Since its launch five years ago, Partner has dialled all the right numbers. Cover: Illustration by Miranda Yiu
P UBLISHED BY Hutchison Whampoa Limited, 22/F Hutchison House, 10 Harcourt Road, Central, Hong Kong. Website: hutchison-whampoa.com. In-house Editorial Team: Laura Cheung, Nora Yong,Jeremy Lau, Pamela Wan. Editor: Mark Caldwell – Great Pacific Marketing Services Ltd. Design and production: Fiona Wat,Alvin Fong,Tanny Shek, Kelly Cheung – , a division of the Asia City Publishing Group.Tel:2850 5500. Fax 2543 1220. Colour Separation and Printing by bigboXX.com Limited. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Hutchison Whampoa Limited.All rights reserved. Copyright © 2003 by Hutchison Whampoa Limited.Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Hutchison Whampoa Limited.All currency conversions are approximations. HUTCHISON UPDATES News
CORPORATE Roll of Honour £2m Donation Reflecting the Group’s ranking as one of the advisors, headed by Edith Shih. Based in Hong Stokes UK world’s leading companies, Hutchison Kong but working globally, the Group’s legal Scholarships Scheme Whampoa Limited (HWL) has again team undertakes a range of complex M&A, notched up an impressive haul of regional and financing, IP/IT and regulatory work. HWL Chairman Li Ka-shing has pledged to international titles and awards during the past Asia Risk magazine (Oct. issue) named donate through HWL a total of £2 million six months. Hutchison’s Group Treasurer K.S. Chan over three years to support Mainland and Hong The company was rated for its size and “Corporate Risk Manager of the Year,” Kong scholars in their doctoral studies in the performance in a variety of categories an accolade widely seen as a positive vote UK.The sum will be matched by the UK through surveys conducted by leading of recognition of the Government under its Dorothy Hodgkin financial magazines. company’s prudent risk Postgraduate Awards scheme. The annual “BusinessWeek Global 1000” (July management strategy. The Hutchison scholarships will support up to 14 issue) ranked HWL No.140 globally and HWL featured prominently 53 students and form a major part of a new No.1 in Hong Kong. in a long list of rankings in scheme, announced by British PM Tony Blair Forbes magazine (July 21) rated HWL No.127 the Chinese magazine Yazhou on Nov. 17, to bring outstanding overseas overall in the “The Global 500.” Zhoukan (Oct. 12). It ranked PhD students to top UK universities. Euromoney (Sept. issue) named the Group No.1 No.1 in the category “Top Mr Blair applauded HWL for recognising for “Best Corporate Governance: 500 Chinese Companies in the World”; No.1 the importance of scientific knowledge and Hong Kong & China” and “Top 20 Companies in HK”;No.1 “Top 10 highly skilled people. No.5 for “Best Corporate Chinese Companies in HK” and; No.1 “Top Starting in 2004, students will study science, Governance: Emerging Markets.” 20 EBIT Chinese Companies.” engineering, medicine, social sciences and “The Asset Annual Benchmark Global Finance (Nov. issue) ranked HWL “Best technology. Survey” (Sept. issue) named Company in Asia — Conglomerates.” Mr Li’s donation is the latest move to support HWL No.1 in the category “Best The Banker magazine, the monthly finance title Mainland and Hong Kong scholars to study Credits in Asia — Weighted by of the Financial Times, named Hutchison in the UK. Assets” and No.1 “Best Credits in “Hong Kong Company of the Year, 2003” in In October 2002, the Group donated £2.02 Hong Kong — Weighted by Assets.” its inaugural awards, citing the Group’s million to expand the British Chevening IFR Asia (Sept. 20) rated HWL No.1 in investment quality, fiscal results, Scholarships scheme to include 63 extra the “Top 50 Asian Issuers” category for corporate governance and postgraduate scholarships each year over a four- the period 31/8/02 – 31/8/03. creditworthiness. year period. Asian Legal Business (Sept. 25) selected Finally, HWL was highly HWL as winner of the “In-House commended for “Best Crisis HUTCHISON WHAMPOA LIMITED Team of the Year”award, a tribute to Management” at the IR Magazine Hutchison Whampoa Limited the Group’s dynamic team of legal Asia Awards 2003. (HWL), one of the largest companies listed on the main The Right Medicine board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, is the holding company of the Hutchison China Beijing Tongrentang (Group) Co. Ltd. (Tongrentang) and Hutchison Chinese Whampoa Group of companies.As one of the Medicine Investment Ltd. (HCMIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa earliest big “hongs”, or trading companies, (China) Ltd., on Dec. 12 signed a contract to form a joint venture in Beijing to develop and in Hong Kong, Hutchison’s history dates back invest in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) business. to the 1800s. Today, HWL is a multi-national The JV company, to be named Beijing Tongrentang Hutchison Pharmaceutical conglomerate with businesses spanning 39 Investment Co. Ltd., will engage in TCM investment and health-related projects and countries. With around 167,000 employees enterprises.Total investment of the JV company will be approximately US$239 million, with worldwide, Hutchison operates and invests Tongrentang and HCMIL each taking a 49% shareholding.The remaining 2% will be taken up in five core businesses: ports and related by a third-party enterprise to be named by Tongrentang. services; telecommunications; property and hotels; retail and manufacturing; and energy HWL Sets Bond Financing Record and infrastructure. Its flagship companies include Hutchison Port In its sixth visit to the market in 2003, Hutchison completed the largest-ever corporate Holdings, Hutchison Telecom, Hutchison bond financing in Asia ex Japan on Nov. 20 with a US$5 billion three-tranche issue via Whampoa Properties, A. S. Watson, and Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Merrill Lynch as main book runners. Cheung Kong Infrastructure. Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley served as separate joint book runners In 2002, HWL’s consolidated revenue was in the three different tranches. HK$111,129 million (US$14,247million).
SPHERE 2 bites
PROPERTY & HOTELS Reaching for the Stars Just two weeks after his historic trip into orbit six-day visit to the territory. By all on Oct. 15, China’s space hero, astronaut accounts Colonel Yang was “over the Colonel Yang Liwei, and a delegation of moon” about the service and Chinese space experts chose Harbour Plaza accommodation. Hong Kong as their base while on a flying General Manager Jonathan Wilson presented Colonel Yang with a 2.5kg hand-made chocolate named “Shenzhou V”after the spacecraft.The delicacy was specially designed by the hotel’s award-winning pastry chef live piano Roger Luk. performance and panoramic Earlier, on Oct. 24-26, 20 contestants of the views of Victoria Harbour adding to the first Ms Shanghai Beauty Pageant visited evening’s ambience. Hong Kong – and where better for them Meanwhile, the 2003 Miss Chinese to stay than at the elegant Harbour Plaza Universe Pageant, organised by Phoenix Hong Kong? Satellite Television, was held at The Patio at A welcome cocktail party was held at the Harbour Plaza Metropolis with more than 4,000-sq.-ft. luxury Presidential Suite, with a 50 entrants participating.
E-COMMERCE
TOM Reports JV Fuels China Growth applause Q3 Profit The TOM Group has set up its first Sino- foreign JV with state-owned Hong Kong Internet portal ESDlife has The TOM Group reported its second publisher Sanlian.TOM has consecutive quarter of profit attributable to a 49% stake in the venture, won four awards for its achievements shareholders in the third quarter. Net profit rose called Beijing Sanlian in e-government, e-commerce, and social 81% to HK$18.5 million (approximately Shiji Wenhua Chuanbo. responsibility. US$2.3 million) quarter on quarter while It will be involved in the print On the international scene, the website EBITDA rose 25% from Q2 to HK$82 million. media business, including advertising sales and came out on top in Asia's “e-government” Revenue for the nine months ended Sept. 30, distribution of Sanlian’s four magazines, which category of the United Nations’“World 2003 amounted to HK$1.3 billion, 17% up on have a combined circulation of 3.8 million. Summit Award (WSA) 2003” organised the corresponding period in 2002. Operating TOM will invest 24.5 million yuan by the UN World Summit on the profit was HK$26 million compared to an (approximately US$3 million) with Salian Information Society. operating loss of HK$75 million for the same contributing 15.5 million yuan in cash and ESDlife also won the award for “Best period in 2002. 10 million yuan in assets. e-Commerce Company” in the fourth annual “Outstanding Information Technology and Financial Enterprise Anyone for Tennis? Awards” organised by Capital Magazine to recognise outstanding performance and TOM has formed a JV with popular achievement of Hong Kong enterprises. newspaper Beijing Youth Daily to market For the second year running, ESDlife was and promote the China Open, to be held named “Caring Company 2003/04” by the in Beijing in September 2004.Through its Hong Kong Council of Social Service sports marketing subsidiary Media Serv, in recognition of its efforts in caring for TOM has secured the rights from the the community and commitment to Association of Tennis Professionals corporate citizenship. (ATP) to organise the first-ever ATP tennis Finally, ESDlife received a “Distinguished tournament in Beijing.The JV, China Open PRICELESS: Miss Hong Kong (above left) visited the Employers” award from the Hong Kong Sports Marketing Co. Ltd., will combine Priceline booth during the opening ceremony at New Employment Development Service in To wn Plaza of the “E-Commerce Adoption Campaign the strong local advertising and client Roadshows — e-Commerce in Real Life” led by the recognition of its support in providing network strength of Beijing Youth Daily with Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and employment opportunities to the vulnerable. the sports marketing expertise of TOM. funded by the government.
SPHERE 3 HUTCHISON UPDATES Newsbites
ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE Husky Reports 40% YOY Earnings Rise Husky Energy Inc. reported third quarter Production averaged 300,200 barrels of oil net earnings of C$243 million (approximately equivalent (boe) per day, compared with US$144 million) and C$1.1 billion for the 305,100 boe per day in Q3 2002, a decrease first nine months of 2003. of 2%, mainly due to divestitures, turnarounds Net earnings rose 40% year on year or C$0.54 at producing facilities and natural reservoir per share (diluted) in Q3 compared with declines. C$173 million or C$0.38 per share (diluted) Husky’s net earnings for the first nine months in Q3 2002. of 2003 were C$1.1 billion or C$2.60 per Cash flow from operations in Q3 was C$604 share (diluted) compared with C$562 million As at Sept. 30, million or C$1.42 per share (diluted), up from or C$1.31 per share (diluted) in the first nine 2003, net debt stood at C$590 million or C$1.39 per share (diluted) months of 2002, an increase of 91%. Husky’s C$1.2 billion, down 40% from in the comparable period the year before. debt meanwhile decreased by C$834 million. C$2.1 billion on Dec. 31, 2002. FPSO is Ready to Set Sail Acquisition Lifts Capacity China Sea Exploration The Sea Rose, Husky Energy’s Floating Husky Energy has acquired all of the Husky Energy has signed a petroleum Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) issued and outstanding shares of Marathon contract with China National Offshore Oil facility, was launched in Korea in July. Canada Ltd. and the Western Canadian Corp. (CNOOC) for the 04/35 exploration Preparations continue for its deployment at assets of Marathon International block in the East China Sea. the White Rose oil field in St. John's, Petroleum Canada for a total purchase The block is located 350km east of Shanghai. Newfoundland and Labrador, scheduled to price of US$588 million. Production from This is the first exploration contract signed by begin production in 2005/06.The vessel Marathon Canada is approximately 27,000 Husky with CNOOC in the region and is will sail from Korea to Newfoundland in gross barrels of oil equivalent per day Husky’s sixth offshore contract with January 2004 where the topside production (boe/d).The effective date of the transaction CNOOC. Husky currently holds four facilities will be installed before deployment was Oct. 1, 2003. exploration blocks comprising more than to the field. In a separate transaction, Husky agreed 15,000 sq. km in the South to sell certain of the Marathon Canada oil China Sea and has a and gas properties with gross production 40% interest, in of approximately 7,500 boe/d to a third partnership with party for US$320 million.The acquisition CNOOC, in the will add approximately 19,500 boe/d to Wenchang 13-1/2 Husky’s production. offshore oil fields.
RETAIL & MANUFACTURING Hands Free Tree-mendous Hutchison is applause The “Watsons Water introducing an accessory Tree” (right) turned to the UK market that heads at the Lifestyle allows mobile-phone Two ASW store managers have won the Asia Design Fair 2003 users to make and receive mobile calls without Hong Kong Retail Management held in December. the need to hold their handsets and without Association “2003 Service & Courtesy The exhibit, created troublesome wire attachments.The Bluetooth Award.” They are Clement Yip Ming- from 800 Watsons Clip Headset, manufactured by i.Tech chi of Fanling PARKnSHOP and Water bottles, marked Dynamic,a division of Hutchison Harbour Jennifer Tse of Hing Wai Building the completion of the Ring (HHR), deploys Bluetooth wireless Watson’s Wine Cellar. Other winners company’s centennial technology that enables electronic devices included Watsons Health and Fitness campaign – “Year of to communicate with each other.Thus, when Hong Kong Creativity.” Advisor Wing Tsui in the category the phone rings it can be conveniently left in a pocket or handbag while providing a perfect “Supermarkets / Convenience Stores signal to a light and compact “earphone”. Frontline Level,” and Assistant Store The launch leverages on upcoming legislation Manager Susan Wan of Nuance- on the use of mobile phones when driving. Watson in the “Department Store The product will also be introduced in Supervisory Level” category. other markets.
SPHERE 4 PORTS Felixstowe Expands First Call Smart Moves Port of Felixstowe has officially opened the On Oct. 16, the Cosco container vessel The first batch of “smart and secure” first phase of its Tr inity Terminal Lausanne became the first ship to berth at the containers entered YICT on Oct. 31, expansion, incorporating 6ha of back-up land Phase III Project at Yantian International marking the successful completion of behind the existing Trinity Terminal and Container Terminals (YICT) in China. testing at YICT of Smart and Secure increasing the port's storage capacity by 6,500 The “Next-Generation System” (nGen) Tradelanes (SST), an industry-driven supply TEU.A further section of storage area is terminal operation control system, jointly chain security initiative. developed by YICT and HIT,has been put expected to open early in 2004 and the quay Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) has on pilot at the new berth and will gradually will be fully operational by July 2004. been a proactive participant in developing In another development, Freightliner has replace the existing system. Phase III covers 90ha with total investment security measures for the marine transport launched a new service providing one of containers since the US Government inbound and one outbound train daily of HK$6.6 billion implemented the Container Security between Port of Felixstowe and (approximately Initiative (CSI). Daventry, with a further destination US$846 planned.There are now 22 inbound million) and and 21 outbound trains per day from includes four Port of Felixstowe’s North and South 100,000-ton- Rail terminals.The port also handles plus container applause two forestry-product trains per day at its berths. dedicated paper-handling rail terminal. The second berth and a container yard of Hongkong International Terminals 200,000 sq.m is set for completion by the end (HIT) won a “Productivity Award” and SCT Marks Milestone of 2003, with the whole project due for completion by the end of 2005. a “Certificate of Merit for Shanghai Container Terminals (SCT) YICT has meanwhile been recognised as one Environmental Performance” at the celebrated its 10th anniversary on Aug. 12. of the “Hundred Outstanding Overseas “2003 Hong Kong Awards for Industry,” Annual throughput has risen to over 3 million Chinese Enterprises in China.” The award coordinated by the Hong Kong TEU, three times the volume recorded in its was made in September at the People’s Great Productivity Council. first year of operations. Hall in Beijing.
TELECOMS Easy on the Eyes Location, Location Hot Services Hutchison Global Hutchison Essar has Hutchison HONG KONG INDIA THAILAND Communications launched two new CAT (HGC) has launched a useful new service location-based services. BuddyService lets Wireless MultiMedia (Hutch) called Vfone. Utilising broadband based subscribers know if their friends are in the launched three new services at “V2oIP” technology the system allows users to vicinity while Vehicle Tracking Solution keeps ICT Expo 2003 in Bangkok make unlimited video and voice calls between tabs on commercial vehicles. in August. HutchReal provides instant online multimedia Vfones for a flat rate of just HK$48 per month service, HutchPlay offers a variety of (approximately US$6.15). For HK$68, Library Contract downloadable games applications based on subscribers can make unlimited voice calls to HGC has won a contract Qualcomm’s BREW platform and HutchSay HONG KONG all Hong Kong fixed-line and mobile to deploy its MetroNET delivers crystal-clear voice, SMS and data networks as well as to overseas Vfone users. Gigabit Ethernet Wide Area Network (WAN) services. The Vfone plugs into a broadband Internet solution to extend the Hong Kong Public A key highlight of the new technologies connection and is compatible with TV Libraries’ Multimedia Information Systems featured was a demonstration of Location and 3G devices. It can also be (MMIS) from the Central Library to 26 Based Services (LBS), the first for the connected to digital camcorders and libraries across the territory. Thai market. Hutch also showcased the powerful data-handling capability of the other appliances so that calls can be Meanwhile, HGC is collaborating with Internet Thailand Public Co. Ltd. CDMA2000 1X service along with several recorded and archived.What’s (INET) and HiNet,Taiwan, to target new CDMA terminals. more, with the Auto-Answer market opportunities in IP-related In December, Hutch launched its M-sites feature, users can see what’s services. HGC has established business programme, designed to create a local going on when they are links in more than 10 overseas markets community of content developers supported away from home. in the past 12 months. by Hutch’s multi-media contents portal.
SPHERE 5 HUTCHISON UPDATES Newsbites
TELECOMS 3 Heralds Era of Video Mobile Communications in Hong Kong Hutchison has marked delivered automatically throughout the day, just “Together with our JV partner NTT HONG KONG the start of the 3G era like SMS.The services Mr Fok demonstrated DoCoMo,we are very pleased to announce in Hong Kong with the unveiling of its included news, business information, weather this important handset launch and, most 3 services. details and traffic updates. importantly, to know that we share NEC’s At a media event on Dec. 15, HWL Group The launch of the Hong Kong service full support for the future.” Managing Director Canning Fok hailed the is a vital link in 3’s global network. Using the NEC Corp. President Mr Akinobu Kanasugi move as a breakthrough for the world’s most sophisticated mobile telephony, said one million NEC 616s would telecommunications industry in Hong Kong be delivered by year end and another 1.5 which will enable people to easily gather and million by the end of Q1 2004. share information while on the move. Agnes Nardi, Managing Director of 3 Hong When 3 goes live, it will deliver to customers Kong, said:“We are fortunate we can an integrated information, communication leverage the resources of the global and entertainment service via its new Hutchison 3G Group to bring these new generation of mobile phones, which also services to market faster than our offer video calling and video messaging. competitors.These services have only just “What we are going to offer has not been it links the people of Hong Kong with become available in Europe and Australia seen here before, but it will become a part friends, relatives and business colleagues through our sister companies.” of your everyday life,” Mr Fok said. across the world. The NEC 616 video mobile phones will “3 will put Hong Kong at the forefront Customers will be able to make video calls be sold at HK$4,380 (approximately of mobile communications globally.” to Australia,Austria, Denmark, Italy, Japan, US$561) each in Hong Kong, or HK$3,980 He demonstrated person-to-person video Sweden and the UK, and the network for customers purchasing two or more units. calling by linking up with Kevin Russell, of such countries is expanding rapidly. Tar iffs are simple and flexible with three CEO of 3 Australia, in Sydney. Hutchison and NEC also launched the latest basic plans.The monthly charges vary from Mr Fok also showed off some of 3’s other NEC 616 video mobile phone. HK$263 to HK$533. features, including Home Watch,a remote “NEC is our supplier for both video mobile All tariff plans, which include video and surveillance service, and 3 Daily Express, which phones and the 3G infrastructure, and also voice minutes plus MMS and content, are allows customers to receive a host of a shareholder in our 3 Hong Kong designed to enable users to enjoy the entire information and entertainment services operations,” Mr Fok said. range of 3 services. New Videophones Enter the Market Numbers Gain The second generation offers the latest in multi-media entertainment Hutchison’s global 3 network of 3G video mobile with advanced messaging, on Dec. 15 reported it had phones hansdsets has video phone, Bluetooth a total of 660,000 subscribers in arrived, spearheaded by wireless technology, full Australia,Austria, Denmark, three new models that browsing and a large Italy, Sweden and the UK, up offer high-resolution display capable of from 520,000 announced on videocalls and supporting up to 64,000 Aug. 21, 2003. videomessages of colours. The subscriber numbers were: striking quality, along The NEC 616 (131g), 340,000 in Italy, 210,000 in the with a released in December, UK and a combined 110,000 basket features a slim, cutting in Australia,Austria, Sweden and Denmark. of powerful applications. edge style, and is loaded The Motorola A920 (212g), with video and audio launched in early Autumn, is streaming, Global Kicking In a tri-band Positioning Satellite H3G Ireland and IRELAND GSM/GPRS/UMTS technology for Vodafone Ireland have “communicator” with enhanced location jointly secured the FA Premier League integrated GPS, camera, services, Bluetooth mobile rights in a three-season deal starting audio/video player, video connectivity, with the 2004/05 season. Customers of 3 calling and full messaging memory card in Ireland will have access, via their mobiles, support. It is a particularly support, dual to all 380 FA Premier League matches and powerful business tool. display and related information. H3G UK already has The Motorola A835 (168g) camera light. mobile broadcasting rights for the League.
SPHERE 126 TELECOMS See with 3 Sign of the Times A new TV commercial H3G Austria launched AUSTRALIA AUSTRIA launched by H3G a special package called Australia in September taps into the visual 3Visuell in October that enables more than nature of video calling in a very emotional 15,000 deaf people and their sign language- way, illustrating the benefit of being able to see fluent relatives to communicate inexpensively rather than just hear.The commercial opens via a video mobile phone. on a father working in his office. He receives The campaign was developed after general The special price is 50% lower than for similar a video call from his daughter who is at public feedback on how useful 3 would be to 3 offerings and the price for SMS is also school.We quickly establish she is hearing- the deaf community. During the campaign, lower. 3Visuell is not just offered to the impaired. She uses sign language to 3 worked with the Royal Institute for Deaf deaf, but to relatives and friends as well. communicate with her father about what time and Blind Children to develop scripts and 3 also introduced an interactive sign he will pick her up from school. ensure sign language was easily understood language This simple communication is only possible over a 3 mobile. dictionary through video calling and it supports 3’s The clip has researched as one of 3’s most available free proposition of making an everyday moment recalled TV commercials with wide appeal on the better with 3. across all ages. Austrian 3Zone. Tua Good for Words Seniors Synergy H3G Italy launched Tua Italian weekly Venerdi di ITALY ITALY Fashion on the Move in September, the first Republica carried an article prepaid offer that includes free use in October that focused on seniors as To celebrate the October AUSTRIA of a video mobile phone. For a “one time a unexplored market for new technology, launch of its Fashion only” sign-up fee of E99, customers are given specifically 3G mobile video phones.The & Lifestyle channel, H3G Austria sponsored a videophone, which 3 will replace piece made reference to the TV campaign “A la Mode” — a fashion show in Vienna periodically with of 3’s Australian counterparts, in which featuring top international designers presenting a new a grandmother in Italy is able to see and speak the looks of their spring and summer model, cost to her family in Australia. collections 2004.As the models strutted the free. Continuing on the theme of the seniors catwalks, subscribers of 3 could Monthly market, H3G Italy is launching an enjoy the event via near-live tariff plans educational course for the elderly that teaches coverage to their handsets.They start at E30. them about the uses of the new technology. were also able to view background information and exclusive Customers were also offered a VideoChristmas interviews with the designers, who promotion in which the first minute of every included Anne Klein, Escada, Zegna, Videocall to any 3 number was free. Exte, GF Ferré, Just Cavalli,Versus The company meanwhile launched 3 for by Ver sace,Tommy Hilfiger and Business Open,a partnership programme Hugo Boss. in which 3 offers instruments and platforms to 3 also delivered pictures and the software houses who are invited to bring videos of the after-show parties. business applications into mobility. MTV on 3 In a move that will see Sanchez, will also be available. EUROPE Tantalising TV music fans dancing MTV will provide localised content in in the streets in Europe, 3 has signed a deal four categories. Daily News features ITALY 3’s “teaser”TV campaign featuring with MTV to distribute music videos showbiz news and gossip; What’s Hot beautiful celebrities Malika El Hazzazi, on its networks. includes reviews of live performances Luana Spagnolo and Alexandra Merino Customers can access music videos, live and videos; Best of MTV uses clips from was aired in Italy from Sept. 21, followed performance footage and music news MTV’s own programming and MTV by the release of three new commercials reports.Tailored clips from MTV’s own Live Lounge provides archived live on Sept. 28. programming, such as Jackass and Dirty performance footage.
SPHERE 127 HUTCHISON UPDATES Newsbites
TELECOMS E-mail, Banking and Dating on the Move 3 and Me Customers of 3 in Sweden news.The services are included SWEDEN have gained access to free in 3’s basic service package. several innovative services via their 3 video Customers can also receive Stockholm-based Robert Bauer is one of mobile phones. streamed video news presented a growing number of subscribers who is 3 announced in October that it had by Tidningarnas finding that life can be a lot simpler and developed two solutions for companies that Telegrambyrå (TT). more productive with 3. enable their employees to read e-mail on their On a lighter note, subscribers of Robert runs a small business in the mobile handsets. One solution resembles 3 can follow Channel 5’s electrical industry and was one of the first a web-mail service (users are able to access popular TV “docusoap” called customers in Sweden to sign up for the a WAP page with e-mail, calendar Masterplan, allowing fans to 3 services. and contacts) while the other enjoy the opportunity to constantly see what Robert mainly uses his mobile at work. solution synchronises e-mail, the participants are doing. His staff all have a 3 video mobile phone calendar and contacts in the 3 has also joined hands with Lovesearch to and this has been a major advantage as it company network with co-operate on a simple video-dating service lets them show each other various information on mobile handsets. whereby users can download short video clips technical connections from a distance. 3 also teamed up with SEB to on to the Lovesearch members’ site.The goal, Before he got his 3 video mobile phone, launch mobile banking services according to Beatrice Ståhle, creative director at Robert would sometimes have to travel all for private subscribers, enabling Lovesearch, is that users will the way across Stockholm — a journey users to make transactions and be able to see all potential of 50km — to solve a very simple payments, trade shares, and dates within a 100m radius problem. Now he can solve problems access quotations and financial of their mobile phone. from the office. “The mobile immediately paid for itself,” he says. News on Stream Pre-Booking When he is on the move, Robert particularly appreciates the Positioning Since Oct. 29, Following a national DENMARK / DENMARK Service which shows his location via an subscribers to 3 in advertising campaign by SWEDEN on-screen map. Denmark and Sweden H3G Denmark, customers started pre- “As an electrician, you sometimes get have had access to streamed video news booking video mobile phones on Oct.13 quite dangerous jobs. If someone falls off via their mobiles, allowing them to view via 3’s homepage (www.3.dk) and through a ladder, it’s a good thing for the others of video directly instead of clips first being the new 3Stores in Copenhagen and Lyngby. us to know where he is,”Robert explains. downloaded and then played. Customers could also pre-book at selected Although Robert chiefly uses his 3 video The news service is presented by TV2. distributors. Deliveries began in October. mobile phone in a work context, he also enjoys its benefits privately. “It’s great fun to sit in the pub and have Tempting Tariffs a video conversation with your mates,”he H3G has been luring customers to its tariff plans.VideoTalk 100 includes 100 voice says. “I’ve shown the mobile to a lot of 3 networks with a selection of tariff plans. minutes for £15 and Football 500 is a £30 pals, and they’re all interested.” Hi3G Access AB in Sweden launched two plan that combines 500 voice minutes with He also uses his 3 video mobile phone to options, named 3Fri (3Free). For as little as unlimited football content. 3 also introduced watch finance news and weather reports. SEK149 per month (approximately a wide range of content add-ons for as little “It’s like a microwave oven,”he adds.“You US$19.50) 3Fri offers 60 or 300 free minutes as £5. Video for Voice is a promotion under don’t know that you need one, but once of talk time and the same rates to all other which customers can make video calls for the you’ve gone out and got one it’s difficult networks in Sweden. 3 also launched a value same price as voice calls for the first three to see how you managed without it.” package called 3Fri Kväll & Helg (3Free months of a 12-month contract. 3 celebrated Evenings & Weekends). the festive season with free videocalls for all H3G Austria meanwhile has been offering between Dec. 22 and Jan. 2 inclusive. Roaming Liaison special deals to businesses that provide “Down under,” H3G Australia offered great DENMARK Hi3G Denmark in wireless mobile Internet access.The 3Business savings on the Motorola A835 when customers August signed an 800+ package includes 800 minutes of voice pre-ordered and connected to 3 for All on agreement of collaboration with telecom and 30MB of data for E69 per month with a 24-month service plan.With 3 for All, which company TDC which will ensure that savings of up to E100 on the Motorola A920. replaces the First on 3 introductory offer, customers of the 3 service have roaming access 3 also launched a student package that offers connection fees and the price for Videotalk to the national network for mobile telephony a E50 discount on the A920. calls have been cut in half while customers can and SMS in areas outside the company’s own H3G UK has unveiled two new monthly pay as little as 10c per SMS to any mobile. mobile broadband network.
SPHERE 8 COMMUNITY
ALL TOGETHER
A group of HWL volunteers shows that great things can come from small beginnings. By Sophia Wong