Asia Pacific’s largest telco-independent Internet communications service provider by geographic reach, Pacific Internet Limited or PacNet (NASDAQ: PCNTF) and Skype, the pioneering Global Internet Communications Company, have concluded an agreement to deliver a co-branded version of the Skype software, providing Skype-based voice services in Singapore.
Skype is revolutionizing the world of telecommunications by allowing Skype callers to make free high quality voice calls via their PC over the Internet to other Skype callers, and calls to any landline or mobile worldwide at competitive rates.
PacNet is the first Internet communications service provider in South East Asia to have signed a co-branding agreement with Skype. Under the agreement covering both the corporate business and consumer market segments, the two partners will bring Skype to Singapore through a co-branded "PacNet-Skype" portal which is scheduled to be launched this year. PacNet will manage the co-branded website, customer support, marketing, distribution and sale of Skype’s affordable premium services.
The PacNet-Skype portal will offer Singapore’s Internet users, regardless of whether they are PacNet subscribers, free and unlimited Skype-to-Skype voice calls worldwide, and the pre-paid SkypeOut service, which enables users to call any fixed or mobile phone in the world at inexpensive local rates. At the same time, users can also enjoy the convenience of local billing and customer support.
Kevin Lim, Managing Director of Pacific Internet Singapore said, “This partnership with Skype reflects our plans to bring in services that are exciting, convenient and affordable to Internet users here. For a long time, Internet in Singapore is centered on speed of access rather than applications and content. PacNet is focused on being the ‘Usage Expert’. In other words, we want to help users maximize their internet connection. The opportunity to work with Skype is a delightful one as we are now the first company to offer low-cost premium voice communications with local support to the Singapore market. In particular, we will be promoting the SkypeOut service, which allows users to call any landline or mobile number in the world at competitive rates.”
“From the business perspective, partnerships with best of breed solutions provider such as Skype will help us to strengthen our existing access-based customer relationship with more value. It should also attract non-PacNet access customers to use these services and this presents a good opportunity to acquire these new relationships.”
Niklas Zennstrm, CEO and co-founder, Skype, said, “We are delighted to work with Pacific Internet. This partnership continues our rapid expansion in Asia, a strong growth market. Singapore callers will be able to realize the massive cost savings and added features that Skype offers above and beyond the traditional phone, with the benefits of local billing and customer support.”
Editors’ Notes
About Pacific Internet Limited
Pacific Internet Limited or PacNet (NASDAQ: PCNTF) is the largest telco-independent Internet Communications Service Provider by geographic reach in the Asia Pacific region. The company has direct presence in Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, India, Thailand and Malaysia. PacNet delivers a comprehensive suite of Internet data, voice and video services to corporate business and consumer customers. For more information, visit www.pacnet.com.
About Skype Technologies S.A.
Skype, the Global Internet Communications Company?, allows people everywhere to make free, unlimited, superior quality voice calls via its award-winning innovative peer-to-peer software for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Pocket PC platforms. Skype is available in 27 languages and is the fastest growing voice communications offering worldwide. Since its launch in August 2003, Skype has been downloaded more than 200 million times in 225 countries and territories. 66 million people are registered to use Skype's free services, with more than 3 million people using Skype simultaneously at any one time. Skype earns revenue through its premium service offerings, and has a growing network of global affiliates, and a community of developers working with the Skype APIs. Skype Technologies SA is headquartered in Luxembourg and has offices in London and Estonia, and in 15 other countries, with users in every nation. Skype is an eBay company (NASDAQ: EBAY). To learn more visit www.skype.com.
Cautionary Statement
Statements made in this press release with respect to Pacific Internet's current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Pacific Internet. Forward-looking statements include but are not limited to those using words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", “intend”, "project", "plan", “strategy", "forecast" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will, “would”, “should”, “could”, “may” and “might”. These statements reflect management's current expectations, beliefs, hopes, intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions in light of currently available information. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to (i) changes in the economic, regulatory and political environments in the countries where Pacific Internet operates; (ii) changes and developments in technology and the Internet marketplace; (iii) Pacific Internet's continued ability to develop and win acceptance of its products and services, which are offered in highly competitive markets; (iv) the success of its joint ventures and alliances; (v) exchange rates, particularly between the Singapore dollar and the U.S. dollar and other currencies in which Pacific Internet makes significant sales or in which its assets and liabilities are denominated; and (vi) the outcome of contingencies. In light of the many risks and uncertainties surrounding the Internet marketplace, the actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Pacific Internet assumes no obligation to update any such statements. End.