DiGi & Maxis announce inter-operator Friend Finder service

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May 10, 2006
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https://digi.com.my/media/articleURLhereWhichCanbeReallyLong

DiGi & Maxis announce inter-operator Friend Finder service
Collaboration allows 12 million people to locate each other

KUALA LUMPUR, 11 May 2006 - DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd and Maxis Communications Berhad ("Maxis") today launched an inter-operator Friend Finder service, enabling cross-tracing of friends and loved ones.

With this, DiGi and Maxis' customers can locate the whereabouts of users across the two networks that connect over 12 million people nationwide.

The Friend Finder is a permission-based service activated only after the person whom the customer wishes to locate gives consent. This permission can be revoked at anytime and the service can also be temporarily disabled.

DiGi Head of Product Management, Albern Murty, said: "Friend Finder is about connecting and locating friends and family in a fun and simple way without being intrusive. Our customers can rely on it to stay connected with their loved ones and be assured of their whereabouts."

Albern added: "This collaboration goes beyond interconnectivity. It underscores the determination of industry players to work together for the larger interest of customers."

Maxis Head of Product & New Businesses, Dr. Nikolai Dobberstein, said: This new offering complements our existing popular Friend Finder service via SMS, WAP and 3G, which is actively used by some 50,000 customers. In fact, Maxis customers also have the option of locating other Maxis users on detailed maps via the WAP Friend Finder Service."

Dr Dobberstein said: "As such, we are confident that more customers will subscribe to this service now that it can be used across two networks, offering more convenience and ease of mind."

The DiGi-Maxis collaboration involves an inter-carrier connectivity gateway designed for customer convenience. This allows customers to continue using the existing SMS platforms.

To use the interconnect Friend Finder service, DiGi customers can send a SMS "FF Find 012xxxxxxx" or "FF Find 017 xxxxxx" to short code 2000. Maxis users can send a SMS message "Find 016xxxxxx" or "Find 0146xxxxxx" to short code 32001.

Each successful location result received will be charged at a promotional price of 30 sen.

DiGi customers can use FF WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) or SMS to locate their friends but will soon have the added option of a map.

The interconnectivity application platform for the service is provided by Ahead Mobile Sdn Bhd, a joint venture company between Unified Communications and Ahead Mobile Inc.

Issued by:
Corporate Communications Department
DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
Lot 10, Jalan Delima 1/1
Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park
40000 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan