Singapore, 8 September 2017 – StarHub today unveiled two new mobile prepaid SIMs called StarHub WeChat Go SIM (新加坡星和WeChat Go微信乐游卡), in partnership with WeChat. With StarHub WeChat Go SIM in their phones, users will be able to enjoy unlimited social messaging on the WeChat app.
StarHub WeChat Go SIM is designed to better meet the mobile needs of the growing number of visitors from China. According to Singapore Tourism Board, tourist arrivals from China increased 36 per cent in 2016 from the year before. In a 2017 survey by Hotels.com, Singapore is the top Asia Pacific destination that Chinese travellers want to visit in the next 12 months.
“Marking four years of partnership with WeChat, we are happy to introduce StarHub WeChat Go SIM and make them available in China for travellers’ convenience. Through this alliance, visitors from China in Singapore will be able to easily stay in touch with anyone on an app they are accustomed to, without worrying about excess local data charges,” said Ms Karen Ng, General Manager, Mobile Prepaid, StarHub (星和移动预付业务总经理黄慧敏).
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with StarHub to offer Chinese travellers an enhanced experience in the island nation,” said WeChat. “Through our network of partners like StarHub, we always work to expand WeChat’s ecosystem and give WeChat users more value-added services.”
The combined monthly active users of WeChat and Weixin reached 963 million as of June 2017. It remains the most popular social media app in China according to a recent Kantar report.
StarHub WeChat Go SIM users will be able to enjoy free local data access to the Lingcod TV mobile app. Developed by video streaming provider Sunway Media, Lingcod TV offers over 100,000 hours of high-definition movies, documentaries, and educational content out of China.
"This launch is an achievement for Sunway Media,” said Mr Luo Weiyu, CEO, Sunway Media (森威传媒CEO 罗卫宇). “It shows our ability to undertake cross-border research and development as well as marketing and promotion. We will continue to work with global partners to develop innovative products and services for our users worldwide.”
StarHub WeChat Go SIM will provide local talktime, SMS and international direct dialling (IDD) credits. Users will also get Happy Roam data for their travels across 14 other overseas destinations. In an upcoming enhancement, users will be able to add data and extend validity using credit cards and WeChat Pay through WeChat’s self-help mini programme.
Starting 11 September 2017, StarHub WeChat Go SIM will be made available to Chinese travellers through popular online travel agencies, namely Mafengwo, Tongcheng Tourism and Qyer.com. Upon touching down at Changi Airport, they will be able to easily activate the SIM at any of the 15 UOB Currency Exchange Counters. StarHub WeChat Go SIM will also be made available locally at StarHub Shops and 7-Eleven stores.
Please see table below for pricing details:
Price | $16 StarHub WeChat Go SIM | $32 StarHub WeChat Go SIM |
|---|---|---|
Validity | 7 days of use | 12 days of use |
Unlimited local data access to WeChat and Lingcod TV | Yes | Yes |
Local data bundle | 7GB | 15GB |
Happy Roam data bundle for use across 14 overseas destinations | 1GB | 2.4GB |
Local talktime | 500 outgoing minutes with free incoming call | 3000 outgoing minutes with free incoming call |
Local SMS | Unlimited | Unlimited |
IDD calls to China | 60 minutes | 150 minutes |
