Bridge Alliance launches One-Rate Voice and SMS Roaming Price Plans Across Asia Pacific

First mobile alliance to offer one-rate Voice and SMS roaming price plans across Asia Pacific. Customers enjoy up to 80% savings from prevailing roaming rates.

Bridge Alliance, the leading mobile alliance in Asia Pacific announces the launch of Bridge VoiceSMS Roam, the region’s first one-rate roaming price plan for voice call minutes and SMS messages, offering customers up to 80% savings from prevailing roaming rates.

Designed to cater for different usage requirements, customers can choose to subscribe any of the three Bridge VoiceSMS Roam price plans to suit their travel plan and communication needs when travelling in the Asia Pacific region.

The three price plans* available for subscriptions are:

• Bridge VoiceSMS Roam15 – US$18 for 15 voice call minutes and 15 SMS messages
• Bridge VoiceSMS Roam30 – US$32 for 30 voice call minutes and 30 SMS messages
• Bridge VoiceSMS Roam60 – US$60 for 60 voice call minutes and 60 SMS messages

Prices listed are indicative in US dollars and exclude taxes. Customers can check with their local Bridge Alliance member operator for pricing in local currency and other local terms and conditions which may apply.

Customers subscribed to any of the above Bridge VoiceSMS Roam price plans will enjoy the simplicity of one-rate and significant savings when they roam with any of the eleven Bridge Alliance member operators and other partner networks. The eleven Bridge Alliance member operators are: Airtel (India), AIS (Thailand), CSL (Hong Kong), CTM (Macau), Globe Telecom (Philippines), Maxis (Malaysia), SingTel Mobile (Singapore), SingTel Optus (Australia), SK Telecom (Korea), Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan) and Telkomsel (Indonesia).

For example, a customer who uses 30 minutes of incoming voice calls and sends 30 SMS messages when roaming in India would pay approximately US$120 based on prevailing roaming rates. With Bridge VoiceSMS Roam30 the customer will only pay US$32 and he or she will save US$88.

Customers can use Bridge VoiceSMS Roam at the visited country to receive incoming call, make outgoing local call and international call to his or her home country, and send SMS to any country. Incoming SMS is free-of-charge. Each Bridge VoiceSMS Roam plan is valid for seven days and the one-rate pricing is applicable for usage allowance within each plan.

“Bridge Alliance continues to bring innovative solutions to remove the fear of roaming due to costs so customers can stay connected with peace-of-mind when they travel. With this launch of Bridge VoiceSMS Roam and following the successful launch of our Bridge DataRoam plans last year, we offer a comprehensive suite of subscription plans and total solution for voice, SMS and data roaming to all customers of the Bridge Alliance member operators.” said Annie Gan, Chief Executive Officer, Bridge Alliance.

Bridge VoiceSMS Roam is available for subscription from 1st October 2011 with AIS in Thailand and will be available in phases from November 2011 with the other ten Bridge Alliance member operators namely – Airtel (India), CSL (Hong Kong), CTM (Macau), Globe Telecom (Philippines), Maxis (Malaysia), SingTel Mobile (Singapore), SingTel Optus (Australia), SK Telecom (Korea), Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan) and Telkomsel (Indonesia). Customers can contact their local Bridge Alliance member operator for more details on product availability, service coverage and local terms and conditions which may apply.