Hong Kong – 6 February 2005 – Skype, the Global Internet Telephony Company™ and Hutchison Global Communications Limited ("HGC"), the operator of the largest fibre-to-the-building network in Hong Kong, today announce a partnership to promote and deliver Skype software to the Hong Kong market.
HGC is the first Fixed Telecommunications Network Services ("FTNS") operator in the world to have reached a co-branding agreement with Luxembourg-based Skype Technologies S.A. Under the agreement, the two partners will bring Skype to Hong Kong through a co-branded "HGC-Skype" portal, which is scheduled to be in service in March 2005.
The Skype deal is another initiative by HGC to realise its partnership strategy, following the company’s recent broadband/pay TV collaboration announcement. In delivering "multi-play" applications and content, HGC selects to partner with leading service providers. Through such cooperation, the potential of HGC’s top-notch optical fibre network is fully unleashed.
Skype takes communications to a new and global era with its free, multi-faceted and rich communication tools, enabling users to make free voice calls and rich messaging connections via the Internet. Skype is the leading VoIP-category product worldwide, with more than 24 million registered users, and more than 130,000 new users joining per day.
Peter Wong, Chief Executive Officer of HGC, said, "Being a full fledged telecommunications service provider, we launch ‘HGC-Skype’ to cater for the communications needs of tech-savvy users. We always partner with leading service providers, and Skype is no exception. Our cooperation will bring ‘Skype mania’ to Hong Kong."
"We are very pleased to join with market-leader Hutchison and are honoured that HGC has recognised Skype’s leadership and commitment to innovation," said Niklas Zennström, Skype CEO and co-founder. "We expect our new partnership will prove a powerful combination for the future of Internet telephony."
To celebrate the launch, the first 500 users who successfully download Skype at the "HGC-Skype" portal <http://skype.hgcbroadband.com> from March 2005 will enjoy a free trial of HGC’s Wireless Broadband service at select popular shopping malls and restaurants until 8 May 2005. For more details, customers should call the HGC 24-hour Customer Service Hotline on 1222.
Leveraging the strength of P2P technology, the "HGC-Skype" portal will deliver superior quality voice communications to its users. The "HGC-Skype" portal will offer Hong Kong users 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 special rates. Skype calls are end-to-end encrypted for superior privacy.
Other features available at "HGC-Skype" include:
- A Global Directory - a user-built global contact directory with numerous search options and an easy add-a-contact tool
- Instant messaging – with cross platform messaging ability
- Conference calling – instantly create a free five-party conference call
- Logs – reference or discard call and message history
- Presence – easily manage availability and view status of contacts
- Customization – MyPicture image display, ring tones, call alert options
- File transfer – to send and receive files
- Mobility – sign in to a Skype account anywhere in the world
- Multiple Skype accounts on one computer
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
