Singapore's StarHub has become the latest Asian operator to announce a partnership with an OTT messaging provider, with the launch of the nation's first LINE mobile prepaid plan.
The operator is offering unlimited access to popular text and voice messaging service LINE for S$0.40 per day or S$6 ($4.73) for 30 days.
As part of the partnership, LINE plans to develop and offer localized services tailored to Singapore customers. StarHub has also set up an official account on the service to help reach customers.
StarHub head of mobility Chan Kin Hung said the company hopes the partnership to stimulate the nation's pre-paid segment. “Singapore’s mobile pre-paid market has much room for further growth, especially in mobile data use,” he said.
Numerous telecom industry experts have predicted that 2014 will be the year that operators break away from a margins culture and start pursuing closer partnerships with the messaging providers that have been eating into their once-core voice and SMS revenues.
There were significant early moves in this direction already last year, including a similar partnership between LINE and NTT DoCoMo and the disruptive deal between China Unicom and Weixin/WeChat.