Maxis sees higher data segment revenue

Maxis Bhd expects to see a higher revenue contribution from its data segment in the coming years compared with the current 40 per cent, given the rise in data use by its customers whether on smartphones or tablets.

Chief Operating Officer Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke said Malaysians currently used data in every way that they can, even with a normal mobile phone.

"Some half from our customer base, approximately 7.8 million users, are using data, and depending on the gadgets, we will experience growth in the data subscription rate," he said after the launch of the new Blackberry PlayBook.

On Blackberry, Vice President of Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam of Research In Motion (RIM), developer of the Blackberry-brand phones, Dany Bolduc said the operations in Malaysia have been very encouraging.

The company expects better exposure in the local front after RIM recently opened its first smartphone manufacturing plant in Penang, he said.

The plant has been in full operations since July 1 and RIM will be catering to the demands for Blackberry smartphones from the Asian region, from Malaysia, he said.

The Blackberry PlayBook tablet, RIM's first foray into the tablet arena is available exclusively to all Maxis customers at a retail price ranging from RM1,599 to RM2,199.

"The PlayBook is an incredibly powerful and feature-rich tablet that is ideal for both business and personal use," Bolduc added -- Bernama