The Star, Friday May 25, 2007

KUALA LUMPUR: Telekom Malaysia Bhd (TM) has signed two agreements to provide, among other things, a co-branded prepaid card for its iTalk calling services by September.

The deals were signed with AmcorpGroup Bhd, AmBank (M) Bhd and MCM Wireless Sdn Bhd (MCMW).

TM chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Wahid Omar said the long-term alliances would entail the offering of a new card that combined iTalk with AmBank's MexG Prepaid MasterCard.

TM introduced the iTalk prepaid card, which enables users to make cheaper IDD calls via Voice-over-Internet Protocol technology, in 2000.

"We expect the new card to help boost iTalk card and reload card sales by 10% this year from RM100mil in 2006," he said after the agreements signing ceremony yesterday.

Datuk Abdul Wahid Omar (right) exchanging documents with AmBank chief executive officer Cheah Tek Kuang. With them are TM chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Radzi (left) and Tan Sri Azman Hashim – BERNAMA

The 10-year term heads of agreement spells out the broad principles of strategic alliances among them, while the collaborative agreement calls for the first implementation of various joint initiatives.

AmBank Group chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim said AmBank would also implement product-bundling initiatives and offer cross-selling opportunities via TM and vending kiosks provider MCMW's distribution network to its clients.

He said loyal AmBank and TM customers would enjoy further benefits with the future incorporation of iTalk service into the bank's loyalty programme.

"Customers of both parties can redeem their points for TM's products and services," he added.

Under the collaboration agreement, TM will benefit from the utilisation of AmBank's distribution channels, such as ATMs, vending kiosks and Internet banking, for the sales of iTalk cards and reload cards.

Azman said the bank targeted to sell 100,000 of the AmBank iTalk prepaid cards by March 31, 2008.