Go Mobile is the first mobile operator in Malta to launch a streaming service where customers can watch television on their mobile handset. TV on your mobile is a Go Mobile service that is powered by EDGE technology.
This was announced last week during a press conference addressed by Alan Zammit, Go Mobile Senior Executive IT; Martin Zammit, Senior Executive Engineering; and Albert Gouder, Executive Marketing.
In the initial launch phase, the line-up of stations available on TV on a mobile will be BBC World, fashiontv, Super 1 TV and Net TV. These channels can be accessed from EDGE-compatible phones by clicking on the TV icon on Go Mobile’s Go Live! WAP site.
“Once the customers click on the desired TV station, they will be automatically streaming the station’s feed into their mobile phone. As a result, Go Mobile customers can watch their favourite programme, movie, reality show or news broadcast from anywhere in Malta and Gozo,” Mr Zammit said.
It is planned that other local and international television stations will be added to the channels line-up of Go Mobile’s TV on the mobile.
Mr Gouder explained that the streaming rate for TV on a mobile is 10 cents for every five minutes, per channel. The standard WAP browsing charge of 3c per 60KB applies when accessing the Go Live! WAP site. This service can also be accessed when abroad, given that the foreign mobile operator provides EDGE. Roaming charges will apply when streaming TV stations abroad.
Mr Zammit said this service has been made possible thanks to EDGE, a technology which allows faster data download and upload speeds. It is estimated that the speeds of EDGE are approximately four to five times faster than GPRS.
“At present, Go Mobile is the only mobile operator in Malta to offer EDGE, therefore Go Mobile is the operator that offers the fastest, nationwide wireless data access on the island. As a result, Go Mobile is the sole provider of mobile TV streaming,” Mr Zammit said.
In order to subscribe to TV on your mobile, Go Mobile customers should ensure that their phone supports streaming service should visit any Go Mobile Customer Contact Centre or call 146 from their Go Mobile (call is free).
New pre-paid tariff
Meanwhile, Go Mobile has launched a new pre-paid tariff – Ready to Go Talk. Thanks to this tariff, Go Mobile customers can benefit from the lowest mobile call rate on the island – that of 8 cents per minute.
The 8 cents call rate applies all day, everyday for local calls to other Go Mobile numbers. Ready to Go Talk customers benefit also from a call rate reduction when calling other local numbers. In fact, calls to non-Go Mobile numbers cost 14 cents a minute, all day and everyday.
With Ready to Go Talk, customers do not pay according to a peak or off-peak rate; the rate applies all day long, seven days a week. This tariff is targeted at customers who make a lot of calls, especially to other Go Mobile numbers. When subscribing to this tariff, customers will make considerable savings when making calls.
The SMS rate for Ready to Go Talk customers is 3 cents per message. Calls are charged on a per 30 seconds basis.
In order to subscribe to Ready to go Talk, send an SMS with the word talk to 4400. For further information call Customer Care on 146 from your Go Mobile (call is free) or visit www.go.com.mt
Go Mobile would like to remind its customers that one can top up his or her own pre-paid account, as well as that of other persons by dialling 7922 2123 from a fixed line. Subsequently, the system will ask for the number to be topped up and the voucher number. This system, which has been offered since the first day Go Mobile launched its services in 2000, allows one to top up anyone’s Go Mobile pre-paid account.