StarHub Ltd, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) and Research In Motion (RIM) (Nasdaq:RIMM) (TSX:RIM) today announced the availability of BlackBerry(R) Connect(TM) for the Palm(R) Treo(TM) 650 smartphone on StarHub’s network in Singapore. BlackBerry Connect enables new and existing Treo 650 users to benefit from many popular features of the “push”-based BlackBerry architecture via BlackBerry Enterprise Server(TM).

With BlackBerry Connect, StarHub customers have a greater choice of mobile devices that are supported by the robust and secure capabilities of BlackBerry services and a wider choice of wireless email solutions on the feature-rich Palm Treo 650 smartphone.

“With mobile email becoming an integral part of the business world today, the Treo 650 offers StarHub customers an all-in-one device that simplifies their lives,” said Paul Blinkhorn, vice president for Palm Asia Pacific. “Palm continues to expand its geographic reach, bringing its broad range of world-class, enterprise-strength mobile-computing solutions to a growing customer base. BlackBerry Connect offers StarHub customers even greater flexibility in their choice of enterprise messaging platforms.”

“BlackBerry Connect enables Treo 650 users to connect to BlackBerry Enterprise Server and enjoy robust wireless functionality with advanced security features,” said Norm Lo, vice president for Asia Pacific at RIM. “We are very pleased to be working with StarHub and Palm to offer customers in Singapore the Treo 650 with BlackBerry Connect.”

The Treo 650 smartphone with BlackBerry Connect supports the following features through BlackBerry Enterprise Server in a Microsoft(R) Exchange or IBM(R) Lotus(R) Domino(R) environment:

— “Push” Corporate Email delivers messages automatically — and
wirelessly — to the Treo 650 smartphone’s VersaMail(R) inbox.
Changes to the inbox, including read/unread status and
deletion, can be automatically synchronized between the user’s
email account and the Treo 650.

— Wireless Calendar Synchronization keeps the Treo 650
smartphone’s built-in Calendar up to date remotely, allowing
users to receive, accept or decline meeting requests on the
go.

— Attachment Viewing lets users view Excel, Word, PowerPoint,
and PDF documents while on the road.

— Remote Address Lookup (RAL) allows users to search their
corporate directory wirelessly for email addresses without the
need to download every name to the Treo 650.

— Enables centralized device management, including support for
IT policies such as over-the-air device disablement and
password device lock, as well as end-to-end security with
Triple DES encryption.

Smart Communications unveiled new and expanded 3G service offerings and announced the commercial rates for its Third Generation cellular service which is now supported by an extensive nationwide network ready for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology.

Starting May 1st, Smart postpaid and prepaid subscribers with 3G-capable handsets will enjoy enhanced applications and extensive rich media content on a commercial basis. These include live TV streaming of two major television networks and 3G downloads of full music tracks and video clips.

Smart 3G users can now make video calls not only within the country but also to 3G subscribers of eight mobile phone operators in six countries that include Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Austria and Germany.

“With 800 cellsites covering 119 key cities and municipalities, Smart offers genuine nationwide 3G coverage. We’ve made the service very affordable to encourage usage. To pave the way for continuous improvement in the service, we’ve made our 3G network HSDPA-ready” said Napoleon L. Nazareno, president and CEO, SMART.

Smart is not only the first mobile operator in the country to commercially launch 3G services but also the first to use a 3G network with HSDPA technology.

High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) allows data calls with transfer rates exceeding one megabit per second. HSDPA will allow better quality video streaming as well as enhance user experience of Web browsing and file downloads. As Smart’s 3G cellsites are already HSDPA-ready, subscribers can enjoy the service once the devices are available in the market. Last March, Smart became the first operator in the country to successfully conduct HSDPA test calls.

When Smart 3G was launched February 14, 3G services such as video-streaming, video calls, high-speed internet browsing and downloading of special 3G content were offered on a free-trial basis.

Under the introductory pricing scheme that takes effect May 1st, Smart 3G rates are aligned with existing 2G rates while some services will remain free of charge.

:: Video calling. Smart-to-Smart local 3G video calls remain free of charge. Smart’s 3G customers can also make international video calls for the price of a regular IDD call (at US$0.40 per minute) to eight 3G operators in six countries. These include NTT DoCoMo in Japan, CSL, Smartone and Hutchison in Hong Kong, Starhub in Singapore, Chunghwa in Taiwan, Vodafone in Germany and Mobilkom in Austria – with many more being added in the coming months. Meanwhile, video calling on international roaming will remain the same as international roaming voice rates for both outbound and inbound roamers.

:: Video and audio streaming. All Smart 3G video and audio streaming applications – including live TV viewing – will be charged a P15 access fee for every 30 minutes based on running time that starts when a subscriber clicks on a streaming link regardless of the number of videos viewed. Aside from the access charge, there will be a separate fee for content. Smart 3G subscribers can watch GMA7 and ABS-CBN Channel 2 live via video streaming. Subscription fee for each network is P20 per day. 3G streaming of audio and video clips will be charged P5 per hit. However, streaming of movie trailers, live traffic and summer hotspots cameras and music videos will be free of charge.

:: Multimedia Messaging. Rates for multimedia messaging or MMS across all Smart subscribers have been set at P1 per message for Smart-to-Smart messages and P2 per MMS for Smart to other operators. Before, the rate for MMS was P5 per send.

:: Internet browsing. Internet and WAP browsing using GPRS and 3G will be at P10 for every 30 minutes, regardless of the file size downloaded. The charge applies to browsing Internet sites outside of the free Smart WAP site whether connected via GPRS or 3G.

:: Downloads. For Smart 3G content such as video clips, ringtones, visual ringers, and games, the introductory rates range from P20 for a video clip download to P50 for a full music track and a premium game. Downloading of preview clips will be free of charge.

For postpaid subscribers, all introductory 3G rates are part of their consumable plans. Corporate accounts have the option to avail of the introductory pricing or retain their current data consumption rate based on their contracts.

Smart currently has approximately a quarter of a million subscribers with 3G capable handsets.

The commercial launch of Smart 3G is a culmination of significant milestones and firsts. In December 2005, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) awarded SMART its 3G license after the telco garnered the only perfect score of 30 based on the regulatory body’s grading system designed to gauge the capability of operators to massively and effectively provide 3G services.

This was followed two months after by the launch of Smart 3G on free trial basis, making Smart the first telco to offer 3G to the public. In March, the company also successfully made the country’s first data test call on HSDPA, with registered data throughputs at speeds exceeding one megabit per second (Mbps).

The company started preparations for a seamless transition to 3G as early as five years ago. In December 2000, SMART in cooperation with Nokia conducted the first successful experimental 3G video call trials in the country in the presence of NTC officials.

Seven Asian operators today announced the formation of an alliance to enhance competitiveness in the international roaming market and deliver corporate services across the Asia-Pacific region.

The Asia Pacific Mobile Alliance boasts a combined customer base of about 100 million subscribers over eight countries and regions, but plans to expand its members over time.

The founding members are: Far EasTone (Taiwan), Hutchison Essar (India), Hutchison Telecommunications Limited (Hong Kong and Macau), KTF (South Korea), NTT DoCoMo (Japan), PT Indosat (Indonesia) and StarHub (Singapore).

The alliance will promote voice, video and data roaming via members’ GSM/GPRS/WCDMA networks, with an intention to launch roaming via HSDPA once the market is ready. These initiatives are targeted for launch in the latter half of 2006.

The alliance also aims to create a Virtual Home Environment amongst customers of member operators, so that they are able to experience seamless, convenient mobile-related services when they roam. Such services include caller ID and short codes to allow quick and easy connection to their home country operator’s voice mail and customer support.

The formation of the Asia Pacific Mobile Alliance marks the arrival of the region’s second such partnership. Last year the Bridge Mobile Alliance launched its first services – seamless GPRS and MMS roaming and a common prepaid roaming top up service.

The Bridge Alliance’s founding operator members are Airtel in India, CSL in Hong Kong, Globe Telecom in the Philippines, Maxis in Malaysia, SingTel Mobile in Singapore, SingTel Optus in Australia, Taiwan Mobile in Taiwan and Telkomsel in Indonesia. But the organisation has now opened its doors to the vendor community, with the inclusion of Chinese vendor ZTE, Sweden’s Ericsson and US manufacturer Motorola.