Gorilla Mobile, a virtual telco for PMETs and SMEs, launches in Singapore

[kobayashiGT]

A new virtual telco is in town. Gorilla Mobile, a Singapore-based MVNO that unbundles rigid mobile plans into flexible, on-demand features, is now available to Singapore’s PMETs and SMEs.

Its main product offering is Switch25, is a SIM-only, no-contract Corporate Individual (CIS) or SME mobile plan that helps users convert unused mobile data of their plan into “Go Tokens”, which can be redeemed for later use for co-workers - Gorilla Mobile users and non-users regardless. 

At launch, Gorilla Mobile offers a S$25/month mobile plan with 20GB of local mobile data, 100 minutes of talk time, and 100 SMSes.

Upcoming services like global roaming travel data, Digital International Direct Dialing (IDD), and Global Office Telephony will be rolled out over the coming months. Roaming data services will be available from October 2021 onwards, or when travel restrictions are lifted, while digital IDD will be available from September 2021 onwards.

Its core feature, SwitchBack, is powered on blockchain technology, where stored Go Tokens from unused portions of the plan can be used to offset bills, purchase, or exchange for other in-app services like roaming data. The MVNO also has an app (iOS, Android) for users to interact with their SwitchBack features. 

Stored Go Tokens have no expiry date. Go Tokens can also be transferred to both users and non-users of Gorilla Mobile, as the tokens are accessible via its app. A prime example would be IDD calling, where non-Gorilla Mobile users can use the app and the tokens they receive to make in-app overseas calls without requiring a mobile subscription or a Gorilla Mobile SIM card.

Founder and CEO of Gorilla Mobile, Xanne Leo, is a new player in the virtual telco industry with over 16 years of experience in the Southeast Asian financial services scene. She is also a co-founder of Infitinus Token, a blockchain-based storage app for safekeeping data. 

Quote

“In today's world, mobile communication services are an everyday necessity. With our Service-On-Demand model, we have digitised our services, moving beyond customised or flexible subscriptions. We believe users should have easy access to mobile services anytime, anywhere and pay only for the services they use. This ‘telco-as-a-service’ approach is the first new innovation the industry has seen in a long time,” said Ms Leo.

As a virtual telco, Gorilla Mobile operates on the M1 network for network coverage, and MyRepublic for Operating Support System and Business Support System enterprise telco managed services.

Signing up for Gorilla Mobile

Gorilla Mobile’s Switch25 plan is a SIM-only, no-contract plan that costs S$25 per month per user. It is available to all Singapore registered companies, Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, EPass, EntrePass and SPass holders aged 21 and above. Sign-ups are available via its website here.

Both individuals and businesses are entitled to a S$50 Cash Bill Difference Reward as a pre-launch promotion. Users can submit their existing telco bills to see bill differences, and port in their existing numbers to a Gorilla Switch25 plan. Activating the issued Gorilla Mobile SIM card nets a maximum of S$50 in the user’s PayNow account (amount received depends on bill difference from Gorilla’s S$25 plan). 

Each individual can redeem up to five Bill Difference rewards, with a maximum port-in of five numbers. The campaign starts on 18 June 2021 until 18 August 2021, 11.59 PM.

Gorilla Mobile’s social media handles can be found here (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn). Its official homepage can be found here.

 

Source: https://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/tech-news-gorilla-mobile-virtual-telco-pmets-and-smes-launches-singapore

[Mustank]

 

[Jamesc]

Must have more data.

All the PMET driving phvs and doing deliveries these days.

[Mustank]

Good lah $25 just nice for pampered mediocre expensive timid jokers

[Jamesc]

5 minutes ago, Mustank said:

pampered mediocre expensive timid jokers

Pampered yes

mediocre yes

expensive very

But I not timid leh.

It's just BS.

Edited June 18, 2021 by Jamesc

[Jamesc]

Actually it's the directors that are pampered mediocre expensive and timid.

[Jellandross]

the advantage of competitive MVNO is their pricing, package, etc, but their common weakest link is signal reception/speed. some no reception in mrt tunnels, others got blind spot in certain estates, etc. so better research first before jumping in.

typically Cheap, Good and Fast you can only have 2 out of 3.

Edited June 18, 2021 by Jellandross

[Ahwhye]

1 hour ago, Jellandross said:

the advantage of competitive MVNO is their pricing, package, etc, but their common weakest link is signal reception/speed. some no reception in mrt tunnels, others got blind spot in certain estates, etc. so better research first before jumping in.

typically Cheap, Good and Fast you can only have 2 out of 3.

mvno just bulk-buy capacity from telco with physical infra, then resell to consumers, consumer just need to do their research on reception/speed etc on the wholesale telco (be it singtel, m1 or starhub...) to know what they are getting into.

Good thing about nvno is most got no/little contract/tie-down period, not happy just switch. one bad thing i find is service is almost non-existent, although it can be said that the big telco also sama sama....

[Wildfaye29]

i paying $18 for giga for 50gb 500min 500sms and roll over data leh

i got 4 lines

sometimes go freebies like free mins or sms or like this morn free 20gb to use until next renewal date

$25 for 20gb is expensive leh

[kobayashiGT]

41 minutes ago, Wildfaye29 said:

i paying $18 for giga for 50gb 500min 500sms and roll over data leh

i got 4 lines

sometimes go freebies like free mins or sms or like this morn free 20gb to use until next renewal date

$25 for 20gb is expensive leh

their target audience is for corporate line, which is more expensive to start off with.

[DOBIEMKZ]

IMDA investigating virtual telco Gorilla for halting mobile services without seeking its approval

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/imda-investigating-virtual-telco-gorilla-halting-mobile-services-without-seeking-its-approval-2093386

BY TAUFIQ ZALIZAN

Published January 19, 2023. Updated January 19, 2023

Users of Gorilla's mobile services in Singapore were advised to move to another provider to maintain uninterrupted service as its mobile plans had to be suspended due to technical upgrades.

. The Infocomm Media Development Authority is investigating Gorilla Mobile for not seeking the necessary approval before halting their mobile services

. Doing so before ending of services is required under the Service-Based Operations License, which allows an operator to provide services-based telecommunications services here

. The authorities' response came after the virtual telco earlier announced an abrupt cessation of its mobile services in Singapore

SINGAPORE — The authorities are investigating Gorilla Mobile for not seeking the necessary approval before halting their mobile services, after the virtual telco earlier announced that it was stopping its mobile plans here by Jan 31 and then later altered its announcement.

Responding to TODAY's queries, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) on Thursday (Jan 19) said that seeking its approval before ending of services is required under Gorilla's licence conditions.

“IMDA takes a serious view to licensees not adhering to their licence requirements and is investigating.” 

Telco operators such as Gorilla must obtain IMDA's prior written approval before terminating either its licence or one of its services, based on the conditions listed under IMDA's Service-Based Operations Licence.

They also need to give the regulator a written notice six months before it intends to terminate the licence, or three months before it intends to terminate any of the services it provides, IMDA's website states.

Penalties for a breach in the licensing conditions may include a warning or a financial penalty.

In an email to users on Monday and in a notice on their website on Tuesday, Gorilla announced “the discontinuation of our local mobile plan with effect from 31st January 2023”.

The website notice was later changed a few times, initially removing a line stipulating that the last day of service is on Jan 31, and stating that the stoppage of mobile services would be done “progressively”.

As of Thursday, the latest version of the notice urged Gorilla users in Singapore to “migrate to another provider to maintain uninterrupted service” as the firm undergoes technical improvements on its platform to pave the way for the launch of e-SIM services.

No final date of service is mentioned in its latest notice.

IMDA said that it has asked the firm to “fulfil their obligations” to users affected by the halting of services.

“We understand they have since given the required three months’ notice to affected users,” the authority added.

WHY IS GORILLA STOPPING ITS MOBILE PLANS?

On Tuesday, Mr Rokas Sidlauskas, chief marketing officer of Gorilla's parent company Society Pass Inc, told TODAY that it was making the move for the firm to implement "effective changes to the product", such as the launch of an e-SIM.

"We have taken a decision to pause services for the next 60 to 90 days as we implement planned improvements,” he said.

TODAY has sought clarification on when is the start date for this 60- to 90-day period.

Gorilla was launched in June 2021 as the 13th telco here, leasing its network from telco M1.

It operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means it provides telecommunication services without owning its own infrastructure, tapping instead the existing networks provided by other main telcos.

M1 said that Gorilla ceased to be its MVNO partner as of May 20 last year.

Aside from providing mobile plans to Singapore customers, Gorilla's website shows that it offers non-mobile services as well such as cloud management services.

The firm was bought over in June last year by Society Pass Inc, a Vietnam tech firm that is listed on American stock market Nasdaq.

Singapore’s telco industry was for the longest time dominated by three main players — Singtel, StarHub and M1. Australian telco company TPG, which has since been renamed to Simba, clinched the coveted licence to be the fourth player in 2016. 

MVNOs such as Circles.Life, Grid Mobile, Gomo, Giga, Gorilla and a few others have since came onto the scene. 

One of the MVNOs, Zero Mobile, had its licence suspended by IMDA in March 2020 after it failed to address billing disputes with former subscribers.

The operator, which began in 2017, halted its services sometime in late 2019 saying that there was strong competition, at a time when there were more than 10 telcos operating in total, including MNVOs.

Another MVNO, Grid Mobile, bowed out in December 2021 after two years in operation.

 

 

 

[jcmm]

With 9 mils subscribers in SG, even main telcos have diverted their business oversea or out of telecom. How MVNO without strong $$$ backing and competing with cheap package make it in SG??  

Edited January 19, 2023 by jcmm

[DOBIEMKZ]

6 minutes ago, jcmm said:

With 9 mils subscribers in SG, even main telcos have diverted their business oversea or out of telecom. How MVNO without strong $$$ backing and competing with cheap package make it in SG??  

Too many monks, too little porridge. 

僧多粥少。

[Voodooman]

14 minutes ago, jcmm said:

With 9 mils subscribers in SG, even main telcos have diverted their business oversea or out of telecom. How MVNO without strong $$$ backing and competing with cheap package make it in SG??  

Wait till 5G usage is more widespread.  Many more MVNO will die as there will be less suppliers.