Jump to content

Salamfone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salamfone Sdn Bhd
Company typePrivate Limited
IndustryTelecommunication
Defunct1 August 2013
HeadquartersBangsar, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Area served
Malaysia
ProductsMobile Prepaid
ParentReach Telecom Holdings K.S.C.C.
Websitesalamfone.my[dead link]

Salamfone, a subsidiary of Kuwait’s Reach Telecom, was the world's first Syariah compliant mobile network. The Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) operated using the Maxis 2G network. Salamfone closed down its business on 1 August 2013.

Services and coverage

[edit]

The prepaid starter pack was priced at RM8.50 with RM5 airtime. Voice calls are charged RM0.20/min(normal rate is 25sen/min) to all network nationwide & each SMS cost 10sen. Data is pay-per-use and it is charged 10sen/10kb.

Some of the services provided by Salamfone:

  • Infaq-One sen will be donated by Salamfone every time a customer calls another Salamfone customer
  • Talian Hidayah – dedicated Islamic helpline
  • Islamic Auspicious Days reminder and bonus
  • Free inspiring religious SMS
  • Islamic tunes – Nasyid and Islamic RBT
  • Subscription Islamic Value Added Services
  • Reload transfer

Salamfone was planned to be aggressively marketed at Kedah, Perlis, Terengganu and Kelantan as these locations have the highest concentration of Muslim residents in Malaysia. The service will be primarily targeted to those in the age group of 17 to 55.

Developments

[edit]

Salamfone, which received shariah certification in 2010,[1] banned a number of things such as pornographic pictures sent and received through their lines.

SalamFone expected to be introduced in stages throughout Malaysia. Currently, they use 010 base 6XXX XXX.Salamfone also expected to introduce their 3G Internet service next month.[2]

Termination

[edit]

In late-July 2013, during the final weeks of the Ramadan holy month, and with Hari Raya Aidilfitri around the corner, Salamfone users begin to experience a series of service disruptions. It was later known that Salamfone is in the process of settling certain disputes with its host network Maxis.[3] After a series of disagreements between Salamfone and Maxis, it was later decided that Maxis will terminate Salamfone's services and hence, Salamfone was forcibly shut down.[4]

On August 1, Subscribers were given the option to migrate to a different service provider. Existing Salamfone subscribers with unused credits had the choice to either request a refund or transfer their unused credits to "XOX," another MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) operator, in order to continue their services there. [5][6][7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Reach Telecom Holding KSCC". Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  2. ^ "Islamic Mobile Service from SalamFone". 11 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Maxis Terminates Salamfone's Contract due to the breach of agreement". MalaysianWireless.com. August 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Kemelut SALAMFONE dan MAXIS menganiaya dan menghina pengguna ISLAM". Ariesham.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  5. ^ https://www.facebook.com/Salamfone/posts/584914854884490 [user-generated source]
  6. ^ "Islamic Mobile Operator Salamfone shuts down, customers asked to migrate". MalaysianWireless.com. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  7. ^ Farah Zamira Farush Khan (August 1, 2013). "Salamfone henti perkhidmatan". www.sinarharian.com.my (in Malay). Sinar Harian. Archived from the original on August 4, 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
[edit]