| Wani Roslan |
BRUNEI citizens and residents will get to experience the latest in telephony innovation by way of ‘Cakapp’ from Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru), which was officially launched at The Brunei Hotel yesterday, by David Holliday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of TelBru.
In his welcoming remarks, Holliday described ‘Cakapp’ as the latest in TelBru line of innovative products that are designed to change the way people use TelBru’s fixed-line technology, allowing them access to moderate international and domestic calling rates.
“We have combined advances in wireless data connectivity with our ever-expanding network of fibre technology, and have developed a telephony solution that allows people to make calls whenever, however, and wherever they are in the world,” he said.
He added, “‘Cakapp’ was made possible by a group of very young, and multi-talented Bruneians who were guided by experts with international experience. While seemingly simple, what lies behind is quite complex, and I am proud of our TelBru team for bringing this to market.
“I know that the huge effort and time they have spent developing this has given them invaluable knowledge which they can use in many of our future projects, for the benefit of Brunei’s digital landscape.”
TelBru’s ‘Cakapp’ focusses on providing more affordable calling options while on the go, whether in the country or travelling abroad. The premise of this development leverages on the combination of traditional telecom technology and the Internet that goes beyond borders, where users of this application are able to make and receive calls based on their landline, thus bringing the ubiquitous fixed-line telephone back into the 21st Century.
Now available on Google Play and Apple Store, the software’s name is derived from the commonly used Malay phrase cakap (talk) that affords it a digital persona befitting the needs of the modern Bruneian.
A manifestation of TelBru’s months of research, testing, and production that harnessed multi-team skills and expertise from various departments that largely involved local youth under the supervision of international expertise, this mobile application offers four plans:
Cakapp Prime – A post-paid plan to make and receive calls both locally and internationally. Existing TelBru customers with fixed lines can link their landlines to the app. This will require over-the-counter subscription at any of TelBru’s branches.
Cakapp Plus – This feature will allow Cakapp Prime customers to subscribe to additional numbers through the app, for an additional BND3 a month.
Go Lite – A basic feature to make outgoing local and international calls for both TelBru and non-TelBru subscribers which only requires through-the-app verification through One-Time Password (OTP).
Go Xtra – An upgrade of Go Lite where users can make outgoing and receive incoming calls, by registering at any TelBru branches.
What differentiates this mobile application from other mainstream Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is that receivers of such calls do not need to download the mobile application to enjoy seamless call connectivity. It may be used by international subscribers anywhere around the world, as long as they are connected to the Internet.
As the company continues to reinvent its products, upgrades to this software will be made available, including business-centric access that features additional languages.