Media giant Singapore Press Holdings Limited (SPH) has forged a strategic partnership with SBS Transit Limited (SBS Transit) with the signing of a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MOU) to introduce buzz pods a new generation of newsstands at all 14 bus interchanges island-wide in phases by the end of this year.
The first of such buzz pods at the bus interchanges was launched by Mr Robin Hu, Director of SPH Buzz (a wholly-owned subsidiary of SPH) and SPHs Executive Vice-President of Newspapers Services Division, and Mr Gan Juay Kiat, Chief Operating Officer of SBS Transit, at the Boon Lay bus interchange today. Three other new buzz pods have also been launched at Eunos, Tampines and Clementi bus interchanges.
"We have noticed an emerging trend among busy executives who prefer to buy their favourite publications from newsstands which are more accessible to them during their daily travel. Hence, we believe that by setting up buzz pods at the bus interchanges, we will be able to offer more shopping convenience to those on the go," said Mr Hu.
Mr Gan added, "As a service-oriented organisation, we constantly look for innovative ways to enhance our commuters' travel experience - whether it is on board our bus or waiting for the bus at the Interchange. With the buzz pods at our interchanges, we are able to add a new dimension to the traveling experience where commuters can now surf the Internet and get news updates while waiting for the bus to arrive."
Unlike the traditional newsstands that sell mainly newspapers, magazines and tidbits, the new eye-catching buzz pods at the bus interchanges are equipped with digital displays highlighting breaking news headlines, and are WI-FI enabled. This means that busy commuters will be able to surf the Internet to access news, download the latest SPH promotional offers, access location-based information, and make free calls using Voice-Over-Internet-Procotol (VOIP) within the vicinity of the buzz pods at the bus interchanges, while waiting for their buses to arrive.
Consumers can also sign up for wireless broadband connection under the Wireless@SG initiative and shop for a comprehensive range of WI-FI duo mode handheld devices offered by iCell, which is the WI-FI solution provider for the buzz pods.
For those without WI-FI devices, the PacNet Web Stations at the buzz pods will allow them to do a quick check on their emails, pay bills and top up their ez-link cards via credit cards.
The buzz pods at all the bus interchanges will also be equipped with TeleMoney, a payment facility offered by Systems@Work, hence making it easy and convenient for consumers to top up their prepaid phone cards and gaming cards.
Besides being able to browse through the full range of newspapers and magazines published and distributed by SPH, consumers can also purchase an extensive array of food and beverage products from the buzz pods.
And while they go about their shopping, Internet surfing and e-payments, consumers will also be able to tune in to the latest infotainment and enjoy their favourite English and Chinese music on Radio 91.3 and Radio 100.3, the two radio stations operated by SPH UnionWorks. |
