Singapore is leveraging on its high mobile and broadband penetration rate and the proliferation of wireless hotspots around the island to bring the National Day Parade (NDP) into a whole new digital dimension. This year, thanks to a collaboration between the NDP Exco, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and industry partners, Singaporeans can celebrate National Day the infocomm way - they will be able to enjoy a personalised NDP experience on their PCs, laptops, mobile phones and PDAs, said Colonel Teo Jing Siong, Chairman of the NDP 2007 Executive Committee.
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Thanks to infocomm, this year's NDP experience can be shared through PCs, laptops, mobile phones and PDAs.
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As at May 2007, Singapore's mobile penetration stands at 109.5 per cent, including 1.14 million 3G subscribers. Household broadband penetration has reached 69.2 per cent and about 78 per cent of these, or some 8 in 10 households, own at least a PC or a laptop. There are also now 428,000 Wireless@SG (free 512 kbps) subscribers in Singapore.
"Infocomm has the power to extend the 'reach' and 'richness' of our National Day celebrations," said Mr Chan Yeng Kit, IDA's Chief Executive Officer. Singaporeans who have not been lucky enough to get hold of an NDP ticket, or who are overseas, can still be part of the celebrations. "With infocomm, you needn't take a back seat. You can be part of the celebrations."
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Singaporeans can access video footage from up to 18 "live" cameras which will be streamed through www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm
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For example, Singaporeans can access video footage from up to 18 "live" cameras which will be streamed through www.ndp.org.sg/infocomm. Furthermore, "live" streams from four selected cameras can be viewed via their mobile phones when they access www.ndp.org.sg/mobile. Some of these cameras will also be capturing fringe celebration activities.
Interactivity through infocomm will be another key feature of this year's celebrations. The NDP organisers are getting Singaporeans to bond through blogs. People from all walks of life, from the NDP parade commander to performers and spectators, will be sharing their experiences online and anyone who wants to video-blog or share pictures of NDP celebrations can upload them to www.ndp.org.sg/mobile via their mobile phones.
Mobile phones equipped with a 2D barcode reader can also be used to scan the "EzCode" for special discounts at some 168 participating retail outlets in Marina Bay, while video call charges for all operators are being reduced to five cents per minute for a special 3G video-on-demand service which allows National Day filmlets to be streamed onto 3G handsets when subscribers make a video call to 6829-2007.