[Opinion] Yes4G reinvented the mobile phone with an app, still requires a device to make call

YTL does it again- this time it “reinvented” the mobile phone with the Yes Life Apps for iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

A little of history of YTL Yes 4G- it was the first in the world to launch a “nationwide” 4G network(LTE upgrade will be called 5G) and probably the 1st broadband operator in the world to use the pay-per-use model(remember TMNet dial-up?).

Well you see, the whole thing sounded like you can’t make calls on the iPhone, iPod touch or iPad unless you use the Yes Life App.  So YTL took a BIG step in the mobile industry by creating Yes Life App that needs to be installed on a device to make calls and SMS.  It reinvented the mobile phone, am I right YTL?

Oh wait, there are Skype, Fring(world’s first video calls to iPhone & iPod touch), Tango, plus few other apps out there that allows voice and VIDEO calls on the Apple iOS devices. So what did YTL’s Yes reinvented, an app with voice/sms service using broadband connection?

On the PC, Maxis Voice2Go(Voice & SMS) is offered to users with a 015 number. I really don’t see anything that was re-invented here by YTL, a copycat maybe?

Never mind, I will save it for another time.

First of all, you need to find a free WiFi-hotspot at the roaming countries to use the Yes Life App, if not you get billed for DATA roaming charges which is more expensive than voice roaming rates. What BIG difference(re-invented the mobile phone?) does it make with Skype/Fring/Tango which offers video call and chat services?

(“The Drink” aka Soya Cincau talking about Yes Life App- picture credit)

Secondly, making a voice call over 3G/WiFi(especially in Malaysia) can never give users a good experience if compared to mobile voice calls.  If I use Maxis 3G on my iPhone and make a call using the Yes Life App, does YTL Yes guarantee the call quality at 9sen per min? The call quality over the broadband connection is going to be bad and at the end of the day, I’m gonna need to pay more for that call. Although a few cents more expensive than Yes rates, voice using mobile network offers a better experience. Unless you don’t mind calling from DiGi/Maxis/Celcom/other broadband service, say “Hi” and then get a response after 10 seconds!

If the 018 number makes a big difference to you while roaming then try Flexiroam, at RM10 per day, receive all your calls at local (Malaysia) rate and make calls back to Malaysia(unlimited) for free using the existing mobile operator’s network while roaming, no broadband required!

What did YTL re-invented again?

By the way, it took months for an iOS Yes Life App and YTL plans to develop the Android version within 2-months(Top Story- YTL reinvented the Android devices?).

I was told that the Yes Life App has a couple of bugs and requires more improvements- Enough talking BIG and get to work YTL.

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  • http://twitter.com/priateruna pria teruna

     have you check skype,fring,nimbuzz rates? it’s ok…i give u the link.

    nimbuzz – http://www.nimbuzz.com/en/nimbuzzout/ratesskype - http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/prices/pay-monthly/fring - http://www.fring.com/fringout/rates/full

    same like Yeslife…need internet/broadband connection. let say i want to call someone that dont have smartphone or dont have install any those messenger client, can u suggest which 1 is cheap?

    • http://malaysianwireless.com/ Kugan

      Hi there, thanks for the comment.

      I suggested Flexiroam in my post, no boadband required, unlimited calls back to Malaysia while roaming.

      http://flexiroam.com/

      The question is, you wanna have better voice quality over the mobile network or a bad call via broadband.

      • http://twitter.com/priateruna pria teruna

        i’ve tried skype voice call via gprs connection, voice quality not bad.still clear without noise. now i want to know whether yeslife voice call quality over gprs same like skype or not.

  • http://twitter.com/jojo19693 jojo1969

    Whatever Yes is launching is hogwash. P1 is the first Wimax to offer voice in Malaysia so shame on Yes on shouting reinvent. You don’t need any app, just plug phone and start calling for P1. The only thing yes reinvent is reinventing the wheel. Kugan is right when he pointed out skype. Skype can use everywhere in the world. Who care about 018 number. 

    Also why apple product? Apple is so unpopular now. No wonder yes got no foreign investor while P1 just got more money to expand to LTE. Now very clear that yes is losing the 4G race.  

  • Jean Yong

     my 2cents:
    it might be useful for me only when I need to make call to my parents when I am in foreign country because they dunno how to use computer, I can’t call them thru skype or any other software which require computer knowledge (even the very basic one). Other than that, I really dunno what’s so good about this one.. cause I still have to find a wifi to connect before I make the call.

  • http://twitter.com/wsathes sathes n

    awesome analysis…:)

  • http://malaysianwireless.com/ Kugan

    thanks for the comments….