The Singtel Group is partnering with Mobike to provide a more convenient and enhanced bike-sharing experience.
The strategic partnership with the smart bike-sharing company extends across Singtel, Optus and regional associates Airtel, AIS, Globe, and Telkomsel.
The collaboration covers mobile payments, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and marketing across Asia
Mobike currently has a presence in over 200 cities around the world. Since its launch in Singapore in March this year, its first market outside of China, Mobike has continued to grow in the Asia Pacific region, launching in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea and Australia in recent months.
The Singtel Group and Mobike will work together to explore mobile payments for bike rides. Through the Singtel Open Platform, a group-wide payment gateway, the Group’s mobile customers across Asia will be able to pay for trips using direct carrier billing or the Group’s mobile wallets. This will provide a seamless, secure, and convenient experience for users, especially in the developing markets where many still do not have credit or debit cards.
Since Mobike’s launch in 2016, its fleet of 7 million bikes have been equipped with smart IoT locks. The Singtel Group and Mobike also intend to explore new IoT technology, such as eMTC and NB-IoT which will enable the smart bikes to be located more precisely even in areas that are technically challenging for mobile signals such as underground parking spaces. In addition to better and wider coverage, the new IoT technology will also help to reduce power consumption and extend the battery life of the smart locks.
Arthur Lang, CEO of International Group, Singtel
Rapid smartphone growth and the expansion of the sharing economy are transforming our customers’ lives. The Singtel Group of companies which includes our regional associates will continue to form strategic partnerships with service providers such as Mobike.
Joe Xia, Co-Founder and CTO, Mobike
Singtel shares our vision of improving urban mobility and building more sustainable cities though introducing smart bike-share technology to cities.
