No doubt FIT will be competition for X when/if it eventually arrives, but as Brendan has pointed out it needs local carriers to install the underlying CSP infrastructure before it can compete. I wouldn't classify a product that has access to a handful of countries as being a credible nor competitive global roaming product, would you?
Also, can you point out where SYT have indicated FIT will be released in "early 2018"?
I haven't been able to find anything firm from then to indicate anything other than their focus on growing installed number base for Freeway and 'hoping' to achieve agreements for their Dataflex product in Q118, which only has a few days remaining, tic toc.
Do SYT holders apply the NOR category of 'imminent' to their forecasting too?
Sorry couldn't resist!!
FRX do things a little differently. The X2 beta was quietly put out there in March, (and didn't even warrant an ASX release). Invites went out as promised on 15 March. The X2 Global Chat Plan will become available on 1 May.
For every day beyond 1 May, X2 will be competing in every market that CSP, Freeway & FIT do. Just because it's primarily a global roaming product, don't think people won't be using it as substitute to their local provider, especially in developing countries. Will X2 be huge competition for SYT? I'd say probably not, but it's certainly worth a crack, and we'll beat SYT to market in 175 or so countries.
I believe that X2 was primarily designed to provide a boost to download numbers. (Beta participants need 10 users to scan their invite QR code to give them 1 year of FREE X2 Global Chat). If anyone here wants to scan mine, let me know! I'd add that is appears to already be having an impact.
Additionally it will help us to monetise the 80k X subscribers that have not yet purchased a microchip, presumably because they were the tightwads chasing free data codes in late 2016.
It will also help us expand our existing relationships with TripAdvisor, Grab, Shopee, Air Asia, Scoot, KLM, Korean Air, and provide something new for our 187 distribution partners.
A question I'd like to ask you @d_l_b and @flexiroam is around the risks of sponsored data and 'zero rating' Net Neutrality.
I know that Trump repealed the net neutrality laws last year in the USA, but this has created an uproar with the public, legislators and even content providers, and since almost every civilized country in the world is debating this issue at the moment, does it not present a huge risk to the future of sponsored data?
FRX does not have a single cent of revenue that is at risk with sponsored data, YET!
SYT's entire business is currently reliant on it. Food for thought wouldn't you think?
FRX Price at posting:
8.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
