True Move H Universal Communication (TUC) has joined forces with Sabuy Technology Co to launch "Term Sabuy", a new top-up machine for mobile service.
Claimed to be the first of its kind in Asia, Term Sabuy allows customers to buy new SIM cards and register to activate new mobile numbers under the standard requirements of the telecom regulator via an unmanned system.
The move will facilitate customers refilling top-up credits in the prepaid system, allowing True Move H to sell its new SIM card 24 hours a day, especially in provincial areas.
The new version of Term Sabuy will be available at 1,000 kiosks in the first phase by June in Bangkok and provincial areas.
Suphakit Vuntanadit, group chief commercial officer of True Corporation, the parent of TUC, said top-up machines are very popular for prepaid service customers because they are convenient for refilling credit 24 hours a day via self-service, as well as for utility bill payments and mobile wallet activities.
More than 40% of mobile users in the prepaid system refill their credit via top-up machines.
The big three top-up machine providers are Boonterm by Forth Smart Service, Term Sabuy by Sabuy Technology and Singer Thailand's machine.
True Corp provides a True top-up machine with around 8,000 kiosks.
"The co-development with Sabuy Technology offered innovation for mobile service in the country that offers benefits to both companies and consumers," he said.
The new SIM card sale via Term Sabuy top-up machines only offers TUC SIM cards.
Chookiat Rujanapornpaje, chief of Sabuy Technology, said the company now offers 51,000 Term Sabuy top-up machine kiosks nationwide, with 22% in Bangkok and the rest in the provinces.
With the new version of Term Sabuy, customers can register to activate new SIM cards with an application to the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission.
Mr Chookiat said customers can refill credits via Term Sabuy top-up machines in amounts ranging from 10 baht to 1,000 baht.
Refill transactions average 30 baht, he said.
Some 5 million mobile users refill via the Term Sabuy machines nationwide.
Each client refills prepaid service for one to three per week on average.