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Samsung Launches the New WindFree™ Multi-Split Air Conditioners: Comfortably Cool with Great Energy Savings

The latest additions to Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances supported by AI innovation delivers smarter experiences to elevate homeowners’ lifestyles


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – Samsung Electronics Singapore today announced the launch of its latest WindFree™ Air Conditioner series, expanding Samsung’s range of home appliances for smarter homes, designed to elevate homeowners’ lifestyles with its Comfort Cooling, Energy-Saving, and Connected Living features.

The WindFree™ Air Conditioner is equipped to provide great cooling performance and comfortable airflow
The WindFree™ Air Conditioner is equipped to provide great cooling performance and comfortable airflow

“Through 2023, Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances range have delivered on consumers’ preferences for efficiency, sleek designs, and modern functionality to positive effect. 2024 sees a new addition to the lineup with the WindFree™ Air Conditioners, designed to elevate homeowners’ living spaces in sunny Singapore with better comfort, greater efficiency, and more convenient control,” said Gavin Yeong, Head of Digital Appliances, Samsung Electronics Singapore. “We are also excited to introduce other new and exciting additions to our lineup of Bespoke AI appliances in the refrigerator, laundry, and vacuum cleaner categories which deliver a more intuitive and connected home experience, powered by AI.”

Advanced airflow structure with 23,000 micro air holes for more effective cooling
Advanced airflow structure with 23,000 micro air holes for more effective cooling

Be Comfortably Cool with WindFree™

With the WindFree™ Air Conditioner range, homeowners can now stay comfortably cool without feeling cold. WindFree™ Cooling mode disperses cool air gently and evenly through 23,000 micro air holes, creating an environment with a very low air speed to enable greater comfort without the unpleasant feeling of cold air blown directly onto your skin, perfect for those with sensitive and dry skin. This is supported by findings published in Allergology International on the effects of conventional cold airflow on the skin, versus WindFree™[1]. Minimising direct exposure to cold airflow in the study suggests it can help reduce skin irritation while consistently maintaining skin moisture levels. On the other hand, the Fast Cooling mode cool rooms quickly from corner to corner, so you’re always comfortable.

AI Auto Cooling function automatically optimises between the WindFree™ Air Conditioner’s cooling modes
AI Auto Cooling function automatically optimises between the WindFree™ Air Conditioner’s cooling modes

With its AI Auto Cooling function, the WindFree™ Air Conditioner provides a smarter and more convenient way of living and comfort for homeowners by automatically optimising between WindFree™ Cooling and Fast Cooling modes by analysing room conditions, usage patterns[2], and preferred temperature to select the most appropriate mode[3] for homeowners’ comfort.

The WindFree™ Good Sleep mode helps homeowners achieve better sleep quality by automatically adjusting temperature based on sleeping patterns
The WindFree™ Good Sleep mode helps homeowners achieve better sleep quality by automatically adjusting temperature based on sleeping patterns

WindFree™ Good Sleep mode creates the ideal climate for sleeping[4], minus the unpleasant feeling of cold airflow. Automated temperature control with WindFree™ Cooling helps homeowners enjoy a good night’s sleep, and to wake up feeling fully refreshed.

Greater Energy Savings with AI Energy Mode

The WindFree™ Air Conditioner goes beyond functionality and comfort, providing homeowners with greater energy savings with the AI Energy Mode by analysing usage patterns and external conditions to reduce the energy usage. AI Energy Mode works in conjunction with the AI Auto Cooling function and reduces energy consumption by up to 28%[5] through controlling the compressor’s frequency and managing temperature levels without sacrificing comfort.

The WindFree™ Air Conditioner range enjoys a National Environment Agency (NEA) air conditioner energy efficiency rating of 5 Ticks, ensuring optimal cooling efficiency without sacrificing performance. The range also uses R32 climate-friendly refrigerant, which helps to conserve the ozone layer and with less impact on global warming as compared to conventional R22 or R410A refrigerants.

Enjoy greater energy savings with AI Energy Mode and AI Auto Cooling function
Enjoy greater energy savings with AI Energy Mode and AI Auto Cooling function

Smarter Convenience with SmartThings

Tech-savvy homeowners can conveniently monitor the energy usage of their WindFree™ Air Conditioner with the Samsung SmartThings app[6], utilising tariff information from four energy providers in Singapore. At the same time, homeowners can conveniently regulate their room’s temperature using a voice assistant[7] with suggested settings, such as Samsung Bixby[8], Google Assistant[9] or Amazon Alexa[10].

The WindFree™ Air Conditioner takes convenience to another level. Made possible by the SmartThings app7, come home to a comfortably cool space with Welcome Cooling that allows users to turn on and control the air conditioner from afar, to set the room temperature at their preferred temperature and mode settings when near home.

Convenient access to your WindFree™ Air Conditioner with SmartThings
Convenient access to your WindFree™ Air Conditioner with SmartThings

Cool and Clean with Peace of Mind

Ensure hygienic operation for your WindFree™ Air Conditioner with the Auto Clean function and cool down with greater peace of mind with the WindFree™ Air Conditioner’s 4-in-1 Filter
Ensure hygienic operation for your WindFree™ Air Conditioner with the Auto Clean function and cool down with greater peace of mind with the WindFree™ Air Conditioner’s 4-in-1 Filter

With the WindFree™ Air Conditioner, homeowners also ensure more hygienic operation with the Auto Clean function by automatically drying the Heat Exchanger using a 3-step process[11]. This removes moisture buildup inside by blowing out air for between 10 to 30 minutes[12]; this helps to prevent the buildup of bacteria and odours while also removing 95% of microorganisms[13].

The WindFree™ Air Conditioner also comes equipped with a 4-in-1 Filter that effectively removes 99%[14] of viruses, bacteria, allergens and fine PM2.5 dust alongside fibres and hair.

Unlock New Opportunities with Bespoke AI Appliances

Complementing the new WindFree™ Air Conditioner range, Samsung is also launching a lineup of new Bespoke AI appliances with enhanced connectivity and AI capabilities to allow homeowners to manage their homes in a smarter way while introducing futuristic style and functionality in their living spaces.


The AI Family Hub™ [15] 4-Door French Door Refrigerator features AI Vision Inside[16] that taps on a smart internal camera which can identify up to 33 different fresh food items in your refrigerator. With SmartThings Food [6] , you can effortlessly create and maintain a detailed inventory of the items in your refrigerator, complete with expiry dates, ensuring that you always know exactly what you have on hand. AI Energy Mode also helps decrease energy usage by up to 15%[17], by optimising compressor speed and defrost cycles based on usage patterns and surroundings.

In addition, Samsung is also launching the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen and AI Wash & Dry™ for efficient cleaning cycles. With a 25kg large washing capacity and 15kg heat pump drying capability, big laundry loads can be done with ease in one single wash.

Samsung is also launching two additions to the vacuum cleaner lineup. The Bespoke Jet™ AI 350W is Samsung’s most powerful stick vacuum yet, with suction power of up to 350W and AI Cleaning Mode, which intelligently cleans various environments by optimising cleaning settings. The Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™️ is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum cleaner that comes with dual functions of vacuuming and mopping. It also maintains itself with Clean Station Steam+, which hygienically steams and sanitises the mop, and comes with AI Floor Detect to identify floor types and optimise cleaning performance.

Availability and Pricing

The new WindFree™ Air Conditioners will be available in May 2024, at the following recommended retail prices:

WindFree™ Air Conditioners (available in May 2024)
System Recommended Retail Price

(w/GST and inclusive of installation)

System 2 (Fan Coil Unit 9,000 BTU x 2) $2,920
System 3 (Fan Coil Unit 9,000 BTU x 3) $4,285
System 4 (Fan Coil Unit 18,000 BTU x 1 + 9,000 BTU x 3) $5,425

For more information about the WindFree™ Air Conditioners, please visit https://samsung.com/sg/air-conditioners/windfree/.

Bespoke AI appliances Recommended Retail Price (w/GST) / Availability
AI Family Hub™ 4-Door French Door Refrigerator $7,670.00, available now
Bespoke AI Laundry Combo™ Coming soon in Q3 2024
Bespoke Jet™ AI 350W Coming soon in Q3 2024
Bespoke Jet Bot Combo™ AI Coming soon in June 2024

For more information on the new Bespoke AI appliances, please visit https://www.samsung.com/sg/home-appliances/bespoke-home/.

Consumers buying 3 ticks and above refrigerators or heatpump dryers with AI Energy can get rebates of up to 2 years’ energy consumption. Also, up to $100 rebates for 4 ticks washing machines with AI Energy. Promotion runs in-store from April 15th to May 8th, 2024.


[1] The journal was conducted by Samsung Medical Center with the participation of several hospital members. Title: Exposure to cold airflow alters skin pH and epidermal filaggrin degradation products in children with atopic dermatitis URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1323893019301960

[2] Stores user data, preferences, and usage patterns to suggest the most useful options.

[3] When a Wi-Fi connection is not available, the preferred mode is based on the result of big data analysis.

[4] Based on internal testing, Tested on the AR07T9170HA3, Good Sleep mode.

[5] Based on internal testing on AJ018DBAPKF/SP and AJ045DCJ2KF/SP models, comparing AI energy mode vs AI auto mode. The testing was conducted in Samsung’s 40m² residential environment laboratory at a temperature of 35°C/24°C (dry bulb/wet bulb, KS C 9306: air conditioner). Requires the use of the SmartThings App and a Samsung account login. Actual savings may vary by usage patterns and environment.

[6] Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account login are required.

[7] A Wi-Fi connection is required.

[8] Bixby is Samsung’s brand of artificial intelligence (AI) / Internet of Things (IoT) voice assistant. Bixby service availability may vary depending on country. Bixby recognizes selected languages and certain accents/dialects. The user interface may change and differ by device. The availability of Bixby features and content providers may vary depending on the country/carrier/language/device model/OS version. A Samsung account log-in and data network connection (Wi-Fi or data network) are required.

[9] Google is a trademark of Google LLC.

[10]Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.Com, Inc. or its affiliates.

[11]Models without WindFree™ mode will use a 2-step process (3 minutes of auto air flow and 7 minutes of high air flow).

[12]The Auto Clean time will vary depending on the condition of the air conditioner.

[13]Tested by Samsung in accordance with internal protocols. Results provided to and interpreted by Intertek for organisms (Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538).

[14] Tested by Intertek for anti-bacteria properties, the Chungbuk National University (Korea), witnessed by Intertek, for anti-virus properties, the Japan test lab (ITEA) for anti-allergy properties and the Korea test lab (KITECH) for PM2.5 dust collection. The filter performance is based on testing of the filter material and not a specific model. Data has been measured under specific testing conditions and may vary depending on environmental factors and individual use.

[15]AI Vision Inside accessed through the AI Family Hub utilises AI-based algorithm, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy. Only certain services on the AI Family Hub taps on the AI-based algorithms.

[16] A red light will turn on when the camera is working. The user’s appearance can be captured, but surroundings other than food items will be automatically blurred. As of March 2024, AI Vision Inside can recognise 33 food items including fresh fruits and vegetables. If the food item is not recognisable, it may be listed as unknown item. AI Vision Inside cannot identify or list any food items in the fridge door bins or freezer. It recognises food items based on deep learning models, which may be updated periodically to improve accuracy. Users may need to manually manage the list for accuracy. Detection and identification of food items is based on Samsung’s deep learning model trained using a predefined set of data and may yield incomplete or incorrect information. New datasets may be introduced to the learning model from time to time to enhance its accuracy.

[17] The test results are based on a comparison of the factory setting temperature when using AI Energy Mode and without using AI Energy Mode. Results may vary depending on the usage conditions and patterns. SmartThings will display a notification before activating the saving algorithm in both the ‘Maximum Mode’ and ‘Custom Mode’.

Hashtag: #Samsung, #WindFree, #Bespoke

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Samsung

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions, and delivering a seamless connected experience through its SmartThings ecosystem and open collaboration with partners. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at .

The Pearl Lam Podcast marks new milestone celebrating people who are disrupting the mainstream


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – The Pearl Lam Podcast has marked reaching its six-month anniversary since launching as a platform to spotlight established and emerging voices who have shown an unwavering determination to follow their own convictions – no matter what.

Gallerist and podcast host Pearl Lam. Photograph by William Louey.
Gallerist and podcast host Pearl Lam. Photograph by William Louey.

Hosted by gallerist Pearl Lam, The Pearl Lam Podcast has broken away from the paradigm of the fixed-location podcast by travelling to film with a rotating cast of interviewees on location in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, Seoul, New York and LA. Each episode sets out to inspire, educate and disrupt conventional ways of thinking, with the talented cast of guests drawn from the worlds of culture, art, design, food, film, fashion, music and technology.

A video of memorable moments and highlights from the first six months of The Pearl Lam Podcast can be watched here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZonrBxKFdw

The Pearl Lam Podcast explores a variety of themes, with 15 episodes currently released online and another 20 episodes already filmed and due to be released each week. As well as exploring the journey of each guest, the Pearl Lam Podcast regularly examines recurring themes from a range of different cultural perspectives, including ‘heritage and identity’; ‘cultural colonialism’, ‘creative inspiration’ and ‘having the confidence to succeed’.

Host Pearl Lam is already well known as a contemporary art collector and patron and as a leading authority on the global art market. She is also known for her role elevating Chinese contemporary artists onto the world stage and for representing prominent international contemporary artists worldwide. Her Pearl Lam Galleries in Hong Kong and Shanghai are recognised worldwide for their intellectual and cultural ambition.

Pearl Lam said:

“The Pearl Lam Podcast is a platform where subscribers can learn about people all over the world who have become leaders in their field. And it’s also a place for discovering new and emerging disruptors who are shaping their world. I’m pleased with our progress as we reach this six-month milestone and I’m excited that there is still more to come!”

Viewers can subscribe to The Pearl Lam Podcast on YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCivmi0eXL42nzaxtX-1EyZg?sub_confirmation=1

The Pearl Lam Podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music. Updates and clips for The Pearl Lam Podcast are regularly shared by Pearl Lam on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Hashtag: #ThePearlLamPodcast

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

MoneyHero Group Provides Guidance for Over $100 Million in Annual Revenue and Profitability in 2024; Elevates Shravan Thakur to Chief Commercial Officer to Support Growth and Expand Leadership Team

Former Group Head of Commercial and distinguished global executive (American Express, PricewaterhouseCoopers, etc.) to oversee and optimize all commercial aspects of MoneyHero’s operations across Greater Southeast Asia Unaudited fiscal year 2023 enterprise-wide revenue growth of more than 20% year-over-year and Q4 2023 revenue growth of more than 60% year-over-year


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) (“MoneyHero” or the “Company”), a market-leading personal finance and digital insurance aggregation and comparison platform in Greater Southeast Asia, today announced the promotion of distinguished global executive, Shravan Thakur, to Chief Commercial Officer (“CCO”), effective March 20, 2024. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Thakur had previously served as MoneyHero’s Group Co-Head of Commercial since November 2022, where he oversaw the Company’s commercial strategies in Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as the formation of a strategic partnership with TransUnion for MoneyHero’s pivotal credit scoring offerings. He joined the Company in April 2021 as the General Manager of Hong Kong.

In his new role as CCO, Mr. Thakur will work directly with MoneyHero’s Chief Executive Officer, Rohith Murthy, the Company’s management team, and the Board of Directors to optimize all MoneyHero’s commercial operations throughout Greater Southeast Asia. Specifically, Mr. Thakur will oversee:

  • Development and implementation of MoneyHero’s go-forward commercial strategies;
  • Growth and diversification of revenue streams across the Company’s integrated business units;
  • Improvement of enterprise-wide profitability;
  • Development and enhancement of corporate partnerships; and
  • Scaling the Company’s commercial and analytics departments with top talent, technology, and other strategic resources.

Mr. Thakur brings more than 20 years of senior commercial and operational experience to this CCO role, including three years with MoneyHero. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Thakur previously held executive roles with several prominent global companies, including American Express and PricewaterhouseCoopers. His areas of expertise include growth and transformational strategies, business development, P&L management, partnership programs, team building, and broader corporate affairs. He will split his time between Hong Kong and MoneyHero’s headquarters in Singapore.

“I am thrilled to take this next step with MoneyHero, which has become the largest and most dynamic player in the personal finance aggregation and comparison sector in Greater Southeast Asia,” said Mr. Thakur. “Between our existing infrastructure, stellar reputation, years of sustained performance, and unique and deep access to capital through our successful U.S. listing last year, MoneyHero has never been better positioned for the future. I am excited about the opportunities that lay ahead and look forward to scaling the business—while improving profitability—against a complex backdrop of accelerated digitization, product innovation, and ever-evolving consumer preferences.”

The promotion of Mr. Thakur to CCO comes as part of MoneyHero’s efforts to expand its executive team and platform after its successful listing on Nasdaq. The Company, which has dramatically outpaced the performance of peers in the marketplace, saw unaudited fiscal year 2023 enterprise-wide revenue growth of more than 20% year-over-year (“YoY”) and Q4 2023 revenue growth of more than 60% YoY. In the key markets of Singapore and Hong Kong, MoneyHero saw over 130% and 40% YoY Q4 revenue growth, respectively[1]. This positive performance was driven by continued investments that enhance and diversify the MoneyHero platform, while efficiently capturing greater market share. These investments include significant initiatives with the Company’s insurance offerings and substantial scaling of MoneyHero’s unique B2B2C platform, Creatory, which is now a major contributor to the Company’s integrated revenue streams. The Company will continue to execute on this ‘buy-versus-build’ approach throughout 2024 and beyond to maintain its growth rate and further-dominate market share across Greater Southeast Asia.

“On behalf of MoneyHero, I want to congratulate Shravan on his well-deserved promotion as we cap off another year of strong performance and embark on a new journey of ambitious growth,” said Rohith Murthy, CEO. “Looking forward in 2024, we are poised for accelerated revenue increases across our platform, fueled by our team’s proven ability to scale efficiently and organically. In fact, subject to the risks regarding forward-looking statements highlighted by the Company in this press release and its public filings, MoneyHero is set to surpass the key threshold of $100 million in enterprise-wide revenues this year, aiming also to achieve adjusted EBITDA positivity—a feat unmatched by any personal finance aggregation platform in our region. Our strategic approach is proving successful, keeping us committed to delivering exceptional value to all our stakeholders.”

For more information about MoneyHero, including information for investors and learning about career opportunities, please visit www.MoneyHeroGroup.com.

Hashtag: #MoneyHeroGroup

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

MoneyHero Group

(NASDAQ: ), formerly known as Hyphen Group or CompareAsia Group, is a market leader in the online personal finance and insurance aggregation and comparison sector in Greater Southeast Asia. The Company operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Malaysia with respective brands for each local market. MoneyHero currently managed 279 commercial partner relationships and services 8.7 million Monthly Unique Users[2] across its platform for the 12 months ended December 31, 2023. The Company’s backers include Peter Thiel—co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and the Founders Fund—and Hong Kong businessman, Richard Li, the founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group. To learn more about MoneyHero and how the innovative fintech company is driving APAC’s digital economy, please visit .

Unaudited Results
These results are unaudited and subject to the completion of the Company’s financial reporting processes, reviews, audit, and are subject to change.

Forward Looking Statements
This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws and also contains certain financial forecasts and projections. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this communication, including, but not limited to, statements as to the Company’s growth strategies, future results of operations and financial position, market size, industry trends and growth opportunities, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including “outlook,” “believes,” “expects,” “potential,” “continues,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “intends,” “trends,” “plans,” “estimates,” “anticipates” or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and forecasts and reflect the views, assumptions, expectations, and opinions of the Company, which are all subject to change due to various factors, including, without limitation, changes in general economic conditions. Any such estimates, assumptions, expectations, forecasts, views or opinions, whether or not identified in this communication, should be regarded as indicative, preliminary and for illustrative purposes only and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking statements and financial forecasts and projections contained in this communication are subject to a number of factors, risks and uncertainties. Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; the Company’s ability to attract new and retain existing customers in a cost effective manner; competitive pressures in and any disruption to the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) operate; the Group’s ability to achieve profitability despite a history of losses; the Group’s ability to implement its growth strategies and manage its growth; the Group’s ability to meet consumer expectations; the success of the Group’s new product or service offerings; the Group’s ability to attract traffic to its websites; the Group’s internal controls; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the Group’s ability to raise capital; media coverage of the Group; the Group’s ability to obtain adequate insurance coverage; changes in the regulatory environments (such as anti-trust laws, foreign ownership restrictions and tax regimes) and general economic conditions in the countries in which the Group operates; the Group’s ability to attract and retain management and skilled employees; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other pandemic on the business of the Group; the success of the Group’s strategic investments and acquisitions; changes in the Group’s relationship with its current customers, suppliers and service providers; disruptions to the Group’s information technology systems and networks; the Group’s ability to grow and protect its brand and the Group’s reputation; the Group’s ability to protect its intellectual property; changes in regulation and other contingencies; the Group’s ability to achieve tax efficiencies of its corporate structure and intercompany arrangements; potential and future litigation that the Group may be involved in; and unanticipated losses, write-downs or write-offs, restructuring and impairment or other charges, taxes or other liabilities that may be incurred or required and technological advancements in the Group’s industry. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s registration statement on Form F-1, which was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on January 22, 2024, and other documents to be filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, there may be additional risks that the Company currently does not know, or that the Company currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s expectations, plans, projections or forecasts of future events and view. If any of the risks materialize or the Company’s assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The Company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause their assessments to change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so, except as required by law. The inclusion of any statement in this document does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this document. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. In addition, the analyses of the Company contained herein are not, and do not purport to be, appraisals of the securities, assets, or business of the Company.


[1] The results are unaudited, subject to the completion of the Company’s quarterly financial reporting processes, reviews, audit, and potential adjustments that might result.

[2] “Monthly Unique User” means as a unique user with at least one session in a given month as determined by a unique device identifier from Google Analytics. A session initiates when a user either opens an app in the foreground or views a page or screen and no session is currently active (e.g., the user’s previous session has ended). A session ends after 30 minutes of user inactivity. The Company measures Monthly Unique Users during a time period longer than one month by averaging the Monthly Unique Users of each month within that period.

Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) and Toyota Daihatsu Engineering and Manufacturing (TDEM) both announce company name change to “Toyota Motor Asia” as a further step to integrate solutions and deliver Mobility for All


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announced their intention to change TMC and Daihatsu Motor Corporation (DMC) roles and responsibilities for small car business in emerging markets.

Along with this change, TMC also announced the direction to rename both TMAP (based in Singapore) and TDEM (based in Thailand), the two regional head offices of TMC in Asia, into “Toyota Motor Asia” (exact dates of legal name change will be confirmed soon).

While the legal entities will remain independent, the name change symbolizes the objective of delivering integrated technical and commercial solutions to customers in Asia, under the vision of delivering “Mobility for All”.

Toyota Motor Asia is more than a name; it is a promise to deliver innovative and practical products and services in an integrated manner, that meet customers’ unique mobility needs. Toyota has always believed in being “Best in Town”, where the company uses safe and high-quality advanced technologies to solve day-to-day mobility challenges for our customers and broader society, aligned with the corporate missions of enabling “Mobility for All” and “Carbon Neutrality.” Toyota Motor Asia is committed to pursuing these goals through the Toyota Mobility Concept, incorporating the three concepts of Mobility 1.0- to expand value of the car, Mobility 2.0- to expand mobility access to new realms and Mobility 3.0- to integrate mobility with social systems like energy or traffic management.

Toyota Motor Asia will continue to support 16 markets, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam. The regional head offices also support development and production preparation in other markets, including Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and across the Global South. As the organization transforms into a mobility company, Toyota Motor Asia will also continue to oversee Lexus operations in Asia and build synergies and mutual learnings between Toyota and Daihatsu.

Masahiko Maeda, CEO of Toyota Asia operations from TMC, shared his expectation of the greater synergy: “The naming of Toyota Motor Asia is a testament of our intention to integrate high quality products and services that serve the real mobility needs of all our customers in Asia, and even emerging markets beyond. Along with our Group companies and partners, we will continue to push the boundaries of the Toyota Mobility Concept but grounded in the practical realities of the market and our customer’s needs.”

Echoing this sentiment, Hao Quoc Tien, DCEO of Toyota Asia operations from TMC, emphasized: “The better alignment of R&D, manufacturing, sales and service, symbolized by our common name Toyota Motor Asia, is a significant step towards adding true customer-centric value in a rapidly changing world. Since mobility equates to opportunity for our stakeholders, we will do our best to deliver on our brand promise and “Move Your World.”

<Company Outline> from June 2024 (exact date of registration will be confirmed)>

Regional Office Toyota Motor Asia (TMA)
CEO: Masahiko Maeda/ Deputy CEO: Hao Quoc Tien
Legal Company name (under confirmation) Toyota Motor Asia (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Toyota Motor Asia (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Shareholder Toyota Motor Corporation 100%
President Hao Quoc Tien Masahiko Maeda
Employee Approx 350 Staff Approx 2,500 Staff
Responsibility Research & Development, Planning, Support towards Production, Sales, After-sales of Products and Services for Toyota Asia markets
Previous name Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (TMAP) Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (TDEM)

Hashtag: #ToyotaMotorAsia

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Mekong River Waters Deemed Safe After Swift Response to Sulfuric Acid Spill in Laos

(Photo: All in Laos)

The waters of the Mekong River are now safe after a recent spill of sulfuric acid in Laos has prompted concern along the border regions shared with Laos.

TCS Sustainathon Encourages Students in Malaysia to Build Solutions that Bridge Gender Gap in STEM

In its 2nd edition, the TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024 drew participation from 204 students from 30 Universities and Colleges, who proposed unique solutions to increase the representation of women in STEM


MUMBAI, INDIA / KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) announced the winners of TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024, a problem-solving competition that empowers students to find creative solutions to real-world challenges using technology.

Picture 1 - Team VirtuLearn from Brickfields Asia College emerged as the overall winner for their innovative solution on e-textbooks From Left to Right: Rahimah Ali, Head of Group Sustainability of Malaysia Aviation Group; Chow Xin Ying, Claudine Ivancka Netto, Fatima Safiya Fauzy of Team VirtuLearn from Brickfields Asia College; Jeevan Rajoo, Country Head of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS Malaysia) and Dinesh Magandiran, Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister of National Unity during the closing ceremony of TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024 at the Asia School of Business.
Picture 1 – Team VirtuLearn from Brickfields Asia College emerged as the overall winner for their innovative solution on e-textbooks
From Left to Right: Rahimah Ali, Head of Group Sustainability of Malaysia Aviation Group; Chow Xin Ying, Claudine Ivancka Netto, Fatima Safiya Fauzy of Team VirtuLearn from Brickfields Asia College; Jeevan Rajoo, Country Head of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS Malaysia) and Dinesh Magandiran, Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister of National Unity during the closing ceremony of TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024 at the Asia School of Business.

Ten finalists proposed their ideas for making the best use of technology to bridge the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and provide women with equal opportunities for growth in these fields. Based on the theme ‘Empowering Women in STEM’, the finalists tackled three challenge statements in their proposals: using technology to enhance the STEM curriculum, promote successful women in STEM as role models and helping women in STEM advance in their careers.

The finale was attended by Senator Saraswathy Kandasami, the Deputy Minister of National Unity, who said, “TCS Malaysia’s contributions to our nation’s growth embody the power of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable development and nation-building. Their dedication to fostering innovation and supporting STEM education aligns perfectly with our national priorities, highlighting the essential role such collaborations play in propelling Malaysia towards a more inclusive and prosperous future. By bringing together diverse talents and fostering an environment where women can thrive in STEM, we are not just empowering individuals, we are strengthening the very fabric of our nation. Such initiatives contribute to building a more inclusive, progressive and united Malaysia – a vision that the government, and specifically the Ministry of National Unity, strives to achieve.”

Students Claudine Ivancka Netto, Chow Xin Ying and Fatima Safiya Fauzy from Brickfields Asia College took home the grand prize for their solution, Team VirtuLearn. Their proposal aimed to transform education through interactive e-textbooks focusing on STEM subjects, to make STEM education more immersive and engaging. This is expected to encourage more female students to develop their interest in the field and join the industry. Team SrikandInTech from Universiti Tenaga Nasional with Aisya Batrisyia Azley, Nur Adilah Zainal Abidin and Mohammed Zaid Ahmed Alshami secured second place. At the third place was Team Grow Your Own STEM from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan with Muslihah Mohd Norhisam, Siti Nor Syafiqah Muhammad Hanafiah and Siti Nur Syafiqah Abd Latif. The winning team was awarded the prize money of RM 10,000, the second and third positions were awarded RM 7,000 and RM 5,000 respectively. In its 2nd edition, the competition attracted 76 proposal submissions from a total of 204 students from 30 universities and colleges across Malaysia.

This year’s theme was an attempt to create awareness among the youth about the gender gap in STEM and encourage them to find solutions to close the gap by leveraging technology. In Malaysia, more than half of the local STEM graduates are women (53.2% in 2021) but men outnumber women in employment, according to research by the Khazanah Research Institute. Only 69% of the women graduates were hired compared to 72% of men. At the leadership level, the challenge is even more acute globally, with women constituting only 19% of board members and 3% of CEOs in STEM companies.

Jeevan Rajoo, Country Head, TCS Malaysia, said, “TCS is committed to supporting youth empowerment by engaging them in nation-building initiatives. The TCS Sustainathon is one such avenue that encourages the youth to ideate solutions that address socioeconomic challenges. Being our future leaders, our youth are well-placed to push the needle on societal progress and achieve the paradigm shift needed to make the STEM field more gender balanced. We are already walking the talk at TCS by having more women in our workforce to elevate innovation, creativity and competitiveness. Research has found that closing the gender gap in the workforce is associated with increased gross domestic product (GDP), labour productivity and socioeconomic development, aside from meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals targets such as equitable education and economic opportunities.”

The TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024 is supported by the Ministry of Higher Education, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Astro, CelcomDigi, Khazanah Research Institute, Malaysia Aviation Group, Maybank, SEEd.Lab and United Nations Global Compact Network Malaysia and Brunei.

Chow Xin Ying, Team Lead of champions VirtuLearn, said, “We’re delighted to win the TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024. This victory is a wonderful confidence booster. Learning from the mentors really opened our eyes to how we could create more effective results with our idea, and we’re excited to contribute towards closing the STEM gender gap in the future, in our own small way. Women have so much potential to contribute to STEM fields, so we should make full efforts to tap into their talents to improve society. We would also like to thank TCS Malaysia for the cash prize and Malaysia Airlines for the return tickets. We will certainly put these resources to good use.”

The TCS Sustainathon initiative was first launched in Singapore in 2020. Since then, it has gone global, with 12 editions across 10 countries, including Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa and Ireland. The competition provides the youth with opportunities to collaborate with private companies, non-profit organisations and government agencies to co-create solutions. For more information on the TCS Sustainathon Malaysia 2024, please visit https://www.sustainathon.tcsapps.com/events/ongoing/MY2024.

Hashtag: #TCS

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for over 55 years. Its consulting-led, cognitive powered, portfolio of business, technology and engineering services and solutions is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile™ delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India’s largest multinational business group, TCS has over 603,305 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 55 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $27.9 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, and is listed on the BSE and the NSE in India. TCS’ proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit

Alibaba Cloud Introduces New Pricing Strategy and Service Availability for International Customers


Global cloud leader supports long-term AI growth with price reductions of up to 59% on core public cloud products

New services and product features are now available to boost generative AI development

HANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 April 2024 – Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, today announced its new pricing strategy for the international customers with prices reductions of up to 59% on core public cloud products using the company’s international data centers out of Chinese mainland. This is aligned with the global cloud leader’s latest AI first strategy aiming to make core computing resources more accessible for customers of all size, and empowering their long-term growth in the AI era.

Effective immediately, the new pricing strategy covers five core public cloud product categories, including compute, storage, network, database, as well as big data products, with an average of 23% price reduction.

“Cloud infrastructure is poised to be the key cornerstone for the future of AI, and our commitment lies in making sure that the foundation for AI development remains affordable. As a cloud service provider committed to facilitating customers’ long-term growth, Alibaba Cloud is dedicated to making AI more accessible in terms of cost efficiency, availability of proven technologies, and more. Our latest pricing strategy is designed not only to reward long-term subscribers with more substantial discounts, but also to ensure that businesses can have a stable foundation to develop their long-term strategies when planning and developing their own AI applications,” said Selina Yuan, President of the International Business of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

The new pricing is applicable to both existing and new customers who place orders through the official Alibaba Cloud website. Here are some of the highlights announced at the Alibaba Cloud Spring Launch today:

  • Reductions will apply to a variety of payment models of Elastic Compute Service (ECS), including pay-as-you-go, subscriptions and savings plans, encompassing the majority of ECS instance types and generations. For instance, international businesses who prefer pay-as-you-go billing model, they can reduce cost by up to 30% and 59% of ECS and Elastic Block Storage(EBS) respectively.
  • To maintain a stable cost-efficiency throughout the next 12 months, the new Object Storage Service (OSS)-Resource plan enables customers to reserve storage capacity in a specific region for one year to obtain deeper discount. The price of one-year package of 500 GB storage plan, which is popular among SMEs, has been cut to USD16.99 from USD 63.
  • Users of database products, including ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL, ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL, ApsaraDB RDS for MariaDB, ApsaraDB for Redis and ApsaraDB for MongoDB, will also enjoy price reductions in long-term packages, spanning from one-to-five years, by up to 50%. Similarly, big data products, including MaxCompute, Hologres, DataWorks, Realtime Compute for Apache Flink and Open Search, will offer cuts on one-to-three-year subscription plans by as much as 50%.
  • Lastly, Alibaba Cloud also increases the FREE monthly usage of Cloud Data Transfer Service from 20GB to 200GB for its international customers. Cloud Data Transfer Service is a network product providing complete control over the volume and cost of data transfers incurred across services as well as generating bills.

New services and product features to boost generative AI development

To reduce AI process complexity for customers worldwide, Alibaba Cloud also announced the availability of a series of innovative product features and services for the international customers during the event.

  • To lower the threshold of leveraging AI, Alibaba Cloud introduced a managed large language models (LLMs) service to offer access to specialized experts dedicated to streamlining the integration and operation of LLMs across both the model architecture and cloud infrastructure. This enables businesses to concentrate on leveraging the business value of LLMs without the complexities of technical implementation.
  • PAI-Lingjun Intelligent Computing Service, a comprehensive AI computing platform for high-performance computing tasks, such as foundation model training and inference, is now available in Singapore. The service provides full-process AI engineering capabilities, including AI development, AI training, and computing resource management.
  • Energy Expert, Alibaba Cloud’s AI-driven sustainability solution, has enhanced its functionalities with the introduction of an open API service. This solution now offers carbon micro-services and energy micro-services, fully developed using LLM capabilities and domain-specific knowledge. These services provide functionalities such as carbon footprint calculation, carbon emission optimization, energy consumption monitoring, forecasting, and optimization. The microservices enable developers to create customized sustainability applications and, at the same time, improve the underlying generative AI models with their knowledge bases for better outcomes.

New initiatives to strengthen global partnership ecosystem

In a move to bolster its international partnership network, Alibaba Cloud also unveiled a suite of financial incentives during the event. These include an increase in the standard discount and commission rates for resellers, the removal of initial tier requirements and yearly commitments for resellers, and an enhancement of support for channel partners’ efforts to grow their market presence.

Additionally, Alibaba Cloud further standardized its training empowerment program to boost partners’ service delivery competencies and introduced a specialized partner service manager role to provide dedicated support.

Currently, Alibaba Cloud operates 89 availability zones in 30 regions globally, supporting over 4 million customers worldwide. In the latest “Gartner® report Market Share: IT Services, Worldwide, 2022” released in 2023, Alibaba is the world’s third leading and Asia Pacific’s leading IaaS provider.

Hashtag: #AlibabaCloud

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Alibaba Cloud

Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud () is the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group. It offers a complete suite of cloud services to customers worldwide, including elastic computing, database, storage, network virtualization services, large-scale computing, security, management and application services, big data analytics, a machine learning platform and IoT services. Alibaba maintained its position as the third leading public cloud IaaS service provider globally since 2018, according to IDC. Alibaba is the world’s third leading and Asia Pacific’s leading IaaS provider by revenue in U.S. dollars since 2018, according to Gartner.

Australia Strengthens Partnerships with Laos, ASEAN

Deputy Secretary Chan with Anoulak Kittikhoun, CEO of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, and Australian Ambassador to Laos, Megan Jones. (Photo supplied)

Australia’s ASEAN Senior Official Michelle Chan visited Vientiane this week on a mission to further strengthen Australia’s partnerships with Laos and ASEAN.