The big bash
StarHub Versus M1
Telecom rivals StarHub and M1 were fighting it out on Orchard Road yesterday -- in a war of balloons -- as the crowds revelled in the festivity
By ARTI MULCHAND
IT WAS balloon-mania on Orchard Road yesterday.
Almost everyone was walking around town holding either an orange, green or white one.
And at least three or four blue and yellow helium-filled floaters escaped into the sky every couple of minutes.
But the illusion acts, 18-feet-tall giant puppets, robots, acrobatic shows, and the throngs of people who poured into the street, were no part of an April Fool's Day party.
Rivals StarHub and M1 were all out to have a blast -- StarHub celebrating its official launch, and M1 its third birthday.
And what's a party without balloons?
The sea of colour was an apt metaphor for the Telecom Big Bang -- or the opening up of the telecommunications market in Singapore.
New entrants, like StarHub, can now compete with more-established companies like SingTel, M1 and SunPage for a slice of the telecom pie.
And StarHub is making its entrance grand, with a massive weekend street carnival that ends at 9 pm today.
Seven Star Stations were set up along Orchard Road, from Shaw House to Orchard Point, with a slew of performers, including the "World's Strongest Man" (a fierce-looking character, who, after attempting to lift almost 400 kg and break the world record, decided to break into Elvis' Heartbreak Hotel), illusionists The Pendragons, and Elvis-on-a-bad-hair-day comics.
Service staff were on hand to get people to register on the spot, entertain queries, and -- a real draw -- give away balloons and other freebies.
And members of the StarHub Patrol were holding placards urging people to "Make the change".
But M1 was not about to be outdone.
It too had booths on Orchard Road, with even louder comperes dishing out the deals, and distributing just as many jester caps and bright-orange balloons to anyone who would take them.
The festivities started on Friday night for both companies.
StarHub had a glittery invitation-only corporate launch at Suntec City, where celebrity violinist Vanessa Mae, among others, performed.
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew gave a speech just before the midnight launch.
Across town, M1 was hosting a big anniversary bash at Boat Quay, where the company was launched on April 1, 1997.
The entire place was bathed in orange -- flyers, flags, and even more balloons -- and looked like Holland on the Queen's birthday.
The weekend has been a Big Bang all right -- and it is not even over.
The Straits Times - April 2, 2000
