At A Glance

BMW Motorrad Thailand is unveiling two models in contrasting styles – the BMW R nineT (Vintage 21) and BMW K 1600 GTL – in the Big Motor Sale 2017, which is being held at BITEC Bangna until August 27.
“Going back to the basics, the new R nineT boasts a perfectly engineered classic layout with a blend of modern elements of motorcycle design style combined with high-quality surfaces,” the company said.
“The classic BMW Roadster still maintains the boutique manufacturing character yet manages to go beyond expectations with a range of optimised features. The model also reflects the R nineT team's fond attention to detail with sophisticated craftsmanship as demonstrated by the aluminium fuel tank with brushed side surfaces.
 “The new K 1600 GTL, meanwhile, comes equipped with unrivalled running smoothness, an inimitable sound and the supreme power of its 118 kW (160 hp) 6-cylinder in-line engine.
“Enhanced features such as the Dynamic ESA electronically-controlled suspension system, reverse assist, Shift Assistant Pro and Intelligent Emergency Call further elevate the bike’s combination of luxury and performance even further. Adding a touch of excitement are a range of new color schemes, including Llightwhite non-metallic, Thundergrey metallic and Ebony metallic/Blackstorm metallic.”
Markus Glaeser, head of BMW Motorrad Thailand, said: “The two new bikes round out the BMW Motorrad range even further, allowing us to better satisfy riders with vastly different preferences.
“From the purist and vintage expressions of the new R nineT to the elegance and comfort of the K 1600 GTL, both bikes offer plenty of distinctive character on the road along with cutting-edge technologies that make every ride a joy.”

iflix upgrades service with more customer choice

iflix, a subscription video on demand (SVoD) service for emerging markets, has released a revamped service.
“The upgrade represents the latest evolution to iflix’s world class service with an all new focus on individual customer experience,” the company said. “New Channels, Add and Follow features enable significantly deeper personalised experiences and intuitive ways of discovering new content, with additional improvements to speed and performance.
“Channels combines the best of traditional pay television with benefits of on-demand services. Working with traditional studios and channel providers, iflix has created on-demand ‘channels’ for users to enjoy on their terms, showcasing many of the world’s best and most exciting entertainment studios and brands along with users’ favourite content genres in a dynamic, engaging and easy to navigate channel interface, available for the first time in a digital non-linear service.
“With new personalised onboarding, users can now select their favourite channels and receive recommendations optimised with their preferences and viewing history, as well as Add TV shows, movies and Channels to their iflix homepage.”

Gold Elite Paris links with Samsung for plush phones

Gold Elite Paris has collaborates with Samsung Thailand to introduce limited edition of high-tech Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus models in gold finishing.
Suthikiat Kittipatrakul, managing director of Sure Life Telecom Ltd, the official importer and distributor in Asia of Gold Elite Paris, said the company was thrilled to launch the latest smartphone, “a limited edition of signature golden smartphone.”
Featuring pure 24K gold (99.9 per cent), the Samsung Galaxy S8+ smartphone is crafted for a bolder look “with highest cutting-edge technology of fine jewellery as well as superior craft in every points such as turn on/off button and volume controller,” the company said.
“Gold Elite Paris offers the owner of Gold Elite Samsung Galaxy S8+ Ultimatum Gold a Gold Elite Box Set including warranty certification of smartphone and 24K gold for 14 months. The luxury smartphone is available in August and the price is Bt149,000.”
Suthikiat said: The Gold Elite Samsung Galaxy S8+ Ultimatum Gold is a new phenomenon to enhance the luxury lifestyle as it represents the highest success in life, while the Gold Elite Samsung Galaxy S8+ Ultimatum Gold represents elegance.”

Alibaba Group hails solid earnings for quarter

Alibaba Group Holding has announced its financial results for the quarter to June 30.
“Alibaba had a strong start to fiscal 2018, reflecting the strength and diversity of our businesses and the value we bring to |customers on our platforms,” said Daniel Zhang, chief executive Officer of Alibaba Group.
“Our technology is driving significant growth across our business and strengthening our position beyond core commerce.
“We are excited about the future as we continue to innovate and drive synergies among the businesses throughout the Alibaba ecosystem.
Maggie Wu, chief financial officer of Alibaba Group, said: “We delivered excellent results in the first quarter, with robust revenue growth of 56 per cent. The significant growth in customer management revenue represents the differentiated business value we provide to our customers.
“It is our intention to continue investing in long-term growth opportunities, some of which are already delivering significant value to customers and investors.”

Asus releases ZenFone 4 family of phones

Asus chairman Jonney Shih has unveiled the ZenFone 4 smartphones — ZenFone 4 Pro, ZenFone 4, ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro, ZenFone 4 Selfie, ZenFone 4 Max Pro and ZenFone 4 Max — during the We Love Photo press event in Taipei.
 ZenFone 4 is the first family of smartphones to all feature dual front or rear cameras, enabling users to capture the best photos in any scenario, at any distance, and in any lighting condition.
 “With the ZenFone series, we have always been committed to enabling the best mobile photography experiences and empowering consumers to capture every precious moment of their lives and easily share them with their loved ones," said chairman Shih. “We are very excited to announce the availability of the ZenFone 4 family.”
Joining Shih on-stage to endorse the new smartphone line was South Korean pop star Gong Yoo. The We Love Photo press event marked his debut as the new ASUS brand ambassador for the ZenFone 4 family. During an interview onstage, Gong Yoo discussed his experience with the new ZenFone 4 lineup and his expectations for the partnership with ASUS. 
“ASUS has created a very exciting and innovative lineup of smartphones with ZenFone 4,” the signer said. “Working on the first two commercials launched today, you can really see the unique benefits of each model based on their different story lines. I believe ASUS will continue to break boundaries in the smartphone industry, and I am very excited to discover the new possibilities we can create together.”

Tourism forums seeks sustainable development 

The Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF), a platform designed to promote sustainable development of the global tourism industry with a focus on China, is scheduled to host its sixth annual edition under the theme Regional Collaboration Towards a Better Future, in Macau on October 16-17.
 “As part of many year-round initiatives to facilitate exchange and cooperation in tourism and travel, GTEF just held its latest roadshow on August 11, in Beijing at The Peninsula Beijing,” the organisers said. 
“The gathering brought together the forum's collaborative partners, leaders of outbound tour operators and travel agencies, travel and trade executives in Beijing, leading MICE operators from Macau and media. The luncheon successfully boosted tourism stakeholder participation at GTEF 2017 by signing on delegates and participants in the forum's business matching platform.”