Job-search Web site breaks new ground
BANGKOK, 22 May 2000 - Thanks to technology, jobs are available while we are on the move, in Thailand and worldwide.
This month, Jobpilot.com, a career Web site, in partnership with Mweb (Thailand), a content provider, became the first Internet job advertising site in Asia to offer users access to its database via WAP technology.
WAP, or wireless application protocol, allows users to access the web with mobile telephones.
The regional launch came shortly after Jobs & Adverts, the parent firm of Jobpilot, launched similar services via mobile phones in February.
Through co-operation with Mweb, Jobpilot will use WAP portal services as well as the content of Mweb.
Additionally, users can e-mail more information to their personal e-mail address to read later.
Jobpilot is also offering an editorial section via mobile phones.
Soon, new content such as games, news headlines, and stock ratings will be also available via WAP mobile phones.
Lim Hazing Yue, regional director, Asia, said the services were focusing on Thai mid-level to senior executives.
WAP mobile phones in Thailand are still costly at 25,000 to 30,000 baht. But by the end of this year, the prices would drop sharply, said Thomas Hansen, vice-president, WAP services, of Mweb (Thailand).
He said he expected the major three mobile phone manufacturers - Nokia, Ericsson and Siemens - would make WAP-enabled units.
Hansen said WAP-based businesses would have huge potential, citing findings by SG Securities Research that mobile phone penetration in Thailand will surpass that of personal computers because of its easier affordability.
Mobile phone growth is expected to reach three million units this year, 3.7 million in 2001, 4.4 million in 2002, and 5.1 million in 2003, compared with 2.5 million in 1999, while PC penetration is expected to grow to 1.4 million people this year, 1.7 million in 2001, two million in 2002, and 2.5 million in 2003 from 1.2 million in 1999.
