Apple has announced the opening date of their second Singapore store for Saturday, July 13 at 10.00 am at Jewel Changi Airport.  

Apple first launched their 1st store along Orchard Road two years ago. Customers can expect to be able to explore the latest Apple product range, as well as obtain professional technical support and advices.

78 Airport Boulevard, Jewel Changi Airport (OPENING SOON)

Unboxed by Singtel is an unmanned 24/7 store designed to introduce customers to a new retail experience featuring the convenience of digital technology in a friendly store environment.

In a first for Singapore, customers can consult with a roving live bot, which is powered by facial recognition technology, to receive personalised recommendations; try out phones; conveniently sign up for mobile plans at video-assisted self-serve kiosks; and immediately collect their purchased devices from the in-store POPStation. Additionally, customers can browse and buy popular accessories such as headphones, phone cases, power banks and contract-free handsets. They can also make bill payments, top up prepaid cards and Dash wallets, and get instant SIM card replacements.

“The future of retail is here and now. Our digital transformation integrates online and offline customer touchpoints to deliver fresh and fuss-free buying experiences to consumers. UNBOXED fulfils the needs of today’s consumer and provides a peek into the next-generation of retail – fast, instant, convenient and experiential,” said Mr Yuen Kuan Moon, CEO of Consumer Singapore at Singtel.

Currently based in the CBD at 20 Pickering Street, the store is modular and movable. Measuring 45 sq m when fully extended, it can be easily transported and reconfigured to fit different spaces. The store will move to a new location every few months to serve customers at high-traffic areas such as transport hubs and school campuses.

Co-created by Singtel staff, NCS and SingPost, security for the store is provided by NCS which developed a round-the-clock security platform called Sentinel while the POPStation lockers are prefilled with devices and replenished daily using SingPost’s Last Mile Platform (“LaMP”).

Unboxed by Singtel builds on the success of the digital transformation of Singtel’s flagship Comcentre store. It offers one of the most intelligent retail experiences in Asia, featuring an intelligent WiFi queuing system, integrated online and in-store shopping carts, and instant purchases via automated checkout. The store consistently receives an average of 99% positive customer experience scores and has won multiple accolades for its innovative approach to retail.

Website: www.Singtel.com

Skyports and Volocopter have announced a cooperation to build the first mobile Volo-Port for air taxis. UK-based global vertiport owner and operator Skyports and air taxi pioneer Volocopter unveiled plans for the Volo-Port – the physical landing pads for so-called eVTOL (electric take-off and landing) – through stunning designs produced by internationally renowned agency Brandlab.

Ground-based vertiport infrastructure is critical to the success of future urban air mobility (UAM), including air taxi operations in congested cities. Construction of the first Volo-Port will be completed later this year. The partners plan to build it in Singapore for the scheduled public flight trials in the second half of 2019. A full-scale Volocopter vehicle is on display at the Greentech festival.

The Volo-Port prototype will:

• Enable real-life testing of the full customer journey to perfect the passenger experience;
• Showcase planned customer services, including pre-flight checks, passenger lounges and boarding procedures;
• Allow practical testing of ground operations and services, including battery swaps and charging, maintenance, safety and security;
• Provide the opportunity for authorities and industry regulators to interact with the infrastructure and provide feedback before they are asked to approve the final design.

Vertiports are the only physical infrastructure required for air taxis to commence operations in cities in the near future. Volo-Ports are designed to provide passengers with a seamless air taxi experience that is safe, secure, and relaxing. They will merge with their surroundings, allowing passengers and passers-by to see through the whole structure.

Website: www.skyports.net and www.volocopter.com/en/

Huawei, the world’s second largest smartphone manufacturer, has established their second Customer Service Centre in Westgate.

The service centre adds to the company’s ongoing expansion in Singapore and offers a convenient one-stop destination for customers living in the west. The centre will provide a complete range of services including technical support and maintenance repairs to its growing customer base. Fully-trained staff will help to facilitate all in-warranty of up to two years and out-of-warranty services on the spot with loan phones if required. This also includes complimentary screen replacements for the P and Mate smartphone series. Customers can also enjoy a holistic experience right at their fingertips by checking their warranty period and repair status on the Huawei HiCare App, available on the Huawei AppGallery and Google Play Store.

In addition to repair services, the service centre also offers a spectrum of Huawei products where customers can get their hands on the latest offering including mobile phones, tablets, mobile broadband, wearables and accessories. With a suite of services housed under the new service centre, Huawei aims to provide a better customer experience for all.

The opening of the centre comes on the back of an impressive year for Huawei with global smartphone shipments surpassing 200 million in 2018. The company is growing its presence locally with new product offerings to come including smart watches, tablets and laptops.

To date, the company has established 20 Huawei Concept Stores in Singapore for customers to experience its latest offerings.

3 Gateway Drive, Unit #03-38/39 Westgate

MyRepublic has opened its flagship retail store on the second floor of Vivocity, Singapore’s largest mall. At 958 sq ft, it is also MyRepublic’s largest retail outlet and will offer a wide variety of services for new and current customers.

Visitors can subscribe to mobile and broadband services at the store, which will also provide hands-on demos of MyRepublic’s latest offerings. New mobile customers will benefit from MyRepublic’s new Data Upsize for Life, the company’s permanent data upgrade for its Smart, Mega and Xtra plans.

“Our new store is a reflection of MyRepublic’s growing footprint in Singapore,” said Yap Yong Teck, Managing Director of MyRepublic. “The store is an opportunity for everyone to directly experience what MyRepublic has to offer, and provides us with another avenue for us to better serve them.”

For more information on MyRepublic’s stores, please visit the MyRepublic website.

Email: myservice@myrepublic.com.sg

Dyson, the UK-based company best known for its cordless vacuum cleaners has chosen to build its new electric car in Singapore.

Dyson already manufactures electric motors for its other products, such as vacuum cleaners and fans, in Singapore, where it employs 1,100 people. Employee numbers in Singapore will more than double after it completes the new electric car plant.

The company will break ground on its new factory in Singapore later this year with the first car scheduled to roll off the production line in 2021.

Website: www.dyson.com.sg

Email: singapore@dyson.com

Is it possible to watch the car mechanics fix your vehicle without being in the same room? With TyrePlus's newly-opened Singapore flagship store, it is now possible! Thanks to their cinema windows, you can watch their passionate mechanics at work while doing your own thing! 

TyrePlus is one of the world's largest automotive care specialists with more than 2,000 stores in 17 countries.

TyrePlus Singapore provides full top-quality car servicing under one roof. Their goal is to ensure that your vehicle is running as efficiently as possible. At TyrePlus, they understand the importance of keeping your car in tip-top shape for safer driving and an overall pleasant motoring experience. They take pride in answering any and all of your questions & concerns and with their team of car servicing experts on hand, you can be sure you’re getting the best information out there.

They offer competitive pricing on all of their products and services with no impact on quality. You will never have to worry about car maintenance again, or about which car service centre to choose. Put simply, they provide the best facilities and staff for all your vehicle repairs and services. 

Chinese smartphone manufacturer, Leagoo, has won the 2015 Overseas Best-selling Brand together with Huawei, ZTE and Lenovo in China. Its concept store plus customer service centre is now at Suntec City. 

Leagoo offers various series of smartphones for you to choose from. The M-series offers affordable solid smartphones, T-series smartphones is a stylish line with good selfie cameras, V-series are stylish and luxury phones aimed at business users and the Shark series is known for its big battery life.

3 Temasek Boulevard, Unit #02-317 West Wing Suntec City Mall

Tel: +65 9634 5466 Email: service@leagoo.com.sg

Mi Home, a retail store and experience center is now at Suntec City. Come by to check out all your favourite Mi products, including those that have not been launched here in Singapore!

The new retail shop offers a range of products including the latest Mi Max and Redmi smartphones as well as home and lifestyle products including Mi Drone, Mi Notebook, Mi Rice Cooker, QiCYCLE electric foldable bike, ZhiMi Smart DC Inverter fan, Mi Air Purifier, Xiaomi 70-inch Smart TV and more.

Unit #02-337 to 340 Suntec City’s West Wing

Tel: 6291 0220 Email: service.sg@xiaomi.com

Samsung will be soon opening a new mobile store in Parkway Parade.

Samsung are the largest technology company in the world (based on annual sales) but they are guided by a very simple philosophy – always work for a better tomorrow. This philosophy has inspired them for more than seventy years. 

It’s an ever-changing world and Samsung wants to put you in the middle of it all. They are dedicated to creating innovative technologies, processes and products that expand the horizon of what’s possible and enrich people's lives.

Parkway Parade, Level 3

Seagate opens S$100m R&D centre in Singapore

The new facility in Ayer Rajah Crescent can house more than 900 employees and will be used by the company’s mobile storage R&D team in Singapore.

Named "The Shugart" after company founder Alan Shugart, the R&D centre will focus on the development of 2.5-inch small form-factor hard drives, hybrid drives, firmware, software and technologies.

Ayer Rajah Crescent