U Mobile offers free data for videos

U Mobile has a new promotion that allows its selected subscribers to stream videos from YouTube and Tonton without incurring data charges.

Prepaid, postpaid and broadband customers who have an Internet plan with the company will be able to watch videos for free from 2am to 10am from Oct 8 to Dec 31. Subscribers who are eligible will be notified via SMS.

U Mobile claims it's the first to offer such a deal and it's targeted at youths who often steam videos late at night and commuters in transit on their way to work.

"This would allow them to watch more videos on their mobile device without exhausting their monthly data allocation," said Jasmine Lee, U Mobile's chief marketing officer.

"Almost 62% of Malaysians don't leave home without their smart device and some would rather give up their TV instead of their smartphones," said Lee.

YouTube Malaysia's head of telecommunications, technology & government, Shylendra Nathan said that smartphones have become the device of choice for users that seek entertainment.

U Mobile, which currently has 5 million subscribers, hopes to increase its customer base by another 2 million by the end of the year. It has plans to reward its customers if it meets this target. For more details on the promotion go to U Mobile's website.