SINGAPORE : Passengers at Singapore's Changi Airport can now enjoy cheaper international telephone calls.

Together with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, voice over internet protocol or VoIP provider MediaRing is offering budget VoIP telephone calls.

And they are at as much as 80% discount to such services from SingTel and StarHub.

Changi Airport is one of the first airports in the world to offer such budget call services for travellers.

MediaRing has set up two specially-designed lounges at Changi Airport with a total of 23 individual VoIP booths for passengers to try out their services.

Both lounges are located at the transit areas of Terminals 1 and 2.

Koh Boon Hwee, executive director of MediaRing said: "I think it is clear that rates are important. The other important factor is over the last 3 to 5 years, VoIP quality has improved to the level where it is indistinguishable from normal telephone service"

To attract more users to its services, MediaRing is offering seven days of free international calls.

"I telephoned my friend but he wasn't in. I got to his voicemail and it was very good quality," said one traveller.

"Definitely the savings. If it is clear and cheap, we'll use it," said another.

MediaRing says it aims to provide a quick and no-fuss service.

Said MediaRing's CEO: "What we want is to make sure that people can make a phone call in a very fast way. What I mean is, the passenger has to buy a phonecard, then go find a telephone booth to make a phone call.

"With MediaRing services, you can just come in, pay us a fee, sit down and make a phone call. We'll give you any change that's left and you are on the way."

MediaRing views its presence at Changi Airport - the 6th busiest in the world - as a strategic platform to further grow its brand equity globally and locally.

Although it has no concrete plans yet, the VoIP provider is hoping to replicate such services in other airports as well.

- CNA /ls