P1 Is No More, In Comes Webe

The anticipation is over. Here is the basic reveal:
• TM’s subsidiary, P1 rebrands as webe, a digital mobility service provider.
• webe launches webe community – A unique crowd-backing platform for Malaysians to co-create and collaborate on projects that bring about positive change for the betterment of Malaysians.
• webe community returns with an upgraded and improved website and mobile app along with seven (7) new projects.
There’s no big reveal about any telco package plan just yet but we believe that that is just inevitable, give it a few months, though it would have been so timely if it was now right?

The Webe Champions with Chief Calibrator of Webe Community, James Chong

webe community is a unique crowd-backing platform that enables Malaysians to connect, collaborate and co-create and make what Malaysians care about happen together. webe community is launched together with a new website (www.webe.com.my) and a mobile app. It also announced the seven (7) new projects that will be crowd-backed through the community platform.

The new brand was announced by CC Puan, Chief Executive Officer, webe who also shared the differentiating philosophy and approach webe would take to market. A brand like no other – webe will be a community-driven brand.

CC said, “More than a year into our partnership with TM and SK Telco, our focus has been on creating an entirely new user experience. P1 is now known as webe. This isn’t just a name change, we have completely renewed our philosophy and approach to business. In terms of business, in line with TM’s aspiration of becoming Malaysia’s Convergence Champion, webe will become TM Group’s Centre of Excellence for mobility.”

James Chong, Chief Calibrator for webe community explains, “In the world of webe, the we+be philosophy guides our members with the principle of the power of ‘we’ being greater than me and the freedom to ‘be’ who you want to be.”

“Ultimately the end goal for webe community is for us to evolve and eventually allow public project submissions, thus supporting our vision of co-creation and collaboration with our members. Together with the website and mobile app today we have launched seven (7) projects addressing various issues faced by Malaysians in the area of health such as dengue, education for underprivileged children, building an entrepreneurship platform for local creators, boosting the local music scene, raising funds to repair damaged homes, and many more.”

Projects are led by Project Champions who campaign to receive backing from the community. Community members show support by pledging webits (a virtual point system used on webe) to unlock projects. webits do not cost money and have no monetary value. Instead, members get awarded with webits by providing support and spreading the word about their favourite projects.

Once enough support has been received, the project is unlocked, funded and will be executed by the project champion and team. Community members will be able to follow the implementation of their favourite projects through regular updates from project champions. Hurry as they only have 29 days starting from today to unlock their projects.

Elaborating on the concept, James explains, “Unlike ordinary crowdfunding platforms where money and resources required are raised by the public, webe community is fully funded by webe. The platform doesn’t earn from the projects backed, is not a profit-making venture, and being a member will always be free. Most importantly, webe community is not a charity or a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, but is the personification of webe’s brand DNA.”

In its beta phase, webe community was established in November 2015 with three projects involving music, cycling and creators. webe community worked with Project Champions – Jin Hackman, local Malaysian R&B artist; Edwin Ng, former national cyclist; Jeffrey Lim, cycling enthusiast; and various local entrepreneurs such as Biji-Biji, Raksaksa, Kindersoaps and many more.

webe community ’s seven (7) new projects are:

 

1. Dengue Prediction & Alert App – A mobile app that highlights and alerts users on dengue prone areas. The app would also tap into the power of community by allowing people to report dengue cases in their area, to provide data. Project Champions – Dr. Dhesi Baha Raja & Rainer Mallol

2. WEbePOP! – A pop album featuring Malaysian independent English bands and artists from various genres to drive awareness of up & coming homegrown talents. Project Champions – Prashan Chitty & Darren Teh

3. KL24: Zombies – The first Malaysian-made feature-length movie, available to be viewed for free online. Film will demonstrate how different Malaysians work together and support each other in overcoming and dealing with a zombie outbreak in Kuala Lumpur. Project Champion – James Lee

4. Malaysian Virtual Field Trips – Providing virtual fieldtrips for underprivileged children from orphanages, refugee camps and indigenous communities. The 360 videos will be available to the public for free to carry out similar initiatives to experience the virtual fieldtrip themselves. Project Champions – Kal Joffres & Tiu Kian Wee

5. Cycles To China + Gombak house – Having Project Champion – David Wu cycle from Alor Setar to his ancestral village in Guang Dong, China – 2,500 kms in approximately 1.5 months. With this, he aims to raise RM500,000 to repair up to 40 homes in Malaysia along his journey together with Hayati Ismail, who will identify the homes that are in need or urgent repair. Project Champions – David Wu & Hayati Ismail

6. Malaysian Makers Market – Setting up a permanent retail space (1,000 square feet) in a high traffic tourist area to create awareness and sell high-quality, handcrafted products by Malaysian Makers. Project Champion – Adrian Yap

7. Container Classrooms to create additional ICT classroom dedicated to students who are wheelchair-bound and with cerebral palsy and cannot reach the ICT classrooms located in the school. Project Champions – Amelia, Andrew and Karthik

Everyone is invited to start supporting projects they care about today. Just log onto http://www.webe.com.my to register as a member, to find out more about the new projects, and to download the new app. I’ve already pledged my support, your turn.