Group photo with VIP guests, management and associates of Progresif at the Progresif Flagship store

Paul Taylor, the newly Chief Executive Officer of Progresif, giving his welcoming remarks

Progresif Cellular unveiled its newly renovated Tutong branch today, further reinforcing its retail network and capacity to serve a growing customers base in Brunei’s third largest district.

The Tutong store, which is located at Petani Mall, has been renovated as a modern reflection of the Progresif brand. Renovation works for the store took a few months to be completed to ensure that the store’s overall design and look aligns with a progressive retail experience.
The store’s launch was officiated by the Guest of Honour Edzwan Zukri Pehin Dato Adanan, Board Member of Progresif.

Also present during the event was Tutong District Officer Shamsul Bahrain Hussein, Legislative Council representative for Tutong YB Hj Abd Wahab Hj Apong and Ade Nurismah Azurine Hj Ismail in her capacity as Chairman of the Tutong Municipal Department.



The event started with the recital of prayers followed by welcoming remarks by Paul Taylor, the new Chief Executive Officer of Progresif.
In his speech, Paul stated “We believe that quality of service is at the centre of what we do and providing the best customer service is one way we differentiate ourselves. In keeping with this critical theme, our flagship stores are built to offer a unique experience through a consultative approach, catering to the needs of our customers.”

Bob Gill, Chief Sales Officer of Progresif, stated “We are delighted to re-open our new retail experience store in Tutong, which is completely different to what we had before. Now, our customers can touch, feel and experience the latest technology in mobile handsets and tablets we have on offer. Our store team are also readily available to advise and recommend on which solutions best fits the customer needs.”

Hafiza Mohamad, Corporate Communications Manager or Progresif, explained “The Progresif brand is all about constant improvement and progress. The company has grown so much in the last two years. Now, we’re happy to solidify our presence in Tutong with the refurbished store so that our customers can get a fresh perspective on the Progresif brand.”

The guests were also treated to a brief tour of the new Progresif branch which was facilitated by Bob Gill.

Officiating the Tutong Flagship store

Bob Gill, Chief Sales Officer of Progresif, sharing what customers can experience at their flagship store

Customers checking out the store

Have you registered for the unlimited plan?

Photo opportunity with the newly appointed CEO of Progresif – He used to play rugby and football 😀

Mr. Valentine Hon, General Manager of Kingston Beverage & Creamery, Mr. Malcolm Lim, Managing Director of Kingston Beverage & Creamery, Mr. Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer and Zul Abdul Rahman, Marketing Executive for Concepts Computer during the signing ceremony

Concepts Computer, one of the largest IT retailer in Brunei, along with Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn. Bhd., one of the oldest canned-beverage distributor in Brunei, is signing a collaborative MOU for promoting their respective products during the holy month of Ramadhan and the festive month of Syawal.

Signing on behalf of Kingston is Mr. Malcolm Lim, Managing Director, and Mr. Valentine Hon, General Manager for Kingston Beverage & Creamery. While on behalf of Concepts Computer, Mr. Vincent Pao, General Manager, and Mr. Zul Abdul Rahman, Marketing Executive for Concepts Computer.

Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Computer, speaking to the media, said, “Concepts Computer has a large customer base in the Bruneian Muslim community, so it is actually the perfect decision for us to collaborate with Kingston Beverage & Creamery Sdn. Bhd. and provide a carton of canned-beverage for purchases made in our store.” He also added, “We had an overwhelming response when we did it the previous 2 years, and we expect the same results this year.”

Zul Abdul Rahman, Marketing Executive for Concepts Computer, added to the media, “Customers who makes purchases from Concepts in our store will be able to receive a free voucher for 1 (one) carton of drinks, redeemable at Kingston’s redemption center in Beribi.” He also added, “Customers can purchase any notebook or PC from Acer, or projectors from either Acer or Epson, to be eligible, they will be able to receive a drinks coupon.”

For every purchase of an Acer notebook or PC, or projector from Acer or Epson, during the month of Ramadhan and Syawal, a coupon will be provided, redeemable for a carton (24 cans) of canned-beverage. Redemption of each coupon will be done at Kingston Beverage & Creamery redemption centres in Beribi.

Please note, Kingston’s redemption centre will start operating from June 13 th til July 31st 2017, from 8.00am til 5.30pm, Mondays to Fridays. But to compensate for the Hari Raya rush, the redemption centre will also be open for half a day on Saturdays two weeks before the start of Hari Raya.

For more information call 2233551, 2233552 or 2233553, or visit your nearest Concepts Computer Showroom.

Exchange of documents

Vivian @ Norsuraya Hj Sabali, Executive in charge of Business Development at Bilster Technologies (center) with the associates of Bilster Technologies during the launch of the Brother trade-in promotion at Citis Square

Do you have gadgets or electronics that you have lying in your room, collecting dust and being part of a furniture? Why not trade them in at Bilster Technologies (Citis Square) and you can get a brand new Brother printer at a lower price than usual.

You can choose either the Brother DCP-J100 or the Brother Intellifax 2840. So what you do is just bring your old junk, be it computer, monitor and Bilster Technologies will accept them.

The Brother DCP-J100 is an all-in-one A4 Printer with speeds of up to 27 pages per minute and with the ability to handle up to 100 sheets of paper at a time. This is actually great for print for home and home office. It will be available for a price of BND 169 for the trade-in.

Th Brother Intellifax 2840 is an all-in-one printer with fax capabilities and automatic duplex printing. it even has the convenience of a built-in phone handset which makes calling more convenient. This is available at BND 249 for the trade-in.

Brother DCP-J100

Brother Intellifax 2840

The trade-in final day will be on 16th June 2017

Vivian @ Norsuraya Hj Sabali, Executive in charge of Business Development at Bilster Technologies shared that Brother printers are quite versatile and they provide three years warranty, ensuring a peace of mind for all existing and potential Brother customers. The Brother trade-in offer will end on 16th June 2017.

For more information, you can drop by their store at Citis Square or call 223 0871 or 223 0872. Opening hours are from 10am to 9pm daily.

VR Arcade now open to the public located at Hua Ho Manggis Mall. Image by BIG Borneo.

Kurapak and I had first hand experience before it was opened to the public

Finally it’s here.. The virtual reality games.. We see it on TV or on the net or even at other countries. Now it’s here in Brunei for the very first time.

Check out VR Arcade (@vr_arcade) at Hua Ho Manggis Mall (1st Floor) and do try out their latest game arcades. The company owned by Sujee Hannah Abdullah Chan revealed that there are more games to come in the near future and so far, some of the VR games are on the first to be released in our region. Cool.

All games will able to enjoy a minimum of five minutes and you will have to purchase the tokens in order to play.

As for the price, it ranges from $2 to $4 and it’s very competitive pricing when compared to other regions where it will easily cost at least $10.

There are hints that VR Arcade might appear during the upcoming Consumer Fair so the public can get up close and personal with the VR machines. So do stay tune and see what’s in store for VR Arcade.

For your info, VR Arcade also caters for birthday parties and special events and the machines are also available for rent.

For updates, you can follow @vr_arcade or just drop by VR Arcade at Manggis Mall.

Devin Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer of Progresif enjoyed some VR experience. Image from Devin.

The moon rover Audi lunar quattro celebrates its film debut in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi blockbuster “Alien: Covenant” which premieres worldwide this May. Audi experts have developed the Audi lunar quattro in cooperation with the German start-up “Part-Time Scientists”. It will soon embark on an actual mission to space.

Director Ridley Scott has integrated the Audi lunar quattro into “Alien: Covenant,“ a new chapter in his groundbreaking “Alien” franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imaginations, they must attempt a harrowing escape. In its film debut, the Audi lunar quattro is an integral part of the Covenant mission and is deployed to help Faris (Amy Seimetz) navigate and assess the challenging, unknown terrain of a new planet.

Incorporating the Audi lunar quattro into the film is part of the collaboration between Twentieth Century Fox and Audi. “The ‘Alien’ franchise is the best way for us to garner suitable attention for the moon rover developed by Audi, and to showcase Audi’s intelligent technologies in a visionary environment,” explains Giovanni Perosino, Vice President International Marketing Communication at Audi.

“Fox’s partnership with Audi on ‘Alien: Covenant’ is an opportunity to bring to the forefront the innovative work Audi is doing in exploration,” said Zachary Eller, Senior Vice President Marketing Partnerships at Twentieth Century Fox. “We’re happy to continue our long relationship with Audi that has allowed our filmmakers to incorporate authentic, leading-edge technology into their futuristic worlds.”

As part of the collaboration, a short film created by Twentieth Century Fox, 3AM and Audi was captured on one of the movie’s biggest sets. It shows the Audi lunar quattro patrolling the Terraforming Bay when it detects an unidentified lifeform and goes to investigate what lurks in the dark. Watch “Alien: Covenant x Audi lunar quattro” below

Alien: Covenant x Audi lunar quattro

The Audi lunar quattro is preparing for an actual mission to the Moon. Since 2015, the premium manufacturer from Ingolstadt has worked with a team led by Robert Böhme, founder and CEO of “Part-Time Scientists”, on developing the rover. Audi experts have supported the Berlin-based start-up, in particular with Audi’s all-wheel drive expertise (quattro technology), expertise in lightweight construction, experience in developing vehicles with electric and plug-in hybrid motors (e-tron), and with design optimization.

By selecting the finest materials, the developers have managed to reduce the weight of the exploration vehicle to just 30 kilograms. The Audi lunar quattro is 85 percent aluminum, produced by the 3D metal printer at Audi’s headquarters in Ingolstadt. A pivoting solar panel supplies the rover with energy. On top of that, you have intelligent quattro drive technology and the efficient e-tron motor. The car manufacturer’s Mission to the Moon is nearing completion: In the very near future, we can expect to see the advanced Audi lunar quattro set its course for the Moon.

For more on the story of the Audi lunar quattro’s origins and the cooperation with Twentieth Century Fox, visit on www.audi.com/mission.

The Brother guys

Launching the new range of Brother products

After a successful MoU with Bilster Technologies and Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Bilster Technologies showcased a wide range of Brother printer products at Citis Square branch.

The ceremony was launched by Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Group of Companies, and Roger Choi, Senior Account Manager of Brother International Malaysia Sdn Bhd.

The one that you should check out is the Brother DCP-T500W which is a 2015 model. This handy Brother model comes with many features and quite portable. Furthermore, it brings out the some fine prints and supports scanning and copying. It also supports Wi-Fi and wireless printing.

It uses the refill tank system and also saves you from buying more inks if you are high user. The printed pages were of high quality and also, to use this printer easily you will need a driver CD in which you will find all the necessary softwares.

You can also check out other Brother models – the single function and multiple function models. Drop by Bilster Technologies at Citis Square.

Check out the range of Brother printers

The multi-function printer

The Brother DCP-T500W is the ideal printer for you

The Brother DCP-T500W can produce fine print

Check out the hot selling Bang & Olufsen headphones

This is the second time that Bang & Olufsen (Brunei) and Ergozones (Brunei) are having a roadshow at Pusat Insani, Seria. The first one was a huge hit and it’s no surprise for holding another similar roadshow to showcase their latest products.

If you are into audiophiles or/and a big fan of Bang & Olufsen, you will appreciate what they are bringing to you. The main attraction is definitely the Beocube which was constructed since Sunday. It’s basically a mocked up cube room, designed to bring the best sound from the awesome speakers from Bang & Olufsen and Malek Manan, Resident Audiophile for Bang & Olufsen (Brunei), guided the visiting guests and showcased what the B&O speakers are capable of and why the brand is the perfect choice for customers.

I was also impressed with the inner walls as they have a special padding to bring the best out of the speakers inside the Beocube. We were treated to a playlist of music and trailers and I began to appreciate the precision and the quality more than before. The firmware update(s) itself makes a difference for the listeners to enjoy at the optimum level.

There are three sections to the Flexible Living roadshow. Two sections are showcasing Bang & Olufsen products while the other is showcasing Ergozone products such as the newly launched SoFi Mesh chairs by HÅG.

Do look for Jack Chin who has many experience in demo-ing HÅG brands. I find the experience sitting on the SoFi Mesh pretty comforting and all. Yes, we do take for granted on how we sit and thinking that any chair will do the trick. HÅG enhances your sitting experience and you will appreciate more in a long run on how it can benefit you even when sitting down.

The Flexible Living roadshow final day will be tomorrow, Friday 21st April until 9pm. So what are you waiting for? And the admission is FREE at Pusat Insani, Seria. For updates, you can follow Bang & Olufsen (Brunei) Facebook and Ergozones (Brunei) Facebook.

So much to love about Bang & Olufsen speakers

Another speaker to look out for – Beoplay M5 with a true360 sound

The 5.5 metre Beocube constructed inside the hall of Pusat Insani

Paying attention to the sound from the Beolab 90

Don’t forget to visit Ergozones section too

Do ask Jack Chin for the brief demo on the new HÅG products

Liking the new SoFi Mesh from HÅG

Bilster Technologies, subsidiary of Concepts Group of Companies with representatives from Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd during the MoU signing this morning

The signing begins for a new journey for Bilster Technologies

Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a leader in consumer and business IT products and solutions that focuses on the “Customer-First” approach, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bilster Technologies (Brunei) this morning. As you know, Bilster Technologies is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Concept Group of Companies.

The MoU is a big milestone for Bilster Technologies as they become the only company to bring in the Brother brand to Brunei. Previously Concept Group of Companies have been involved with the service side of Brother and it’s no surprise that Brother has appointed Bilster Technologies (under the flagship of Concept Group of Companies) to be the authorized distributor for Brunei.

The MoU marks the commitment for both organizations towards a growing market as well as brand acceptance where Brother will be the brand of choice not only among home users but also to SMEs and businesses as well.

Vivian @ Norsurya Binti Hj Sabali, Business Development Executive of Bilster Technologies, Vincent Pao, General Manager of Concepts Group of Companies, Itsuo Segawa, Country Head at Brother International Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Brian Low, Country Sales Head, Sales, Corporate of Brother International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

Token of appreciation from Vincent Pao to Itsuo Segawa

Mingling with guests after the MoU signing

It was also Itsuo Segawa’s (Country Head at Brother International Malaysia Sdn Bhd) first visit to Brunei Darussalam and he believes this MOU is a stepping stone for a long term relationship with Bilster Technologies. He believes in Vincent Pao, the main behind Concept Group of Companies, as a reputable business partner and helping in growing the brand name of Brother in Brunei Darussalam.

Segawa shared how consumers and businesses are now looking for user-friendly, cost-efficient solutions with outstanding quality and Brother will listen to their needs and wants. This is Brother’s strength and what differentiate them from other brands.

For your info, Bilster Technologies will carry a competitive range of Brother products, from the award-winning inkjet, laser printers, multi-function centers to hand label and mobile printers.

Vincent Pao is very excited with the partnership. The General Manager of Concepts Group of Companies shared that they are delighted to be able to work with Brother, a reputable Japanese company that focuses on quality and consistency. He is very confident that Bilster Technologies will increase the awareness of Brother in Brunei and make the consumers confident on Brother products. On top of that, they also have a after-sales service centre that will benefit customers of Brother.

Congratulations once again to Bilster Technologies on the milestone.

The Bang & Olufsen Multiroom Collection is all about enjoying the beauty of music and design all day, every day. From the light tap on your speaker in the morning that starts up your favourite coffee music – to the free flow of energizing evening tunes, the Multiroom Collection infuses your entire home with stylish sound.

The philosophy behind each product in the Multiroom Collection is that your connected wireless speakers should not be undistinguished or ordinary, but distinctive and spectacular in terms of design and craftsmanship, just like your furniture. After all, no one chooses the exact same chairs and tables for every room of their home.

We have an outstanding multiroom offer. Beautiful design, superior acoustics and excellent craftsmanship. Qualities that matter to our customers. We live in homes that are personalized and reflect who we are. And people are unique – most multiroom systems are not, says Marie Kristine Schmidt, Vice President Brand, Design & Marketing.

TOUCH-TO-JOIN
Bang & Olufsen has a long legacy of intelligent multiroom solutions and has been offering advanced connected audio systems since the 1980’s. Today the possibilities of streaming and distributing music at home are almost limitless, and you don’t need wires or technical knowledge in order to operate the Bang & Olufsen Multiroom Collection – it works right out of the box.

The products are linked in a coherent and user friendly wireless system which can be controlled via your mobile devices – or by simply tapping the speakers. As you move around your home just touch the multiroom products once and they are instantly and seamlessly united with the rest of the setup. Choose to play different music in different rooms, or let the same tune flow throughout your home.

Play directly from your favourite music apps via popular technologies such as Chromecast Built-in, Apple AirPlay or Bluetooth, or get the full Bang & Olufsen experience through the new Bang & Olufsen App.

THE MULTIROOM COLLECTION
Bang & Olufsen has selected a range of six beautiful high-class wireless speakers, labelled the Bang & Olufsen Multiroom Collection, which ranges from the portable, cone-shaped BeoSound 1 & BeoSound 2 wireless speakers systems to the advanced BeoSound 35 wireless music system with its impressive and decorative wing span. Included are also the recently launched Beoplay M5 powerful multiroom speaker, the iconic music streaming system Beoplay A9 and the music system Beoplay A6.

The integrated Bang & Olufsen multiroom solution makes it possible to easily upgrade the system with new products over time, including Bang & Olufsen televisions and other speakers. Bang & Olufsen multiroom even works with classic Bang & Olufsen products across multiple generations.

You can check out the showroom at Sejalin Living (Kiarong) to find out more or also at their Facebook Page.

And guess what? You can get the free trial, right here, right now.

For a limited time, experience any of our wireless speaker systems in your own home.*

Hello peeps!!! It’s that time of the month again where AEC Panasonic are having their great deals for their products and this is also the best time to purchase any of the products because of the freebies that you will get.

For instance, the Panasonic TH-55DX650 55” TV which is valued at BND 1,799 and you will get a FREE Panasonic 32” TV (worth BND 269). Now isn’t that a great catch? It could be a catch for me since I’m eyeing on a new TV. We shall see. The 55” TV that I mentioned has a very attractive design and furthermore, this is a great price for a large 4K TV. It sports Firefox OS smart system and it’s quite easy to use too. Then again, with this deal, you get a FREE 32” TV from Panasonic. This is definitely the best deal in town.

If you notice from the poster, all the major items such as the Alkaline Water Ionizer and even the microwave oven, all comes with freebies. The water ionizer comes with filter worth BND 169 and free installation.

All these items are available in stock and it’s “cash and carry” items. You can visit them at AEC Sdn Bhd for more information (not far from TAIB shell station in Beribi and Sumbangsih area). If you also want info, you can call 244 4913.

The promotion ends 30th April 2017.

Panasonic TH-55DX650 55” TV

You will get the Panasonic 32” TV free when you buy the Panasonic TH-55DX650 55” TV

My visit to the AEC office in Beribi. This is another Panasonic model which is 49″ TV.