Hutchison's Tri Launches BIMA, an App to Alert Mobile Subscribers of Their Impending Data Limit

Indonesian mobile subscribers on Hutchison's Tri network can now check and top up their Internet quota and be alerted to usage limits using BIMA, short for Broadband Internet Mobile App, which is available now on the App Store, Google Play, and BlackBerry App World, but it's not available for Windows Phone. At least not yet. No word as to whether it will be available for Microsoft's mobile OS.

The app takes advantage of the notification system on each of the platform to alert its prepaid subscribers whenever their Internet usage quota is nearing the limit or when their subscription period is about to expire. Tri actually already has this service deployed through SMS alerts but with the proliferation of iPads among Indonesian consumers, it is not possible to deliver such alerts to iPad owners. This app would help to take care of that.

The app displays a number of information including the subscriber's phone number, remaining balance, active period of the card, information on unmetered websites, as well as suggestions of apps and games that people might find interesting or fun to do.

Tri subscribers can top up their credits using the code found on a physical voucher or using their credit or debit cards by entering the required information into the app. The app also provides recommended plans based on subscriber usage pattern in the preceding period as recorded by the network's system. In other words, the app will suggest the appropriate data, SMS, or voice plan to use, based on historical data of the last 30 days.

To be able to use the app, Tri subscribers will have to register their phone numbers first. Typically the app will automatically detect an active Tri subscription in the device and tells the subscriber that the number has or has not yet been registered to the service and if not, will prompt to register. Unfortunately there is no way to register a Tri number manually on the website or anywhere else for that matter. The site only allows logins while registration is expected to be done from a Tri connected device.

Because the app relies on the network's servers for its operations instead of monitoring on the device directly, it's possible to have this app installed on any iOS, Android, or BlackBerry device, even the ones without a cellular connection such as an iPod touch, WiFi-only iPad or Nexus 7, but it obviously requires the Tri number which has been registered through the system using a Tri connected device.

This ability to have it installed elsewhere is useful for those who wish to have a remote monitoring device for a certain number, say a parent who wants to monitor their children's cellular usage so as to be able to help manage their expenses.