STREET WISE
A thumb on the scales of justice
Last week, when Total Access Communication and True Move launched a rare joint press conference, they made the point that market leader Advanced Info Service had taken unfair advantage of them.
To demonstrate the unfairness of different cost structures, DTAC and True managed to show the press a weight-measuring scale. It was not an ordinary scale, but one used to weigh gold - a very delicate commodity, one that demands an ultra-precise scale. According to a DTAC source, the scale was borrowed from a gold shop in Yaowarat - Bangkok's famous gold market, centre for hundreds of gold shops. Bringing the scale to the press conference meant the gold shop had to halt business for that day. Just estimate how much the gold shop would lose in a single day, and surely they must have asked for hefty compensation from the borrowers. The two companies did not mind the cost, though, as they were so intent on showing this scale to the press. They have spent so much money promoting their services. Why should they care about the compensation, so puny compared with their marketing budget? Not to mention the whopping future gains if the pair wins the government's attention in fixing the injustice. Ironically, they are treating their enemy on an unequal basis. If DTAC and True are put on one side of the scale, how could AIS's weight ever balance it?
achara_d@nationgroup.com
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