Dear StarHub Ltd,

I am writing this petition in response to growing discontent and dismay among your customers - myself included - regarding the handling of the recent "Intel Centrino" issue surrounding your MaxOnline promotion in December 2006.

Let's visit the facts. Your brochure listed a Compaq Presario laptop computer as a gift if customers signed up for 28 months with StarHub MaxOnline. The technical specifications list the processor as "Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology".

When subscribers finally received their laptops, they realized that their machines were not Centrino certified. In this case, it was the wireless internet adaptor that was in question - it was a Broadcom branded wireless internet adaptor. For a laptop to be Centrino certified, it must be an Intel wireless internet adaptor.

Many of those who signed up for the deal did so under the impression that it is a Centrino-certified laptop, but evidently that has not been and still is not the case.

You have since revealed that the word "Centrino" was never meant to be in the brochure, and that it was a mistake by a StarHub employee who was responsible for the brochure. We appreciate your candor and integrity in admitting your mistake.

However, those who did sign up under the impression that it is a Centrino-certified laptop could only feel rather shortchanged. After speaking to staff at both StarHub and the laptop manufacturers, Hewlett Packard, I am under the impression that neither party wishes to address the concerns of said StarHub customers, nor make an exception to deliver what was impressed upon them as "Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology" laptops.

In light of the current situation, I am making these demands of you:

Recall the affected notebooks (V3131TU, v3135TU & V3136TU) and replace/insert the affected/omitted parts, namely the wireless adapter and the bluetooth adapter. The notebook must then be Centrino Duo certified.

Or, replace the affected notebooks with an equivalent notebook of the same monetary value. In the case of the model V3136TU with a monetary value of S$2299 w/GST, it should be replaced with either model V3133AP or V3143TU.

Or, offer a full rebate/compensation to customers who want to return the affected notebook and cancel the MaxOnline contract. Customers must be restored to the condition prior to the contract, subjected to the payment of services used.

Thank you for your time.