Technology

Mor Chana app – what you need to know

Published

2 weeks ago

Friday, January 8, 2021

The Thaiger

So what’s going on with the new Mor Chana app?

As far as the Thai Government is concerned, it’s part of their fight to track and trace the Covid-19 virus during this current outbreak. More Chana is a contact tracing tool.

In essence, the app will allow you to check in when you go to different locations around Thailand, enter shops and buildings. As guests in the country, expats and travellers here should acknowledge that we have a role and responsibility to play in getting this current situation under control, as well as the Thais.

Of course you are well entitled to decide NOT to download and activate the app but the narrative from the government is that they see More Chana as an important part of their strategy. The app will also alert you when you are entering areas or provinces of potentially high risk. Being alert to these situations is like being alert to any other type of news.

So far, the application has been downloaded more than 3 million times

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News Categories:Technology Thailand

24 Comments

Tony
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Ill comment here what i have said on another post. Reviews for the app on the play store, many people are complaining the app increases battery use so maybe if thay want more people to use it they should fix the problems first. (i won’t be using it till the problems are fix)
Reply
- Fred glue
  Friday, January 8, 2021 at 11:38 pm
  BRAVO, tony.
  Reply
Leaonard
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 8:02 pm
“As guests in the country, expats and travellers here should acknowledge that we have a role and responsibility to play in getting this current situation…”
Yeah as guests… You mean as customer? Dual price policy and overcharge each they can doesn’t make you a guest. So no we don’t have a greater role to play, playing the same role is enough to me
Reply
Ted
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 8:27 pm
3 million times out of 70 million citizens, I acknowledge that there are young and old that are not mentality able to download it/or even own a smart phone but its still a really small number, that I don’t even think all who works in law enforcement, military and other government entities has downloaded it.
Reply
Jeff
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 8:47 pm
Give up civil liberties for the greater good…what hogwash. We are constantly having our civil liberties further restricted because of the lesser bad. How about the government do their job and address the lesser bad directly instead of requiring the greater good to capitulate to more laws, rules and regulations that were created in response to the lesser bad????? What part of that can’t governments understand?
Reply
Issan John
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 9:23 pm
Thais have nicknamed it “Mia Chana” rather than Mor Chana as according to Thai social media it’s a bit like having a Mia Noi!
TBH, with the current numbers any local outbreak of Covid is all over social media so quickly that everyone who’s been near anyone testing positive for Covid is “track ‘n’ traced” quicker on social media and by local gossip than any “world beating” system could possibly do it.
I knew about the local outbreak in Loei 24 hours before there was any mention of it in the news, in a lot more detail including who’d been where meeting whom, and I’m a farang and I don’t even live in the village and hear the gossip.
If things get worse and more complicated I’m sure Mor Chana will be used more, but hopefully that won’t be necessary.
Reply
Jake Pattaya
Friday, January 8, 2021 at 10:58 pm
Most governments if want can follow your phone so they don’t need ann app to spy on you. App is actually something also for us not just for them.
Just downloaded, it ask you for permission to camera – you can give. Foto I made of black wall at night.
No photo, no name or date of birth, no email adres, same anonymity as without app, just sending warnings to your device , without collecting and even wanting to collect that data. They know. This app is to put it to use by us. Unfortunately this app is even more difficult then Tinder as it’s same thing, it doesn’t work without or not enough people. So far as I see it’s waiting if I go make moves z all thing done in 30 sec , it’s bluetooth which is consuming the battery, but that’s nothing compared to benefits is use by everyone.
Reply
- Andre
  Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 1:03 am
  So you need to have Bluetooth activated all the time? Do you know what potential security risks you open up your phone to by walking around with Bluetooth enabled? Thank you but no thanks.
  Reply
  - Jake Pattaya
    Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 9:47 pm
    No I don’t know what potential risk by having bluetooth on, please enlighten me
    Reply
Andre
Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 1:00 am
I would never download an app like this, essentially giving the government access to all your movement. Who knows what this data can and will be used for under this regime. We just saw it in Singapore that the tracking data was used for other purposes.
Reply
Jack Sombra
Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 3:12 am
Sorry but you don’t ask ‘guests’ to pay more for everything unless you are the worst ‘host’ in history, its time to stop that fiction we are “guests” and the need to act like such.
Foriegners are customers and badly treated ones at that.
And 3 million out of 69 million is about 4%, in other words a total failure.
Reply
freedom
Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 4:22 am
Those that give up freedom for security deserve neither.
Reply
- Jake Pattaya
  Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 9:56 am
  Freedom of smoking in public (causing health problems to others), being in the back seat without seat belt( in case of accident squashing the driver in front of you), not wearing mask during Covid(spreading deadly virus unknowingly) or refusing to tell government which places you visited by not downloading app ( making it nearly impossible to find out who were you in line with in 7/11 and if that person was found 3 days later positive, to inform you that you are at risk.
  What else they can use it for? They know your phone location anyway without your bluetooth, bluetooth technology is to detect other phones with the app to trace contacts and the app is just an user friendly interface. NOBODY WANTS TO ENSLAVE YOU, stop being paranoid!
  Reply
  - Ted
    Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 1:53 pm
    Jake, let’s dig into your 7/11 example!
    First of all, I thought the temperature checks where enough (just joking), anyway, after the infected person got tested and realized that he/she was infected. How long –days/weeks/months– do you think will have past, since I stood inline with this person at 7/11. AND how many people to you think that I have met…and how many persons those people have met and so on???
    Please open your eyes and think a bit for yourself, then play different scenarios in your head before determine what you believe.
    Reply
    - Issan John
      Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 4:16 pm
      Ted, you’re missing the whole point of a targeted and tiered track ‘n’ trace system, which grades all those you and anyone else someone infected may have met into high, medium or low risk.
      That’s the system Thailand has, while other countries have their own “world beating” systems.
      Reply
      - Ted
        Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 5:19 pm
        John let’s look it from a different perspective, and take a look at out selves. I can only guess that most people live their life, like I do, by using their knowledge of the past to make smarter and more helpful decisions in the future. This app does not that, It purely focus on the past.
        Yeah an alarm will ring in your phone if you’re entering a “Red area”, the virus doesn’t follow a map or the time or car about you having a glass of wine to your dinner!
        My best guess, about the alarm, is that it will be like when you drive a car and only tells you when you are entering a new speed limit (most often lower) but it hardly ever tells you when the speed limit has has changed again and you don’t realize it until you are once more hit by “Slow Down” sign with the same speed as before…meaning, you won’t know that you have exited the Red area before you’ve entered a new one.
        Enjoy your Saturday, time for me to take a powernap before my evening run!
  - Issan John
    Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 4:12 pm
    Jake, I agree with a great deal of what you say, but to be fair having your bluetooth turned on all the time does make it relatively easy for someone to access any information you have on your phone even if you limit bluetooth accessibility or visibility.
    It’s a Catch 22, unfortunately.
    Reply
    - Jake Pattaya
      Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 10:06 pm
      It’s a trade off, but risk can be minimalized. Update your Android with Google’s latest security patch.Ensure that you have the most recent Security Patch Level.
      There is always a bit of risk by using your debit card in ATM , it can be copied but we still take it.
      Reply
Zig
Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 6:01 am
a part of their strategy???….yeah right..I’m sure it is…they nailed it right on the head!!
Reply
Susan
Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 6:56 am
If anyone has downloads it like I have and one of the questions is “ do you work and come close with foreigners” that says it all really.
Reply
- Galapagos0424
  Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 8:25 am
  That question in the app made me cringe a bit also Susan when I saw it. I wish they had been a bit more on point with the question with respect to what I believe (hope) they really care about which is contact with someone who has illegally crossed the border and not been tested and quarantined.
  Reply
  - Issan John
    Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 4:39 pm
    I think you’re probably reading rather more into it than was intended.
    As has been pointed out, the app only works if enough people download it, and what will put more people off:
    … those who don’t want to download it because they don’t think it’s politically correct, (current question, “do you work and come close with foreigners”), or …
    … those who don’t want to download it because they don’t want to admit to working with and coming into close contact with illegal border crossers (your version, “do you work and come close with someone who has illegally crossed the border and not been tested and quarantined”)?
    Reply
JB
Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 8:00 am
I may have missed it…
The difference between the two apps? Mor Chana and Thai Chana.
I’ve been using Thai Chana for months. Just downloaded Mor Chana.
Use both at Big C [sic]? Etc…?
Reply
Percy
Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 12:38 am
I’m a foreign tourist senior citizen.I travel a lot I have no need for a mobile but I do have one.A standard cell phone no WiFi required. I have it sould I be in a situation where I need heip. 100 Baht will last me yonks. I have no need for a smart phone as I have no need for internet and how am I going to get Wi-Fi from.
If the Government want people to have a smart phone then thay must have a free WiFi all over the country for the app to record one’s movement
Reply

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Thailand

Thailand’s broadband internet speed ranks #1

Published

2 days ago

Friday, January 22, 2021

The Thaiger

Thailand’s broadband internet speed is ranking number 1 after a speed test was conducted in December of last year. It’s ranking climbed 2 spots from the previous speed test out of 176 countries by the Speedtest Global Index, beating out the stiff competition.

Singapore and Hong Kong are now at 2nd and 3rd place according to the test, which is measured monthly. The test uses millions of data from real people who use Speedtest tools. The test was developed by Ookla, which is a Seattle, Washington headquartered company that has pioneered fixed broadband and mobile network testing apps, analysis and data. Despite the tests being originated by a US company, the US ranks 10th on the list.

Thailand clocked an average fixed broadband speed of 308.35 megabits per second for downloads last month, beating out Singapore for the top spot. It ranked 3rd in November 2020. The global average fixed broadband speed was 96.43 megabits per second for downloads and 52.31 megabits per second for uploads in December.

On his Facebook page, Digital Economy and Society Minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta attributed the top ranking to the country’s fast development of telecom infrastructure and competition by local operators.

After AIS Fibre entered the market in 2015, it sparked more rivals to join in the race to install fibre optics for internet services, a move that replaced the older technology of ADSL network. AIS Fibre is a home broadband unit of mobile operator Advanced Info Service.

Pisut Ngamvijitvong, senior director of the analysis department at Kasikorn Securities says some operators still provide fixed broadband services through the old ADSL technology, but that every year the internet is getting faster and cheaper.

“Triple T Broadband provides around 30-40% of its service on ADSL and True Internet has around 20%.”

Thailand’s fixed broadband service sector has been increasing every year. In 2019, there were 10.1 million household subscribers to fixed broadband services. And, in 2020, the number was estimated at 11 million.

The Speedtest Global Index also ranks the mobile internet speed of 139 countries in which Thailand currently ranks 33rd as of December 2020. It moved up 11 spots in 1 month from November 2020 testing at 51.75 megabits per second for downloads. The UAE and South Korea followed in the rankings with 2nd and 3rd place respectively. The global average for mobile internet speed was 47.2 megabits per second for downloads and 12.67 megabits per second for uploads.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

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Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Welcome to 2021 – Digital Covid Passports | VIDEO

Published

4 weeks ago

Monday, December 28, 2020

The Thaiger

Documentation, including your current Covid status and vaccination details, will become 2021’s biggest challenge as governments, businesses, and the travel industry try and re-establish some sort of workable way forward.

Several companies and technology groups are developing smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their Covid-19 tests and vaccinations, creating digital credentials that could be shown in order to enter public building, sports stadiums, movie theatres, or even other countries.

One is the Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based non-profit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum.

The new app will allow users to upload medical data and generate a QR code ‘health certificate’ without revealing sensitive information.

For travel, the app can lists health pass requirements relating to the countries you intend to visit.

The next challenge facing the world after populations become more widely inoculated will be privacy issues and representing the effectiveness of the different vaccines.

Are you worried about privacy? Do you think all countries will require such documentation for travel? How about entering public buildings or shops? Let’s hear your comments below…

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Coronavirus (Covid-19)

2021’s new normal – the digital Covid passport

Published

4 weeks ago

Monday, December 28, 2020

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Common Pass

Looking forward to travelling, shopping, going to the movies? Now that Covid-19 vaccines are beginning to be rolled out around the world, you may now need something in addition to the actual vaccine. Documentation… a vaccine passport.

Documentation, including your current Covid status and vaccination details, will become 2021’s biggest challenge as governments, businesses, and world travel, try and re-establish some sort of workable way forward.

One is the Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based non-profit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum. Along with airlines Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, the new app will allow users to upload medical data and generate a QR code ‘health certificate’ without revealing sensitive information. For travel, the app can lists health pass requirements relating to the countries based on your itinerary.

The next challenge facing the world after populations become more widely inoculated will be privacy issues and representing the effectiveness of the different vaccines. Different apps are tackling these issues in different ways and immigration officials and airlines will have to keep up to date with the various methods of digital ‘covid’ passports in the future.

Of course there’s also a large subset of people that don’t use or have access to smartphones. The Covid-19 Credentials Initiative is also developing a smart card that can easily be updated with the latest information and an online version that’s easier to store.

Still, the real-life implementation, and lack of a worldwide ‘standard’ is going to add to ongoing confusion. Did you get the Pfizer vaccine, did you get the Chinese vaccine, did you get the Russian vaccine, did you get a vaccine developed in the US? The vaccine developed by Chinese state-owned pharmaceutical giant Sinopharm has a reported efficacy of 86% against Covid-19. Vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna each have an efficacy of around 95%.

The CommonPass platform will assess whether a person’s lab test results or vaccination records come from a trusted source and can satisfy the health screening requirements of the country they want to visit.

It also remains unclear how effective the vaccines are in stopping the transmission of the virus. So while a vaccine passport app will show that you’ve received the shot, it may not be a guarantee that you safely attend an event or get on a flight. Like the early days of Covid-19, there will be a steep learning curve and a constant change in the fact pool, mixed in with plenty of spicy conspiracy theories.

Governments and airlines are expecting a variety of apps that can work with each other to be “widely available” within the first half of 2021. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, and most of the larger airlines have already foreshadowed that some sort of digital Covid passport will be necessary before you get on a plane or enter a country in the future.

SOURCE: CommonPass

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