Globe looks to launch 4G network by year-end in Cebu (Philippines)
Globe Telecom vice president for consumer business Peter Bithos has said that the operator is looking to launch fourth-generation (4G) mobile services in Cebu before the end of the year, as told to Cebu Daily News.
Bithos said that they expect 4G in the next two quarters of this year. Ultimately, upgrading the entire national network to 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) is Globe’s main plan, and its president and CEO Ernest Cu is confident this can be achieved without passing on the investment costs to consumers.
As per the report, Cu went on to say that he is confident Globe can maintain its 2011 level of performance despite the recent tie-up of PLDT and Digitel’s Sun Cellular mobile unit which has created an enlarged entity with a roughly 70 percent share of the domestic market. Globe Telecom is setting aside a USD700 million loan from various lending agencies to improve its infrastructure this year – including the installation of 4G across the country.
Globe Telecom upgrades network in Davao City (Philippines)
Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom, which is currently embarking on a $700-million landmark mobile network modernization program, brings a radically enhanced network experience to residents of Davao City through fast call connections, on-time delivery of text messages, and reduced incidence of dropped calls even at peak hours and traffic-heavy occasions.
Being a key market and focus area for Globe, Davao City was tapped for the implementation of the network change-out beginning December last year, resulting in doubled mobile telephony capacity in the area to support growing customer demand and improvements in voice and SMS service quality.
The network modernization program, touted as the most significant investment of Globe in the last two decades, includes an all-IP infrastructure, pervasive 3G coverage, double fiber optics capacity, 4G and LTE readiness, and overall quality and resiliency.
Once completed, Globe envisions a robust and resilient network that can provide an unparalleled customer experience to truly set the company apart from competition. The new Globe network and IT systems are not only designed to address all current customer needs but would also have the capacity and capability for more sophisticated use of mobile and broadband technologies.
With the telecom industry worldwide evolving at a breakneck speed, it has become imperative for local players to stay competitive and up-to-date with the latest developments. Thus, Globe constantly pushes its underlying infrastructure capabilities to much higher levels so as to touch both consumers and industries in new and progressive ways.
The unprecedented undertaking will modernize all layers of the Globe network within the next five years and is anticipated to set the industry benchmark for the most technologically advanced network in the Philippines. It is expected to bring aggressive growth prospects, savings in capital spending and expenses, as well as operational efficiencies from the synergy among Globe and its partners, Huawei and Alcatel-Lucent. Together bound by vision and resolve, the three companies are committed to instrumentally deliver a superior customer experience for the benefit of the consuming public.
At a higher level, Globe network modernization program also serves to broaden the telecommunications horizon of the Philippines as its corollary infrastructure expansion and service innovation stands to attract investment and business. Globe is effectively raising the bar of technology and service in the industry to make it at par with the world’s most advanced telecom communities and practices.
The Globe network and IT transformation program is an ambitious and yet necessary undertaking which will provide the platform that will make Globe even more competitive in the fast-moving market.
Globe Telecom to launch first GCASH mobile app for Apple iPhones (Philippines)
Philippine telecommunications giant Globe Telecom, through its internationally acclaimed mobile commerce service GCASH, announces a first in the industry with the launch of the GCASH mobile app for Apple iPhones by March 2012. The GCASH iPhone app will be available for download at the iTunes App Store for free.
The new GCASH iPhone app makes it more convenient for users to do their GCASH transactions like sending money, buying airtime load, and paying bills, without the need to memorize keywords or access numbers. In addition, the app boasts of a new feature enabling users to send money not only to people in their phonebook but also to their e-mail and Facebook contacts.
Paolo Baltao, President of G-Xchange, Inc., has said that the new GCASH mobile app for iPhones will make customers enjoy doing their GCASH transactions. Further, they are setting a new standard for customer experience in the field of financial services.
When a subscriber launches the GCASH mobile app, he just needs to type in his mobile number and Mobile PIN (MPIN) to log in. He will be greeted with his ‘moneybook’ which lists down all his GCASH transactions for the month in real-time. Clean and intuitively-designed screens will guide the subscriber in doing his GCASH transactions.
Globe GCASH and American Express team up to develop online payment solutions (Philippines)
Globe Telecom’s mobile commerce subsidiary, G-Xchange has entered into a partnership with American Express, a global payment and network services provider to develop an innovative online payment solution that will allow Globe GCASH mobile wallet customers to not only buy smartphone apps, music, movies, and games but also shop for electronics, toys, apparel, and many other goods from popular US and UK online sites that accept American Express.
The tie-up will provide a hassle-free shopping experience for Filipinos as goods bought through GCASH via American Express can be delivered from the US or UK directly to their homes in the Philippines. Furthermore, customers may also take advantage of thousands of online deals and offers.
Paolo Baltao, President of GXI, has said that with less than 5 per cent credit card penetration in the Philippines, their new solution will provide consumers with a new and compelling payment option – and all they will need is a GCASH mobile wallet to start shopping on online sites outside the Philippines.
Kula Kulendran, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Network Services, Japan, Asia Pacific, Australia, American Express, claimed that the Philippines is a market with strong growth potential, and they see this across several sectors from banking services to e-commerce. Their partnership with GXI will provide consumers with broader access to global online shopping opportunities and services as well as drive innovative product development and strong business growth for both GXI and American Express.
Smart observes sustained growth in postpaid segment (Philippines)
Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. expects the continued expansion of its postpaid segment this year as it gears up for the launch of exciting handset deals and voice and data plans.
Smart and Sun Cellular ended 2011 with a combined postpaid subscriber base of nearly 2 million, following the success of their best-value offerings. Smart’s parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) acquired a majority stake in Sun Cellular operator Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) last year.
Guido Zaballero, Mobile Marketing Head, Smart, said that the company tripled its average daily postpaid activations largely because of the popularity of the Unli and All-In plans and smartphone-bundled plans. He added that they expect to top last year’s figures as they are set to launch exciting postpaid offerings in 2012. Consumers should watch out for the attractive handset deals and voice and data plans.
Among last year’s growth drivers were the Unli Plan 299, which allows unlimited texts to any Smart and Talk ‘N Text number, and the Unli Plan 599, which allows unlimited calls and texts to Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers. The iPhone Plans, Smart’s exclusive plans for the Samsung Galaxy Y Netphone edition and Netphone 701, and the Smart-Sun Text Unlimited 549 Plan also boosted postpaid figures.
The Smart-Sun Text Unlimited 549 Plan provides unlimited texts to Smart and Sun numbers, 2 hours of free Smart-to-Smart calls, and 4 hours of free Sun-to-Sun calls. It comes with a free dual-SIM phone. Smart’s All-In Plans were very popular as well, as these allow subscribers to choose Unli call and text packages, next-generation handsets, and mobile Internet plans.
Zaballero added that consumers got the best value from Smart’s Unli call and text offers as they have the biggest prepaid and postpaid subscriber base in the country, as well as the most sophisticated and reliable network.
Smart ended 2011 with a total subscriber base of 49 million.
Smart Money online transactions up by 133 per cent (Philippines)
Smart Money is an easy and safe way to do bank account transactions via the mobile phone, launched by telecom operator Smart. According to a company report, the country’s first and largest electronic wallet service posted a 133 per cent surge in online transactions in the past year.
Orlando B. Vea, Chief Wireless Advisor, Smart, said that not only did they record a doubling of online transactions, they also posted a double-digit rate increase in online applications for Smart Money accounts, which already number in the thousands every year. These figures show that consumers see Smart Money as a convenient and safe online payment tool. At a time when online hacking is prevalent, consumer trust in Smart Money’s security features is growing.
Aside from providing efficient and secure online payment services, Smart Money also enables its account holders to buy from more than 32 million MasterCard merchants worldwide. MasterCard is one of the world’s leading payment processors.
Vea added that Smart Money arms subscribers with buying power wherever they are – be it at home while surfing the Internet, in local shopping centers, or while traveling abroad. They do not need to worry about carrying cash in an unfamiliar place. There are literally millions of establishments around the world that will accept their Smart Money card.
Helping ensure the security of over 10 million Smart Money accounts is the electronic wallet service’s award-winning Lock/Unlock feature, which requires account holders to select ‘unlock’ on their mobile phone’s Smart Money menu and type their six-digit W-PIN before making online payments.
Vea also said that this feature provides additional layers of security. Even if someone knows a user’s Smart Money number, he cannot use it for purchases if he does not have the SIM card and does not know the W-PIN.
Moreover, Smart Money accounts automatically lock after 30 minutes or after two online transactions, whichever comes first. Thus in the event that a user accidentally leaves their Smart Money account unlocked, it will be protected.
Smart Money also sends real-time SMS confirmation of purchases made online and in establishments to inform subscribers if someone has been using their account without their permission. Vea said that security is Smart Money’s priority. They make sure that they provide clients both with the convenience of cashless shopping and innovative protective measures.
Vodafone partners with Smart Communications to deliver managed services (Philippines)
Mobile operator Vodafone has partnered with Smart Communications to offer managed services to large corporations in Philippines.
According to reports, Stevan Hoyle, president, Vodafone’s enterprise operations in APAC, has said that the value to Vodafone of collaborating with (Conexus) is significant given the growing importance of Asia to the enterprise customers. He added that the partnership with Smart will allow the Philippines operator to provide global enterprises operating in the Philippines with a range of services through a single contract. With MNC employees using a variety of handsets, devices and tablets more and more for greater mobility, these enterprises need to streamline their legal needs.
Hoyle also said that corporate customers want to have fewer lawyers working on fewer contracts. They offer to wrap things up in one contract, one SLA (service level agreement). Reports reveal that the managed services offered will include Spend Manager for global spend information and procurement tracking service Central Ordering.
Globe offers new billing system for Blackberry users (Philippines)
In an attempt to offer convenience to its Blackberry users, mobile operator Globe Telecom has introduced a new billing system for mobile applications. According to reports, the new system enables Blackberry users to charge their mobile app purchases directly to their postpaid account or prepaid credits.
Peter Bithos, senior advisor for consumer business, Globe Telecom has said that integrated billing will make it easier than ever for subscribers to purchase apps for their BlackBerry smartphones. Through the secure billing system interface, they are able to provide subscribers a convenient and worry-free way to purchase premium content on BlackBerry App World without the need for a credit card or direct cash payments. The cost of apps purchased from the app store will be charged to their postpaid phone bill or from their prepaid credits.
The new billing service is expected to commence from Q2 this year.
GLOBE to curb unlimited data plans (Philippines)
Globe Telecom plans to curtail its unlimited data plans because of abusive users. The company stated that it was high time to end its unlimited data offerings as it wanted to deter the abusive Internet users who tamper the bandwidth availability.
Globe’s president Ernest Cu stated that the usage of cap is a priority as there was no point in putting all the investments in network without any return. It was informed by him that that Globe’s in All-You-Can-Eat plans were mostly hit by the abusive usage by internet users. It was further stated by him that ratio of abusive users was around 5% of subscribers who consumed 80 per cent of the network’s available broadband internet bandwidth. It was discovered by the company that 20% of the network’s bandwidth was spared for around 95 per cent of internet users.
The company is planning to launch bucket service pricing as a replacement to the unlimited data offering. The bucket service pricing will comprise voice, text message service and Internet under one price scheme concept. The company informed that it is following the trend of US firm AT&T in the launch of capping data offerings.
Earlier in 2011, Globe already adopted the measures for curtailing abusive usage. The company introduced a fair use policy for keeping a check on the abusive usage. Already in April of 2011, Globe adopted a fair-use policy with measures for capping customer usage. The offer curtailment was highly criticized by its users and was named as an unfair use policy. The company defended its stand of capping data usage by stating that curbing data offerings would encourage a healthy environment for a more sensible usage of the internet amongst subscribers.
