Next Mobile sees big increase in its subscriber base

Leading digital walkie-talkie and wireless operator Next Mobile Inc. (NMI) projects its subscriber base to increase by 150 percent to 230 percent this year, as it embarks on an aggressive expansion program and focuses on key markets.

From 30,000 at the start of the year, the company expects its number of subscribers to grow to between 75,000 to 100,000 by the end of 2005, NMI officials disclosed.

NMI, whose service includes trunk radio operations integrated with data services and mobile phone operations, will be targeting 10 key industries, according to NMI president and chief operating officer Lamberto Ramos.

These are freight and logistics where NMI currently has a 50 percent market share: construction, security, manufacturing, passenger services (sea, land, and air), government, hospitality (hotels and restaurants), media, utilities, and small and medium enterprises. In these other markets, NMI has less than 50 percent share of the market.

Ramos projects the subscriber base to grow 150 percent to 75,000 by year-end but his projection does not include the impact of NMI’s expansion to the United States, where it is now starting to market its Philippine services to Fil-Am households that want to stay in touch with their families, relatives as well as to US-based businesses that have frequent dealings in the Philippines.

An NMI affiliate, US registered Verdict Mobile will be marketing both the services of Sprint-Nextel, US‚ third largest telco operator, and that of NMI’s.

Ramos explained that the company will be focusing on increasing not only coverage area but also market penetration and usage.

"By just increasing our share of the market, we can immediately see an increase in our subscriber base. We are also developing new products and services for our existing customers that hopefully will increase usage and loyalty," he said.

The company is likewise increasing its number of distributors. In order to encourage more small entrepreneurs to be distributors or dealers of NMI, the latter will be offering recurring commissions. "We can only grow bigger by allowing our partners to share in the profits of the business," Ramos emphasized.