Globe reports sharp rise in mobile app purchases

MANILA, Philippines - Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. has reported a sharp increase in the purchase of mobile apps by smartphone users seeking a richer mobile phone experience.

Dan Horan, senior advisor for Consumer Business Group at Globe, said the direct carrier billing service for apps on Google Play and Apple App Store has become a major driving force in the continuing shift to digital lifestyle.

“We are delighted to see that this particular service provided an impetus in making customers’ lives easier and more convenient as they shift to a digital lifestyle,” Horan said.

Prior to Globe’s introduction of direct carrier billing service, he said many Filipinos availed only of free apps to use on their mobile devices as only four percent of Filipinos own credit cards.

Globe reported that the number of customers per day who have either bought an app or bought items inside apps on the Google Play Store have more than doubled since the service was launched in October.

Likewise, there are over 300,000 customers using the GCash American Express® Virtual Pay to date, allowing them to conveniently purchase apps from the Apple App Store, with iTunes App purchases comprising 27 percent of total GCash American Express® Virtual Pay purchases in 2014.

Total transaction of GCash American Express® Virtual Pay jumped 65 percent last year.

Globe introduced the direct carrier billing service for Android smartphone users last year to enable customers to purchase apps and charge their purchases to their postpaid bill or prepaid load without the need for a credit card.

It has since attracted a significant number of customers to buy premium apps and other content on the Google Play Store.

Aside from the direct carrier billing service for Google Play Store, customers have been able to purchase apps, media, and games from the Apple Store using the GCash American Express® Virtual Pay since 2012.

Users could get a GCash American Express® Virtual Pay account via different platforms such as the GCash mobile app available on the App Store, Google Play Store, BlackBerry App World and GCash website.

GCash American Express® Virtual Pay is a virtual prepaid card linked to a user’s GCash wallet that allows a secure way of shopping from online retail sites that accept American Express.

With the service, buyers can transfer funds to their GCash wallets by cashing in from the customer’s bank account or through any of over 7,000 GCash outlets nationwide.

It also allows buyers to provide a personalized US address where the item could be delivered to, granting Filipinos direct access to exclusive US goods. From this address, the item would then be shipped to the buyer’s preferred delivery address in the Philippines.