Leviste assails Comelec

With over 200 million text messages being sent everyday, it is no wonder that the Philippines is considered to be the SMS capital of the world.

Erick Kalugdan, together with some of his friends, realized early on that the rapid growth in the number of mobile phone users in the country was associated with text messaging. Thus, they decided to establish GiveMe Unlimited Inc. in 2001 — an enterprise and wireless solutions provider specifically specializing in SMS (short message service or text messaging).

Deviating from telecommunication companies involved in consumer retailing, GiveMe Unlimited wants to provide its clients with convenient, efficient, and cost-effective SMS services.

As a result, the company launched the InfoTXT messaging platform, enabling one to send and receive high-volume SMS messages using a computer, as well as access valuable information (such as contact information or product details) anytime, anywhere, simply by using an SMS-capable cell phone. The InfoTXT messaging platform is a three-time grand prize winner of the Best Mobile Application in the eServices Philippines 2003, 2004 and 2005 trade fair.

Service-oriented companies such as banks, hotels and restaurants can add value to their customer service and CRM infrastructure. Product-based companies such as retailers, manufacturers and dealers, on the other hand, can benefit from InfoTXT by storing, updating and monitoring product or customer information.

In particular, Chowking acquired GiveMe Unlimited’s award-winning InfoTXT messaging platform for their SMS-based customer feedback system with an electronic raffle feature.

Samsung, on the other hand, uses an SMS-based merchandise inventory monitoring system and marketing while Eagleridge Golf and Country Club’s InfoTXT messaging platform provides a fully-automated golf tee time reservation system for their members via SMS. Wyeth Philippines acquired the InfoTXT messaging platform to provide value added SMS services to their customer service system. With InfoTXT, they are able to remind customers of their medication through SMS.

To date, a partial list of GiveMe Unlimited’s clients include Negros Navigation, Tagaytay Highlands Golf and Country Club, Zuellig Philippines, the Australian Embassy, Maersk Filipinas, Alaska, PNP, Philippine Navy, EDSA and Makati Shangri-La Hotels, InterContinental Hotel, BusinessWorld Online, ABS-CBN Global, AC Nielsen Media Research, Landbank, Equitable PCI Bank, Caltex Philippines, Steel Asia Manufacturing Corp., Asian Spirit, Family First, Manulife, Honda Cars Makati, Isuzu Automotive Dealership, Kodak Philippines, InfoNXX, Manila Water, Meralco, TransCo, and Red Ribbon.

Kalugdan believes that in the future, InfoTXT will be the standard business tool, similar to fax machines. He also states that “A company with no InfoTXT will be left behind by their competitors who provide better and more convenient value-added customer service to their customers.”

For more information, visit www.givemeunlimited.com.