MANILA, Philippines – It was a lazy Sunday afternoon when my nephew Diego, my Mom and I were discussing the merits of staying connected.
“I can survive without a cellphone, computer, the Internet,” says my Mom. “But don’t forget your cellphone because I might need to call you.”
“There is no way I can survive without my Globe Tattoo-connected laptop,” quips Diego, my twentysomething nephew. “I just got the Globe Duo connection on my prepaid line and it works like magic.”
And then Diego goes on to explain to my Mom and his dad Peter how the Globe Duo service works.
“I have two lines — one is my cellphone line and the other a landline,” says Diego. “The two lines are neatly integrated into one SIM.”
Diego goes on to tell his elders that when he needs to make calls to a landline the intelligent Globe Duo SIM switches to landline capacity and calls the landline number. When it is a cellphone he is calling, then the cellphone line kicks in.
“It’s great,” adds Diego. “Why don’t you get one for postpaid, Dad. All you need to pay is P899 a month and you get to talk on the landline as long as you want, at no extra charge.”
The connected lifestyle
Globe challenges the common notion that a connected lifestyle is an expensive lifestyle as it promotes connectivity products and services to fit any budget.
As the country continues to suffer the effects of global recession, it is now more important than ever to keep communication with your friends and loved ones alive, at a cost that is affordable.
“We are proud to bring to the Philippines another pioneering service from Globe, the company that Filipino consumers through the years have known to be at the forefront of mobile service innovation. Delivering superior value and the best mobile experience is our top of mind as we aim to put our customers first always in everything that we do,” says Ernest Cu, president and chief executive officer of Globe. “Globe Duo is testament to our commitment to continuously provide our customers with the latest wireless services in the world at the most affordable price and offer them every convenient means of connecting to one another.”
With Duo, Globe brings the first and only unlimited calling service of its kind to Filipino consumers. It is the world’s first fully convergent solution that works across both fixed and mobile networks for postpaid subscribers. Duo enables subscribers to make unlimited calls from Globe to any landline number and from any landline to Globe, as well as to and from any Duo postpaid mobile subscriber for as long as they are all within the same area code.
Globe helps consumers manage their communication budget with Duo as they no longer have to maintain separate landline and mobile services and pay two monthly bills. Also, landline to mobile calls can be very costly while mobile to landline calls are not unlimited. Duo makes unlimited landline service cheaper now than ever before and it is even more affordable than regular landline charges.
Fast becoming popular among customers in Metro Manila and Cebu, Globe Duo is also available in prepaid in Metro Manila. New Globe prepaid subscribers can get the special Duo prepaid SIM pack at only P45 to enjoy Globe Duo. Experience the ultimate in unlimited mobile and landline calling within Metro Manila and Cebu for five days for just P125 and P350 for 14 days.
And then there is TM
A different affordable solution for one’s communication needs is TM with its various offerings. TM’s Astigtawag20 gives 15 minutes’ call to all networks na pwedeng hati-hatiin. To avail oneself of this offer, text ASTIGTAWAG20 to 8888. Astigtxt15 provides 150 TM-TM/Globe texts plus 10 texts to other networks. To start using this service, text ASTIGTXT15 to 8888 to register or buy directly as load from retailers. These are available nationwide. TM also offers Sulitxt5 wherein for P5 one gets 25 texts to TM/Globe. Also available nationwide, use this service by sending SULITXT<space>5 to 8888. On top of these, TM has launched the lowest load denomination available in the market today at P5. TM continuously finds ways to provide affordable mobile services to customers. It also has the TMUNLI 10 in Mindanao. Text TMUNLI to 1010 to experience this service. As an added treat, TM even extended load validity for P11 to P19 load which is now two days valid, coming from a one-day validity period. Truly, Globe makes it convenient for consumers to have a connected lifestyle with its affordable offerings.
The World Wide Web
“Globe offers services that are already part and parcel of every Filipino’s life,”“ says Menchi Orlina, Globe consumer marketing group head. “From the time he wakes up to the time he goes to sleep.”
Orlina opines that Globe has been at the forefront of making sure that the best connections for Filipinos, wherever they may be.
We all know that it was Globe that was the pioneer in texting — and that service became the benchmark of technological advancement.
“Staying connected has become like food, a staple for every Filipino,” adds Orlina. “In fact I have heard of instances where kids use their money to buy load, instead of snacks. It is awesome how the telecom services have really taken over the lives of the Filipino.”
Not one to let technology pass it by, Globe continues to be a step ahead when it comes to tech advances that make staying connected the best possible experience.
“We are a going a step beyond what the industry has already achieved,” adds Orlina. “The time for broadband connections whether wired or not is where the future lies.”
Orlina likens Globe’s broadband to a gateway of information; a gateway to any kind of lifestyle that a person wants to pursue. This is why Globe is working on making broadband available to all echelons of society. But more importantly Orlina says the service has to be made very affordable.
“What Globe does is to provide the Internet highway,” quips Orlina. “Broadband is the highway to the Internet.”
In an analogy Orlina compares the broadband connections of Globe to access to various highways. She adds that what Globe is increasing is the number of highways and making these highways as wide as possible so that there will be more people who can use the highways.
To complete the analogy, Orlina says, “We make the toll in terms of access to the highways very affordable.”
Let the connections begin
Globe gives its subscribers the power to live a full Internet-enabled life as it provides them a suite of solutions that complements different types of lifestyles.
Globe has been expanding its wireless broadband network to accommodate the increasing demand for the Internet. This year, Globe has introduced Globe Broadband Tattoo and Globe Broadband Powered by WiMAX (Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access). This June, the company launched hyper-speed plans via cutting-edge fiber-to-the-home technology. Globe recently introduced three new Tattoo USB modem designs to choose from, allowing customers to connect anywhere, with a stylish USB that reflects their hip and trendy lifestyle.
With Globe Broadband Tattoo, users can experience speeds of up to 2Mbps, delivered via 3G and High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), making activities like social networking, chatting, blogging, e-mailing, casual gaming, streaming music and movies much more enjoyable yet still affordable.
The Globe Broadband Tattoo Prepaid Kit comes with an initial five hours of free Internet time (prepaid load of P100). Additional time is very affordable at only P5 per 15 minutes on the Internet. Now subscribers can be online anytime, anywhere with Globe Broadband Tattoo.
And then some more
For progressive family builders, who want to provide their family members — their children, spouse and themselves — all the opportunities that life and the Internet has to offer, yet who could not because they live in areas that previously had few or no options for Internet access, Globe has rolled out Globe Broadband powered by WIMAX.
The WIMAX-based plans provide good value for money with unlimited Internet access ideal for households with frequent daily usage. With a speed of up to 512kbps for only P795 per month, the entry plan is 33 percent faster and 25 percent more affordable than any other entry-level postpaid plans in the market. Because Globe is very confident in the connection quality it provides, the package comes with an aggressive money-back guarantee, allowing any subscriber to terminate their account with no termination fees, should they be unhappy with the connection.
WiMAX is a technology designed to enable the deployment of wireless broadband access as a cost-efficient alternative to cable and DSL. WIMAX also has improved reach and can cover distances greater than those covered by other wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, CDMA, or 3G. Globe’s network is considered the first and biggest 2.5Ghz WiMAX (802.16e) broadband network in Southeast Asia.
The service is initially available in selected areas in South Luzon, NCR, the Visayas, and Mindanao. Globe continues to roll out WiMAX sites, as a complement to its existing DSL and 3G Internet facilities, to ensure that the Internet gets to every Filipino who needs it.
Better by the bundle
In support of the company’s vision to provide Internet access to every Filipino home, Globe is also offering PC bundling packages with downpayments as low as P999 starting June in selected areas in South Luzon. The PC and Internet bundle comes in three plans: the Student plan, the Busy Bee plan, and the Techie plan.
The Student plan is ideal for households with school-aged children who need a PC and an Internet connection for research and other basic Internet use such as social networking, surfing, e-mail, chat and even casual games. The users make a small downpayment of only P999, and a low monthly fee of only P1,472 per month for a bundled WIMAX connection and PC.
The Busy Bee plan is ideal for busy folks who regularly use the Internet and who need to take their work with them. Users pay a small downpayment of P999, then pay a small monthly fee of P1,751 for a WiMAX connection and a netbook. The busy bee has the option to buy a prepaid Globe Broadband Tattoo separately for only P1,895 for a truly mobile working experience.
The Techie plan is ideal for users who require a more powerful device to go with their high-speed Internet connection. For a downpayment of only P1,499 and a monthly fee of only P2,029, users get a WiMAX connection and a Neo laptop.
Really fast
Globe launched its newest and fastest plans that are ideal for people who run multiple Internet applications at the same time and who want the fastest available connection. Globe delivers this via fiber to the home. With speeds of up to 100Mbps, this is the fastest Internet connection in the Philippines.
The entry plan is a hyper speed of 10Mbps, which comes at a very affordable monthly fee of only P3,995 per month. This comes with a landline as well as a Wi-Fi router, which allows a user to easily and wirelessly share his fast connection with others at home.
“This is Globe’s way of growing our brand,” says Orlina. “We want to provide every Filipino with a choice as to what products and which plans to avail himself of. We want to be able to best serve our growing number of customers and their ever-changing needs. Globe wants to be at the forefront of the changes that our customers look for and that has always been part of the Globe lifestyle.”