Globe DUO to help consumers manage costs

CEBU, Philippines – Globe Telecom formally launched yesterday in Cebu its latest innovation, the mobile and landline in one service called DUO.

DUO merges mobile and landline voice services in one providing consumers with convenience at a very affordable price thereby aiding consumers manage their communication budget as they no longer have to maintain separate landline and mobile services and pay two monthly bills.

Globe Telecom’s Catherine Santamaria said the DUO service offers unlimited calls in three ways: unlimited calls to any landline, unlimited calls from any landline to a DUO cellphone, and unlimited DUO-to-DUO mobile calls using only one SIM.

The DUO service uses a “call management platform” which determines whether the mobile or the DUO number is in use.

Ferdinand M. Dela Cruz, Globe head of consumer wireless business, said during the Cebu launch held at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, that “technology today drives innovators for convergence, as the market demands for more efficient and effective means of communicating.”

This service is the first-of-its kind in the Philippines and in the world initially available for postpaid subscribers and will be open to prepaid in Cebu by May 25.

With DUO, Dela Cruz said Globe is breaking the barriers between mobile and landline giving ease and relevance as well as enriching the lives of its consumers.

“We strive to bring a better network to the consumers every year so they get a stronger wireless network with an even wider reach. With Globe’s superior network quality, we deliver clear connections so consumers experience quality voice calls and get value for their money when they use Globe’s services such as Globe DUO,” Dela Cruz said.

To avail of a DUO subscription, get a Globe Plan and subscribe to DUO pegged at P399 for 30 days on top of the regular postpaid fees. Upon subscription, the subscriber is given a DUO landline number, enabling a SIM to carry both a landline and a mobile number.

For prepaid subscribers, they may opt to buy a new DUO SIM pack in Globe Business Centers and key retailers in Cebu and register via SMS to DUO by texting DUO CEB (load amount) and send to 8888. The amount will then be deducted from the prepaid load and the subscriber gets a DUO landline number.

For new DUO activations for postpaid subscribers, an initial 90-day subscription applies and is automatically renewed on a monthly basis.

Dela Cruz said that with this latest innovation, Globe has once again brought the best to the Filipino consumer.

“Based on feedbacks from blogs, we strongly believe that this new innovation has changed the landscape of the telecom industry. This is another innovation in the country that we can export to the world,” he said.

Although this might affect the network’s landline business, Dela Cruz said that the company has already taken into account their possible losses but is optimistic that with DUO, that loss will be amply compensated saying that “this is a need of the market that we need to satisfy.” — Joefel Bazon