Smart pioneers first reloadable IDD card

MANILA - Reaching out not only to the increasing number of cellphone users in the Philippines, leading wireless service provider Smart Communications, Inc. has designed a new service to likewise cater to the non-cellphone owners.

Smart communications yesterday introduced to members of the media their new service dubbed as “HelLow,” which they said is the first reloadable international direct dialing card that makes calls to families abroad especially the Overseas Filipino Workers, more affordable and possible.

Danilo Mojica, head of Smart’s wireless consumer division explained that this is the company’s way of helping families of OFW’s contact their loved ones but would not be a burden to their pockets in doing so.

According to the 2009 primer of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, around 8.73 million Filipinos are found in over 193 countries all over.

Mojica said that the families of these overseas workers find means in order to save up and spend only in basic necessities. But he said that through their new service, the communication between the families would not be disregarded as they would be able to save as they would only be spending as low as P2.50 per minute in selected 17 key destinations.

He said that in recent developments, they have launched seven new services that include affordable text messaging and calls, but he said that this particular service is a market innovation that would greatly help OFWs and their families in the Philippines .

Mojica said that despite the presence of other communications means like the internet through chat messages and e-mails, they still see the strength of the calls since Filipinos still pay great importance to talking in the phone and hearing the voice of their families.

Smart’s head for International Services Kathryn Carag said that the 17 key destinations are the leading places where most of the Filipino workers are found which is the United States , Canada , Guam , Hawaii , Singapore , South Korea , Taiwan , China , Malaysia and Hong Kong . Also included are Japan , Australia , UK , Italy , Thailand , Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates .

Carag said this service is unique as it could be used even with family members in the Philippines that do not personally own a cellphone. She further shared that they see the need to give importance to those part of the “wait for call or no cellphone” market segment.

She said that these are the people who plan their calls with their loved one abroad because of the unavailability of communication connection or those with no cellphones or landlines.

Carag said that through the HelLow card, they would be able to call anytime and anywhere within the country.

The “HelLow” card comes with an account number which the user would type in any Smart or Talk N’ Text handset. Afterwhich, they could call their family in the 17 key destinations and the per-minute charge would be deducted from the HelLow account and not from the Smart or Talk N’ Text sim.

The HelLow sim could be availed from over 700 T retailers for just P30, which already has a pre-load of P30. Carag said that the card would not have any expiration date and the user could load it with as low as P15 anytime they want.

With over 38.5 million Smart subscribers in the Philippines, Carag said that this would make it easier for any of their consumers with family members abroad, specifically the 17 key destinations, to continue communication with clear long calls but still is affordable.

The service also promises of easy access to the users with its simple instructions that would be possible for anyone to use it. Retailers also would be available to explain the process of the calls.