New service seen to boost Globe share in phone market

Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. is seeking to continue expanding its share in the country’s lucrative mobile phone market with the launch of a new service that drastically eases the way users access promo offers.

The company recently unveiled its new Globe “143” service, a portal that gives subscribers access to all of the firm’s promo offers that cut rates for voice calls, text messaging and mobile Internet services.

“In one package, you have everything you need—text, call and mobile browsing,” Globe consumer business senior adviser Peter Bithos said.

“Making these offers far superior than others is that our subscribers are empowered to choose the promo that best fits their needs, budget and length of use,” Bithos said.

To use the service, all subscribers need to do is dial *143# and press send on their mobile phones. Users will be directed to a menu where they can choose a variety of services, from inquiring about their billing details to sharing load to other subscribers.

Previously, subscribers could avail themselves of call, text or data promos by sending a key word via text message to certain Globe number. “We have so many different promos, and the 143 service aims to make sense of the mess,” Bithos said.

Unveiled on Valentine’s Day, the number “143” is a play on the phrase “I love you.”

“In Globe, we always ensure that our services are patterned after the behavior and needs of our customers, and with this commitment, we were driven to develop different packages,” Bithos said.

Globe also announced the reintroduction of its “Immortal” products—a line promotional offers that, unlike regular credits for prepaid users, have no expiration. The “Immortal” services were discontinued two years ago, but Globe said this was brought back due to popular demand.

Also launched were Globe’s “Unli All Trio” services that feature unlimited voice calls and text messages to other Globe subscribers, as well as unlimited browsing for a period of time, depending on the price paid.

Globe ended 2011 with more than 30 million subscribers, up by 13 percent from the level in the previous year. Paolo G. Montecillo