Globe now offers int'l `texting'

After local texting now comes international texting!

Globe Telecom announced that receiving and sending text messages or SMS (Short Message Service) between the Philippines and other countries is now possible via the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology used by its Globe Handyphone cellular phone service.

With this development, subscribers of Globe Handyphone can enjoy two-way texting with subscribers of 107 international GSM operators in over 50 destinations around the world.

As of 1999, these represent close to 150 million subscribers of GSM worldwide, according to figures of the GSM MoU, the umbrella organization of the world's GSM operators.

The most widespread standard for digital mobile communications in the world, the GSM network used by Globe provides Globe Handyphone with the widest and most extensive international texting network among all cellular companies in the Philippines today.

At present, Globe Handyphone is also the country's only cellular service provider that is capable of sending text messages to foreign operators.

Globe's international text message service is now available to all Globe Handyphone regular plan and prepaid subscribers.

Text messages sent abroad can be charged against a Globe Handyphone subscriber's monthly free text message allocation. After the free allocation, a rate of P0.50 to P1.00, depending on the Globe plan the user avails himself of, will be charged for the international text. After Feb. 1, each international text message sent after the free allocation will have a standard rate of P10.00 per message.

Where applicable, some foreign roaming operators might also include their SMS rates to the charge. In a few cases, some operators abroad may not be capable of sending text messages outside of their countries at present. Incoming text messages received from foreign subscribers, meanwhile, carry no charge for Globe Handyphone subscribers.

With Globe's international texting, a Globe Handyphone subscriber in the Philippines, for instance, can easily send a text message to the number of a GSM subscriber in the US. The US subscriber can then also send the Globe Handyphone subscriber a text message reply, which the latter will receive through his phone.

While roaming in countries employing GSM, regular-plan Globe Handyphone subscribers can also exchange text messages with Globe Handyphone subscribers in the Philippines, other Globe Handyphone subscribers who are also roaming abroad, and foreign GSM subscribers.

Destinations where Global Handyphone subscribers can send and receive text messages include the following:

Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Ceylon, Czech Republic,

Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia,

Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand,

Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Mariano, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, South Africa,

Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vatican City.

More texting destinations are expected to be added to the list soon, Globe said.