Globe pushes wider use of WAP via pre-paid cards

Globe Telecom expects subscribers of the wireless application protocol (WAP) to reach at least 50,000 by yearend as it introduces prepaid cards to encourage more people to try the new technology.

WAP is a system which compresses Internet information to make these available to mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Nicanor Santiago, Globe vice president for mobile marketing, said that since WAP was introduced locally this year, telecom supplier Nokia has already sold about 5,000 units of the 7110 model for the first quarter.

With the launch of Ericsson's R320s, Motorola T2288, Siemens M35 and newer WAP-enabled handsets, he said there would definitely be more demand for WAP service.

The cheapest WAP mobile phone in the market is still bout P12,000 but manufacturers are working to bring down the price to less than P10,000.

Santiago said that as of May 30, they have opened up access to WAP to all of Globe's 1.5 million customers by removing the activation charge and coming out with prepaid cards.

He said Globe will be charging regular WAP airtime rates such as P8 peak and P3 off-peak hours for prepaid card users down to P4 and P2 speak and off-peak hours, respectively, for CEO plan holders.

Likewise, Santiago said that Globe has come up with the "Cyberush" promo to allow subscribers to get WAP-capable phones at affordable prices through entering a new subscription; purchasing or trading in a non-Globe phone; or purchasing a prepaid phone kit.

Globe currently offers 17 WAP sites such as CNN, ABS-CBN PinoyCentral, Lakbay.net, Career Asia, Jobstreet.com, Candymag.com, Female Network.com, Room 33, WAP e-mail, Globe Bill Payment, Mobile Banking, JobsDB.com, Philippine Airlines, enhanced CNN, Worldroom.com, and ClickTheCity.com.

Santiago said new WAP sites are added every week to give customers more choices.