Next Mobile unveils novel service

Next Mobile, Inc. (NMI), the Philippines’ newest mobile telephone system (MTS) operator, in partnership with US telecommunications giant Sprint Nextel, has unveiled an innovative service that will change the way Filipinos communicate globally.

According to NMI chief executive officer Mel Velarde, this is just the first in a series of collaborations between NMI and Sprint that would allow NMI to expand its range of products and services.

Utilizing the iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) technology of Motorola and through its partnerships with other iDEN operators around the world such as Sprint Nextel, NMI is all set to aggressively pursue the burgeoning market created by the millions of overseas Filipinos who stay abroad permanently as immigrants, or temporarily as overseas workers.

Called the Myworld phone, it is a mobile phone service that offers unlimited calling, local rates, and global reach to provide overseas Filipinos with options to maximize and improve the way they communicate with their loved ones in the Philippines.

NMI officials explained that this service intends to benefit Filipinos working and living abroad and their relatives in the Philippines, local businesses with international partners or branches, and foreign nationals of multinational companies.

Myworld has four service plans to suit the specific needs of the global Filipino. The first option, called Myworld Inbound, allows the subscriber in the Philippines to be reached by their loved ones or business associates from abroad by calling their very own US number (or other numbers from a choice of over 30 countries), and avoiding the high cost of international calls.

The subscriber under this option will receive two phone numbers, a local Myworld cellphone number and a foreign number. With this, a subscriber can receive unlimited inbound calls from his chosen number (to the Philippines), and at the same can make around 40 minutes of IDD calls to the US/Canada and other frequently called countries.

The second option, Myworld Outbound, allows the party in the Philippines to enjoy making unlimited calls from his Myworld phone to a preferred destination. The service is initially available to any landline or mobile phone in the US, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore or landlines in Taiwan. The package also includes free 100 minutes of IDD calls to other countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Mexico City, Moscow, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, St. Petersburg, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (landline), UK and US.

Option 3, called MyWorld Two-Way, combines the features of the first two options. Subscribers will enjoy making and receiving unlimited calls to and from abroad, among other features.

Meanwhile, Option 4, called Myworld US Roaming enables the subscriber to bring his Myworld phone to the US and enjoy local calling rates. This is made possible through the partnership with Sprint Nextel US.

NMI currently has a network covering the entire Metro Manila area, from Baguio in North Luzon and up to Batangas in Southern Luzon.