Globe offers per-second charging for 3G video IDD

The increasing popularity of third-generation technology or 3G has spawned the use of one of its most exciting features – video IDD or international video calling, where callers not only talk to but also get to see each other during the call across countries.

This particular feature allows a seaman, for example, to greet his girlfriend based in Manila on her birthday virtually "in person" as soon as he docks in Malaysia.

Nanay, living in Cebu, can easily show Tatay, working as an automotive technician in Taiwan, the medal their son received for taking top honors in class via video IDD.

Also, Kuya, while at a shoe store in Singapore’s Lucky Plaza, can show his younger sister through the screen of her 3G phone the different kinds of shoes she can choose from for Christmas.

Now, as Globe strengthens its innovation leadership in per-second charging from 2G to 3G services, video IDD is now easier on the wallet.

Until July 29, Globe’s video IDD originating from the Philippines will be charged only $0.0067 per second (still equivalent to $0.40 per minute video IDD), the same rate as a regular voice IDD call.

Globe’s 3G international coverage extends to 39 partner operators in 27 countries.

Two-way video IDD is available with 3G subscribers of the corresponding partner providers: Bridge Mobile Alliance members Singtel Singapore and Maxis Malaysia, as well as Hutchison 3G and One Austria, Belgacom Belgium, Era Poland, SFR France, Telenor Sweden, Swisscom and Orange Switzerland, M1 Singapore, Fareastone and Vibo Taiwan, Elisa Finland, T-Mobile Hungary, Vox Mobile Luxembourg, and VIPNet Croatia.

Meanwhile, Globe 3G subscribers can initiate outgoing video IDD to 3G subscribers in the countries of these partner operators: Bridge Mobile Alliance members CSL Hong Kong, Taiwan Mobile and Optus Australia, as well as Vodafone Australia, H3G and 02 UK, Eplus and Vodafone Germany, Vodafone and Cosmote Greece, Vodafone Ireland, Telenor Norway, Amena Spain, KPN Netherlands, Hutchison Hong Kong, Chunghwa Taiwan, Vodafone Japan, SK Telecom South Korea, and Orange and T-Mobile Slovak.

"We’re really making it easy for our prepaid and postpaid subscribers to maximize Globe’s video IDD," said Patricio Pineda III, head of business planning and Globe mobile broadband 3G.

"We anticipated the demand for the service when we launched 3G with HSDPA, especially among those who had loved ones and business associates out of the country. This is our way of making their connections, whether for personal or business pursuits, richer and more substantial," he added.

All Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers’ SIMs are already ready to do 3G services, so with this pre-activated 3G SIM, one just needs a 3G phone configured in dual mode and to be within a 3G-covered area to pick up 3G signal.

They can already make a video IDD with their loved ones abroad who also have 3G-activated SIM cards from their telco operator and 3G phones and are also within 3G coverage in their country.

For more details on Globe’s per-second video IDD offer, all Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers can text VIDEO IDD to 2929 at no cost to them.