Globe launches landline text messaging service

Text messaging through landline phones, anyone?

Introducing another first, Globe Telecom has now made possible the sending and receiving of text messages using landline telephones. Globe’s new text services, offered through its Globelines telephone service, marks the first time in the Philippines and also in the world that a text service – a service usually associated with cellular phones – will be made available through landline.

The new service, called "Globelines 1-900-TXT", was launched by Globe last February 13.

Text via landline can be done through Globelines telephones with subscribers using the telephone’s number keys to compose and send text. Globelines 1-900-TXT service also gives Globelines subscribers the capability to receive and even store messages that are sent to their landline phones.

To transmit text messages using the Globelines 1-900-TXT service, Globelines subscribers have to dial the access number ‘1-900-898’ (or ‘1-900-TXT’) on their telephones and follow the simple voice instructions that they will hear on how to use the service. Using the telephone’s number keys, Globelines subscribers can choose to send ready-made messages or compose their own messages. To compensate for the absence of a visual display when composing text messages, the Globelines 1-900-TXT service will announce each letter or instruction as these are encountered by subscribers while keying-in their messages.

Text messages sent from a Globelines phone using the Globelines 1-900-TXT service can be transmitted to any Globe Handyphone cellular phone number. Globelines text messages received by Globe Handyphone subscribers will reflect the telephone number of the sender of the message. Text messages over Globelines phone are limited to 160 text characters.

When replying to a text message sent over the Globelines 1-900-TXT service, a Globe Handyphone subscriber needs to key in the recipient’s Globelines telephone number (with area code), followed by a colon and a space at the start of each reply, and then send the message to ‘2349’. Globe Handyphone subscribers can also compose and send new messages to Globelines subscribers using the same formula.

Incoming text messages received by Globelines subscribers through Globelines 1-900-TXT service are converted to audio messages over the phone when retrieved by subscribers.

The Globelines 1-900-TXT service will be offered free by Globe to its landline subscribers for a limited period.

As of February 13, Globe subscribers in National Capital Region (NCR) service areas – such as Makati, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Pasig and Marikina – can already use the Globeliness 1-900-TXT service to send and receive text messages. Globe Telecom has automaticcally activated the service to subscribers in these areas and they can already try the service using their existing Globelines phones as long as their service are NDD-activated. Aside from NDD-activation, NCR Globelines subscribers will not need any other registration, new upgrades or special phone units to be able to use the service.

Globe will soon include its other telephone service areas in Southern Luzon to the scope of its Globelines 1-900-TXT soon.