Let’s take the “100 peso load” as an example
I need to receive 200 ads to get a 100 peso load.
With a 100 peso load, I can:

• send 666 text messages (Php 0.15/text u to u) or
• call up to 20 mins (Php 5/min u to u)

Receiving 200 ads per month is equivalent to 50 ads/week. So that means, receiving 50 ads/week can give me:

• 166 text messages per week or
• 5 mins talk time per week

(more…)

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First, I sent an email to ümobile Customer Service (customerservice [at] umobile.com.ph) and asked for an invite code. (July 2, Wednesday, 4:30pm)

Then next morning, ümobile Customer Service sent me an invite code.

(more…)

Posted in SMS Industry ~ 3 Comments

Umobile (ümobile), is an ad-funded mobile service owned by Smart Communications, that will be offering free load to its subscribers that agree to receive advertisements on their cell phones. There was already a similar service in Europe called Blyk, but Umobile is the first and only ad-funded mobile service provider in the Philippines and rest of Asia.

Umobile is targeting the 15 to 35 age bracket or the ‘youth and yuppies’ sector in the Philippines. Customers get P0.50 worth of pre-paid load each time a mobile ad message is received. As of now, membership is by invite only.

Important things to know about ümobile (more…)

Posted in SMS Industry ~ 2 Comments

This week, I received the following text messages from Globe’s 2977 advisory:

Jan 21, 2008, 3:08pm

Globe Advisory: Are you a heavy daytime texter? Text away from 8am to 4:59pm w/ Globe’s Unlimited Daytime Texting Service! To register, txt UNLITXTD15 for P15/1 day or UNLITXTD30 for P30/2 days. Globe-Globe texts only. For free info, text INFO to 2870. DTI#4899s07. Til Feb20. NoFREEadvisory? Reply STOP (more…)

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Right after the news came out, TxtPower led an SMS revolt to force the government to abandon its plans to impose a tax on text messages. They called on all Filipino texters to send the text message, NO TO TEXT TAX! directly to Sec. Peter Favila’s mobile phone number at 09178176110. In less than a day, Malacanang, through Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye, said that it will not pursue a new tax on text messaging.

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Trade Secretary, Peter Favila has proposed adding a tax on text messages to help compensate income losses from proposals to end sales tax on oil products.

Favila told GMANews in an interview that imposing a tax on SMS could make Filipinos shift their focus on endeavors that are more productive. “Texting is also a source of negative reason…(and) it makes people more cynical,” he said in an ambush interview shortly after the weekly press conference of Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita.

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After stopping their unlimited texting service called UNLITXT, TXTPower filed a letter-complaint to NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) via email last December 18 to bring back UNLITXT. Surpisingly yesterday, Globe brought back UNLITXT. But this time, they offered only UNLITXT20. No more UNLITXT40 and UNLITXT80. That is according to 2977 text advisory:

Globe Advisory: Ang Globe Unlitxt All Day 20 ay available na! Enjoy 1 day unlimited texting for only P20. Just text UNLITXT20 to 2870 to register. Til 1/20/08. No free advisory? Reply STOP

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A friend told me just this morning that Globe’s UNLITXT services has ended. So I went to TxtPower’s website and found out that it is true. According to the website:

For the second time this year, Globe Telecom stopped its unlimited texting service without any public announcement.

At a time when we expect a deluge of Christmas greetings through text, subscribers are now forced to avail of a so-called Sulitxt15 service that gives 100 text messages for P15.

For those who don’t know what promos we are talking about, read below:

UNLITXT20 Php 20 - unlimited texting for 1 day
UNLITXT40 Php 40 - unlimited texting for 2 days
UNLITXT80 Php 80 - unlimited texting for 4 days
SULITXT15 Php 15 - allows sending of 100 Globe-to-Globe text messages.

TxtPower is planning to send a letter-complaint to NTC this week to find out why it allowed Globe to stop the service without informing its subscribers.

Posted in SMS Industry ~ 1 Comment