Text Messaging News in the Philippines

How to receive emergency text alerts

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in GSM/SMS Technology, SMS in Government

Do you want to how to receive emergency text alerts on your mobile phone? Ever wonder how they work? In the Philippines, we have this Emergency Cell Broadcast System (ECBS) which is designed to send emergency alerts and warnings to mobile devices via cell broadcast services (CBS). This is currently being operated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council [...]

List of emergency load services in the Philippines

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS Services

Globe and Smart started offering these emergency load services a long time ago. These services were called Globe GTSOS and Smart SOS, respectively. TNT also started offering their own emergency load service called SakloLOAD. These services functions the same way as a text loan where it allows subscribers to instantly borrow load, especially in cases of emergency. Once they register to the [...]

What is Mobile Number Portability?

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS in Government, SMS Services

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows customers to retain their mobile phone numbers even after switching network providers or changing subscriptions from postpaid to prepaid and vice versa. MNP is being implemented by TCI or Telecommunications Connectivity Inc. (TCI), a joint venture formed by DITO, Globe, and Smart to enable number porting services in the Philippines in compliance with [...]

Pay SSS contributions thru GCash mobile app

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in Mobile Banking

SSS members can use GCash mobile app to pay for contributions. Payments are posted in real-time and there are no transaction fees. [...]

Office of the President launches 8888 SMS Hotline

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS in Government

The Office of the President (OP) has officially launched the 8888 SMS/Text Service, an additional communications channel at the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center (8888 CCC). The 8888 SMS Hotline will allow citizens to raise their concerns, complaints, and grievances on graft and corrupt practices of government officials and/or employees; slow and inefficient delivery of government services [...]

Mislatel is now DITO Telecommunity

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS Industry

The 3rd major telco that we know as Mislatel Consortium will be renamed as Dito Telecommunity after being granted a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) by President Rodrigo Duterte. "Let me take this opportunity to pose this challenge to Mislatel [Consortium]: Break the prevailing duopoly in the telecommunications industry and fulfill your commitment to provide better telco [...]

NTC confirms Mislatel Consortium as 3rd major telco

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS in Government, SMS Industry

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has confirmed Mislatel Consortium as the new major telecommunications player to compete with PLDT Inc. and Globe Telecom. The consortium is owned by Davao-based businessman Dennis A. Uy and state-owned China Telecom Corp. Ltd. The companies behind the consortium are Mindanao Islamic Telephone Inc. (Mislatel), Udenna [...]

Understanding the Common Tower Policy

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS in Government

In the Philippines, the current number of cell sites is 16,500. Unfortunately, this is not enough to serve the needs of millions of mobile internet users. According to the telcos, the long process of securing permits is slowing down the expansion of their networks. To address the demand for more cell towers, the governement will push tower sharing to be mandatory among all telecommunication companies. [...]

Delays still hindering new 3rd telco player

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS in Government

The deadline for choosing the 3rd telco player has already passed but still no telco has been chosen yet. Rumors have been circulating in social media particularly in Facebook saying the initiative is already dead. The Department of Communications and Technology (DICT) has debunked those rumors and issued on Saturday that the search for 3rd telco would still push through. Rumors about the [...]

3rd telco needs 2G to compete with PLDT, Globe

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS Industry

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said third telco player needs bandwidth from 2G frequency to be competitive in the industry and to be able to serve the 2G market. PCC Commissioner Johannes Benjamin R. Bernabe explained how some believed that 4G and 5G frequencies are enough to compete in the market since smartphones today are 4G and 5G capable. But 40% of Filipinos still [...]

PLDT finally surrenders CURE frequency for 3rd telco

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS in Government, SMS Industry

PLDT Inc. has officially surrendered its 3G frequency to the government, in compliance with the request from National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The surrendered frequency is to be allocated to the new player in the telecommunications industry. The 10 MHz 3G frequency was formerly owned by Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprises Inc. (CURE), which was returned to NTC as part of [...]

Text messaging is now 25 years old

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in Texting Culture

Did you know that the first text message was sent 25 years ago? Engineer Neil Papworth sent "Merry Christmas" to Vodafone Director Richard Jarvis on December 3, 1992. Neil Papworth was part of the team developing a Short Message Service Centre (SMSC) for Vodafone UK. He was assigned to test the software originally intended to be used as a paging service. Little did they know that text messaging [...]

BPI mobile banking on Globe (USSD-based)

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in Mobile Banking

BPI’s mobile banking facility through USSD *119#, allows BPI account holders to do banking transactions such as check account balance, perform fund transfers, reload prepaid, or load their GCASH wallet using their mobile phones. Here’s how to use BPI Express Mobile via USSD *119# on your Globe/TM cellphone. [...]

Guide to using Globe GCash *143# (USSD version)

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in Mobile Banking

Globe Gcash allows any Globe or TM user to send and receive money, buy prepaid load, pay bills, and do a lot of other money-related transactions, anytime, anywhere using SMS. The following is a guide to GCash registration, KYC, funding (cash-in), application of GCash Mastercard, withdrawal of funds (cash- [...]

Pay SSS contributions and loans using GCash USSD *137#

Posted on by Caroline Siñel in SMS Services

SSS members (self-employed, voluntary, OFW, farmers, fishermen, non-working spouse) can pay their SSS contributions and loans using GCash. No need to line up at payment centers. Just dial *137# or *143#. This service has been available since December 2015. SSS members must be prepaid or postpaid Globe or Touch  [...]

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