LISTED mobile-services operator Globe Telecom Inc. has extended its free Facebook promo until May 15, after signing an agreement with the California-based social-media application developer to make internet.org available to all Globe customers.
“The forthcoming landmark collaboration of Globe with internet.org will further encourage first-time Filipino Internet users to discover the power of the Web. This is indicative of our paramount role in leading them into the worldwide movement online through their Globe-powered digital lifestyle,” Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Group Daniel Horan said.
He said the upcoming Globe-internet.org partnership would serve as the company’s impetus to launch new and exciting offers and make mobile Internet more accessible within a safe browsing environment for Globe customers, without having to worry about unexpected charges.
Horan said the telco’s “Free Facebook” offer has propelled mobile-data customer growth of 120 percent, increasing mobile Internet users by 6 million Filipinos.
“Our partnership with Facebook and the learnings from our successful ‘free FB’ campaigns have helped drive heightened awareness and interest about the Globe-internet.org proposition. As such, this key partnership has led us to become the leader in creating a digital lifestyle for Filipinos, as evidenced by our 64-percent revenue market share in the Filipinos mobile-data market. This clearly puts Globe in a unique position as the preferred mobile brand in the Philippines,” he said.
On March 18 rival Smart Communications Inc. said it forged a partnership with Facebook Inc. to spearhead the introduction of internet.org to Southeast Asia.
The partnership provides for the introduction of the internet.org application, offering a set of mobile Internet services, including useful education, news, health, messaging and communication without data charges. For its initial phase, the internet.org app allows Filipinos to enjoy free access to a buffet of 24 web sites featuring informative and practical content, including Facebook and Messenger, on their mobile phones.
Since its launch in 2014, the initiative has set its footing in seven countries, including Colombia, Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya, India, Zambia and the Philippines. This makes Smart as the first telco to launch the initiative in Southeast Asia.
Bannering the internet.org app foray into the Philippine market is Smart’s budget brand Talk ’N Text, which targets the larger mass segment of the population. The service is also available for Smart and Sun subscribers.
internet.org is Facebook’s initiative to provide data connectivity to two-thirds of the global population.