Globe introduces apps for the Pinoy mobile Internet user

MANILA, Philippines—There is no denying how more and more Pinoys are enjoying the online life via smartphones. In fact, according to Ericsson’s Mobility Report, Filipinos are the world’s fourth fastest growing mobile Internet users, with five million new users during the third quarter of 2012.

With this in mind, it’s understandable how smartphones are dominating the market and topping everyone’s Christmas wish list. It’s also understandable (and expected) how a lot of mobile apps have been mushrooming recently.

Aware that there is a demand for a better and richer mobile experience, Globe Telecom just launched its own suite of apps to address the needs of Pinoy mobile phone users.

The first is the very popular GCASH, which we’ve been using for the longest time to buy stuff on sites like Multiply and send money to family and friends through their mobile phones. Did you know that with GCASH, you can also send donations without having to memorize long keywords and access numbers? Oh, and if you use it to buy prepaid load, you get a 10 percent rebate.

Another mobile app from Globe is GSERVICES, which helps you manage your accounts. Free for all Globe subscribers, it lets you do all sorts of important stuff like check your prepaid load or outstanding postpaid balance, register for promos, share load to others, check reward points and redeem your rewards, plus view your postpaid bills (and even have them sent to your home or e-mail address).

Book and reserve seats

And then there is GMOVIES, something that a lot of Pinoys will definitely get to use. With some swipes and taps, it lets movie-lovers check schedules and movie reviews, book and reserve seats, and buy tickets (initially in Ayala Cinemas and soon in SM Cinemas).

So the next time you want to watch the most anticipated Hollywood movie on the first day, you can take advantage of GMOVIES. No need to line up when getting a ticket—no need to print it even!

Lastly, there is GMESSAGE, which should prove to be a hit with Pinoys, since we love getting in touch with everyone every time. This mobile messaging application lets users send and receive free and unlimited messages, photos, videos and audio files with other people also on GMESSAGE—anywhere in the world.

Don’t worry if the person you want to communicate with isn’t on GMESSAGE. You can still exchange messages; it will appear as an SMS and will cost you just P0.15 per message. Globe is the first operator in Asia to launch something like GMESSAGE. This makes a lot of sense, because Pinoys are such big text messaging addicts.

The GMOVIES and GMESSAGE apps are initially offered to Android users via Google Play; it will soon be available at the App Store for iPhone users. The GSERVICES app is already available in the App Store and will soon be in Google Play, too. GCASH is available in the App Store, Google Play and BlackBerry App World. To download the apps, type glb.ph/ GMOVIES, glb.ph/GMESSAGE, glb.ph/GSERVICES or glb.ph/ GCASH on the phone browser, or send APPS to 8888. Mark Sablan, Contributor