Next Mobile eyes OFWs as its market

By Lenie Lectura

Reporter

THE Philippines’ newest mobile- phone system network, Next Mobile, Inc. (NMI) and its partner, US telecommunications giant Sprint Nextel, intends to make overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) a captive market, luring them with unlimited calls at domestic rates in host countries, NMI said in a statement Monday. Philippine-based businesses with international partners or branches, as well as foreigners working for multinational companies are also the market Next Mobile and Sprint are eyeing for its network. Through Myworld phone, according to the Philippines’ newest mobile- telephone system operator, Next Mobile and Sprint can give subscribers unlimited service and virtual presence in a number of countries around the world. NMI chief executive officer Mel Velarde said in the statement that this is just the first in a series of collaborations between NMI and Sprint that would allow NMI to expand its range of products and services. Utilizing Motorola’s iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) technology through its partnerships with other iDEN operators around the world, such as Sprint Nextel, NMI would pursue the burgeoning market created by the millions of overseas Filipinos who stay abroad permanently as immigrants, or temporarily as overseas workers. “This service intends to benefit Filipinos working and living abroad and their relatives in the Philippines, local businesses with international partners or branches, and also foreign nationals of multinational companies,” said Velarde. Myworld Inbound would allow the subscriber here in the Philippines to be reached by their loved ones or business associates from abroad by calling their very own US number (or other numbers from a choice of over 30 countries), and avoiding the high cost of international calls. Myworld Outbound, would allow the party in the Philippines to enjoy making unlimited calls from his Myworld phone to a preferred destination. The service is initially available to any landline or mobile phone in the US, Canada , Hong Kong, Singapore. In the case of Taiwan, only landlines will be available at first. The package also includes 100 minutes of free IDD calls to Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Mexico City, Moscow, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, St. Petersburg, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (landline for the meantime) , UK and US. A third option—Myworld Two-Way—combines the features of the first two options. Still, a fourth option—Myworld US roaming—enables the  subscriber to bring his Myworld phone to the US and get billed at local rates. The NMI network covers Metro Manila, Baguio in northern Luzon and Batangas in southern Luzon. The company is eyeing to expand its network and include the Visayas region, with Cebu expected to be ready by next month. NMI also plans to include the Mindanao island in its service area. Sprint Nextel is the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the US, behind Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless. It has 53.7 million subscribers.

 

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