By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, March 5 (PNA) — Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. (Globe) announced on Thursday that it has partnered with the United States internet-service company Google to allow its customers maximum use of their smartphones and internet connections.
This was after Globe launched Android One, a portfolio of innovative, affordable and quality smartphone devices running on Lollipop, the most recent Android 5.1 software.
Globe’s collaboration with Google, Cherry Mobile and MyPhone runs parallel with the telecommunication company’s continuing upgrade of its mobile data infrastructure for a more robust and resilient network.
At present, the telco continues to come out with new LTE technologies for fast and reliable data connectivity and more pervasive LTE (Long-Term Evolution) coverage.
Globe said that customers purchasing the latest Android One devices such as Cherry Mobile Uno and MyPhone One will get free 100 megabytes (MB) of mobile data connectivity per month for six months.
Customers’ devices will also automatically update to the latest version of Android where devices running on Android One will have the most up-to-date version of Android as it becomes available.
Also for six months, customers will be able to download select apps from Google Play Store for free up to 200MB of mobile data per month.
The offer adds to an existing Globe promo which allows new customers availing of any Cherry Mobile handsets to get free 150 MB of data per month for one year for as long as they load at least PhP100/per month while new customers of MyPhone units will get 100 MB/month for one year.
Globe senior vice president for consumer mobile marketing Issa Cabreira, in a statement, expressed confidence that the new initiative will get more Filipinos to embrace the smartphone and data revolution.
“Over the years, Globe has been purveyor of the digital lifestyle by extending free access to the internet on the back of its partnerships with global brands such as Google, Facebook, and Viber,” Cabreira said.
“As the leading digital service provider in the country, we want the continuing shift to a digital lifestyle to be more inclusive by providing free internet on superior but reasonably-priced devices,” she added.
Google vice president for product management Caesar Sengupta, for his part, expressed excitement for the partnership with Globe.
“We are thrilled about the commitment of Globe to reduce costs on app updates and downloads for people with Android One phones,” Sengupta said.
Meanwhile, Sengupta described Android Phones as “a key step to making extraordinary smartphone technology more accessible and affordable.” (PNA)