000000

As a new mom stranded at home in a farm, away from the rest of the “village” that’s supposed to help me raise my new baby, I’ve found solace, support, and sanity through being connected virtually to my support system and having access to information and entertainment at the touch of a screen, keyboard, or remote control.

Despite the pandemic, we Filipinos have been able to adapt to new experiences and challenges. Many have been able to stay afloat thanks to digital means that have also been updated with new platforms, services, bundles and plans that reinvent how we live.

Data as currency

With the internet an even bigger essential than ever, data has become an indispensable part of our daily lives. I use data for daily video calls with my family and friends, to watch series and movies on Netflix and Viu, to research ways to better care for and feed my baby, and so on. I don’t know what I’d do without home and mobile internet.

But even with all that consumption, I still have leftover data. So what happens to all our unused data? Globe Telecom pioneered extending the value of data by introducing data as currency in the Philippines. This applies to any Globe product, whether mobile, Home Prepaid WiFi, or Reward for loyalty. With Globe’s latest innovation, GBs to Points, customers can soon start converting their unused GBs to Globe Rewards points via the Globe One App.

For Prepaid, the conversion is 1GB = 1 Rewards Point. For Postpaid, 1GB = 10 Rewards points. For Home Prepaid WiFi, 3GBs = 3 Rewards. Gigabytes or GBs may be converted into points at any time within the promo validity or before the plan’s cut off date.

And then what exactly can you use those points for? Oh, so many! GCash credit, shopping and food vouchers, COVID-19 insurance, Viu Premium subscriptions, and Razer Gold PIN (gaming) are just some of the many perks you can redeem using your Globe Rewards points. Learn more what they are and how to use the Globe Rewards app in my blog post here.

Reinventing our mobile experience

Are you thinking of updating your mobile plan? Globe Postpaid is introducing another first of its kind in the market, the new GPlan with GCash, which offers maximum flexibility for customers by giving them GCash credits that they can spend for anything they want and need—be it content subscriptions, shopping vouchers, or even home essentials like robot vacuums (Dyson, anyone?) or even gaming consoles. You’re now not limited to just getting a new mobile phone.

Mobile and life essentials are combined in any GPlan type to fit right into our lifestyles and evolving needs. Aside from generous data allocations, customers will receive unlimited all-net calls & texts, free GoWiFi when in transit, unlimited teleconsultation via KonsultaMD, and three months insurance coverage via GInsure from Singlife with plan offers like GPlan with Device, GPlan Sim-only, and GPlan with GCash.

Globe Postpaid will also make available soon special offers using the iQiyi (pronounced ai-chee-yee, in case you didn’t know) app, one of the world’s leading online movie and video streaming websites for Korean and Chinese TV dramas, movies, variety shows, and Japanese anime. The mostly Asian content will be available using FREE and VIP versions accessible via iQiyi app or iQ.com. VIP subscription allows customers to get additional features like advanced episodes and no ads. iQiyi VIP offers will be available in GlobeOne and GCash apps next month.

GPlan will also have Amazon Prime Gaming subscription free with Amazon Prime Video subscription under GPlan.

Something I personally can’t wait to experience is 5G, which is 20 times faster than 4G and 3G. Globe stands as the industry pioneer and leader in 5G technology in the Philippines. Reportedly 80% of Metro Manila and over 200 key cities in Cebu and Davao already have 5G coverage, provided your device is 5G-capable. And one day, when we can travel again, we can also experience Globe’s 5G roaming services in the UAE and Thailand, and soon in other countries across Asia, Middle East, North America, and Europe. The 5G roaming service is available to Filipinos traveling internationally, as well as subscribers of select foreign telcos visiting the Philippines.

More value and benefits at home

Meanwhile, those seeking better home internet subscriptions might be interested to know that Globe At Home is boosting its plans’ speeds so customers may enjoy a faster and robust connectivity experience at home. Likewise, it has ramped up its entertainment and health freebies through its Unli Fiber Up plan with speeds of up to 100Mbps for only P2,899. You can also get a plan as low as P1,499/month with speeds of up to 20Mbps.

Globe At Home customers are covered with three months worth of FREE GInsure medical coverage for COVID-19 and dengue up to Php140,500. Customers will also have access to free three months medical consultation through the KonsultaMD Family Plan. They get unlimited 24/7 access to licensed Filipino doctors through voice or video consultations, and will be able to receive e-prescriptions or e-lab requests via SMS or email as needed. Learn more about KonsultaMD in my blog post here.

Customers may also choose their favorite entertainment via three months FREE access to Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO, and Viu Premium. For gamers, customers can enjoy Amazon Prime Gaming, which comes with the 3-month Amazon Prime Video access and offers in-game content for top games plus a selection of free games every month. With HBO GO, customers have unlimited access to thousands of hours of critically-acclaimed and award-winning content from HBO, the latest and biggest Hollywood Blockbusters, and HBO Asian Originals—movies and series available across all genres including Warner Bros and DC. And then there’s Viu, which gives one-stop access to the largest volume and widest selection of Korean content titles. Viu also offers Japanese dramas and animation, Filipino-dubbed shows, Asian dramas, as well as Viu Originals.

Globe At Home complements its products with a digital after-sales service through the Globe At Home app. Customers can get support and avail services like bills payment, plan upgrades, and volume boost to get more data using the app. Concerns may be resolved without calling a hotline or visiting a Globe Store by simply sending a message to the Globe At Home Facebook chatbot. To reach customers faster, installation is guaranteed to happen within 48 hours upon plan approval, exclusively for online application only. Requests for repair may also be done via the app.

Help for SMEs in their digital transformation

If you’re a small business owner, especially in the hospitality industry, you might be interested to know that Globe myBusiness has been assisting hotels, restaurants, and cafes through the Safe Recovery Campaign as a digital solutions provider, in partnership with the national government. Going digital, accompanied by proper safety protocols, has allowed the hospitality industry to slowly gain its momentum back.

Globe myBusiness offers solutions and services such as Amber, Rush, and KonsultaMD. Amber, a bot SMS platform, helps businesses reach out to their client base, while Rush is a loyalty platform that enables businesses to offer reward programs for their loyal customers. To ensure the health and safety of staff and guests, GmB offers KonsultaMD.

Moreover, Globe myBusiness has partnered with SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification company, to offer the Hygiene Monitored Program. This program is a global initiative that aims to ensure the highest hygiene practices within hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other places of business. An SGS HM mark is an assurance to the customer that the establishment practices the best food safety methods. This is great for businesses’ recovery while ensuring customers’ safety once operations are resumed.

Endless possibilities to do good

On top of this pandemic, one of the greatest and most impactful risks we face as a community is the threat of climate change. But when we do our share, even by participating in the efforts led by companies like Globe for its customers, we can help mitigate the impact of climate change.

Through innovations like Globe Rewards, Globe One, and GCash, customers are given the power to take action as a digital citizen—able to participate in various initiatives including proper e-waste disposal, recycling, rainforestation, energy conservation, marine biodiversity, and minimizing single-use plastics. Globe also supports #RacetoZero, a UN campaign for reducing waste and carbon footprint to enable a sustainable future. I’m personally interested in the E-waste Zero program, that helps us reduce, recover, and recycle through the proper disposal of old gadgets, big or small. You can dispose smaller gadgets in E-Waste Zero bins in Globe Stores or request bulk hauling from your home.

For years, Globe has been recognized for its sustainability initiatives, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. To learn more about this and for more information on all of Globe’s latest offers, visit globe.com.ph.

000000