There was a time when SMS was free.

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Wednesday, June 18. 2008

About 10 years ago, SMS (short message service or more commonly called texting) was practically free. Everyone can send as many text messages as they want all day, every day and it won’t cost them an extra cent.

Of course, there were only a few people who had cell phones then and mostly the big old one-liner soapbar-type ones. Back then, owning a mobile phone was a luxury (not much of a necessity yet) and a single SIM card would cost you just under Php1,000.
Today, a SIM card can be bought for as low as Php50 while others are practically given away. Phone owners have also grown to as much as 45 Million – almost half the total population on the Philippines. Mobile phones abound at cheap prices and making phone calls are also cheaper.

Despite the trend, only one telco service has defied the affordability scale – and that’s the SMS.

From free unlimited text, telcos started charging per message sent. As a bonus, a airtime credit reloads are given free bulk SMS quotas. Then, they reduced the free credits until there was none.

Text messaging grew exponentially. The Philippines was tagged the SMS Capital of the World with over 1 Billion text messages sent every day across all networks. Text messaging has become the golden money machine. Telcos are earning more than fifty percent (50%) of their wireless services revenues from SMS.

Now that the telcos are making bucket-loads of money, some sector and the government are pressuring the cellphone companies to make SMS free again.

It’s a debatable issue actually. Is it still possible for telcos to offer SMS for free? I guess so, yes. But that’s without unwanted consequences. A loss in revenue from SMS will make it harder for them to upgrade their network when it is needed. Likewise, offering unlimited free text messaging will undoubtedly overload the capacity of the network. Too much usage, limited network -- we all know how it looks like – totally unreliable service. That’s not a nice scenario either.

What I think would be a fair demand is to ask the telcos for accountability and transparency – (1) remove the 60 day expiration on load credits, (2) provide online on-demand usage logs of all voice and data usage, (3) and remove/reduce inter-connection charges between networks.

I think we deserve proper customer service for what we all pay for. Service providers can start by taking accountability and being transparent to its customers.

- Abe Olandres / YugaTech

Posted by Abe Olandres at 03:29 | Comments (41) | Trackbacks (0)

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#1 Lady on 2008-06-18 12:27 (Reply)

I remember when SMS was still free, I sent good am/pm to all my contacts everyday, not now

#1.1 Sergio "Happy Feet" Santibanez on 2008-06-23 12:07 (Reply)

........ngayon pamiscol miscol na lang...

#2 koki on 2008-06-18 14:32 (Reply)

Originally, Texting was introduced for (Telecom Co) Clients who are Deaf. I remember this telecom co released a commercial which two deaf are communicating at each other by TEXT. Then the monopoly have just BEGUN.....

#2.1 kikang on 2008-06-21 22:55 (Reply)

yeah i remember that!!! that was really sweet....

#3 Ederic on 2008-06-18 16:28 (Reply)

A few years ago, I was still able to check my voice and text usage on Smart's website. Smart stopped offering this after sometime.

#4 JOJO_v on 2008-06-18 20:46 (Reply)

I'm one of the first few subscriber of Smart, they were left behind by the other company in this kind of service. Back then there was no crisscrossing text exchange between this two telecom and everyone one was on the globe bandwagon. I was lucky to have kept faith with smart and now up to this moment i enjoy the privelege they gave me, text all you can, maybe i'm just one of a few hundreds or thousand accorded this.

#4.1 koki on 2008-06-18 20:56 (Reply)

Hi Jojo. Same here. I started with Globe Telecom since my dad works there. Then I immediately changed it with Smart. Up to now, Im still using this old simcard eventhough im out of town. I used to carry this sim everywhere I go. And the service is , what i can say.. Equal.

#4.1.1 JOJO_v on 2008-06-18 22:08 (Reply)

koki

but sad to say thats all i got. I am a regular and "high cost" user of mobile phone from where I am now and I have gotten 3 new phones to date, in a span of 6 yrs. my wife had enjoyed globe platinum membership and gets her 'new' mobile phone upgrade every two years and here i am just a plain text all you can member of smart.

#5 louise on 2008-06-19 05:20 (Reply)

remove the 60 day expiration on load credits--this one i totally agree on sir. i say this mobile companies let us consumers consume what we paid for.

#6 Marcos P. Pattaguan, Jr. on 2008-06-19 08:32 (Reply)

Yes. It's not really impossible to have texting free of charge. If 1billion of sms are sent daily at a peso each is a huge sum, so cutting the cahrge of sms by half is still big.
Definitely, the expiration of load credits should be removed!!! I believe this is unethical maybe unconstitutional or worst ditatorial because why should I be forced to spend my load credit by the company which sold it to me. I believe a simple guideline from NTC would do this.

#7 Marcos P. Pattaguan, Jr. on 2008-06-19 08:38 (Reply)

I mean free texting is not really possible (not impossible)..............

#8 dondon on 2008-06-20 13:31 (Reply)

removing "LOAD EXPIRY" is a sensible one.

telco equipments have maximum capacity anyway for texts and calls in a given time and will not expand line cards unless heavy traffic happens offentimes resulting to congestion.

doing a PRE-PAID transaction is by common sense the telco advancing the use of mobile user's money before the actual usage of the purchased service.

#9 ano on 2008-06-21 08:08 (Reply)

why dont you practice calling instead of texting... hehehe

#10 Nard on 2008-06-21 12:19 (Reply)

Salamat sa modern technology. Ang bilis ng panahon. Isa ako sa nagkaroon ng malaking cell phone noon hindi kasya sa bulsa. Way back 1990. Ang cell phone ko MOTOROLA, pwedeng pangbato sa holdappers hindi madaling masira. Ang hitsura, parang kudkuran ng Yelo hehehe. Pero nasa antigue shop at collector Items na siya ngayon. Ang yabang ko pa noon kasi ako lang ang may ganoong klase ng cell phone sa baranggay namin. ang mahal pa ng incoming at outgoing calls. feeling sikat, di pa masyadong uso ang text messaging noon. Ilang taon lang ang lumipas nauso ang Text messaging, ang bilis ng communications... at ang bilis kong tumanda. Hay! TEXT ng Buhay ko. Kung walang text messages na mareceived sa umaga parang kulang ang araw mo.

#11 PJ on 2008-06-21 13:00 (Reply)

Sa bilis ng technology.... I have horrible predictions here.... Darating ang panahon na magiging free ang text messaging para sa lahat sa buong mundo, free sa lahat ang broadband connections, Free WiFi wireless connections, free access saan ka man naroroon at ang laptop ay give away na lang iyan, parang laruan ang presyo... sa una buy one take one, then magiging libre kung may bibilhin kang ganito o ganoon, hehehe. later on ... para ka na lang bumibili ng pirated DVD sa bangketa. taga nyo sa bato mangyayari ito. Narito ako sa HK at ang China ay gumagawa ng napakaraming laptop na ready to export sa lahat ng sulok ng mundo, parang laruan lang kung imanufactured ito. Dito kayo mamili ng laptop sa loob ng China mura lang, di ko lang alam ang guarantee, of course made in China, pero kung magaling kayo sa computer masasabi kong mura talaga sa china compare sa Philippines.
Sa HK libre ang internet connections sa mga gov't facilities, such as parks, sports center, Library, city hall, bus stations, ferry, and others by wifi wireless connections. Di ba nasa computer na ang lahat ng communications, YM, Talk, email with talk, blutooth, others? Libre na yon, laptop lang ang dala mo. Service ng HK gov't yon para sa mga tourist para na rin sa locals.
Kaya sa tingin ko talaga, ang communications sa world maging sa individual at magiging free.

#11.1 Anonymous on 2008-07-01 13:33 (Reply)

i agree..
though some malls in the Philippines has wifi area .. i think dpat palawakin pa nila ung abot ng wifi.

nakakainggit ung ibang countries na anywhere may wifi.

regards sa txt messaging tama:] sana wala ng expirations of loads.. and ung unli... before it was only 15php now its 20 php. and whats next? 25, 30, sobra nmang pataas ng pataas to.

#12 otanex on 2008-06-22 15:18 (Reply)

it all boils down to all the GREED people who wants only the PROFIT not the SERVICE. kanya kanyan raket sila basta kikita pero di naman kaya magbalik ng serbisyo sa mga services na ino offer nila. kawawa tayong mga consumers na pinaghihirapan ang pinangbabayad sa mga SERVICES nila na bulok and sistema at BAD customer service.

#13 rb on 2008-06-22 17:05 (Reply)

Another choice of telcos is have the unlimited free txt but remove the electronic load system. Only cards will be selling with a minimum card worth 300 pesos and you cannot have the free txt if you dont have a peso. Haha.

#13.1 yuga on 2008-06-24 00:11 (Reply)

@rb, electornic loading is a huge money-maker for the telcos. My guess is that 80+% of all transactions are made thru the e-load and auto-load systems.

#14 CFerrer on 2008-06-23 14:10 (Reply)

Kung bakit kasi may expiration pa ang prepaid load. Sa UAE at ibang bansa walang expiration ang load. Negosyo talaga,paano kung ayaw mong mag-text eh! di aabutin na lang ng expiration yung load mo.Sana maaprubahan na agad ang pang-tanggal diyan sa expiration of load.Dati rati wala naman yan,kaya nakaisip sila ng raket.Ang tao nga naman masyadong gahaman.Mag-isip kayo ng patas na negosyo.

#14.1 Deira on 2008-07-02 17:49 (Reply)

Pare nasa UAE din ako. May expiration ang load dito pre. mali impormasyon mo. Don't post something if you are giving wrong info's to others. Dyan nagsisimula ang di pagkakintindihan.

#15 Bumble Bee on 2008-06-24 03:07 (Reply)

I agree with everyone, there should be no expiration for prepaid loads. The NTC should look into this matter.

#15.1 MaykaTXTkanaMayKATOKkapa on 2008-07-02 17:45 (Reply)

Parekoy di pwedeng ganun. Negosyo yan. Kahit san kang bansa pumunta may expiry and Prepaid loads. For example 300php di mo mauubos ng 3 months? Mag isip ka nga. parekoy lahat yan nasa system, pag di mo tinggal sa systema yan mapupuno. Kaw naman o. Mag isip ka naman. Ikaw magbebenta ka ng isang bagay na pinagkakakitaan mo, gusto mo lagi may bumibili di ba? gusto mo binabalikan ka? Parang sinabi mo na sa diyos na: Diyos ko, Wag nyo na patubuin buhok ko para wala na magpagupit sa barbero.

To CFFerrer:

Pano mo nasabi na sa UAE walang expiry? San mo nakuha yan? Sinungaling ka. Kung nasa UAE ka, wag ka mag popost dito na nag iimbento ka lang. May Expiry po yan pag load mo ng key numbers. Langya, magbibigay ka pa ng maling impormasyon. Sa US, Canada, Switzerland meron din parekoy. Kaya wag kang masyadong ma imbento dahil di totoo sinasabi mo. galing mo. Kung nasa UAE ka nga, gamitin mo utak mo dahil baka biglang masagasaan ka nalang dyan. Hay nako. bibigay lang impormasyon mali pa. tsk tsk tsk

#16 Robin Lim on 2008-06-25 16:17 (Reply)

A free service is not necessarily good. People will start using it simply because it is free, and not because the message they are sending is important. Than we will complain that the service is poor because the networks are clogged. Best that some fee be charged per message.

I have a plan from SMART that charges 0.50 cents per SMS after the 350 free SMS bundled with it. From my plan it does appear that they can charge lower the Php1.00 per SMS.

Since it is a regulated market where the Government limits the players, the Government should make sure the rates are not too excessive.

#17 juan on 2008-06-26 14:26 (Reply)

wala na pong libre sa panahon na to ngayon...lahat tumataas....PANTY na lang ang bumababa....

#17.1 Sergio"happy feet" Santibanez on 2008-06-26 15:39 (Reply)

..although two way radios seem obsolete..I still find them reliable..especially in tight situations..you can patch them to phones also.. its versatile...tough and mobile....

#18 Ginox on 2008-06-27 14:37 (Reply)

like in singapore Service provider always give us free load... wala nga lang tayong katxt... heheheheheh.. .sana globe and smart will do the same (yung free na d panloloko)

#19 Manmar C Francisco on 2008-06-29 08:30 (Reply)

haaaaayyy, gone are the good old days.

#20 marizelski on 2008-06-29 20:11 (Reply)

TANONG LANG,
MERON BANG LAW TO FILE A CASE IF YOU ARE BEING OVERCHARGE BY YOUR MOBILE PROVIDER ? or STEALING YOUR LOAD ?
1 SMS W/ 147 CHARACTERS COST ME Php 140.00(FROM RUSSIA TO PHILS)
1 INCOMING CALL FROM THE PhILS. TO ME in RUSSIA FOR ONLY 6 MINUTES & 23 SECONDS, COST ME Php 640.00
MANY TIMES DI PA NAMAN EXPIRED LOAD KO BIGLANG NAWAWALA. I INFORMED MY PROVIDER ALREADY BUT NO CLEAR ACTIONS HAD BEEN TAKEN & UNTILL NOW STEALING & OVERCHARGING IS GOING ON. NAKA ROAMING PREPAID PHONE KO.
THANKS IF MERONG MAKAKATULONG SA INYO.

marizelski,moscow russia

#21 darlene on 2008-07-01 12:42 (Reply)

Hi Marizelski I am not aware of any governing laws on telecom companies overcharging or stealing your load. However, if you have any complaints regarding your present telecom company, you may go to the website of National Telecommunications Commission, then you can file or submit a complaint thru their e-services (public assistance).

Go to:

http://portal.ntc.gov.ph/wps/portal

#21.1 marizelski on 2008-07-02 22:57 (Reply)

thanks darlene for your suggestion, thousands na kasi nasasayang na load ko for 6 months ko pa lang dito.

ito ang hirap as consumers lagi tayong agrabiado.

#21.1.1 darlene on 2008-07-03 19:17 (Reply)

Marizelski, I would also suggest that you buy a prepaid simcard there, in any Russian telecom provider, use this when you want to make a call in the Philippines. It will cost you less as compared with using Globe or Smart. You may just use your current sim card for receiving texts. And, tell your relatives not to call you in your (Globe or Smart) because I know you also get charges for that, instead tell them to call you in your new Russian telecom sim card. (If you'll buy one)

I could imagine the loneliness you're going through in a foreign land, and keeping in touch with your family somehow fills up the emptiness. I can only wish that, God bless you in your life's journey.

#21.1.1.1 koki on 2008-07-03 19:39 (Reply)

Exactly.

#21.1.1.1.1 JOJO_v on 2008-07-04 10:18 (Reply)

Marizelski

almost the same situation we are in, i suggest you buy a local sim card wherever you are staying nang di ka na nagagantso ng smart at globe. robbery in disguise talaga ang services nito, sorry but this is quite true. convenient lang sa kins natin sa pinas na mag txt sa yo using philippine sim cards dahil mura lang, i am not sure though whether you get incoming message charges. but if you reply, mahal ang charge sa yo, sa side mo. ang gawain ng iba, dalawa celfone, one with either smart or globe sim and the other fone using sim card ng saan mang bansa sila naroroon. so kamag anak nila sa pinas nagtetxt sa roaming sim card na dala nila and then reply sila to pinas using the fone using a sim card from the country they are in. may kamurahan ng kaunti, not too significant pero if you reply using your philippine sim card, usually ang rate is 25 to 30 pesos per message sent and from experience minsan included ang message sending failed jan pati messages which were supposedly sent pero never received by the party in philippines

suggest lang, if you have computer sa house mo sa pinas, better use skype, tawag up to sawa ka nyan.

#22 MaykaTXTkanaMayKATOKkapa on 2008-07-02 17:32 (Reply)

Incoming calls from Manila will charge you also since it's roaming. Both of you will be charged thats why it's better to use their (Russia's Telecom) instead of our Local sim cards. And U are fully aware that it will be expensive. And u are fully aware too that incase you make some complaints, they will give you the same alibis...so whats the use? Next time you knew what to do:-)

#23 MaykaTXTkanaMayKATOKkapa on 2008-07-02 17:36 (Reply)

And isa pa. Don't waste your time if you just lost hundreds of pesos. From QC going to NTC baka 200Php na ang taxi mo. If you loose thousands of Pesos or someone is making fool of you, then thats the time to report. And you dont have to go to their site. Go directly to their office and complain.

#24 sergs on 2008-07-09 15:30 (Reply)

yes at least be transparent how subscriber's account were debited...
may i just add---i was able to buy globe ofw family-pack sim card (3 for P120)...hindi pa ako nakakaalis ng pilipinas sira na yung isang sim card--bigla na lang naging blangko ang screen ng mobile ko, tapos pagdating ko dito sa saudi yung isang sim card na roaming na dinala ko-ayun pareho ng nangyari-wala tuloy akong roaming sim card (pero hindi po sira cellphone ko kasi yung ibang sim card gumagana). I mailed globe customer service---but to no avail...(hindi kaya dahil mura ang sim card kaya walang quality--??? nagtatanong lang po...)

#25 sergs on 2008-07-09 15:38 (Reply)

mga kabayang ofw, kung gusto nyo pong makatipid sa pag-send ng text sa pilipinas, maaari nyo pong gawin kung meron kayong internet connection sa opisina o sa bahay...mag-log-in lang po kayo sa CHIKKA.COM, mag sign-in po kayo using your valid-email address at presto! you can text all you want sa pinas kahit anong mobile gamit nila...thanks to chikka.com---at least we dont need to pay P25 just for sending one-failed-message to globe or smart, diba? (siguro yung roaming ninyo kung meron man, pang receive na lang ng text from philippines--provided, kung real-time ang dating ng mesage from philippines, or they can text-back to chikka, just for P2.50/message)...try it mga kabayan.....thanks

#26 MaykaTXTkanaMayKATOKkapa on 2008-07-09 17:07 (Reply)

Hi Sergs,

Everyone is using chikka since 2004. Yes, it is. Economical talaga gamitin ang chikka. Pag nag send ako ng messages to Manila dumadating agad. Then they reply to me on my roaming sim. For roaming Sims, I trusted SMART. Kasi proven na to na kahit walang load eh nakakareceive ng Messages from manila. And Sim ko na to since 1997 kaya nag stick ako dito. Well, on other telecom, wala ako tiwala sa OFW Sim Pack na yan. Dami kong kaibigan na gumagamit ng Sim na yan. Puro lang reklamo napapala. Anyways, for voice calls, ang ginagamit ko is Skype. Mas malinaw kesa YM at iba pang IM. Pero Sergs, I believe sa ME di pwede gamitin yan. Pero may paraan gamitin yan kung tutuusin hehehehehehe.

#27 marizelski on 2008-07-09 23:46 (Reply)

hay naku, salamat sa inyong lahat mga ate, mga kuya, mga sisterakkka, ect. ect. grabe talaga mga magnanakaw, pati load walang patawad...bigla na namang naglaho 701. na load ko. 2 weeks na wa pa rin reply globe why? bakit? apay? anuna tabi? unsa man? ngantoy? kak ba?

ano mang kulay ng buhay God is good all the time.

marizelski

#27.1 MaykaTXTkanaMayKATOKkapa on 2008-07-10 17:26 (Reply)

@ Marizelski

Wag ka na umasa na mag rereply sayo yang telecom na yan. pinapakita lang nila gano ka bulok systema nila pag dating sa complaints. Noon pa lang. Alam kong wala nang gagawing mabuti yan.

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