May
A very good news for cell phone users and active texters in the Philippines. Texting may become free of charge as the Philippine government pushes for a policy that aims to make text messaging free to all cellular phone users here in the Philippines.
According to reports,
Even the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) may face an investigation if it is found to have allowed “excessive” charges for text messages, a senior official said Monday.
But Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Thompson Lantion said that for now, the focus of the investigation will be on whether the present P1/text rate is too high.
“Pinarebisa at pinapatingnan ang policies, ang NTC under supervision ng DOTC (We are now reviewing all the policies. Remember that the NTC is under the DOTC),” Lantion said in an interview on dzBB radio.
He said the DOTC has convened legal and technical working groups and will coordinate with the House of Representatives in looking into the matter.
But he declined to give a timetable for the investigation.
On the other hand, representatives of two major telecommunications firms voiced surprise over the move, saying they need to charge for text messages because of the big investments they had made.
Ramon Isberto of Smart Communications said they are trying to understand the intention of the government, adding it had yet to formally inform them about the investigation.
“Nasorpresa kami sa balitang yan. Nag-start ang text messaging noong 1995, Smart started offering text messaging in 1999. Walang nag-raise ng question sa SMS. Meron kaming pahintulot sa gobyerno mag-offer ng text messaging (We are surprised over the matter. Text messaging was offered starting 1995, though Smart started offering it as a service in 1999. No one has questioned it. We have permission from the government to charge for text messages),” he said.
Besides, he said Smart invested much in equipment for text messaging.
“Di pwede mangyari ang text messaging o ibang telecom services kung di tayo i-invest ng malaking halaga (We cannot offer any text messaging or other services if we did not invest a huge amount in equipment and infrastructure),” he said.
Even unlimited text messaging promos are based on monthly subscription plans, he added.
On the other hand, he admitted that based on present unlimited text promos, text messages can cost as little as 10 centavos per message.
For his part, Rodolfo Salalima of Globe Telecoms said government should be clear in announcing its intentions when it said it wants text messaging to be free.
But Salalima said they will take the action in “good faith,” adding the government has the right to call a so-called national consultative forum.
On the other hand, he said free text messaging is virtually impossible as there is no country that offers free text messaging service.
“Walang bansang may libreng text. Kung meron man, ito part ng packaging (There is no country that offers text messaging for free. If ever, it will be part of a paid package),” he said.
He also warned that if text messages are made free, “standards may suffer.”
Source: GMANews.TV
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Tags: cellphones, Free Texting, Philippines, Pinoy
