Globe Duo goes direct comparative advertising

I found this write-up on the new Globe Duo website -- an unapologetic comparison between Globe Duo and other similar products it supposedly competes with. But is it accurate? Is it a fair assessment? And, does it go against Adboard's Code which has rules against comparative advertising?

For now, I will suspend my judgement. I'm loving my Smart line. And, hey, they have a Smart Unlimited option which I still have to decide wherther it's worth it for me.

I'd like to hear your thoughts though. Comment on. :)

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HOW IS DUO DIFFERENT?

Globe measures against the competition

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Consumers are constantly barraged by offers from telecom companies. They promise unlimited calling, unlimited texting, mobile-landline connectivity, and a slew of other services at the lowest rates possible. But which of these offers actually deliver?

There are currently four other telecom companies in the market that offer similar services¿PLDT Landlines Plus, Bayan Wireless Landlines, Sun Cellular’s Double Unlimited Plan, and Smartalk. Globe recently came out with Duo¿a 2-in-1 landline and mobile service. Sceptical consumers might ask, is Duo simply Globe’s version of unlimited calling? How is it different?

Duo utilizes a different technology. Globe teamed up with Acision, the world’s leading messaging company, to design a service that allows you to call any landline and any duo-ready mobile phone. Duo allows you to have a mobile and a landline in one phone. In comparison, Sun Cellular’s 24/7 call and text unlimited, and Smart Communication’s Smarttalk, are just price cuts. They offer unlimited mobile-to mobile calls but only to subscribers within the same network. If your contacts are not Smart or Sun users, then you can’t make the most of their offer.

PLDT Landlines Plus offers a similar mobile to landline connectivity. It allows you to make unlimited landline calls and texts for a fixed monthly rate. But once you exceed your plan’s free allocation, you are charged by the minute. With Duo, you don’t have to keep track of the minutes you consume because it is unlimited. Telecom companies present competitive prices to give consumers more value for their money. Bayan Wireless Landline costs P499 per month, PLDT Landline Plus is P600 per month, and SunTel Wireless Landline costs P499 per month. Globe DUO Postpaid Plan has the most affordable rate at only P399 per month. Early subscribers note that Duo also allows them to save significantly on their monthly phone bills.

With PLDT and Bayan’s offers you need an additional handset for the service. You might have to pay an additional P1000 for a PLDT Landlines Plus handset. Sun Cellular’s Double Unlimited Plan provides you a dual SIM phone. But the problem with dual SIM phones is that whenever SIM1 is active in calls, SIM2 cannot receive calls or even SMS. So if you're talking to someone using your regular Sun Postpaid line, you cannot accept incoming calls on your SunTel wireless landline. Duo doesn’t require any additional handsets. With Duo you just have one SIM with your duo landline number and mobile number stored in it. You are easily accessible.

To apply to Bayan, you have to submit some requirements. With Duo, you can just subscribe through text. Application is simple and hassle-free.

Consumers need to sift through the marketing ploys to find the service that really works for them. When it comes to affordability, practicality, and uniqueness of the product, it seems that Duo has the edge.

My Problem with Globe Teleco

I'm a loyal Smart mobile service subscriber. When I was working outside the country for the past two years, first in Chicago then in HK, I kept my post-paid Smart line on roaming so people could still reach me without paying for long-distance charges.

Coming back home to Manila, I discovered that Globe has been making a lot of new innovation in their services: I'm a fairly-satisfied subscriber of their 2MBPS Globe DSL broadband. A good friend of mine, Pao Pena, has joined Globe to do some exciting developmental stuff for them. I'm witness to the Headshot Clinic movement Globe has sponsored with Niccolo Cosme.

Their latest innovation is their Globe Duo service which bridges mobile telephony with the landline network. YugaTech writes about it here: http://www.yugatech.com/blog/telecoms/globe-offers-plan-duo-service/. I'm also posting content from the Globe website below. It's about time. In HK, there's no difference calling a mobile number from a landline number. It's all local calls and you don't pay long-distance charges. But, I'm not rushing to switch to Globe. I'm expecting Smart to follow suit, but only if you Globe subscribers pick-up on this service. So, please do. This country needs it. I survived HK without a landline. And I think that's the way of the future.

I appreciate Globe's efforts, but here's my problem with Globe: They need to get their basic services working perfectly first. I'm hearing all sorts of horror stories from my Globe-subscriber friends, and I've experienced difficulties in calling and texting them. Messages are delayed, or don't get thru. Call quality sometimes sucks, and/or gets cut-off. Calls don't get thru.

Innovation is good. But, Globe, you can't leave your basic services behind. That's not good business.

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DUO allows you Unlimited Calling to and from any landline number as well as Unlimited Calling to and from any DUO postpaid mobile subscriber! With DUO's Unlimited Calling, you can: Gossip with friends about the hottest events! Call far-away family and friends without worrying about the length of the call! Collaborate with business partners to efficiently coordinate a project! Chat with your special someone for as long as you want! Hurry, subscribe now by going to the nearest Globe Business Center or register by sending  DUOINFO to 8888! Promo period is from April 5 - July 3, 2009 only! How it Works Subscription to DUO Service is P399.00/30days on top of a Globe Plan. Once you are subscribed to Duo, you will be given your Duo Landline number. Now, your mobile phone and SIM will have two (2) numbers: your current mobile number (i.e. 0917-XXX-XXXX) and your Duo Landline number (i.e. 02-XXX-XXXX). Upon activation, the following calls are rendered free of charge: DUO to any Landline calls, any Landline to DUO calls, and DUO to DUO calls. Calls made to other mobile numbers are charged regular mobile rates. Everytime you call, no need for a keyword or special prefix: To call any landline just dial the area code and the landline number To call another DUO number just dial the area code and the  DUO number of the person you are calling For any landline to call you, a person will just dial your DUO landline number Service is initially available in NCR and Cebu only. All other calls outside the area code (02 for NCR or 32 for Cebu) will be charged regular mobile NDD rates.

How to Avail Promo is open to all Globe Postpaid subscribers. Subscriber can avail of the service through the Business Centers or Register via SMS (with required SMS acceptance of Terms and Conditions). Simply text DUOINFO to 8888. There will be an initial 90-day holding period for new activations, subject to pre-termination fee of P1,200.00. You can only avail of one (1) active DUO landline number for every active Globe line, at any one time. After the holding period, subscription is auto-renewed on a monthly basis unless otherwise requested by the subscriber. In cases of fraud, Globe reserves the right to discontinue the DUO service, and any of the subscriptions. DUO is not available for International Service Resale. Duo is currently not available for prepaid or corporate accounts.

This promo is open to Postpaid subscribers only! Subscribe to a Postpaid Account now!