Globe, Smart, Twitter strike deal in managing mobile data use

Globe Telecom Inc. and Smart Communications Inc. took in Twitter Inc. as partner in allowing mobile subscribers to manage data consumption while using the microblogging platform.

In a press conference Wednesday in Makati City, the telcos and Twitter launched Twitter Lite, which supposedly allows up to 70 percent in data savings, 30 percent faster launch time and take up less than a megabyte of memory on mobile devices.

"This is a business partnership. We've done talks regarding the financial and commercial details. But more importantly is our vision with both partners on how we can get more people connected via mobile internet," Twitter Southeast Asia Business Development Head Dwi Adriansah told GMA News Online.

"This is a partnership on how we can allow mobile consumers to have options on how they can manage their data consumption," Adriansah added.

He did not specify the details of the collaboration with Globe and Smart.

Twitter Lite features a data saver option, which can be set up via a Twitter account on mobile internet browser.

It gives a subscriber options to view photos and videos via Twitter, which consumes more mobile internet data.

"For the business side of it, this gives a lot of support to further drive mobile internet penetration in the Philippines," Globe Prepaid Director for Portfolio and Brand Management Popo Yambao said.

"Being lite, they do not consume as much. So, at least, that way we can encourage more people to try mobile internet data," Yambao said.

Smart Vice President for Digital Products and Partnerships Harold Libarnes said the partnership with Twitter is basically designed to encourage mobile data consumption.

"This is to encourage subscribers to use this, because people are becoming more conscious about their data cost," Libarnes said.

"To cut mobile data consumption, they actually use Wi-Fi, but what we want to do is to encourage more use of mobile internet by giving better packages for such services," Libarnes added. — VDS, GMA News