Cheaper phone rates for Pinoys in HK

Filipinos in Hong Kong can now save on their text and voice calls to their loved ones in the Philippines following the partnership between Globe Telecom Inc. and HK’s mobile outfit CSL. This will bring the lowest mobile IDD rates to Globe & Touch Mobile (TM) users using a special SIM (subscriber identification module). The CSL-Kumusta Ka Kababayan SIM allows OFWS in Hong Kong to avail themselves of special international call or IDD rates, send load credits to a Globe or Touch Mobile subscriber in the Philippines through the international share-a-load service, and send cross-border remittance through G-Cash Pera to Pamilya, Globe said. "That means they can transfer funds and prepaid credits to loved ones as if they were just sending a text message," it said in announcing the new promotional gimmick. "We are extremely pleased to have launched our cross-border G-Cash offering with CSL. This represents Globe’s first direct overseas mobile operator deployment where mobile subscribers can now use their CSL SIMs to more closely manage and take more direct control of their peso-denominated remittances and other G-Cash transactions sent periodically from Hong Kong to their loved ones or participating G-Cash merchant partners in the Philippines," said Andrew Buay, Globe’s chief operating advisor IDD rates for calls placed to Globe and TM stand at HK$0.70 per minute during weekends and HK$0.95 per minute on weekdays. That is about 25-percent lower than the rates offered by other cellular providers in Hong Kong.