Smart sees digital innovations transforming the Philippines in 2015

Smart sees digital innovations transforming the Philippines in 2015

The Philippines continue to be one of the fastest growing mobile markets in Asia with digital innovations contributing to further drive this momentum. In its December 2014 country report, the GSM Association (GSMA) noted that it is in “the level of consumer engagement with mobile and technology that has come to differentiate (the Philippines) from other fast growing peers in Asia.”

With smartphone adoption rapidly growing and with the fastest rising Internet penetration rate in the region, digital is transforming the country.

This 2015, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is looking forward to this continuous transformation with insights to some trends in the digital space.

1. Always-on mobile Internet experience will be here to stay.

With the successful take-up of promos such as Smart Free Internet and partnerships like Smart Free Wikipedia, more Pinoys are discovering the limitless possibilities of the Internet through their mobile phones. On top of these promos, Smart has been introducing affordable services that are further helping narrow the digital divide. These range from the most affordable PisoNet offer of Talk ’N Text which allows subscribers to access the Internet for as low as one peso for ten minutes to Power App, a mobile app for access to lifestyle bundles such as social media sites. On top of these, the SafeZone platform of Voyager Innovations (Voyager) allows customers of enterprise partners such as BPI, AyosDito, Zalora and the Philippine Airlines to access their mobile websites and apps for free because of an innovative digital “freemium” model.

2. Digital inclusion + digital financial innovations = eCommerce for All.

While statistics from the World Bank show that over 70% of the Filipinos are unbanked, this represents a huge market for financially inclusive services. Services such as Smart Money are gaining more traction as the number of Smart Money Padala centres nationwide is now at 30,000 and further expanding, more than the total number of ATMs and bank branches all over the country combined. Meanwhile, to enable customers even without credit cards to shop online in sites such as Zalora, Smart eMoney, Inc. (SMI) introduced MePay, a breakthrough electronic and mobile payments platform that only requires any Philippine mobile number to register and sign in. To further spur online selling, services such as TackThis! powered by Voyager are making it easier for anyone to build eCommerce shops and start selling online.

3. Digital content will reign supreme.

As more Pinoys go online, multimedia services and digital content are becoming more widely available. A prime example is Spinnr, the music service for Smart that is bringing the promise of making music more enjoyable to more Filipinos through downloads, streaming and exclusive premium offers. For bookworms and magazine fanatics, digital bookstore Buqo enables access to downloads so customers can read from their own mobile devices. Meanwhile, the country’s largest video demand streaming service Blink brings hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and thousands of TV series episodes right to Smart and Sun subscribers. GameX enables Pinoy gamers access to online games, making this digital community one of the fastest growing. For basketball fans, the Pinoy Hoops app provides the latest updates and statistics as well as live streams of games. What makes everything more convenient for consumers? Purchase for digital content can be done via prepaid load or postpaid account charging.

4. Digital innovation can be maximized for social good.

From weather updates to disaster preparedness, education, health and financial services, digital innovations are being used to help bringing about positive change. The Project Noah for Mobile and the RainCheck App allow Pinoys to get ready for the changing weather. Batingaw mobile app, co-developed with the Office of the Civil Defense, helps citizens prepare and equips users with emergency tools. The LandBank Mobile Loan Saver (LMLS) from SMI leverages on mobile technologies to enable government employees to access loans more conveniently while at the same time, it is helping promote financial stewardship among those who participate in the program. Smart’s digital tourism program with local governments and partners like InnoPub Media and Grassroots Travel is helping raise awareness on cultural heritage and local destinations while promoting digital technology. These are just some examples of how digital innovations are being harnessed for the social good.

“More than just the exciting technologies, these digital innovations are transforming our way of life. Many industries and arenas are converging through digital. As a country, we are now catching on to that big digital tsunami and it’s best for all of us to ride its crest,” said Ramon R. Isberto, public affairs group head at Smart.