TO ENCOURAGE the use of third generation wireless communication system (3G), a new prepaid network lowered its call rates per minute, making it possible for a subscriber to fully consume prepaid load credits up to the last peso.

Starting yesterday, Red Mobile charged its subscribers 50 centavos per minute for voice and video calls to other Red Mobile subscribers.

Red Mobile is a brand under the Connectivity Unlimited Resources Enterprises Inc. (Cure), a company that became a subsidiary of Smart after it was purchased last April to expand Smart’s 3G service.

3G-capable

Smart’s wireless consumer division head Danilo Mojica said that out of an estimated 55 million handsets in the market, more than 10 million are 3G-capable but 3G services are still under utilized.

“Based on a handset population, 15 to 20 percent of Filipinos have 3G handsets,” Mojica said.

But Mojica added that with the services available on 3G handsets, a number of users are now starting to upgrade to 3G-capable devices.

Re-launching

During the re-launching program of the new Red Mobile services in Makati last Thursday, Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea also announced that Red Mobile will also be available to the second generation wireless communication (2G) market.

“By making our service now available on 2G, and by utilizing the nation-widest network of the country’s leading wireless service provider, we are making value for money services more accessible to the increasingly mobile Filipinos,” Vea said in a statement.

Since it was first launched last year, Red Mobile now has a subscriber base close to 100,000. Most of its customers are young people who are voice users, which are described to be “conscious of using their load up to the last drop.”

This market, said Vea, are within the market segment with lower cash outlay for voice services.

Increase

“We are (also) looking at a higher trajectory in the increase of the subscribers once the new Red Mobile starts going to the market,” he added.

Vea also assured that Smart’s network capacity will be able to support an increase in subscriber base. “We build the network ahead and the necessary infrastructure is there to provide for the service,” he said.

Aside from voice and video calls, multimedia messaging from Red-to-Red subscribers will also have a 50 centavos rate.

Prepaid load credits are available starting with a P30-pack good for two days.

Red Mobile will also be offering affordable 3G handsets starting at P3,000.