Thursday, August 28, 2008 Telco develops wireless service for seafarers
WIRELESS services operator Smart Communications Inc. has signed an agreement with the Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), one of the country’s largest ship crew management companies, to provide over 26,000 Filipino seafarers with customized wireless communication services to allow them to keep in touch with loved ones.
“From our experience in interacting directly with Filipino seafarers, we are aware of how increasingly valuable communication has become for them. We are glad to strengthen our business partnership with PTC with the introduction of Smart customized services,” said Orlando Vea, Smart chief wireless advisor.
Smart has been working closely with PTC in providing seafarers access to Smart Link, the country’s first and only prepaid satellite phone service, to stay connected to their families even while at sea.
The customized Smart Pinoy SIM for the seafarers, Smart Buddy SIMs for their families and the InfoBoard, a web-based group broadcast service offered only by Smart, will work together to provide PTC the fastest, most affordable and most reliable means to send crucial information to seafarers and their families, as well as collect feedback from them. PTC can customize and manage the content according to their need and preference; they can post messages on the Infoboard, which can then be picked up by the seafarer or his family through a simple text query to access number 7000-PTC (7000-782).
Users of the customized Smart Pinoy SIM PTC SIM and their families will also have access to special call and text rates.
PTC has over 26,000 officers and crew deployed to vessels afloat around the world.
“The biggest challenge to them (seafarers is being away from their family, and having a stable means of communication with them is always a priority,” said Carlos C. Salinas, PTC chairman and chief executive officer. (PR)
