In wake of devastating typhoon, one Philippine telco cancels grand iPhone 5S launch

Last year, the two main telcos in the Philippines – Smart and Globe – clashed with a grand head-to-head launch of the iPhone 5. But this year it’s going to be different.

After opening pre-orders for the iPhone 5S and 5C, the Philippines was hit by a massive typhoon that devastated many towns in the country, with the current death toll at 2,500. And so Globe has sort of cancelled its launch of the new iPhone 5S and 5C, which should take place tomorrow, so as to extend further assistance to the victims of typhoon Haiyan.

Despite the cancellation all marketing and hype for the iPhone launch event, those who pre-ordered an iPhone 5S or 5C can still collect their new gadget from a Globe store tomorrow.

E-wallet booths for relief operations

Instead of a fancy launch for the two new iPhones, Globe will set up booths where subscribers can register to G-Cash, its e-wallet platform, to send donations via SMS.

Globe chief operating advisor for consumer business Peter Bithos says that "after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda [called ‘Haiyan’ globally] that affected millions of lives, we’re doing away with the usual grand launch event for the iPhone and instead use this platform to augment what we’re doing for our [fellowmen] using our G-Cash facility.”

Globe says the donations sent via G-Cash will be given to the Philippine National Red Cross to support its relief operations. Globe subscribers who are already registered to G-Cash can send a donation already. Here’s the SMS format they need to follow:

(DONATE) (AMOUNT) (4-DIGIT PIN) (REDCROSS)

After which they just need to send this and a confirming message to 2882 and their donation will be accounted placed.

Globe subscribers who wish to donate to other government and non-governmental partner-organizations of Globe may dial *143# through their mobile phones and select ‘donate’ under the G-Cash tab.

In addition to donation via the e-wallet service, customers can also drop off in-kind donations at the booths.

Lots of organizations have been using the internet to create solutions to help the victims of the typhoon.

(Editing by Steven Millward)