PLDT gives mobile subscribers free access to apps like Facebook, Zalora

The digital unit of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Voyager Innovations, unveiled today a service that allows businesses to easily reach their customers nationwide through mobile phones.

Dubbed SafeZone, the service aims to bring brands closer to consumers by offering access to their mobile apps and sites for free or without data charges.

In addition to this, users may also access their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds within SafeZone for free. All they have to do is link their social networking accounts through the SafeZone social page in order to post, like, tweet, favorite, and comment on social media posts.

For its launch in the Philippines, SafeZone has partnered with the biggest names in local and global entertainment, online commerce, travel, transportation, and news, including Philippine Airlines, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Agoda, Inquirer, Zalora, and Eat Bulaga, among others.

This list is expanding, says the Voyager team. Initially, free access to SafeZone partner apps and sites will be available to subscribers of Smart, one of PLDT’s mobile brands.

With smartphone penetration expected to reach 50 percent of the Philippine population this year according to On Device Research, Voyager chief operating officer Benjie Fernandez says it is imperative for businesses to craft a mobile strategy that will bring them in the front and center of their customers’ everyday lives through their devices.

How to use

To get started with SafeZone, users have to visit Safezone.ph or download the mobile app from Google Play to see a list of partner apps and sites. Voyager says data charges “may apply” when accessing the website for the first time and for downloading the SafeZone app.

Once in SafeZone, users will have to switch “Load Protect” on to ensure that they do not get charged for accessing. The standard charge without this feature is pegged at PHP5 (US$0.11) per 15 minutes of usage.

In case users proceed to a site that is not part of SafeZone, they will be redirected to a landing page where they will be given the option to continue surfing by subscribing to a data package.

See: Google brings Android One to the Philippines