Explain expiring loads, telcos told

LAWMAKERS yesterday slammed telecommunication companies for their scheme of putting expiration dates on cellular loads.

The House committee on information and communication technology asked telecom firms to submit within 10 days a written explanation on the scheme.

Representatives of Globe, Smart and Sun Cellular failed to convince the solons of their marketing strategies.

Makati Rep. Teddy Locsin questioned the short life of loads, saying it is not economical for mobile subscribers.

“Why is it that cellular phone loads have a short shelf life? Such scheme forces people to make 50 phone calls so that they will consume the value of the load they have paid,” Locsin said.

Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino shared the same view and asked why there should be an expiration date for pre-paid phone load.

The solons raised the complaint of many people that a P20 load should be consumed within 24 hours otherwise it will be forfeited.

Meanwhile, the P100 load should only be used within 15 days while a P300 card only lasts for two months.

“Why 90 days, why not six months? We have to consume it or else the money goes to them, hindi naman parang gatas na napapanis ito, electronic naman ito,” Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

The lawmakers said this scheme means more profit for telcos.

Lawyer Froilan Castelo of Globe said the expiring load balance was part of the design of the network to avoid clogging. Lawyer Roy Ibay of Smart said there is a “financial and technical explanation” to the scheme.

Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Rep. Ruffy Biazon demanded that telcos submit the actual cost of calls.

Solons said that in these hard times, telecoms should not make huge profits out of electronic loads, which is considered the cheapest form of communication. By: Jester P. Manalastas - Journal Online

E-load phenomenon gets new boost with top-up machines

By MELVIN G. CALIMAG - Manila Bulletin

Since its introduction, Smart’s innovative e-load pre-paid system has spun off a virtual cottage industry that feeds on the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipinos, especially in the countryside.


With this realization, the PLDT-owned mobile operator is bent on propagating what is arguably a money-making scheme for both the company and the small entrepreneurs who are using it. Thus, it is investing around R22.5 million to buy electronic equipment to make it easier for retailers to exploit the "tingi" mentality of the Filipinos.

Dubbed as "Load Connect," the project is a tie-up with IBM Philippines who provided the ATM-like machines that it manufactured together with Japanese firm Hitachi.

Smart said the new offering is aimed at Smart e-load retailers and dealers whose volume requirements for the electronic prepaid reloading business dictate that they top up their load wallets at the nearest Smart wireless center. With the new machines, they will no longer have to line up at the cashier.

Apart from real-time reloading of airtime, Load Connect also allow users to load credits to their Smart Money card.

Subscribers can use Load Connect to purchase airtime in R30, R60, R300, R500 and R1,000 denominations as well as reload their Smart Money accounts.

The new machines are initially available in 15 Smart wireless centers nationwide: Smart Tower along Ayala Avenue, Makati City; SM Manila; Robinsons Place Ermita; SM North EDSA; SM Fairview; SM Bicutan; SM Southmall in Las Piñas; Araneta Square Caloocan; Sta. Lucia East in Cainta, Rizal; Festival Mall, SM Dasmariñas, Nepo Mall Dagupan; Elizabeth Mall in Cebu City, and Limketkai Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.

According to Smart, Load Connect is the first service in Asia that allows mobile users to load airtime and money via a machine that accepts and recycles multiple bills.

"The investment that we’re making with Load Connect and other Smart Connect initiatives shows how serious we are about enhancing the subscriber experience at our wireless centers," said Joy Sanchez, Smart customer care head, during the launch at Smart’s Wireless Center in Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

The number of transactions on airtime reloading ranges from 220,000 to 670,000 a month, depending on the wireless center. The bulk of transactions is made by Smart Load retailers and agents, which number about 800,000 nationwide, Sanchez said.

The self-service reloading machine is one of several initiatives under Smart Connect, which include SIM Connect, Web Connect, SagotAgad, and Zone Connect.