[imc-qc] News: Consumers blast Smart/Globe attempt to stop unlimited call/txt

[Tonyo Cruz]

PRESS RELEASE
Feb. 8, 2005

Reference: Anthony Ian Cruz, convenor
Contact No.: 0917-8928277

TXTPower sides with consumers, lambasts Globe, Smart
over "cease-and-desist" petition vs. unlimited calls and text

The consumer advocacy group TXTPower today castigated monopoly firms Globe 
Telecom and Smart Communication for its petition seeking to a 
"cease-and-desist" order against the "unlimited calls and text" offered by 
another company to its subscribers.

"After successfully evading the proposed telecom franchise tax and the tax 
on their windfall profits and instead batting for a VAT rate hike, these 
shameful monopolists now want more.  They are now want to end a service 
that prove the point that unlimited text and calls is possible and also a 
good business proposition," said TXTPower convenor Anthony Ian Cruz.

TXTPower warned that if the petition succeeds, it will adversely affect 1.1 
million cellular subscribers and countless others who may be intending to 
leave Globe and Smart because of the two firms' steep pricing.

"A new cellular phone company showed consumers that unlimited calls and 
free text within a network is possible. This is also the case in many 
countries like the US where unlimited calls and text are given free on 
certain days," said Cruz, adding "Why can't Globe and Smart which use 
similar cellular technologies do the same and serve the public good?"

Cruz assailed Globe and Smart "for seeking to end consumer access to 
choices other than their expensive services. They are clearly monopolists. 
They seek a fake type of competition favoring their monopoly, and a contest 
of giving the highest, not lowest rates to consumers."

Citing a study by the Computer Professionals Union, Cruz said that GSM, the 
technology used by all cellular companies in the country, may provide 
unlimited calls and text to subscribers within a specific network. 
"Government should seriously look into this. Technology is advancing fast 
but the cellular companies want to keep us in the dark."

"Globe and Smart does not want to give this benefit of technology to 
consumers because their sole motives seem to be deceiving the public, 
gouging consumers with high prices and reaping superprofits," Cruz averred. ###