New Retail Payment Channel Seen to Boost Retail Activity in the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines, April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Philippine telecommunications company Globe Telecom recently introduced an innovative solution earmarked to boost retail activity and set new standards of mobile commerce and retail payments among small and medium business (SMB) owners, providing customers operating start-up and small scale-stores, bazaars as well as retail outlets across the Philippines an alternative channel for payment transactions using a smartphone or a tablet.

Globe Charge, a flagship product of Globe myBusiness, the business segment of Globe Telecom catering to SMBs and their communication needs, integrates a smartphone and an innovative mobile card reader into a convenient mobile point-of-sale (POS) payment device, eliminating the need for traditional and more expensive card terminals. Filipino entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to sell to almost 10 million credit card users in the country, with the added convenience of staying connected with their business operations through calls and texts.

"Filipino retail merchants and SMBs are now embracing the ease and convenience provided by Globe Charge, as they now have higher chances to receive payments instantly, resulting to a bigger customer base and more robust business revenues. Globe Charge significantly heightens the potential of turning each customer interface into a successful selling transaction," Senior Vice President for Globe myBusiness Martha Sazon pointed out.

Sazon cited a statistic from the Philippine Retailers Association, which outlines the local retail industry as an important contributor to the country's economy, accounting for roughly 15% of its total gross national product and 33% of the entire services sector. It employs some 5.25 million Filipinos, representing a significant 18% of the country's work force, or roughly two of every ten (10) workers are employed in the home-grown retail industry.

"Globe Charge will be a game-changing service for the growing number of retail outlets, stores and SMBs, enabling them to grow their businesses. It will allow fledgling entrepreneurs to get started right away and accept local and international MasterCard and soon, Visa credit and debit cards. Business owners can enjoy better rates and can receive the settlement as early as the next business day," she said.

Sazon also added that as the trusted business advisor of local SMBs, Globe myBusiness is empowering them with an added payment option with Globe Charge, translating potential customers into more paying patrons, leading to increased sales and overall business growth. Transactions via ATM cards are also anticipated in the pipeline, according to her.

Businesses big or small can start accepting credit card or debit card payments anytime and anywhere by subscribing to a myBusiness SUPERPLAN postpaid bundle for as low as Php499 for a 30-month contract period (about US$ 11 monthly), complete with surfing-texting-calling combos and consumables, a mobile card reader, and a smartphone which can be used to operate the Globe Charge app without incurring any browsing charges. They need to download an app from Google Play, which will also be available soon via the App Store, then register their user account and a GCash wallet after.

Transmissions for Globe Charge transactions are made free-of-charge through the data signal of a registered Globe or TM number, and can also be performed via Wi-Fi connection through the supplied smartphone or any tablet.

To know more about Globe Charge, visit www.globe.com.ph/globecharge.

Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room

Twitter: @talk2GLOBE |  Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140428/81105

SOURCE Globe Corporate Communications Team