PLDT’s Safezone offers free data services for subscribers

MANILA, Philippines – PLDT launched a new way for Filipinos using Smart, Sun, and Talk N’ Text to get a number of services and apps on their phone without incurring data charges on Thursday, February 26.

Called Safezone, the initiative will give users the ability to access social apps like Lite versions of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as apps for banking, music, news, and shopping, without incurring data charges.

Initially, free access to SafeZone partner apps and sites would be available to subscribers of Smart Communications Incorporated, and soon to subscribers of Sun Cellular in the country.

Users should remember, however, that subscribers need a P1 maintaining load balance to use the service. When you do use the service, however, there is a function called Load Protect that can save users from extra, unwanted charges.

The Safezone service will have the following apps available now or in the near future, either for Android or iOS devices:

• Agoda
• Babble
• BPI
• Carmudi 
• Eat Bulaga! Mobile
• FoodPanda
• GameX
• LaMudi
• Philippine Airlines
• SkyScanner
• Spinnr 
• Takatack
• Tripda
• Zalora

Meanwhile, SafeZone Social will provide logged-in users with access to Lite versions of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

News apps, including Rappler, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Interaksyon, and the Philippine Star are also set to be part of the Safezone service.

Of the initiative to join Safezone, Maria Ressa, Rappler president, said, “Filipinos will connect to the Internet for free and access information and context about important events right at their fingertips.”

She added: “Rappler works tirelessly on all initiatives that make this happen. This is how we see our ground-breaking stories and advocacies further inspire smart conversation, community engagement and digitally-fueled actions for social change.”

Benjie Fernandez, chief operating officer of PLDT’s Voyager Technologies, said Safezone was a way to better reach out to consumers from their mobile phones.

“With growing smartphone penetration in the Philippines, more users are now accessing online services via their mobile phones. This presents an opportunity for businesses to reach out to their customers wherever they are through their smartphones, and be closer to them than ever before,” he said. – Rappler.com