Free video-telephone conference service for OFWs launched

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), the SM Group and Abot Tanaw have joined together to provide affordable and hassle-free communications to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families.

“Abot Tanaw makes accessible to OFWs and their families the means to communicate without charging them. Using newly developed technology that involves voice and video telephony services, Abot Tanaw is able to lessen the proverbial toll that separation takes on Filipino families,” said Kim Go, chief executive officer of Abot Tanaw.

SM branches that will have service hubs installed are SM Pampanga with 22 hubs, SM North Edsa with 20 hubs, SM Cebu with 40 hubs and SM Davao with 35 terminals branches.

Globe Telecom and Intel Philippines launches WiMax service

Globe Telecom and Intel Philippines announced the official rollout of Globe’s commercial WiMAX service in the country.

Wimax is the first 4G solution that meets the exploding demand for high-speed wireless Internet and mobile computing, allowing people to access large amounts of data, from movies to multi-media content.

Globe Consumer Broadband Group Head Menchi Orlina said Globe’s WiMAX service is the company’s attempt to “democratize the Internet” by providing the service in areas where high-speed Internet access is difficult.

Orlina added that Globe will offer from three WiMAX plans: P795/month for 512 kbps Internet only, P995/month for 512 kbps plus landline and P1,295 for 1 Mbps plus landline.

And to demonstrate their confidence, Orlina said “Should you be unhappy with the connection within one month from installation, we’ll give you your money-back, no questions asked.”

Intel vice president and general manager for Asia- Pacific Navin Shenoy said that the deployment of WiMax in the Philippine ushers in 4G (fourth-generation) network, to help bridge the digital divide and bring affordable, high-speed mobile broadband to their citizens.

Symantec Expands Portfolio with New Protection Suites and Web Security

Symantec Philippines announced it has expanded its security portfolio by offering new Protection Suites for small business and enterprise customers and adding Web security technology through the acquisition of Mi5 Networks.

Symantec Protection Suite Small Business Edition and Symantec Protection Suite Enterprise Edition are comprehensive solutions designed to secure firms against security risks and business interruptions, ensuring systems and critical information are readily available.

Twitter to launch “Verified Account” beta

Twitter announced that it will soon launch a “verified accounts” beta to authenticate the identity of the celebrities – like public officials, famous artists, and athletes – and other famous users at risk, thereby mitigating the chances of impersonation.

All approved Twitter accounts will include a “Verified Account” seal on the upper right-hand corner.

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone said “We hope to verify more accounts in the future but due to the resources required, verification will begin only with a small set.” For its initial salvo, businesses will not be included.

BenQ to produce Android based smartphone and netbook

BenQ has announced plans to launch Android OS-based smartphone and netbook in third quarter of 2010. With the announcement, BenQ joins the group of companies developing smartphones and mini-laptops that run on Android platform.

Android is a smartphone operating system designed by Google. It claims to facilitate communications and web browsing, especially on Google sites.