India Broadband

India Broadband

MICROSOFT will soon arm Filipino overseas workers with voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones to make cheaper calls to their families in the Philippines.

VoIP is a technology that routes voice calls to IP networks or the Internet instead of through the traditional circuit-switched networks. This innovation allows people to make cheap or even free long distance calls anywhere in the world.

Seattle-based Randy Granovetter, who is general manager for business development for emerging markets in Microsoft, disclosed that the software company is in the initial stages of a project that will provide Windows-powered mobile phones to overseas Filipino workers.

“We are giving the Windows 5.0 Mobile Phone to the OFW who is leaving the Philippines on contracted assignment. In most countries there are WiFi (wireless fidelity)-enabled facilities where OFWs are working; such as in hospitals, hotels, engineering offices, cruise ships and i-cafes/hotspots,” said Granovetter in an e-mail to INQ7.net.

Microsoft chose to pilot this project in the Philippines through its partnership with the Overseas Workers Welfare Association (OWWA). The government agency and Microsoft are also collaborating on other technology-related projects.

"We felt that the OFWs would have the most need for a service like this," added Granovetter.

While there are issues of lack of infrastructure and poor Internet connectivity in the Philippines, Microsoft believes this initiative will eventually drive down communications spending among Filipino foreign workers and their families.
“We are also working with partners in the Philippines to provide friends and family two ways to communicate at a low cost to the OFW. A family can call the OFW using LCS Communicator Interface and application on their computer at home or in an Internet café on a VoIP to Mobile VOIP," the executive added.

Filipino foreign workers will be required to sign up to use the special VoIP phone and the VoIP-enabled PC in OWWA.

After registration, the OFWs can make VoIP calls from "30 OFW global centers" of OWWA, the executive said.

The Microsoft executive revealed that this initiative will soon make OFW remittances a lot easier, as it will promote digital transfer of funds.

Granovetter said the OFWs will be issued a bank card, while the beneficiaries will be given debit cards through one of the authorized OWWA banks or remittance centers.

"After an OFW remits, he or she can check his balance on the phone or on the computer through a LCS communicator application. The OFW can transfer funds to the beneficiaries’ debit cards," the executive said.

OWWA will be involved in the execution of this program.

Microsoft said the actual rollout of the project will be in the latter months of 2006.

"This project has been in process for six months and will continue in the trial for three months," the Microsoft executive added.

Microsoft said it will also work with carriers, banks, service providers, Microsoft independent software vendors on this project.