Did globe block all wap sites again?!

[Ms`ParadoxxX]

I cannot access any wap site again. Anyone please inform me.. :(

[theremoids]

Globe blocks WAP sites
to decongest GPRS network
Posted: 8:21 PM (Manila Time) | Sept. 02, 2003
By Erwin Lemuel G. Oliva
INQ7.net

"NETWORK congestion" prompted Globe Telecom to block subscriber access to wireless application protocol (WAP) sites outside of the company's "Myglobe" mobile portal, a company spokesperson told INQ7.net Tuesday.

Jones Campos, assistant vice president for public relations of Globe, said the operator came to this "hard" decision after months of deliberations.


He also confirmed that the operator has indeed begun "limiting" access to WAP sites outside of the "MyGlobe" portal since last week.

Prior to this development, Globe subscribers were given free and unlimited access to mobile WAP sites, such as "yahoo.com" and "hotmail.com," up until August 29, 2003.

"WAP browsing has been free but we feel that at a certain point we have to review how the service would be positioned. Since last year, we've been getting red flags‚ in terms of how demand has been increasing dramatically," Jones said.

Jones said that Globe is not really "blocking" WAP sites, but was limiting subscriber access through its own WAP portal. This means that Globe subscribers can still access other WAP sites but they have to go through the operator's portal.

"Globe has to rationalize the (traffic) in the GPRS network or else it would crash," the executive added.

Because of this recent development, Campos admitted that the mobile operator has received various complaints from customers, some even threatening to switch to rival operators, since last week.

One subscriber was irked about Globe's failure to give them prior notice.

"They didn't even bother to tell us through news items or advertisement in major newspapers. They were silent about it or perhaps they didn't want their rivals to know that their subscribers are angry and confused," one subscriber told INQ7.net in an email.


A forum at www.wap41.com/mboards, for instance, gives one a picture of how subscribers were left in the dark, the subscriber said.

"Globe is afraid that its rivals would find out about this and think of a marketing strategy to recruit them," the subscriber added.

Campos said that Globe's technical and marketing groups are currently evaluating ways to address the situation.

"We hope to have a win-win situation by next week. At the moment, we're reactive to the issue but we hope to establish a more pro-active means to communicate to our subscribers what we intend to do," the executive said.

He, however, hinted that Globe might start charging subscribers for using the service soon.

"The situation we have now is analogous the Globe's experience when it decide to drop its free text services," Campos said. The executive expects to get the same backlash it got from subscribers after it decided to drop its free text service.

WAP or Wireless Access Protocol is a communications protocol that allows people to browse simplified, mostly text-based websites through a mobile phone.

Since Globe launched its General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network in 2001, WAP browsing has become an experience more akin to that of regular Internet browsing. WAP can also be accessed through the slower and less-efficient GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) network.

Globe has been offering WAP browsing using the GPRS network for free to both pre- and paid-subscribers of Globe since last year.

[Ms`ParadoxxX]

So that means there is no other way now for us to be able to access wap sites and download applications for free? How sad.. :sad:

[theremoids]

yahoo and inq7 were unblocked.

[Ms`ParadoxxX]

what's inq7's site please? I only get to download my apps from wap sites since i dont have IR or bluetooth.. wish there would be a way again..

[theremoids]

inq7 is a news site, you can't get any apps from there... anywayz:
http://wap.inq7.net

[Ms`ParadoxxX]

I know its a news site but since i dont get to browse any other wap sites anymore so why not check it out then. hehe..

please if anyone knows how to do it, tell me..

[Melonetics]

Globe blocked the sites while SMART didn't...
Hmm... I think GLOBE is just hungry for money coz' theres a lot of free stuff in wap sites... They might not have big sales for games, pics, tones and other stuff if they've not block the site..

[bracesguy]

Globe blocked the sites while SMART didn't...
Hmm... I think GLOBE is just hungry for money coz' theres a lot of free stuff in wap sites... They might not have big sales for games, pics, tones and other stuff if they've not block the site..

yeah, i agree! i think its a natural thing to do if you see that they can more money out of it, even if it affects their customer. i think it would be better if they inform their customer first, then limit the wap sites gradually.
globe's main advantage to their competitor is the free wapsite, and if they try to limit or block it permantly, then customer will think their other options. besides other network offers much better features than globe. i mean, stronger signal, higher capacity of the sim.

[DarkThrone]

The thing is, SMART charges its users a flat rate of a few centavos per KB... And for us POST PAID Globe users, switching isn't such an easy option, especially if you're on a 24 month contract.

:sad: