G-cash -- getting there, getting there...

I spoke to Globe customer care people, read some ads on the papers. What else have I learned about G-cash today?

It isn't as easy as it could and should be.

At least there isn't any card needed for G-cash services. But after reading a full page of instructions on how to use the service, with so many forms, and M-PINs, and ORs and ARs and authorized outlets and all -- it doesn't look easy enough for any Tomas, Dikoy or Harnulfo to use.

Maybe, just maybe, G-cash remittance just might be a bit cheaper to use than Lhuillier or Western Union. But is that enough to get people to use G-cash? Filipinos have been remitting for a long time already. They've gotten used to whatever old service. Globe needs to give them a compelling reason to switch. And it has to be a switch to something simple and sweet.

If one customer, say Harnulfo, tries out the remittance service and it isn't any better than, say, Lhuillier -- then Harnulfo won't shift to G-cash remittance. Why pa, eh "Sanay na kami sa [insert old remittance service here]," 'hika ngah nih Harnulfo.

But what's interesting is the challenge that this new remittance service introduces. It makes all the big players (Western Union, BPI, LBC, Smart Padala, Lhuillier, etc.) re-think, re-organize, streamline and improve their services. Ahh, what competition (and in this case, partnerships) can do to benefit consumers ü.

More interesting than remittance (Smart and BPI and a whole slew of others have beaten Globe to the punch already, eh), I see a big future for G-cash payments.

Among the establishments that accept G-cash payments are: Burger King, Mercury Drug, Max's and National Bookstore. That's a good start, especially Mercury and National. Globe needs to make sure that cashiers know what to do once a Globe or TouchMobile subscriber tries to pay using G-cash.

Then, they need to build their network of establishments accepting G-cash payments. They should go for G-cash payments at all Ayala Malls, SM, Jollibee, 7-11, Bayad Centers, Julie's bakeshop, Goldilocks etc.

An interesting scheme they could do is to allow AutoloadMax dealers to accept G-cash payments. Or for dealers to encash remittances. If Globe can do this, that puts them one step ahead of Smart.

The idea is: for Harnulfo to be able to use G-cash to pay for a bottle of patis at Aling Nena's sari-sari store.

THAT! That's what I'd like to see. Will Globe give that? Or will Smart outsmart them?

We're getting there, we're getting there...

- Edwin
Lazy Sunday afternon with the Sunday papers

Read: G-Cash! M-Commerce is here!, Links - Smart Padala, Next Killer App - Load-to-Cash Conversion
Visit: For details on G-Cash visit myglobe.com.ph, G-Cash FAQs. Call G-Cash Hotline 2882 from a Globe Handyphone or Touch Mobile phone; 739-2882 from a landline in Manila. Text "G-Cash" to 2882 for inquiries.