MANILA, The Phillipines-Despite the influx of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)-capable handsets and free service from operators, it will take some time to lure Filipinos to surf the Web via their mobile phones, according to Eliseo Rio, head of telecom watchdog National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), in a recent press briefing.
He pointed out that GPRS is apparently better than Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-enabled phones, as it also allows users a continuous connection to the Internet and to use their mobile phones as modems to connect other handheld devices, such as notebook computers and personal digital assistants.
However, it may take a lot more than just accessing the Web or checking e-mail, the current top two uses of the Internet in the Philippines, to get users hooked on the new mobile service, he added.
Rio pointed out the cost of going online using wireless remains the biggest inhibitor. User likely will think twice about going online using their phones because the voice rates for either Globe or Smart subscribers still apply even though the GPRS service itself is free.
