What’s your credit card story? Maybe some of you are having a hard time applying for one, some simply choose not to have one or maybe some would share the same sentiment as I. No matter how much I wanted to cut my credit card lines, despised annoying agents who call in the middle of a client meeting, and loathed the high interest rates and other hidden fees, I just can’t let go of it. Admittedly, I feel there’s a need to keep one handy.

Today, people have become highly dependent on doing their transactions over the web. Paying your bills has never been easy, book flights and hotel accommodations online and probably the most convenient application that technology and online community has provided humankind – shopping. In the cyberworld, everything is just a click away.

Many of you will agree when I say that maintaining a credit card requires control and discipline. Guilty as I may be, I always end up spending more than my means and I’ve always wanted to use my debit card but the benefits of my credit card especially with my online purchases. The thing about using debit cards, however, is that when someone gets hold of the card number, he can practically spend everything in your account and it may be too late when you find out.

BPI launched its newest card line called the My ePrepaid MasterCard last November 8, 2011 at Seventh High, Bonifacio High Street. It’s the first prepaid credit card in the Philippines that gives cardholders more control over their spending. It’s the card that basically solves all our credit card frustrations. Applicants for the My ePrepaid MasterCard automatically gets approved, with no maintaining balance or annual fees. Plus you may be entitled to discounts and freebies when shopping online and in stores. No hidden charges. No overspending. No problem.  Simply put, you become worry-free!

In addition, if you’re crazy about grabbing the best deals in town, BPI will also be hosting its very own deal-buying site, DealMania.ph that is exclusive for BPI cardholders so that you can enjoy price-offs at your favorite shops, restaurants, and other establishments. Learn more about the latest at BPICards.com.

A good number of Filipinos nowadays turn to the internet for extra source of income, one of which is selling goods online. And what’s the most easiest way to sell your stuff? Either post it on TipidPC, Sulit, Ebay.PH, or have your own online store. You can hire somebody to create your own store or look for free alternatives and the most popular is Multiply. 

The problem with Multiply is that it’s cumbersome to create galleries and upload items and manage it. You can opt for the real storefront service from Multiply but that thing is not free. You want a real storefront because it’s easier for your potential customers to browse and transact and to be seen with other stores.

Now have you heard of SkyyShop? It is a FREE Facebook application which you use on your Facebook page in order for it to have a real online shop. It’s very easy to set up and will give you a kick ass e-commerce solution with all the bells and whistles in no time. Keep track of your inventory? Check. Perform sitewide or category-wide discount? Check. FB alerts for orders? Check. Transaction history? Yep! Payment via Paypal? Sure can! Secure checkout? Check. And get this, if you already have a Multiply shop, you can easily import all your photos into your SkyyShop! You don’t have to be a whiz to have your own working online store.

Since it’s also a Facebook app, we all know how Facebook rocks when it comes to promoting things. SkyyShop is tightly integrated with Facebook which allows your customers to easily share your store or each item you are selling, commenting is also possible for each items and is done via Facebook and you can even inform all your page/store fans of new items or announcements.

So why is this thing free? There should be a catch. Well in a way there is but it’s totally optional. SkyyShop is being run by SkyyServices and they’re pushing their payment gateway called SkyyPay. When you subscribe to SkyyPay, your shop will have the ability to accept more payment options (7-Eleven, Smart Money, M.Lhuillier, BDO, BPI, BancNet, Metrobank) instead of just PayPal and whatever C.O.D or bank transfer arrangement you have. It does come with a one time fee of Php2,500 though and will require a small percentage of your sales (which you can have your customers shoulder). If you haven’t heard of SkyyServices yet, it’s because they usually deal with high-profile private clients. It’s just now that they decided to reach out to the mainstream market to compete with other local online payment gateways such as Mozcom’s DragonPay and CashSense.

For more traditional sellers, PayPal is ok and just put the usual transaction and shipping arrangement in your Terms and Policy page. However, having SkyyPay will raise your store to the next level since it will cater to more mature online shoppers out there including international customers.

Oh yeah, you also get free support for your shop in case you run into any problem. I didn’t. I tried setting up my own Facebook shop and the steps were easy to follow. Do try it out if you plan to sell your stuff in Facebook. Visit their site at http://portal.skyyshop.com/ to know more about the app.

I’m not exactly sure how many Android app development companies are there in the Philippines but I’m guessing not a lot. WideOut Technology Services is more known for their rich media production but we just learned that they’re now also delving into app development for Google’s Android OS.

For those who don’t know who WideOut is, they’re a service provider for online advertising, specializing in Google and DoubleClick’s platforms. In fact, they’re the only Google Certified Partner for Analytics in the country and is also DoubleClick’s Preferred Partner.

Late last month, they showed us one of their new capabilities during their Halloween Reanimation Bash, Android app development. They don’t really develop apps for the Android Market but what they specialize in are customized apps based on the clients needs.

But they can’t really sell without showing anything right? So what they did is create this events management and monitoring app that they also used for their Halloween Bash.

What this app simply does is help organizers and event-goers up-to-date info regarding the event. During registration, each guest is given a sticker badge with a QR code. For simplicity sake, this QR code is read by the bartender every time beer is ordered so the organizers (and guest) can keep track of how many beers are left. If they need to replenish the stock or whatever. Aside from counting beers, the app also informs people on what part of the program they’re already on via live updates. Is it time to vote for the best costume, or is it time for the grand raffle so for those who are outside the venue can finish their cig and get inside.

It’s a relatively simple app but it has its own use especially for big corporate events, conventions or seminars with a lot of different rooms and schedules. It’s not an actual app that everybody can use but it shows how WideOut can help you with your specific Android app needs.

For more info about WideOut Technology Services, head over to their website at http://www.wideout.com or you may reach them at marketing@wideout.com.

For budding companies out there, looking for a server can be a daunting task that requires an equally daunting investment. If you look at those IBMs, Dells, and HP servers, even if you find the right server that would fit your company, you would probably cringe when you see the price. Some would opt to go with a powerful desktop PC to act as a server but you should know it’s not enough. Having non-server grade components for your server will surely shorten its lifespan.

I was able to have a chat with local server solutions company called PRIMA last week and they showed me their strength over other established server brands out there. First and foremost, PRIMA is a local server brand for Intel (the only one), they’re not those fly-by-night clone server manufacturers. Basically, the internals like the processors, memory modules, motherboard, hard disk, power supply, etc. are the same server-grade and authorized by Intel as that of the established brands.

Case in point with this PRIMA VS 1 and it’s HP counterpart, the Proliant ML350. If you lay down the specs side-by-side, things are looking pretty much the same but you will save almost 50% in price.

I’m not saying that branded players are making a killing out of the market but they do have a name to protect so they must offer top-notch support and services. But for small start-ups, being practical when it comes to server-hunting than having a brand is more important and that’s where PRIMA comes in.

PRIMA is not yet well-known in the server circles but they have a lot of wins already in the government sector. If you wish to learn more about the company or see other servers and services they offer, head over to www.primasolutions.com.ph.

Cloud computing seems to be where the future of business operations is headed and we’ve been hearing about it a lot these days.

IP-Converge is the country’s first and only publicly-listed Internet Data Center and Cloud Services Provider and they are helping set the stage for a cloud-based Philippines, especially for small and medium enterprises.

So what is cloud computing and how will it affect your business? Well imagine you don’t have the resources to acquire and maintain critical IT infrastructure for your business. You can’t afford to get another server just to host your Microsoft SharePoint or you don’t want to be bothered with the nuances of maintaining and supporting a mail exchange server. So what can you do? You go with cloud.

IP-Converge is a cloud service provider which can host IT services needed by your company and you only pay based on operational expenses. Cutting capital expenditures for things that your company won’t be able to maximize. They also do migration, support and maintenance for you. For sensitive services, you can still opt to have in-housed while mundane but necessary services you can host on the cloud to cut on expenses.

IP-Converge President Rene Huergas leads the launch of IP-Converge’s "Think Out Cloud" cloud computing advocacy campaign.

Known for their “boutique approach”, IP-Converge offers products in pay-as-you-use scheme, making their services affordable and attractive to SMEs because you will only be paying for that you need. Talk about flexibility.

“It has always been IP-Converge’s vision to empower Philippines businesses, both big and small, and make them leaders in their own industries,” said IP-Converge president Rene Huergas. By their cloudvocacy campaign dubbe “Think Out Cloud”, IP-Converge hopes that CEOs and CIOs will realize how their businesses can achieve higher productivity and significant savings.

IP-Converge is one of the IT companies today that are in the best position to offer cloud services in the country, being currently peered with major domestic and international Internet exchanges in the Asia Pacific. They are both telco and vendor-agnositc.

One of the biggest group-buying site, Groupon, recently announced their official application for the iPhone and iPod Touch which is now available at the App store. Groupon is available in 46 countries including Philippines and the app currently supports 25 cities all over the world including  Metro Manila, Cebu and Davao.

With the Groupon, you can do the following straight from your mobile device:

• Browse Daily Deals:  Check out the daily deal in Groupon cities and buy on the go
• Access Your Account: Sign in or Sign up
• Redeem Your Groupons: Present Groupons to merchants directly from your screen – no printouts required
• Map Local Groupons in Real-Time: Activate the GPS feature to plot Groupon purchases closest to your current location

Cloud computing seems to be the trend of the future and Globe Telecom won’t be left behind as they introduced its latest suite of cloud computing services calling it Globe Infrastructure as a Service or IaaS. With this offering, Globe is now providing Cloud Solutions to enterprise customers whose telco needs continue to evolve.

Under the IaaS are three solutions customers can choose from: Backup as a Service (BaaS), Storage as a Service (SaaS) and Compute as a Service (CaaS).

Backup as a Service was already launched last June and it gives customers the ability to backup and restore critical data to and from Globe’s highly-secure data centers using the best backup/restore software in the market today.

Compute as a Service are for businesses that don’t have the capacity to house or maintain their own servers. This allows enterprises to get the needed processing power without having to purchase new servers. They can avail of virtual machines hosted in Globe’s ISO-certified data centers which they can load with their choice of OS and suite of applications.

Storage as a Service works similarly like the BaaS but made for frequent access and multiple users. Customers who can’t afford to house their own file servers can avail of SaaS to upload all their current and archive documents to Globe’s storage facilities which are guarded with the highest standards of security. Customers can browse and download data as they please and can also request additional space on-demand.

Globe IaaS can be used in various enterprise-grade applications. It offers customers the convenience of maintaining servers and devices, with all the equipment maintained by certified engineers 24/7. It is also a cost-efficient alternative since customers only need to pay for their required service, for the duration of time that they require it.

With Facebook becoming the social networking site of choice among most Filipinos, Multiply found itself needing to change into something different yet useful. One of the major reasons why Multiply is still alive today is its healthy social marketplace and they capitalized on that by giving sellers and buyers the support they need for a an easy yet secure shopping experience.

Recently, Multiply formally opened the country’s biggest digital mall at the Art Center at the 4th Floor of Gateway Mall. The launch event hosted by celebrity host and avid Multiply shopper Lia Cruz allowed guests to digitally shop and browse thousands of Multiply stores with just a click.

What started out as a social networking site evolved into a digital shopping portal, thanks to entrepreneurial Filipinos who utilized the site’s popular Photo Album feature to showcase products and wares that briskly sold to netizens.  Taking its cue from this growing trend, Multiply harnessed the opportunity to rework the site with a fully-functioning e-commerce platform to ensure a safe and hassle-free digital shopping experience for its users. Now with 88,000 categories (and counting), Multiply houses the widest variety of stores in the Philippine on-line world.

Secure and Convenient

Multiply Senior Marketing Manager Paulo del Puerto

Unlike malls that operate within set hours, Multiply is open 24/7 for shoppers to browse its 88,000 stores in the comforts of their own homes. But more than convenience and variety, Multiply also offers a secure, easy-to-follow payment scheme through its partnerships with BDO Virtual Card, BPI, Paypal and G-Cash. To lessen purchasing disputes, Multiply also has a Buyer Protection Program for merchants that protects their customers’ purchases.

Promoting Filipino entrepreneurship

Successful Multiply merchants Alwin Aguirre, Jonie Cheng and Suyen Rivera-Lopez were invited to share their individual stories and how Multiply helped their business grow.

Multiply Merchants Suyen Rivera-Lopez, Jonie Cheng, and Alwin Aguirre

“When I began, I was hesitant on making a big investment because I wasn’t that familiar yet with the mommy and baby market. Starting with little inventory, I now release two collections a year,” said Jonie Cheng who has been running her digital shop, mamaway.multiply.com for two years now. “Our debts from when we started the business have been cleared and we are on track on getting a bigger return on our investments.”

Alwin Aguirre whose site toughbratbags.multiply.com focuses on customized men’s bags agrees that Multiply has been very profitable source of income. He shared, “Since setting up my business in 2008, I was able to get a regular stream of orders and  build a substantial customer base. Because of this, I decided to quit my day job and become a fulltime Multiply merchant.”

Suyen Rivera-Lopez of houseofflair.multiply.com allows people to pre-order the latest products from popular apparel and cosmetics stores in the US without shipping and handling fees since 2009. “I was able to build my brand through Multiply and I feel that my business wouldn’t have done as well if I set up shop elsewhere. My digital store grew mostly through viral networking and word-of-mouth,” she said.

To get started on your very own business or on hunting for the best deals, register at http://multiply.com/user/join.

Avaya Philippines today launched the new IP Office, the UC System for Small to Medium Business group. IP Office is an IP-PBX Solution for SMBs which can have up to 384 users in one configured box.

Few features of the IP Office V7.0 includes the following:

• Up to 384 users, max of 1000 extensions
• Network up to 32 sites
• Proprietary OS; No moving parts
• IP or mixed config (Digital, Analog or SIP)
• 128 Party conferencing capacity with 64 parties on single call
• Integration of Nortel phones to IP Office

IP Office have been aggressive is pushing its solution world wide.  They now sold 2,000 system sold in New Zealand, over 8,000 sold in Austraila, have been deployed to over 75 countries .

In Version 7, the major upgrade is the integration of Nortel System to Avaya. Nortel was aquired by Avaya in 2009. This means former Nortel customers can keep their phones when they upgrade to Avaya IP Office.

Avaya IP Office can be purchased from Avaya business partners.

Heard of an auction site called WiniLa? Or its deal site offspring WiniLaCity? No? Doesn’t matter because those two sites closed down after it went out of business recently.

Blue Holdings which is based in Hong Kong and owns WiniLa and WiniLaCity went bankrupt recently. Its BPO partner, Funlabs Corp. which provides logistics and support for the two sites closed down its office in Manila and had to lay off 90% of its employees. This is surprising because I remembered seeing them during the E-Games Domination V gaming event last month at SMX Convention Center.

Winila is a unique kind of online auction site where you buy bids and use those bids to win stuff. Some was able to win a PS3 for only P200+ and I was able to get a Nike + Sports Kit for only P700 from Winila. I stopped visiting the site when they stopped auctioning premium items. I thought they were just planning something big but it turned out that it was a sign that things aren’t going well for the company.

So have you heard of Winila or participated in its auctions?