he easiest way for a Globe mobile phone subscriber – at the moment, Duo is limited to postpaid users and to personal accounts only – to avail of Duo is to send the word DUO via text to 8888. Upon successful registration, the new Duo subscriber will be issued with a new seven-digit number with a 02 area code [Or with a 032 area code if you happen to register in Cebu City - Ed.], in addition to the 0917-prefixed number originally issued, which landline callers may dial to call in. This is also the same number that a Duo subscriber must dial in order to call another Duo subscriber free of charge.Subscribers on other mobile networks may opt to call you either with your 02-prefixed or 0917-prefixed number at their discretion.

The cost of a Duo subscription is PHP 399 a month, which must be paid on top of the subscription and usage fees of your Globe mobile plan. There is a three-month minimum subscription period and a pre-termination penalty of PHP 1,200 if you decide to quit before that time is up.

Now for the fine print: the subscription rules say that, for users in Metro Manila, the service “is initially available in NCR” only, and Globe Telecom does mean that literally. This means that landlines with a 02 area code but located outside of the geographic definition of the National Capital Region (NCR), such as certain towns in Bulacan (Obando), Laguna (San Pedro), and the whole of Rizal cannot call a Duo subscriber using his 02-prefix number, nor can a Duo subsriber call these landlines toll-free. To my knowledge no such limit exists for Bayantel’s and PLDT’s wireless landline products.