FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRANDSTREAM NETWORKS, NEXTIX AND ABOT TANAW PARTNER TO OFFER FREE
VIDEO CALLS TO MILLIONS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS
GRANDSTREAM’S GXV3000 IP VIDEO PHONE, NEXTIX’S NETWORK AND ABOT TANAW
COMBINE FORCES TO OFFER MILLIONS OF OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS FREE VIDEO
CALLING WITH FAMILY MEMBERS
CommunicAsia, Singapore, Booth 5F1-08 (June 16, 2009) - Grandstream Networks, NextIX
Systems and Abot Tanaw are pleased to announce a technology solution for millions of
Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) that will enable them to keep in touch with family members
living in the Philippines. The combined solutions enable free internet video calling for millions of
Overseas Filipino Workers and their families living in the Philippines.
The Philippine economy relies heavily on
the remittances that the 11 million
(roughly 11% of the total population)
OFWs send home. Money sent by OFWs
back to the Philippines is a major factor in
the country's economy, accounting for
roughly 13.5% of GDP. In 2008 alone, the
inflow was estimated at $15.9 billion.
Despite the economic contribution that OFWs provide to their families and to the Philippines as a
whole, their absence from their loved ones has resulted in a deterioration of familial relations.
Many lack the ability to speak or see their family members for extended periods of time leading to
estranged relationships, divorce, and strayed children.
To address the negative social impact of migration, the Abot Tanaw Social Media Network was
created. The network enables all OFWs and families to communicate with each other via video
conference for free. With Grandstream’s GXV3000 and NextIX platform the Abot Tanaw Social
Media network has installed this solution at 6 major malls in the Philippines and a video call
center in Hong Kong with hundreds of GXV3000 video phones initially. This network will scale up
to more sites in Philippines and also new video service hubs in Singapore, Macau, and Taiwan in
the future, all offering advanced video communication infrastructure. Through these service hubs,
OFWs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Macau, and Taiwan now have the chance to connect with their
families back in Philippines. The Abot Tanaw Social Media network has provided a full booking
system and management suite to manage calls from Philippines overseas workers who call home
to see their family.
“Abot Tanaw makes accessible to OFWs and their families the means to communicate without
charging them. Using newly developed technology that involves voice and video telephony
services, Abot Tanaw is able to lessen the proverbial toll that separation takes on Filipino
families,” Abot Tanaw Chief Executive Officer Kim Go said.
“We wanted to create an idea where we bridge the distance between OFWs and their families,
[making them] more accessible and affordable. Hearing the voice is good but nothing beats
looking at a face while talking,” says Ephraim Genuino, chairman of Abot Tanaw.
“We are very pleased that our GXV3000 has facilitated the strengthening of familial relations for
OFWs through video-reunion with their family members in the Philippines. High quality real-time
video telephony solutions such as those from Grandstream are revolutionizing the way people
communicate with their loved ones located remotely. We will continue to innovate in this space to
further improve the user experience and affordability of this technology,” says David Li, CEO of
Grandstream.
The project was made possible through the help of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.,
Philippine Department of Labor and Employment and SM Group of Companies.
Don’t miss the chance to see Grandstream’s GXV3000 and the new GXV3140 IP Multimedia
Solutions in Booth 5F1-08 in Hall 5 at the CommunicAsia Tradeshow on 6/16- 6/19.
About Grandstream Networks:
Grandstream Networks, Inc. is an award-winning designer and manufacturer of next generation
IP voice & video products for broadband networks. Grandstream's products deliver superb sound
and picture quality, rich telephony features, full compliance with industry standards, and broad
interoperability with most service providers and 3rd party SIP based VoIP products. Grandstream
is consistently recognized for their innovation, affordability and superior value in their products.
About NextIX
NextIX specializes in universally available information and communication technology solutions
for the consumer, SME, enterprise and government. NextIX constantly aims to drive technology
to the next level with robust, scalable & agile systems, creating infinite feature rich applications at
the least prices possible. The company’s expertise creates a more agile and multi-faceted
technology innovations and solutions. All NextIX technologies leverages on the internet to offer
communication systems for the internet age.
About Abot Tanaw:
Abot Tanaw Corporation is a communication service provider aiming to be the primary social
media network for Overseas Filipino Workers globally. As such, Abot Tanaw operates Service
Hubs in strategic locations in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Singapore, and Dubai to
allow OFWs to get in touch with their loved ones in the Philippines through video conferencing.
# # #
Grandstream Contact
Karleen G. Fallon
Marketing Communications Manager
