Pinoy ‘tweeps’ rank 10th highest

MANILA, Philippines – With over 9 million registered Twitter users, the Philippines ranks 10th highest in worldwide ratings on the most number of users of the microblogging site.

Smart Communications Inc. cited yesterday a study conducted by social-media monitor Semiocast, which analyzed 517 million Twitter profiles. It said the Philippines now has around 9.5 million registered Twitter users. The country trails Spain and is one step ahead of Turkey.

At the height of Tuesday’s intense rain and flooding all over the country, hundreds of thousands of Filipinos trooped to Twitter to spread critical flood information, as well as to mobilize rescue-and-relief operations.

“Even as the torrential rains rendered several families stranded and helpless, with flooded homes and without electricity, we saw how people found their mobile phones—and mobile Internet—especially useful to stay connected, tweeting for help for loved ones stuck elsewhere, and even for complete strangers trapped on their rooftops,” said Smart chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea. Filipinos have always been active in social media and as a result many are using mobile phones with Internet capability.

Officially dubbed the “social-media capital of the world” in 2011, the Philippines is estimated to have around 93.9 percent of its 40 million Internet population on Facebook. It surpassed more progressive countries in large part because of the affordability of gadgets and the accessibility of Internet services made available by Philippine telcos.
Vea said Smart offers the most number of Android devices in the country, ranging from entry-level smartphones to top-tier offerings.

“What good is having an expensive smartphone if you can’t use it properly and when it is most needed? With a strong and resilient network like Smart, you’re sure to receive every tweet, every update, and you can rely on your network not dying out on you when you need connectivity the most,” said Vea.

In its own way, Smart has also been very active in social-media sites. –Lenie Lectura, BusinessMirror