Free Bee partners with social app Kumu to reach overseas Filipino Gen Zs and millennials

In photo (L-R): Roland Ros, CEO and co-founder at Kumu; Albert Villa-Real, Chief Commercial Officer at PLDT Global; and Mary Anne Bundalian, Business Unit Head - Partnership & Advertising at PLDT Global.

PLDT Global Corporation’s mobile application Free Bee teams up with social content app Kumu to expand its reach to Filipino Gen Zs and millennials in the Philippines and overseas

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A VoIP solution available in over 180 countries, Free Bee is an advertising-based voice service which delivers high-quality IDD calls to the Philippines for free. For longer calls and ad-free experience, users have the option to buy Premium Free Bee Voice buckets at affordable rates from global retailers or via in-app and online purchases. Free Bee has also recently been recognized as Telecom Asia's Most Innovative Voice Solution.

Meanwhile, homegrown content mobile app Kumu provides a platform for videos, web programs, quiz shows, and livestreaming services. Launched in February 2018, Kumu has also developed a group chat feature called “Kumunities” which lets users across borders connect with each other to talk about various topics like food, gaming, hobbies, travel, and others. In December last year, Kumu's investor Summit Media also completed a $1.2 million seed round fundraising for the livestreaming app.

“We are excited about Free Bee’s partnership with Kumu, as it allows us to reach more Filipinos overseas, especially the younger generation, who are looking for ways to connect, make new friends, and share their experiences online,” said Albert Villa-Real, Chief Commercial Officer at PLDT Global. “This also allows us to tap more digital-savvy users in different parts of the world and provide them with a service that they can use to call their families back home,” Villa-Real added.

“Our target audience is Gen Z and millennial Filipinos. We already have close to a million registered users across 55 countries. Our partnership with Free Bee and PLDT Global is a great opportunity for us to work together and see how we can really bring a stronger sense of belonging and connection for Filipinos overseas,” said Roland Ros, CEO and co-founder at Kumu. 

In photo (L-R): Michiko Soriano, Operations and Chief of Staff at Kumu; Roland Ros, CEO and Co-Founder at Kumu; Albert Villa-Real, Chief Commercial Officer at PLDT Global; Francis Oliva, Manager, Partnership and Acquisition at PLDT Global; and Mary Anne Bundalian, Business Unit Head - Partnership & Advertising at PLDT Global.

Mobile users can download Kumu via Google Play and the Apple App Store.

For more information on Free Bee and other PLDT Global innovations, visit www.freebeecalls.com and www.pldtglobal.com.