GCASH, the micro-payment service from Filipino operator Globe, has partnered with online payments network PayPal to provide an SMS-based international remittance service.

To access the service, PayPal users can go to a website (www.globe.com.ph/gcashonline) and make a payment directly from their PayPal account to a Filipino mobile. Recipients in the Philippines are then notified by text message. Funds are credited to the recipients GCASH wallet and they can withdraw funds (‘cash out’) out at any of the 18,000 GCASH outlets in the country. The funds can then be used to buy airtime, pay for their bills or make purchases from online or retail merchants.

“By using PayPal, we are closer to our vision of lowering the cost of domestic and international remittances through Globe’s mobile network which has increasing presence on the Internet,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala (pictured), President of G-Xchange. “The PayPal platform expands our capability and reach to the US, complemented by the significant growth of our GCASH outlets in the Philippines, bringing our remittance services closer to our customers.”