TECHNOLOGY
Home Credit boosts digital payment service thru QR PH

December 9, 2021 2:26 p.m.
To provide a fast, easy and safe way to meet the financial needs of their customers, Home Credit boosts its QR Code payment service by joining Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) with QR Ph, the national QR Code standard launched recently to move the country to a more “cash-lite” environment.
In partnership with Asia United Bank Corp. (AUB), Home Credit – the first non-bank institution in the country to issue a credit card to its customers – is also a pioneer in the QR code payment service being the first to allow their credit cardholders to make cardless payments through the use of quick response or QR codes. With the availability of QR Ph person-to-merchant (P2M) payments, its cardholders will have access to an additional 30k+ participating merchants nationwide including retails stores, groceries, gas stations, pharmacies and more.
Through the My Home Credit App, cardholders will only need to scan the displayed QR Ph codes to pay for their purchases paving the way for a cashless and convenient payment option for transactions. As their newly-launched buy now, pay later product Qwarta also becomes available, their customers will be provided with a spending limit of up to 10,000 within the app for their shopping needs.
Aside from the convenience it brings, QR codes are also considered a safe and secure payment method. Offering multiple layers of security, customers are in control of the process by scanning the code without the need to provide personal information such as PIN. In the My Home Credit App alone, all transactions made will be automatically charged to the Home Credit Card or Qwarta which can also be checked and tracked through the mobile app.
“Our digital efforts go all the way back before the pandemic and we continue to do that by offering innovative digital payment products and services to our almost 8 million customers. You can always count on us to fully support any initiative of BSP to further the adoption of digital payment methods and ultimately, foster financial inclusion in the country,” said Home Credit PH Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Minol.
A vital part of BSP’s advocacy to promote financial technology and digitalization is to shift all transactions to digital by 50 percent before 2023. In the same time period, the central bank is also aiming for at least 70 percent of Filipino adults to have digital payment accounts.
In the recent months, the use of QR Codes has been gaining popularity amongst consumers and businesses alike due to social distancing measures caused by the pandemic. It has quickly replaced the heavy use of cash in various transactions and served as a viable alternative to traditional debit and credit card payments. Home Credit, with its partner AUB, was one of the first to respond to this increasing demand with partner brands and merchants already offering QR Code payment services to its customers.
“Our long-standing partnership with Home Credit starting in 2018 also makes them a pioneer in the usage of QR code payments,” said Executive Vice President and Head of Operations and IT Group, Mr. Wilfredo Rodriguez Jr. “Having them as our partner will help widen our reach as well as improve the user experience of their growing customer base with the accessibility of seamless payment services for various sectors such as retail, food and beverages, electronics, supermarkets, services, entertainment, and attractions.”
Founded by the mission to provide services to the unbanked and underserved segment, Home Credit’s participation in the implementation of QR Ph is only expected. With the launch and availability of QR Ph, more stores and merchants will be available to Home Credit consumers so they can continue using digital payments for their day-to-day transactions with their My Home Credit App and enjoy its benefits with greater ease.
The inclusivity that QR Ph brings due to its low cost and convenience will enable more consumers and businesses to participate in the digital payment ecosystem – starting with micro & small enterprises and vendors such as sari-sari stores and tricycle drivers that will eventually help them improve and grow their businesses. In turn, this will empower more consumers, particularly the unbanked market, to start using and patronizing QR Code payment services.
More than 9 million users of the My Home Credit App can simply scan the QR Ph codes displayed in over 30,000 establishments using their mobile device for essential goods and services, making it a faster, easier and safer payment option.
For more information, visit www.homecredit.ph and follow Home Credit at www.facebook.com.homecreditph.
TECHNOLOGY
LG honored with multiple awards for Innovative Product Design at IDEA 2023

September 4, 2023 3:11 p.m.
LG Electronics (LG) has once again been recognized for outstanding product design, earning 13 awards at the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2023, announced at the International Design Conference in New York, New York.
The LG PuriCare AeroTower, an air purifier that can also be used as a side table and mood lamp, was honored with a Bronze Award at yesterday’s conference. Offering personalized performance and design options, as well as a compact form factor, LG’s air purifier can be tailored to match any home interior and is ideal for smaller spaces. With its latest win, the LG PuriCare AeroTower has now been recognized by all three of the world’s top industrial design award programs: IDEA, the Red Dot Award and iF Design Award.
Another IDEA 2023 honoree, the LG OLED Flex (model LX3) is an innovative TV featuring the world’s first bendable 42-inch OLED screen. The LX3, which made its international debut at IFA last year, offers a new level of screen customizability – its self-lit display able to go from completely flat to spectacularly curved with the push of a button.
“The achievement from this year’s IDEA is the result of the synergy between customer experience-centered technology and aesthetics,” said Hwang Sung-gyul, head of the Design Management Center at LG Electronics. “We will continue to improve the level of perfection by reflecting innovative customer experiences beyond the existing framework in product design by constantly communicating and empathizing with customers.”
Organized annually by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), IDEA is one of the world’s leading design award programs, recognizing exceptional achievements in the area of industrial design while taking into consideration various factors relating to design strategy, digital interaction, the environment, and social impact, when selecting award recipients.
Life’s about more than having the latest technology, rather, it’s about the experiences technology creates that impact our lives. LG Electronics Philippines delivers consumer electronics through top-of-the-line home entertainment appliances that prepare Filipinos for their greatest moments. LG promises to bring “Innovation for a Better Life” nationwide – from Luzon, to Visayas, and Mindanao. LG products are available via lg.com/ph and through its flagship stores in Lazada and Shopee. For more information, visit and follow their social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube (@lgphilippines).
TECHNOLOGY
TCL AAT Inverter+ Refrigerators take lead to healthier lifestyle

July 10, 2023 4:33 p.m.
TCL, the leading consumer electronics brand and the world’s top two TV brand, launches their latest Free Build-In refrigerator that is highlighted by three defining features based on TCL’s advanced technology and elevated design.
Just in time for this month’s celebration of Nutrition month, TCL introduces the newest Refrigerator line up that reflects TCL’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge home technology at reasonable prices while enabling users to live healthier, more environmentally friendly, and more practical lives.
Introducing TCL’s Flagship Smart Fridge with Health and Energy-Saving Benefits
TCL’s AAT Inverter+ is set to be the best accessible high-tech top-mount refrigerator on the market and a great example of the powerful functionality featured across the TCL Refrigerator lineup.
With Filipino families becoming more health conscious than ever before, TCL AAT Inverter+’s Healthy Fresh functions are equipped with smart functions to keep your food chilled at the right temperature and ensure it stays fresher for longer, with the innovative Multi Air flow system, AI radar, and the Automatic Anion-releasing Technology (AAT) .
Speaking of better care of health, TCL’s AAT Inverter + also puts emphasis on its care for the planet. Its Twin Eco Inverter provides the perfect cooling environment for food, which not only enables long-lasting freshness but also saves energy and money. The Twin Eco Inverter also provides a steady temperature inside the refrigerator which inhibits the growth of ice, a process known as Total No Frost. Food remains frost-free so there is no need for manual defrost and no danger of food sticking to the walls of the refrigerator or being frozen when placed towards the back.
Lastly, the Easy-Using features give the user experience a premium feel, with little adaptations to make life more convenient, such as large storage space, Twist Ice Maker to freeze, unmold and store ice cubes with a simple gesture.
The TCL’s Varied Refrigerator Range Suited for Every Filipino Family
Aside from TCL AAT Inverter+, TCL has an extensive range of refrigerators to suit every Filipino family’s needs. The TCL FreshPro Direct Cool+ line is an accessible but highly functionable range, with precise temperature control allowing for accurate cooling to ensure optimum conditions to preserve freshness. TCL FreshPro Direct Cool+ Refrigerators are designed to be running at low noise thanks to innovative compressors, ensuring you are never disturbed by humming or buzzing, and soft LED lighting offers excellent illumination of the fridge contents whilst saving on energy consumption.
Regarding the energy saving aspect, like the TCL AAT Inverter+, The TCL FreshPro AAT Inverter Max collection also comes with a Twin Eco Inverter, which allows accurate temperature control whilst reducing energy consumption and noise for a quieter and more environmentally friendly option. What’s amazing is that the TCL FreshPro AAT Inverter Max range comes equipped with powerful cooling functions – with just a press of one button, the Power Cool increases the cooling rate to chill your drinks and food rapidly whilst the Power Freeze further enhances the cooling effect to freeze food and ice. The Max Space feature allows families to customize storage within the fridge to suit their requirements, with daily items organized to be easily accessible whilst optimizing the space available allowing the ability to stock up on family favorites.
Discover TCL’s range of refrigerators to suit every consumer’s requirements, rolling out across retailers in the Philippines this month.
TECHNOLOGY
Huawei’s Sabrina Meng: Embracing 5G transformation

June 28, 20237:30 p.m.
SHANGHAI — At the opening day of MWC Shanghai 2023 today, Sabrina Meng, Huawei’s Rotating Chairwoman and CFO, gave a keynote titled “Embracing 5G transformation”.
“5G has been in commercial use around the world for four years now. It’s driving new value creation, and 5.5G is the next step forward,” said Meng. “Science and technology are moving towards large, complex systems. This requires matching technology to specific scenarios and performing systems engineering, in order to pave the way for 5G’s ongoing success.”
5G is creating value along three different fronts
Science fiction can only sketch the future. But science and technology can turn imagination into reality.
5G has been in commercial use for four years now. Across all industries and countless households around the world, it’s changing the way we work and live, creating tremendous economic, industrial, and social value.
For consumers, 5G, cloud, and AI have set off a chain reaction, creating an environment where all buyers can also be sellers.
For industries, 5G has become a new driver of productivity. There’s greater alignment than ever between technology suppliers, their partners, and customers on where 5G can provide the most value. Strategic patience, in-depth understanding of industrial scenarios, and ongoing improvements to ROI have given 5G a foothold in industrial applications.
Moving ahead, 5G will give rise to new devices and applications that deliver a more immersive experience, like 5G New Calling and naked-eye 3D. 5G is also ushering in a new era of super-connectivity between things, bringing new strength to IoT networks and driving new forms of productivity.
5.5G is the next step forward for 5G. 5.5G will feature 10-gigabit downlink speeds, gigabit uplink speeds, the ability to support 100 billion connections, and native AI. It will not only connect people better – it will also create incredible new business opportunities with more targeted support for industrial needs in domains like IoT, sensing, and advanced manufacturing.
Taking 5G to the next level and paving the way for ongoing success
The ladder to success isn’t built on ongoing progress with a single technology. It’s built on matching technology to specific scenarios and real-world needs. And systems engineering is key to taking the next step up.
The commercial deployment of 5G has created a growing appetite for more groundbreaking, leapfrog innovation. So what will take 5G to the next level, and how will it provide greater value in different vertical markets?
This will require finding the right technology for different scenarios and performing more comprehensive systems engineering. This will also require diving deeper into industrial scenarios, truly understanding customers’ pain points, and adopting a more holistic systems engineering mindset.
The industry needs to work more closely together both up and down the value chain – with peers and partners, customers and developers – on solution modeling and optimization, as well as tools and methodologies. The industry also needs to pave the way for ongoing success throughout the entire product lifecycle, from R&D and procurement, to supply and marketing.
Building up integrated capabilities and exploring the future of communications
The digital infrastructure of the future intelligent world will be deeply integrated into every aspect of people’s lives, industry, and society. It won’t be based on advancements in individual technologies, but rather on incredibly massive, complex systems – the convergence of multiple elements. It’s going to require systems-level thinking and design.
When watching a chess game, you can see the big picture. But when you’re playing chess, you focus on the details. Likewise, systematic capabilities to integrate technology and transform management are critical for the future success of 5G.
Meng spoke about two specific types of integrated capabilities. “The first is integrating different technologies. We can achieve greater synergy across cloud, networks, edge, and devices through systematic design and cross-domain innovation. When coupled with optimization across software, hardware, chips, and algorithms, we can address the challenges associated with developing complex solutions for vastly different industrial scenarios.”
“The second,” she continued, “is the ability to integrate different approaches to management. Digital and intelligent transformation is not just about technology itself. It’s more about transforming your approach to management. Going digital requires redefining the relationships between people, events, things, and theory, and adopting a more open, forward-looking management approach to address future challenges.”
Meng concluded: “Information technologies like 5G, 5.5G, AI, and cloud will help us rise with the tide and take us forward to an intelligent world. The best scenery is always ahead. Let’s create a bright future together.”
In the Philippines, the three major telecommunications service providers have rolled out 5G networks nationwide to offer better network services and optimize the potential of innovative technology.