The Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines - Convergys Corp., a U.S.-based billing and customer services giant, opened its first two call centers in the Philippines on Monday and announced plans for a third, creating more than 3,000 jobs.

The centers provide general support and advanced technical help-desk services to a variety of Convergys clients via telephone, e-mail and the Web, the Cincinnati-based company said.

Communications from all over North America arrive at Convergys' facility in Salt Lake City, then are transmitted to the Philippines.

Jack Freker, president of Convergys customer management group, told reporters in Manila that the investment was part of a push to make Convergys' global operations generate at least 30 percent of group revenue.

In February 2002, Convergys opened operations in India with 200 employees. Its work force in India now exceeds 6,000.

Freker said future expansion to other locations in Asia will be determined by "demand for multi-lingual support."

Jean-Marc Hauducoeur, a senior vice president at Convergys, said the company's growth in India could be replicated in the Philippines. "There is such a potential for growth," he said.

Hauducoeur refused to say how much Convergys has invested and will invest in the Philippines, but said typically each contact center requires an investment of between $5 million and $10 million.

Convergys employs more than 48,000 people in 50 customer contact centers, data centers and other offices in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

In morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange, Convergys shares were down 72 cents, or 3.5 percent, to $19.87.