Category: Text News

Smart Communications has announced a new promo that offers unlimited calls within its network.  Mr. Danilo Mojica, head of Smart's wireless consumer division said the new service called Smartalk will be available starting June 26 until September 30, 2009.

"We will first observe to determine public reaction on whether it will be made part of our regular service," said Orlando Vea, chief wireless advisor and founder of Smart.

"Filipinos love to talk.  They will talk even more if voice is more affordable," Vea said.

Annie Naval, Smart's group head for marketing, said about 10 percent or 2.3 million of the 23 million Smart subscribers are expected to avail of the service within the next two months.

After bringing iPhone to the Philippines, Globe Telecom said it would introduce HTC Magic, the first Android phone to be commercially launched in the Philippines, within this month.

Android phone is a wireless handset that runs on Android, an operating system developed by Google for mobile devices. It is powered by the Linux kernel.

Globe described HTC Magic as a feature-packed entertainment and communication device that makes use of the Android software platform.

"As a pioneer in digital communications, Globe aims to deliver the most advanced services and the latest technology and devices to consumers so they get the best mobile experience – first with iPhone and now, android phone," the company said.

Smart Communications will follow the lead of its rival Globe Telecom in launching its own wimax service in the second half of 2009.

"We will definitely rollout our wimax within the year, specifically in the next two quarters," said Orlando Vea, chief wireless adviser of Smart. 
Wimax, which stands for worldwide interoperability for microwave access, is a standards-based technology designed to enable the deployment of wireless broadband access as a cost-efficient alternative to cable and DSL.

It is a technology designed to enable the deployment of wireless broadband access as a cost-efficient alternative to cable and DSL.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. or PLDT has launched a new SIM that can be inserted in cell phones and other wireless handsets to make unlimited landline calls from anywhere in the country.

The company said the new product PLDT Call All revolutionizes the residential landline by giving Filipinos unprecedented freedom to call their loved ones all over the country anytime, for an additional monthly fee of only P250.

PLDT introduced the new service, after its rival Globe Telecom earlier launched a dual service that allows free calls from a mobile phone to any landline number within the same area code, for an additional cost of P399 monthly.

"PLDT Call All is our way of giving our existing landline subscribers the best deal out there.  They might as well get it from PLDT because we're the leader in the industry with the technology and expertise to offer it," said PLDT assistant vice president for acquisitions Patrick Tang.

Globe Telecom, in a press release on June 4, 2009, announced that its Duo service is now available to both post-paid and pre-paid subscribers.  The press release reads as follows:

Globe makes it easy and convenient for consumers to get unlimited mobile and landline calls through its breakthrough service DUO – Mobile and Landline in One, with the launch of DUO in Prepaid both in Metro Manila and Cebu.  Fast becoming popular to customers in Metro Manila and Cebu, Globe DUO is now available in Prepaid in Metro Manila starting June 5 and this was introduced in Cebu since May 25.

Fast becoming popular to customers in Metro Manila and Cebu, Globe DUO is now available in Prepaid in Metro Manila starting June 5 and this was introduced in Cebu since May 25.

New Globe prepaid subscribers can get the special DUO prepaid SIM pack at only P45 to enjoy Globe DUO. Experience the ultimate in unlimited mobile and landline calling within Metro Manila and Cebu for five days for just P125 and P350 for 14 days.

A report by research firm GfK Philippines noted the steady increase of smartphone users in the Philippines, led by the introduction of low-priced Internet-enabled mobile devices. It said this gives more Filipinos access to internet surfing on their mobile phones. GfK Philippines noted that the average price of smartphones in the country has dropped 23 percent from US$317 or P13,000 in 2011 to about $244 or P10,000 this year. “Rising demand for smartphones is largely triggered by efforts of device manufacturers who are offering more affordable smartphones, as well as retailers who have started offering 0 percent interest programs of up to 24 months on top of other promos when selling smartphone devices,” said Mr. GfK Philippines general manager Benny Villanueva. Globe Telecom launched Globe PowerSurf plans to take advantage of the growth of smartphone use in the Philippines. Globe PowerSurf plans are mobile browsing plans that use megabytes or MBs, a unit that measures data in internet-related transactions.

Mobile phone penetration rate in the Philippines reached 85 percent as of March 2010, although this was more of a case of subscribers having two or more phones.

Ms. Joy Sanchez, customer care head of Smart Communications, one of the mobile phone operators in the country, said cellular penetration rate, or the ratio of active SIM cards to the population, is currently at 85 percent.

Data shows that as of March 2010, there are over 80 million SIMs in use in the Philippines, against a population of about 92 million. Smart Communications Inc. has 42.9 million subscribers.

The National Telecommunication Commission or NTC has issued Memorandum Circular 04-07-2009, disallowing push messages, otherwise known as text spam.  Commercial and promotional advertisements, surveys and other broadcast messages shall be allowed only upon prior written consent by the subscribers," the NTC said.

It said contents and any form of information for a fee shall only be delivered to subscribers who requested for such content and/or information on a per request basis.  At the same time, it required telecom companies to keep records of all requests for contents and/or information from the subscribers for the delivery of content for at least two months.

In response, analysts said the order will shackle the growth of mobile advertising in the country.  "It will have a large impact on mobile advertising, which is a growing industry," Jay Bautista, executive director of advertising research firm Nielsen Media said.

Sun Wireless Broadband Unlimited Postpaid Plan

Competition in the wireless broadband Internet segment of the telecom industry is intensifying, with the third player Sun Cellular offering a very attractive rate of P799 monthly fee for unlimited access to Sun Broadband under its postpaid package.  Smart Bro and Globe Tattoo, whose services have yet to improve, are now under serious threat.

The Plan 799 of Sun Broadband provides unlimited access up to 2mbps speeds with free modem. Subcribers are bound to honor a 24-month contract.  Many users are so far satisfied, with many experiencing burst of Internet speeds they were unable to enjoy with SmartBro or Globe Tattoo.

However, there were apparently spots or sites in Metro Manila and other parts of the country where Sun Broadband is not working as fast.

For those who want faster speed, Sun Broadband introduced Plan 1399 with 3Mbps speed.  This also enables subscribers to install Sun Broadband 3.5G-ready router, that can create WiFi zones.