PLDT, Globe gear for data demand as COVID-19 keeps millions in Philippines indoors

MANILA - PLDT Inc and Globe Telecom said Wednesday they were taking steps to meet demand for data and keep connections stable as the 30-day Luzon lockdown forced millions in the Philippines to stay home.

PLDT will offer a free "speed boost" for its fiber subscribers, bringing the minimum internet connection to 25 Mbps until April 30, it said in a statement. 

"We are taking steps to address the need of customers and the public for enhanced internet services during this COVID outbreak," PLDT Inc said.

The boost is expected to meet the "expected greater need for data" of its customers, the telco said.



PLDT's wireless unit Smart Communications also offered free access to official websites starting March 11, it said.

Subscribers can access the Health department's official website, its NCOV tracker, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the Philippine Information Agency for free, Smart said.

GLOBE TELECOM

Globe subscribers can also access the official sites of the DOH and the NDRRMC on free data, the telco said.

Globe and TM users who subscribed to KonsultaMD can get in touch with doctors via the 79880 telehealth hotline without any mobile call charges, it said.

The telco cautioned that using websites or apps to download movies or content illegally "hogs bandwidth." Subscribers should be "conscientious" with internet use while most Filipinos are working from home, Globe said. 

Both PLDT and Globe have announced a 30-day payment extensions to settle their monthly bills. 

"Globe believes that the extension of the bill payment will be one less worry for our customers especially during these difficult times," president and CEO Ernest Cu said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

iPhone 11 prices revealed, to arrive Oct. 25

MANILA - Apple has announced prices for its newest line of iPhones which are set to arrive here on Oct. 25.

Like its previous offerings, Apple's latest and greatest phones don't come cheap, with the least expensive iPhone 11 featuring 64GB of storage costing P47,990. 

The most expensive iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512GB of storage meanwhile costs P95,990.

Both Globe Telecom and Smart will start taking preorders for the new iPhones starting Oct. 18. 

iPhone 11

P47,990 - 64GB
P50,990 - 128GB
P56,990 - 256GB

iPhone 11 Pro

P67,990 - 64GB
P76,990 - 256GB
P89,990 - 512GB

iPhone 11 Pro Max

P73,990 - 64GB
P82,990 - 256GB 
P95,990 - 512GB 
With the launch of the new iPhones, Apple has implemented a P10,000 cut in the price of last year's iPhone XR, which now lists 
at P40,990 for the base model featuring 64GB of storage. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

iPhone X sells for P90,000 in PH gray market

MANILA - Apple's iPhone X went on sale in the US and other major markets Friday, leaving Filipinos who were shut out from the official release to contend with re-seller prices.

The 10th anniversary edition of the iPhone, the first with a nearly bezel-less display, sells for roughly P90,000 in local stores, almost double the price if based on its $999 tag in the US.

"Ang binabayaran kasi diyan is yung ikaw yung first few na unang magkakaron ng iPhone X dito sa Pilipinas," one online seller told ABS-CBN News by phone.

(What you're paying for is the privilege to be among the first few owners of iPhone X in the Philippines.)

Official Apple retailers in the Philippines, Power Mac Center and Beyond the Box, and Smart Communications list only the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 plus as forthcoming early Friday.

The two handsets, unveiled at the same time as the iPhone X last September, retain the same form factor that Apple started in 2014 with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. They have been available unofficially in the Philippines since October.

The seller said the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus also sold for nearly P100,000 when they first hit the gray market.

Some merchants abroad even held bids for resellers in the Philippines, further padding the price of the iPhone X, according to the seller interviewed by ABS-CBN News.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tech media pioneer Jim Ayson passes away

MANILA, Philippines - Jim Ayson, one of the pioneers of the Philippine Internet industry, has died Tuesday. He was 53.

The news was confirmed by his wife, Chette Soriano Ayson via Facebook.

 

My husband, my best friend and love of my life Jim Ayson joined our creator last night. There are no details yet about...

          Posted by Chette Soriano Ayson on Monday, November 9, 2015



According to Newsbytes.ph, the creator of the seminal music website, PhilMusic.com, was rushed to St. Lukes Global City after collapsing at midnight, November 9, while using his laptop.

Ayson, who diligently worked hard to to cultivate the Internet community in the Philippines is one of the first tech writers in the country. He also created the largest mailing list in the country, the Philippine Cyberspace Review (PH-Cyberview), which is about the same age as Google.  

Ayson had always been active in the field of technology, digital revolution and social media. One of his most recent posts before his untimely demise is about the "laglag-bala" modus and its painful embarrassment. He also shared his opinion about the Maine Mendoza's hacked account, calling it as "virtual rape," for denying her access to her own accounts, stealing her identity and violating her privacy.

Prior to his death, Ayson worked as head of the team in charge of Internet and media partnerships in Smart Communications.

source: philstar.com

Batibot now on mobile phones via app

MANILA -- Smart Communications recently launched a Batibot app to enable children to enjoy the popular children’s show using a mobile phone.

The app contains fun-filled games on the app that will allow children in their formative years to develop essential thinking skills. By using the Batibot app, children can learn basic concepts like matching, sorting and grouping. Moreover, the app can also assist the young learners to identify shapes, colors, numbers, the alphabet, and letter sounds. The children can also practice tracing letters with the proper strokes.

The Batibot app, which can be downloaded for free on Android devices, also helps the children develop their appreciation for storytelling.

“Through our umbrella program for education called #LearnSmart, we’re trying to make learning fun, engaging, and interactive for students with the help of digital and mobile technologies,” Smart public affairs head Ramon Isberto said.

Developed in collaboration with the Community of Learners Foundation (COLF) and startup partner OrangeFix, the Batibot app is the first learning app in Filipino that is aligned with the national kindergarten curriculum of the Department of Education.

Acknowledged as an educational tool, the Batibot app contains interactive features like the classic game “Alin Ang Naiba,” where children are asked to identify what doesn’t belong from a group of objects and pictures. Kindergartners can also practice writing by tracing letters on their device, and sing along to Batibot songs via the app’s videoke feature.

Meanwhile, the “Kuwentong Batibot” feature provides children with access to stories in Filipino, with the aim of establishing a firm foundation for early and emergent literacy.

The Batibot app is one of the key features of the Smart TechnoCart, a mobile digital laboratory launched last June to enhance learning among kindergartners through mobile devices and applications.

Feny de los Angeles, COLF director and former research and curriculum director of the Philippine Children’s Television Foundation which produced Batibot, said the show had been a “playmate” and learning partner of generations of Filipino children for nearly two decades.

“All those years, Batibot had been a trusted partner of parents who are their children’s first teachers – from infancy through the early childhood years. Now that the kindergarten program is a national program of the public school system, we would like to continue this tradition of supporting children as they begin their journey in schools and, we hope, as lifelong learners,” de los Angeles said.

“This time, we also see the urgency of supporting very young children as they enjoy their digital play experiences in a language that we hope they would learn to love and be comfortable with – Filipino,” she added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Wondering why there's no signal? Smart explains

MANILA, Philippines - The government has ordered mobile phone operators to temporarily suspend cellular services in Metro Manila and other nearby areas, as Pope Francis attends various events in the metropolis.

Mobile phone subscribers had complained of erratic service on Thursday evening when the Pope arrived in Manila, and on Friday morning when he was in Malacanang and Manila Cathedral.

"In compliance with an order to mobile phone operators from government authorities, the cellular services of Smart and Sun Cellular were temporarily suspended today (Friday) in Metro Manila, including some municipalities of nearby provinces. This was done in the interest of public safety during the ongoing visit of His Holiness Pope Francis," Smart head for public affairs Mon Isberto said in a statement.

Smart has 69 million mobile subscribers, including Talk 'N Text, and Sun Cellular.

Isberto appealed for understanding from its subscribers "if similar situations arise in the next few days here in Metro Manila as well as other sites on the Papal itinerary."

Earlier, Smart and Globe issued separate advisories to its subscribers explaining the temporary disruption of services during the Pope's visit.

"You may have experienced temporary loss of mobile signal and internet connection during Pope Francis' arrival, especially in the areas surrounding his motorcade route. This was done in compliance with the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission for security reasons. We hope for your understanding," Globe said on its Facebook page.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

DOJ to Smart, Globe: Don't mislead customers with 'unli Internet'

MANILA, Philippines - "Unlimited" internet service means unlimited, the Department of Justice reminded telco giants Smart Communications and Globe Telecom.

The DOJ warned Smart and Globe not to mislead subscribers with "unlimited" Internet packages, which usually are throttled after reaching the data limit.

"While there is nothing wrong with advertisements and promotions, what is promised must be delivered. Our laws require not only truth in advertising but also fairness in packaging and consistency in the provision of the service," Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima said in a statement.

An advisory was issued after the DOJ-Office for Competition received complaints about various "unli" promos.

The DOJ issued a 9-page advisory last December 9, insisting the imposition of fair usage policy on unlimited internet service is
inconsistent with the provisions of the Consumer Act of the Philippines, particularly on fair packaging and misleading trade practice and advertisements.

The DOJ reminded the telcos that such practice is punishable with a fine of not more than P10,000 or jail time of at least five months to one year or both.

Also, non-compliance with the requisites of fair packaging can also be criminally penalized by a fine of not more than P20,000 or imprisonment of not more than two years.

The DOJ said data throttling renders "unlimited" data promos as inconsistent with the marketing claims, and ultimately misleading.

"The imposition of data throttling on unlimited internet could also be regarded as a violation of the provisions prohibiting false, misleading or deceptive advertisements, hence, deemed punishable in accordance with law," the DOJ said.

At the same time, the DOJ said the Department of Trade and Industry has received 40 complaints regarding intermittently slow to almost Internet service, while 18 complained about restricted "unlimited" services.

The DOJ said Smart started imposing the Fair Use Policy in 2010, while Globe started implementing it in January this year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Globe, Smart unveil iPhone 6 prices

MANILA – Ayala-led Globe Telecom and Smart Communications Inc. have unveiled pricing details for the Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Globe said it is offering the 16-gigabyte iPhone 6 at P2,099 per month and the 16-GB iPhone 6 Plus at P2,299 per month under Plan 1299 for a period of 24 months.

The new smartphones are also offered to prepaid subscribers for P37,500 for the iPhone 6 for 16GB; P43,000 for the 64GB; and P48,500 for the 128GB.

The iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, is priced at P43,000 for the 16GB; P48,500 for the 64GB; and P54,000 for the 128GB.

Globe said iPhone Forever subscribers who are on their 13th to 24th will be allowed to trade-in or pay a cash out for the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Smart, meanwhile, announced that the iPhone 6 is available under a monthly plan of P1,799 for the 16GB, P2,049 for the 64GB, and P2,153 for the 128GB.

The iPhone 6 Plus is available for a monthly payment of P2,049 for the 16GB, P2,153 for the 64GB, and P2,345 for the 128GB under the iPhone Plan 999 for a 24-month contract.

The latest iPhone models are available under Smart’s iPhone Plan 1799, Data Plan 2000, and Data Plan 3000 with a corresponding cash out of P5,000 to as high as P26,300 for the iPhone 6 and P5,000 to as high as P30,900 for the iPhone 6 Plus.

Smart’s iPhone offers also come with free all-net texts, all-net calls plus consumable data every month which can be used for video and music streaming, file uploads, and downloads, and chatting.

“We know many Filipinos are keenly anticipating the arrival of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and the good news is they can now get these bigger iPhones from the country’s biggest mobile network. Subscribers can enjoy surfing the Internet, taking photos, downloading apps or playing games on the new iPhones that are now powered by Smart’s expansive coverage nationwide,” said Smart postpaid marketing head Kathryn Carag.

Carag added that existing Smart subscribers can upgrade to the new iPhones through the Wipeout promo.

Subscribers of Globe and Smart can now pre-order the latest Apple smartphones, which is scheduled to be released in the Philippines on November 14.

Apple launched the iPhone 6 featuring a 4.7-inch Retina HD display and iPhone 6 Plus with a 5.5-inch display in September.

Apple earlier said the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in more than 115 countries by the end of the year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Globe, Smart to release iPhone 6 in November

MANILA – Subscribers of both Globe Telecom and Smart Communications Inc. may soon get their hands on Apple's latest iPhone models.

The rival firms announced on Wednesday that the much-awaited iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available to their subscribers starting November 14.

Smart spokesperson Ramon Isberto said the company is looking forward to the positive response of the Philippine market.

"Market response has been very positive, and there is much anticipation," he said.

He added that subscribers in the Philippines can take full advantage of the robust long term evolution (LTE) network of the PLDT Group using the new devices.

"The enhanced features of the iPhone 6 will be fully enjoyed in Smart’s LTE network," he said.

Smart subscribers can pre-order beginning November 7. Globe subscribers, on the other hand, can now pre-register via Globe’s website.

Apple launched the iPhone 6 featuring a 4.7-inch Retina HD display and iPhone 6 Plus with a 5.5-inch display in September.

Apple earlier said the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will be available in more than 115 countries by the end of the year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Best-rated' Acer Chromebook now available in PH

MANILA - Telco giant Smart Communications Inc. has announced the arrival of one of the "best-rated" Chromebooks in the Philippines.

In an announcement made Friday, the Acer Chromebook C720 will be available for free through the company's Smart Bro Plan 999 and comes with the Smart Bro Pocket WiFi loaded with 50 hours of mobile internet per month.

"Now, users have an affordable yet best-in-class option for their laptop needs with the Acer Chromebook C720 from Smart Bro," claimed Michele Curran, Data and International Services Marketing Head at Smart.

"We're proud to partner with global giants such as Acer and Google to bring this next-generation mobile device to Filipinos nationwide," she added.

Unlike conventional laptops, Chromebooks uses Google's own Chrome OS, which promises instant connection to the Internet from boot-up to welcome screen in less than 8 seconds.

The C720 measures only at 19.35 millimeters at its thickest point, making it one of the thinnest and lightest notebooks in the market today. It also features an 11.6-inch screen and boasts a battery life of over 8.5 hours in a single charge.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Goodbye slow Internet? Smart says network now on 5G LTE-A

MANILA, Philippines - Now you can download a 10MB file in less than a second. This according to Smart Communications, which on Thursday said its network is now running on 5G wireless technology LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), .

Smart said it recently switched on LTE-A, which delivers data from between 100 megabits per second (mbps) to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), or ten times faster than 3G services and more than twice as fast as 4G services.

The telco said it is only one of several carriers around the world with an LTE-A network, along with leading mobile operators in South Korea, United States, Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong.

"Even as our 3G and 4G networks continue to be unrivaled, Smart becomes the first operator to leap into the future and put the Philippines at par with the world’s most advanced countries in terms of mobile communications technology,” Orlando B. Vea, Smart chief wireless advisor, said.

Smart noted that with LTE-A, a 10MB file takes less than a second to download, YouTube videos no longer have to buffer, and video calls are almost lag-free.

LTE-A also has the capability to allocate more network resources to users when the need arises.

Smart started testing LTE-A across the country in August last year, delivering results of more than 100Mbps in Makati City, in Boracay, and in Davao City during the Kadayawan festival.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Globe, Smart unveil Samsung Galaxy S5 postpaid plans

MANILA, Philippines – Telecommunication firms Globe Telecom and Smart Communications Inc. have unveiled postpaid plan offerings for the Samsung Galaxy S5, ahead of its nationwide release on April 11.

Globe postpaid subscribers can avail of the Galaxy S5 at Plan 999 with P700 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period for as low as P1,699 monthly.

Globe customers will receive 5GB worth of consumable mobile internet surfing monthly as well as free calls and texts to all networks with the postpaid plan bundle.

The Galaxy S5 is also available to Globe users for as low as P1,799 monthly at Plan 1299 with P500 monthly cashout for a 24-month contract period, complete with 5GB monthly consumable mobile surfing plus 25 minutes of calls and 500 texts to all networks.

Customers of this plan also get one-month free Gadget Care and free access to Facebook until April 25.

Globe customers will be allowed to buy apps from the Samsung App Store and do in-app purchases, where amount will be charged to bill for postpaid customers and will be deducted from the prepaid load of prepaid customers.

Smart users, on the other hand, can get the Galaxy S5 for free with the UnliSurf Plan 2000, which comes with unlimited mobile LTE surfing, 150 minutes of calls and 200 of texts to all networks under a 30-month contract.

The Galaxy S5 can also be availed for P1,799 a month under Smart’s UnliSurf Plan 999, with P800 monthly handset cash-out for 24 months, complete with unlimited surfing for one month plus calls and texts.

Smart is also offering deals to subscribers who pre-registered and subscribed to a Galaxy S5 plan, including free one-month unlimited music streaming plus a SPINNR VIP subscription and a chance to win one of 10 Samsung Galaxy Gear devices to be raffled off on April 11.

The first 200 Smart users who will subscribe to a Samsung Galaxy S5 plan on the first day of availability will also be entitled to Smart Gadget Shield, a one-year free handset insurance which covers repair and replacement of the device in case of accidental damage or loss due to theft or robbery.

Smart has also launched its Infinity program, which provides free devices, including a 32-inch Samsung Smart TV, depending on the plan.

Among the features of the Samsung Galaxy S5 are a 5.1-inch Full-HD Super AMOLED display, a 16-megapixel camera with HDR (Rich tone), selective focus and virtual tour shot, fingerprint sensor, and an S Health and Heart Rate sensor.

The Galaxy S5 is IP67-certified dust and water resistant, has a 2.5 GHz quad-core application processor, runs on LTE Category 4, has a 2800 mAh battery with 21 hours of talk time, and has an internal user memory of 16GB and a card slot microSD of up to 128GB.

Samsung launched the Galaxy S5 last February.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

iPad Air, new iPad Mini hits PH stores

MANILA – Apple’s latest iPads were finally released in Philippine stores on Thursday, nearly two months after they went on sale in the United States.

In an email blast to Filipino subscribers, Apple touted the new iPad Air as “the most powerful and capable iPad yet.”

At the same time, Apple also released the latest line of iPad Minis, which now come with Retina display.

The new iPad Air is about 20 percent thinner than the previous generation of tablets and weighs only one pound.

Apple reseller Power Mac Center also announced the arrival of the new gadgets, as well as cases and other accessories, in its social media accounts.

“Discover every bit of beauty in the iPad Air. Visit your favorite Power Mac Center store today,” it said as it posed a photo of the new gadget.

The retailer also told its followers of zero-percent installment plans for both the iPad Air and iPad Mini.

The release of the new gadgets in stores comes just days after local telcos also started offering the two gadgets to their customers.

Globe Telecom announced on Monday that is offering the iPad Air 16GB for as low as P1,624 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,125 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period, which already includes 85 hours of LTE surfing.

Meanwhile, the 32GB variant is available for as low as P1,790 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,291 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period, also bundled with 85 hours of LTE surfing.

The iPad Mini with Retina display 16GB, on the other hand, is offered at P1,499 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,000 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period, complete with 85 hours of LTE surfing.

The 32GB variant is available at P1,665 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,166 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period also bundled with 85 hours of LTE surfing.

Smart Communications, Inc., for its part, is offering the iPad Air and the iPad Mini with Retina Display on Smart Bro’s iPad Plan 1499 (16GB) and iPad Plan 1699 (32GB), which both come with 65 hours of LTE Internet surfing every month and an Anti-Bill Shock Guarantee that ensures subscribers don't have to worry about excessive data charges on their monthly bills.

Subscribers only need to pay a one-time fee of P1,000 for the iPad Mini or P5,000 for the iPad Air upon application.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Smart's mobile bank starts operations

MANILA, Philippines – The mobile microfinance firm of Smart Communications Inc. has started its operations, according to a circular letter by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

BSP said mBank Philippines (A Thrift Bank), Inc. started its operations on October 16.

"The corresponding Certificate of Authority to Operate as a microfinance-oriented thrift bank was issued by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Sept. 23, 2013 and its operation started on Oct. 16, 2013," the central bank said.

The BSP's policymaking Monetary Board approved the microfinance firm on November 29, 2012.

Smart was tapped to empower mBank to capitalize on the growing market of mobile phone users who access bank services such as savings and loans.

Through mBank, Smart and Talk 'N Text subscribers will be able to open a savings account, apply for loan products and pay obligations via their mobile phones.

The bank's target market include micro entrepreneurs with limited or no access to financial services.

According to its website, mBank was first rolled out in Leyte and Eastern Visayas and was later introduced to the Central Visayas.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Smart, Globe to offer iPhone 5S, 5C in November

 Pinoys will get their hands on Apple's newest iPhones next month.

Globe Telecom and Smart Communications on Friday said they will start offering the iPhone 5S and the colorful iPhone 5S to customers beginning on November 15.

No details were given on the pricing of iPhone 5S and 5C plans.

The iPhone 5S comes in three colors - gray, silver and gold. It has a faster processor, a camera which takes bursts of photos and chooses the best one, as well as a fingerprint-scanner that can unlock the phone.

The lower-priced, plastic-backed iPhone 5C comes in five colors - blue, green, pink, yellow and white.

Customers may pre-register interest for Smart's iPhone plans at www.smart.com.ph/iPhone, while those interested in Globe's iPhone plans, may register at  http://beta.globe.com.ph/iphone5c or beta.globe.com.ph/iphone5s.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Smart eyes solution to 'dead spots'

MANILA, Philippines – Smart Communications Inc. has started testing a device that boosts mobile reception to eliminate the problem of “dead spots.”

The signal-boosting device, Cel-Fi, is a gadget that can improve signal strength of mobile phones and tablets in enclosed spaces inside homes and offices.

“Cel-Fi offers a lot of promise because it functions much like a personal cell site and boost the network performance in corners where signal strength is challenged,” Smart co-founder and chief wireless advisor Orlando Vea said.

Cel-Fi boosts signal strength by tapping and amplifying at least one bar of available 3G signal, thus improving both 3G and 4G HSPA+ mobile connectivity in a specific area.

“As the leader in wireless services, Smart has continually been on the lookout for new technologies that can enhance the consumers’ mobile experience and offer the best value for them,” said Vea.

The US-designed Cel-Fi is a plug-and-play device that can handle 60 simultaneous calls and support high-speed connections reaching 42 Mbps in an area of up to 1,200 square meters.

The device is used by 120 mobile operators worldwide.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Globe, Smart to offer Samsung Note 3

Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, Inc. announced on Friday that it will be offering the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to its subscribers.

In a statement, Globe said it opened a dedicated online site to accept registration of intent for subscribers keen on the new Samsung gadgets.

The pre-registration portal, www.globe.com.ph/galaxy-note3-register, allows interested subscribers to register personal details such as name, mobile number, and e-mail address.

The customer database will be used to update subscribers with the device’s features, postpaid plan offers, and pricing details.

Globe will also offer the Galaxy Gear watch as part of the bundle.

"With barely just a week after we launched the portal, we have already registered hundreds of interested subscribers who can’t wait to have the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy Gear on their hands,” said Raul Macatangay, head of Globe Postpaid.

Smart, meanwhile, will offer the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 under its Smart All-In Plan 1800, a plan that subscribers may use to register for Flexibundles such as Unlimited LTE connection, 3,500 SMS messages and 80 call minutes to all networks every month.

Smart said the 24-month contract will come with a separate monthly fee of P199 for the device.

"The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a welcome addition to our already impressive line-up of Android devices," Smart Postpaid Marketing Head Kathy Carag said in a statement.

Under Smart’s Unlimited Data Plan 2000, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will come free with a 30-month lock-in period.

The plan comes with unlimited LTE connection, 200 SMS messages and 150 call minutes to all networks.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has a 5.7-inch full HD Super AMOLED display, a 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, 13-megapixel rear auto-focus camera with flash and zero shutter lag and a 2-megapixel front camera, 32GB user memory and is a 4G LTE-capable device.

Additional features include the Air Command, Action Memo, Scrapbook, S Finder, Pen Window, Samsung WatchON and ChatON, and S Voice.

Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Gear boasts of an 800 MHz single core processor, has a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display, and 1.9 megapixel auto-focus camera.

Additional features include the S Voice, Memographer, Smart Relay, and Voice Memo. It also has a 4GB user memory plus a 512MB RAM.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Check for DNSChanger malware or lose Internet access by July 9, telco says

MANILA, Philippines — Leading telecommunications firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and its wireless arm Smart Communications urged Pinoy Internet users to check if they have been infected with a malware which will restrict their Internet access if not removed by July 9.

The malware, called DNSChanger, was discovered to be re-routing Internet traffic of infected PCs to servers of a group of Internet hackers, which allows them to display advertisements or spread malware to more users.

Once infected, the Domain Name Settings (DNS) of an infested computer will be changed to that of the hackers’ servers. Reports said systems have started to become infected when they visited similarly infected websites, “or downloaded particular software to view videos online,” according to technology news site CNet.

In addition to changing the DNS servers of the computer, the malware has also been known to prevent antivirus updates from occurring, which means traditional security software couldn’t possibly detect the infection.

The group behind the malware has since been arrested by authorities in 2011, but the temporary redirection servers set up by law enforcement bodies to give users the time to clean up their systems will soon be shut down.

“If you fail to take action, you may not be able to access Internet websites and use web services like email and search,” said PLDT and Smart Spokesperson Ramon Isberto in a statement.

To check if your system is infected, PLDT and Smart urged to go through your computer’s settings:

Windows
1. Click Start
2. Open the Command Window
3. (For Windows 7) Type cmd at the search bar
4. (For Windows XP) Click Run, then type cmd at the bar
5. Type ipconfig /all
6. Search for the DNS Servers section

Mac OS X
1. Click the Apple icon an the top left of the screen
2. Select System Preferences
3. Locate the “Network” icon
4. Read the “DNS Server” line

If the DNS servers are pointed at any of the following addresses, then it means the system is infected:

• 85.255.112.0 through 85.255.127.255
• 67.210.0.0 through 67.210.15.255
• 93.188.160.0 through 93.188.167.255
• 77.67.83.0 through 77.67.83.255
• 213.109.64.0 through 213.109.79.255
• 64.28.176.0 through 64.28.191.255

Alternatively, users can visit the following websites to automatically check if their units have the DNSChanger malware: http://www.dns-ok.us/ and http://dnschanger.detect.my.

To permanently rid your system of the malware, you can use various services put up by security software firms such as Kaspersky , ESET, McAfee , Microsoft , Norton, and Trend Micro.

source: interaksyon.com

Vodafone, Smart partner for $10 data-roaming offer, best practices

MANILA, Philippines — Unlike what has been wildly speculated upon online, UK-based telecommunications firm Vodafone is not setting up operations in the Philippines.

Instead, the global telco brand is linking up with dominant carrier Smart Communications Inc. to offer a low-cost data roaming rate to the latter’s globetrotting mobile subscribers.

Aside from the roaming agreement, the two telecom giants will harness the partnership to forge collaborations in the areas of social media, customer care and rollout strategies for LTE, the next-generation mobile network technology.

The partnership was hatched through Smart’s participation in the Conexus Mobile Alliance, an Asia Pacific telecom group with a combined customer base of over 320 million customers.

Vodafone in September last year signed an agreement with the alliance to expand its roaming capabilities in the region. It has been reported that the company is setting its sights toward further international expansion in 2012.

“Through our participation in the Conexus alliance, Smart customers have been first in the region to enjoy a daily data rate of only US$10 when roaming on Conexus member networks,” said Mary Alice Ramos, Smart’s international roaming business and alliances head.

According to Ramos, the Vodafone partnership will bring the same low-cost data offering to more than 30 markets in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, where the latter currently operates.

To kick off the partnership, Vodafone executives reportedly flew in on February 14 to 16 to conduct training sessions with Smart’s senior management and online customer management teams, among others.

This was also the same time when rumors that Vodafone would be setting up shop in the Philippines, sparked by the opening of various social media accounts in Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT)-owned telco said more workshops and technical trainings with executives are slated in the coming months.

“We are proud to be the preferred partner of Vodafone in the Philippines, as we work together to meet the growing demand among multinational businesses for sophisticated voice, data and roaming solutions within and beyond the Asia Pacific region,” said Smart International and Carrier Business Division Head Alex Caeg.

source: interaksyon.com

Telcos still charge P1 per text, defying government order

Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular were ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to explain why they failed to lower the rate for short messaging service (SMS) to 80 centavos from P1 per text.

Glem Ecal of the NTC Public Information Office on Friday told GMA News Online that they have yet to verify if the networks already received the order, which was released on Dec. 12.

The telcos have 15 days to reply once they have received the NTC order.

[See also NTC to sue telcos for violating order to lower sms rates]

Globe maintained earlier this week that it has complied with the NTC order to reduce the SMS access charge, but a source told GMA News Online on Friday that its legal department declined to comment on the show-cause order "because it's sub judice."

Smart, Globe, and Sun informed the NTC last November that they will heed the commission's order earlier this year for the telcos to reduce the access or interconnection charge to P0.15 from P0.35.

The access charge is — among other components — part and parcel of the SMS rate, according to Globe.

NTC Deputy Commissioner Delilah Deles said last month "the new SMS access charge will take effect on their respective networks" on Nov. 30.

NTC's One-Stop Public Assistance Center said in an affidavit that they have received complaints from December 5 to 9 that the telcos were still charging P1 per text message.

After those complaints, a series of tests by the the NTC using prepaid mobile numbers from the three telcos established that the text message rates remain at P1 per SMS. — Bea Cupin/ Rose-An Dioquino/VS/HS, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com