Globe, Smart proposing different voice call rates vs NTC cutting rates

Manila Standard Today reports Major telecommunications companies are lobbying with the National Telecommunications Commission to approve their respective proposed rates on voice calls.

The NTC in July fixed the maximum unit of billing for voice services at six seconds per pulse with higher rates on the first two pulses to recover costs.

The telecom companies in September submitted their proposed rates based on their actual call set-up costs.

 

“Any further reduction in the proposed rates would affect Globe and Innove Communications Inc.’s ability to continue to provide voice service in accordance with the quality and coverage standards of [NTC],” Globe said.

Globe and subsidiary Innove proposed a flag-down rate ranging from P1.50 to P4 for the first six seconds and P0.70 to P1.25 for the succeeding pulse.

It said that majority or 63 percent of calls made by subscribers had an average duration of 27 seconds per call while 30 percent had 117 seconds, or about two minutes.

 

Globe said the average subscriber under its proposed rates would only be charged P4.75 per minute against the prevailing rate of P6.

My comment: Seeing that PLDT is offering international calls for P1.5 a nubyte and SUN P2 a minute international calls and Globe and SMART at P2.5 a minute, it seems that domestic calls are more expensive than international and in USA you can now call free on some domestic plans USA and Canada

 

Continue reading here http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusiness.htm?f=2009/november/28/business2.isx&d=/2009/november/28

Telcos threaten to halt voice calls
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/6747-telcos-threaten-to-halt-voice-calls

Comparing Globe Tattoo, SmartBro and Sun Broadband Wireless

 

From Tonycruz website link follows below.    More and more Filipinos have again gone wireless to connect to the internet. Recently, the three major wireless telcos have pushed down the cost of their wireless broadband modems or dongles to as low as P888 in a common effort to outsell competitors. The competition has gone so fierce that rivals Smart and Globe have come out with ads claiming their respective wireless broadband service is faster. Curiously, both did not include Sun in their ads.  Read an up to date review of the three services, speeds, cost comparison at this bloggers site  (although he did not include the new P2000 unlimited plan from Globe and Globe & Smart offer of P20 a day for surfing  certain social sites or the new unlimited Blackberry surfing from SMART daily rate or the SMART BRO Share it at P999 a month. )   Read his comparisons and excellent chart  here  but you will have to highlight the site as its hard to read in brown http://tonyocruz.com/?p=2619

 

The blogger writes Globe and Smart are apparently still stingy in offering and approving applications for postpaid Globe Tattoo and SmartBro accounts. Sun Cellular has taken advantage of this by offering the widest choices for postpaid subscribers.

 

But SUN has made available an Easy Broadband 799 Plan which requires only the submission of one ID and the advanced payment of two monthly service fees, and without any contract. Those already with a modem or dongle can also avail of the SBW 799 SIM Only Plan – again without a long list of requirements and with a short contract of just six months.

Smart unveils unlimited email service

Philippine Daily Inquirer  11/24/2009 MANILA, Philippines - Sending emails on the go has finally become as easy and affordable as “texting.”

The country’s leading mobile service provider Smart Communications Inc. on Tuesday launched a new service that would allow subscribers to send e-mails from their mobile phones as much as they want for a fixed monthly fee.

Company officials said the new flat rate data promo, which would be available to post-paid subscribers for P299 a month on top of their bills, would pave the way for the increased use of broadband technology through cellular phones.  Continue reading here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20091124-238087/Smart-unveils-unlimited-email-service

SMART TALK PLUS UNLIMITED CALLS AND TEXTING P100 PESOS FOR 19 HOURS WITH HOURS SPECIFIED

19 hours of unlimited calls and texts
from 10pm to 5pm the next day.

• No new SIM and number needed
• Biggest network
• Nationwidest coverage

 

• Promo is open to Smart Buddy subscribers nationwide.
• Unlimited calls and texts can only be used from 10PM to 5PM. Calls and texts made between 5:01PM to 9:59PM while enrolled in SMARTalk will be charged with the following rates: 2.50/minute and P0.20/text.
• Subscriber must have the minimum balance (P100) in order to register to SMARTalk Plus.
• Unlimited calls and texts only apply to local Smart-Smart/Smart-TNT transactions.
• P2.50/minute and P0.20/text rates only apply to local Smart-Smart/Smart-TNT transactions.
• Any roaming, international and transactions made to other networks will be charged with regular rates.

SMART Talk'N Text Gaanload promos

• Gaantext

SMART Promos – Unlimited Call and Text and Internet Philippines

Click the headlines to read the details

• Mobile Internet Packages
• Facebook Unli 20
• Big Tym Buddy
• All Text MMS 20
• All Calls
• Upsize
• Text & Call Combo
• PixMe
• Flexirate
• SmarTalk
• ERASERHEADS Concert
• SMARTalkPlus
• All Text

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Tags: SMART promos Philippines,Unlimited call, unlimited text.

SMART now has calls overseas as low as 2.5 pesos (about 5 cents) per minute WOW Philippines

FILIPINOS with relatives based overseas but have no means of contacting them due to budget constraints can now place international direct dial (IDD) calls even if they don’t own a mobile phone.  (but foreigners living here can use too to call overseas)

Smart’s latest offering, Hellow, is the country’s first reloadable international direct dialing (IDD) card which can be used on any Smart or Talk ‘N Text cellphone, to make calls for as low as P2.50 per minute to 17 key destinations where the most number of Filipinos may be found in via sachet-sized load denominations of as low as P15.

A reloadable IDD card is Smart Communications Inc.’s newest service offering which caters to the low-end segment of the market. In particular, these are consumers that have logistics problems and those who do not own a cellular phone.

-----------------------------

But note that PLDT offers P1.5 calls to USA, Canada and Sun offers P2 calls to the same locations cheaper than SMART and SUN uses regular load while PLDT and SMART use a special card although the PLDT card is not reloadable.  See the links at the end of this post.  

-----------------------------------

Dubbed as Hellow, the country’s first reloadable IDD card which can be used on any Smart or Talk ‘N Text cellular phones, allows calls to 17 destinations where the most number of Filipinos may be found, and costs for as low as P2.50 per minute.
-

Unlike other IDD services, anyone can avail of the Hellow reloadable IDD card for P30 from any Smart wireless centers and other accredited resellers. Printed on the plastic card are the unique account number and PIN. The Hellow user just needs to key in these numbers when using any Smart or Talk ‘N Text handset. The per-minute charge is deducted from the Hellow account and not from the Smart or Talk ‘N Text handset.
-

The card is already pre-loaded with P30 that may be used up to the last P2.50. Subsequently, sachet-sized load comes in denominations of as low as P15. Reloading can be done through the 1.3 million Smart Load retailers all over the country.  “The per-minute charge is deducted from the Hellow account and not from the Smart or Talk 'N Text SIM in the handset,” Carag said.
-

Mojica said this is Smart’s own version of bucket IDD pricing. A regular IDD call made by a Smart subscriber now costs anywhere between P15 to P20 per minute. “The rationale behind this offering is that we are targeting a specific market. We hope that we register 500,000 buyers of Hellow card in a year,” he said.


US, Canada, Guam, Hawaii – P2.50
Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Hong Kong – P5
Japan, Australia, UK, Italy, Thailand – P8
Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates – P10
Rest of the world – $0.40 (about P20)

Questions

what will happen if i reload my Hellow IDD card though I still have P10 remaining balance from my previous load? if my previous load expires two days before I reload, which validity of load prevails?

For everyone's info, here's Smart's reply to  query: "The 10 peso 'old' load if unused after 2 days will expire. When used, the first consumed is the 'old' load -- first to load, first to expire. Same with our SIM."

You just have to go to any Smart Load Outlet or Wireless Center and give your 11-digit account number found at the front of the card.

SMART HelLOW
 RELOADABLE IDD CARD

Introducing the first reloadable international direct-dialing (IDD) card which lets you make a one-minute call for as low as the price of a piece of a candy.

 Overseas call for as low as Php 2.50

 Can be reloaded for as low as Php 15 from any Smart     E-Load outlet nationwide.

 HelLOW can be used on any Smart or Talk ‘N Text cellphone, allowing to call 17 destinations worldwide.

 The per-minute charge is deducted from your HelLOW account and not from the cellphone being used.

 It’s easy to use.  Just dial *4334 from your cellphone, then follow the voice prompt.
-         enter the 11-digits account number
-         enter your 6-digit PIN

 Dial the number you are calling overseas in this format:
        00 + Country Code + Area Code + Number
        Ex.  00 1 713 4257660

Payment can be made thru Smart Money or to any Metrobank branch nationwide.

As soon as payment is confirmed, you will receive your virtual Smart HelLOW card within 24 hrs, pre-loaded with Php 30.00 worth of load and the following details by SMS:
1.      Account Number (11-digits)
2.      PIN (6-digits)

Watch youtube video on hellow card http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKmeAkKjUYQ&NR=1

You can buy the online at ebay.ph

30 pesos http://cgi.ebay.ph/SMART-HELLOW-RELOADABLE-IDD-30_W0QQitemZ300374826374QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_211?hash=item45efbc1d86

100 pesos http://cgi.ebay.ph/Smart-HelLOW-Reloadable-IDD-Card_W0QQitemZ190343513603QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_211?hash=item2c515b8603

Read other blog posting on cheap calls and telecommunications
 1.50 peso call to USA & Canada PLDT Budget Card

 Cheap 2 peso phone call Philippines to USA Canada Hong Kong Singapore & China using SUN

 

 

Tags:  2.5 cheap phone call overseas Philippines 5 cents a minute, cheap LDD

Smart drastically cuts IDD rates to 7 key countries to P2.50/min

If your not using this rate right now you are losing money!!!!!!

For people living in the Philippines who want to call Dubai, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, USA, Canada you better use this deal NOW as it helps the Overseas contract worker OFW

With Smart’s IDD (international direct dial) rate sale, a 20-minute call to the US which used to cost $0.40 a minute—or P20 at prevailing foreign exchange rates—now costs as low as P2.50 per minute. Enhanced international direct dialing (IDD) offers are applicable to calls made to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, the US, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The new rates are applicable to any mobile phone powered by a Smart Buddy or Talk ‘N Txt subscriber identification mode. A minimum load purchase of P50 is required.
-
Callers can avail of the slashed IDD rates by using any mobile phone powered by a SMART Buddy or TnT SIM. A subscriber simply has to key in and send to 8910, to activate the service. Minimum load purchase requirement is P50.00.

Globe Philippines challenges Smart’s speed test claim

from the INQUIRER.net  First Posted 01:46:00 11/16/2009  MANILA, Philippines – The mobile broadband war is getting more intense as the two mobile services rivals try to claim ownership of having the fastest mobile broadband service.

Smart Communications started to run an advertisement claiming that its SmartBro wireless broadband service is the fastest, based on a public field test conducted by a company called PSRC (Philippine Survey and Research Center). 

However, rival Globe Telecom, which owns the Globe Tattoo brand, questioned the credibility of Smart’s claims saying that their rival’s test was full of fallacies as it used one website for measurement. In a press conference, Globe’s network engineers claimed that SpeedTest.Net only captures the “burst speed” of the network being tested during a certain period, but not the actual total speed within a sustained period.  Continue reading the complete article here http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20091116-236525/Globe-challenges-Smarts-speed-test-claim

Consumable mobile surfing for Smart prepaid use

PREPAID subscribers of leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) may now choose from a range of affordable, consumable packages when mobile surfing. 

Daily Surf offers 60 minutes of mobile internet use, consumable on a per-minute basis for only P20, valid for 24 hours.

Buddy Surf offers up to 120 minutes for only P40, and is valid for 48 hours. For heavy internet users, Super Surf offers up to 180 minutes or three hours for only P60, valid for three days or 72 hours.

The Daily Buddy and Super Surf packages are consumable on a per-minute basis, (my comment:  finally a per minute charge without a complicated 30 minute reconnect forumula ....great for the consumer like me) letting users choose when and how long they want to consume their minutes within the specified validity period. 

“Our new mobile internet packages have been introduced in response to public demand for consumable value offerings,” said Annie P. Naval, head of Smart’s Marketing Group. 

“As more and more of our subscribers take up the use of the mobile phone to access the worldwide web, we will continue to develop affordable and relevant services to cater to their varying mobile internet needs,” Naval added.

Both packages may be availed of by using a cell phone’s built-in browser, then accessing—for free—the menu through Smart’s mobile portal http://m.smart.com.ph/dataplan, and clicking on the desired package.

The charge will be deducted from the subscriber’s prepaid credit at registration. A P1 prepaid balance must be maintained while subscribed to the mobile internet package. Users may check their subscription status by accessing the same menu. (my comment...no mention is made of direct eload from smart eload retailers.....i hope this is not another nasty wrinkle in the good promotion unless this is geared only for cell phone use and not regular Smart plug it users....which as usual is not made clear)

Any amount of time exceeding the registered browsing period will be charged at Smart’s existing flat rate of P10 for every 30 minutes.  Read the complete original article here http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/consumable-mobile-surfing-smart-prepaid-users

SMART BUDDY UNLIMITED MULTIPLY PLAN - FRIENDSTER, FACEBOOK, MULTIPLY & MOBILE PLURK

Also Smart now has a similiar surfing plan for certain social sites like Globe 20 surf

Smart Buddy is proud to introduce the first daily unlimited Multiply plan for only Php20/day!
Make new friends from anywhere on Friendster.
Update your status as you go on Facebook.
Go mobile shopping or check your favorite online store with Multiply!
Keep your karma up on Mobile Plurk.
Tweet all day, from wherever you are on Twitter.

All of these great sites, for a great price, from wherever you are, on the undisputed nation widest network. Only from Smart Buddy.  Visit  m.smart.com.ph/dataplan on your mobile browser or text SURF to 211 for FREE info or visit http://smart.com.ph/surf.

Tags:  Smart Prepaid  internet Daily Surf, Smart prepaid internet Buddy Surf, Smart Bro prepaid Multiply plan 20 pesos a day

No substitute for reliability, and what happened at SMART BRO?

Tags: pldt, smart, smart bro, smart bro internet, smart bro plug it, smart bro share it

In the years that I have been in business, I have learned that there is no substitute for reliability. As an entrepreneur, my word is my badge of honor. I know it is hard, but I have learned this lesson very well in the years that I have been in business. In fact, I would say that if there is a reason why my business has grown, it is because I have always been reliable.

As an entrepreneur, I have learned that I cannot stop finding ways to help my clients. I need to constantly innovate to keep up with their needs that are constantly changing and evolving. This is the reason why I strive to always listen to my clients. In talking to them, I was able to discover something they needed.

Most importantly we make it a point to do things ethically. We conduct ourselves with the highest ethical standards, knowing that in all businesses, there is no substitute for integrity. read the original article here

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/aug/26/yehey/business/20090826bus4.html

What happened to the reliability at SMART BRO these days?

1.  SMART introduced a great new product in SHARE IT with great potential. SMART BRO then destroyed it by crippling it by limiting it to only one provincerather than nationwide like its cell phone service and SMART BRO PLUG IT (see if you can find this fact that it is crippled to only one province online).

SMART please make it nationwide subscription to Share It and a truly great product it is by making it nationwide use like other SMART nationwide products like PLUG IT and like cell phone service and make it truly deserving nationwide withpromised speeds 2 mbps delivered for SMART customers.

2. Bills at SMART BRO are always late (even here in downtown) and in fact I signed up for the new SHARE IT recently and the bill is due now but I have not received the bill so how can I pay? And when I tried to access the account online, it said I had to have an account number besides my sim number. So the bill hasn’t arrived, I checked to see if I could email for help and surprise surprise now you can only call customer service and wait and wait on the phone for help and waste my time when a simple email or chat online would be enough. Where did their email service go? Where is the chat service that so many other RELIABLE companies offer online these days? And why not just email bills to customers, at their emails provided in their application immediately? Why waste the money on paper at all? SMART and PLDT now own part of MERALCO and

MERALCO already has a great online email billing system in use by their call center why not learn how to deliver better service from Meralco to SMART customers too by email?

3. And the sign up process for SMART products is degrading to customers requiring them to go back about three times to get the SHARE IT router, once to apply (wait for a representative as they are always busy), then follow up, and finally go back and wait to pay, the line at the cashier at SMART BRO share it in SM Cebu was over an hour wait to pay when I was there recently. Why not take some of those accountants that review credit for new customers and make them cashiers?

SMART BRO made a good decision with PLUG IT and let the retailers sell it right in their stores with no requirements and nationwide service. Why not the same with SHARE IT? What is the difference and why create so many new problems that staff must resolve and these staff cost a great deal of money and less profit for SMART.

And now the new CIGNAL satellite tv is also available from these same SMART business offices that take a week to process credit checks which means more delays probably. It is convenient for the customer to sign up at SMART business centers but it should be a one stop process and payment rather than multiple trips for customers if it isn’t already. Make it a joy to do business not a hassle with SMART.

What I can’t understand is why it takes a week for the review of your simple documents, even for customers who have had SMART before. It would seem they could just require a ID and the payment and viola quick delivery like Globe and Sun now provide. Having the accountants control the process with slow delivery only frustrates the willing customer. Why not contract this service out if it is already taking so long. The process is certainly not simple or quick. Even your Government license now you can get in an hour why does it take SMART a week for a credit review? When MVP was in daily contact with customers, services improved.

I hope senior management is listening to customers these days and not just to cutting costswhich will result in loss of revenue streams if RELIABILITY suffers. And there are some clear areas costs can be cut such as using billling online instead of paper copies where customers choose and eliminating the long credit reviews and the staff could be freed for other duties

I have long been a customer of PLDT and SMART and am a fan .

Stock holders and analysts should be concerned on the man power being used now in SMART BRO when quicker methods are available like email bill delivery, email questions, email surveys after installation and after disconnection, chats online, and cutting out the paperwork?

If its such a good product why not give customers a trial period first? It would cut customer service need as well from dissatisfied customers making waiting hours waiting to see them. And have those call center employees contact every customer after installation and see if everything is ok (survey) and again if they disconnect so Senior managers can respond to early signs of distress like now?

The average speed in USA for internet is now almost 6mbps average for consumers

Wonder what it is here?

Filipino comments on SMART broken

http://www.smartwifi.org.ph/customer-complaint/smart-broken/

manage your accounts, transfer funds, pay bills, reload your pre-paid sim and more from SMART phone and BPI

Smart Philippines gets new frequency bandwidth

THE war between Smart Broadband Inc. (SBI) and Globe Telecom is expected to heat up as the former bagged a new frequency bandwidth from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that would allow them to offer triple play service, a source said. According to the source, the regulator granted SBI 20 megahertz (MHz) in the 2.5-gigahertz (GHz) to 2.7-GHz spectrum. The Internet unit of Smart Communications Inc. was asking for 30MHz in the 2.5GHz to 2.7GHz spectrum.

Among the major players in the industry, SBI was the only telecommunications provider without an allocation in the 2.5GHz to 2.7GHz.

Globe’s Innove Communications Inc., has 15MHz in the said spectrum, while Liberty Telecommunications Holdings Inc. has 40MHz; Bayan Telecommunications Inc., 5MHz; Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc., 15MHz and e-Telco, 15Mhz.

Besides the 15MHz of Innove, Globe also has 30MHz in the said frequency after its Globe Group of Retirement Fund acquired Altimax Broadcasting Co. Inc., which owns the frequency.

In a letter filed with the NTC, Enrico Español, SBI head of legal and regulatory department said the frequency band will “revolu-tionalize” the way people communicate as it will allow them to stay connected with voice, data and video services or triple play. Español said the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave
Access (WiMAX) services allows the public to be connected in the Internet with high quality audio and video communications for application, especially in education, among other fields.

WiMAX is a technology that provides faster wireless transmission of data and mobile communications. It also offers broadband speed without the need for cables.

With the additional frequency, Orlando Vea, Smart chief wireless advisor, said the company would be able to launch WiMAX next week.

“We have enough frequencies for the moment to launch the service but we still need more,” Vea said.

Earlier, the company acquired the full ownership of Primeworld Digital Systems Inc. (PDSI), which has a 30-megahertz (MHz) bandwidth frequency assignment in the 2300MHz to 2400MHz that can be used to rollout WiMAX nationwide.

In the Philippines, Globe was the first to deploy WiMAX, a technology designed to enable the deployment of wireless broadband access as a cost-efficient alternative to cable and digital subscriber line (DSL).

Globe said its network is considered the first and biggest 2.5-gigahertz WiMAX (802.16e) broadband network in South East Asia. It has about 4,000 subscribers on this network. Its WiMAX service is initially available in selected areas in South Luzon, the National Capital Region, Visayas and Mindanao.  Read the complete article here http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/5164-smart-gets-new-frequency-bandwidth