Filtered By: Money
Money

Smart, TNT, Sun offer free mobile Internet for all prepaid subscribers


Smart Communications Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan on Friday announced that some 66 million mobile prepaid subscribers stand to benefit from free mobile Internet access as part of an "initial offering" to the public.

Under the plan, all of the company's prepaid subscribers—including those of its subsidiaries, Talk N' Text and Sun Cellular—will be alotted 30MB of free data access per day. 
 
PLDT said the volume-based service is available across all platforms, meaning phones with 2G, 3G, and LTE capabilities can avail of the free Internet service.
 
The "initial offering" begins today, Friday, Sept. 26, and will continue until Nov. 30. After this perod, the company will assess whether or not to continue the service for free.

According to Smart's press release:
 
Through this special offer, all of the 66 million Smart Prepaid, Talk ‘N Text, and Sun Cellular Prepaid subscribers can use their data-enabled cellphones to browse through and post on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, (and) visit their favorites websites... all without incurring data charges.
 

Jumpstarting PHL mobile Internet use

The promo is aimed squarely at prepaid subscribers who are part of its 20 million smartphone user base, a third of whom "are already engaging in mobile Internet (use)."
 
"The assumption is that (net usage) will widen, broaden the adoption of the internet by giving them the right access and the right pricing," said Pangilinan.
 
Orlando B. Vea, Smart’s chief wireless adviser, added, "The objective is to stimulate the habit of using (the mobile Internet)."
 
Furthermore, Smart spokesperson Mon Isberto said that they will launch an education campaign through different channels to teach them how to use the service.
 
"We're talking about a market that don't know how to use their phones or who don't know how to navigate the internet. The whole point of this offer is to give them a chance to try it out," Isberto said.

When asked if their infrastructure is capable of handling the rush of traffic that the offering is expected to bring, Vea assured that Smart is "prepared to handle the traffic" that will result from the promotion.

What's the catch?

Charles Lim, PLDT executive, said subscribers will encounter a pay wall or "safe zone" upon reaching their limit of 30mb for the day.
 
In this safe zone, subscribers will be given an option of continuing their experience by purchasing any of Smart's load options.
 
However, he said that once users download videos, message other users, and "peer-to-peer sharing like BitTorrent", subscribers will have to pay regular charges for data usage.
 
The limit was put into place to give all their subscribers a chance to use the service, and "not limit it to a few who will be able to use up much of the capacity of the network."
 
The 30mb limit was the estimated average data needed by typical mobile internet users per day, and should be "more than enough" for an average subscriber.

Cryptic announcement

The announcement followed days of speculation after Pangilinan himself posted a cryptic announcement on Twitter:




To avail of the free mobile Internet offer, Smart, Talk N Text, and Sun Cellular subscribers must:

  • Have a balance of at least P1 or subscription to any load promo
  • Send "FREE" to 9999
  •  
Registration is free and must be renewed everyday. Subscribers will receive a free text confirmation upon successful registration. — VS/TJD,GMA News

LOADING CONTENT