Smart offers another text promo

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc. is offering another short message service (SMS) or text promotion, even if a complaint against a previous promotion is still being heard by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). In a statement, Smart said it is offering expanded unlimited texting and "All Text 20" services for subscribers of its Smart Buddy prepaid brand. For just P25, Smart Buddy subscribers may avail of all-day unlimited texting as long as the messages are sent to Smart and Talk ’N Text users. The package, however, also comes with 10 extra messages to subscribers of other networks, where previously there were none. The improved All Text 20, on the other hand, now comes with 100 text messages covering Smart-to-Smart and Smart-to-Talk ’N TexT messages. The service also comes bundled with extra 10 messages to subscribers of other networks. Before, the All Text 20 was limited to 100 messages only. "We shall introduce more of these enhanced service packages in order to provide better value to our Smart Buddy subscribers," Smart Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando B. Vea said. The NTC is still hearing a complaint filed by Smart’s rival Globe Telecom, Inc. regarding a different SMS promotion, which can also be availed of by Smart and Talk ’N Text subscribers. Globe had argued that the joint promotions offered to subscribers of Smart and the Pilipino Telephone Corp. (Piltel) are discriminatory. Piltel is a subsidiary of Smart is the operator of the Talk ’N Text brand. Smart’s newest promo has already received the NTC’s approval. "Any traffic, be it voice, data, text message, etc., between Smart’s and Piltel’s subscribers are therefore considered ’on-net’ traffic," read an NTC letter signed by Commissioner Ruel V. Canobas and Deputy Commissioners Jorge V. Sarmiento and Jaime M. Fortes, Jr. - Marian Grace S. Ramos, BusinessWorld