Friday, May 16, 2008 Prepaid plug-it Internet device hits RP market
FROM the people who led the way in making cell phones the most popular personal device of Filipinos comes a new drive to put the Internet literally into the hands of millions of Filipinos. They are using a familiar formula: very low cost, ease of use and ubiquity.
Smart, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Smart Broadband Inc. (SBI), recently launched a prepaid wireless broadband service, Smart Bro Prepaid, making the worldwide web available to a broader segment of the population with affordable sachet pricing, nationwide coverage and easy loading.
The Smart Bro Prepaid kit is priced at P4,500, well within the reach of a broad market. The kit already includes the Smart Bro Plug-it USB modem, a SIM card, and P30 worth of free broadband load, which can be readily used for up to one hour and 30 minutes of high-speed Internet access.
Smart Bro Prepaid can connect to Smart’s HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) network at speeds up to 384 kbps, allowing for an easy online experience.
Smart Bro Prepaid requires no monthly fees. No documents are required to avail of the prepaid broadband kit. The kit is available at any Smart Wireless Center, Smart Bro agent or Smart Bro accredited dealer.
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Loading the Smart Bro Prepaid is not a problem either. Subscribers can easily load their account in more than million Smart Load outlets across the country or use any Smart Bro Load Card.
“The Internet is the new cellular. The Internet should be for all. We will put it in the hands of everybody,” said Orlando B. Vea, Smart chief wireless advisor.
Vea is the founder of Smart and was its first president and chief executive officer when the then start-up company changed the Philippine telecoms landscape with its affordable mobile phone service.
Bong Mojica, head of Smart’s wireless consumer division, said the prepaid kit is just the initial offering.
“Even as we continue to provide great value in basic voice and SMS as well as value-added services, we will make broadband as pervasive, bringing new technologies and compelling content to the market,” said Mojica. (PR)
