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August 31, 2018

Meteor Garden actors use Vivo smartphones in 2018 reboot

Hit TV series Meteor Garden has made a comeback this 2018 after a successful and highly popular run 17 years ago, in 2001. Set in the city of Shanghai, the series reboot centers around the story of an ordinary girl, Dong Shancai who enters a prestigious university where she later encounters the well-known F4, an exclusive circle of four boys celebrated in school for their good looks and wealthy background. A string of events brought Shancai with the boys, particularly with the handsome Daoming Siand soft-spoken Huaze Lei.



Shancai checks her Vivo smartphone during one scene shot at the university.


In the Philippines, the local fans were crossing their fingers that a Filipino version of the beloved Chinese series would materialize, calling for their favorite celebrities to earn a spot in a local series re-make. When rumors surfaced in 2017 that Meteor Garden would be resurrected, the anticipation was also met with uncertainty that the reboot with series darlings Shancai and Daoming Si would not be as good as the original, some even calling that the original casts be called back for the re-creation of the show.



The box of a Vivo smartphone reaches the hand of the one of the key characters of the show.


But the 2018 Meteor Garden reboot did not disappoint its fans, old and new. Drawing legions of young followers from everywhere, the old formula of the series proved that it has not lost its charm over the years. As a matter of fact, its comeback was a trending topic on Twitter with over thirty thousand tweets on Its much-anticipated re-make. Much to the delight of fans, Shancai still carries her dream-girl image, her unyielding personality more charming to the audience than ever and Daoming Si still never fails to woo fans with his abounding charisma.







The series comeback inspired a myriad of feels from the fans: from happiness to sadness, to excitement and fear.


One thing that stands out with the Meteor Garden reboot and perhaps the reason why the show managed to captivate the hearts of millennials is the relatable personalities and lifestyles of the show’s characters. The show’s leads, much like today’s youth, are connected to their smartphones—Vivo smartphones in particular—heavily interacting with each other and expressing themselves through the usual selfies and status updates, shared through several social media platforms.




Shancai keeps her handy Vivo smartphone close to her.


While many Filipinos know the love story of Shancai and Daoming Si like the back of their hand, the Meteor Garden reboot’s main actors Shen Yue and Dylan Wang as well as the rest of the F4—Darren Chen, Connor Leung, and Caesar Wu—no doubt keep fans glued to their screens with their chemistry and energy that add zing to a classic favorite.




August 28, 2018

VIVO Endorsers tease about the next flagship smartphone

Are these photos a hint of Vivo’s next flagship smartphone?


These photos may give a hint on Vivo’s next flagship smartphone

Vivo endorsers are dropping hints on next flagship


    i


    Daniel Padilla on Twitter teased fans with a new visual.

    Vivo’s Filipino endorsers have been throwing hints on their social media accounts that something new is coming soon.

    Teen King Daniel Padilla posted a photo of himself with a gradient pink and blue background and the words “Go Beyond,” tagging Vivo Philippines' account.

    Other Vivo endorsers Darren Espanto, Julie Anne San Jose, Maymay Entrata, Maris Racal, and Paul Salas also posted the similar photos on their Instagram pages.




        
    Vivo endorsers hinted online that something new from the smartphone brand is arriving soon.



    TJ Monterde, KZ Tandingan, and IƱigo Pascual also posted photos tagging Vivo Philippines on IG. This time, their photos showed colorful backgrounds or lighting.



    Vivo ladies Kira Balinger, Joyce Pring, Loisa Andalio, Elisse Joson, and Sassa Dagdag posted closeup photos tagging Vivo Philippines, as if to emphasize their makeup.

       
    Do these photos tell something about the next Vivo flagship smartphone?  What is the common theme of these photos?

    In the past week, Vivo has been dropping hints on its social media accounts. It kicked off with a video of a fingerprint depicted like a spiral galaxy in an apparent reference to its pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. Its second teaser was a video of a launch of a space rocket. The third one was another video of the moon with a curved line emphasizing its shape.

    In this case, Vivo seems to be getting a lot of inspiration from the cosmos for its next smartphone. What do you think will Vivo post next? Best to keep watch on its social media pages. 



    About Vivo
    A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.  In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.  

    For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

    August 21, 2018

    Is VIVO preparing for a new smartphone ?


    Monday is an exciting day for tech enthusiasts and loyal followers of the fastest growing smartphone brand Vivo as it teased fans with a new visual, raising speculations that a new flagship is on its way.



    Vivo said that “something out of this world is brewing.” Tech enthusiasts and fans should keep watch in the coming days for more details.


    On its social media pages, Vivo posted a GIF image that depicts a fingerprint like a spiral galaxy with the phrases, “Go beyond” and “Arriving soon.”

    Vivo, a global smartphone that focuses on high-technology innovations, has surprised its Filipino fans with the launch of the first X-series smartphone last June 21. The Vivo X21 is equipped with the pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, the first smartphone in the Philippines with this forward-looking feature.

    The technology replaced the rear fingerprint sensor to achieve a sleek and unified design and offer an immersive smartphone experience. This is how it works: When a user finger touches the screen for unlocking, the Vivo X21’s Super AMOLED display emits light to illuminate the fingerprint. The optical fingerprint sensor below the OLED display captures the light reflected by the fingerprint. Based on the reflected light from the unique ridges on the fingerprint, the sensor processes the optical signals to deliver crisp and sharp fingerprint images for matching. Its unlocking speed is only 0.6 second.

    Vivo unveiled the industry’s first Vivo Under-Display Fingerprint Scanning Solution at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2017. But not long after, the global smartphone brand showcased a ready-to-produce smartphone with the world’s first In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 in Las Vegas, United States. That was how quick Vivo was able to develop the technology for mass production, proving that its developments are not just for show, but also for use.

    With Vivo preparing for its big announcement soon, one can’t help but wonder—how can their next flagship be different from its predecessors? 


    For inquiries about Vivo, 
    visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or 
    check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil),
    Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts

    August 18, 2018

    Lenovo introduces new laptops for the ‘modern avid gamer’

    Lenovo, a global leader in PCs and smart devices development, is launching two new laptops designed to meet the demands of the ‘modern avid gamers’.

    “Through our market research, we have discovered that there is a subset of gamers being ignored – the modern avid gamers. Most of these are millennials who carried their enthusiasm to adulthood but find it hard to continue due to their responsibilities at work, family, and social life. They are looking for a gaming PC that lets them partake in their passion but in a way that fits their lifestyle and time constraints. Our newest gaming machines are designed to meet their needs – a powerful, portable device with a stylish and minimalist exterior,” said


    Michael Ngan, Country General Manager of Lenovo Philippines.





    Lenovo Legion Y530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 330 




    The new devices, namely, theLenovo Legion Y530 and theIdeaPad 330 are built for more than just gaming. Both can handle programs for work or study easily, but also allows you to watch movies and TV series, it supports digital performance like video, animation, and graphics editing.

    The new devices, namely, theLenovo Legion Y530 and theIdeaPad 330 are built for more than just gaming. Both can handle programs for work or study easily, but also allows you to watch movies and TV series, it supports digital performance like video, animation, and graphics editing.

    Lenovo Legion Y530 – The portable gaming and office workhorse

    The new Lenovo Legion laptops are built for today’s on-the-go gamers who travel light. The Lenovo Legion Y530 Laptop has a subtle but compelling top cover texture that radiates out from the “O” in its Legion emblem. The laptop is fully equipped with up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 Ti GPUs, up to the latest 8th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 processors and Windows® 10.

    With up to 16GB DDR4 2666MHz memory and up to 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD or 2TB HDD storage, it can fulfill both powering and storage demands. Heat is no longer a bother to gamers as the new Legion Y530 features improved thermal layout with dual fan design and quad-vent cooling for increased airflow.
               
    Users can enjoy clear and crisp audio with its Dolby Audio™ Premium, which can dynamically adjust audio to deliver home theatre quality in a virtual surround sound experience. The Legion Y530 comes in at only 24 mm thin and 5.1 lbs. light. Its bezels are 62% thinner compared to previous gaming laptops, making it more portable and easy to carry.

    The device is available in Onyx Black with backlit keyboards.

    Lenovo IdeaPad 330 – The all-around productivity and entertainment booster

    Stacked with premium processing and discrete graphics options, the Lenovo IdeaPad™ 330 is as powerful as it is easy to use.  Buyers can choose up to 7thGeneration Intel® Core™ i7 processor, coming with the lightning-fast responsiveness and reliable performance.

    The device supports up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1050 graphics, perfect for those who want to play graphics-intensive games and handle resource-intensive business applications smoothly at the same time.

    In addition, users can choose from up to 2 TB SATA HDD storage. The laptop comes in 14-, 15- and 17-inch anti-glare screens, in HD and full HD resolution options. Starting at 4.6 lbs, the device is made up of sturdy PC-ABS material chassis and it promises up to 8 hours of battery life.

    Lenovo IdeaPad 330 comes in Onyx Black, Platinum Grey, Midnight Blue, and Chocolate.

    Starting price for the Legion Y530 and IdeaPad 330 are P59,995 and P17,995, respectively. Both devices are now available at leading electronics stores.
    The devices will be first showcased at Conquerors Manila 2018
    where Lenovo is the official gaming hardware partner.

    New generation of the Nokia 2 and Nokia 3 arrives in the Philippines

    HMD Global brings affordable premium design and long-lasting entertainment in new smartphones

    HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announces that the new Nokia 2.1 and Nokia 3.1 will be available for PHP5,990 and PHP9,990, respectively, starting August 29.


    On top of 50 percent performance boost over its predecessor, the Nokia 2.1 combines a larger screen and dual front-front facing speakers with an incredible 2-day battery life to give users everything they need for entertainment on the go.




    Shannon Mead, HMD Global Philippines country manager, said:
    “At HMD Global, innovation means merging premium quality with affordability and accessibility. The Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 2.1 are just two of the breakthroughs we are proud to bring to the Filipinos, with the design and technology upgrade for even better mobile experience.



    Like the original, the new Nokia 3.1 blends a careful selection of materials into a perfect harmony with a stunning design. Its anodized machined metal frame and sculpted glass display deliver the perfect combination for both stand-out looks and comfortable feel in the hand. Subtle but striking metal accents are matched with dual diamond cuts for a premium finish.

    The Nokia 3.1 is Nokia mobile’s most-affordable 18:9 smartphone, delivering the same screen ratio users get from modern flagships to give them more content with a single glance in a slim device. Just the right size for single-handed use, it now packs a larger 5.2-inch HD+ display protected by a damage-resistant 2.5D curved Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 to keep its original aesthetic.

    The Nokia 3.1 runs on an octa-core MediaTek 6750 chip, which gives its user twice the processor cores and 50 percent faster performance than the previous generation to keep up with modern users’ busy and fast-paced lifestyle. Featuring an upgraded 13MP auto-focus rear camera, the Nokia 3.1 captures the memories that its user would want to relive over and over while the wide-angle front camera fits more subjects into every selfie.

    Thanks to its full set of sensors - usually only found on premium phones - the Nokia 3.1 runs the latest apps and features effortlessly. Users can make the most out of popular AR apps such as PokĆ©mon Go, pay securely and easily with Google Pay,[1]  and capture the whole scene with panoramic imaging.




    Designed to deliver long-lasting entertainment to consumers who are always on-the-go, the Nokia 2.1 comes with 2-day battery life, a large 5.5-inch HD screen and dual front-facing stereo speakers. The Nokia 2.1’s powerful 4,000mAh battery now charges even faster so users can get back up and running even more quickly than before.

    With its HD display 20 percent bigger than the original, Nokia mobile fans can now enjoy high-definition videos on the go. The dual speakers, with bespoke 3D formed stainless steel detail, provide amazing stereo sound.

    The upgraded Qualcomm™ Snapdragon® 425 64-bit Mobile Platform gives users 50 percent faster and smoother performance to enable efficient and fast switching between apps.

    Nokia 2.1’s cameras allow users to capture the action wherever they are with its 5MP front-facing selfie snapper or 8MP rear camera with auto focus.

    Offering the quality and style fans expect from a Nokia phone, Nokia 2.1’s sophisticated Nordic design and metallic accents guarantee that its user will stand out from the crowd. Its sleek, rounded and ergonomically designed, inherently colored polycarbonate back keeps the phone looking great even after long periods of use.


    The Nokia 3.1 is entering the Android One family where it joins the comprehensive range of Nokia smartphones already delivering an experience designed by Google that is smart, secure and simply amazing. Nokia smartphones with Android One offer more storage and battery life out of the box as well as the latest AI-powered innovations from Google to help the user stay ahead of the game every day. The Nokia 3.1 will receive three years of monthly security patches and two years of OS updates as guaranteed in the Android One program. This puts the new Nokia 3.1 among the most-secure phones out there, always up-to-date with the latest Google services such as Google Assistant and Google Photos with free unlimited high-quality photo storage.

    Tailored to devices with 1GB RAM or less, Android Oreo™ (Go edition) is what’s operating Nokia 2.1 with a new range of apps from Google designed to run faster while consuming less data. Optimized to be smooth and fast, these include Google Go web search app, Google Maps™ Go, YouTube™ Go and Google Assistant for Android (Go edition), to quickly send messages, make calls, set alarms and do more, simply by using your voice.


    Availability and pricing
    • The Nokia 3.1 will be available in Black/Chrome on August 29 and will retail for PHP9,990.
    • Coming in three colors — Blue/Copper, Blue/Silver, Gray/Silver — the Nokia 2.1 is available starting August 29 for PHP5,990.

    Pre-sale of Nokia 3.1 started in August 15 and lasts until August 26 through Nokia mobile stores and MemoXpress. See full details at http://uniteforpromo.ph/premium

    With HMD Global’s extended partnership with Home Credit, you can also avail the Nokia 2.1 and the Nokia 3.1 at 0% interest for a 6-month installment period.

    Experience the new generation of Nokia phones you can rely on and enjoy a free Kingston 16GB SD card at any authorized Nokia reseller, as well as any Nokia store, kiosk or exhibit:

    Nokia mobile stores:

    SM City North EDSA
    SM City Clark
    SM City Tarlac
    SM City Bacolod
    SM City Iloilo
    Gaisano Mall Davao

    Nokia mobile kiosks:
    SM City Megamall
    Robinsons Manila
    SM City Bacoor
    SM City Batangas
    SM City Dasmarinas
    SM City Olongapo
    SM City Rosales
    SM City San Fernando, Pampanga
    SM City San Pablo
    SM City Sta. Rosa
    SM City Urdaneta

    Nokia mobile exhibits:
    SM Mall of Asia
    Gaisano Mall Tagum
    SM City Davao
    SM City Marilao
    SM City Rosario

    Visit the official Nokia website https://www.nokia.com/en_ph/phones/store-locator for the full list of the top stores near you.

    August 16, 2018

    AI is Making Mobile Life Easier

    Not too long ago, artificial intelligence (AI) seems like an idea from a distant, unreachable future. In old sci-fi flicks, AI is often portrayed as robots—mostly evil robots that will bring havoc to the world. But, AI means so much more. It has even evolved into an everyday companion that complements human lifestyle.


    The Vivo leveled up its AI features on the all-new NEX.

    In mobile technology, global smartphone brand Vivo is among the companies that maximized AI in its recent flagship units. But this concept is not new. AI was theorized decades ago after it was introduced by American computer scientist pioneer and inventor John McCarthy at the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence in 1956. The conference was formed to discuss ideas on what they called thinking machines. He was eventually named the Father of AI.


    McCarthy eventually became part of the Stanford University’s Computer Science Department and published a document breaking down his understanding of AI. He wrote in 2007 that AI is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines or intelligent computer programs. In other words, AI will try to understand, simulate, and mimic human intelligence. McCarthy then said some of the applications of AI include game playing, speech recognition, understanding natural language, computer vision, expert systems, and heuristic classification.


    Fast forward to 2018, AI has already penetrated various fields including the smartphone industry that basically touched on McCarthy’s defined applications of AI to make mobile life much easier.

    Strategy Analytics Inc., a company that provides data and analysis, business consulting, advisory, and strategic market research services on a global scale, estimated that smartphone processors with on-device AI functionality such as Qualcomm grew almost three-fold year-over-year in the first quarter of 2018.




    A closer look at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile platform inside every Vivo NEX. Courtesy of: Qualcomm.com

    For instance, the latest Vivo NEX launched is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core 2.8 GHz. This has the 3rd Generation Hexagon™ 685 DSP that supports on-device AI processing to deliver richer camera, voice, XR, and gaming experiences.

    Meanwhile, Vivo’s latest flagship smartphone in the Philippines, the Vivo X21, is run by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE Octacore 2.2 GHz (4 core) + 1.8 GHz (4 core). This chipset has an AI-powered engine with Hexagon Vector Processor, Adreno GPU, and Kryo CPU. It also has software features that make on-device AI experiences possible in camera, audio, security, and gaming.



    Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Senior Marketing Manager Dominikus Susanto visited the Philippines in April to explain the Vivo V9’s chipset.

    Going beyond the AI-powered chipsets, Vivo’s first flagship smartphone in 2018 was the V9 with a 24-megapixel AI front camera. The selfie camera allowed users to maximize every shot with the use of various AI features like the Face Beauty, the AR Stickers, and Selfie Lighting.

    The integration of AI and mobile technology proved that the rise of AI should not be something to be afraid of. Now that AI is becoming ubiquitous in smartphones, one can’t help but ask, what are the next developments users should look forward to?I

    Vivo and Smart Forge Partnership For Unlimited Data Plan with Vivo X21

    Global smartphone brand Vivo and PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider, together with top wireless brand, Smart Communications Inc., seal a strong partnership for an exciting new offer: a non-stop data bundle with Vivo’s latest pride, the X21.

    The partnership was established last August 16, 2018 in Makati City. Vivo executive Ms. Annie Lim, Vice President for PR Strategy and Partnerships, represented the smartphone brand. Representing PLDT Enterprise on the other hand was Smart AVP & Head for Enterprise Wireless Solutions Chet Alviz.


    The Vivo X21 is the first in the world to implement the In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, the center of topic during the Mobile World Congress and Global Stage for Innovation CES events. Through this strategic partnership with Smart, Vivo aims to expand and cater to the Filipino corporate market.

    Smart will bundle the X21 with the Data on the Go Plan 2000, which includes unlimited calls to Smart and non-stop surf—allowing corporate clients to enjoy the X21's high-end specifications for a low monthly amortization of 400 pesos for 24 months. The Vivo X21 makes for a perfect business companion. The Vivo X21's 6.28" Super AMOLED display is the ideal device for all professionals in the business and corporate world as it can aid users in various business-related functions. From attending critical business online conferences to performing business research on multiple websites, the Vivo X21 delivers the goods more than ever especially as it comes with the Smart’s non-stop surf bundle.


    Smart is the exclusive operator partner of Vivo for this exciting X21 Project. The said offer will be available to all corporate partners of PLDT and Smart by August 15, 2018.

    August 12, 2018

    Get your hands on the notched beauty of Vivo Y85 for Php11,999


    This is a new treat for you! You can now enjoy Vivo Y85 in a lesser price. 

    Global smartphone brand Vivo has a treat for its loyal customers: the Y85 is now available for Php11,999 or Php2,000 less its original retail price.

    The Y series smartphone was first introduced in May. It has a 6.22-inch 19:9 high definition FullView™ Display with an 88% screen-to-body ratio.

    Vivo Global Philippines  ( http://vivoglobal.ph/vivo-phones/vivo_y85/also boasts of a 13-megapixel plus 2MP dual rear camera that can produce 52MP Ultra HD photos. This smartphone also has a Face ID Access, apart from the fingerprint scanner, to ensure hassle-free unlocking especially for those on-the-go.

    The smartphone also has an 8MP front camera with AI Face Beauty and Portrait capabilities that bring the user’s natural beauty in every selfie.

    The Y85 also has a 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage running on a 12nm octa-core processor with an Android 8.1-based Funtouch OS 4.0 operating system. These specs ensure that the smartphone can handle multiple and complex tasks to keep up with every digital native’s lifestyle.

    The Android 8.1 OS also complements the smartphone’s 3260mAh battery to ensure longer battery life.

    The Vivo Y85 is available in black and red. It has a 2.5D subtle curved edges flow at the back and the front. The sleek back cover even gleams in the light for those who want to standout from the crowd.  



    About Vivo
    A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.

    For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.


    PLDT Home, the country’s No.1 home broadband, launches its first prepaid broadband service

    With the company’s vision of bringing world-class Internet to Filipino families, PLDT has launched its first ever PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi, an affordable service that makes it easier than ever for more families to enjoy their online activities in the comfort of their home.

    The PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is a plug and play device that instantly connects you to the Internet. Once plugged into a power source, it can simultaneously connect up to 5 WiFi-ready devices, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, to high-speed Internet.

    Unlike the regular Pocket WiFi which is meant for users on the go, the PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is specially designed for home use as it utilizes the LTE 700MHZ band, a low frequency that easily penetrates houses and buildings. This way, the PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is able to deliver high-speed Internet indoors – whether in the living room, kitchen, or bedroom.


    PLDT’s pinakasulit Home Internet

    Aside from being affordable, PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi also lets you enjoy PLDT Home’spinakasulit Internet with the Home Boost 15, which comes with 1GB valid for 1 day for only Php15. You can enjoy Home Boost 15 as an add-on to promos like Home Boost 50 or up, for greater savings.

    With the PLDT Prepaid Home Wifi, families can learn together and research for school; bond by streaming videos and music; stay active on their favorite apps; or catch up with loved ones and friends on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter – all in the comfort of their homes.

    And because it is prepaid, there’s no need to worry about monthly bill payments, lock-in period, or uncontrolled data usage because customers simply have to load it up and register to promos that suit their family’s needs.


    Powered by the Philippines’ fastest mobile Internet

    The PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is powered Smart’s LTE network, the Philippines’s fastest mobile Internet, according to the latest Speedtest® report of Ookla, the global leader in Internet testing and analysis.

    In its analysis of over 2 million user-generated tests on LTE devices in the Philippines from Q1 to Q2 of 2018, Ookla said Smart provided the country’s fastest LTE connection with average download speeds of 17.25 Mbps, and average upload speeds of 7.65 Mbps.

    On the other hand, UK-based mobile analytics firm OpenSignal also recognized Smart for having the country’s fastest LTE network, bestowing the company four citations in its March 2018 report: best in 4G LTE download speed; best in overall download speed; best 4G latency performance; and best 3G latency performance.

    High-speed Smart LTE now covers major urban areas including Metro Manila, Rizal, Cebu, and Davao, and top sites in Bacolod, Baguio, Baler, Batanes, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro, Iloilo, Laguna, Leyte, Palawan, Sagada, Sarangani, and Zamboanga, among others.

    Get the PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi with FREE 10GB for only P1,995

    The PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi is now available at all PLDT Stores and retailers nationwide and comes with FREE 10GB, valid for 7 days, for a one-time payment of only Php1,995.

    FINTQ’s online lending platform Lendr also makes it easier for customers to get hold of the PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi via affordable installment payments.

    With Lendr, customers can buy the device for an initial low cash-out of Php495, followed by six weekly payments of Php370, which can be paid through any Smart Padala center, Bayad Center, ECPay, and 7-Eleven outlets. They simply need to visit https://pldthomewifi.lendr.com.ph to create an account, complete the application form and apply for a loan to purchase the device. FINTQ is the financial technology arm of Voyager Innovations--the digital innovations arm of PLDT and Smart.

    What are you waiting for?  Get your own PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi now! To know more, visitwww.pldthome.com and follow PLDT’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PLDTHome) and Twitter (@PLDTHome).

    Live network by first half of 2019: Smart and Ericsson to deploy 5G in PH

    PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Ericsson have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deploy the country’s first 5G pilot network by the first half of 2019.

    Smart and Ericsson team up for 5G in PH. At the signing were PLDT Chief Corporate Services Officer Ray C. Espinosa, PLDT chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ericsson Head of Market Area South East Asia, Oceania and India Nunzio Mirtillo and Martin Wiktorin, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Pacific Islands.

    Smart and Ericsson team up for 5G in PH. At the signing were PLDT Chief Corporate Services Officer Ray C. Espinosa, PLDT chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ericsson Head of Market Area South East Asia, Oceania and India Nunzio Mirtillo and Martin Wiktorin, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Pacific Islands.

    Under the MoU, the 5G network will be first deployed in Luzon, the country’s largest and most populous island where about a third of the population work and live.

    The 3GPP compliant 5G Trial System that will be deployed in Smart includes Ericsson 5G RAN, Core and Transport solutions. The 5G pilot deployment will allow Smart to explore industry partnership engagements, collaborate with schools and universities, and further develop competence in 5G.

    “As 5G opens up more opportunities for new services and solutions to offer to our customers, we are investing in future-proofing our network and making sure that our network is ready for 5G,” said PLDT-Smart chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

    “Our partnership with Ericsson is part of our commitment to bring to the country the latest technologies to improve the experience of our customers, as well as boost the digital transformation of enterprises and industries,” he added.

    “We are happy to partner with Smart to pioneer 5G in the Philippines. We believe first movers in 5G can reshape the market, grow market share and increase revenue streams. Combining improved capacity and ultra-low latency, 5G will help realize new use cases and business models and capture new revenue opportunities by addressing industry digitalization,” said Martin Wiktorin, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Pacific Islands.

    All set for 5G. Gracing the MoU signing were Ericsson vice president and key account manager Anthony Valdez, PLDT-Smart Chief Technology and Information Advisor Joachim Horn, PLDT Chief Corporate Services Officer Ray C. Espinosa, PLDT chair and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, Ericsson Head of Market Area South East Asia, Oceania and India Nunzio Mirtillo, PLDT-Smart Chief Revenue Officer Eric Alberto, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei, Philippines and Pacific Islands Martin Wiktorin and PLDT-Smart head of Consumer Business for Customer Development Alex O. Caeg.

    Future-proofed network

    “To be able to deliver 5G services to its customers in the future, Smart is upgrading its network’s Core and Transport elements. This includes upgrading to fiber the backhaul connecting the network’s cell sites around the country and deploying 5G-ready equipment in the ongoing LTE roll-out,” according to Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Engineering.

    “As we continue to ramp up the roll-out of LTE, LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation technology nationwide, we are also making sure that these are already future-proof and 5G-capable,” Tamayo added.

    Under its current upgrades, Smart is installing 5G-compatible radio equipment across its network, which now has over 2,000 5G-ready sites.


    Exciting possibilities

    With its capability to deliver extremely high speeds coupled with low latency, 5G opens up exciting possibilities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications for Filipinos, particularly in healthcare and smart cities.

    Smart has been testing 5G since 2016, when it achieved with technology partner Nokia 5G speeds of 2.5 Gigabits per second (Gbps) using 100 MHz with latency of just 1 millisecond over a ‘live’ network--the first in the Philippines.

    Months later, PLDT and Smart announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with technology partner Huawei Technologies Phils. “to shape the strategic and commercial development of the 5G ecosystem in the Philippines.” In particular, the two parties were looking to identify and develop the areas of technological innovation needed to deliver 5G, which is expected to provide the foundation for the digital connected society.

    In June, Smart launched its 5G TechnoLab, which is the company’s flagship facility for the research and development, standardization, and testing of 5G and is designed to be a sustainable environment for innovative services.

    With Huawei, Smart also successfully breached 5G speeds of over 14Gbps in a test held at the 5G TechnoLab using 5G New Radio, in which the second set of global standards have been recently ratified.

    Parent company PLDT has committed historic levels of resources for network transformation. For 2018, PLDT capex is expected to reach P58 billion, which includes allocations for the aggressive roll-out of its fiber broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.