PLDT and Smart ring in Christmas with ‘Holideals,’ their biggest holiday sale

Brace yourself as leading digital services provider PLDT Inc. and its mobile arm Smart Communications, Inc. are ushering in the Christmas season with the first ever ‘Holideals,’ their biggest holiday blow-out yet for current and new customers.

PLDT and Smart’s Holideals feature huge discounts and irresistible offers that suit your Christmas gift list - whether you’re looking for the perfect present for your loved ones, or simply thinking of a well-deserved treat for yourself to celebrate the season.

“Christmas has always been the happiest season of Filipinos, and as our gift for everyone, we brought together our best deals that make it a lot easier to enjoy the most amazing digital experiences powered by the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks,” said Andrew L. Santos, PLDT and Smart FVP for Consumer Marketing. “Indeed, there is no better time to be a PLDT Home and Smart customer than now.”

With Holideals, you can enjoy fast and reliable connectivity at home with the whole family with these special PLDT Home offers:

• For new PLDT Home Fibr customers

Save up to Php3,600 on Unli Fibr and enjoy waived activation and installation fees, free speedboost, and zero cash-out when you sign up for a new PLDT Home Unli Fibr plan.

• For current PLDT Home customers

Enjoy free one month when you sign up to a new add-on service, such as a Telpad, FamCam, or TVolution Roku Powered when you apply at any PLDT Store nationwide.

• PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi

Get a Php200 discount (now only Php1,795.00 from Php1,995.00) and a free six-month subscription to iflix.

• PLDT Online Gadget Sale

Get up to 50% discount on gadgets including the First Generation TVolution stick, Telpad, and Smart Watch, among others, on the PLDT Online Store.

Leveling up your digital lifestyle with the latest smartphones and data-packed offers is also a lot easier with Holideals offers from Smart:

• For Smart Prepaid customers

Enjoy discounted load card when you buy the Smart Prepaid Gift Card.

• For Smart Postpaid customers

Enjoy exclusive discounts and deals when you renew or sign up for a new GigaX Plan with the latest flagship devices, including Samsung Note 9, Huawei Mate 20, and Huawei Mate 20 Pro, as well as when you subscribe to a new Smart Bro Pocket WiFi Plan or iPad Plan. Also get a chance to win exciting raffle prizes with your new plans!

• Smart Online Store Bazaar

Enjoy awesome deals and avail of LTE smartphones at a steal of a price when you apply for a Smart Postpaid Plan on the Smart Online Store.

What are you waiting for? Celebrate Christmas with the biggest deals from PLDT and Smart! To learn more and start your holiday shopping, visit www.smart.com.ph/Pages/PLDTSmartHolideals now!

PLDT, Smart unlock amazing digital experiences powered by PH’s fastest network

Unlock the Future - MVP with PLDT and Smart Executives and  Partners

Leading digital services providers PLDT, Inc. and Smart Communications unlock the future with new innovative products and services powered by the country's fastest fixed and mobile networks. In the photo: PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan leads the celebratory toast with PLDT and Smart executives and partners from ABS-CBN, Cignal, ESPN 5, Google, Huawei, iflix, NBA, Oppo, Samsung, StarMobile, and Roku.

Fresh from their latest recognition as the Philippine’s fastest fixed and mobile networks, leading digital services provider PLDT Inc. and its mobile arm Smart Communications are ushering in a new wave of innovative products & services that aim to unlock amazing experiences for Filipinos whether they are in the comfort of their home or on the go.

PLDT and Smart presented their latest products at a powerhouse event aptly themed ‘Unlock the Future’ and graced by executives, endorsers, celebrities, and partners in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“Over the past years, we’ve been hard at work to future-proof our network and beef up our digital content and product partners. We’re delighted to present our most exciting services that are designed to meet the ever-evolving needs of Filipinos,” said Oscar A. Reyes, Jr., PLDT and Smart SVP and Consumer Business Market Development Head.

“Backed by our fastest networks, these innovative solutions will elevate the way our customers enjoy digital devices, services, and content. As we get ready to close 2018 and prepare for a new year ahead, we will continue our groundbreaking work to help empower Filipinos to enjoy an amazing life,” said Andrew L. Santos, PLDT-Smart FVP and Consumer Marketing Head.

Unlocking an amazing life for Filipinos

To establish even stronger connections at home, PLDT has introduced the new PLDT Home Fibr Google Wifi Plans, which feature a whole home wifi network system that puts an end to dead spots and ensures strong and Fibr-fast connection in every corner of your home.

New PLDT Home customers can now subscribe to Google Wifi Plan 3799, which comes with an unlimited 50Mbps connection, three Google Wifi points, and free service assistance from the Home Geek Squad. On the other hand, existing PLDT Home Fibr customers can simply avail of Google Wifi units as an add-on for Php799 per month for a set of three.

PLDT is also unlocking a new entertainment experience at home with the upcoming launch of the new PLDT Home TVolution Lite that is powered by Roku®. The new service features a plug-and-play device that allows customers to easily and effortlessly watch trending videos on YouTube; their favorite HD channels from Cignal; Top Hollywood, Asian and local movies and TV series from iflix; critically-acclaimed Netflix originals and films, and hundreds of free streaming channels on their TV.

Following their support for the much celebrated Esports and Gaming Summit 2018 and the recently concluded ‘Road to the Nationals,’ which awarded the country’s top DOTA 2 and Tekken 7 players, PLDT and Smart also affirmed their commitment to deliver the best gaming experience for Filipino gamers powered by PLDT Home Fibr, the fastest Fibr connection for lag-free gaming at home, and Smart LTE, the fastest LTE network for gaming on-the-go.

Unlocking bigger and more rewarding experiences

On the other hand, buoyed by the massive success of its Free YouTube campaign, which more than doubled the daily active YouTube users on its network and drove over 13 times more data usage traffic from customers, Smart has stepped up to unlock total entertainment with Video Every Day.

A new promo that comes with all of Smart’s GigaSurf data packages, Video Every Day provides customers with up to 1 hour of Video access daily for YouTube, iflix, iWant TV, Cignal Play and NBA League Pass - for as long as their GigaSurf subscription is valid. Smart customers can now register to GigaSurf with Video Every Day by simply dialing *121# or via the mySmart app.

Apart from these services, Smart has also announced game-changing partnerships with popular smartphone manufacturers Oppo, Samsung, and Starmobile to encourage more Filipinos to upgrade to LTE-capable handsets that come with special discounts and freebies.

Among these special LTE-capable handsets are the OPPO A71 Smart LTE phone kit, which is now available for Php5,998 (from the original SRP of Php6,990); the Samsung J2 Core Smart LTE Phone Kit priced at Php4,990 (from Php5,990); and Starmobile Play Click TNT LTE phone kit, which is very affordable at Php2,998 (from Php3,490).

To offer a much bigger digital experience, Smart also continues to strengthen its portfolio of the latest flagship devices with the data-packed GigaX Plans, which feature separate data allocations for streaming videos, as well as enjoying apps and surfing websites.

Smart offers the newly launched Huawei Mate 20 with the GigaX Plans at Php2199 per month, and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro at Php2,599 per month.

Smart also makes it easier for customers to get hold of the latest iPhones, starting with the iPhone XS at Php3,299 per month, and the iPhone XS Max at Php3,599 per month. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also available with the Smart GigaX Plans.

Finally, in celebration of its 25th anniversary, Smart announced its biggest anniversary e-raffle promo in the company’s history, which gives customers a chance to win data packages, MVP Rewards points, LTE smartphones every month, leading up to the grand raffle on February 25, 2019 in which one lucky subscriber will win Php25 million cash! To join, subscribers need only to register to select data promos and add-ons.

Twin awards for the country’s fastest network

Earlier this year, PLDT and Smart were cited for being the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for Q1-Q2 2018, respectively, by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.

Just recently, independent mobile analytics company OpenSignal also cited Smart for providing its customers the best video experience in the country. The UK-based firm has published an independent analysis of the customer experience for video services by telecom carriers in Asia, showing that Smart garnered a video experience score of 42.2, well ahead of competition in the Philippines and well above the national average.

OpenSignal also recognized Smart earlier this year for having the country’s fastest LTE network, awarding the company with four citations including best in 4G LTE download speed; best in overall download speed; best 4G latency performance; and best 3G latency performance in its March 2018 report.

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.

Smart and Uber team up for special iPhone 6s midnight delivery on Nov. 6 Be among the first to get the Rose Gold iPhone 6s in style

Excited and can't wait to get your hands on the much anticipated Rose Gold iPhone 6s on launch day?

You can have it especially delivered in style right at your doorstep as unrivaled mobile services leader Smart Communications teams up with Uber, the world's most popular ride-sharing service, for the  first ever iPhone midnight delivery service in the Philippines.

Available from 12 am to 4 am of Nov. 6, the official launch day of the latest iPhones in the country, the service allows you to request the Rose Gold iPhone 6s (16GB) unit worth Php 35,990 delivered wherever you are in Metro Manila via the Uber app. Just request for a Smart iPhone6s on the Uber app, prepare to pay using your credit or debit card, and get ready to have your new phone delivered to you in style.

Exciting surprises

You can pay in 12-month installment at 0% interest if you opt for a credit card transaction. As an added perk, all iPhone 6s deliveries come with P2,000 worth of Rustan's gift certificates!

"Smart is thrilled to partner with Uber to bring the brand new iPhones to excited subscribers who want to get the first dibs on the Rose Gold iPhone units via the country's first ever midnight iPhone delivery service," said Kathy Carag, Smart Postpaid Head. "Aside from utter convenience, subscribers who will avail of this special service can also look forward to more exciting surprises! This is part of our efforts to give our beloved subscribers awesome Smart Life experience," she added.

Simple, fast, convenient

Ordering your Rose Gold iPhone 6s (16GB) via the Smart-Uber midnight delivery service is simple, fast and convenient with these steps:

1. Download the Uber app and allow location access

2. Register / sign-in with your account

3. Choose the Smart iPhone6s option

4. Look for the Rose Gold car near you and input your delivery location for both the pick-up and destination fields

5. Click on Request to get the iPhone 6s delivered to you.

As soon as you've made the request, you shall receive a verification call from a Smart Representative, who will confirm your purchase and your payment method. Upon confirmation, your brand new iPhone will be on its way. Don’t forget to prepare your debit or credit card (strictly no cash payments) and valid ID to complete the transaction with the Smart Representative.

Unbeatable iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus plans

Aside from the Smart-Uber iPhone 6s midnight delivery service, you can also avail of the latest iPhones at all Smart Stores nationwide and via the Smart Online Store at store.smart.com.ph  

Smart offers the iPhone 6s with ZERO handset cashout at Plan 2000 with a super-sized 10GB data per month, and the iPhone 6s Plus with ZERO handset cashout at Plan 2499 with a super-sized 15GB per month – both under a 30-month contract.

Both plans come with All-Month Surf for 30 months so you can access your favorite sites and apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as well as chat apps like Viber, Messenger and Whatsapp – all on top of your data allowance. Moreover, you also get FREE access to the app of your choice every month throughout your contract, and unbeatable extra perks from Smart's partners like Uber, Airbnb and Zalora.

Smart's ZERO handset cashout offer for iPhone 6s at and iPhone 6s is until December 31, 2015. 

To know more about Smart's unbeatable iPhone plans, visit www.smart.com.ph/iphone.

Smart unveils unbeatable plans for Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus

Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has unveiled its unbeatable postpaid offers for the much anticipated Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, aimed at giving you a much bigger Smart Life experience.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is available under the fully consumable and customizable All-In Plan 1200, with a one-time cash-out of P15,576 or P649 per month via credit card under a contract of 24 months.

On the other hand, the Samsung Galaxy Edge Plus is available under the feature-packed Surf Plus Plan 1999 under a contract of 24 months, with a one-time cash-out of P7,500.

Beyond Cutting-edge technology

“Both the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus are the embodiment of style-meets-function-meets-cutting-edge technology, and you can make the most of their amazing features only with the country’s biggest and most advanced network,” said Kathy Carag, Smart Postpaid marketing head.

“For sure, with these latest flagship devices, you can experience the Smart Life and enjoy the widest breadth of mobile content and offers that only our robust network can deliver – from your choice of apps, games, music, movies and more all at your fingertips.”

Galaxy Note 5 at All-In Plan 1200

With All-In Plan 1200, you can maximize the features of the Galaxy Note 5 by choosing from over 30 Flexibundles reflecting your passion, lifestyle and communication needs.

For example, you can consume your All-In Plan 1200 by subscribing to Big Bytes 799 to enjoy 4.5GB data for all your surfing needs, as well as Trinet Plus 399, which gives you 500 minutes of calls to Smart, Sun, TNT and PLDT landline, and 2000 texts to all networks.

Galaxy S6 Edge Plus at Surf Plus Plan 1999

On the other hand, you can optimize your Galaxy S6 Edge Plus with Surf Plus Plan 1999, which packs a supersized 9GB of data allowance, 150 minutes of calls and 200 texts to all networks, plus your choice of free app every month – be it Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Spinnr, among many others.

As an added perk, all new and recontracting subscribers for Plans 799 and above get a month’s subscription to the Smart Life Entertainment Bundle 299 for free. This gives them an additional of data for streaming their favorite movies and TV shows on Fox via Viewstream or iFlix, plus access to a host of apps like YouTube, Snapchat, Google, FBMessenger. The bundle also comes with 50 minutes of calls to Smart and TNT; and 500 texts to all networks – on top of the inclusions of their existing plan.

Tens of thousands of new Smart Postpaid subscribers

Smart expects these latest Samsung devices to sustain its remarkable growth in the first half of the year as tens of thousands of new subscribers signed up to enjoy Smart Postpaid’s attractive device and content bundles, backed by the country’s widest LTE network.

Unveiled during Samsung’s Unpacked Event at the New York Lincoln Center last Aug.13, both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus feature a gorgeous 5.7-inch Quad High Definition screen, a 16-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front camera, Dual-SIM feature and a 64-bit Octa-Core processor running the latest Android operating system Lollipop.

Be the first to get hold of the Samsung Note 5 and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus by signing up atsmart.com.ph/postpaid/phones/SamsungNote5.

To stay updated on the latest Smart Postpaid offers: 

Log on to smart.com.ph

Follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications) and Twitter (@SMARTCares) for updates.