Telecoms

SmartBro Share It now Unlimited at Php999

Q: Key Point 2: The Share It subscription costs Php999 a month for only...

The Share It subscription costs Php999 a month for only 90 hours of free 3G internet.

Q: Key Point 3: Smart has now upgraded that to unlimited with a 24-month...

Smart has now upgraded that to unlimited with a 24-month 12-month lock-in contract, plus a Php2,500 one-time fee for the 3G router.

Abe Olandres July 20, 2009 · 1 min read

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SmartBro Share It was first introduced last March, a 3G WiFi router that can share internet up to 5 devices.

The Share It subscription costs Php999 a month for only 90 hours of free 3G internet.

share it

Smart has now upgraded that to unlimited with a ~~24-month~~ 12-month lock-in contract, plus a Php2,500 one-time fee for the 3G router.

This is looking to be a good offer since it is possible to get that SIM card and put it in your phone for unlimited 3G. It’s also possible to use it with a 3G USB dongle so you can take it anywhere with you and hook it up on your laptop or netbook. That’s a cheaper option to the Php1,500 unlimited 3G subscription.

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

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201 Comments

xtian1986 · 17 years ago

but have you tried it yourself?

Biggie9385 · 17 years ago

you cannot use the share it sim to another USB modem or another share it router. SIM and Router is bundled. but router can accept other sim. that is according to Smart.

Biggie9385 · 17 years ago

my less than a month share it is now on its way to manila. Service center here in the province cannot fix and told me that it may take a maximum of 2months for my unit to be fixed. When I asked Smart for a service unit, they told me that they cannot provide one. And that I am the first issue they encountered, thus, they did not foresee a need to have a stand-by service unit. Now, my postpaid plan is on hold and i’m using a prepaid smart plug-it “service unit”.

@xtian1986
I have been stressing this login page to the CSR as soon as I started using the device. Its just annoying having to leave a browser open just for the login window.

xtian1986 · 17 years ago

drawback tlaga yang login page.. sana tanggalin nila

smartbrocanopy999subscrbr · 17 years ago

end na 1year ko sa smartbro canopy (512kbps)
mukang hindi na ko mag aapply sa share it, sa una lang pala mabilis, 200kbps? wow!!! 10% lang yan ah siguro wired isp nalang tlga…hindi kakayanin mga online games ko nito..

xtian1986 · 17 years ago

so has anyone tried using the share-it sim on a plug-it? if it does work, then i’ll be switching to share-it.

Biggie9385 · 17 years ago

Barely a month after using the share it router, i brought it to a service center to have it checked since my download speed via torrent is soooo sloooow. Imagine downloading Bleach episode with more than 15 seeders and just getting almost 20KB/s dl speed. The service center told me that it will take them 2 days just to get hold of the software from “someone” since its holiday today. According to 2wire my broadband speed is just less than 200 kbits/s. I am calling CSR everyday that i can now memorize my share it sim number. I can’t memorize my celfone number which is more than a year with me already. :D

tatz · 17 years ago

Pwede bang gamitin ang “share it” na to sa internet cafe with 10 to 12 pc? if so, how?

Yo · 17 years ago

may nakasubok na bang gamitin yung prepaid sim sa wireless router ng share it? e yung gamitin yung sim ng share it sa usb dongle para maging portable?

CLCTech · 17 years ago

Hi! Guyz!!! any one using the Smartbro Plan 1,500 Unlimited,Wireless Connection (Via USB Modem) 24 months lock-in period. I need a feedback on Plan 1500 because I’m planning on upgrading my connection from Smartbro Plan 999 Unlimited, Fixed Wireless Connection (Smartbro Antenna) to plan 1500..

Is the Smart Plan 1500 unlimited really have a good internet performance?

CLC

fr0stbyte · 17 years ago

@Biggie9385
Thanks for the input on how Share-It works!
It kinda sucks that the speed is capped. You could have a max speed of 200KB/s on torrents if it indeed goes up to 2Mbps. Have you tried increasing your half open TCP connections? For SmartBRO it would be suicide to go over 30. Mine’s 20. I tried increasing it to 50. After that my download rate became unstable.

Biggie9385 · 17 years ago

@fr0stbyte: yup. i subscribed to their plan999 unlimited. it just like a wireless router (with built-in modem). no external antenna/canopy. you have to have the smart login portal opened before you can access the internet. so kung hindi ka nag-click sa YES na button sa login portal, wala kang connection maski naka-wired ang connection mo sa router.

i have also kept on calling the CSR because my torrent has been capped to 75KB/s. I have been trying to download bleach episodes but the total speed for my torrent downloads is less than 75KB/s. After I called the CSR, my torrent bandwidth will then jump to 250+KB/s for a while. then it will return to 75KB/s. The CSR will then tell me that they don;t limit my speed for torrent downloads. So I asked them, was it coincidence that after calling them, my torrent speed will go up? :D

smart bro · 17 years ago

been using a smart bro prepaid kit, but might shift to share it ng smart so everyone in our household who has a laptop (currently there’s 4) can get online at the same time. by the way, mas tipid ba? how’s the connection in the manila area?

it looks like smart/pldt is investing heavily on internet access. ‘eto pa oh: http://tech.yahoo.com/news/afp/20090713/tc_afp/philippinesutilitiestelecomcompanymeralco

fr0stbyte · 17 years ago

@Biggie9385 & bONG:
So you guys are subcribed to Share-It already huh?
That login confirmation does sound annoying.. What if your were just downloading files? Or was this feature meant to prevent file-sharing programs from hogging bandwidth?
Can you guys tell me how Share-It works? Does it still rely on an external antenna/canopy? Or is it like a USB Dongle?

bONG · 17 years ago

I agree with annie, I bought smartbro share it last may 22 and from the first day till 2 weeks i received good signal which i even used 3 computers at the same time without signal lagging, But after that days, my connection became dissapointing coz it disconnect every 5 or 15 minutes. I tried to use external antenna but nothing has change with the signal. Is it because the router is made in china??? I wish the service provider will do something about it!!!!!!

Biggie9385 · 17 years ago

Newly subscribe to Plan999 of Smart Bro Share It! So far, the connection is acceptable, in other words better than my previous Smart Bro (canopy). My Smart Bro had a stable speed of 44KB/s and 60+KB/s (after their speed improvement). With Share It!, my speedtest can sometimes reach more than 2Mb/s (download). Until now, no major problem except that annoying login confirmation window. You won’t have a connection if you did not open an internet browser and surf to any site just to be directed to the Share It portal which will ask you if you want to surf the net. Unless you don’t click the Yes button, you don’t have any connection. CSR told me that its a security protocol. Come on! I am subscribe to a Plan 999 (unlimited) and I cannot understand why I have to click that Yes button just to surf. :D

fr0stbyte · 17 years ago

Currently subscribed to the old Plan 999 (and have been for about three years). Right now my speed would max out at 768kbps to 1mbps. Noong 2006 from 384kbps naging 512kbps. And this July 30, 2009 from 512 kbps to my current speed of 768kbps to 1mbps as I mentioned earlier. I’d like to check out the Share-It Plan 999 although based on most customer gripes and complaints (including the ones here) eh I’m doubtful of it’s reliability. I don’t wanna lose my current speed (which is freakin’ awesome btw).

Blas Tiangco · 17 years ago

Noticed a few things here and I think it is important to note:

1. Signal of SMART Bro still depends on nearest available cell site. Particularly, if that cell site is even upgraded to 3G. If it is line of site, signal is great and consistent.

2. There’s such a thing as maximum bandwith. If there are many people accessing the internet in one cell site, bandwith is shared between all subscribers, slowing down the internet. This is true in any scenario, wireless or cable or DSL.

3. Weather conditions also affect signal as well.

Hope this helps.

Btw. I have been using SMART Bro for four years now. I am planning to switch to the Plan 1500 which is the USB stick version. I also have Sun Broadband but thing is I can’t even use it in the province.

Jazzeline · 17 years ago

I am still not convinced to switch from SUN Broadband because of the speed which is 384 kbps only. I tried to use the SUN sim to my phone but it seems to be locked. I think I’ll just wait on what will Sun Cellular will do next.

drealmarlon · 17 years ago

aaH!ganun ba?mama “SUN”(sun broadband)ilabas mo na ang time spacewharf ngayon din!!!hehehe sige lang antayin nyo ang resbak ng sun broadband.

sherwin · 17 years ago

i think theres something wrong with your information..

as i read in the brochure of smart bro plan 990 unlimited..

its speed is only 384 kbps..

neil · 17 years ago

if your area is not covered by HSPA, or 3G, then you might as well kiss your high speed internet good bye. :)

neil · 17 years ago

speeds up to 2Mbps is not 3G, contrary to popular belief. it’s actually 3.5G, thru High Speed Packet Access (HSPA).

neil · 17 years ago

i don’t think getting the sim and putting it into your cellphone nor to your 3G usb dongle is a good idea. smart bro share-it sim is locked-in to only one base transciever station (commonly known as cellsite) :)meaning it will not be entertained by other BTS other than what was programmed to served it. :)

Ryan · 17 years ago

how fast is this?

vince · 17 years ago

AFAIK the smart bro share it unit is locked to one location say metro manila. you can apply to have the location transferred to another province but it will cost you

braindead · 17 years ago

@jayson
csr from smart cant tell that. even tech representatives. now im thinking twice about getting it since my connection at my area using 3g from my phone is so-so.

willard “Money Making ideas” · 17 years ago

Nice, I bought a wireless dongle in the smart wireless center yesterday, the price is PHP1999. I didn’t try the dongle yet, I hope the speed is good even if I am not from a 3G enabled place..

Jason · 17 years ago

Has anyone actually tried putting the sim card of their smart bro share it in a smart bro plugit modem? Just want to confirm if this will work, because it says in the post you could put the sim card in it and use it for portability. If it will work i’d rather get this then their plan 1500? Can anyone confirm? Thanks.

braindead · 17 years ago

so which is better? smart bro or globe tatoo? considering that globe will be rolling out wimax soon. does smart have any plans to roll out a similar service?

designnatin · 17 years ago

When can SMART give a real deal with internet? most of my friends have a very very slow SmartBro connection.

a WIFI within cities?

Annie · 17 years ago

i used smartbro shareit router last june until now i dont have stable connection, i got disconnected every 15mins or worse after every 5minutes discon na.

Carlo Dimaandal · 17 years ago

@Bruce – I guess you’re right. It does look good on paper but thinking about all the horror stories I heard from SmartBro users, it makes one really hesitant.

*it must be my flu*

ricky · 17 years ago

(another way to have a portable router)

requirement: phone with symbian os and wifi.

use: JoikuSpot application > as 3g wifi router.

Mike · 17 years ago

I’m still hesitant. I had trauma when using SmartBro. I was stuck with them for a year. Half that time, I was struggling to get a connection.

When SmartBroke–este SmartBro is connected (sorry, Freudian slip), it’s darn slow.

So don’t let the mobile selling point get to you–the service sucks big time. Trust me, don’t.

nitecrawler · 17 years ago

Smart Bro Connection is far more reliable in province than in metro.. my prepaid smartbro connects yet unable to browse at all when in SM Mega Area.. but when I used it in Albay Province a couple of months ago… speed is max.. i was able to watch youtube video without any lag..

Leo · 17 years ago

with all the hoopla and everything.. the most important question remains.. how’s their service?

Lito|TheFilipinoEntrepreneur.Com · 17 years ago

That’s great news but I wonder if the connection is reliable? and also how about the geographical location. Baka sa metro manila lang maganda ang connection.

cris · 17 years ago

I hope reliable yung connection.

Imagine downloading torrents for 24/7 in your laptop, in your office…

Wow!

Bruce · 17 years ago

@Carlo

Dump your dsl? The early reviews of smart 3.5g always mentioned a lot of random disconnects. Sounds kinda scary to depend on for your primary connection.

Anyone know if you get a real external IP address with this version of smartbro or is it the same NAT’d 192.168.x.x series of ip’s?

Carlo Dimaandal · 17 years ago

This looks real good. I might dump my DSL plan for this.

Andrew Gomez · 17 years ago

Actually, you can avoid the 12 month lock in period and stay on prepaid. 3G Router is now available in the market.

BrianB · 17 years ago

Most expensive USB flash drive:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/20/kingston-unveils-256gb-thumb-drive-for-well-heeled-memory-fiends/1#c20255038

Wala man lang swarovski crystals.

lance · 17 years ago

I called their CustomerRep and he confirmed it, as of Jul 1 effective unlimited na sya.

Anyone can share their experience with this product? Please post naman thanks! :)

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 17 years ago

Just checked again and you are right, 12 months it is. Was looking at the 1500 unlimited plan earlier.

Jefferson Lequillo · 17 years ago

I heard many comment about smart bro and it’s features? I wonder if it gives real satisfaction to the customers?

cArLo_AnGeLo · 17 years ago

Yuga, I think it’s 12 mos.

SHARE IT “Unlimited”

Now ang access sa fast and nationwidest wireless broadband pwede nang sabay-sabay! Only with the newest from Smart bro Share it! Easy to install Wifi router* for broadband connection that everybody share.

Speed : Up to 2 Mbps
No. of Hours use : UNLIMITED
Connection : Wireless Connection (Via Wifi Router)
Requirements : Subscriber Application Form, Proof of Address, Proof of Identification and signed Waiver Form.
Total Initial Payment : 1st mo. MSF P999 + one-time router fee P2,500
Lock-in Period : 12 months

from: http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/

braindead · 17 years ago

this is what i’ve been waiting for. ill head to smart to apply for one later.. hehe! thanks for the great news!

cmark · 17 years ago

hi yuga,
i just checked the smart bro site and it does say 12 months lock in, which makes the plan 1,500 useless since both plans have the same speed and unlimited usage the only difference is the MSF and the router fee. if only i don’t have a contract w/ sun i’ll go for this smart bro share it plan.