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Smart Uzzap: IM, Email and a bucket of SMS

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief July 7, 2008 · 2 min read

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Smart yesterday launched a new PC and mobile IM app called Smart Uzzap (probably a Web 2.0 play on the Tagalog term “usap” or talk). The app/service seems to aim into the PC-to-mobile (and vice versa) messaging market.

The app can be downloaded/installed directly into your mobile phone and will run via a 3G connection to initiate the mobile messaging (can’t seem to make it work via WiFi of the phone). The catch — there’s no connection/browsing/3G charges at all, just a one-off time-based package pricing.

uzzap

Smart Uzzap has a chat, email and SMS component and from now until July 20th, users can send 10 free SMS each day. Uzzap can also connect to your contacts on other popular messengers. It does not say which ones but I’m guessing Yahoo! Messenger.

After the promo period, you can top-up Php25 for 1 whole day of free service (plus 100 SMS), Php150 for 1 week (with 500 SMS) and Php400 for 1 month (with 2,000 SMS). All free SMS usage will have to come thru Uzzap though.

Update: Jim Ayson, Smart Product Manager for Platforms & Internet Services, adds that Uzzap can connect to your YM and MSN messengers as well a supports up to 4 clients (Nokia S60 2nd ed, Nokia S60 3rd ed, J2ME, and Windows XP/Vista. You can also login via your mobile phone’s wifi connection. And no, Uzzap wasn’t made to replace Chikka. See comment #20 below.)

Disclosure: Smart is an advertiser on this blog and several other blogs authored by me. Just click on the Uzzap flash banners (or text “UZZAP” to 7272) to download a copy of the app.

What is Smart Uzzap?

Smart Uzzap is a PC and mobile IM app for PC-to-mobile messaging, with chat, email, and SMS components.

How much does Smart Uzzap cost after the promo?

After the promo, top-up Php25 for 1 day, Php150 for 1 week, or Php400 for 1 month.

Which messengers can Smart Uzzap connect to?

Smart Uzzap can connect to Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger contacts.

React to this article:

free sms smart uzzap unlimited sms uzzap

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 is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

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304 Comments

yhang · 17 years ago

wala ko masabi kasi hindi ko alm gamitin yung uzzap!! teach me naman guys!! heheh

Jidyfe · 17 years ago

maganda sana siya,, cool nga eh, kaso naghahang parati, mabagal din siya minsan, need more improve ment in connection

Arinaj · 17 years ago

Ung uzzap b pwd gmitin ang email ng japan ung i.softbank nla? Mas mgnda sna kng mkakak0nect ka sknla,kaso mu kelangan q pa mglog s email q sa yah0o pag bnbsa q mga msg ng gf q eh sana msagot nyo 2ng tanung q ! Ty.

joana santos · 18 years ago

may tanong ako…nasa singapore po kasi ako, pero nkakaconnect kasi ako sa uzzap eh kaso di ko alam kung un sim ko na pang singapore machacharge kapag gnamit ko po itong uzzap…anyone po nkakaalam?kasi nkaroam un isang sim ko na smart ayaw nmn makaconnect dito sa uzzap pero nun sg na sim gamit ko kumo-connect sya…d ko lang alm kung free ba itoh?

chris · 18 years ago

hi there,,,anyone who can help me to have UZZAP on my cp…my cp is motorola v3x and i cant have UZZAP on my cp…
Pls anyone..

renz · 18 years ago

tx nyo lng uzzap sa 7272.kaxo ang hrap mag konek!!!bucet….

mary an · 18 years ago

.,.,panu po ba magparegiter sa uzzap.,.please reply po agad haa.,,

MIKE · 18 years ago

YOH.. maganda sana yan,astig nga eh,kaso bkit napaka hirap mag konek??? improvement po sana sa GPRS… mabagal eh..- from angeles city pampanga

jj · 18 years ago

pano po magregister?

cris · 18 years ago

ask ko lng po bout sa pagregister sa uzzap, bkit po d ako mkalog in laging nag iinvalid ung id and password. pag ngpalit nmn ako ng password sabi isesend sa e mail ko ung new password kaso walang dumadating, pwede b ako mgregister ulit gamit ung mobile no ko ulit?

jeffryl · 18 years ago

helo poh.. automatic ma charged ang P25 kung gagamit sa UZZAP????? please answer as soon as possible.. please i need answer of that..

Oracle · 18 years ago

Have u heard of Globes unlichat? Just log on to http://www.unlichat.com. Its also free of charge and seems to have the legal connection to yahoo messenger

kieth · 18 years ago

actually smart Uzzap was a great innovation in the telecommunication network but the only problem was the SPAM(flooding of messages.)

It so at the same time when you are not connected or signed in the network, the flooding of massages in a cellular phone is quite devastating.

I strongly suggest that the provider must create a solution against it.

Thanks

BigBird · 18 years ago

Thats great news that UZZAP is EXTENDED and free! because until now its just Initializing… my connection. :P

James · 18 years ago

Uzzap free trial now extended to September 2008 :)

apatheticGirl · 18 years ago

besides that, does chikka have a mobile client?

apatheticGirl · 18 years ago

@chikkamo – It was never intended that Uzzap compete with/replace/surpass chikka. I haven’t heard SMART bragging that Uzzap will. Your “S” word description of Uzzap was uncalled-for.

besides that,

b2 · 18 years ago

@dakilang buraot and ckikkamo, Uzzap comes with a free text package. During the trial period, you get 10 free texts. After that period, subscribers will be given 100 free texts for 25 only. Chat and SMS all in ONE.

Dakilang Buraot · 18 years ago

Sa chikka parin ako. Hirap makaconnect sa ym, ska di applicable sa S40 na mga cellpone, di pede ma minimize application. :)

chikkamo · 18 years ago

panalo pa din ang chikka… imagine lahat ng carriers (sun,smart and globe) pede ka makipagchat at pede mo ilog in ung other IM messenger mo dito.. panalo pa din ang chikka.. eto talaga ang totoong free messenger sa pinas… hahahah!! supot ang uzzap!!!

dennis mark · 18 years ago

its hard to register.whew.

Fer D · 18 years ago

ako rin nagpapalit ng sim card from globe to smart pag nag chat ako. minsan hassle, kung pde lng ako bili ng bagong fone ko, waaahhh… tapos nagaaway kami gf ko kasi delay messages… huhuhu….

freda de guzman · 18 years ago

mucha gracia

Tania · 18 years ago

Drat. I may have to switch mobile providers. Again.

jimayson · 18 years ago

Uzzap also supports SMS to IM which you can use even if the client is off.

But if you want to try something neat, uzzap users can send email from their PCs to another uzzap user – it arrives in the Uzzap client as an IM message. Beat that Sun IM, hehe

Summer07 · 18 years ago

If you want to try out as simple as sending instant message (IM) to your online buddies, Just use Sun iMessenger instead. This is an sms-based service only, can work even if your phone is low-end. No more application download or whatsoever.

SUNIM to 2746

ronald · 18 years ago

where can i get uzzap client pls help

Fer D · 18 years ago

hayss… ok na sana kaso ang bagal ng chatroom tapos di pa dumadating iba ko message? bat ganun?

BigBird · 18 years ago

@Yuga

Can you make a review of UZZAP so that i can share you mine. Looking forward!

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 18 years ago

@jimayson, thanks for clearing up that rumor. ;) *hehe*

jimayson · 18 years ago

@Yuga – Heck, no! I wonder how these rumors get started? :) Chikka still has a content partner (CP) contract with Smart. We’re still very much friends with those guys and they provide Smart plenty of services apart from messaging.

It’s hard to top Chikka’s community base, especially with their overseas exposure – so hats off to them! Anyway, with IM services, the more the manyer, as Jimmy Santos once said (or might have said). Yahoo Messenger via SMS always existed along Chikka. We also have other partners like Moblabber which is sort of like an IM-to-SMS service as well.

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 18 years ago

@Jim – can you confirm is Chikka’s contract with Smart has really expired (Uzzap being a replacement)?

jimayson · 18 years ago

@Jan Alvin – The developer Kolipri is a separate company. But the backend of the service is integrated into Smart’s billing systems and network. That’s how telcos work, by integrating vendor supplied platforms.

Jan Alvin · 18 years ago

My opinion as a marketing graduate, Smart made their own software instead of buying other companies’ software.

Lindt Dale · 18 years ago

Hey Yuga,

would you know if Smart or Globe have an unlimited 3G data plan for mobile phones or mobile gadgets ala EVDO?

another question, do you have plans of going to CES this coming january 2009 at Las Vegas?

Thanks!

jimayson · 18 years ago

Yes, the developer is Kolipri. They are an outfit run by two Finns (one ex-Nokia) and the company is based in Alabang and they have an all-pinoy dev team. They’re doing great VOIP work too.

jimayson · 18 years ago

@Dusty – Well actually it’s not locked to SMART’s network, hence you can access it on Wi-Fi if your handset supports it. You can use while roaming. You can use it on Globe. You can use it on Cure, you can use it on Sun. :-)

SMS is of course restricted to the SMART network. And SMS is the reason why an operator chooses to run a mobile IM. Sure you can use Fring, IM+, eBuddy, or what have you. But this product allows replies to and from SMS if you go offline. There is email to SMS too.

The important thing is that you have a mobile number that can be charged when the flat rate subscription rate kicks in. So for now that is a Smart number.

Roger Filomeno can use any client he wants, but in the end his SMART number will be charged for transactions since the business rules are on the server. Thanks for the ARPU, Roger.

Here’s my take on the service, a first in a series: http://ping.fm/vqLff

James · 18 years ago

@Dusty
nope works on globe postpaid na lang – but my friends dont seem to be able to send me sms with it – that bit must just be in smart.

ernesto · 18 years ago

Too bad I switched to globe hahaha

BigBird · 18 years ago

@James

I don’t think so. But u can add a GLOBE number with the jid of @chikkatalk.com thats for sure. and also try the workaround for the unlimited texting.

@godie

I use a different one that uses less bytes. and more functionality also a jabber and interoperable between IM networks. Yes UZZAP will work for sure its a jabber right you can use any jabber apps with your protocol to log in UZZAP. Hmmm? I have no idea who? What I see right now is like a work of a college students.

Dusty · 18 years ago

@James

I’m not sure if you’re being sarcastic.

I highly doubt that it’ll work since it requires an sms and the IP seems to be closed to IPs that are not Smart’s.

godie · 18 years ago

@BigBird

I use AgileMessenger, im not sure if they still allow beta signups. I got mine 1-2 years back. UZZAP also works on it. Btw the developer is Kolipri — guess who they used to be. hehe.

James · 18 years ago

Uzzap seems to work on Globe for me. I like it!

BigBird · 18 years ago

@ godie Gotcha! Good job! Whaoooa a jabber server? and their jid is on a demo domain. Well, at least they are using a very a tried and tested XMPP jabber protocol. try to use other jabber apps that are more reliable compared to this one.

I can’t run the application on mobile for 3 different phones it crashes everytime.SMART Simply Amazing!

godie · 18 years ago

A hack for UZZAP
http://tinyurl.com/6mt26y

Dusty · 18 years ago

(I’m probably biased, so take my words with a grain of salt =P)

IMHO, I think this app is NOT at par with the current FREE offerings of WEB 2.0 Mobile platforms that are coming out today. It’s huge, it’s hard to download (had a hard time downloading over gprs & wifi), it’s hard to use and it’s very limited.

@Yuga I don’t think Chikka developed this. I heard rumors about ANOTHER company developing this a few months back.

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 18 years ago

I think the Smart-Chikka exclusive contract has expired. Unless Chikka was also the one who developed the Uzzap software for Smart.

godie · 18 years ago

They launched this bcoz they are going to kill Chikka? Hehe

BigBird · 18 years ago

Finally, but there are other mobile IM that works for all networks (not only SMART) and can login Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, GTALK you can also send photo and make free call and SMS. Honestly, Graphics and Usability is very poor. Is this the best our number 1 telco can offer us?

BigBird · 18 years ago

Finally, but there are other mobile IM that works for all networks (not only SMART) and can login Yahoo, MSN, AIM, ICQ, GTALK you can also send photo and make free call and SMS.