As we near the official launch of the highly anticipated Samsung S3, the two telco giants vies for the hearts of prospective upgraders and switchers through their plans. Now before you get too excited and sign up for any of these telcos, let’s take a closer look at their offerings and see which one fits your lifestyle and usage pattern.
As we mentioned in our previous post, Globe was the first to reveal their range of plan for the SGS3. This quad-core handset will come in free with their UnliSurf Plan 2499 and will have a standard lock-in period of 24 months. Apart from the unlimited mobile internet, the plan will also have consumables worth Php1,500 a month.
Following the said announcement, Smart recently unveiled their available plans for the same phone. The SGS3 will come in free with their UnliData Plan 2000 which is Php499 cheaper than Globe’s offering.
The catch here, however, is that you’d have be with the carrier for a longer period of time. The lock-in period for this plan is 30 months (instead of the 24-months on Globe).
Here’s a short computation of how these two plans look like:
Globe Galaxy S3
Php2,499 (UnliSurf Plan)
x 24 months (lock-in period)
Php59,976 TCO
Smart Galaxy S3
Php2,000 (UnliData Plan)
x 30 months (lock-in period)
Php60,000 TCO
* TCO: Total Cost of Ownership
Looking at this, it’s clear that neither plan gains a significant edge over the other in terms of the total amount a user has to pay (TCO). But what clearly sets them apart is the lock-in period. The Php500 per month difference between the two plans will come into play in this situation.
If you can afford to shell out an extra Php500 every month so you can get out of the plan a bit faster, then the Globe UnliSurf Plan is for you. But, if you’re not in a rush to switch phones or plan and does not have a spare Php500 a month, better go with Smart’s UnliData Plan. At the end of the day, it boils down to how much you’re willing to shell out for this quad-core handset.
In terms of bundles here’s what the two plans has to offer:
Globe UnliSurf 2499
Php1500 Consumable
Free Texts: 200 (Globe-to-Globe) + 25 (Other Networks)
Free Call: 10mins (Globe-to-Globe) + 5mins (Other Networks)
Free Texts (International): 10
Free Call (International): 20mins IDD
Free UnliCall and Text: 1 Globe or TM number
Smart UnliData 2000
N/A
Free Texts (All Networks): 200
Free Call (All Networks): 150 mins
By having a little bit of everything the UnliSurf 2499 plan bested Smart’s UnliData 2000 plan in terms of bundled services. In addition to this, the former has Php1500 consumable per month. That sums up to an additional 245 minutes worth of voice calls to same network subscriber or 226 minutes to other networks per month compared to Smart’s fixed 150 minutes to all network.
Based on the comparison above, we think that Globe’s UnliSurf 2499 is the better of the two in terms of bundled services and flexibility. Then again, there are also other important factors that you, as a consumer, need to look into such as network coverage and dependability that we really can’t comment on because that depends on your current location.
What we are sure though is that the introduction of these plans for the Galaxy S3 will definitely hurt the sell-ability of the other handsets in their line-up.
With Smart — the HTC Sensation XE, Galaxy Note, Galaxy Nexus which also comes free with UnliData Plan 2000 will definitely be overshadowed by the Galaxy S3. With Globe — the Nokia Lumia 800 and the Galaxy Note might also suffer the same fate. For both networks, it might also hurt the sales of the iPhone 4S which is offered at the same or higher plan.
Just to sum this one up, we are more inclined to recommend Globe’s UnliSurf 2499 for flexibility and maximizing plan usage. But, if you just want a really low monthly fee, Smart’s UnliData Plan 2000 is the obvious pick.
@Nil,
You’re comparing our internet services to developed countries. They of course have the massive advantage in telcom infrastructures. But what we have here is not bad. It can already be used for business purposes such as Skype.
Back to topic: I wouldn’t recommend Globe. I subscribed to their iPad unlisurf, sobrang bagal! Daig pa dial-up. Lugi ako sa Plan 999. Binigay ko na lang sa nanay ko para mapagtyagaan. Speed tests done by unbox.ph confirmed that Smart is indeed faster. I’m in QC (Katipunan-Cubao-Trinoma)
You get slow speeds because bobo ang iOS devices. You can’t make them forcefully connect to 3G only, and at times biglang nagrerevert to GSM connection for internet na hanggang 100kbps lang. This won’t be a problem with an Android device since you can turn off the GSM 2G antenna and just go full 3G. Even my classmates who use iPhones and iPads are irritated at how much faster my internet connection is than theirs using my Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab (both have its own SIM with unlisurf). Here’s a screenshot of speed test I got on Globe’s network, did it from St Luke’s Medical Center QC. http://i753.photobucket.com/albums/xx174/kgomez4487/SC20120611-094358.png
Did you know that PH Telcos are the most expensive in Asia, and unreliable. Why?
Expensive:
P10-P15 for 1 hour with speed of– well test it. (para mapamura ka)
In Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, China
for around SGD 1.0 you will get 1gig cap, minimum of 7.2 kbps (HK, China 15+Mbps) guaranteed good for 7 Days.
WOW!
Dito sa atin, letche ang services. kala nyo mura na dito no….
Wala lang, gusto ko lang sabihin. for PHP2k+ just for unlimited plan, talo ka dude, kung maraming pera at uto-uto ka go for it!
Actually, mas mura dito. Kasi yung sinasabi mo may data caps of 1GB. I can hit that in a day. Itong month na to lang I already used up 50GB data from Globe because I tether to my laptop and download and share a lot of stuff like lecture videos recorded in HD (30min video 1GB. LOL hirap upload), pati narin torrent. At 1k lang ang babayaran ko for internet. LOL.
I think what the SMART plan fails to emphasize is that the unlimited data plan is not really unlimited at all. if you read the internet fair use policy it say that “Smart allocates 1.5Gb per month to the unlimited data plans to enjoy our superior 3G-HSPA network. Violation of the fair use policy, or in excess of the allowed 1.5Gb, network speed will be reduced to 24kbps until the end of the month.”
So you have unlimited data but the speed is compromised. I wonder if globe has that policy also
If that’s the case it would be false advertising. Because it is not stated in the advert that the customer will have a cap of 1.5gb. Sa US and Australia they are very strict when it comes with advertisements. When you say unlimited it should not have any limit in the usage or speed. Kahit na 24/7 akong mag download eh I would still get the right speed. Unfortunately we are not living there, I don’t know if we have that kind of law here in the phils.
Hi Mike, Globe also has a fair use policy in their website. Though there are no specifics with regard to the maximum or anything that will indicate that you have exceeded your monthly cap.
Check it here – http://surf.globe.com.ph/fup
Regards
Not really sure about that Globe fair usage policy plan. Last I checked, it only applies to internet only SIM like the ones used in their MyFi and Tattoo USB devices. I already used up 50GB this month sa line ko no problems. I download and share a lot of stuff and tether to my laptop. Kain data pag naglive stream. :D
Smart offers it for UnliData Plan 2000 + 2,500 cash out to avail of the 24 month lock-in period instead of the 30 months initially.
But so disappointing to Globe, til now, my approved order is still pending! :(
2 weeks na sa akin sa Globe wla pa ring unit!
sa smart ganun ba din?
I agree with the comments above. Globe actually offers more flexibility (Plan 1699, Plan 1799 + 4800 cashout, Plan 2499) than Smart only having Plan 2000.
I’m still wondering why the Php2499 was used as comparison here, while there’s the 1799 + 4800 cashout (Php1999/month) option from Globe.
Get it na lang in Unlisurf Combo Plan 1799 for Php 4800.00 cash out. And you have Php 800 consumables.
I’m thinking of availing this plan:
My Super Plan 299
– Php 299 consumable
– 1 freebie (10 mins call & 200 sms to globe/tm)
– 26,810 cashout (or 1,127 for 24 months)
Total TCO for phone + services: 33,986 (or 1,426 for 24 months)
Ok lang kaya to (at tama ba yung computation ko)? Yung phone lang talaga ang habol ko kasi naka nokia n81 pa rin ako hanggang ngayon :)
Wow 4800 lang pag plan 1799? hmmm.. ang prob lang. like the one indicated above me. walang options for 16/32/64 gb.
About Globe’s preorder, bakit walang pag pipilian ng internal storage size? 16/32/64 gb pano malalaman?
16gb only – called globe and visited their store.
If they approved my pre-order, i’ll just cancel it if they’ll not provide me the 32gb unit.
Not sure when they will offer the other options, maybe after the initial launched? wtf
kung heavy internet user kayo, choose globe. I’m currently enjoying my unlisurf sa globe. i download movie (via torrent) almost every day, watch youtube, always connected to FB and twitter.
SA SMART after you reached your 1.5g, capped n kayo. Sa regular used ko, inaabot ko n yang 1.5gb n yan sa isang araw lng.
ADVICE: Check nyo muna sa lugar nyo kung ano mas maganda ang signal before kau pumili ng telco, baliwa unli internet kung wala/mahina nmn signal.
On that note, what is the difference (besides memory size and price) between the 16bg, 32gb, and 64gb?
If any that is?
@chooseglobe: r u referring sa internet use mo with globe unlisurf postpaid using your mobile? can you download torrent using it? im thinking of getting a postpaid plan bec. i really like SGS3 and im comparing kung saan mas sulit especially both globe and smart offers unlidata plans to get the phone for free/cheaper
Im waiting for a flexible phone like e-paper with a 3.6GHz Octocore, with sizes adjustable to a pocket up to a newspaper, and a RAm of 64Gig, could be transformed into a student notebook, laptop, netbook and a mobile phone, syncable evrywhere, with latest thunderbolt connection, and unlimited cloud and 20mbps connection in the net.
With features like Whitepage in directory, free google satellite maps which is customizable for me only, unlimited call via wifi, less drain in gps, no battery but nuclear powered. no need of cell sites, AND WHATEVER….
Hehehe:unending wants and needs, since we are living in mobile world , why not the government take advantage of that.
The richer gains more money while the poor or the middle class hopes to get rich, with an opportunity having a large amount of it, they will buy a phone instead of what they really need.
WHAT AN IRONY….
YOu dont have to have the latest phone to socialized.
Unlimited internet is applicable only to urban areas, which is useless when going to rurals. So you should not leave your city to do that.
The main issue in these gadgets are BATTERIES………
It should be nuclear powered…. Hehehe.
Whatever man… and so offtopic
Your face is off topic!
Daydreamer boy
You’re way off the topic! wahahha! Octocore!!!? for what phone app?
Globe offered S3 on 1799 plan.
Way better pala, only 4800 cash out then boom! 1799 only every month!