I thought this should have been launched months ago. Smart Broadband Inc. (Smart Bro), a subsidiary of Smart Communications announced the new 3G/HSDPA service in Subic (during the 20th Ad Congress?). Dubbed Plug It, this is basically Smart 3G with a dedicated USB dongle.
So, there you go — a direct competition to Globe Visibility in the HSDPA space. Interestingly, Smart packaged this service with their highly successful but controversial Smart Bro package.
Also interesting to note are the specification of the packages:
Smart Bro Plan 799
Speed: up to 384Kbps
Usage: free 60 hours, Php10 per 30 minutes thereafter
Initial Setup Fee: Php1,999
Device: USB Modem
Lock-in Period: 24 months
Smart Bro Plan 999
Speed: up to 384Kbps
Usage: unlimited
Initial Setup Fee: Php999
Device: USB Modem
Lock-in Period: 12 months
However, their press release says the speed is between 384 to 768Kbps. Obviously, they’re being very careful with the promised speeds and since Smart has not fully covered the country under HSDPA, the 3G speed makes sense . This service is totally separate from the existing PLDT WeRoam service, the latter targeting corporate clients.
On a side note, the unlimited plan is pretty cheap at Php999 compared to Globe visibility which I recently heard increased their subscription fee to Php3,000 from Php2k recently.
An acquaintance who used to work for Huawei told me about two weeks ago that they were the ones supplying Smart and Sun Cellular with the USB dongles. So, expect Sun to announce their own version very soon.
wahaha!!!cOoL..I HOP it could be good enough,,
wahahakz..
I just checked their website and from 60 hours free it’s down to 40 hours so para ka nading nagbayad ng 10 per 30 minutes if you’re using your ordinary sim card. Lumalabas, nagbabayad ka lang ng 799 a month for the USB modem. Piso lang natipid mo? Anu ba yan. Smart and Globe both suck! I hate their services, kaya walang pinapatunguhan yung mobile broadband dito sa Pinas. Sana gayahin nila sa US at magoffer nalang sila ng unlimited data plan like AT&T for their iPhone users.
Yes. You are correct Natalie1981. As per some friends in the company, it’s now down to 40 hours – then in blocks of 30 minutes metering.
Meaning, if you connect to the internet at 1:30pm, then disconnect at 1:45pm, your consumption is already rounded off to 30 mins.
Then if you connect again at 1:55pm until 2:10pm, your consumption is already counted as two blocks of 30 mins.
So, your usage from 1:30pm to 1:45pm then 1:55pm up to 2:00pm is for the first 30 minutes.
Then your usage from 2:01pm up to 2:10pm is already for the second 30 minutes.
guys, pwede pa advice? nalilito n kc aq kung anung service kukunin nmin pra s laptop nmin e. Which is d best wireless internet provider b, smart bro/3g? globe visibility? o pldt weroam? kylangan n kylangan n kc nmin ng net e, location kc nmin bayan malabon, monumaneto caloocan, & farmers cubao. . . pa-email plz s vipeeflores@yahoo.com thanks ^^
Nalilito rin ako which is which. Muntik na ako mag subxcribe ng 799 ng smart bro (plug it) kaya lang with some of the comments na nabasa ko sa web, parang ayaw ko na. Sa globe naman not available pa sa Murphy cubao and wireless data only nila. Ayaw ko naman ng wired kasi im just renting a room. Kaya gusto ko wireless pero wag yong mahal at garantisado na kunti disconnection habang nag internet. Ano kaya mabuti? Punta na lang kaya ako sa gateway to access wireless or other malls. Sayang kasi pag nag subscribe ka pero putol putol naman..at the delimna is naka lock ka for 2 yrs. Masyado naman mahaba lock in period na 2 yrs sa smart plug it. Pag ganyan kahaba lock in malamang ndi maganda yan. Sasakit lang puso mo sa inis.
Tama ka roland wag ka muna kumuha…ntay ka lang mag sisibabaan mga yan. Ntayin mo ang offer ng Sun..tiyak within this 1 st yr of 2008 mayron yan…UNLIMITED NA..WITH NO LOCK IN PERIOD AT MAY MONEY BACK PA FOR 7 DAYS…OOOOHHAAAA
I Suggest Pre-Paid Internet with speeds like that of 3G/HSDPA…
I’ve decided to do a blog entry entitled: Smart Bro Plug it: What you need to know for those thinking of purchasing one.
I discourage all to avail of the plan 799 of SMART Bro for the following reasons:
1. It has a one time Initial Payment of 1999. Mahal no?..
2. It has the longest lock-in period..24 months mong pgtyatyagaan?..
3. Its has 40 hours per month free and pay 10 pesos per 30 mins excess..tig 1 hour/day ka lng!
4. Its a modem. Who can guarantee the speed of 384 kbps?..
5. You paid 1999, its yours, u lose it?..you buy again.or pay 799 per month of services u dont use..
Well its impractical compared to the Plan 999.
Kahit minsan nga totoong mbagal ang connection,
I’m telling this kahit WC Agent ako..
Coz I’ve tried this and was not satisfied..
sa mga areas na d pdn covered ni ng SMART Bro
Plan 999, pki bisita sa
http://www.sulit.com.ph/index.php/view+classifieds/id/171345/Apply+for+SMART+Bro+Anywhere+in+the+Philippines
para maifeasibility kayo ng SMART Bro team nyo.
or e-mail to technical101@gmail.com
-Ljap
After reading all the replies to this topic from Yuga, all I can say is that you’re all correct. Since I am an employee for the parent company of Smart, I have to keep this post as anonymous as possible =) Yuga, we’re former dormmates pero best to keep my identity “secret” for now.
Anyways, the higher ups for both companies know that the problem is always quality of service AND after-sales customer service, BUT nothing is being done about it. It’s extremely frustrating to work for a company that has all the resources to make excellent products with the support and customer care to go with it, but somehow refuses to do so. First time I’ve worked in a company where almost all the products compete with one another!
Someone mentioned that maybe PLDT and SMART could just quit with the showbiz ads, promos and events and focus on quality and customer support – absolutely correct, but again nothing. Am sure I’m not the only one annoyed with that prick on myDSL Plan 999 ads.
Hopefully with the re-org in upper management, there will be change in priorities.
Lastly, Globelines/Globe do have updated maps at their business centers showing exactly where there lines are and signal “cloud” areas for their wireless internet package.
Always keep in mind that all these telcos want are sales, sales, sales…never mind if they can actually service you or not. So never believe calls or emails from sales agent telling you that you’re eligible for DSL, wireless, etc…they’re just after their commission.
Smart Bro Plan 799
Speed: up to 384Kbps
Usage: free 60 hours, Php10 per 30 minutes thereafter
Initial Setup Fee: Php1,999
Device: USB Modem
Lock-in Period: 24 months
>>>this i see.*
Smart Bro Plan 999
Speed: up to 384Kbps
Usage: unlimited
Initial Setup Fee: Php999
Device: USB Modem
Lock-in Period: 12 months
>>>this one i don’t.*
it seems they’re only offering one service plan for the “just plug it” USB HSDPA/3G service. could this be the start of unlimited data plans? i hope suncellular will be releasing their version of this soon.
*refer to smart’s website. http://www.smart.com.ph/smartbro
I’m using smart bro plug it now. Mabilis naman sya. I dunno kung dahil lang mabilis ang laptop ko (Core 2 Duo, 2 gig ram). When I used the device to my old laptop (PIII jurassic), medyo mabagal sya.
Initially, I’ve got problems with connection. It installed okay, I’ve surfed and it worked, then after a few hours connections was cut.
I did everything (or so I thought) to reconnect. When I’m about to give up, I uninstall the HSDPA software and reinstalled it.
Yun lang pala ang solusyon. Ewan ko baka naman kasi ang may problema rin ang Vista ko. Di nakakapagusap ng maayos yung dalawa.
So, far after two weeks of using it, okay naman ang smart bro plug it. For me, good deal na sya kasi mahal talaga ang HSDPA modem. Para kasing binabayaran mo ng monthly ang mobile card mo. Mahal sya if you buy it separately. Mga nasa 11K to 20k ang price range.
As compared to using your fone (Smart 3G) mas mabilis ang plug it. Mas maliit ang gastos, for me, since ginagamit ko lang naman ang plug it pag sa labas ako. Sa bahay, naka DSL ako.
As for people who were complaining about plug it’s price, I think they were wrong in comparing DSL with a mobile internet using HSDPA. Mas mabilis talaga ang DSL and mas reliable kasi stationary ka lang. With plug it, syempre mas mabagal sya kasi bago pa lang ang technology and based on experience, we know na mas reliable talaga ang may kurdon kesa sa wala. But what you are paying for plug it is its mobility, something that DSL couldn’t offer you.
In sum, what I’m trying to tell here is we can’t have everything (although it’s nice if we could
). To make the most out of your money, think about your needs. Lagi ka bang lumalabas? You should consider plug it. Sa bahay ka lang ba nagtatrabaho? Mag DSL ka nalang. Kailangan mo ba ng reliable connection sa bahay pero kailangan mo rin ng internet connection outside of your home? E di kumuha ka ng dalawa.
Maswerte na tayo at may ganitong teknolohiya. Di tayo masyadong nahuhuli. Nakakakuha tayo ng proyekto mula sa ibang bansa na hindi natin nagagawa rati. Di na natin kailangan pang magabroad para lang kumita ng dolyar. Bukod pa dun, mas mura ang serbisyo dito kasya sa ibang bansa. Aba sa amerika, ang mahal ata ng ganito.
uhm..nagpakabit ako ng smartbro 2x pero 2x din ako ndissapoint. . kala ko b khit san bkt sa kin wla mkuha cgnal. .tagal p nmn mag apply 2 wiks ako b4 kbitan tas gnun lng pla. .nauwi sa wala..
Mga Igan!!!
Comment ko lang sa pag-aaply ng canopy sa smart bro e sobra ang tagal. I filed my application last july with the more than 30 sure subscriber until now wala man lang action tungkol dito kasi mga walang kwentang mga sales representative nila na nakausap ko. If ever na mayroon sanang makakatulong sa akin at sa mga kasama kong gustong magsubscribe please help us. thank you very much. or please contact me on my number 09052593234
PUTANG INA ANG SMART BRO! saying ang 999 ang binabayad ko! Palaging nawawala ang connection ko, pag tumawag ako sa *1888 mga init ulo at mga walang alam ang agent dun! Sabi nila within 48 hours mag technician na mag contact sa akin. Bakit hanggang ngaun wala pa rin dumadating! Switch na tayo sa globelines! PUTANG SMRT BRO TO!!!!
mga bosing any suggestions my nagpunta n xe d2 sa men n installer kso sabi nla d dw mkakuha ng cgnal. .pero ung mga kpitbahy nkabitan cla just a hundrd meters from my house. .heres my for any suggestions 09186468691 tnx mga bosing. .
ung plan799 nmn nkakatakot i-try wat if d nag ok ung connection? d 24 months ako magdudusa. .
just wanna ask ma’am if when will you build a cellsite in Enrique Villanueva Siquijor… Since lots of us are hoping for your smart signal there and aiming very much for availing your very affordable wiFi enternet connection. we are very much expecting for it with in this month or the next.we are hoping for your positive response.
if what would be your decision on this, just email me with this mail address…
mercmatas@yahoo.com
bktpo mabagal smartbro nmin 10mbps lng,,,,nagbabayad nman kmi nang maayos hah….pwde poh pki reconnect ulit ung smartbro nmin????
and by da way this is my no.09094118125 i hope that u cn help me tnx!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and by da way this is my no.09094118125 i hope that u cn help me tnx!!!pki ayos lng po kc nagbabayad nman po kmi g maayos tnx.
SBRO TSR replied on Dec 27th, 2007 at 9:47 pm (31)
YOUR ANALYSIS IS GOOD AND THE PRICE IS REALLY BAD!
I discourage all to avail of the plan 799 of SMART Bro for the following reasons:
1. It has a one time Initial Payment of 1999. Mahal no?..TAMA PO..HEHE
2. It has the longest lock-in period..24 months mong pgtyatyagaan?..PAG KUMUHA PO KAYO TIYAK NA LOCKED FOR 24 MONTHS!
3. Its has 40 hours per month free and pay 10 pesos per 30 mins excess..tig 1 hour/day ka lng! WELL IT’S NOT FREE DAHIL BINABAYARAN MO RIN YAHNG 1 HOUR/DAY AND IT WILL TOTAL TO P799/MONTH…ANO MAY FREE BANG BINABAYARAN…WELL, SA SMART MERON…pls go here http://www.smart.com.ph/SmartBro …. MONTHLY FEE TAWAG NILA DIYAN.
4. Its a modem. Who can guarantee the speed of 384 kbps?..
5. You paid 1999, its yours, u lose it?..you buy again.or pay 799 per month of services u dont use..
Well its impractical compared to the Plan 999.
Kahit minsan nga totoong mbagal ang connection,
I’m telling this kahit WC Agent ako..
Coz I’ve tried this and was not satisfied..
SUGGEST KO KUNG MAY 3G KAYONG PHONE TUTURUAN KO KAYONG MAG CONNECT SA INTERNET USING YOUR PHONE AS A MODEM…WE WILL USE OUR MONEY IN A PRACTICAL WAY. SYEMPRE GAMIT YANG SMART SIGNAL OR COVERAGE…just click my name DEEPERISHI FOR FURTHER INFO…WAL NA ME TIME NGAYON NA MAG POST NG INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO CONNECT SA INTERNET USING YOUR PHONE AS A MODEM USING SMART SIGNAL OR COVERAGE.
I have always believed that SmartBRO’s service sucks! I have used it for over a year because Globe doesn’t have any line at our area during that time. Less than a month ago, I had my account terminated at SmartBRO and switched to Globeslines immediately. But Globes internet connection is far, far worse than Smartbro. Ang sabi nung namimigay ng flyer na taga-Globe, ang Smartbro daw ay nawawalan ng connection kapag umuulan (which is true naman at times). Pero ang sa Globelines, rain or shine ay nawawalan ng connection. If you have a business and you are about to send something you’ve worked on for hours, biglang nawawala ang pinaghirapan mo dahil sobrang dalas magka-error. About 2 weeks pa lang ako connected sa Globelines now pero almost everyday ako tumatawag sa customer service nila. In less than 2 hours of working on the net, 4 times na yata nag error at nag-hang ang connection ko at nawala ang output ko. So ang gusto ko lang sabihin sa mga gustong magpalagay ng internet connection, research a lot on the kind of service the telecom has in your area. Because here in Laguna, GLOBELINES SERVICE IS 10x or 20x WORSE THAN SMARTBRO!!!!!!!!!!
Smart Bro Plug it: What you need to know
Okay, so you’ve seen the commercial, a USB modem that let’s you connect to the Internet anywhere you like. Yes, the idea is very appealing to those who needs to be connected to the internet anywhere, like me. I was initially taken by the idea and when a classmate informed me about it, I quickly went to the nearest Smart Wireless center to inquire about it. Unfortunately, the wireless center I went to was closed so I contented myself with researching the Internet for it. And that’s when I saw the lines that turned me off: Plan 799 – 40 HOURS free per month
Why did that turn me off? Let’s calculate; At 799 for 40 hours per month, that’s 19.98 pesos per hour or .33 per minute OR 9.98 pesos per 30 minutes of internet. In short, there’s really no 40 hours free, you’re actually paying 10 pesos per 30 minutes of internet, their standard GPRS/3G browsing on your ordinary 3G mobile phone.
The costs for a Smart Bro Plug it: P1,999 initial start up fee and P799 per month and you get a USB modem. Altenative: Your ordinary 3G/GPRS capable cell phone, use it as a modem, you get charged 10 pesos per 30 minute of internet and if you’re a light user, you don’t have to pay 799 per month, you can pay way below that.
What Smart should do: Increase the free hours per month so that the cost is half their ordinary internet web browsing, say 80 hours per month then standard fee in excess of that or just offer us internet hungry subscribers with unlimited data plan like what AT&T and other wireless carriers are doing in the States.
This is from http://www.pinoy-reviews.com/2007/12/smart-bro-plug-it-what-you-need-to-know.html AND THIS THE REALITY…MAHAL NG SERVICE NG SMART.
Guys, there might be a way to avoid Smart Bro’s intermittentness. Make sure you have a torrent running at all times (preferably seeding on minimal upload bandwidth) para hindi mawala-wala connection.
reply to: Jac
oo,babagal nmn connection mo..lol