Smart finally catches up, to offer iPhone 4S to subs

Q: Key Point 2: The commitment price then was allegedly in the 6-billion peso...

The commitment price then was allegedly in the 6-billion peso range {read story here}.

Abe Olandres November 10, 2011 · 2 min read

Listen to article

Google replaces Fitbit app with new Google Health app vivo Y31d pre-order now available in the Philippines DJI Osmo Pocket 4P gets an early preview ASUS Chromebook CM14 announced ASUS ROG unveils Strix OLED XG34WCDMS, Strix XG129C monitors

Back in September 2010, I wrote about Smart’s bid to carry the iPhone 4 in the Philippines. The commitment price then was allegedly in the 6-billion peso range {read story here}. That did not pan out but Smart continues to talk to Apple regarding their internet-enabled iDevices.

I’ve chatted with several Smart execs about this before and though they say that they’re continuously talking to Apple, they would not comment on the iPhone itself. Turns out the big PLDT man himself has spilled the beans (my guess is that this was prematurely announced).

A report from Inquirer.net quoted Manny V. Pangilinan confirming that Smart will carry the iPhone 4S by December.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Smart’s parent firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., confirmed that Smart was in talks with Apple to launch the latest version of the iPhoneâ€”iPhone4Sâ€”before yearend.

â€œWeâ€™re working on the iPhone4 first because there’s a lot of demand for it,â€ he said.

The iPhone 4S will be offered to the high-end subscribers of Smart so we’re looking at Plan UnliData 4000 or All-In Plan 3500 (probably with some cash out).

For more than 3 years, Globe has captured the iPhone market in the Philippines, leaving Smart no choice but to pick Windows Phone 7 and Android devices as their flagship handsets (Smart has a strong partnership with HTC to bringing premium Android handsets in the country). They also banked on their Netphone strategy but that’s mostly Android as well.

It will be interesting how Smart will position the iPhone 4S to its subscribers and how this affect its partnership with HTC. More importantly, we’re all interested how much the iPhone 4S be priced once it lands on their lap.

React to this article:

smart iphone 4 smart iphone 4s

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.

7,991 Articles

View all posts by Abe Olandres →

106 Comments

mike · 14 years ago

Nakabili na ako ng iPhone 4S sa Gadget City. Sa may pasay.

Openline at original talaga. Ito number nila 0929*******

jackie · 14 years ago

kuya mike magkano po bili niyo sa iphone4S niyo? thank you…

mike · 14 years ago

PHP40,500.00 poh…

mark · 14 years ago

Will globe still issue Iphone 4s to its subscribers?

Xian · 14 years ago

of course!

neal · 14 years ago

pagpostpaid po ba sainyo na ung cp after the contract or ibabalik po ulit un? im confused po kasi. i dont know anything about postpaid. help naman po/

roiji · 14 years ago

yes, it’s yours.

kim · 14 years ago

roiji is right, the mobile device is all yours, but if you have failed to pay the monthly plan, you need to compensate for the phone

neal · 14 years ago

maraming salamat po. :)

PJ · 14 years ago

hi abe,

have you read today’s Biz Buzz in the Inquirer?

they say that Apple is disappointed with premature announcement of Smart on their offering of the iPhone4S.

http://business.inquirer.net/30259/biz-buzz-craving-for-sweets

“Speaking of whichâ€¦
Regional Apple officials were reportedly peeved by MVPâ€™s announcement of Smartâ€™s impending tie-up with the Silicon Valley giant for the distribution of the new iPhone 4S in the Philippines. The telecom executive made the revelation last week much to the chagrin of Apple officials known for their strict publicity guidelines.
Rival Globe Telecomâ€”which is so far Appleâ€™s exclusive carrier for its iPhone 4 and iPad 2â€”has so far kept mum about MVPâ€™s announcement about the Ayala-controlled telcoâ€™s impending loss of exclusivity for distributing the popular device (although one can surely expect a â€œretaliatoryâ€ move, given the rising level of competition in the industry).
Word in IT circles now is that Apple officials are debating how to handle the premature revelation about negotiations to offer the iPhone through Smartâ€™s network.
â€œIf you want to play with Apple, you play by its rules,â€ one industry official said. â€œOtherwise, itâ€™s a â€˜no go.â€™â€ Uh oh.â€”Daxim L. Lucas

Ernie · 15 years ago

Too bad I have contract with Globe for two years which is awful. Their cust serv sucks and service as well very unreliable I am hoping that Smart will have a promo just like in the US wherein they will cover the termination fee and just add the remaining mos/yrs to their contract bec if they will do that I will be the first in line.

Al · 14 years ago

I doubt it.

arnold · 15 years ago

I hope we don’t get caught between a rock and a hard place. :)

I’ll reserve judgement after the official announcement is made and Smart post paid plans are in place.

Jepoiski · 15 years ago

Finally! We will now have choices!

What’sthediff · 15 years ago

iPhone 4S unlocked: $649USD.
How much will we get screwed here?

Mike · 15 years ago

Globe has good reputation than Smart.

Kyle · 15 years ago

Nah. Smart’s better. Totally better, especially when it comes to postpaid. Only yuppies and idiots use Globe postpaid. The only thing that’s good from Globe is their corporate and business offerings. But for consumers, totally shit.

Then again, I can tell that you like Globe because of your… uhh… inability to express yourself. Read your bloody sentence again pl0x.

Mike · 15 years ago

Globe is #1 in postpaid since day 1 because they concentrated on that while Smart concentrated on prepaid service. As a result, majority of high end subscribers like celebrities, politicians, executives, business people, middle class families are using globe and this was the main reason why Apple selected Globe over Smart from the start since they can afford the iphone. On the other hand, Smart subscribers are mostly coming from the provinces & far flung areas of the country.

jayb · 15 years ago

Globe parin . .

Mike · 15 years ago

Rhynax · 15 years ago

I wish this develoment will bring down the crazy iphone price here and that the iphones will be factory unlocked when it lands. I always like smart’s plans and billing. Globe’s customer service should improve or else they will be left in the mud.

Dennis · 15 years ago

Friend ko loyal sa globe, he got samsung S2 for free after his contract dun sa postpaid. Kaso madugong proseso pinagdaanan nya. Nokia basic phone lang ang unang retention offer sa kanya. hahaha

leemar · 15 years ago

tama globe is not offering new phones for their loyal subscriber kahit willing pa na mag contract uli, ang sabi sa akin i need to apply a new plan which means i will have a new number, maganda sana ang plans offer nila compare sa smart, kaya lang after ng contract mo wala ng after support.

Justine · 15 years ago

Does it mean na hanggang iphone 4 nalang ang Globe? Or it will offer pa rin ng 4S?

H · 15 years ago

should i cancel my N9 reservation? (esep-esep)

Kyle · 15 years ago

Knowing Smart, the lowest memory iPhone 4S will be free at Plan 3000 Unlidata. Smart has always offered better prices (rather, better phones at lower plans), albeit at the cost of options as Smart doesn’t carry a range of phones as varied as Globe’s.

I mean, c’mon. Smart offers the HTC Sensation with NO cashout at Plan 2000 Unlidata! That’s definitely a steal.

shanahben · 15 years ago

The best move for Globe would probably be to bring the Galaxy Nexus to the Philippines. Or the Nokia Lumia 800 at that.

Alex · 15 years ago

Yes, that’s what I was told by a Samsung rep. Galaxy Nexus sale in the Philippines has been given to Globe! ;-)

Robin Lim · 15 years ago

Hopefully the competition should result in lower prices. Globe charges 37K for a pre-paid iPhone 4. Based on selling prices of other Apple products here at the Apple store, it should cost not more than 31K un-subsidized.

Jake · 15 years ago

magkakaalaman na kung sino ang mas bebenta sa kanila sa iPhone 4S..Smart vs Globe…

Mike · 15 years ago

High end subscribers who can afford iphone 4s prefer Globe over Smart because Smart cheap ang dating. lol

jonaflormicfren · 15 years ago

It is a privileged to both of them to be used and tried by subscribers.

Name: · 15 years ago

selling brand new SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE! 1 stock left
37000.00, call for faster transaction 0917*******

misterpinoy · 15 years ago

Next stop Sun Cellular!!!

iedu · 15 years ago

Now Im holding up my postpaid application to Globe! Im eyeing for the Smart All-In Plan for the iPhone 4S.. Yay! I am currently subscribed to the Smart Unli Postpaid. Will change my subscription when iPhone 4S is available… =D

Jaims · 15 years ago

so wala na exclusivity ang globe to iphone? sana nga with this impending iphone competition, bumaba ang presyo ng globe…

coachjojoc · 15 years ago

JKisaragi says:
Maybe now Globe will consider taking care of their existing subscribers a bit more.

Let em relate to y’all:
Around 5 or 6 months ago, I went to Globe Eastwood to apply for an iPhone 4. Being a loyal customer (over 13 years with 4 lines), I expected some consideration. This is what I got: “I’m sorry, sir. It makes no difference if you’re a loyal customer. You have to terminate 1 of your lines and apply for a new one to get the iPhone 4.”

So to this very day I constantly remind myself…that time will eventually come and I’m gonna bump into the Globe CEO…he’s gonna get a mouthful.

GlobeLoyal · 15 years ago

also had the same experience. i’d been a loyal Globe subscriber for 8 yrs now and i was also told like that. it was really sad and maddening. maybe this deal will open up their eyes…

no choice · 15 years ago

same here. globe does not offer retention plans unlike smart and sun who offer free phones to subscribers who are outside their current plan. @globe, you have to cancel your old number and apply for a new plan. globe is the last when it comes to rewarding loyal consumer. i retain my globe subscription just because i have no choice. my business is directly associated with my globe number. although im planning to shift to globe’s lowest plan and subscribe to smart as my new main number.

techboi · 15 years ago

This is very true. Globe doesn’t care about its existing customers. Even the rewards program is twisted. Existing locked-in customers are NOT allowed to redeem rewards. Once you’re out of the lock-in period, you’re required to be locked-in again for another 2 years just to redeem the rewards. I had enough so I terminated my plan for good and I’ll just stick with Sun.

primitivo · 15 years ago

Globe: outdated and primitive way of dealing with their customers, kulang sa breeding tsk tsk tsk

Chris · 15 years ago

This will bring up the competition in the country. I’m wondering how will this affect Globe on their promo?and how will Smart match Globe’s postpaid plans? :D .. For sure not only smart subscriber will benefit on this but also globe subscriber because of the competition ..

Leo · 15 years ago

and if they bring it here, perhaps apple store philippines will also start selling unlocked iphones as well. good for everyone who wants to have a bite on apple.

1337 · 15 years ago

FYI, there is no official Apple Store in the Philippines. All we have are ‘resellers’.

No iTunes Store = No Official Apple Store.

Joe · 15 years ago

1337, Leo is probably talking about the online Apple Store Philippines.

post_app · 15 years ago

to 1337 there is an official Apple Store in the Philippines and itunes store I even buy apps there

chris · 15 years ago

There is no official Apple store in the Philippines.When you try to buy from store.apple(dot)com/ph the product be ship from Singapore to Philippines. If you saw one apple store here it’s 100% fake.. If you try to click contact apple Singapore from their website it will display their address “7 Ang Mo Kio Street 64
Singapore 569086” while store.apple(dot)com/ph it say’s Cupertino..