So tomorrow (July 30), Smart will open their 3G network to everyone and offer free mobile internet for free within a 24-hour period.
No registration needed, no special requirements — there’s no catch (except for a minimum 1 peso load balance). Just fire up your mobile browser and start surfing with Smart 3G.
My guess is that Smart wants to stress-test their 3G network and see if their bandwidth can take the capacity and the load. Maybe we can all lend a hand and tether our 3G phones to our laptop or PC and download stuff all day? {see FAQ here}
There can only be two outcomes — (1) the network handles the load just fine so we know they’re really allocating enough bandwidth for their existing customers or (2) the network collapses with the extra load and Smart will have to upgrade their bandwidth allocation to adjust for that. Still a win-win for customers, right?
If you’re set to do this, please share your experience and post download/upload speeds in the comments. Let’s see how this goes.
Update: Also got a tip from the inside that if this TGI Freeday works well, they might do it again on another Friday. So let’s get it on and tell everyone to try it out.
Update 2: Of course, this is just speculation on my end. The link above points to their FAQ taken from their Facebook Page.
Disclosure: Smart/PLDT/Red Mobile is an advertiser on this blog so allow me to do a little plug for them here.
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you know what this is good bow ako sa smart. Naku di tulad ng Wi tribe whole day naka down ang connection nila ngayon lang bumalik around 10am. Sa mga nakakabasa nito think twice before getting witribe..
Im using my smart prepaid sim on my smart bro plug it. Sobrang bagal during peak hours.
I wonder if it will still be free if the phone slips from a 3G signal to GPRS?
this is good news.. i’ll try to test the wifi tethering capability of my htc desire with Froyo MCR! =)
try ko nga..
sana nga mag improve sila.. kasi sa uzzap pa lang na may bayad nag hahang pa sila… mas lalo pa sa libre… the 3g services of this big 3 telco (kartel) companies are very bad, slow, and expensive… as compare to other countries….
most carriers can detect if you tet ur phone. especially if bb phones.
for tnt and tm users db wla clang gprs service?
Do remember that you can also use your phone as modems by tethering it to your pc/laptop.
too bad smart bro isnt included
only internet via cellphones, USB dongles are not included
Its a pretty “smart” move by smart. Getting a free stress test by only paying for advertising
Sayang SMART doesnt support VPN considering that PLDT WeROAM does.
sir yuga do u know how to open the 3g of nokia 5230 smart talk n text po sim card ko
tnx po
pang mobile lang daw po ito, smart bro is not included.
yeah.. I think paid customer will be furious about this, since the network will be congested because of the free loaders, while the paying customer will sufer as well.
Tamang tama ‘to! I have been waiting for months for this. I already have a 3G phone and I’m going to test this service to its MAXIMUM LIMIT!!! :D
@kumag – mura lang Smart SIM na prepaid.
Too bad I just cut my Smart number a week ago…
sayang hindi ako smart.. globe naman! every weekend :D
I have an openline HSDPA USB dongle. Anyone knows the Smart settings? (I only have Globe and Sun)
i bet there will be a lot of angry paying customers on Friday. :P
Wahaha! I like the idea! RT @abeolandres Let’s humor Smart and help stress-test their 3G network tomorrow — http://www.yugatech.com/blog/telecoms/sm…
I want to see the outcome of this! (SMART’s end, that is)