Telecoms

Why no Unlimited 3G on Globe iPhone plans?

Abe Olandres August 12, 2008 · 2 min read

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Was talking with TJ Manotoc on the phone last week about the iPhone 3G plans with Globe. He asked me what dozens of others have been wondering all this time — why doesn’t Globe offer unlimited 3G plans (Visibility) with the iPhone?

While we cannot really be certain as to what the real reasons behind, let me point you to a previous entry I made: Globe Visibility Mobile 3G goes Prepaid & What will happen to Globe Visibility Unlimited?

Going back to the iPhone 3G plans, here are some reasons I thought made sense why no unlimited plans were offered:

The iPhone 3G is heavy on 3G connectivity. A surge in the number of iPhone 3G users on the Globe network *might* slow down the system and affect everyone in it — including non-iPhone users.
Expect iPhone 3G customers to be heavy internet users. Globe *might* have considered offering an unlimited plan, just like the old Globe Visibility, but the Php3,000 monthly subscription fee might not be a welcomed offering. People will still argue it’s too expensive.
Other phone brands will demand the same — Nokia with it’s dozen or so 3G phones will demand the same treatment, so will Samsung, Motorola, LG and Sony Ericsson. The iPhone will only be a small percentage of the total phone users in the Philippines (my guess is less than 0.1%) and if you give it preferential treatment, other phone manufacturers will surely feel left out.

If Globe feels that their Php3,000/month unlimited 3G plans are a losing proposition, how much would people be willing to pay just to get unlimited mobile internet on their iPhone? Php4,000? Php5,000?

What TJ suggested is for Globe to allow all iPhone 3G customers to be able to switch from KB-based charging and time-based charging easily (or vice-versa). For now, some of the plans indicate a Php0.50/minute charging.

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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.

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29 Comments

gonein60secs · 16 years ago

renatski : i’ve been doing that since the 1st iphone 2G came out. I advise everybody to do the same. just put the isp settings of ur smart bro or globe tatoo on ur jailbreaked iphone setting then wallah!! Unlimited internet for 20pesos/hour. But first switch your internet subscription to time-based charging.

ken the tech · 16 years ago

I have no doubt in US will be sooner or later an unlimited calling plan for iPhone. But not in Canada, unfortunately. We don’t have even Google Voice here which is embarrassing.

Free Mobile Phone · 17 years ago

Thanks for the information, bookmarked your page for updates :)

renatski · 17 years ago

if you really want unlimited internet on your iphone buy unlimited plan from sun, jailbreak your iphone, remove the sim from the modem and stick it inside your iphone. There you go unlimited internet on your iphone. My friends drool over the fact that i got internet connection on my pocket LOL!!!

Kaamajakaaya · 17 years ago

This may not be revelant but i figured i’d post this anyway. If you’re using ubuntu 8.10 you may be in for some issues with the network manager. For some unknown reason it stops functioning. You will need to manually set you’re resolv.conf with your ISP’s DNS servers. That file is located in /etc/network/resolv.conf

Valhalla · 18 years ago

Iâ€™m Selling my Iphone 3G 16GB sealed in box from globe telecoms. for only 38T.
I got this as a platinum reward from globe and no plan of using it because i’m already contented in using my N95
you can text me at 0915*******

Valhalla · 18 years ago

Iâ€™m Selling my Iphone 3G 16GB sealed in box from globe telecoms. for only 38T.
you can text me at 0915*******

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 18 years ago

@cuapao, again how about Nokia? Globe would not want to alienate its biggest mobile handset partner in the country.

cuapao · 18 years ago

“The iPhone will only be a small percentage of the total phone users in the Philippines (my guess is less than 0.1%)” -yuga

well in that case. why not implement the unlimited 3g blahblah for the iphone users only? not all globe subscribers use 3g that much since they’re phones only give them simple “webpages” not like iphone 3g(that gives rich html webpages-inshort, just like viewing a website through the computer)

i would suggest that globe should offer the unlimited 3g service only to those who are buying iphone 3g. :D

elmer · 18 years ago

I think Globe is able to scale the surge in 3G connectivity but they won’t put to much resources into it mainly because they’re not sure if Pinoy are wiling/able to pay the price of speed.

@BrianB – lets put it this way…for geeks Linux is Plug-and-Play the rest it is still Plug-and-Pray

sylv3rblade · 18 years ago

@zerukul
actually he can play games, but that depends on how much time he’s willing to investing twinking the laptop (WINE setup for games is usually a pain).

@BrianB
Depends on what the guy/girl intends to do with the laptop and how much it can really do (specs that is).

zerukul · 18 years ago

He won’t be able to play many games since most of the games available on windows does not have a linux counterpart. More so, if he is a programmer, he will not be able to use Microsoft development tools. I think it is okay to purchase a linux laptop if you will use it mainly for documents and researching.

BrianB · 18 years ago

Can anyone tell me the weakness of Linux. What is stopping, say, a college student from purchasing a linux laptop. What is his main limtation if he does?

BigBird · 18 years ago

I called Globe if I could score an iPhone for my Platinum they say that I have to avail it as a new Plan. My Platinum cost me 5K/mo (w/ 650 FreeSMS and 1,100 mins of call) and the Plan with globe visibility is about 4,999 w/ FREE IPHONE 3G, 750min calls, 650freeSMS, 100 hrs mobile Internet and Unlimited wifi to Wiz. Its very unfair for me specially if my bill reaches 90K a month and the difference is only a peso. BTW SMART gives me a “New High-end Phone” every month with this kind of Billing although they always ran out of stock. The question is will both networks offer unlimited internet?