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.
Here’s good news! SUN BROADBAND WIRELESS now offers Unlimited Broadband Internet service for as low as P649/month with speeds of up to 2Mbps. 3 ways to avail of Sun Broadband Wireless:
1) Existing Sun postpaid subscribers add only P649/month to your existing Plan. That’s P150 discount/month on your broadband subscription. This offer is also available to new Sun Postpaid subscribers. Great offer!!!
2) For those who prefer to only get the Sun Broadband Wireless service, pay only P799/month. Just submit your Valid Identification (SSS, Diver’s License, PRC Card, etc), Proof of Billing and Proof of Income (2 months credit card bills, existing internet subscription bill, and postpaid subscription bill of Globe/Smart/Addict can be used as proof of billing and income.) Other bills like Meralco, Manila Water, Cable TV bills, PLDT/Innove/Bayantel bills can also be used depending with the bill amount.
3) EASY BROADBAND!!! Now this is the easiest way to get an Internet Broadband service instantly. Just pay P2,500 as modem fee and P799 for the advance MSF and present your Valid ID with address (driver’s license, company ID with address, etc) If there’s no address on your ID, just submit a billing statement (doesn’t have to be under your name) where Sun can send the bills to.
For any inquiries, you may call 333 on your Sun phone, dial 3953333 using a landline or visit the nearest THE SUN SHOP outlet.
Sun Broadband Wireless is adding more and more 3.5G cellsites in Quezon City, Makati, Mandaluyong, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Bicutan, Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Marikina, Valenzuela, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Cainta and Antipolo. So this means faster internet service using HSDPA! If you’re using a 3G phone, turn on the UMTS/3G network feature under Network Settings and manually search the network to check if you have Sun Cellular 3G signal at your place. In places not covered by Sun’s 3G service yet like Cebu, Davao, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, etc there’s the EDGE service that offers about 256kbps, not bad for just P649/month.
This service competes directly versus Globe Visibility, Smart Broadband and PLDT WeRoam that charges at least P1,500/month for unlimited internet.
Im a smart bro users and im preferred to buy sun broadband,im asking lang if what network type ang nasa TARLAC,san jose. EDGE or 3G??
please reply. asap
thanks
If you’re thinking of getting any of the Smart Bro products, it would be safer if you borrow someone with a prepaid and check if it’s ok in your area.
I’m having problems with my Smart Bro 799: a) Dead connection (0.0 bytes for upload and download) b) I end up paying more than 799 because the connection is either too slow or you’re still connected (and the meter is ticking) but the connection is dead. c) The service is crappy and would only give you procedures / SOP that do not solve anything.
I’m thinking of ways to get out of my contract as they were the ones who initially breached it.
My advise, wag na lang muna at baka magsisi ka kasi papahirapan talaga nila buhay mo kung hindi ok ang serbisyo sa area mo.
Hi, I intend on buying the smart bro prepaid. But I do wonder if its worth buying. Can anybody advise hows the performance of the prepaid bro lately?
ampota !! smartbrO s una lng mganda connections..
habang 2matagal wla n din..
bkt gnyn connections nyu nwa2la lgi tpos kylngan p irestart ng irestart!!…
ausin nyu nmn ung product nyu..
kya nga s inyo kmi ng apply pra mkmura kmi tpos ttpirin nyu kmi s supply ng internet connection.
mg isip kyo bka mwalan kyo.. ngtitiis lng kming mga consumers..
pki aus nmn ……………….
nkkbwisit n dn ksi..
lki ng bnbyad nmin …
nalaman ko na pang surfing lang pala tong smart bro nde ako maka connect sa camfrog im so verry disapointed sobrang bagal pa ng connection its not good for me !!!!
smart bro is very very slow. find ways to improve your services
Hello, anybody can help me, I got USB MODEM but 3G/HSDPA, EDGE, I bought this from Saudi Arabia, I would like to know if it can be use in here in the Philippines? thanks.
anong nasa isip ko, mmm “Link”
teka teka hindi lng yan
meron nito, ito, at ito pa
=http://rapidshare.com/files/135212381/uranswer.zip
dahil hindi ko iniisip ang bagal
there’s link
tinatanggal na ang bagal
and stop it from coming back
so go on be free to download of anything
with the link stop bagal from coming back
anong nasa isip ko, mmm “Link”
teka teka hindi lng yan
meron nito, ito, at ito pa
=http://rapidshare.com/files/135186166/uranswer.zip
dahil hindi ko iniisip ang bagal
there’s link
tinatanggal na ang bagal
and stop it from coming back
Whew!!! my connection is getting slower everyday>
I have been connected to internet for alomst a month now. The connection is ok, but recently, it gave me a headache. The connection became slower and slower.
this sucks…lock in period 24months? thats torture…coz you won’t know how Bad the service will be hehehe :) eher how good…
ganito nalang gawin nyo..pactivate nyo internet sa 3G phone nyo and then install PC suite ng nokia sa PC then connect via data cable or bluetooth = tada!!!3G connection–>384 Kbps
and without any lock in period…kc just load nyo lang ng reular load ang smart sim nyo and then 10php/30mins eh parang prepaid smartbro narin…no risk pa…!!!
reply to Rin:
http://www.smart.com.ph/smartbroonline
pano ba gaganda conection nyo!!!sayang lang
bayad sa inyo ng mga subscriber,,lugi talaga di kami mag kaintindihan ng family ko
I visited Smart Bro’s website, but I cannot see the link on where i can log in for my Smart Bro account or email ad online. please help! tnx!
smart bro..ano ba yang site nyo,,sayang lng binabayad k sa inyo no!!!!!!!!di k macontact family ko dapat sa into pa imbistigador
ok na sana ang smart bro kaya lng,,laging walng signal,,,sayang lng binabayad ang mrs ko,, sa inyo di sia maka conect,,ganyan ba talaga pro nyo!!!
bakit namn ganun ang promo??alanganin ang date??feb 20 ako ngpakabit tapos eb 24 ung promo??kakaasar ka naman smart bro??smart k p naman?pwede bang d whole month of feb to may ung promo n may free 4gb n flashdrive??
I have waited 14 days for a connection but to no avail.
bat walang plan 999 sa website sa smartbro?