Globe ready for new billing scheme, prexy says

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 from the Business Mirror  LISTED Globe Telecom Inc. is confident that it will be ready for the December 6 deadline for the new “per-pulse” billing scheme, which the Ayala-controlled firm along with Pangilinan-led Smart Communications Inc. have tried to defer to January next year.

The per-pulse scheme allows cellular mobile postpaid and prepaid subscribers to charge calls per six seconds instead of the current per-minute billing. This move is said to allow users to pay only for the services they need.  Continue reading here  http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/companies/18681-globe-ready-for-new-billing-scheme-prexy-says.html

SingTel to Launch LTE Trials with Optus, Globe Telecom, Telkomsel

From convergedigest.com   SingTel will conduct regional LTE trials in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore in collaboration with Optus, Globe Telecom and Telkomsel. The trials, which are scheduled to commence in the first half of 2010, will take place over a period of six to nine months. The trials will lay the groundwork to establish a regionally compatible LTE network to facilitate growth in the mobile broadband business for the SingTel Group, which now serves a mobile-user base of more than 273 million across its various markets.. Continue reading here http://www.convergedigest.com/Wireless/broadbandwirelessarticle.asp?ID=29019

Solar cellphone handsets that don't quit

Intivation – which is headquartered in the Netherlands – is the brains behind solar-powered cell phone handsets that keep the battery fully charged even under heavily shaded lighting conditions.

 

ZTE and Foxconn are already selling $30 solar handsets using Intivation’s technology. Foxconn is selling them under the Commtiva brand in the Philippines and Indonesia.  Continue reading here http://www.telecomasia.net/content/solar-handsets-dont-quit

Globe warns new rate scheme to bring down service quality

Saturday, 21 November 2009 from Manila Times GLOBE Telecom Inc. said the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) implementation of the per-pulse charging for voice calls next month would result in  a “severe degradation” of its network performance.

In a statement, the Ayala-led telco said the immediate implementation of Memorandum Circular 05-07-2009, or the Guidelines on Unit of Billing of Mobile Voice Service entails massive network modification and adjustments.

This circular, effective December 6, has fixed the maximum unit of billing for cellular mobile telephone service (CMTS) at six seconds per pulse.

“The introduction of any modifications/changes in the network or system during periods where the volume of voice SMS [short messaging service] MMS [multimedia service] and data traffic are at their heaviest levels as these could potentially bring about severe degradation of network performance,” Globe said.   Continue Reading here  http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/6370-globe-warns-new-rate-scheme-to-bring-down-service-quality

Interesting Headlines Friday November 20 2009

Cellphone users log in on social networking sites

A $25 App Phone? That's Crazy Talk.

Google to Caption YouTube Videos

Pirated Windows 7 selling like hotcakes

Video spurs explosion of Internet traffic

Non-residents outnumber Philippine locals in terms of IP applications

Many uses of Facebook

The Future of Salesforce.com? Twitter, Facebook and the Social Web

Ebay Founder Omidyar Shuttering His Twitter Project Ginx, To Launch Online News Site

American Express Buys Online Payments Firm

Runa’s New Service Looks to Turn Web Surfers Into Sales

Salesforce.com’s Marc Benioff: Don’t Call Chatter a Social Network

Nielsen: Facebook Now the No. 3 Video Site

iCarte Turns the iPhone Into an RFID Reader

Bigger U.S. Role in Broadband Is Likely

thePlatform Announces New TV Everywhere Features, Customers

California requires TVs to be more energy-efficient in 2011

Philippine's Smart bags Asia Mobile awards

from the INQUIRER.net 11/19/2009 MAKATI, Philippines – Mobile telecommunications firm Smart Communications won in three categories at the 2009 Asia Mobile Awards held in Hong Kong Thursday.

Smart first won in the Best Mobile Money Service Category with its “Smart Money” service. It also won in the Mobile Money for the “Unbanked” Category for its Smart Islands Activation program.

Its third award is in the Best Mobile Advertising or Marketing Category for its AXE on the Phone marketing campaign.  Continue reading here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20091119-237207/RPs-Smart-bags-Asia-Mobile-awards

GlobeTel bullish on next year’s prospects

From the Manila Standard:  Globe Telecom Inc., the country’s second-largest telecommunications company, remains bullish on the wireless business next year because of election spending and growth in mobile banking applications. Continue reading here http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideBusiness.htm?f=2009/november/19/business3.isx&d=/2009/november/19

NTC eyes access charge cuts

Friday, 20 November 2009 Manila Times article
THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Thursday said it would push for the reduction of access charges among telecom companies to enhance competition and use of voice and data services.

Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the agency is enhancing rules on interconnection rates and spectrum allocation and assignment for broadband wireless access networks.

The regulator’s announcement came after Frost & Sullivan said that access charges are “high” in the Philippines compared with other countries.

Natin Bhat, Frost & Sullivan senior vice president in Asia Pacific had said that interconnection charges should come down by 30 percent to 40 percent in the next two years to entice more people to use voice and text services.

At present, telcos impose P1 per text and P6 per minute for voice calls. For voice, the NTC is proposing an interconnection fee of P1.50 per minute, comparable with Thailand, P1.36 to P1.70 per minute; and Malaysia, between P1.24 and P1.30.

The two telcos said the rates for voice services have also been going down as mobile service providers provide service packages that offer lower calling rates.  Continue reading here http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/6290-ntc-eyes-access-charge-cuts

Globe Philippines challenges Smart’s speed test claim

from the INQUIRER.net  First Posted 01:46:00 11/16/2009  MANILA, Philippines – The mobile broadband war is getting more intense as the two mobile services rivals try to claim ownership of having the fastest mobile broadband service.

Smart Communications started to run an advertisement claiming that its SmartBro wireless broadband service is the fastest, based on a public field test conducted by a company called PSRC (Philippine Survey and Research Center). 

However, rival Globe Telecom, which owns the Globe Tattoo brand, questioned the credibility of Smart’s claims saying that their rival’s test was full of fallacies as it used one website for measurement. In a press conference, Globe’s network engineers claimed that SpeedTest.Net only captures the “burst speed” of the network being tested during a certain period, but not the actual total speed within a sustained period.  Continue reading the complete article here http://technology.inquirer.net/infotech/infotech/view/20091116-236525/Globe-challenges-Smarts-speed-test-claim

The Google Phone Is Very Real. And It's Coming Soon

 November 17, 2009 from the NY Times  The debate over Droid v. iPhone rages on, but lots more Android surprises are on the way. Get ready for the Google Phone. It's no longer a myth, it's real.

The next "super" Android device will almost certainly be a HTC phone that's much thinner than even the Droid or iPhone - The Dragon/Passion. This is the phone the senior Android guys at Google are now carrying around and testing,  at least as of a couple of weeks ago. If you're willing to give up the Droid's keyboard, the Dragon/Passion is going to be a really cool phone. It should be fully available very soon.  Continue reading the complete story here along with many interesting viewer responses and comments
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/17/thegoogle-phone/

Responses (go to the article link at NY Times above to read)
  a.. HTC Dragon: the next Google phone ? | Radhoo
    b.. HTC Dragon: the next Google phone ? | Radhoo
    c.. Google Phone existe y es fabricado en Corea probablemente por LG | [
Neuronal Training ]:
    d.. main magazine » Blog Archive » Teléfono de Google, se vuelven a
reavivar los rumores
    e.. Tech News! - Page 3 - mail2web.com Forums
    f.. Mobiele Telefoons » Enter the Dragon. HTC werkt aan nieuwe Google
Phone http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/17/thegoogle-phone/
  g.. TwittLink - Your headlines on Twitter
    h.. Official Google Phone confirmed for early 2010? - SlashGear
    i.. Is LG making the Google phone? | Electricpig
    j.. Google Phone to Hit in Early 2010 « Komplett Ireland

Philippine Cellphone users log in on social networking sites

(from the The Philippine Star) Updated November 19, 2009 12:00 AM MANILA, Philippines - More social networking site (SNS) users in Asia-Pacific, including those in the Philippines, are logging in through their mobile phones potentially overtaking personal computers as the device of choice, according to research firm International Data Corp.’s recent survey.  Continue reading here http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=524543&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Globe sees ‘better’ growth prospects on 2010 poll spending

From the Manila Times Thursday, 19 November 2009 GLOBE Telecom Inc. sees “better” growth prospects next year because of the anticipated economic rebound, according to the chief executive officer of the country’s second largest mobile phone service provider. Ernest Cu said the election-related spending would stimulate the growth of personal consumption, which is the main driver of Philippine economic expansion. Continue reading here http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/6223-globe-sees-better-growth-prospects-on-2010-poll-spending

Cellphone Apps Challenge the Rise of E-Readers

From the NY Times With Amazon’s Kindle, readers can squeeze hundreds of books into a device that is smaller than most hardcovers. For some, that’s not small enough.  Many people who want to read electronic books are discovering that they can do so on the smartphones that are already in their pockets — bringing a whole new meaning to “phone book.” And they like that they can save the $250 to $350 that they would otherwise spend on yet another gadget.  Continue Reading here http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/technology/18reader.html?_r=1&hpw

Telecom giants converge at Asia's top mobile show in Hong Kong

HONG KONG - Leaders of Asia Pacific telecom giants meet in Hong Kong Wednesday for the industry's top trade show in the region as they vie to dominate the world's fastest-growing and most diverse mobile market.

Mobile operators, handset makers, software companies and media groups will put their latest innovations on display at Mobile Asia Congress, the Asian segment of the world's premier telecom event held in Barcelona every year.  Continue reading here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20091118-236974/Telecom-giants-converge-at-Asias-top-mobile-show

RP not behind in digital TV technology says Mediascape

From a Sunstar Cebu article
WHEN it comes to advancement in digital television technology, the Philippines is not far behind, said an official of Mediascape Inc. in a press conference last week.

“The Philippines is recognized as one of the most progressive in digital television technology, considering the number of HD (high definition) channels we have,” said Mediascape chief finance officer Anna Isabel Bengzon in a press conference in Cebu City last week.

Close to Japan

Compared to Japan with nine HD channels, the Philippines comes close, with eight HD channels, which are now available nationwide through Cignal Digital Satellite TV.

Cignal Digital Satellite TV was launched by MediaScape Inc. last July. MediaScape is a subsidiary of MediaQuest Holdings Inc., an investee company of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. group.

She said a 22-inch LCD television set that is already HD compatible costs only P16,900.
Cignal and Samsung are currently in talks to come up with promotional packages that will feature the products of the two companies. Continue reading here   http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/rp-not-behind-digital-tv-technology

Read more about Cignal Satellite and other Philippine Satellite companies here http://philippinesatellite.blogspot.com/

Sky cable is also offering HD channels
http://skycableph.blogspot.com/

Read about Cheap HD LCD TVs and where to buy
http://lcdtvphilippines.blogspot.com/

PLDT Watchpad lights up DSL experience VS PLDT Watchpad - EPIC FAIL

I wondered with the heavy advertising for the Pacman rumble how the delivery of the promises would work.  The results are starting to appear online. And the lack of the ability to go full screen is a big problem too.   Read two opposing articles by clicking the links below to blogs.

PLDT Watchpad lights up DSL experience
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=503909

These are comments from the Pacland's Philippine Boxing Forum
PLDT Watchpad - EPIC FAIL

If PLDT is thinking of marketing this, they better junk the whole system and shop for another one ... it could not even go at par with the illegal Sopcast, TVU, and other live streams ... it kept on disconnecting, pixelated, went slowmo, and finally bogged-out before round 10 was completed.

I had a good experience on watching Manny's 3 last fights on PLDT's Mypad.net ... for this fight, I was enticed to upgrade my DSL connection to 2Mbps Plan 1995, bad decision

Watchpad cannot even go full screen ... it really sucks!!!  Read this viewers comments here (they are not my comments please note)
http://forum.philboxing.com/viewtopic.php?f=100&t=151515

And another blogger says:  I was utterly disappointed with PLDT watchpad not only was it hyped but it did not deliver what a decent show should during the height of the Pacquiao vs Cotto Firepower.  This comment appears on this blog http://allthingsdigitaldownsouth.blogspot.com/2009/11/pldt-watchpad-hows-your-experience.html

And another blogger writes Disapppointing service from PLDT WatchPad!!!!

Now that the fight was over, the service appears to be back to normal! But still a disappointment, since the time that PLDT has to deliver a good service... they where knockout like Manny kicking Cotto's b*tt!!
Read his complete blog review here http://teknisyan.blogspot.com/2009/11/disapppointing-service-from-pldt.html

Smart Philippines unit to provide mobile platform for MasterCard

Report from the Philippine Star  MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications, through subsidiary Smart Hub, has been tapped to provide the mobile financial services platform to support the new MasterCard Mobile Payments Gateway.

MasterCard’s new payments processing solution will enable financial institutions and cellular phone networks around the world to deliver end-to-end mobile payment services.

The service will give consumers the ability to use their phone as a mobile wallet and link their existing credit, debit or prepaid MasterCard or Maestro card accounts to their mobile phone to fund mobile-initiated payments.

As a result, banked and unbanked mobile consumers gain access to a wide range of MasterCard mobile payments solutions that provide greater payment convenience and security over cash — using their mobile phone to make purchases, send and receive money between family and friends, transfer funds between accounts, pay bills, deposit funds such as payroll or social benefits, top up mobile airtime, load value to prepaid accounts, get cash from ATMs, and keep track of their balances and activities with mobile alerts. Continue reading here   http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=524278&publicationSubCategoryId=66

Consumable mobile surfing for Smart prepaid use

PREPAID subscribers of leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) may now choose from a range of affordable, consumable packages when mobile surfing. 

Daily Surf offers 60 minutes of mobile internet use, consumable on a per-minute basis for only P20, valid for 24 hours.

Buddy Surf offers up to 120 minutes for only P40, and is valid for 48 hours. For heavy internet users, Super Surf offers up to 180 minutes or three hours for only P60, valid for three days or 72 hours.

The Daily Buddy and Super Surf packages are consumable on a per-minute basis, (my comment:  finally a per minute charge without a complicated 30 minute reconnect forumula ....great for the consumer like me) letting users choose when and how long they want to consume their minutes within the specified validity period. 

“Our new mobile internet packages have been introduced in response to public demand for consumable value offerings,” said Annie P. Naval, head of Smart’s Marketing Group. 

“As more and more of our subscribers take up the use of the mobile phone to access the worldwide web, we will continue to develop affordable and relevant services to cater to their varying mobile internet needs,” Naval added.

Both packages may be availed of by using a cell phone’s built-in browser, then accessing—for free—the menu through Smart’s mobile portal http://m.smart.com.ph/dataplan, and clicking on the desired package.

The charge will be deducted from the subscriber’s prepaid credit at registration. A P1 prepaid balance must be maintained while subscribed to the mobile internet package. Users may check their subscription status by accessing the same menu. (my comment...no mention is made of direct eload from smart eload retailers.....i hope this is not another nasty wrinkle in the good promotion unless this is geared only for cell phone use and not regular Smart plug it users....which as usual is not made clear)

Any amount of time exceeding the registered browsing period will be charged at Smart’s existing flat rate of P10 for every 30 minutes.  Read the complete original article here http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/consumable-mobile-surfing-smart-prepaid-users

SMART BUDDY UNLIMITED MULTIPLY PLAN - FRIENDSTER, FACEBOOK, MULTIPLY & MOBILE PLURK

Also Smart now has a similiar surfing plan for certain social sites like Globe 20 surf

Smart Buddy is proud to introduce the first daily unlimited Multiply plan for only Php20/day!
Make new friends from anywhere on Friendster.
Update your status as you go on Facebook.
Go mobile shopping or check your favorite online store with Multiply!
Keep your karma up on Mobile Plurk.
Tweet all day, from wherever you are on Twitter.

All of these great sites, for a great price, from wherever you are, on the undisputed nation widest network. Only from Smart Buddy.  Visit  m.smart.com.ph/dataplan on your mobile browser or text SURF to 211 for FREE info or visit http://smart.com.ph/surf.

 

Tags:  Smart Prepaid  internet Daily Surf, Smart prepaid internet Buddy Surf, Smart Bro prepaid Multiply plan 20 pesos a day

Philippine Guaranteed wireless Net access launched

AN INTERNET service provider in the country has launched its high capacity Internet access to further reach areas not reached by local telecommunications.

Called the Wireless Guaranteed Internet Access (Wireless GIA), this wireless technology provides wide Metro-Cebu coverage with a high system capacity of bandwidth ranging from 2Mbps up to 10 Mbps well suited for corporate and small and medium enterprise requirements.

"The Manny Pacquiao Blog". Click here for stories and updates on the Filipino boxing champ.
“We have tapped the Cebu market because we have seen the growing information technology and business process outsourcing (companies) in the city,” said Beng Manahan, assistant vice president/group head for the Corporate Solutions Group of Infocom Technolo-gies, during the Network Solutions Summit held at the Waterfront Hotel last Wednesday.

The Wireless GIA features a symmetric connection giving clients uniform scale on upload and download. It also provides an online traffic utilization report where clients can view the real time bandwidth that is used, giving them more options to upgrade or downgrade the usage. It also provides clients bandwidth-on-demand options.

No interference
Manahan added that this new wireless technology has an operating frequency of about 10.5 gigahertz licensed by the National Telecommunications Commission.

“We assure clients that they would no longer experience interference,” he said.
Infocom Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of ePLDT, PLDT Group’s principal corporate technology infrastructure enabler which has been providing network solutions nationwide for more than 10 years. Its Wireless GIA rates range from P35,000 to P150,000.

Manahan is optimistic that many Cebuano firms will avail themselves of this new technology,.
Infocom has partnered with ComPoint Network Inc. to reach areas of Cebu where local telecommunication is unavailable, too costly or unreliable.

Infocom Technologies targets to acquire 10 customers to avail themselves of this new technology before the year ends.  Continue reading here  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/guaranteed-wireless-net-access-launched

Philippine firms finalists in Asia mobile awards

Two of the country's mobile telecommunications firms, as well as a team of Filipino software developers, bested more than a hundred other entries to become finalist at the 2009 Asia Mobile Awards.

Software development firm MPAY Solutions (www.mpay.ph) is one of the four finalists in the Mobile Money for the “Unbanked” Category.

The company was nominated for its service called “m-bux, a mobile phone-based payment system that also does phone credit loading, funds transfer and overseas remittances. It is currently being used in several local farmers' cooperatives.

It essentially connects to a bank, thus removing the need to have an alternative currency type and uses real money that is accessed by the account holder's mobile phone and only used to pay for certain services or transfer money.

“MPAY is really built on simple insights: that many of the unbanked, demand basic financial services; that mobile is the most convenient and cost-effective method of delivering these services; and that people are generally comfortable with the concept of prepaid,” according to MPAY CEO Maner Puyawan.

Incidentally, MPAY will compete in the same category with Smart Communications, which has its “Smart Islands Activation Program.”

Smart is also nominated in three other categories: Best Mobile Advertising or Marketing, Best Green Mobile Award and Best Mobile Money Service”.

Aside from MPAY and Smart, Globe Telecom was also announced as nominee in the Best Mobile Money Service category for its GCash Click service.   Continue reading the complete article here http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view/20091116-236640/RP-firms-finalists-in-Asia-mobile-awards