In 1990 I remember people were selling rights to their phone lines because it took years to get one and the Philippines was one of those places in the world where we were so behind in terms of basic UN human Index numbers with regards to telephony per 100 people (less than 1!) In basically a decade, we've become leaders in this field (specifically sms) worldwide notonly setting new metrics for use but winning awards for creative ways of using ths and Since the Pinoys are so much into their phones I just figured this thread would be an interesting look at our telcos and other mobility issues like wifi (in malls coffeeshop etc) since it's a very essential infrastructure now. Perhaps even an active look at which buildings are smart enough to qualify. Besides this cell sites are now so ubitquitous I wonder (since they also add to the height of the city skyline and profile) if there are any interesting ones architecturally.
Here's some opening articles which are intersting. This first one shows how dynamic this industry is now the consumer is truly king!
Eclipsing the Sun, circling the Globe
Posted: 1:05 AM | Mar. 11, 2005
Victor Agustin
Inquirer News Service
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A TWIN "25/8" plan offering unlimited call and text messaging will be launched this Friday by Smart Communication in trademark tri-media blitz to counter similar plans earlier launched by Globe Telecom and Digitel Mobile's Sun Cellular.
The "25/8" is apparently a mischievous reference to Sun's "24/7," which late last year launched the first subscription plan offering unlimited within-network calls and text messaging.
Smart marketing brains Anastacio Martirez is confident that "25/8" is superior to the competition since Smart has allocated a dedicated, separate network to handle the expected surge of both voice calls and text messages and, at the same time, protect the network quality for the post-paid subscriber base.
For P115, any Smart-branded pre-paid subscriber can make unlimited phone calls to any Smart phone for 10 days, even to those overseas. A cheaper P60 plan would offer unlimited "texting," but no free calls, for six days.
The twin plan is also available to post-paid subscribers as an extra service.
In contrast, Sun offers a P100 unlimited phone and text plan that is good for seven days, while Globe offers a P300/30-day plan, also for unlimited phone and text service.
Smart, in separating the phone and text plans, thinks it is counter-intuitive for subscribers to still type and send short text messages when they can make unlimited phone calls any time.
The small print is that "25/8" subscribers will be told upon sign-up that the phone calls will be limited to five minutes each, apparently to ensure that the network will not collapse with the expected surge in "telebabad" [extended] calls, as apparently had happened to Sun, especially during peak hours.
Smart's various brands have a combined subscriber base of 20 million, as against Sun's 1.3 million, and to ensure consistent service, "25/8" subscribers have to text first the number they would want to call, with the computerized network calling back after routing the call request through the pre-paid network to establish the connection. + Martirez said Smart was simply responding to market's demand for "bucket pricing," where subscribers who want better, instant connection, may pay for premium service like business-class passengers.
"Those who are willing to queue and pay less may opt for the economy class," he said.
Here's some opening articles which are intersting. This first one shows how dynamic this industry is now the consumer is truly king!
Eclipsing the Sun, circling the Globe
Posted: 1:05 AM | Mar. 11, 2005
Victor Agustin
Inquirer News Service
printable version
email a story
write the editor
feedback
A TWIN "25/8" plan offering unlimited call and text messaging will be launched this Friday by Smart Communication in trademark tri-media blitz to counter similar plans earlier launched by Globe Telecom and Digitel Mobile's Sun Cellular.
The "25/8" is apparently a mischievous reference to Sun's "24/7," which late last year launched the first subscription plan offering unlimited within-network calls and text messaging.
Smart marketing brains Anastacio Martirez is confident that "25/8" is superior to the competition since Smart has allocated a dedicated, separate network to handle the expected surge of both voice calls and text messages and, at the same time, protect the network quality for the post-paid subscriber base.
For P115, any Smart-branded pre-paid subscriber can make unlimited phone calls to any Smart phone for 10 days, even to those overseas. A cheaper P60 plan would offer unlimited "texting," but no free calls, for six days.
The twin plan is also available to post-paid subscribers as an extra service.
In contrast, Sun offers a P100 unlimited phone and text plan that is good for seven days, while Globe offers a P300/30-day plan, also for unlimited phone and text service.
Smart, in separating the phone and text plans, thinks it is counter-intuitive for subscribers to still type and send short text messages when they can make unlimited phone calls any time.
The small print is that "25/8" subscribers will be told upon sign-up that the phone calls will be limited to five minutes each, apparently to ensure that the network will not collapse with the expected surge in "telebabad" [extended] calls, as apparently had happened to Sun, especially during peak hours.
Smart's various brands have a combined subscriber base of 20 million, as against Sun's 1.3 million, and to ensure consistent service, "25/8" subscribers have to text first the number they would want to call, with the computerized network calling back after routing the call request through the pre-paid network to establish the connection. + Martirez said Smart was simply responding to market's demand for "bucket pricing," where subscribers who want better, instant connection, may pay for premium service like business-class passengers.
"Those who are willing to queue and pay less may opt for the economy class," he said.
