TELECOM | Smart teams up with Starmobile to encourage TNT subscribers to upgrade to LTE
PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart) is partnering with Starmobile to offer affordable LTE smartphones for TNT subscribers and first-time mobile data users.
PLDT-Smart and Starmobile execs: (from left) Carlo Endaya, Smart vice president for prepaid marketing, Andrew L. Santos, PLDT-Smart first vice president and consumer marketing head, Alex O. Caeg, PLDT-Smart head of consumer business for customer development, Ulyssis Lao Starmobile president, Michael Chen, Starmobile chief operating officer, and Ardie Balderrama, Starmobile sales and marketing head. Handout photo.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES — PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart) is partnering with Starmobile to offer affordable LTE smartphones for TNT subscribers and first-time mobile data users.
Under this partnership, Smart and Starmobile are presenting the PLAY Click LTE bundle for TNT subscribers at a very affordable price to encourage more users to upgrade to LTE.
Present at the signing ceremonies were Alex O. Caeg, PLDT-Smart head of consumer business for customer development, Andrew L. Santos, PLDT-Smart first vice president and consumer marketing head, Carlo Endaya, Smart vice president for prepaid marketing, Ulyssis Lao, Starmobile president, Michael Chen, Starmobile chief operating officer, and Ardie Balderrama. Starmobile sales and marketing head.
“True to TNT’s promise of affordable fun, together with Starmobile, we want to bring one of the most affordable LTE smartphones to the market so that every Filipino will have the chance to have data access and experience a digital life with LTE,” Santos said.
“We’re offering one of the most affordable LTE handsets in the market right now, which could encourage feature phone users to upgrade to LTE-ready handsets without breaking the bank. By doing this, we can let everyone enjoy the fastest LTE network from Smart and TNT,” said Chen.
Starmobile’s PLAY Click LTE will be available for P2,988, discounted from its original price of P3,490 while supplies last. This LTE smartphone is powered by Android™ 8.1 Oreo™ Go Edition, which gives new and existing TNT subscribers an easy, affordable and fun experience when they stream videos, play mobile games or browse the internet.
The PLAY Click LTE smartphone automatically comes with a free TNT SIM with 15 days of free access to Facebook, Instagram, Clash of Clans or Wattpad (up to 200MB per day). Mobile users would just need to text UROWN to 4545 using the TNT SIM included in the bundle to access the freebies.
This affordable device also provides free internet access through the pre-installed freenet app. The LTE-ready smartphone is also ready to do next-generation calling technologies like Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice Over WiFi (VoWiFi).
Level up to LTE
Smart is accelerating its LTE migration campaign as the number of LTE-ready phones in the Smart network has risen by 75% in the first half of 2018.
We continue to aggressively do our LTE rollout so we will provide high-speed mobile intertnet to over 90% of the country’s municipalities by the end of this year. Moreover, both Ookla and OpenSignal, which are independent third-party research firms, have recognized Smart LTE as the fastest mobile data network in the country today,” added Santos.
Smart, TNT and Sun subscribers who are still using non-LTE SIMs can enjoy the benefits of the better network by getting an LTE Upgrade SIM at Smart Stores, Sun Shops, and sari-sari stores across the Philippines. They can check if their SIMs are LTE-ready by texting SIMCHECK to 5832 for free. They can also check if their location is LTE ready by visiting www.smart.com.ph/LTE.
“To fully experience Smart and TNT LTE, customers must have an LTE SIM, be in a place with LTE coverage, and an LTE-capable device like the Starmobile PLAY Click LTE smartphone. Our subscribers can now avail of this affordable device at Starmobile stores, kiosks and authorized distributors nationwide,” Santos said.
