3G+ Mobile Broadband Wireless-N Router MBRN3000


  • Wirelessly share 3G connection
  • Create WiFi hotspots
  • Usage meter helps control data costs
  • Free Parental Controls
  • This product has been EOL'ed.

The NETGEAR 3G+ Mobile Broadband Wireless-N Router allows you to create a 3G+ Mobile Hotspot and wirelessly share your 3G+ 
mobile broadband connection virtually anywhere. It features the highest Wi-Fi and WPA security available and is compatible with major 
3G+ USB modems. 
• Stay connected — Create instant Wi-Fi hotspots where DSL is not available—satellite offices, special events, rural locations, and RVs
• Secure connection — Stateful packet inspection (SPI), virtual private network (VPN) pass through, and 
denial-of-service (DoS) protection
• Compatibility — Compatible with all major DSL Internet service providers (ISPs) and 3G+ USB modems 
(view current lists at www.NETGEAR.com/3G)
• Broadband usage meter — Monitors Internet traffic and sends customized reports to help keep costs under control
• Guest network access — Provides separate security and access restrictions for guests using the network
• Jitter-free voice, video, and gaming — Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) for reliable Internet connections
• Easy setup — Push ‘N’ Connect using Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) provides a secured wireless Internet connection 
at the push of a button
• Accessories — Convenient Universal Car Power Adapter available separately (visit www.netgear.com/carp1000 for online availability)

Huawei E589 Mobile Wifi


  • Personal WiFi Hotspot for Mobile office, SOHO, Travel Hotspot etc.
  • High speed access, up to 100Mbps
  • Fashion OLED Screen, Portable, easy to carry
  • 6 hours working battery
  • LTE/4G/3G/2G Multimode
    LTE 2600/2100/1800/900MHz
    UMTS 2100/900MHz
Specification:
*Platform: MDM9200     
*LTE/4G/3G/2G Multimode 
*LTE 2600/2100/1800/900MHz
*UMTS 2100/900MHz
*Support 100Mbps download speed
*Support 50Mbps upload speed
*Battery life up to 6 hours
*WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
*MicroSD slot, share file on Micro SD card
*OS: Win7, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Linux, Mac.

Overcharging telcos being penalized a measly P200 a day


In the realm of punishment, it is almost like a caress. Overcharging telecommunications companies are being fined a measly P200 a day, starting Dec. 1, 2011 when the industry regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), sent out a circular order to lower SMS rates by P0.20.

Not surprisingly, the telcos are choosing to pay the fine rather than comply with the order, continuing business as usual that rakes in billions a year from text-happy Filipinos.
 
The penalty – amounting to P72,800 a year – is based on a 76-year-old law, known as the Public Service Act of 1936, NTC director Edgardo Cabarios told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Wednesday.

The telcos have chosen to pay the negligible penalty rather than reimburse mobile users to the tune of P4 million a day since last December for overcharged text messages. The NTC ordered the reimbursement by the telcos on Tuesday.
 
That is why the NTC is now considering proposals to increase the fines to P5 million a day and another up to a maximum of P50 million, Cabarios said.
 
NTC legal director Dennis Babaran told reporters on Tuesday the savings of P0.20 per off-net SMS – as a result of lower interconnection charges between the telcos – was formulated by the commission not to benefit the telcos but for the companies to pass on the savings to their subscribers.

"Off-net SMS" are messages sent between different networks. The industry, with government approval, lowered the charges for such messages from P0.35 to P0.15, hence the P0.20 savings.
 
On Tuesday, the commission said it ordered Globe Telecom and rival Smart Communications and its affiliate Digitel Mobile Philippines to reimburse their subscribers P0.20 for each off-net SMS.
 
Cabarios said the commission was reinforcing its 2011 circular order, the “Interconnection Charge for Short Messaging Service,” which the telcos simply ignored. 
 
NTC also renewed its order to Globe, Smart, and Digitel Mobile Philippines – operator of Sun Cellular – to reduce the rate for off-net messages by P0.20 to P0.80 from P1.

NTC’s weakness
 
Industry's non-compliance highlights NTC’s weakness as a regulator, which the commission is now trying to remedy by calling for an amendment of the 1936 Public Service Act and bringing the level of fines on par with the age of mobile connectivity.
 
Compared with the revenues of telco giants Globe and Smart parent PLDT, P200 a day or P72,800 a year is loose change.
 
Globe posted consolidated service revenues of P61.3 billion in the first nine months of the year, up 6 percent from P57.7 billion a year earlier.
 
“Sustained topline growth was underpinned by strong performances of the mobile, broadband, and fixed line data businesses which grew 6 percent, 14 percent, and 9 percent over last year’s results, respectively,” Globe said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange.
 
“Despite the very challenging competitive environment, our business remains fundamentally strong. We were able to build on our earlier triumphs, with customer focus being our key differentiator,” noted Ernest L. Cu, Globe president and CEO.
 
“Going against a traditionally lean season, we sustained our growth momentum once again in the third quarter,” Cu added.

As of end-September 2012, PLDT's consolidated core net income reached P28 billion, down 8 percent from P30.6 billion a year earlier on higher operating expenses.
 
“We continue our steady financial performance as we wait for the industry situation to stabilize,” said PLDT chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan.
 
“We hope to provide a better indication of when we can expect to return to the profit growth track when we announce our yearend results next March. In the meantime, we are maintaining our core profit guidance for 2012 at P37.0 billion,” Pangilinan added.
 
What could put a bite into NTC’s bark against the rich telcos remains pending in Congress – since 2001 at the House of Representatives and since 2009 at the Senate.
 
"Kasalukuyang nasa Congress – Senate and House – ang NTC Reorganization Bill na may pagkakaroon ng substantial increase sa fine,' Cabarios told GMA News Online.
 
The NTC Reorganization Act of 2001 proposes "to make it more responsive to the needs of the fast evolving Telecommunication Industry in the new millennium," said Rep. Simeon Kintanar in his explanatory note to House Bill 131.
 
Kintanar, a former NTC commissioner, is now the representative of Cebu's second district.
 
In 2009, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile filed Senate Bill 3465 – also calling for a reorganization of NTC.
 
"The birth of new industry players has made it imperative for the government to provide a regulatory environment, to allow all sectors to develop the best available technology, on a leveled playing field," Enrile said in his explanatory note.
 
"There is a need now to reorganize the NTC to define and strengthen its power and functions as proposed in Senate Bill No. 3465," he added.
On Tuesday, Globe issued a statement saying it intends to exhaust all possible legal remedies against NTC. 
 
Smart, however, said it is still in the process of reviewing the NTC order. 
 
"Medyo malaki ang ire-refund nila,” Cabarios said in an interview with Kara David on GMA News TV’s “News To Go” on Wednesday.
 
“Base sa 2010, ang mga text na tumatawid between networks ay nasa 20 to 30 million sa isang araw," the NTC official noted.
 
"Halimbawa, 20 million [text messages] nalang, at 20 centavos ang ire-refund nila, P4 million po iyon per day sa isang telco," he added.
 
Lowering the cost of communication as a service to the public is in line with the directive of President Benigno Aquino III, said Babaran, adding that SMS is a value added service and should not be expensive. — VS/HS, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/283197/economy/companies/overcharging-telcos-being-penalized-a-measly-p200-a-day

Smart expands LTE service across Metro Manila


Smart Communications’ Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband service is now available in more cities across Metro Manila, further extending the network’s lead over rivals in the rollout of “ultrafast” Internet connectivity.
In a statement, Smart said its LTE service is now accessible in more areas in the northern, central and southern areas of Metro Manila. These areas include SM Southmall in Las PiƱas, Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, UP Diliman, Ateneo De Manila, Miriam College, Sikatuna Village and the Eastwood Mall in Quezon City.
“Smart LTE lets you enjoy the fastest 4G connection all over the Metro Manila area,” Smart broadband Internet and data services head Lloyd Manaloto said.
“With 10 cities now powered by our super-charged broadband service, we have more than doubled our coverage since the commercial launch less than two months ago,” he said.
Other cities with LTE connectivity are Makati, Taguig, Mandaluyong, Pasig, Pasay, Muntinlupa and Manila.
In line with the improved coverage, Smart has continued to distribute even more LTE “sticker pins” in various establishments around Metro Manila to serve as a visible guide to subscribers using LTE.

'Super Wi-Fi' poised for growth in US, elsewhere


Move over Wi-Fi, there's a new wireless technology coming.
So-called "Super Wi-Fi," which offers a bigger range than existing hotspots, is being deployed in the United States and generating interest in a number of countries, including Britain and Brazil.
Super Wi-Fi is not really Wi-Fi because it uses a different frequency and requires specially designed equipment, but it offers some of Wi-Fi's advantages, and more.
The name was coined by the US Federal Communications Commission in 2010, when it approved the deployment of unused broadcast television spectrum, or so-called "white spaces," for wireless broadband.
The long range and use of the broadcast spectrum could allow wireless signals to travel farther than Wi-Fi -- in theory as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) -- although for practical reasons the range will probably be only a few miles.
Michael Calabrese, director of the Wireless Future Project at the New America Foundation, said that is an advantage of using the broadcast spectrum.
"Wi-Fi has been booming, but it has been limited by the frequencies it operates on, which go only a few hundred meters," said Calabrese, who has been pressing for the use of "white spaces" since 2002.
In contrast, "television frequencies travel long distances at low power and penetrate through buildings, trees and bad weather," Calabrese said.
This could provide high-speed Internet to sparsely populated rural areas which lack broadband. It could also allow consumers to create their own hotspots, which could be used on devices while away from their homes.
The first deployment of Super Wi-Fi came last year by Rice University in Houston, Texas, followed by another earlier this year in Wilmington, North Carolina.
A coalition of organizations has announced plans to deploy Super Wi-Fi to college campuses in rural areas starting early next year in a project called AIR.U, backed by Google and Microsoft.
Super Wi-Fi would be on "unlicensed" spectrum, like Wi-Fi, so companies would not bid on exclusive spectrum rights. This can lower costs. And there is often excess capacity, especially in rural areas, where fewer TV stations operate.
Mobile phone companies could use Super Wi-Fi, as they do now with Wi-Fi, to relieve some of the "spectrum crunch" from the explosion of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
But in order for Super Wi-Fi to gain traction, manufacturers of PCs and other devices would have to make chipsets that could operate on both systems.
Dan Lubar of the WhiteSpace Alliance, an association dedicated to new wireless technology, said he sees Super Wi-Fi gaining momentum in the US and other countries with unused broadcast spectrum.
"Everybody understands the value of this spectrum," he said. "It is the biggest swath of spectrum and has the most favorable characteristics."
Chipmaker Texas Instruments recently joined the alliance, suggesting that equipment makers are ready to start making Super Wi-Fi equipment.
"It's definitely going to be here in visible ways by the middle of next year," Lubar said.
Calabrese said that because of a lack of compatible equipment, most of the early Super Wi-Fi deployments are being back converted to regular Wi-Fi signals. At some point soon, he said, people may start using air cards or dongles to capture Super Wi-Fi.
Gerry Purdy, an analyst and consultant with MobileTrax LLC, was more cautious about prospects for Super Wi-Fi, saying it may take several years to gain traction.
"It's a good utilization of spectrum, but I'm more conservative than some people," he said.
"Building chipsets takes times, software standards take time; I don't think people should have false expectations."
The most vocal criticism comes from the Wi-Fi Alliance, which has a trademark on the name Wi-Fi and fears consumers will be confused by incompatible technical norms.
The group said it supports the use of unlicensed spectrum for broadband but that Super Wi-Fi "does not inter-operate with the billions of Wi-Fi devices in use today" and does not "deliver the same user experience as is available in Wi-Fi hotspots and home networks."
Although the name is the most controversial part of Super Wi-Fi, that did not come from the backers of the technology, but from the FCC and chairman Julius Genachowski.
"I wish we had thought of that. We had been calling it Wi-Fi on steroids," said Calabrese.

Tattoo My Ultimate Super Plan

Enjoy ultimate connectivity and great savings with My Ultimate Super Plan. Call, text, and surf—exactly the way you want it. Share Wi-Fi connection with up to 5 devices at max speeds of 7.2 Mbps*. Now, you can get the most out of your mobile phone and on-the-go broadband experience. Just choose your My Ultimate Super Plan for non-stop connectivity in one monthly bill you can easily afford! PLAN 999 LG Optimus ME Tattoo SuperStick Bundle My Super Plan All-Consumable 499 with calls, texts, and mobile internet Tattoo Consumable Plan 499 with 292 broadband surfing hours using SuperSurf promos 2 mobile freebies and options for Unli boosters Savings of up to P3,600 NOTE: LG Optimus ME is FREE with 30-month lock-up on My Super Plan All-Consumable 499. PLAN 1799 BlackBerry Curve 9300 Tattoo SuperStick Bundle My Super Plan All-Consumable 999 with calls, texts, and mobile internet Tattoo Personalized Plan 999 with unlimited broadband surfing 3 mobile freebies and options for Unli boosters Savings of up to P8,000 NOTE: My Super Plan All-Consumable 999 and Tattoo Personalized Plan 999 amount to P1,998 per month. Discount of P199 will take effect 2 to 3 billing cycles after Plan activation. *With a minimum GPRS speed of 12-48 Kbps where wireless broadband is not available. Experienced speed will also depend on type of device used, network signal detected, and current subscriber traffic.

4G4DAYS4FREE4ROMO

Mechanics: Promo is open to all wi-tribe Tri-speed Pure 4G Prepaid Internet stick users/ subscribers. Subscriber to reload their wi-tribe prepaid stick with any reload denomination from 7 eleven outlets and wi-tribe experience centers Every 4th reload entitles subscriber to FREE 4 days unlimited Pure 4G internet. Speed of the FREE 4 days will be based on the most frequently loaded speed Click here to check wi-tribe reload speed options. FREE 4 days of unlimited Pure 4G internet will automatically credited to their prepaid account Subscribers will be notified of their FREE 4DAYS unlimited Pure 4G Internet through email. Subscribers may validate their free load and activation date by accessing their Prepaid MyAccount Portal (http://www.wi-tribe.ph/my-prepaid-account) Prizes are not transferable and non-convertible to cash.

PLDT offers fiber optic broadband service in posh villages


Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. is now offering to residential subscribers the latest technological breakthrough in broadband service using fiber optic cables to deliver the fastest internet speed of up to 100Mbps at home.
Initially available in areas such as Ayala Alabang Village and Forbes Park, PLDT Fibr is the first in the country to use fiber optic cables to deliver broadband service to the home.
PLDT Fibr is also available in East, West, North, and Northeast Greenhills, Acropolis, Greenmeadows, La Vista, and Valle Verde in Quezon City; Alabang Hills, Alabang 400, and Hillsborough in Alabang, Muntinlupa; and DasmariƱas Village, San Lorenzo Village, and Urdaneta Village in Makati.
“Its rapid-fire, ultrafast speed enables users to have a faster, far-richer multi-screen, multi-media experience. Unlike cable internet which shares broadband connection among neighbors, PLDT Fibr’s broadband service provides for a dedicated broadband connection in the access network utilizing fiber optics which facilitates simultaneous high-speed browsing and downloading,” Fermin explained,” said Ariel P. Fermin, PLDT executive vice president and head of Home Business.
PLDT Fibr may be connected to a desktop, laptop, or game console, or an internet-enabled “smart” TV and may be used with a wireless router or access point.
According to Fermin, all PLDT Fibr plans are equipped with an optical network unit (ONU) modem, which has a fiber optic cable connection that delivers its enviable ultra-high speed feature.
Subscribers may connect their laptop or desktop directly to the ONU Modem through an RJ-45 cable, or they can opt to go wireless by connecting the ONU Modem to a wireless router.
PLDT Fibr is accessible in any of the following plans: PLDT Fibr Plan 3500, up to 8Mbps; Plan 5500, up to 15 Mbps; and Plan 20000, up to 100Mbps. These plans include free installation, free Fibr modem, and free PLDT WiFi Zone access with PLDT Telpad subscription.
More details on PLDT Fibr at www.fibr.pldthome.com.

Sun Cellular Revenues Climb 17%


Mobile phone operator Sun Cellular raised its net service revenues by a robust 17% the first half of 2012, earning Php 10.2 billion versus Php 8.7 billion for the same period last year, the highest growth rate for any local telco this year.
Sun Cellular President and Chief Executive Officer Orlando Vea attributed the company’s strong first half results to further increasing sales of postpaid subscriptions and positive consumer take up on their new prepaid load variants, increase demand in broadband products and the marked improvement of Sun’s network coverage powered by its synergy with  parent company, PLDT.
Revenue growth for the company’s Postpaid, Prepaid, and Broadband segments all posted double-digit growth rates which combined led to Sun Cellular’s continuing to blaze the path for the local telecom industry.
 “We have built on our growth momentum in the first quarter of the year.  We are now reaping the rewards of the synergies between companies in the PLDT wireless group, as it adds more value to our existing services such as postpaid offerings and prepaid load variants, among others,” Vea said.
Vea added that the network improvements will continue and they will lend more focus this time to enhancing network quality. Since the start of the year, Sun Cellular has enhanced its coverage, with the highest marked improvement in Mindanao and Northern Luzon. Vea says, Sun will continue deploying high-gain antennae as well as upgraded network elements to meet the growing demands for its postpaid and prepaid products and services.
Elaborating on Sun Cellular’s first half performance, Chief Operating Officer Charles Lim pointed to the increase in demand for affordable smartphones that come with best-value plans.
“Sun Cellular is committed to providing powerful yet affordable Android-based smartphones to its customers.
 With the right Sun Postpaid Plan, consumers will now be able to expand their horizons in mobility and go beyond simply calling and texting.” Lim explained.
 In Prepaid,  Sun Cellular introduced new load variants in its Text Unlimited and Combo Loads that has seen good acceptance by the market.
“Sun continues to be a practical choice for Prepaid customers because of its improving network and great value products, hence they are starting to use their lines more often. As a result, people are starting to load in higher denominations.” Lim explained. “Of course our Call and Text Unlimited load variants are still there and are now complemented with more added features, making it the best-value unlimited variant in the market. As you know we continue to strive in providing best value services that cater to all market segments, including  small and medium businesses,” he added.
Sun’s Wireless Broadband base also grew significantly during the period. “ We are expecting these numbers to rise steadily as we expand the reach of our 3G network nationwide” Lim said.
He added that Sun Broadband started offering Group plans, Multi-SIM plans, and SIM-only plans to cater to subscribers who want to use Sun Cellular’s broadband service in their various gadgets, in anticipation of the continuing growing demand for broadband access.
“We would like to make sure that our existing and potential subscribers are able to take advantage of the synergies available within the PLDT group, and we are glad that these are starting to pay off,” Lim concluded.

Globe asserts broadband leadership

LEADING telecommunications company Globe Telecom continues to assert its leadership in the Philippine broadband industry with sustained double-digit revenue expansion driven by rising internet usage stemming from the popularity of social networking sites and the growing affordability of access devices such as tablets, PCs, and laptops.
Broadband revenues were up 13 percent year-on-year to P4.1 billion with the continued strong demand for Tattoo-On-The-Go offerings that comprise the bulk of the company's quarterly acquisitions. This led to the overall growth in Globe broadband subscriber base to nearly 1.6 million by June 30, higher by 22 percent from almost 1.3 million subscribers in the same period last year.
From 2007 to 2011, Globe broadband service has grown by an average of 99 percent per year in number of subscribers, and 84% per year in service revenues.
At present, Globe offers Tattoo@Home and Tattoo On-The-Go services across various technologies and connectivity speeds for its residential and business customers.
Tattoo@Home consists of wired or DSL broadband packages bundled with voice, or broadband data-only services which are available at download speeds ranging from 1 mbps up to 15 mbps.
In selected areas where DSL is not yet available, Globe offers Tattoo WiMAX, a fixed wireless broadband service using its WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) network.
Meanwhile, for consumers who require a fully mobile, internet-on-the-go broadband connection, Tattoo On-the-Go allows subscribers to access the internet using 4G, 3G, or Wi-Fi at various hotspots nationwide using a plug-and-play USB modem.
In addition, consumers in selected urban areas who want blazing speed connection have the option to subscribe to Tattoo Torque broadband plans using leading edge GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) technology with speeds of up to 100 mbps. This is the same technology that Globe provided in the recently concluded ADB's 45th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors held in Manila last May.
"While we expect competitive and market pressures to persist and even intensify, we are confident that we can build further on our momentum as we head into the second half of the year. Over the years, Tattoo has proven itself as the broadband with superior performance in terms of speed, reliability, and value-for-money plans. And with the ongoing network transformation, we expect to deliver on our promise of creating the happiest customers by providing them with the best internet experience," said Ernest L. Cu, Globe president and CEO.
Part of the massive $700-million network modernization program of Globe is a wider coverage of 3G and 4G services, a ten-fold increase in data capacity, and the rollout of an additional 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables to enhance internet speeds and service reliability.
Aside from performance, Globe also continuously reinvents itself by coming up with various innovative marketing and promotional strategies to create the most personalized and tailor-fit services for its internet-loving subscribers to further solidify its position as the number one broadband provider in the Philippines.
For instance, Globe broadband combines the services from mobile Globe Postpaid and Tattoo Postpaid broadband to come up with My Ultimate Super Plan, a bundled offer that provides subscribers calls, texts, mobile browsing, and broadband surfing under one plan for as low as P999 a month.
Each plan comes with a free handset and a free Tattoo SuperStick that enables Wi-Fi sharing up to five other devices at the same time. With just a single account, subscribers get the most value for their money compared to subscribing separately to mobile Globe postpaid and broadband Tattoo postpaid plans.
Empowering students to get the most of their campus life, Globe introduced the Tattoo University Sticks (U-Stick) in time for the start of the school year.
Available in either Tattoo 3G Stick or Tattoo 4G SuperStick, each device comes with one-year free unlimited access to the subscriber's school website, Yahoo!Mail, Google Mail as well as free 10-day unlimited access to Facebook and Twitter.
In addition, the Tattoo U-Stick offers a special surfing rate of P25 for three hours valid for one day and a 2 GB micro-SD card that will enable the dual functionality of the Tattoo U-Stick as a mobile broadband stick and a USB device.

Xstrata Sagittarius deploys Radwin wireless broadband systems

Radwin, the global provider of Backhaul and Broadband Wireless solutions, has said that the Xstrata Sagittarius Mining Company in the Philippines deployed the RADWIN 2000 point to point systems to connect its offices and provide voice and data backhaul between the offices and tower relay sites. Radwin’s systems are also used for video surveillance, providing video transmission from the tower sites back to company headquarters for enhanced security monitoring. Diagnostic Orthogon Systems, a leading system integrator in the Philippines, was responsible for project design and implementation. Jake Laguerder, Head of IT at Xstrata Mining: “We chose RADWIN’s solutions because they deliver TDM and Ethernet in one system. The solutions empower us to establish our own backbone network instead of leasing lines from telcos, thus significantly reducing our costs. RADWIN’s solutions also deliver real-time video so we can monitor the activity in each tower site 24/7. Using RADWIN, we have complete control of our network and can easily and quickly deploy new sites.” Rene Lebrun, CEO of Diagnotic-Orthogon Systems: “Radwin’s links provide exceptional carrier-grade performance that places them a cut above other solutions that Xstrata tested. They operate over extremely long ranges, with some links connecting offices as far as 50 km/31 miles apart. The links operate in tough weather conditions typical to the area such as fluctuating temperatures, heavy rainfall and strong winds and they can also be powered by solar panels which is critical in jungle areas.” “We are proud to include the Xstrata Mining Company among our customer base,” said Moty Niv, Radwin’s Sales Director, South East Asia. “This latest win is testament to the effectiveness of our solutions and the exceptional performance and business value they deliver to customers. In choosing RADWIN, Xstrata was able to cut costs and eliminate expensive leased lines charges while enjoying a solution that delivers high quality voice, video and data services on one link.”

UAAP-inspired broadband sticks released

After the much talked about UAAP collection of Brazilian slipper brand Havaianas comes another set of items inspired by the country’s collegiate sports league. Broadband sticks bearing the logos of eight school teams were released by Globe Telecom over the weekend, just in time for the opening of season 75 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Globe said the new products, called Tattoo U-Sticks, offer privileges to students such as free unlimited access to their school website, Google Mail and Yahoo for one year, and free access to Facebook and Twitter for 10 days. ”[Tattoo U-stick] allows them (students) the freedom in the digital space that they want and they need plus the perks and discounts so that they could live their college life to the fullest,” said Dong Ronquillo, head of Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business. Globe said users of the UAAP-inspired sticks must key in a code to avail of the student-friendly discounts and promos. Those from the University of the Philippines, for instance, should type ”FIGHTING MAROONS,” while those from Adamson University should use ”SOARINGFALCONS.” The Tattoo U-Sticks are priced at P995 and P3,495 for the 3G and 4G variants, respectively. Globe said these will be available until October 15. Just recently, Havaianas released its limited edition UAAP flip-flops, which were done in partnership with UAAP and ABS-CBN Licensing. The eight pairs of rubber slippers come in the universities’ respective colors.

Smells like school spirit

Flash your campus colors with pride and stay connected with your campus buddies 24/7 while enjoying cool discounts and freebies with the new Tattoo U-stick from Tattoo, the No. 1 broadband in the Philippines. “College students will definitely get a kick out of the Tattoo Prepaid University stick as they are ushered in a world of freebies and discounts plus unlimited access to Facebook and Twitter, university portal and Google Mail and Yahoo!Mail. The Tattoo U-stick allows the students to live their college life without limits!” explains Dong Ronquillo, head of Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business. The Tattoo U-stick comes in two variants: the Tattoo 3G stick at only P995 with speeds of up to 3.6 mbps and the Tattoo 4G Superstick which runs at speeds of up to 7.2 mbps at only P3,495. The Tattoo U-stick comes with a customized skin of your university so that the school spirit is proudly shown off anytime, anywhere. Aside from the exclusive discounts and freebies, the Tattoo U-Stick comes with a free 2GB micro-SD card that allows dual functionality of the Tattoo stick as both a mobile broadband stick and a USB device available until Oct. 11 only. On top of these, Tattoo U-stick also allows users free unlimited access to Facebook and Twitter for 10 days, free unlimited access to the university portal as well as to Google Mail and Yahoo! Mail for one year to keep you connected with your friends and loved ones 24/7. To avail, simply text in the keyword for your university at 8888: e without limits with the new Tattoo U-Stick! Grab your Tattoo U-sticks by visiting www.tattoo.globe.com.ph or the nearest Globe store.

Smart Welcomes iTunes Store Launch

Subscribers of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) using their iPhone or iPad now have access to millions of songs and movies, as Apple recently announced the launch of the iTunes Store in the Philippines. According to Smart broadband and mobile marketing head Mellissa Limcaoco, Smart shares the excitement of Filipino iTunes users and looks forward to serving their connectivity needs. “With our nationwidest, high-speed mobile broadband network powering their device, iTunes lovers have access to the store wherever and whenever they please,” said Limcaoco. Using iTunes, Smart subscribers can choose from over 20 million songs, including hits by Filipino artists, among them the Eraserheads, Christian Bautista, Parokya ni Edgar, and Charice. Smart subscribers can also rent or buy movies from the iTunes Store, many of them available in high-definition (HD). All they need is a valid credit card for payment. The iTunes app is available as a free download from apple.com/asia/itunes and comes preloaded on every Apple device. The latest, most advanced Apple devices are available from Smart, bundled with data plans. The iPhone 4S – dubbed the ‘most amazing iPhone’ -- is free at Plan 2499, while the iPhone 4 is free with an Unli Data Plan 2000, and the iPhone 3GS is on a limited ‘Piso Sale’ when bundled with an All-In Plan 1200 (until July 10). The new iPad, meanwhile, works flawlessly and delivers high-speed connectivity when powered by a Smart Rocket WiFi or a Smart WiFi Plug-It broadband device. “As these amazing iPhones and iPads and increasingly relevant apps such as the iTunes Store become more and more popular in the Philippines, so will more Filipino users discover that to truly ‘live more’ and maximize the features of all these great devices and services, they must be on a strong and reliable network,” added Limcaoco. Smart has the widest HSPA+ network in the country, ensuring coverage in most places, and is the only telco in the Philippines with a dual band 4G/HSPA+ network – which gives mobile devices better signal reception, faster connection speeds, and better battery life.

Standard & Poor’s assessment of PLDT

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.’s "satisfactory" business risk profile reflects the company's strong market position and good profitability in a competitive and matured market. The Philippine cellular telecom market has become a duopoly after PLDT's acquisition of Digital Telecommunications Philippines Inc. (Digitel) in October 2011. Competition intensified in the second half of 2011, with increased bucket plans and unlimited on-net offers on products such as voice and text. However, we expect competition in the cellular market to ease over the next 12-18 months. We expect the less profitable data and broadband segment to propel growth given the saturation in the cellular segment and limited growth potential of the fixed-line voice segment. We expect PLDT to retain its position as the leading integrated telecommunications service provider in the Philippines. As of March 31, 2012, the company had a subscriber base of about 66.1 million in the wireless market, 2.2 million (including 0.3 million of Digitel) in the fixed-line segment, and 3.0 million in the broadband segment. Together with Digitel's subscribers, PLDT's subscriber market share was about 65 percent across all segments. We expect the Digitel acquisition to further strengthen both PLDT's competitive position in the cellular segment and its growth opportunities in broadband services. We expect PLDT's operating performance to remain weak in 2012. The company's revenues declined 1 percent in 2011, despite consolidating Digitel (for two months). This is because of the decline in voice and messaging revenues despite a volume increase stemming from the popularity of unlimited and bucket plans. PLDT's EBITDA margins declined 385 basis points to 52.7 percent because of weaker margins at Digitel, intensified competition, and higher marketing expenses including subsidies. PLDT plans to invest P6 billion in TV5 and Cignal TV through MediaQuest Holdings Inc. (not rated). Though not in the telecom business, this investment in content will complement PLDT's existing broadband business and will only have a marginal negative impact on PLDT's operating and financial metrics. This investment is in addition to company's indirect 24 percent ownership of Philippine utility company, Manila Electric Co. (B+/Stable/). We assess PLDT's financial risk profile as "intermediate." We expect the company's positive free operating cash flow and financial ratios to remain strong. Our view considers PLDT's higher cash capital expenditure of P31 billion in 2011 and plans to increase it to P38.1 billion in 2012. The spending is part of the two-year network modernization program the company started in 2011. PLDT has maintained its dividend payout ratio at 100 percent. As of April 30, 2012, First Pacific Group (not rated) owns 25.6 percent of PLDT, Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (AA/Stable/A-1+) through its subsidiaries owns 20.3 percent, and JG Summit Group (not rated) owns 8 percent. The public holds the rest. Base-case scenario Standard & Poor's base-case scenario for PLDT assumes the debt-to-EBITDA ratio of about 1.6x, debt-to-capital ratio of about 48 percent, and the ratio of funds from operations (FFO) to debt above 50 percent over the next three years. Our forecast considers the addition of MediaQuest's debt in 2012. Our projections are based on the following assumptions: Revenue would grow by about 16 percent in 2012 primarily on account of full-year Digitel consolidation and half-year MediaQuest consolidation. Revenue growth rate would fall to 4 percent in 2013 after full-year MediaQuest consolidation and to about 2.5 percent in 2014. This is based on our expectation that subscribers will continue to grow, but growth would be partly offset by a fall in average revenue per user (ARPU) due to competitive pressure. EBITDA margins will gradually rise from about 47 percent in 2012 to 49 percent in 2014 after factoring in the weaker margins at Digitel, the loss-making MediaQuest, gradual easing of competitive pressure, and benefits of synergies and operating efficiency. Capital expenditure will increase to about 22 percent of revenue in 2012 and 2013 and then gradually decline to below 20 percent of revenue in 2014. We have assumed an investment of P6 billion in MediaQuest during mid-2012. We have assumed 100% dividend payout ratio. Liquidity We assess PLDT's liquidity as "strong," as defined in our criteria. We expect the company's sources of liquidity to exceed its uses by more than 1.5x over the next 12 months. We anticipate that PLDT's net liquidity sources will remain positive even if EBITDA declines by 30 percent. Our liquidity assessment is based on the following factors and assumptions: Liquidity sources include cash and short-term investments of P47.0 billion, and unused credit facilities of about P6.9 billion as of Dec. 31, 2011. The sources also include our projected FFO of about P65 billion over the next 12 months. Uses of liquidity include debt maturities of about P23 billion as well as maintenance and other capital expenditure of about P20.0 billion and projected dividend of about P20.0 billion, which we expect the company to incur and distribute, respectively, even in case of stress. The company also has significant headroom in its covenants. PLDT's foreign currency risk exposure is moderate, in our view. As of Dec. 31, 2011, 48 percent of the company's total consolidated debt is foreign currency-denominated, of which about 32 percent is unhedged. Interest rate risk is limited because more than 73 percent of PLDT's debt is based on fixed rates. Outlook The positive rating outlook on PLDT reflects the positive outlook on the sovereign rating. It also reflects our expectation that PLDT's operating performance will be stable and that the company will generate positive free operating cash flows in at least the next two years. We could raise the foreign currency rating on PLDT if we raise the 'BB+' T&C risk assessment for the Philippines. We could revise the outlook to stable if the outlook on the Philippines foreign currency sovereign rating is revised to stable from positive. We could also revise the outlook to stable if PLDT's credit profile deteriorates, due to shareholder return initiatives that weaken financial ratios. A debt-to-EBITDA ratio of more than 3x could indicate such deterioration. We could also downgrade the company if it significantly expands into sectors that are exposed to the uncertain operating and regulatory environment in the Philippines.

Tattoo presents the new iPad

TATTOO, the #1 broadband in the Philippines, continues to ride high in its broadband supremacy as it brings to the country the new iPad bundled with exclusive freebies, more value for money plans and guaranteed ultimate browsing experience! The Tattoo-new iPad bundle was officially launched Tuesday, May 29, at the EXCHANGE PLAZA, Ayala Triangle, Makati City to an enthusiastic crowd of technophiles, top celebrities, media and Tattoo and Apple fanatics, eager to tinker with the hottest tablet today powered by the broadband leader Tattoo. “Tattoo is very pleased to bring to our subscribers the hottest tablet and the must-have device right now which is the new iPad. The strength of Tattoo as the number 1 broadband in the Philippines combined with the amazing features of the new iPad is a perfect match. Tattoo provides the best service and experience to our subscribers and so much more with unbeatable offers, freebies and discounts so that they live without limits. The new iPad with Tattoo bring to users a totally new, leveled-up experience! ” explains Dong Ronquillo, Head for Tattoo Nomadic Broadband Business. The new iPad boasts of a `monster resolution’ that could blow one’s imagination. It brings a clarity like never before seen with its 3.1 million pixels Retina Display feature creating crisp images. The battery life of the new iPad could take you to up to 10 hours of uninterrupted surfing, video-watching and music. Music lovers will be delighted with the new iPad’s amazing sound impact complete with a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound feature and ambient light sensor. As the #1 broadband in the Philippines, Tattoo pairs the new iPad with unbeatable value for money plans plus exclusive discounts, privileges and freebies designed to provide the subscriber with ultimate surfing and browsing experience. Available at Plans 499 and P999, the new iPad powered by Tattoo comes with your choice of Wi-Fi + Cellular at 16 GB, 32 GB or 64GB. Download your favorite YouTube videos, upload and share your favorite photos in an instant and connect with your friends on-the-go with your new iPad with Tattoo at speeds of up to 7.2 mbps. You need more speed? Tattoo offers speed boosters for Plan 999 at very minimal additional charge of P100, P150 and P200 for speed boosts of up to 12 mbps, up to 15 mbps and up to 21 mbps! You want more data browsing time? Tattoo’s got that covered! Plan 999 subscribers have unlimited data browsing time while Plan 499 users have a standard 50 hours time that could be stretched to 292 hours using Supersurf promos! On top of these, subscribers are sure to enjoy their new iPad best with Tattoo with the exclusive promos, freebies, discounts and privileges via the livetattoo.ph portal. Subscribers can get 50% discounts on Ayala Cinema tickets, 20% off on selected items in Multiply.com and a free one month subscription to online editions of Philippine Daily Inquirer of Summit Media magazine titles and a lot more.Livetattoo.ph is the first and only online lifestyle portal that caters to the unique passions and interests of Tattoo subscribers by giving them unbeatable perks, freebies and discounts! The new iPad – Tattoo bundle is also available on a 12-month, 0% interest installment plan with the country’s top credit card companies. Globe, which powers Tattoo, is the first telco to bring Apple devices to the country and since then has sustained years of partnership with the Apple brand offering subscribers excellent and quality technical, network and after-sales support specific to Apple devices.

Sky Cable buys Destiny Cable’s assets

Three companies, including Destiny Cable, have to agreed sell their cable TV and broadband internet assets and subscribers to the Lopez-owned Sky Cable Corp. (SKY). Destiny Cable Inc. (DCI), Solid Broadband Corporation (SBC), and Uni-Cable TV Inc. (UNI) said they "have recently forged an agreement" with SKY "to further improve the services provided to their Destiny cable television and MyDestiny broadband internet subscribers." A statement on the deal released Friday said “the agreement entails the sale of the cable TV and broadband internet assets and subscribers of DCI, SBC, and UNI to SKY.” “The pay TV and broadband markets require continuous significant investments, if we are to keep up with our major competitors, particularly the direct-to-home satellite (DTH) and telco companies,” said David Lim, president of DCI, SBC, and UNI. Lim said the agreement was reached order to give their Destiny Cable and MyDestiny broadband subscribers “the best products and services possible.” To do this, Lim said they “realized that this will entail resources, for digitizing our cable network and expanding our broadband services, that we do not have.” “We believe our agreement with SKY will allow subscribers to enjoy the benefits of the latest technologies," Lim said. SKY Chief Operating Officer Rodrigo P. Montinola, meantime, said, “We are happy with the opportunity to extend the unique advantages of the digital cable TV and cable broadband internet platforms to Destiny and MyDestiny subscribers.” He said SKY “will take extra care not to disrupt the existing services of the current subscribers – they will continue to pay same monthly fees for their subscribed plans, at the same payment centers, and can continue to reach Customer Service at the same numbers. We will make announcements on new services to be made available, at the appropriate time.” Lim said the deal will allow their holding company, Solid Group Inc., to focus on selling its mobile phone brand, MyPhone. “Our tie up with SKY came at an opportune time as it allows us to focus on our other core businesses. Our holding company Solid Group Inc (SGI), markets and distributes the leading Filipino mobile phone brand MyPhone," he said. ABS-CBN Corp.'s Sky Cable is the Philippines’ largest cable television service provider with around 500,000 upscale subscribers in Metro Manila and key urban areas nationwide. ABS-CBNnews.com is the online news outfit of ABS-CBN Corp.

Globe to offer new iPad on May 29

Local telecommunications firm Globe Telecom said it will start selling the third-generation iPad tablet computer in the country next week. Globe said customers in the Philippines can avail of the new iPad under Tattoo data plans, the company’s broadband service, starting Tuesday, May 29. “We’re very excited to launch the incredible new iPad in the Philippines,” Peter Bithos, senior adviser for consumer business of Globe, said in a statement. The third-generation iPad was unveiled in the United States last March. It is 4G-ready and boasts of a quad-core graphics processor.

3M subscribe to PLDT broadband

The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. yesterday said that subscribers to its broadband service exceeded three million in the first quarter. Napoleon L. Nazareno, PLDT and Smart president and CEO, said that the company will continue to offer services priced depending on what the subscriber wants. Nazareno said PLDT leads the market, with revenues from broadband and internet increasing 34 percent to P5.8 billion in the first three months of the year. The PLDT group accounts for 65 percent of the market, he said. Nazareno said he expects to increase profitability by higher volume-based offers and fair usage policies. PLDT plans to offer services that subscribers can resell. It will also offer variants of products differentiated by “speed and price points such as the fiber-to-the-home and bundled products such as WiFi service outside the home for DSL subscribers and direct-to-home or DTH content packages in addition to our fixed line service,” Nazareno said. PLDT’s broadband business contributes 14 percent of consolidated service revenues. Of the total broadband revenues in the first quarter, PLDT DSL generated P2.6 billion, up 15 percent compared with the same period last year. Smart Communications Inc. generated P1.7 billion in revenues from its wireless broadband services while the Digitel group contributed P800 million. Smart’s mobile internet revenues for the first quarter of 2012 increased 71 percent year on year to P600 million.

Smart offers flexible broadband plans with gadget bundles

Filipinos can now enjoy the best mobile broadband services on the best devices as Smart introduces its array of “Flexisurf” postpaid plans. For the first time in the mobile broadband postpaid category, plans that offer the most flexible choices of plan, device and payment terms are now available. Touted as “the easiest way to own the latest gadgets,” Flexisurf Plans not only gives Filipinos the freedom to choose the broadband plan that suits their needs and habits, but also the chance to purchase the hottest tablet and netbook devices at discounted and amortized prices. Starting at just P299 a month for a SIM-only plan, “Flexisurfers” can enjoy 30 hours of Internet surfing of up to 5Mbps and avail themselves of the seven-inch, 3G- and Wi-Fi-enabled Cherry Mobile Superion Android tablet for only P341 on top of their monthly service fee. “Our 24-month payment terms are the easiest in the industry — no one else offers this,” said Smart Broadband Internet and Data Services head Lloyd Manaloto. “The best you get from a gadget store is 12 or 18 months if they are generous,” he added. Heavier Internet users, meanwhile, can opt for the P499 or P599 Power Plug-It or Pocket Wi-Fi plans which both come with 50 hours of surfing at speeds of up to 5Mbps. Devices available at these plans are the Cherry Mobile Superion + tablet (P541/month), the Neo Vivid netbook (P641/month), the dual core Acer AOD722 netbook (P1,037/month), the Samsung Galaxy Tab P6200 (P1,199/month), and the Asus Slider tablet (P1,424/month). As an added bonus, all plans are protected by Smart’s anti-“bill shock” feature. When a user exceeds the allotted number of hours in his or her plan, anti-bill shock is activated after 80 hours and caps billing at no more than P999 for the month. “Unlike plans offered by the competition, Flexisurf lives up to its name,” said Manaloto. “Whether you are the type who just checks up on Facebook and reads e-mail or a Netizen who is into downloads and video streaming, we have got you covered.” For more information on Flexisurf and to view the complete list of available device bundles, visit www.smart.com.ph/flexisurf or call 848-8877. Also visit the nearest Smart Store.

PLDT Philippines Selects Alvarion's(R) Wi-Fi Solution for Nationwide Wi-Fi Zone Project

Alvarion(R) Ltd. ALVR +8.70% , a provider of optimized wireless broadband solutions addressing the connectivity, coverage and capacity challenges of public and private networks, today announced the multi-million dollar project with PLDT to provide carrier-grade Wi-Fi access starting with over 3,000 hot zones around Manila's metropolitan area, and continuing to other major areas around the Philippines. Installation has begun on the first phase and the entire project is expected to be completed in two years. PLDT is the largest telecommunications company in the Philippines providing the largest and most diversified range of telecommunications services. PLDT is revolutionizing its customers' surfing experience with the roll-out of Wi-Fi zones located in key cities in the Philippines. This Wi-Fi Zone Project provides access to a premium, high-speed Wi-Fi service in over 3,000 public areas such as cafes, bars and clubs, car dealerships, salons, shopping malls, restaurants and cinemas. In order to make this solution visually appealing around the city, Alvarion designed graphical sleeves applied to the Wi-Fi units that make it environment friendly and camouflage it with the surroundings. For a minimal fee of P150.00 per month, PLDT myDSL subscribers get unlimited access to the premium Wi-Fi Zone service using one username and password in all of the 3,000 Wi-Fi zones nationwide. Alvarion's WBSn solution was chosen by PLDT amongst the vendors who participated in a field trial performance test. These tests were conducted in busy streets, parks, restaurants and office buildings connecting handheld devices such as laptops, tablets and smartphones. Alvarion passed the criteria that included the capability in reaching long distances, operating in Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS), overcoming dense urban obstacles such as trees and solid structures, and penetrating inside public buildings such as museums and libraries. Network planning and carrier-grade advanced Wi-Fi technology allowed Alvarion to strategically place one base station in a tactical location that would provide connectivity inside malls and buildings and cover distances of up to 500 meters while overcoming obstacles in both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Non-Line-of-Sight conditions. PLDT required at least 1 Mbps throughput at a 500 meter Line-of-Sight distance from the base station. Alvarion outperformed this requirement with up to 20 Mbps throughput at 500 meters in a Non-Line-of-Sight, urban environment. "With Alvarion's advanced technology, professional network planning and experienced engineers, we were able to offer PLDT exactly what they needed in a Wi-Fi solution," states Hezi Lapid, President and CEO of Alvarion, "We have enabled a nationwide network of carrier-grade Wi-Fi hot spots that will give PLDT's customers strong Internet connection anywhere they are, delivering a fantastic user experience no matter where the customer may go."

SkyCable aims to grow market, signs 3 deals

Rather than aim for an increase in pay TV (television) market share, a ranking Sky Cable Corp. official said on Monday the company is gunning to expand the market which, at its present state, continues to suffer from rampant illegal cable connections. “Let’s put it this way, instead of increasing the combined market shares of Sky, Destiny [Destiny Cable Inc.], MyDestiny [Solid Broadband Corp.] and Uni-Cable TV in the pay TV and cable broadband businesses, we can expand the market with digitization. Instead of fighting for a bigger share of a very small market it is better to expand the market size. If we offer varied and affordable cable TV subscriptions, the market will grow. We would like to think that way rather than all of us eating the same market size,” said SkyCable Chief Operating Officer Rodrigo Montinola, in a phone interview yesterday. UniCable is a direct-to-home (DTH) cable TV subscription service covering the areas in Cebu. Solid Broadband, meanwhile, is a broadband service company that operates the MyDestiny brand. Destiny is a provider of cable TV service, similar to what SkyCable offers. On May 11 SkyCable signed separate deals with these companies that are under Solid Group Inc. owned by the Lim family. “The combined market share is probably 45 percent. The rest is shared by our rivals including Cignal, Dream Satellite TV and Cable Link,” said Montinola. The agreements involve the sale and transfer of Destiny Cable’s assets used in its business of constructing, maintaining and operating community antennae television systems for public and commercial purposes to Sky Cable, at a purchase price of P2,403,421,354. Another asset purchase agreement was executed between Solid Broadband and SkyCable. Under the P1-billion deal, Solid Broadband will sell, transfer and convey to SkyCable all assets used in the business of operating commercial telecommunications facilities, coastal stations for ships-at-sea, aeronautical stations for aircraft in flight, television and broadcasting stations, and other telecommunications services. Meanwhile, Uni-Cable agreed to sell, transfer and convey to Sky Cable all of Uni’s assets used in its business of operating a cable antenna television system in Mandaue and Lapu Lapu City, Cebu province, including, but not limited to, a satellite TV system, cable TV headend station, repeaters, booster, and other related equipment, at a purchase price of P93,578,646. SkyCable will use both equity and borrowed funds to finance the purchase of the three companies’ assets which will be used in the expansion of its television and broadband business. “Funding will be sourced from a combination of equity and borrowings. The details are still being planned,” said Montinola. SkyCable has no plans of acquiring more cable TV firms. “This is it. Even before this transaction we are already a strong No. 1 in the pay TV segment,” said the official. For his part, David Lim, president of DCI, SBC and UNI, said “The pay TV and broadband markets require continuous significant investments, if we are to keep up with our major competitors, particularly the direct-to-home satellite and telco companies. We are gratified by the loyalty of our Destiny Cable subscribers and MyDestiny broadband subscribers all these years, and would always want to give them the best products and services possible. However, we realized that this will entail resources, for digitizing our cable network and expanding our broadband services, that we do not have. We believe our agreement with SkyCable will allow subscribers to enjoy the benefits of the latest technologies.” He added that “our tieup with SkyCable came at an opportune time as it allows us to focus on our other core businesses.” Our holding company Solid Group Inc. markets and distributes mobile phone brand MyPhone.” The cable industry has recorded billions of pesos in revenue lost due to illegal cable connections. Further, the industry cited that there is a one-on-one ratio between a paying cable subscriber and an illegal connect. This translates to about P6.3 billion in losses annually for the industry.t With the deal, this gives us the opportunity to continue with our digitization efforts to curb illegal connections. Eventually, we will apply digitization to Destiny Cable subscribers,W said Montinola. Sky Cable is aiming to convert about 80 percent of its 500,000 subscribers to go digital by year-end. About P1.5 billion has been earmarked for capital expenditures.

Sky Cable buys Solid’s Destiny Cable

Lopez-led Sky Cable Corp. has struck a deal to acquire Solid Group’s Destiny Cable television and related broadband Internet and pay TV businesses for P3.5 billion, thus solidifying its position as the leader in the cable TV industry. Sky Cable signed late Friday a deal to buy the assets of Destiny Cable Inc., Solid Broadband Corp. and Uni-Cable TV Inc. Solid Broadband owns the cable infrastructure that is used by pay TV provider Destiny Cable, while Uni-Cable is a niche cable TV provider in Cebu with estimated subscribers of between 3,000 and 5,000. The consolidation of Solid Group’s cable units with Sky Cable is seen giving the Lopez company a combined 45 percent share of the pay TV business serving about 650,000 households nationwide, said Sky Cable chief operating officer Rodrigo Montinola in a phone interview last Saturday. “We are happy with the opportunity to extend the unique advantages of the digital cable TV and cable broadband Internet platforms to Destiny and MyDestiny subscribers. As we plan these out, we will take extra care not to disrupt the existing services of the current subscribers—they will continue to pay same monthly fees for their subscribed plans, at the same payment centers, and can continue to reach customer service at the same numbers,” Montinola said. Montinola also said that all contracts with content providers would be honored. Destiny Cable president David Lim, meanwhile, said the sale of cable TV assets would allow the company to focus on other businesses. Solid Group markets and distributes Filipino mobile brand MyPhone. “Our tie-up with Sky Cable came at an opportune time as it allows us to focus on our core businesses,” he said. He said the Destiny cable brand would do better in the hands of Sky Cable, which is a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Corp. “The pay TV and broadband markets require continuous, significant investments, if we are to keep up with our major competitors, particularly the direct-to-home satellite and telecom companies,” Lim said. “We realized that this will entail resources, for digitizing our cable network and expanding our broadband services, which we do not have. We believe our agreement with Sky Cable will allow subscribers to enjoy the benefits of the latest technologies,” Lim said. Sky Cable, the country’s cable TV industry leader, has about half a million subscribers in the Philippines, mostly located within Metro Manila. On the funding for Sky Cable’s acquisition of Destiny, Montinola said it would be covered by a combination of equity and loans. Broadcasting giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. has a 60 percent interest in Sky Cable while the remaining 40 percent is held by STT Communications of Singapore, which has investments in the form of depositary receipts. Founded in 1990, Sky Cable is the dominant player in the cable TV business, but pay TV faces stiff competition from direct-to-home or satellite TV providers like Cignal and Dream TV. In 2010, Sky Cable also launched the Sky Broadband Ultra High Speed, an Internet connection subscription that offers speeds of up to 112 mbps. It also launched a TV on Demand service “iWantv” in 2010, which allows subscribers to catch up on missed episodes of favorite ABS-CBN shows on their desktops or laptops.

Sybase 365 Enables Globe Telecom To Expand Its Ipx Connectivity Globally

Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc., the global leader in mobile messaging and mobile commerce services, today announced it has been working with Globe Telecom, Philippines' leading mobile operator, running live commercial voice traffic across multiple Asian operators. IPX Voice is one of several innovative services Sybase 365 offers on its Sybase® IPX 365(TM) network, enabling Globe to exchange international calls directly with other mobile operators rather than routing calls through traditional wholesale voice carriers. "Today, our customers expect the highest quality of service. As we provide services and solutions that give our subscribers a more enriched mobile experience, the same is expected for international calls," said Rizza Maniego-Eala, International Business Group head of Globe Telecom. "Through this partnership, with Sybase 365, we will have direct control over the routing and quality of voice calls which can positively increase international voice revenues. In addition, Globe will be well positioned to expand its IPX connectivity globally across Asia and EMEA." IPX lays the foundation for operators to establish direct commercial and technical interconnect with each other, specifically for cross regional connectivity. "Globe's live commercial voice traffic over IPX is a further testament that voice hubbing via IPX is both technically feasible and commercially viable," said Howard Stevens, senior vice president, global messaging solutions for Sybase 365. "With the growth of our IPX community, from CSL and dtac, who were the first operators to connect to the Sybase 365 IPX Voice Hub, the addition of a number of operators including Globe further demonstrates our leadership in the evolution to IPX. Sybase 365 is becoming the mobile industry's preferred partner for connecting with service providers over private IP networks across the globe." The Sybase IPX 365 network is designed to serve both fixed and mobile network operators with premium quality service and security required in the conversion to IP networks. The full suite of IPX services includes connectivity to BlackBerry® Infrastructure, global data roaming (GRX), SMS and MMS messaging hubs, IPX Voice and roaming signalling --all run over a high quality Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. Sybase 365's Global Operator survey found that majority of operators surveyed (63.5%) plan to deploy IPX over the next one to three years. The findings underscore the firm grasp of the benefits and opportunities for IPX that operators have and that IPX sets the foundation as the industry moves towards all IP services, including LTE. About Globe Globe Telecom is a leading full service telecommunications company in the Philippines, serving the needs of consumers and businesses across an entire suite of products and services including mobile, fixed, broadband, data connections, internet and managed services. Its principals are Ayala Corporation and Singapore Telecom who are acknowledged industry leaders in the country and in the region. For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph . Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/talk2Globe and Facebook: http://facebook.com/GlobePH . About Sybase 365Sybase 365, a subsidiary of Sybase, Inc. (an SAP company; NYSE: SAP), is the global leader in enabling mobile information services for mobile operators, financial institutions and enterprises. We provide our customers with the widest offering in SMS, MMS, GRX, IPX interoperability, end-to-end mobile commerce solutions, innovative mCRM, mobile marketing and content delivery services. Sybase 365 processes more than 1.8 billion messages per day, reaching 900 operators and 5.5 billion subscribers around the world. For more information, visit: www.sybase.com/365 . Read our blogs: http://blogs.sybase.com . Sybase, Sybase 365, Sybase IPX 365 and other Sybase products and services mentioned in the release, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sybase, Inc. ® indicates registration in the United States. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Forward-looking StatementAny statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "should" and "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including SAP's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

Globe Selects Amdocs for Strategic BSS Transformation Project under Seven-Year Agreement

Globe Telecom (PSE: GLO), one of the largest service providers in the Philippines and a subsidiary of Ayala Corporation and the SingTel Group, and Amdocs (NYSE: DOX), the leading provider of customer experience systems and services, today announced the signing of a seven-year agreement for the transformation and continuous improvement and upgrade of Globe Telecom's business support systems (BSS) and enterprise data warehouse. The agreement is aimed at modernizing and consolidating Globe's BSS and data warehouse systems as well as business processes across prepaid and postpaid wireless, wireline, and broadband operations. This will enable Globe to manage its customer relationships better across various product offerings within the organization, and provide a new level of personalized customer experience that its current subscribers are looking for. "We selected Amdocs to help us transform our IT infrastructure, having seen their track record in delivering similar data warehouse and BSS transformation projects around the world," said Ernest Cu, president and chief executive officer at Globe. "With a strategic partner like Amdocs, we can approach these two large projects in a holistic manner. We will be able to convert data from our BSS systems into actionable business intelligence that will enable us to improve the customer experience, drive service uptake and revenues, and reduce operational costs." For the Globe BSS transformation, Amdocs will deliver multiple products from its CES 8.1 portfolio and will provide continuous upgrades across all in-scope Amdocs and related third party systems. Amdocs' solutions include convergent charging and billing, customer management, ordering and enterprise-wide product catalog. For the Globe BI and data warehouse transformation, Amdocs was awarded a system integration project in November 2011 to replace the Globe existing data warehouse with new systems from Teradata, SAS, EMC, Informatica, IBM and HP and centralize information across Globe billing, customer management and ordering systems for advanced analytical capabilities. "Transforming both BSS and data warehouse platforms with direct oversight from Amdocs positions Globe at the forefront of operational excellence in the Philippines and frees them to focus on business growth," said Brian Shepherd, group president for Amdocs. "Our processes and advanced products allow easy definition, tracking and performance level improvement, and gives Globe full control over improved operational results." This new agreement expands on Amdocs' existing relationship with Globe, following the deployment of the network-based Amdocs Service Platform in June 2010. Using the platform, Globe was able to reduce time to market for new applications and customer promotions from months to weeks, drive a double-digit increase in ARPU, and a triple take-up of broadband promotions.

Vonage Announces International Partnership with Globe™ in the Philippines

Vonage Holdings Corp. today announced it has entered into an agreement with Globe™, a leading telecommunications provider in the Philippines, to deliver best-in-market pricing to and from the Philippines. With more than three million Filipinos living in the U.S., the Filipino calling segment represents a substantial growth opportunity for Vonage and for Globe™. This attractive customer segment is highly educated, has an average income that is 50% higher than the U.S. population, has a high penetration of broadband service and a high affinity for staying connected to friends and family overseas. "We are pleased to sign our first international partnership with Globe," said Marc Lefar, Vonage Chief Executive Officer. "Together, we've structured a creative alliance that allows us to address the largely underserved needs of Filipino callers. We expect to be in market later this year." "This alliance marks a significant milestone in Vonage's strategy to expand our services beyond North America," said Lefar. "By leveraging our heritage of VoIP innovation and expertise in international long distance, we can offer partners such as Globe the ability to expand their communications businesses in their local markets and beyond." "We remain actively involved in discussions with several prospective partners and look forward to announcing additional alliances before the end of this year," added Lefar.

Tattoo Changes The Broadband Landscape With 3 New Lifestyle Sticks

In one of the hippest parties to hit Boracay this summer, number one broadband Tattoo, powered by Globe, outsmarted their competition and launched the first-ever online lifestyle site in the Philippines alongside three new prepaid lifestyle sticks geared at satisfying every subscriber’s unique individuality and passion. Lifestyle editors and writers and social media influencers from Manila were flown to Boracay to witness the spectacular launch at the Epic beachfront. Tattoo nomadic brand ambassadors, the fabulous Georgina Wilson, social media princess Saab Magalona and Philippines’ Cosplay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao together with Tattoo@Home brand ambassador Ford Supermodel of the World 2010 Danica Magpantay came in all their summer hotness and talked about how much they enjoy using the Tattoo sticks. During the press dinner held at Dos Mestizos restaurant a day before the big launch, Tattoo Nomadic Head for Broadband Business Dong Ronquillo and Tattoo@Home Head Jurist Gamban excitingly discussed the new online lifestyle site and the three new Lifestyle sticks tagged as the “new weapons for greatness.” “We have, again, changed the landscape of the broadband industry in a way that has never been seen and experienced before in the Philippines. As the number one broadband in the country, we are proud to be introducing another innovation which celebrates the individuality of each subscriber and lets them live out their passion through the lifestyle sticks and via the first-ever online lifestyle site in the country, livetattoo.ph,” says Ronquillo. Exciting privileges, discounts and freebies await subscribers and lets them live their passion as they enter the LiveTattoo.ph site. Access to the site is made convenient just by signing up using the Tattoo Prepaid or Postpaid number of the Tattoo@Home account number. Browse the site and choose your desired deals and perks given by over 50 partner websites and establishments. The 3 new Lifestyle sticks—Player, Explorer and Stylista—all powered by the reliable 4G network of Tattoo could run up to speeds of up to 7.2 mbps but more importantly are perfectly niched. The Tattoo Player Lifestyle stick is your gateway to five free music downloads, free credits to online games and 50% off on Ayala Cinema tickets plus one year unlimited free access to movies and gaming sites like gamespot.com, ign.com, sureseats.com and rottentomatoes.com. The Tattoo Explorer Lifestyle stick takes the subscriber on a delicious journey packed with unlimited access for one year to food and travel sites like munchpunch.com, clickthecity.com, airphilexpress.com, tripadvisor.com and agoda.com; 50% discount at selected Redbox branches and two free music downloads. Buy one-take one deals on Airphil Express domestic tickets are also available using your Tattoo Explorer dongle. For the fab and fabulous, the Tattoo Stylista stick will be pampered with discounts at Multiply, Pisobid, VMV Superskin Facials and unlimited access to popular lifestyle and fashion websites such as stylebible.ph, themall.ph and lookbook.nu. Each Tattoo Prepaid Lifestyle comes at an affordable price of only P1,295 per stick. Tattoo@Home, with plans as low as P799 and speeds of up to 15 mbps, now opens up as well to more discounts and perks from partner merchants such as PopCap, Multiply and A-Deals (Freeway, Timezone, VMV, Bo’s Coffee, Ayala Cinemas). Tattoo@Home is known as every parent’s partner in effectively fueling their child’s passions with fast and stable internet connection at home. Depending on the Tattoo@Home plan availed, subscribers receive exciting freebies such as online edition of any Summit Media magazine and Philippine Daily Inquirer, SurfSafe Bundles (Anti-Virus and Family Protect Suite) and speed boost of up to 1mbps. With all these, Tattoo@Home assures parents that nothing can stop their child’s rise to greatness, Gamban said. Celebrate your passion like never before with the Tattoo Lifestyle sticks and the LiveTattoo.ph online lifestyle site. This e-mail message (including attachments, if any) is intended for the use of the individual or the entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete this E-mail message immediately.

Smart turns Boracay into a giant 'hotzone'

The Philippines’ hottest summer destination just got hotter as Smart, the country’s wireless services leader, fires up the latest 4G technologies Long Term Evolution (LTE), High Speed Packet Access Plus (HSPA+), and WiMax-powered Wi-Fi hotspots in Boracay. With its wireless network on the resort island fully modernized, Smart subscribers can enjoy the next-generation of mobile broadband with speeds of up to 70Mbps — 35 times faster than the average mobile Internet connection. “It’s Smart to be in Boracay this summer: there’s sun, sand, and high-speed surfing — the likes of which only Smart can provide,” said Smart broadband Internet and data services head Lloyd Manaloto. “Now you can share your jumping photos, food trips, and other beach escapades in seconds,” he added. Wi-Fi hotspots and share stations are located in several areas, including the Jonas restaurant beachfront, Boracay Peninsula hotel, Epic restaurant, Juice Bar, and Zuzuni hotel and can be used free of charge. “This our own little way of spreading the 4G excitement,” said Manaloto. “Boracay is the birthplace of LTE in the Philippines and it is just right that we make this one-of-a-kind technology available in this one-of-a-kind destination.” Along with Boracay, several other areas, including Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, have already been fully modernized and are 4G-ready. A network is deemed 4G-ready if it is able to deliver next-generation, high-speed wireless services at the push of a button. The upgrades are part of the P67.1-billion network modernization program of Smart and its parent company, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. Under the ambitious endeavor, Smart is beefing up the scale and the scope of its 4G network by installing additional fiber optic cabling, base stations, and international gateways which will help its network become more reliable and more resilient. These translate to clearer calls, faster mobile browsing speeds, and stronger signal reception even in the remotest corners of the archipelago. With the program now on its final stages, Smart’s entire network infrastructure is scheduled to be completely 4G-ready by mid-2012. “We already have a one-year headstart from everybody else,” said Manaloto. “And based on the feedback we have had thus far, Filipinos are clearly benefiting from the speed and stability improvements of our network,” he added.
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