Opera and Smart power up web surfing in the Philippines

It’s time to take your mobile web browser to the next level. Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), the leading wireless services provider in the Philippines, and Opera Software, the developer of the world’s most popular mobile web browser, recently renewed and extended their cooperation. The two companies are devoted to bringing the best Internet experience to Smart subscribers with an improved Smart-Opera Mini browser. With more than 121 million users worldwide, the Opera Mini mobile web browser has built a reputation for its convenient compression technology, which decreases the size of webpages by up to 90 percent before sending them to the phone. It results in significantly faster page loading and lowers data costs when users access the Web on a mobile network. From basic feature phones to high-end smartphones and tablets, more than 3,000 mobile device models in the Philippines will benefit from this enhanced surfing experience. The lowered data size also makes Opera Mini a perfect partner to Smart’s volume-based ALWAYS ON packages. ALWAYS ON lets Smart mobile users stay connected to the Web at a more affordable rate based on the amount of data they wish to consume. ALWAYS ON packages are available from P20 for 25MB of data (valid for one day) to P995 for 2GB of data (valid for 30 days). To activate a package, simply send “ON” and the amount of the package you would like 2200, e.g., (ON[space]20 send to 2200). The Smart-Opera Mini browser further levels up the user experience with improved page scrolling, an intuitive user interface and added functionalities, such as pinch-to-zoom on supported devices and a share button for sharing to popular social networks. Smart is renowned for its innovation in bringing world-class wireless data services. The company first introduced the Smart-Opera Mini browser in early 2010. The number of users of this co-branded browser has grown on average by 44.8 percent each month since its launch. This means more and more Filipinos are accessing the Web through their mobile phones with a better and more affordable browsing experience. Smart — which has made the mobile Internet a cornerstone of its “Internet for All” objective — the Opera Mini browser will help make the World Wide Web even more accessible to a broader base of its subscribers, particularly to those who use feature phones. “While our network and system are ready to provide data services, the challenge lies in the devices through which our subscribers access the Internet,” said Orlando Vea, Co-founder and Chief Wireless Advisor of Smart. “Opera Mini on a Smart cellphone can help introduce the mobile Internet experience to our subscribers, as it allows the Web to ‘fit’ perfectly and comfortably into any cellphone.” “The Web is changing and more people are getting online with their mobile devices. We need a smarter browser,” adds Rolf Assev, Head of Corporate Development and M&A, Opera Software. “This Smart-Opera Mini browser is a more refined browser for a great web experience. It is faster, smoother and smarter. We are excited to work with Smart to make the customized version available for Filipinos. I believe this will become your best friend when you are on the go with mobile phones or tablets!” The enhanced Smart-Opera Mini 4.3 and Smart-Opera Mini 6.1 browser are now available for free to Smart subscribers through http://m.opera.com/. For more details on Smart’s ALWAYS ON plans, go to http://m.smart.com.ph/volumeplans/.

Smart debuts Netphone next week

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) starts offering its P9,900 per unit Netphone 701 (with free Internet until year-end) next week, September 10, 2011, to bring mobile Internet to more of the country’s 30 million mobile phone users of which only 5 million regularly go online. Smart took one year to develop the Netphone for the local market. “Most smartphones are designed for first world users who are always connected,” explained Smart’s Head of Broadband Internet and Data Services Giovanni R. Bacareza. “In developing countries like the Philippines, people want to pay for Internet in sachets,” he pointed out. Hence, Smart developed the Netphone to be “the marriage of web and telco.” Introduced in Barcelona, Spain last February at the 2011 GSMA Mobile World Congress, the Netphone is an Android-compliant smartphone designed by Smart. The Netphone 701 the first in the Netphone product line – will retail at P9,900 for a prepaid kit and will come free with postpaid plan 800. “The Netphone will allow people without Internet-capable phones to upgrade easily and enjoy the benefits of the Internet in their hands, now,” according to Orlando B. Vea, Chief Wireless Advisor and co-founder of Smart. The Netphone is designed to provide users ‘ including first time smartphone owners with full Internet experience in "bite-sized" amounts, primarily through SmartNet. The suite of Smart-branded apps via SmartNet provides all users access to social networks and chatting two of the most common activities people enjoy on the Internet. SmartNet also allows Netphone users to find contacts online, send custom messages with special effects (FX messaging), among other things. “We have integrated into SmartNet one-touch access to the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo! Messenger, enabling its users – while on SmartNet to stay online and keep tabs on their social activities, for free. This allows our subscribers to enjoy their habit yet save their airtime load,” explained Bacareza. The service will be free until end of 2011, afterwhich Smart will decide whether to extend it or not. This was the same business model which worked successfully for SMS, which was initially offered for free.

DOST pushing for P800-M gov't broadband project

Notoriously known by the moniker NBN-ZTE deal, the national broadband network project was one of the biggest controversies during the previoius administration. Accusations of corruption reached all the way to then President Gloria Arroyo, prompting her to cancel the US$329-million contract with Chinese telecommunications company ZTE. Fast forward to the administration of President Benigno Aquino, the national broadband network project is poised to make a comeback. Documents obtained by ABS-CBN News show, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is pushing for the establishment of a government broadband network or GBN. A government broadband network is needed to integrate and address data processing, storage, computing and high-speed connectivity needs of government agencies. DOST said the GBN project will cost P800 million, less than half of the P2 billion that government spends for Internet connectivity. Current Scenario (6.4 Gbps capacity) Scenario 2 (Projected gov't expense at 12.8 Gbps capacity) Scenario 3 (Projected gov't expense at 25.6 Gbps capacity) Scenario 4 (Projected gov't expense at 40 Gbps capacity) Cost Detail Existing Gov't Expense With GBN Without GBN With GBN Without GBN With GBN Without GBN With GBN Access Cost 548-M 969-M 1.74-B 2.4-B Backbone Cost 250-M 250-M 250-M 250-M Total Annual Cost 2-B 788-M 3.6-B 1.219-B 7.2-B 1.99-B 13.4-B 2.65-B The DOST confirmed submitting a government broadband network proposal. But Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo declined to be interviewed about it, citing his tight schedule. There are indications though that government is moving toward the establishment of its own broadband network. Last June 23, President Aquino signed Executive Order 47, placing the Commission on Information and Communications Technology or CICT under the control of DOST. Now known as the Information and Communications Technology Office, the former CICT was transferred together with its attached agencies, namely, the National Computer Center and the Telecommunications Office or TELOF. This jibes with Montejo's proposal to designate DOST and the former CICT as point agencies for the implementation of the GBN project. In the aborted NBN-ZTE deal, both CICT and TELOF were involved. But instead of DOST, the lead agency then was the Department of Transportation and Communications. ABS-CBN News sources say Malacañang is still deliberating on the proposal for a government broadband network.