As an alternative currency for its subscribers, rewards points can now be used not just to purchase services offered by Globe, but also buy their choice of food or beverage (all Figaro and Wendy’s Hamburgers branches nationwide), Ayala Cinema movie tickets, Sunglass Hut GCs, Enchanted Kingdom amusement park tickets, medicines at Rose Pharmacy and Petron eFuel cards. Products or services offered by partner merchants have minimum points requirements:

• Ayala Mall Cinemas: 100 points
• Figaro Coffee Company: 50
• Wendy’s: 50
• Petron: 50
• Enchanted Kingdom: 100
• Sunglass Hut: 300
• Rose Pharmacy: 50

All you have to do is to walk in to partner merchants listed above and purchase their products or services with your rewards points. (Conversion rate is PhP1 = 1 reward point.)

During the event, Globe gave us free points and encouraged us to avail of the items available at the booths prepared by their merchant partners. Redemption was fairly easy:

• Checked my balanced: Sent an SMS that contains the text “BAL” and sent it to 4438
  
• Bought the item: Texted “BUY<space>10-digit number of merchant<space>points needed”, sent it to 4438

President and CEO of Globe, Ernest Cu; Head of Customer Lifecycle Management, Jay Alfonso; Figaro CEO, Crismel Verano; and Ayala Cinemas General Manager, Rolando Duenas, were the panelists during the event. They meticulously answered the questions of the members of media. Globe Rewards and Tattoo Ambassador, Bianca Gonzalez also graced the event and delightfully informed everyone how netizens appreciate Globe Rewards.

The post Globe Supercharges Its Rewards Program for Subscribers appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

For as low as PhP999 plan plus PhP600 monthly cashout, Globe subscribers can get to enjoy the LTE version of the Galaxy S4 over a 24-month contract period. This means, that if you’ve got PhP1,599 a month, owning a Galaxy S4 is easier than ever. With this plan, subscriber will enjoy LTE with burst speed of 25mbps (based on real-life experience).

With the best-ever Globe My Super Plan, subscribers get more than what they pay for with plans bundled with peso value amounts that are almost double the plan value. The peso value amount can be allocated among combos in the form of call, text, and surfing services, consumable amount, and gadgets. Subscribers also have the flexibility to choose their contract periods ranging from 6 months to 30 months.

This isn’t a surprising move by Globe as it’s expected for them to continuously pioneer plans and plans that are customer-centric. At this fast-paced iteration of devices among different phone manufactures, it’s but proper for telcos like Globe to adapt to the needs of customers. The new and improved MySuperPlan will also be available for all devices. It isn’t just exclusive to Samsung handsets.

What’s being offered by Globe is technically the i9505 variant of the Galaxy S4. This variant has the following specifications:

• OS: Jellybean 4.2.2
• Processor: Quad-core 1.9 GHz Krait 300, Qualcomm APQ8064T Snapdragon 600
• GPU: Adreno 320
• Internal Memory: 16/32/64 GB storage, 2 GB RAM
• External Memory: Expandable
• Display: Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 1080 x 1920 pixels (441 ppi)
• Screen Size: 4.99 inches
• Camera: 13 MP, 4128 x 3096 pixels, Autofocus (with 2mp front-facing camera) – both can record up to 1080p @30fps
• Battery: 2600 mAh

First Impressions

The Galaxy S4 looks like its predecessor at first glance, but it felt like I was holding a bigger version of Blackberry Bold 9900 without the physical buttons. It’s way lighter than the Galaxy S3 too! Although Globe only showed us the White Frost variant of the i9505, we were also informed that Black Mist variant will also be available.

Globe Galaxy S4 (left), One Touch Idol Ultra (right)

Galaxy S4 (top), Galaxy S3 (bottom)

Galaxy S4 (left), Galaxy S3 (right)

In terms of processor speed, at quad-core 1.9Ghz, the S4 is definitely one of the fastest phones we’ve seen so far. As expected, the Galaxy S4′s TouchWiz UI that sits on top of the stock UI of Jellybean is much faster and offers more value added apps, which make the Galaxy S4 a true life companion. Most people these add-on apps bloatwares, but to me, such apps are all worth keeping.

Get the Samsung Galaxy S4 at the plan of your choice at www.globe.com.ph/galaxys4. If you wish to visit their stores, this smartphone will be available this Thursday, May 2. You can still avail of this handset if you’re still on contract. Just call Globe and ask a retention service representative to recompute your cashout, which includes the existing handset penalty plus additional cashout for the Galaxy S4 (if applicable).

The post Globe Starts Selling Galaxy S4 at Highly Affordable and Customizable Plans appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

Smart just announced the availability of Long Term Evolution (LTE) to a wider market. Smart (now) being the leader and pioneer in LTE launched the first and only prepaid LTE service here in the Philippines.

Trying to reach out for the wider market, Smart LTE is comes in a very affordable price. For as low as Php350, anyone can enjoy highspeed internet thriuh their LTE capable devices. The Php350 LTE prepaid SIM is already pre-loaded with seven days unlimited internet.  They can enjoy high speed connection up to 42Mbps. Smart also offers different prepaid unlimited LTE package for as low as Php50. They can send the “Keyword” to 2200 to avail of the package (e.g. LTE 50 send to 2200). Prepaid package are available in Php50 (LTE 50) for 1 day, Php299 (LTE 299) for 7 days, Php995 (LTE 995) for 30 days. All are in unlimited high speed internet package.

No LTE device? No need to worry. Smart also offers devices on which you can enjoy LTE speed with your wifi enabled device. There is the LTE Plug It for only Php5995 and the LTE Pocket Wifi for only Php6995. Both comes in with 7 days unlimited internet.

Smart LTE was launched in August 2012 originally covering 10 cities and today it is now present in 46 cities and 49 municipalities nationwide.

Smart LTE Prepaid will be available to the public starting on Sunday. You can visit any Smart Wireless Center near you.

The post LTE for Everybody appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

 “Globe is committed to helping transform the youth into active citizens through ICT. We know the importance of communications, both mobile and internet, in making the youth connected, informed, and empowered. PCCED is a critical partner of Globe through all these.”

“Globe, through its CSR iLead pillar, is dedicated to the establishment of peaceful, orderly and progressive communities through the advancement of good governance and excellence in public service”

Rob I. Nazal, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility

ICT is really playing an important role today in the development of the youth, wherein information is being delivered in a fast paced manner. Although ICT has been widespread in some major cities in the Philippines, there is still a big percentage of Filipinos who has lack of knowledge in ICT. Either computers or internet is absent in their areas of their resources is not being maximized for the people to know more about ICT.

With the partnership of Globe and PCCED, more Filipinos will have access to ICT and know more about it. To ensure better learning and producing more active and knowledgeable youth, they have implemented the project in two strands, one for high school students via local showcases, and another for college students and teachers through the Leadership Communities (LeadCom) program which is also in partnership with the Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) as a post camp capacity building activity.

Some of Globes contribution to PCCED includes Tattoo broadband sticks, printers, and net books. Globe being the leading mobile network, is returning the favor to its subscribers by realizing and doing its social responsibility to the community.

The post Globe and PCCED: Transforming the youth into active citizen through ICT appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

The first among hospitals in the Philippines.

Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) is now providing patients and doctors an easy access to their hotlines and important numbers. With the CSMC’s Mobile application, patients and doctors can click to call the emergency room or to schedule appointments and medical procedures. CSMC is the first hospital in the Philippines to launch a mobile application.

No need to worry on looking for the correct number to call during emergency or when booking an appointment or scheduling a medical procedures with your doctor.

Other features such as viewing Diagnostic results will follow on the next version development of the mobile application.

How to download:

Go to Google Play (http://play.google.com/store) and search for Cardinal Santos Medical Center. You will get 2 results; just choose the one that is compatible with your Android version. Follow the instructions for your device. Or you may click CSMC Mobile App 3.2+ or CSMC Mobile App 1.0-3.2.

CSMC’s mobile application is available for Android devices and soon on iOS devices.

The post Comprehensive Care Within Reach appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

Introducing: NAME UR NUMBER SIM

Sun has done it again. Being the first one to personalize your own number without going to the service center, surely, will drive mobile users crazy over this new feature.

Name Ur Number SIM is one of the coolest products that Sun had recently released. Imaging using your name as your phone number as well as your chosen tagline for yourself. For just Php59, you will have FREE Prepaid service inclusive in SUN NAME UR NUMBER SIM that lets the subscriber select his desired mobile number. You will have an easier number to remember. You may use your name, birthday, or you own nickname.

Your number may represent who you are whether in school, sports, social networking, or in business. Using an alphanumeric keypad as a guide, you may configure your mobile number using names such as “0942-8-SOPHIA(767442), 0942-8-CHANCE(242623) or 0942-8-INDIRA(463472).” You may also use labels such as “0942-8-ROCKER(762537), 0942-8-BEAUTY(232889) or 0942-8-

GADGET(423437).  You may also use cheesy endearment for you and your partner such as “0942-8-MOIMAI (664624) and 0942-8-MAIMOI (624664), 0942-8-YOU&ME(968163) and 0942-8-ME&YOU(631968), or 0942-8-MYBEBE(692323) and 0942-8-BEBEKO(232356).

Nothing is best when you own your number and you are the one who personalized that number. “Here’s my number, so call me maybe.”

How to choose your own number? 

Load Problems?

Nothing to worry. Sun Name Ur Number SIM is reloadable and there are lots of load variants to choose from. You may choose between their Weekly Load or Payday Load variants.

Weekly Loads

CALL & TEXT COMBO 150

Sun Cellular is really good in coming up Name Ur Number SIM. Prepaid users will enjoy this benefit of choosing their own number which was before exclusive to postpaid subscribers. You should get one now and personalize your own number before others get ahead of you in choosing the number of your choice. I just configured mine now.

I love this Sun’s new idea. Should I say, “Who is the real 0942-8-G-E-N-I-U-S?”

The post Your Name… Your Choice… Your SIM… appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

The Good Choice

Compromise with a bad internet service is not a thing for Solenn. She has been using Sun Broadband for a longest time because of its consistency in providing fast internet speed.  That familiarity leads her In joining the Sun Cellular as its newest endorser.

Esquire Philippines’ Sexiest Woman Alive, Solenn Heussaff said:

“I’m a laptop person; it’s my source of entertainment. Once I get home, when I wake up in the morning, that’s the first thing I do – check online. When I’m on the set – waiting; when there’s nothing to do and if I’m not reading my script – I’m on the net surfing, just looking at random things, reading random articles.”

“I’ve been using it for a very long time which makes me even more excited because like I mentioned earlier about the products I endorse, it should definitely be something I believe in.”

Solenn has achieved a lot of great things as bright as her name (Solana in Spanish which means “sun”) by choosing to make bright decisions. The choice is ours. It’s our turn.

The post Sun Cellular Picks Philippines’ Sexiest Woman Alive as Endorser appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

The Smartphone is bundled with calls and internet plan which made it more accessible for everyone. You can grab one now for as low as 350 a month with unlimited calls and text within the Sun network plus unlimited calls.

Sun’s New Postpaid Services

Plan 350 Smartphones

Alcatel One Touch Glory 2

• Android 4.1 JellyBean

• 3.5” Touchscreen

• Dual Sim ZTE V790

•Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

•3.5” Touchscreen

•Dual Sim Huawei Y200 D

•Android 2.3 Gingerbread

•3.5” Touchscreen

•Dual Sim

SUNDROID RUSH: Alcatel Edition

 FREE at Sun Plan 600

•Unlimited Calls to Sun

•Unlimited Texts to Sun

•350 SMS to other networks

•P250 Consumable

Alcatel T10 Tablet

•Android 4.0 ICS

•7.0” capacitive multi-touch screen

•1 GHz Processor

•VGA Camera

Alcatel Glory X918N

•Android 2.3

•3.2” Touchscreen

•WIFI hotspot; Tethering

•3 MP Camera

SUNDROID RUSH: Samsung Edition

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 WiFi

•Android 4.0 ICS

•7.0” LCD Touchscreen

•1 GHz dual-core

•3 MP Camera

Samsung Galaxy Y

•Android 2.3

•3” Touchscreen

•WIFI hotspot; Tethering

•2 MP Camera

The post Anyone Can Own a Smartphone with Sun Postpaid appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

With this kind of plan, geeks and couch potatoes like us at Gadget Pilipinas will definitely enjoy! Ultra high speed downloads, virtually no buffering times when watching videos on YouTube or Vimeo, lag free MMORPG gaming experience (like our favorite, Guild Wars 2 and League of Legends) and flawless hangouts with the Big Time Show crew on Google+ Hangouts.

Smart LTE now has an expanded coverage in key cities in Metro Manila. Head on Smart’s 50 establishments in Metro Manila if you wish to avail of this service.

Got something in mind? Please leave your comment below.

The post The Cheapest LTE plan is now available with Smart LTE Plan 1299 appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.

According to Peter Bithos, Senior Advisor for Consumer Business of Globe:

“Our products and services are all about empowering our subscribers, and Free Zone testifies to this promise yet again. Free Zone powered by Google empowers subscribers by letting them be in the know and keeping them updated right at their fingertips. The best part is, subscribers don’t need to worry about getting charged, so they can enjoy visiting sites through Google and other Google services worry-free.”

Moreover, Andrew McGlinchey, Head of Products for Southeast Asia at Google, said:

“We wanted to make search available to as many people as possible. But a free search result isn’t much good if you can’t then go the Web site. So we decided to make all those Web sites available as part of the package as well. We’re hoping Free Zone will make the mobile internet feel like a necessity that everyone can use rather than luxury.”

With Free Zone, users get unlimited access to:

• SEARCH: Users can search the Web and access the first page of websites from the results without getting charged. If they click further, users are directed to a page where they can subscriber to a data plan to continue. But for as long as they stay within the Free Zone, charging will not take place.
• EMAIL: Even without a data plan, users can still send and receive text emails while on the go via Gmail. Uploading and downloading attachments carry corresponding data charges.
• SHARING: Google+ lets users share the right things with the right people at the right time. Check out family photos and share within an intimate circle just as easily as you can follow the latest Lady Gaga updates.

During the launch, Globe and Capricciosa prepared fun games for all media partners and gave away Sodexo gift certificates to the winning team! Actor and Free Zone endorser, Xian Lim, also attended the event.

We at Gadget Pilipinas are currently testing this new service. Stay tuned for further updates.

The post Globe Launches Google Powered Free Zone, Lets Prepaid Users Access the Net for Free appeared first on Gadget Pilipinas.