This is interesting. For P1,799/month for 24 months, you get to own a Netbook inclusive of 60hours of wireless internet per month. That’s P799 Internet Plan, P1,000 monthly amortization for the laptop.

In essence, it is a purchase of hardware and internet subscription bundle, where the hardware is subsidized by the internet service provider.

Here’s the complete press release below.

ka edong
kay aga aga, kamukha ni Aga

Smart Bro-Ready Asus EeePC with Internet Plan 799

SMART launches BRO-powered netbooks for mobile broadband fans

[18 March 2009] From the company which offered SMART Bro Prepaid, the country’s first prepaid wireless broadband service, comes a new product designed to be the perfect companion for highly mobile and increasingly tech-savvy individuals.

Leading wireless services operator Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART), through its wholly-owned subsidiary SMART Broadband, Inc. (SBI), just launched the country’s first netbook with built-in, high-speed broadband connectivity, powered by SMART Bro.

SMART Bro wireless broadband modems now come embedded on units of the Asus Eee PC™ 904 GO, one of the newest models from the Taiwanese PC maker’s trend-setting line of ‘netbooks’ – or small but full-featured laptops that are built primarily for computing on-the-go.

The built-in SMART Bro modem and the SMART Bro data SIM that comes with the bundle allow the Asus Eee PC™ 904 GO to connect wirelessly to SMART’s nationwide HSPA network, offering fans of mobile broadband a complete, ready-to-run Internet experience in an all-in-one device, right out of the box.

HSPA is the latest evolution of the GSM technology, and is likened to having the high-speed, cable broadband experience delivered right to a mobile device.

The SMART Bro-powered Asus Eee PC™ 904 GO is available via the Plan 799 monthly subscription, which comes with up to 60 hours of Internet access, at speeds of up to 2 mbps in key cities in the country. Usage in excess of 60 hours will be charged P10 for every 30 minutes.

Initial cash-out for the 24-month subscription is P1,000 for the laptop plus P799 for the first monthly service fee, for a total of P1,799. The same amount goes for the monthly fee for the package. Interested subscribers may apply for the plan at selected SMART Wireless Centers in Metro Manila.

“As we innovate and offer more and more services under our mobile broadband portfolio, we hope to advance our ‘Internet for All’ agenda, to bring the benefits of broadband Internet to the grassroots,” said Orlando B. Vea, Chief Wireless Advisor of SMART.

Smart Bro Inside - Netbooks with built-in Wireless Internet connection

[end of press release]

For Smart Bro Inquiries

• http://www.smart.com.ph/smartbro
• Contact customer care at *18888 from your smart Cellphone or 02-6727277 using a landline
• Visit any Smart Wireless Center

Smart Bro came out with it’s latest product, the Smart Bro Share It WiFi Router.

The device is a GSM WiFi modem that receives the Smart Bro Internet signal and re-distributes it via Wireless Fidelity.

Smart Bro Share It is the newewst Smart BRO broadband internet product that allows you to share your broadband access to the other computers in your home network via the WiFi technology or wired LAN! The Smart BRO Broadband router is a small device that you can purchase over-the-counter at any Smart Wireless Center or through the accreditted Smart Bro Resellers.

What’s it for? The product is targetted for households. With one Smart Bro Share It device, multiple WiFi-enabled laptops will be able to access the Internet.

Usable range is around 30 meters which is good for a studio house up to a big house with around 3 or 4 rooms.

This will work well in our Baguio home. I usually connect in Baguio using Plug It, but couldn’t share my connection with my brother’s laptop.

Smart Bro is also a solution I would recommend to my friend Tito Kokoy for his hotel, Chalet Tepeyac in Baguio (story tomorrow: Internet Access Solution where there isn’t any).

From the Smart Bro flyer

How much will it cost to avail of the Smart Bro Share It?

• One-time Router Fee: P2,5000
• 1st Month subscription fee: P999
• Total initial payment: P3,4999
• Monthly Service Fee: P999

Rate per use

• Free 90 hours per month on actual per minute charging
• In excess of the Free 90 hours, you will be charged P0.35/min

Documents needed to apply for Smart Bro Share It:

• Application Form
• Proof of Identification
• Proof of Address (Billing Statements)

For Smart Bro Inquiries

• http://www.smart.com.ph/smartbro
• Contact customer care at *18888 from your smart Cellphone or 02-6727277 using a landline
• Visit any Smart Wireless Center

ka edong
share the info wealth

We dropped by Goodah at Tandang Sora, Quezon City last week.

Aba aba aba!! What is dis?! Asenso na ang Goodah! Erkondisyon! At ano ito?! May WiFi pa!

Hahahaha! It was fun seeing the technology adoption of what used to be (still is in most branches) a karinderia.

Take a look, WiFi hotspot at Goodah…

Closed-circuit Television at Goodah:

More info

Goodah is beside the SEAOIL gas station along Tandang Sora between Himlayang Pilipino and Tierra Pura (yes, I know, mahaba yun, pero di ko na alam kung paano ko pa made-describe yung location na yun).

Visit the Goodah website

Related links:

• Google search: CCTV, Closed-circuit television, WiFi, Carinderia , Goodah

I’m at Rockwell now, connected to the Internet via Wigo, a free WiFi service.

First time I tried out Wigo was in Dec31, 2007. I think back then they hadn’t officially launched the service publicly yet.

I encountered some of the Wigo sales people in January 2008 and they didn’t like it when they found out I was “Ka Edong”. Grrrrraaar! :-)

Today, I’m using a friend’s laptop to access Wigo. It installed fine. And the grammar is better . It took me a few attempts, logged-off then logged back in before I finally got through to the Internet.

So now that I’m connected to the Internet through Wigo, I check my email and find this message from “support@wigo.ph” support@wigo.ph:

Important! Please click here to activate your account.
By clicking the link above, you have full access to WIGO’s privileges, such as free WIFI, hot offers and deals from our sponsors.

If you can’t click on the sentence labeled “Important!” above, you can also activate your account by cutting and pasting (or typing) the following address into your browser.

http://cportal.wigo.ph/activate.php?email=myemailaddress@mail.com

Policies: Please remember that your use of WIGO shall be subject to WIGO’s Terms of Use

Please update your email address whenever it changes so we can help with any account access issue. Or, sign in to WIGO, go to Account Information, click Edit button, and you will be able to change your alternate email address(es).

Do not reply to this message.  

Huh? That’s weird. I’ll disregard this message – It’s probably an old validation process which they’ve changed. (How could I have activated my account immediately after signing up unless I could access the internet via Wigo?)

Anywayyyyyy, Wigo keeps an advertisement bar open while you’re connected to the WiFi hotspot. It’s always visible on top of any other window you have. Well, that’s what we get for the free service.

It’s all good, not a bad bargain. And the Internet speed is okay. Looking good, Wigo. I wonder where else there’s a Wigo hotspot.

Do you want a Wigo hotspot at your cafe, school, restaurant or other commercial area? Contact Wigo and apply for a Wigo Hotspot .

Cheers, Wigo! Let’s go!

Related links:

• Wigo on Pinoy.Tech.Blog
• Wigo on Inquirer
• Wigo.ph

ka edong
Weeeeee

I was curious about this WiFi hotspot named Seichetunnel.com which I’d pick-up when I telecommute from my brother’s office, the Philippine Auto Club, near gate 5 at Greenhills.

I was doubly curious when I saw the same hotspot name when I WiFi sniffed from Robinson’s Pioneer. I didn’t use the Seiche hotspot the first many times I saw it because I didn’t need to.

But last week, I tried it out. And my speculations were confirmed. This was the news item a year ago that aimed to make the entire EDSA a hotspot! The dream has come true! Photo-op for Seiche … Say cheeeeeese! .

Aeonic Seiche Wifi Philippines Incorporated envisions the future of data transmission in the macro and local scale. In the macro scale, data will be provided through fiber optic cables or satellite. In the local level, data transmission will be transferred by wireless fidelity, ultra wide band, and Wimax. Multimedia information will be transferred through IP networks to every person, every family, or business location and every machine by means of last mile wireless mobility.

Aeonic Seiche WiFi Philippines Incorporated regards wireless fidelity as the most cost-effective and economical way in providing communication levels to a demanding market. As such, Aeonic Seiche Wifi Philippines Incorporated’s strategy to be a mobile wireless wifi internet service provider maximizes current market opportunities in the realm of data transmission.

That’s a lot of mumbo jumbo, isn’t it? Well, basically Seiche uses a combination of technologies to deliver WiFi access in the vicinity of the length of EDSA. I was able use the service for free — they have a 10 hour free account but requires registration with credit card (they promise not to charge you for the 10 hours free). I logged in for 30 minutes, then logged off so that I could use it at a later time when I really needed it. But when I tried using it again more than 10 hours later, the website told me my account had expired! Shucks!
Here’s a little more detail from the Seiche website.

1. What is Seiche WiFi Tunnel?
The SeicheTunnel is a very unique and innovative internet service that makes possible wireless
internet connectivity on the road while driving along EDSA, and very soon, anywhere in Metro Manila!

2. What equipment or device do I need to access the SeicheTunnel?
SeicheTunnel rides on the technology of Wireless Fidelity. Any network device that complies with the
802.11b/g wireless Ethernet standard can access the SeicheTunnel! Laptop computers, WiFi phones,
Smartphones, Cellphones, and PDAs with this capability can access the SeicheTunnel!

3. What speeds will the service provide?
SeicheTunnel is committed to providing a dedicated upload and download speed of at least 256 kbps
per user. The number of simultaneous users on the system and your location in relation to the
SeicheTunnel access points will also have an effect on the speed of your connection.

4. Where can I access the SeicheTunnel?
You can access the Seiche Wifi Tunnel while driving along EDSA (in selected stretches currently),
areas along EDSA, and very soon, anywhere in Metro Manila.

5. When will the service be available in Metro Manila?
To be announced soon!

6. How can I get seamless WiFi connection?
If you are in the SeicheTunnel you will get seamless WiFi connection. WiFi signal can propagate best
ensuring seamless connection in open areas away from heavy obstructions such as heavy foliage or
concrete blocks or walls.

Next time you’re stuck in traffic along EDSA, try connecting to the WiFi hotspot that’s all around you …

ka edong
say cheese!

We’ve got FREE WiFi at the Araneta Center!

WiFi is available at Araneta Coliseum, Gateway mall, Shopwise (not available within the supermarket area) and Ali Mall (restaurant row only).

Reminds me of Free hotspots in Singapore Malls. Just sniff for WiFi and you’ll find a free and open hotspot.

Someday, the Philippines will have enough Internet wireless connectivity that people will no longer limit or “horde” their Internet access and will start to share without asking for anything in return. Someday, no scarcity.

ka edong
agape

Ads, bugs and poor grammar, that’s what’s more!

I was in Rockwell at Seattle’s best on New Year’s eve, sending out last minute emails that I wanted to close before the year ended.

I sniffed for a WiFi Hotspot and true enough, there was a free and open Wigo hotspot. Thought I was lucky.

I got a connection, but was limited to the wigo website until I downloaded a Wigo installer.

First funny thing: The Wigo application didn’t run correctly on my Windows XP IBMT43 laptop. It got stuck at “Installing Fonts”. I tried it twice, it didn’t work.

Second funny thing: Now, just before I started writing this article, I tried to install it again to get a screencapture of the first bug. This time, it came out with a pop-up advertisement. Ah, confirmed! Wigo is free as long as you can tolerate advertisements popping up while you use it.

Third funny thing: When I tried to log-off, a funny prompt appeared

“Are you sure you want to disconnect to the Internet?”

I generally don’t trust apps that don’t english well …. hehehe, funny, don’t you … think?

It was also odd why the app would ask me that question ats if I needed its permission to disconnect from my wired Internet connection right now.

I personally wouldn’t bother installing WiGo until I desperately need it. And then again, from experience, I’m not sure I’d be able to install it even if I wanted to. I’m careful about installing apps I’m not familiar with or don’t know about.

Wigo home and plant kamote, Wigo!

Oh, but let me give them some slacks! It was a good effort, and I see more of these efforts coming up, more hotspots from Wigo and similar services (i think e-yellowpages has something similar). Just make sure it works, then maybe I’ll try it.

Park at your own risk: http://www.wigo.ph/

ka edong
hahahaha!

Update, 28 Jan 2008: I was at Rockwell yesterday. Spoke to some Wigo representatives. Wigo launched their service there, they’re available at Block09 and Powerplant Mall. Free WiFi, weeee!

They’re not connected with Bayantel except for Bayantel as one of their possible internet service providers.

There was a video on Inquirer about Wigo, but couldn’t find it anymore. Here’s a Wigo article by Lawrence Casiraya at Inquirer.

Hey, it’s all good! Now, let’s see if I can manage to install it on my laptop ….

ka edong
“‘di naman ikaw si edong?”

In a previous article I spoke about WiFi hotspot hunting in Baguio City. Back then [maybe almost a year ago] I was able to identify two hotspot. One is in SM city at Figaro they have an airborne access hotspot there, of course you need to pay unless you have an airborne access account. There is another hotspot airborne access hotspot at the filling station c/o Figaro that’s another way to access the Internet via wi-fi.

Recently, I discovered a third hotspot which is free [free as in beer], there is a cafe near the top of Session it’s called Cafe’ Zola. It’s at the Patria building in Session Road, very near the entrance of Cathedral it’s beside Porta Vaga near Mercury Drug. Cafe’ Zola is very near the POST OFFICE, Cafe’ Zola serves drinks, alcoholic beverages, coffee, milkshakes and meals. And their Wi-fi is free-for-all, you can bring along your laptop their and access your e-mails from Cafe’ Zola.

Another way to do it is accessing your laptop without Wi-Fi. There is a shop in SM City Baguio, they call it GotHub[that the name of the shop]. They have a table for 4 or 5 laptop user and they have LAN cables for the convenience of laptop users…so that they can access. It’s quite cheap, I think it’s around thirty pesos per hour or so. Very convenient for laptop users, they have fast Internet connection there. Apparently, there are a lot of visitors, a lot of tourist who go up here and need Internet access. That place-GotHub is a convenient place to access your e-mails from your laptop.

Try that out next time your up here in Baguio.

There is another hotspot near Minesview, look for the restaurant named “Half Moon”. Half Moon serve “Bibingcrepe”…bibingka na crepe. They have a cafe’ and a hotspot over there. That’s another place where you can get free Wi-Fi.

Try it out!

EdXcribe
27 September 2007

Bonifacio day last week, I had work! 

Fortunately, I did my work from Baguio (my hometown).

But my parent’s dial-up Internet was not enough for my broadband work needs.

So I scuttled to Figaro in Filling Station, John Hay and accessed their hotspot.

I’ve accessed the hotspot before, but it was all soooo expensive (P100 per hour pre-paid card).

But now, I had unlimited access! Wahoo! Started 7:30am with a call to the US, ended at 12noon by sending a 4Mb file to colleagues.

This was all through an unlimited access account upgrade of my Smart Bro with their Smart WiFly promo. Kewl!

Ah, good coffee and pastries, nice ambiance, a convenience power outlet nearby and broadband Internet! (My Skype call wasn’t so clean though)

Sweet!

ka edong

Got myself a Smart WiFly account. (Frankly, another service brandname that sucks). For an additional P100/month on top of my current Smart WiFi (Smart Bro) Account, I get an unlimited Airborne Access account.
The low-down:

• A good deal for me who has access to Airborne Access hotspots in Mandaluyong, Baguio, Makati etc.

I’ve used Airborne Access hotspots in the past and paid P100 per hour. Undoubtedly, this P100/month unlimited is a super deal for me.

Other details:

• Current Smart Bro account holders will need to have (or upgrade to) a P999 account.
• P100/month unlimited access to Airborne Access is a promo, good for six months.
• After the first six months, monthly subscription to Smart WiFly will be P200/month.
• Register in person at a Smart Wireless center. Activation of Smart WiFly takes 24-hours.
• You’ll need to create an account online at http://www.airborneaccess.net (Click on the Smart WiFly logo on the Airborne Access page.

When I was in Baguio last weekend, a Smart customer service rep told me that the service is available only in selected Airborne access hotspots. I seriously doubt the accuracy of this claim, because I have an airborne access username and password now and can probably login regardless of which Airborne Access hotspot I’m in.

Links:

• Smart WiFly Application form
• Airborne Access
• Smart WiFly according to Yuga

ka edong
fly