Starting today, February 4, 2022, you can no longer enjoy the Smart unlimited data for just P499 per month with your Smart Rocket Sim.
Apparently, it was a promo for like 4 or 5 months only. Now back to regular programming. Continue reading
Tag: Smart
How to subscribe to Smart Magic Data
Magic Data is Smart’s take on GOMO that offers fixed data volume without an expiration period.
The fact that Smart doesn’t have a dedicated web page outlining the mechanics of their Smart Magic Data addon speaks volumes about its commitment to keeping the addon available to its regular customers in the near future. The option to register/subscribe disappeared recently from its Gigalife app as well.
Last option to subscribe to Smart Magic Data is via USSD code. Continue reading
The Smart Magic Data is how Smart alienates postpaid subscribers in favor of prepaid
Smart is not so sure whether to actually offer their Smart Magic Data or not. For one, the addon mechanics cannot be found in any page of Smart. You can only avail from the Giga Life app. And it’s available only to prepaid subscribers. There have been instances where users reported that the Magic Data disappeared from available upgrade options in the Giga Life app.
One thing is for sure, that Smart is not sure whether to continue with this offering. With the Magic Data addons, Smart is encouraging its postpaid subscribers to switch to prepaid instead.
As a response to GOMO, Smart now has MAGIC DATA
With the coming of DITO and introduction of Globe’s GOMO, it’s Smart’s move. And they come up with: Smart MAGIC DATA:
The Magic Data appears for now to be available only to Smart’s prepaid subscribers, and it seems to be not so competitive compared to GOMO, but this development is welcome anyway, especially if you frequent an area where you find Globe’s network connection to be spotty.
You can subscribe to Smart’s Magic Data by going to their Gigalife mobile app.
Who’s excited for 5G?
Yugatech reports Globe expands 5G coverage in NCR, Visayas, Mindanao:
The telco accelerates 5G technology in key cities of Visayas and Mindanao. This includes Bacolod, Boracay, Iloilo, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu, Cordova, Minglanilla, and Cebu City in the Visayas. For Mindanao, it has Davao City and Cagayan De Oro.
Seriously, though, is there anybody out there who’s excited about 5G?
For mobile data, 4G is fast enough for me. Otherwise, there’s the fixed-line internet network wi-fi I can always fall back to in times of need. What we need as Filipinos is better coverage and reliable and steady mobile internet connection.
If my next phone offers 5G connectivity, well and good, at least I’d be kinda future-proof. But I’m not rushing to the nearest Smart or Globe store to grab the latest 5G phone.
Smart GIGA Pro Out! GOMO is the way to go!
In these new Giga packages of Smart, you’ll be allocated 3GB per day, and they expire, well, as often as, every day! Whether you like it or not, you’ll be forced to consume that much data in a day, otherwise you can bid them goodbye anyway.
In real life, however, we don’t stop, we GOMO! For P299, you’ll have 25GB of data that never expire. If you really are a heavy user, you’ll actually find this expensive, as this translates to ~P1,200 for 100GB, vs. Smart’s 114GB for ~P1,000. But really, don’t you bump into slack days when you’d wish you could hold on to some of your data?
We’re not even talking here yet about the much cheaper call and text rates should you opt to convert some of your GOMO data to text and/or call minutes.
So, unless Smart could find a way to compete to what GOMO offers, Globe will surely be the winner here.
Can I use the GOMO Sim in a Pocket Wifi?
GOMO is so far the only cellular service that offer 25GB for ₱299 and that don’t expire. But is the sim only usable in a smartphone? Can I also stick it into a pocket wifi or a prepaid home wifi, to enjoy the unexpiring data?
I was looking for the answer around the web, but couldn’t find any. So I hit them up on Twitter, and here’s what I got:
So yes, you can use the GOMO Sim in a pocket wifi, Globe at Home Prepaid Wifi, or any unlocked/open-line wifi router device, only that you have to activate the sim first in a mobile phone (Android or iOS/iPhone) app.
Smart’s Prepaid 1-Year Load Expiration
It was reported some two months ago that the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ordered the telcos to extend load expiration to 1 year regardless of amount. Last month, DICT agreed to delay implementation of this order for loads below P300.
Today, I tried reloading P300 to my SmartBro prepaid account to test if Smart indeed complied with DICT’s order. Lo and behold! To my gladness, my remaining balance is set to expire in 1 year: February 5, 2019. Though, the free ALLNET TXTS that goes with every reload is still set to expire in 75 days. No worries for me in that case, at least I don’t have to rush anymore to consume my load credits before they expire.
As for Globe, I have yet to try. If you have experienced reloading with Globe, please share them in the comments below.
How to completely turn off mobile data in Android?
When you own a smartphone, are you expected to be subscribed to a data plan with it?
Apparently, the answer is yes if you own an Android device.
Turning off Mobile/Cellular Data in the Settings
In iPhones, if you turn cellular data off, it means no cellular data — completely. As long as it stays off, you will not be charged for any unintentional background data use.
That is not the case for Android. Apparently, even if you turn off mobile data in your Android device and solely use wifi for internet connection, the system still uses mobile data and connects to the internet from time to time.
So now you can’t fault me when my money mostly goes to my ever reliable iPhone in the battle between the two systems. Continue reading
Load Protect feature is permanently ON for all Smart Bro accounts
Well, I was just about to write about this: about how Android keeps accessing data even though Mobile Data is off in the settings. I mean, off means “off”, right? Apparently, that’s not the case for Android. For Android systems, OFF means OS Services will still use data and access the internet — charged to your account, unless you go the Airplane mode.
Anyway, just today, I received an SMS from Smart saying that the Load Protect feature of Smart Bro is now permanently turned ON. Furthermore, to surf your favorite apps/sites, you are now required to subscribe to a data package. Thus, this means that the automatic default rate of P5/15mins.of internet has been removed to avoid any unwanted charges.
Smart Bro advisory about the Load Protect feature