Globe Advisory 8888: Free Unlimited Calls and Text to Globe and TM

As a postpaid subsriber of Globe who's just got my new 128k SIM card, I received this text message from Globe Advisory 8888 today:

"Globe Advisory: Experience the power of your new SIM! You can now use your free one-day unlimited calls and texts to Globe and TM!"

we all know TM is Touch Mobile, marketed as Tatak Mindanao in Mindanao...
I just hope the Globe promo free texts and calls are permanent hehe

this is not a hoax nor a scam...I know someone from Globe :P

APCN2 Cable Break Slows Down Internet Access in the Philippines

The latest submarine cable break of APCN2 (Asia Pacific Cable Network) disrupted Internet access of Smart Broadband (Smart Bro) and partial slowdown of Globe Broadband

We use Globe and Bayantel in the office while I use Bayan DSL at home (that's a bit slow today).

I don't know how it affected Digitel and Sun 3G Broadband while PLDT MyDSL would probably be affected too.

Cable breaks are really a pain in the...In my "past life" as an internetwork engineer at Eastern Telecoms (ETPI now Eastern Communications), cable breaks last for weeks with no definite target of repair since cable retriever ships will sail and search for the underwater cable break for repairs. It's not an easy task and updates just trickle in once the cable repair ship reaches the estimated cable segment that needs to be reconnected (re-spliced is the proper term since all of them use fiber optic technology).

I will sometimes restore internet links using satellite backup links or other cable links like C2C, TGN-IA (TyCom Global Network-Intra Asia Cable System) and SEA-ME-WE 3 then use BGP routing to balance the links and prioritize premium clients over dial-up and DSL users with their minimum guaranteed bandwitch called committed access rate (CIR/CAR).

At least my office connection (dual-homed Globe and Bayantel) are doing fine while this Bayan DSL is quite ok though I will disconnect this to switch to Sun 3G wireless broadband due to crappy service.

Has your Internet connection been unbearable lately? Now you know the reason why.

CURE ümobile! Acquired by Smart Communications

I used to work at Eastern Telecom (ETPI) and so anything that happens there is of particular interest to me. One of the news I got wind of last year was Cure's acquisition of ETPI by CURE (Connectivity Unlimited Resource Enterprise, Inc.) from the former Australian owners was a big one.

I've known of CURE for quite a while already being a customer of ETPI Internet services from years ago but the latest news about the company, according to my informant whose an insider, CURE was recently acquired by Smart Communications.

That makes the possible list of 3G providers into three since only four licenses were issued by the NTC (Smart, Globe, Sun and CURE) with CURE's ümobile! controlled by Smart.

I prefer CURE to be independent to increase competition but at this latest turn of events, it'll be back to 3 operators slugging it out with Sun 3G, solidly on third place :P

Singapore's Mobile Number Portability

A reaction to a recent news bannered by the Inquirer where Singapore is going to implement portable mobile phone numbers so that switching from one cellular phone provider to another won't entail a number change thereby making "my phone number for life" possible.

It's a novel idea indeed for subscribers of Singapore's three mobile phone service providers: Singapore Telecommunications (SingTel), StarHub and MobileOne.

I wonder if such scheme would be implemented here in the Philippines with Smart, Globe and Sun Cellular. I'm presently holding on to my cherished vanity number from Sun

Globe Mobile Internet Now at P5/15 Minutes!

Got great news from my Globe friends about the publishing of Globe's new Mobile Internet rates that gives their subscribers the option to choose between KB browsing rate to a time-based rate of P5/15 minutes. The new rate is comparable to Smart's P10/30 minutes cost but is cheaper in the long run if you experience frequent disconnections.

This is the scheme I've been telling my friends from Globe Marketing to adopt since they're losing up with Smart's time-based plan. This is available for HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access or the so called 3.5G), 3G, EDGE and GPRS (another sprinkling of techie acronyms)

How to shift to Globe's new TIME charging scheme: just text TIME to 1111 for free!

For the official Globe press release, click here

For now, I will look around for the cheapest 3G-capable phone out there and also wait for Sun Cellular to offer the same service at a lower price :P

Problem With Globe SMS Prepaid Users Only

Last Friday, Text messages from Globe's prepaid subscribers had a problem sending and receiving text messages. Some even reported lost loads while my sister complained of unlimitxt yet no messages can't be sent.

The problem was only fixed last night after a few days. No official press release from Globe is available. Postpaid (plan) subscribers are not affected.

Cheap, Unlimited Calls to the Philippines

I got an email, blasted like spam to one of my email distribution list, advertising unlimited calls to the Philippines from the USA

Judging from the way explained here, you need to dial a local number in the US then you need a Sun Cellular number in the Philippines. It seems the US number would be connected to the Internet convert it to VoIP then to the Sun phone of the operator then finally to the Sun mobile phone of the called party.

VoIP is free of charge since calls do not pass through an international gateway (e.g. PLDT, Globe, Bayantel) while a Sun-to-Sun call is also free except the monthly fee of P350 (I used to have this feature)

This scheme is like an ISR: International Simple Resail, challenged by the powerhouse telcos but now junked by the Supreme Court

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unlimited Calls to the Philippines
• No Sign-up Fee required
• One (1) month subscription allowed
• Use your existing phones, no need to purchase new phones
• No Contracts
• No hidden or other charges
• No need to use computer or internet to call
• Worry Free fixed monthly flat-rate
• Secured and Encrypted Payment System
• You can cancel anytime
Call us now for a FREE Trial
GUARANTEED SERVICE: We activate you first before you pay us

Call Philippines Unlimited (How it works)
Use your regular phone in the USA to call Philippines.
We will provide you a local number in your area code to call,
our system will connect your call directly to your relatives in the Philippines.

Receive Calls from the Philippines (How it works)
Your USA number will be connected to a Sun Cell number in the Philippines.
Your phone in USA will ring once your relatives and friends call you on your
new Sun Cell number. Answer and talk unlimited.


Requirement: Contact in the Philippines must be a SunCell user in order
to take advantage of Unlimited Calling of Sun Cell network.

Pricing and Packages
Receive Calls on your USA phone from the Philippines ( Pay Pal )
Package1: Receive 500 minutes of calls
(PhP700 or US$15) monthly

Package2: Receive 1,000 minutes of calls
(PhP1,000 or US$20) monthly

Package3: Receive UNLIMITED minutes of calls
(PhP1,500 or US$30) monthly


Unlimited Calls from your USA phone to the Philippines ( Pay Pal )
Package4: (PhP2,500 or US$50) monthly
Personal Access Number
Unlimited Call to the Philippines
Philippines gets 500 minutes FREE to call you back

About the Product
PHILIPPINES TO USA
Receive Calls from the Philippines on your local USA phone
Detailed Procedure:
1) We provide a dedicated Sun Cell access number in the Philippines
2) The new Sun Cell access number is connected to your local USA phone
3) Your relatives and friends calls your assigened Sun Access number
4) On beeping tone: They enter your Pin Code (ex: 1#)
5) On dial tone: They enter your Speed Dial Code (ex: 1)
6) Your phone in the USA will ring.
7) Answer and talk
Special Terms & Conditions:
1) Any phone in the Philippines can call your Sun Access number
2) Sun Callers should have a personal load to call your Sun Access number
3) Each subscription can only call one USA number


USA TO PHILIPPINES
Unlimited Calls from your USA phone to the Philippines
Detailed Procedure:
1) We provide you a local USA access number to call (simillar to your area code)
2) Use any phone from USA to call your USA access number
3) On beeping tone: Enter your Pin Code (ex: 1#)
4) On dial tone: Enter your Speed Dial Code (ex: 1)
5) Your Contact's phone in the Philippines will ring
6) Answer and talk

7) Your contact in the Philippines gets 500 minutes FREE to call you back
(similar procedure with "Philippines to USA")

Special Terms & Conditions:
1) You can use any phone in the USA to call your USA access number
2) Each subscription can only call one Sun Cell user in the Philippines
3) To call other Sun Cell users purchase of additional subscription is required

Cheap Calls to Philippines