Smart launches mobile Internet customer education program

MANILA, Philippines – As part of its “Internet for All” advocacy, leading wireless services provider Smart Communications has launched its Mobile Internet Customer Education Program to link more Filipinos online.

The program, which will be rolled out in 36 Smart Experience Centers and PLDT Centers nationwide, will run for five months, from July to November 2010. It is designed for students, partner communities like schools, barangay residents, government agencies, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private corporations.

“Out of 44 million Smart subscribers, only an estimated 10 percent use mobile Internet, or access the World Wide Web from their mobile phones. We would like to reach out to more Filipinos and teach them how to link to the Net with the use of their cellphones. That way, even those without laptops or PCs can benefit from the Internet,” Smart customer care head Joy Sanchez said.

She added that at present, the country has only 24 million Internet users, equivalent to less than 30 percent of total population.

“We want to make Internet services as pervasive and affordable as cellphone services. The penetration rate for mobile phones is currently estimated at 85 percent,” she said.

Sanchez also pointed out that Internet use benefits everyone — from the farmer who will be able to learn about new and more efficient ways of growing produce and selling them, to the student who will be able to access the same information as his peers in other countries, to the family members of an overseas Filipino who will be able to regularly communicate with them via social media.

Smart subscribers may surf from their Internet-capable mobile phones for only P10 every 30 minutes. Subscribers may also opt to go unlimited or “unli” via various mobile data plans such as Unlisurf 50 for unlimited surfing for one day for P50; Web Unli Plans for unlimited surfing in specific sites like Facebook, Twitter, Friendster and Multiply for P20 per day per site. Users may avail of the plans by going to http://m.smart.com.ph on their mobile phones.

To set the cellphone for mobile Internet, key in SET<Phone Model> and send to 211 for free. Settings will be sent via text message to the users’ phones. The configuration must be saved. Then change the Network Mode to Dual Mode by selecting Settings from the phone menu, then Network, then Network Mode, then Dual Mode.