Smart, Globe ship 150T iPhone5 units since Dec launch

MANILA, Philippines - Rival mobile carriers Smart Communications Inc. and Globe Telecom Inc. shipped close to 150,000 units of iPhone5 since the newest Apple handset was launched in the country last Dec. 14.

Data from the Common Carriers Authorization Department (CCAD) of the state-run National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) showed that both Globe and Smart brought 147,719 units of iPhone5 into the country last month.

Globe imported 95,711 units of iPhone5 while Smart brought in 52,008 units last December.

Smart and Globe launched the iPhone5 about three months after it was released by California-based Apple Inc. in September.

The new iPhone5 – the sixth of its kind released by Apple – is thinner and lighter than the iPhone4s and features a four-inch screen slightly bigger than the previous models’ 3.5-inch screen. It features a four-inch retina display with the ultrafast wireless and powerful A6 chip and an eight-megapixel iSight camera with panorama and iCloud.

It comes with iOS 6, Apple’s newest operating system for mobile devices featuring shared photo streams, Facebook integration, all-new Maps app, passbook organization, and voice-based personal assistant Siri.

Likewise, both Globe and Smart made available its fastest Internet service through the Long Term Evolution (LTE) in iPhone5 with the release of a software update iOS6.1 last week.

Regarded as the fastest fourth generation (4G) wireless connection, LTE is ideal for downloading movies in minutes, lag-free gaming, ultra-fast surfing, buffer-free video streaming, and mission-critical Internet use because of its low latency and fast download speeds.

To enjoy the service, Smart and Globe subscribers should update their iPhone5 to iOS6.1 by going to the iPhone’s Settings menu and click on General > Software Update. Hit “Download and Install” and follow the on-screen instructions.

Alternatively, iOS 6.1 may be applied via iTunes by connecting the iPhone 5 to a Mac or PC.

Latest data showed that PLDT Group’s cellular subscriber base reached 68.6 million as of end-September. Subscribers of Smart stood at 25.6 million followed by Talk ‘N Text with 26.5 million, and Sun Cellular with 16 million.

On the other hand, Globe’s mobile subscribers rose 10 percent to 32.1 million as of end-September last year.