From smart phones to superphones

Smart Communications, the country’s leading mobile phone service provider, expects the influx of superphones within the year.

So what are superphones?

According to Smart postpaid business head Kathy Carag, superphones are smartphones “that break the mould with the most advanced specs.”

But just like this morning when I had all the devices with me but could not get Internet connectivity because I was in a “dead spot,” devices such as superphones that have “future-forward features such as long-term evolution (LTE) connectivity, high powered processors, HD screens and cameras also elevate the demand for quality connectivity.”

Carag says there are already a  number of flagship LTE devices that are already available in the market such as the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S4, the LG Optimus G, the Sony Xperia Z, the Nokia Lumia 920, the ZTE T82, and the Huawei Ascend D1.

Powered by the latest multi-core processors and the latest versions of their respective mobile operating systems, the abovementioned devices rival even the most high-powered laptops today, she adds.

Carag said they are expecting all major smartphone manufacturers to ramp up production of LTE devices especially with LTE users in Asia-Pacific expected to balloon to 72.1 million by the year’s end.

A study done by market research firm ABI Research foresees a doubling of LTE users by the fourth quarter of this year.

The rise in subscriber base has great implications especially in the demand for rich mobile multimedia content such as HD videos, music, and photos — a trend which Smart has been prepared for as early as last year.

In mid-2012 Smart, together with parent company PLDT completed its P67.1-billion network transformation program.  The endeavor created the Philippines’ first future-proof mobile network that is backed by more than 54,000 kms of fiber optic cables (FOCs) — more than four times the number of FOCs than any other telco in the country.

Unlike legacy copper wiring which uses electrical signals to transmit data, FOCs use beams of light to send a “pulse” from one end to another. The cable itself has no known limits and is considered by experts worldwide as a true future-proof technology.

Carag emphasized that being the only telco with a 100% super-charged network in the Philippines, Smart is the only wireless services provider that would enable the latest and the best LTE devices live up to their fullest potential.

Big Aussie firm headed for Phl

Leading Australian thermal paper manufacturer TMA is expected to start its operations in the country in the second quarter of the year with the opening of its P4 billion thermal paper plant, the first in the country, to supply the growing needs of various industries here and around the world.

According to TMA chief executive officer Anthony Karam, TMA Australia Pty. Ltd. is definitely consolidating its manufacturing operations in the Philippines. In fact, it has entered into a lease agreement to put up its manufacturing facilities in one the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) economic zones.

Karam revealed that the multi-billion peso thermal paper plant at the PEZA in Laguna is the first in the country and would be operational using state-of-the-art equipment and machinery before the second quarter of this year.

Initial reports have revealed that TMA is pulling out of China and will relocate to the Philippines as its regional hub for Asia and the Pacific.

TMA, a leading manufacturer of thermal paper and other paper products in the Asia Pacific and Australia, is now in the process of making the Philippines its regional hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with executives saying it will start production early this year with the completion of its multi-billion peso plant in Laguna, a first in the Philippines.

It is the only thermal paper plant being set up in the country using high-tech machinery in the production of thermal paper and other paper products, while other local suppliers have to import thermal paper utilized by government agencies, airlines and other private firms.

TMA products’ pricing is also competitive since TMA will not have to deal with tariffs and other duties.

Full operations are expected early this year. TMA has announced an initial workforce composed mostly of engineers with 500 workers. And this will grow to about 5,000 in the coming years, the company said.

TMA’s manufacturing facility in Laguna will supply its more than 2,800 customers all over the Asia-Pacific region.

The company said its decision to locate its regional hub in the Philippines was the result of the invitation extended by President Aquino for Australian companies to participate in the country’s economic growth.

With the entry of TMA, Australia has firmed up its role as a leading investor in the Philippines, with billions of dollars ready to be poured into the mining, manufacturing and other sectors.

During his visit to Australia and New Zealand in October, President Aquino signed an agreement with Prime Minister Julia Gillard to increase trade and investment flows, with Gillard giving emphasis to the huge potential of the Philippine manufacturing and mining sectors.

TMA was organized in 1990 as a thermal paper ticket printing factory and was acquired by the Karam family in 1996.

It has since developed into a sophisticated business engaged in manufacturing and printing thermally reactive tickets, tags, labels, point of sales rolls and security products.

Its facilities are located in Granville, New South Wales, Melbourne, Brisbane, Shanghai and New Zealand.

Among TMA’s major customers are Qantas, Virgin Airlines, Ticketek, Westfield Ltd., Coles Group, Sydney Olympic Park, Art Series Hotel in Melbourne, Tattersalls, China Lotteries, Supadockets Advertising, Chubb Security and Hong Kong Jockey Club.

TMA manufactures food labels and tags, thermal rolls, ATM rolls, lottery tickets and rolls.

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