Smart, Globe roll out new iPad offers

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc. of dominant carrier Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and Ayala-led Globe Telecom Inc. have made available the iPad Air and iPad Mini with retina display to their respective subscribers in the Philippines..

Michele Curran, data and international services marketing head at Smart, said the company, through subsidiary Smart Broadband Inc., is now offering the iPad Air with Wi-Fi + cellular and iPad Mini with retina display with Wi-Fi + cellular with a range of attractive data plans.

Curran said the plans allow customers to connect to its fast long term evolution (LTE) network with speeds of up to 42 Mbps.

The iPad Air and the iPad Mini with retina display are available on Smart Bro’s iPad Plan 1499 (16GB) and iPad Plan 1699 (32GB), which both come with 65 hours of LTE Internet surfing every month and an Anti-Bill Shock Guarantee that ensures subscribers wouldn’t have to worry about excessive data charges on their monthly bills.

Subscribers only need to pay a one-time fee of P1,000 for the iPad mini with Retina display or P5,000 for the iPad Air upon application to get their hands on these newest tablets. The device amortization is already integrated into their monthly service fees, which means a credit card is no longer required to break the device cost into monthly installments.

“We are excited to be the first to offer the latest Apple iPad Air and iPad mini with retina display in the Philippines, two powerhouse devices that are best enjoyed with the country’s most widely available LTE network, only from the leader in mobile,” Curran said.

Smart continues to expand its LTE and HSPA+ network across the country, bringing the world’s fastest mobile broadband technology to more Filipinos with more than 10,000 sites nationwide.

“Users will find that having LTE connectivity on the iPad Air and the iPad mini with retina display means they can get the complete mobile experience from their new tablet devices,” he added.

Raul Macatangay, head of Globe Postpaid Business and Devices, said the company would provide the best iPad experience to its subscribers through special treats in the form of free apps.

“Aside from our growing LTE network and unbeatable pricing offers, our subscribers are guaranteed of the best iPad experience from Globe with free apps that best fit their lifestyle,” Macatangay said.

The iPad Air 16GB is available from Globe for as low as P1,624 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,125 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period, which already includes 85 hours of LTE surfing. The 32GB variant is available for as low as P1,790 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,291 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period, also bundled with 85 hours of LTE surfing.

On the other hand, the iPad mini with retina display 16GB is offered at P1,499 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,000 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period, complete with 85 hours of LTE surfing, while the 32GB variant is available at P1,665 monthly at Plan 499 with P1,166 monthly cashout over a 24-month contract period also bundled with 85 hours of LTE surfing.

iPad Air features a stunning 9.7-inch retina display in a new thinner and lighter design. Precision-engineered to weigh just one pound, iPad Air is 20 percent thinner and 28 percent lighter than the fourth generation iPad, and with a narrower bezel the borders of iPad Air are dramatically thinner – making content even more immersive.