Smart launches first Pinoy smartphone

MANILA, Philippines - In yet another bold move, Smart Communications Inc. has launched its own line of Internet-capable phones with the Pinoy’s communication preferences, lifestyle and even budget in mind.

While there are a lot of other smartphones (OS-run, highly customizable Internet-capable phones) out there, never has there been a locally designed smartphone made specifically for the Filipino usage habits.

From being the text messaging capital of the world, the Philippines has already also earned the title of being the world’s online social networking champ. The Netphone is the smartphone for the Internet-savvy, online social networking buff, yet budget-conscious Pinoy.

The Netphone will be introduced to the market via the Netphone 701, the first of many more models lined up by Smart. With its high-tech capabilities, Smart Netphone 701 surprises with its cost of P9,990 — a great deal for an Android-powered handset.

All Netphone models will come with affordable all-in load packages and bundles enough to cover your call, SMS and online connectivity needs. Initially, users can even access your social networking feeds from Facebook and Twitter for free through the Netphone Social Stream.

The difference is in SmartNet

 More than just a phone, the Netphone is sort of like a personal online identity and access badge to online communities.

Through SmartNet’s Social Stream feature, you can link your Facebook and Twitter accounts so you can access, view, and respond to your friends’ feeds in one place — all for free.

The Netphone also gives you access to SmartNet, which is like an online social networking site with a global address book where friends can search for you and send you a friend request.

SmartNet also lets you chat with your contacts on Netphone, Yahoo Messenger, and Facebook anytime, anywhere via Netphone Messenger.

A special feature called FX enhances your messaging to make it a more fun and warm interactive experience. Installed animation and graphics enable you to send kisses, pokes, and other “gestures” that are virtual simulations of the real things.

The Netphone’s Smart Center, meanwhile, makes it easier for you to manage your Smart account. One swipe and you’ll see your running balance. With a few touches, you can manage all your account subscriptions, and you subscribe to call, text, and data packages with a few clicks.

All details about your subscribed packages are listed for you to review anytime, even the expiry date and time of your chosen package.

The smarter smartphone

 Essentially, the Netphone is much like any of the other costlier, full-featured Internet-capable smartphones.

Because it is powered by Android 2.2, you can install gaming, productivity, entertainment, information and utility apps through the Android Market. You can access and back up data online, browse the Internet and use features and services that require constant connection to the Internet.

But unlike the other smartphones, the Netphone has Safe Browse, which allows you to turn on and off the device’s regular Internet features according to your needs.

With Safe Browse, even if your regular Internet connection is off, you remain connected to smart.com.ph and all SmartNet services and applications like Social Stream and the Smart Center. This way, you can manage your account, stay productive through SmartNet apps and keep chatting with your SmartNet contacts — for free.

Take the next step with Netphone

 Our world has become Internet and data-centric, with all our activities becoming more social (even mobile games become more exciting when shared with friends). The Netphone enables Filipinos to maximize social interaction via the Internet.

From analog phones to voice and text-capable handsets, from WAP to MMS and 3G phones with video-call and multimedia functions, Smart has kept Filipinos in step with ever-evolving telecommunication technologies. This is in fulfillment of its goal of putting the most future-compatible cellphone in the hands of every Filipino, and bringing the benefits of Internet to all.

The Smart Netphone is just its latest innovation, the next step in the mobile world evolution. It should be your next phone.