Smart unveils 'smartest' phone

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications, the country’s leading wireless communications provider, unveiled yesterday the Netphone, a path-breaking smartphone designed for emerging markets.

The Netphone comes with a suite of applications that provide users one-touch, one-screen access to the most popular communications and social networking services, as well as relevant customer account services.

The phone is specially designed to enable users to access the Internet in bite-sized amounts.

Powered by the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system, the device is highly customizable by the user. Moreover, the Netphone comes with its own branded software and applications relevant to emerging market customers.

The Netphone provides simultaneous access to Facebook, Twitter and MyGroups social networks. Beyond that, the device combines Yahoo Messenger, Facebook Chat and other chat services in one seamless interface.

Netphone users can also inquire about their prepaid airtime balances with one just touch.

These customized applications are compliant with the specifications of Android and the Wholesale Applications Community (WAC), a global alliance of the world’s leading telecoms operators, applications developers, handset manufacturers and operating system owners that is defining open industry applications standards.

“With the Netphone, Smart can rapidly deploy new widgets, applications and services over the air, continually enhance the Netphone’s value to our subscribers, and in the process create healthy revenue streams,” Smart president and CEO Napoleon Nazareno said.

For his part, Smart chief wireless adviser Orlando Vea explained that by providing easy, bite-sized access to the Web, the Netphone perfectly complements Smart’s Internet For All advocacy. “Designed for emerging-market mobile phone users, this device further democratizes access to the Internet just as Smart led in putting cell-phones in the hands of millions of Filipinos,” he added.

Meanwhile, Smart wireless consumer division head Danilo Mojica pointed out that smartphones are powering tremendous growth in mobile Internet usage.

“Last month, Smart began offering our subscribers a line of affordable Android-powered smartphones combined with even more affordable mobile Internet rates. The introduction of our Netphone also at an attractive price point offering relevant services is a major enhancement of our strategy to unlock this new revenue stream,” he said.

A founding member of the WAC, Smart has received numerous international innovation awards including two from the GSM Association for its breakthrough services Smart Money, the world’s first cash card linked to mobile phones, and Smart Load, the world’s first prepaid airtime electronic loading service.