Smart has reduced it’s SmartBro Plug-It Postpaid plans to just Php999 a month of unlimited 3G internet; down from Php1,500 a month in October 2008. There’s a catch though.
According to Smart Customer Support (*1888), the new Unlimited Plan 999 for Plug-It is limited to speeds of up to 384Kbps. There’s a 24-month lock-in period as well.
Compare that to the earlier unlimited speed of up to 2MBps, that seems a bit slow. I was thinking if they had to cap the speed (like what Sun Cellular does with their tiered unlimited plans), it shouldn’t be anywhere below 1Mbps.
Update: Reports coming in that it’ still 2Mbps. It may not have been capped after all. Curious though why that pre-recorded voice on *1888 says it’s 384kbps.
Update 2: SmartBro website has been updated to confirm the up to 2Mbps bandwidth.
Speed : Up to 1mbps (fixed wireless connection) and up to 2mbps (Plug-it modem)
No. of Hours use : Unlimited
Requirements : Subscriber Application Form, Proof of Identification.
Total Initial Payment : Php 999.00
Lock-in Period : 24 months
pwedeng ba itong magamit sa barko halimbawa nalang ng mga seaman?
I guess this review for smartbro plug-it can help you decide whether it’s worth-subscribing to.
Follow this link: http://www.philippinealmanac.com/2010/10/865/smartbro-plug-it-review.html
smartbro sucks!
Mag ingat po kayo sa smartbro. Nag apply ako last monday Nov 22, 2010, tapos tuesday kinabit nila. I noticed something fishy about the setting of my canopy. Sustained uplink/downlink rate : 300/700 and Maximum uplink/downlink burst rate : 1500/1500
the above settings are for a 1mbps canopy and not a 2mbps canopy which is my subscribed plan. I compared my settings to the setting on my friend na normal ang speeds at kaayos lang ng smart:
sustained uplink/downlink rate : 300/1700 <<<<
Max. uplink/downlink burst rate : 3000/3000 <<<<
nakakakuha po sya ng 1.5mps normally hinde tulad saken 700kbps lang.
Mabuti na lang mabilis mata ko kc mabilis sya mag configure. Under QoS ng connection ko nakita ko mga setting na ginawa nya. Nangdaday po ang smart. This is plain and simple FRAUD. Dapat sa office or warehouse pa lang inaayos na nila ung canopy at naka configure na 2mbps. Sabi saken, 1 hour after they left and I signed there install completion papers, maayos na daw nila via remote setting pero up to now hinde pa din nila naayos.
Ingat po kayo sa mga would be subscribers ng smartbro fixed canopy 2mpbs subscription plan nila.
gs2 ko ngang mag try ng sun or smart bro plug it here in montalban rizal.any idea kung ok na yung sun sa montalban? plug it kc d2 sa montalban d maxadong mabilis.. pero pwed ng pag tyagaan kung chat or facebook lang naman pero kung mahilig ka manood ng youtube or download bka mejo mahirapan ka..
nako! wag mo na i try mag wi tribe! sayangin mo lang pera mo dun..meron clang 6gb bandwit cap. pag ma reach mo un super bagal na connection mo gud for 1 week lang ang wi tribe.. ask mo cla meron clang cap. ingat ka n lang sa mga agent bka d nila sabhin sau un.tpos yari ka! ikaw na ang susunud na mangunguna sa pag rereklamo sa wi tribe! hahaha LOL
i think im ok with the 384kbps limit. pero dapat consistent. di ako fan ng mga burst speeds pero mas prefer ko ang consistency. pero wag naman”consistent” na 56kbps. wawa naman ako. siguro i’d go wi tribe plan 500
lol.mabilis nga yung speed. pero sa umaga pag dating ng tanghali ang gabie. prang dial up WTF. smartbro sucks!
guys help! i just got my Smart Bro Postpaid (SIM only). what are the settings to connect? what is the APN, what is the number to dial? prepaid lang kasi gamit ko dati. thanks
guys, i’m currently a globe prepaid user and gusto ko kasing magpostpaid na para anytime, makakaaccess ako sa internet kasi blogger ako… and my friends told me about the smartbro 999 plan.. I was kinda interested, but after reading the comments, parang nagdadalawang isip na ako. Is it really that slow? i mean, ano ba yung fastest download rate na inaaabot ng smart bro..
NAGBAYAD KAMI ON TIME … BAKIT “ONE WEEK” NA PO KAMING WALANG INTERNET …. SMART BRO ….. ??????????
for those smart bro prepaid plug it users using Huawei Model: E1553 (white) -windows 7 compatible, there is a firmware and software update at SmartBro website.
It helps make the connection stable.
more power to this site.
I feel or you @ Vanessa. Araw araw na lng sinisira ng smartbro buhay ko. I will try for another month or two afterall I still want to honor the contract…after that, sue me all you want but I won’t let smart get my hard-earned money yet does not provide the quality even halfway of the amount paid…
I have smartbro plug it plan 999.so far it has brought me nothing but stress…the signal is not reliable yet it’s expensive. I plan to preterminate the subscription. I know, I have to pay the pretermination fee but I won’t. What’s to going happen if I won’t pay the pretermintion fee? Will they forward my name to collections?Is that all?
im new plug it subscriber. their maximum speed is 56kbps. dial up lang speed nila . hindi ako makapanood ng youtube. smart sucks. 1st month ko pa lang ngayon. ikakancel ko na ito. not worth it.
i’v been using smart bro plug-it for almost four months na..im on pre-paid..two months later ko pa nadiscover ung per minute packages nila..then last week, naglabas sila ng 5-day unlimited surfing for 200 pesos..i was only able to use it once just last week..prior to that, nakakaavail din ako ng per minute packages..
but, yesterday, nagstart magloko ung web connect site nila wherein ginagawa ung registration sa Bro packages..
Hindi na gumagana ung per minute, as well as ung 5-day unli surfing..
andun pa din ung page, pero walang Check/Option boxes, so whenever i click “Submit”, bumabalik lang sa idle page na un..
wlang kwenta..
Hi All!
Yuga and to all Smartees, is it possible to convert my smartbro HSDPA 999 to a landline based PLDT plan w/ the same or nearer price? I just talked to a pldt/philcom rep a while ago confirming my landline pldt application…i applied to both smartbro and pldt coz am a bit remote and there’s no way of knowing w/c would come first… u knw how it is with sales/marketing peeps…they lie to earn :D
My smartbro came first and now am locked to 2 yrs. Smart and PLDT are sister companies right? so there shouldn’t be any prob w/ that…or is there?
Any folks have this kind of exp? Pls. do share…thanks ;)
see link below to believe the new speed
http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=207301
I am a smartbro Plan999 subscriber and I’m pretty much satisfied with it. I’m getting more than 2mbps every morning before I go to work and before I get to bed. 300kbps during during peak hours. ;P
hmmm… in fairness, this is quite cheaper.. but as I say from my previous comment, plug-it signals are not consistent..
“People, you don’t get it. Specially you Fred. Abe already inserted ‘updates’ to address the issues raised. There’s no need to edit the whole article.
Professional online writers keep their mistakes in an already published work to keep the balance and rely on updates inserted from time to time if a change is needed or to stand an info corrected.”
An ‘update’ is an ‘update’. Look it up on the dictionary. ‘Editing’ and making ‘corrections’ is very different from an update.
And I never said, or am forcing anyone to edit anything. I merely posted my observations that blogposts here usually don’t get ‘edited’.
And your last statement saying there is no need for ‘editing’ pretty much vindicates what I am observing.
This is still a ‘blog’. Admins can edit their posts anytime, if they want it.
Besides, how do you know if my post was posted before he inserted his ‘updates’ ?? The only dates are on commentator’s posts not on his blogposts.
Not here to argue. Just posting my observation and since I am a commentator here I am entitled to my opinion just like everyone else is.
@Smart Broadband Inc.,
Please do not use a corporate name. We all know that Abe is sponsored by many companies, Smart & Globe included. It just so happens that the current giveaway promo is being sponsored by Globe.
I believe that Abe will still remain as objective and factual as possible. If you follow this blog religiously, you would know that already.
People, you don’t get it. Specially you Fred. Abe already inserted ‘updates’ to address the issues raised. There’s no need to edit the whole article.
Professional online writers keep their mistakes in an already published work to keep the balance and rely on updates inserted from time to time if a change is needed or to stand an info corrected.
Yep, seen the ads in the newspapers as well.
Smart’s plug-it is indeed 2 mbps and not limited to just 384 kbps.
However, I doubt the blogpost is going to be edited to make the blogpost more accurate.
I’ve read previous blogposts as well w/c have not been edited even after commentators pointed some errors and mistakes.
Wondering if I can use this plug-it on a router. Can I make this single device work for multiple computers? Like 2 laptops and a desktop? Anyone?
I does not appear to be limited to 384kbps.
http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=205470&page=5
Please do not believe on this post! Smart Communications will never cap you download speeds to 384 kbps. Yugatech.com is sponsored by Globe. https://www.yugatech.com/blog/contests/the-yugatech-great-gadget-giveaway/
Just performed a speed test here in Bataan, plan 999 unlimited
http://www.speedtest.net/result/657454588.png
this means di sya limited to 384kbps
This is their way of showing thanks to loyal customers.
*******
We understand that you have concern on SMART Bro Plug It plan.
If you are currently subscribed to Plug It Plan 1500 your monthly service fee (MSF) will still be P1,500. We wish to inform you that it is possible to convert your existing SMART Bro Plug It 1500 Plan to SMART Bro Plug It Plan 999 unlimited. You need to settle Pre Termination Fee (if your Plug It subscription is still within the lock-in period) and processing fee. Kindly visit any SMART Wireless Center to convert your Plug It Plan.
We hope this merits your understanding.
I wrote an email to SMART customer service:
Per your site: http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/
My email:
The UnlimtedPlugit is now only 999 pesos. I subscribed to the same unlimted plugit for 1500..would that mean that my billing for next month would only reflect 999 pesos? Pls clarify.
SMART’s response:
We understand that you have concern on SMART Bro Plug It plan.
If you are currently subscribed to Plug It Plan 1500 your monthly service fee (MSF) will still be P1,500. We wish to inform you that it is possible to convert your existing SMART Bro Plug It 1500 Plan to SMART Bro Plug It Plan 999 unlimited. You need to settle Pre Termination Fee (if your Plug It subscription is still within the lock-in period) and processing fee. Kindly visit any SMART Wireless Center to convert your Plug It Plan.
We hope this merits your understanding.
—-
Damn! Sayang yung 600 pesos
@daddy joey,
Sun is P799 for 2mbps. Get the easy broadband para kung di ka kontento, puede ka umalis anytime.
Sun is ok in metro manila.
Disclaimer: All wireless broadbands naman sometimes crawls to a halt but from my experience mas consistent Sun sa pag maintain sa 2mbps. Less complains din compared to Smart and Globe. Pinaka-maraming complainas as far as wireless broadband is concerned seems to be Globe Tattoo.
@daddy joey,
Sun is P799 for 2mbps. Get the easy broadband para kung di ka kontento, puede ka umalis anytime.
Sun is ok in metro manila.
Disclaimer: All wireless broadbands naman sometimes crawls to a halt but from my experience mas consistent Sun sa pag maintain sa 2mbps. Less compains din compared to Smart and Globe. Pinaka-maraming complainas far as wireless broadband is concerned seems to be Globe Tattoo.
Hi Abe,
You will be pleased to know that the current Plug-it Plan P999 unlimited still gives out speeds up to 2mbps. It was the old fixed wireless (canopy) postpaid plan that had speeds of up to 384kbps. This was later upgraded to up to 1mbps.
For further details, please follow this link, and look for the “Plan 999 Unlimited” section: http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/SMARTBroProducts.htm
Patrick
If you check this website the same speed is offered for plug it modem plan 999 unlimitted this was formerly at plan 1500.
url]http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/SMARTBroProducts.htm[/url]
so this means na pwede mong ipacancel yung account mo dahil mali ang advetisement nila? tagatangkilik kasi ako ng plan 999 na ito at hindi naman yata fair kung ganon.
Off topic.. RJ bigyan mo ko ng invite sa Google Wave.. ^__^ aspira****@****.***
False advertisement.. Di nyo ba napapansin? Magaling sila mag advertise pero pag may problem na laging may dahilan? Tapos magfifile ka ng rebate di naman nila i hohonor.. Sasabihin lang sayo.. Sorry po.. WTF!!! Smart sucks!!
@buknoy magulo kc ang CSR nila…
Oo nga, sabi sa website ng smart ay “up to 1mbps, up to 2mbps plug it”
http://smart.com.ph/bro/products/SMARTBroProducts.htm
guys ito from smart mismo ang new plan 300 unli surfing.
http://smart.com.ph/NR/rdonlyres/D64CAD44-B0B3-4AC5-878C-4CD76671604A/13279/BlckBerryUnlimitedPlusFP1.jpg
guys ito from smart mismo ang new plan 300 unli surfing.
[img]http://smart.com.ph/NR/rdonlyres/D64CAD44-B0B3-4AC5-878C-4CD76671604A/13279/BlckBerryUnlimitedPlusFP1.jpg[/img]
Guys may new plan ang smart plan 300 unlimited surfing.
Sorry po sir yuga, Off-Topic. Sino po dito ang gusto ng Google Wave invite? :) Sayang lang kasi yung mga college friends ko di nila alam to.. :(
Still SUN Broadband… wala ng iba pa. consistent in 2Mbps speed.
I can live with this as long as it’s truly unlimited, no matter which web site I go to.
We need affordable plans like these to encourage people to buy smartphones and kick start the ‘mobile internet’ lifestyle.
How fast is Sun Broadband? Any feedback from Sun Broadband users in Makati? Thanks!
hahaha…
binaba na kase dami gamit ng mga
UBT and FBT…
I think it’s better for Smart to change this particular promo to prepaid instead of postpaid (24 mos.lock-in) or lower it down to Php499/mo. postpaid and that’s a pretty good deal. LOL
I knew there was a big catch about this one, at that slow speed, lugi naman. hehe
Second the motion rye
Masaya na ako sa 0pera mini sa phone ko. Libre pa. Anytime, anywhere!
wow… sulit ba ung Php999/month.
Di ba ganito yung speed ng smart bro dati?
I agree with the other comments. In surfing the net there are 3 things to consider speed, price and reliable connection
PLDT pa din ini, ala kc talaga signal yan sa amin. Kahit free plan ay never ko pa din magagamit. malayo kc kami sa kabihasanan. je je je
maganda yung plan nila kung yun 384 kbps n offer ay 384 kbps, regardless of time o location, pero kung parehas lng dn sya ng plan 2mbps n mahirap maabot, parang hindi ata maganda yun. opinyon ko lang po. salamat.
sir yuga bakit sabi sa website nila eto 2Mbps pa rin? I’m confused sa kanila kasi minsan iba sinasabi ng mga CSR.
Speed : Up to 1mbps (fixed wireless connection) and up to 2mbps (Plug-it modem)
No. of Hours use : Unlimited
Requirements : Subscriber Application Form, Proof of Identification.
Total Initial Payment : Php 999.00
Lock-in Period : 24 months
Wrong move for Smart for capping it at 384kbps. I’m still a happy Sun Broadband user and I even pay less to get faster speeds!
@buday.. lower the prices..
Aww no more 300 KB/s torrent downloads…
wow, less 500 pesos, your 2Mbps is now 384Kbps. i was also thinking the same @andrew, maybe they want to cut some bandwidth issues. i’d still go with that extra 500 pesos though.
I think the main reason for Smart for reducing from 2MBps to 384Kbps max. is the bandwidth issues that it will tend to slow down or congest their network if they continue to offer 2mbps max speed. Actually, unlimited for 384Kbps is not bad at all but it will be a better deal if smart allows tethering for our smartphone because it gonna make more sense if they do that. For some of us we use smartphone for internet and not PC or laptop all the time. So, the best deal for me is to allow that smart sim card both on smartphone and laptop and that’s a real unlimited for me.
@oj
don’t compare our country to 1st world coutries like singapore, US, Japan.
FYI we are included in the top 80 in internet speed.
Also only less than 5 million out of 80+ million filipinos are availing(subscribed) the internet service.
so how could telcos upgrade their equipments with such low market share?
for me its okay to limit speed at 384 since its primary use is for mobile users. but not at 999 / month. maybe 450 monthy would be a good starting price.
@oj: because the infrastructure needed to support that is not yet here and it will cost billions of pesos to build them. hopefully the infra and technology will trickle down in our lifetime.
like what you said, business is business.
ciao!
Garapal naman mga telcos dito sa bansa natin. Bakit hindi nila mapababa at mapabilis ang internet dito sa atin. Samantalang sa ibang bansa ang mura at ang bilis ng internet nila. Business is business talaga dito sa Pilipinas
Globe pa din ako. Hehe. By the way Sir Yuga, ok ba gamiting P50/day unlimited net for 1 day ung promo ng smart pag nilagay sa HSDPA STICK? Openline na kc ung Globe Tattoo Dongle ko,any sims pwede na
@Brent: Precisely.
there are a lot of people who needs the internet unlimited even if it isn’t that fast. especially those who needs to check their email every so often. IMO the unlimited internet’s use should really be capped at this speed rather than some people using it for torrents and draining the speed. It is meant as a secondary internet for people on the go, rather than it being the primary if not the only internet connection.
Speed matters so who will avail this plan? Better used prepaid with HSDPA phone as modem.
Does this mean that bandwidth for existing postpaid plan 1500 plans would be reduced to just 384kbps?