Was doing some gadget shopping at the nearby Sunway Pyramid Mall last night when I spotted several SmartBro Plug-It and Sun Wireless Broadband USB dongles being sold in one of the stalls.
At first I thought it was for data-roaming or something like that but when I asked the sales lady she said it’s unlocked.
The 3G USB dongles were selling for around Php2,000USD 34INR 2,889EUR 32CNY 248 (forgot the exact price in Ringgit) and you can use it with any of the local telco’s SIM card.
I also got some rates for their 3G internet and this one is by Celcom Broadband:
Daily Unlimited 3G Internet @ 384kbps – RM6/24 hours (Php90USD 2INR 130EUR 1CNY 11/day)
Weekly Unlimited 3G Internet @ 384kbps – RM20/7 days (Php300USD 5INR 433EUR 5CNY 37/week)
Broadband Basic @ 384kbps – RM64/month (Php1,020USD 17INR 1,473EUR 17CNY 127/month)
Broadband Advance @ 3.6Mbps – RM98/month (Php1,470USD 25INR 2,124EUR 24CNY 182/month)
Come to think of it, our daily unlimited internet rates are like 55% cheaper than here in Malaysia and it’s even slower at 384kbps. The monthly postpaid plans aren’t very attractive either and I think our Php1,200USD 20INR 1,734EUR 19CNY 149 per month @ 2Mbps seem pretty competitive.
YugaTech.com is the largest and longest-running technology site in the Philippines. Originally established in October 2002, the site was transformed into a full-fledged technology platform in 2005.
How to transfer, withdraw money from PayPal to GCash
Prices of Starlink satellite in the Philippines
Install Google GBox to Huawei smartphones
Pag-IBIG MP2 online application
How to check PhilHealth contributions online
How to find your SIM card serial number
Globe, PLDT, Converge, Sky: Unli fiber internet plans compared
10 biggest games in the Google Play Store
LTO periodic medical exam for 10-year licenses
Netflix codes to unlock hidden TV shows, movies
Apple, Asus, Cherry Mobile, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Oppo, Samsung, Sony, Vivo, Xiaomi, Lenovo, Infinix Mobile, Pocophone, Honor, iPhone, OnePlus, Tecno, Realme, HTC, Gionee, Kata, IQ00, Redmi, Razer, CloudFone, Motorola, Panasonic, TCL, Wiko
Best Android smartphones between PHP 20,000 - 25,000
Smartphones under PHP 10,000 in the Philippines
Smartphones under PHP 12K Philippines
Best smartphones for kids under PHP 7,000
Smartphones under PHP 15,000 in the Philippines
Best Android smartphones between PHP 15,000 - 20,000
Smartphones under PHP 20,000 in the Philippines
Most affordable 5G phones in the Philippines under PHP 20K
5G smartphones in the Philippines under PHP 16K
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2024
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2023
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2022
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2021
Smartphone pricelist Philippines 2020
BBtambayan says:
@abeolandres huh? Abot signal Smart dyan sa malaysia?
abeolandres says:
@BBtambayan Malaysian telco gamit nila using the unlocked dongle.
BBtambayan says:
@abeolandres is that legal?
seju says:
is this legal in malaysia? does smart and sun allow this? and what do you mean by “unlocked”? kinda confused.
Jay says:
@seju
why don’t they?
business is business. sell as many units as you can. still favorable to them since it’s a prepaid.
mas madami din bibili kasi alam nila pwede i-openline.
“unlocked” means it’s open for use to other networks (not locked to Smart)
example: Smart Bro USB modem can be used with Globe tattoo sim card or Sun sim card.
Darren says:
***SAMBA***
Adrian says:
Astig. international ang smart and sun.
mpst says:
yuga do you know which is the cheapest net provider in adelaide, australia. Unlimited data and speed counts, either dsl or broadband connection card would do, napaka mahal kc d2 ng internet. Thanks
Head Geekette says:
@seju What sellers would do is to buy as many prepaid broadband modems as they could here in the Philippines and have it unlocked. (Check my previous post on unlocking USB modems http://www.thegeekettespeaketh.com/2010/06/how-to-unlock-your-huawei-usb-hsdpa-modem/)
I’m surprised they have SmartBro’s ZTE modem since that takes a bit more effort to unlock than the Huawei brand. It’s possible it is old stock since I heard the newer versions they’re selling are not can’t be unlocked. So to with Globe’s Huawei E1552 “Redbox” modem.
kentot says:
the USB dongles selling here for <php1000 is subsidized heavily by the local telco. thus, it's cheaper to buy the dongles from globe, smart and sun than from huawei and zte directly. it's crazy!
Paul Villacorta says:
HolyCow! Inernetzz rates are kinda crazy in Malaysia!
glad our rates are way much cheaper!
Kiks says:
abe, you cant really directly compare ringgit versus peso without considering cost of living/expenses in those countries.
Abe Olandres says:
@kiks – yeah, I know. But for most people, it’s hard not to.
manaka_junpei says:
kung mag-youtube ka sa malaysia gamit nito, asa pa ang pangarap mong mapanood nang no bufferring
kebb says:
cellcom in malaysia is expensive.
Herce says:
How did they unlock them? Tutorial link anyone?
Herce says:
BTW, the link Head Geekette posted is dead.
drew says:
hahaha.. parang ng galing yan d2 sa pinas ah..
jomar says:
search for “rorymabangis wi-free” at google and you would’nt believe the rates. its so low for unlimited internet
techiewitty says:
hey yuga, bring that here in phils, for sure dami bibili nyan dito…
tagal ko na hinihintay na magkaopenline ang mga wireless broadband… hahahaha
or if not try to ask how did they do the unlocking then you teach me nalang.heheheh
trish says:
@jomar- thanks for posting wi-free. i got from him the unlimited internet service for only 350/month. its so cheap. i can now surf even without any load on my globe tattoo.
Boom says:
hey sir,
i was in Bangkok last June and at their IT Square, something like our Gilmore they also sell the same smart bro and globe dongles for about 2,000 THB per. that’s about 2,800 PHP.
They even have the old white ones ng smart.
gio says:
yeah mejo matagal na merong open line or unlocked na dongles, i got mine for 1200 bnew with 3 sims globe, sun and smart plus 300 load.
loadex says:
Kaya bumalik na sa P1495 and up mga dongles dito sa Pinas.. nalaman ng mga telco na nung nagpromo sila ng 999 and 899 for USB dongles, kaya pala mabilis naubos, may mga negosyante na binili lahat and exported sa labas ng Pinas.. kase ang USB dongle na bnew from Huwaei cost P2000 almost.. net price na yun.
Agugus says:
Walang Globe? Eh, kasi tina-tamper ng mga taga-Globe yung mga USB dongles na binebenta nila kahit na prepaid yung linya mo…
Aby says:
My husband was able to unlock our Huawei Smartbro Broadband and our Globe Tattoo…
yanyan says:
How is the signal strength and reception of these devices?