PLDT offers new wireless Internet service, extends NDD promo

The massive broadband infrastructure of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) and the huge wireless coverage of subsidiary of Smart Communications have combined to break new ground in wireless Internet access through a new service that offers cost-effective wireless connectivity for small and medium enterprises and large corporations with remote offices and road warriors.

Called PLDT WeRoam, the new service allows for unmatched mobility for a company’s workforce while ensuring reliable local area network (LAN) and Internet connectivity without the burden of unwieldy wires.

"For a company with mobile employees, this service could potentially redound to increased efficiency and consequently improved revenues," PLDT corporate business group head Eric Alberto said.

He added that even for a company that has not given mobility much though, PLDT WeRoam opens up possibilities, all these without having to depend on and get tied down by a wired network.

The service offers four packages that will cater to various needs of the clients: PLDT WeRoam Mobile (with Internet), WeRoam Mobile (with Virtual Private Network), WeRoam Direct (with LAN connection to the global Internet), and WeRoam Direct (with LAN to LAN connection).

PLDT WeRoam Mobile will employ general packet radio service (GPRS) and enhanced data for global evolution (EDGE) technologies, providing speeds of up to 170 kilobits per second (kbps) and nationwide cellsite-to-cellsite handover for a seamless connection while on the move.

PLDT WeRoam Direct will have a much higher speed of up to 1.024 megabits per second (mpbs) through the use of Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) technology. Unlike WeRoam Mobile, this package offers fixed wireless connectivity within office premises only.

The GPRS, WiFI and EDGE-enabled cellsites for this service will be provided by PLDT subsidiary Smart Communications.

PLDT WeRoam packages range from P1500 to P14,500 a month depending on the speed and type of package. Email addresses and web space with anti-virus features are also provided.

P10/NDD call promo extended

PLDT has extended for one more month or until April 11 its P10-per-call national direct dialing (NDD) promo as demand for cheaper calls continued to increase.

The offer allows PLDT landline subscribers to call other PLDT subscribers nationwide, as well as the 20 million subscribers of Smart and Talk ‘N Text for a flat rate of only P10 per call.

PLDT retail business group head Butch Jimenez said it is proving to be successful as the number of calls, callers and even connections has grown significantly when the promo started in February.

He explained that prior to the promo, PLDT used to average 100,000 callers per day calling NDD or Smart and Talk ‘N Text cellphones. Less than three weeks after the promo, the number of callers jumped to 146,000 per day.