‘I-google mo na yan’ with Smart & Talk ‘N Text

MANILA, Philippines - Most Filipinos use their cell phones to stay in touch with loved ones and colleagues. But today’s web-capable smartphones can also be used to quickly gather information while on the move, using powerful search applications like Google or Bing.

 Cell phones are particularly useful for looking up useful tidbits of data like: What is the capital of Liberia? When exactly is the Masskara festival held in Bacolod? What is the real name of Pope Francis?

 More Filipinos are discovering the world of mobile online search after wireless services telco Smart launched its free Internet promo last Sept. 26.

 “The majority of prepaid phone users still aren’t using their phones for mobile data applications like search.  With our Free Internet offer, they now have a chance to try it out,” said Smart Public Affairs head Ramon Isberto. “Among other things, we hope that our special promo can kickstart a culture of ‘search’ among Filipinos. The ability to get information with a few clicks while on the move can help students, professional and whoever needs access to information anywhere, anytime.”

 After all, online search has become part of our language.  People say: i-google mo na lang — making a verb out of the name of the world’s most popular search engine.

Leni de Guzman, a high school teacher and Sun Cellular subscriber from Valenzuela, used to be an infrequent mobile Internet user.  She thinks the Free Internet promo is a game-changer for search.

 “Kung may free Internet, mas maganda. Mostly pag nagsusurf ako sa Google, for example,  meron akong questions or meron akong gustong malaman, mas convenient sya. Mas maganda,” De Guzman said.

 Under the Free Internet offer, active prepaid subscribers of Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk N’ Text have free access to 30 MB of mobile Internet per day. This offer has been expanded to postpaid and broadband subscribers and also comes with ‘unli’ Facebook access. 

To avail themselves of the offer, subscribers only need to text FREE to 9999. Registration is free and must be done on a daily basis to enjoy the promo every day until Jan. 5, 2015.

The Free Internet offer enables subscribers to, among other things, visit their favorite social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, stream music through Spinnr, shop online, send and receive email, and search for information.

  “Every school year we read reports saying Filipino students don’t have enough books. With free Internet, even their data-capable feature phones can provide them access to useful information materials for school work,” Isberto added.

 Aside from using search through popular browsers such as Chrome and Safari, Filipino students can also use email to communicate with their teachers, or to correspond with teammates for a group report. They can also brush up on current events via news sites.

 This Free Internet promo for Smart, Sun Cellular and Talk ‘N Text subscribers can be availed using data-capable feature phones or smartphones running on Android, iOS, and Windows operating systems. Subscribers only need to have P1 maintaining load balance if on prepaid or be subscribed to any plan, promo or bundle.