Smart seals partnership with smartphone maker

CEBU, Philippines - Smart Communications yesterday announced its exclusive partnership with SmartPhone manufacturer HTC Corporation (HTC) to offer advanced devices for the smartphone-savvy Philippine market.

“In the last couple of years we have increasingly focused our resources on designing and rolling out services, such as our first-to-market unlimited data plans, and optimizing our nationwide wireless networks – that together, encourage the massive shift to smartphone use among Filipino mobile subscribers,” said Orlando Vea, co-founder and Chief Wireless Advisor of Smart.

According to Smart, the partnership signals a more aggressive and concerted move from the two industry leaders to continue driving the Philippine smartphone revolution, which is estimated to grow 55 percent year-on-year on 2001 by the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Earlier, Smart reported a 102 percent increase of the number of smartphone users in its network from February to May this year, particularly those using handsets that run on Google’s Android operating system (OS).

“Our alliance with HTC is key to our smartphone strategy of providing the best network, complemented by the best plans, to power the best devices -- in order to create the best customer experience,” added Vea.

On the other hand, HTC reported that it has sold about 9.7 million smartphones across the globe, an increase of 192 percent year-on-year. This trend is expected to duplicate in the Philippines.

To this end, the manufacturer has been bringing in the world’s most advanced devices to the country, introducing more Filipinos to the latest, most intelligent and stunning features found in a mobile device.

It recently introduced the HTC Desire S, the HTC Wildfire S and the HTC Sensation – all exclusively available to Smart subscribers at various plans that all come with unlimited data.     

Underpinning this development between the two innovation leaders is the common stake in the promotion among Filipinos of the use of Android – now reported to be the best-selling smartphone OS, and estimated to grow to more than 40% of the market in the second half of 2011.

Smart -- which has made Android a cornerstone of its ‘Internet for All’ objective -- is now also the chief promoter of the OS in the country.

Together with HTC, it has launched a series of firsts, including the HTC Magic back in 2009 – officially the first Android-powered device made commercially available in the Philippines – and one of the first handsets powered by the updated Gingerbread (ver. 2.3) platform, the HTC Desire S.

“The timing of the arrival of the Android OS fit perfectly into Smart’s strategy of providing Internet for all,” said Vea.

“Our network and system are ready to provide data services; the challenge lies in the devices through which our subscribers may access the Internet. Android, being free and open-source, makes it possible for manufacturers like HTC to offer feature-packed, data-capable phones at more affordable price points,” Vea added.

Like any smart device, an Android phone works best with the best Internet connection from the best mobile network. All within the second half of 2011, Smart subscribers will be able to avail of HTC’s most advanced Android devices. (FREEMAN)