Smart launches cheapest prepaid handset package

CEBU, Philippines - In its bid to provide all Filipinos with mobile connection, Smart Communications Inc., (Smart) has introduced the lowest priced prepaid handset bundle, via its Talk ‘N Text brand.

At present, there are still about 10 million who don’t have mobile phones yet, thus Smart is addressing this market through the Talk “N Text Panalo Phone promo, in selected Smart Stores nationwide.

With price pegged at P499, Smart hopes to make communication services accessible to the unserved lower D and E markets.

The kit includes a brand new phone with a built-in Talk ‘N Text SIM, pre-loaded with free SMS.

Micro-priced bucket packages, some as low as P5, are available exclusively to Panalo Phone users, to answer the need of those with very limited everyday spending money.

“As we moved close to 100,000 Panalo Phone kits in just five months since its launch, we quickly saw how offering real value to this fresh set of unserved, potential mobile subscribers was key to our overall strategy of slicing and dicing the market,” said Jane Basas, head of         marketing at Talk ‘N Text.

Available models of Talk ‘N Text Panalo Phone are Cherry Mobile and Huawei G1103. E-load for the kit is available from any of Smart’s network of over a million e-load retailers nationwide.

“We continue to bank on the Panalo Phone kit to help generate new subscribers for Talk ‘N Text and to strengthen the value proposition of the brand – that for every hard-earned peso a subscriber pays, they get the best service, bar none,” said Basas.

“The improved Smart network allows us to guarantee the highest quality of service to Talk ‘N Text users, despite its lower price. This includes superior call quality, nationwide coverage, and no downtime,” added Basas.

Basas refers to the P67.1 billion worth of investments made by Smart and parent firm Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) to improve network elements.

The upgrades allow the network to handle and accommodate higher volumes of calls and text messages and data traffic, thus improving customer experience while keeping costs down.

To create more value to users, the Talk ‘N Text Panalo Phone has also been designed to work with Smart Money, the world’s first cash card linked to a mobile phone, to provide mobile micro-payment and money transfer services especially to the unbanked.

Meanwhile, members and officers of Cebu-based microfinancing institution called FCCT now use the Talk ‘N Text Panalo Phone and its accompanying Smart Money account for loan disbursement and remittance.—(FREEMAN)