Smart Communications, the mobile arm of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), is launching two handsets which support 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) services – the Sony Xperia V and the ZTE T82, the Manila Standard Today reports. Not to be outdone, GMANews writes that rival Globe Telecom has also announced the launch of the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE handset, running on the company’s 4G network.
Smart’s offering is targeted at heavy traffic users and to stimulate take-up, both models are initially being offered for free (until 15 January) to customers signing up to the cellco’s LTE Plan 1500, which it says is bundled with unlimited data (until 31 January 2013), 120 SMS and 60 call minutes. Smart launched its LTE network in the Philippines on 25 August, offering high speed data services of up to 42Mbps on dongles or pocket Wi-Fi devices.
Globe meanwhile, is offering the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE handset for free under its UnliSurf 1799 plan, or on instalment plan costing PHP500 (USD7.63) a month for 24 months on UnliSurf 999. Alternatively, a pre-paid kit is available for PHP21,000. ‘Subscribers can now purchase the Huawei Ascend P1 LTE under our unlimited data plans and experience mobile browsing speeds of up to 100Mbps, on-time exchange of text messages, as well as clearer calls and faster call connections,’ said Globe Post-paid cheif, Martha Sazon. Since September, the cellco’s LTE network has expanded in key commercial and residential areas in Makati, Globe said. By the end of this year it expects to further extend its footprint to include a wider area in the National Capital Region (NCR), as well as in Cebu and Davao.