Smart Unboxes the next step to a digital lifestyle

MANILA, Philippines – As the world evolves, technology evolves with it. Owning a smartphone in this day and age is less a luxury and more a necessity. It’s what people use to communicate, unwind, and manage daily transactions. And it’s what’s opening new opportunities for the Filipino digital native.

During their quarterly Smart Unbox event held last November 8, Smart showed that they have wholeheartedly embraced the digital lifestyle. First, through the launch of their second flagship store at SM Annex in North EDSA, with its new sleek design, state-of-the-art interactive walls, activity tables, and transactions stations. Second, through their new value-added offerings.

“We remain committed in our vision of making every Filipino break norms and embrace the multiple opportunities that the digital world brings,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, Smart Wireless Consumer Operations Head. “This is why we are unveiling bigger and better data packages for our subscribers, and welcoming stronger partnerships with device makers and content providers.”

Digital fun

Smartphones are best experienced with data. It’s through data that one can best utilize the potential of a smartphone. Entertainment junkies, for example, use data to listen to music, stream movies, and download games. That’s why Smart is offering more data in their plans.

From Smart Postpaid, there’s Giga Plans, their biggest data offerings to date with 10x more data than previous plans as well as free apps and unlimited texts to all networks.

“Data under Smart Postpaid’s Giga Plans will definitely provide a richer digital lifestyle for our Smart users. And since we are doing network improvements all over the country, digital services under Smart is just bound to get even better,” said Kathy Carag, Head of Smart’s Mobile Marketing.

Smart Bro has also updated their Postpaid plans to offer more data for sharing online connectivity across gadgets, family, and friends. Meanwhile, Smart Infinity, Smart’s premium postpaid brand, will begin offering data plans of up to 60GB for its subscribers.

What’s more, Smart has partnered with ABS-CBN for iWantTV, granting subscribers access to tons of shows, series, movies and programs.

What this means for subscribers is more data for more entertainment.

Digital wallets

As Kat Luna-Abelarde pointed out, only a small percentage of Filipinos own credit cards, but more and more Filipinos own smartphones.  For savvy-shopping digital natives without credit cards, Smart has PayMaya.

By downloading the PayMaya application on an Android or iOS phone and registering with their Smart, TNT, or Sun mobile number, subscribers can avail of their virtual prepaid smart MasterCard, which they can load up and use for all their online shopping needs worldwide, wherever MasterCard is accepted.

What’s more, PayMaya users and Smart subscribers can avail of up to 10% discount on Smart prepaid load when they purchase it through the app, as well as other discounts from Zalora, Jollibee, Uber, and other brands coming soon.

Digital travel

For Filipinos who love to travel, Smart also launched Smart Chat Abroad, a data roaming service that allows subscribers to use 6 popular chat messaging apps, namely Facebook Messenger, Viber, Telegram, WeChat, Line, and WhatsApp, in over 130 countries – all for a fixed rate of P150 per day.

But if more data is in order, the telco will also roll out Smart World Travel WiFi soon – it’s a pocket WiFi device that both Smart and non-Smart subscribers can rent and use in over 130 countries for P399 per day.

Digital life

Smart subscribers also now have access to the #SmartLove Christmas Giveaway promo where they can win holiday getaways, Uber and Airbnb vouchers, free data, and more by participating at key events all over the country.

What all this means to the Smart Subscriber, or rather the digital native, is opportunity – to evolve alongside technology for a more convenient and more connected lifestyle.  – Rappler.com