And the Telecom War is on...

[MAXBUWAYA]

Kaya ako, in a subscriber point of view.... HINDI AKO PUPULOT NG BATO PARA LANG IPUKPOK KO SA ULO KO. Kahit na medyo mahal ang tawag at mag-text sa cellfone, basta hindi binabagsak ang tawag at sini-send lahat messages ko masaya na ako don. Atleast nababawi ko ang perang binayad ko sa QUALITY OF SERVICE na binibigay nila (SMART) sa akin.

Yan ang totoong serbisyo hindi nambubulag ng pakulo sa mga tao. :gin:

Sa milliong milliong pinoy na sumusweldo ng minimum wage na subcribers point of view eh hindi medyo mahal ang 6.50 per minute at piso kada txt.
Mahal talaga! Expensive!

Hell am willing to pay P250 a month kahit unlimited txt lang!

Again sasabihin ko

MADALING MAG TXT SA SUN! UNLIMITED PA!


hehehehehehe

[Supierreman]

basta ako i gave up my Smart sim and talk and text sim and now use my Sun sim as my main number kahit mahirap magtext o tumawag laki pa rin ng tipid :D

[GlennSter]

the best thing about smart is HEART EVANGELISTA.

the best thing about globe is....definitely NOT sharon cuneta.

the best thing about sun is...NOT JR nor its difficulty to connect (it's as bad as shawie.).but the 24/7.

[RedHorse]

buy DGTL!
accumulate while you can at this 1.6+ level

[kiper]

Ang yayabang lang talaga ng hirit ng Globe and Smart.

Pinagdaanan din nila ang nangyayari sa SUN ngayon. Ang hirap din tumawag at mag text dati..to think na may bayad pa un ng P8.00 per minute at P1.00 per text..pero walang umaangal. Kelan lang sila nag-upgrade? Di ba nung dumami na subscribers nila!! Wala din signal noon sa ibang planeta..este probinsya.

Sa case naman ng SUN..wala talagang aangal jan. 24/7 ba naman eh. You only pay P250 per month, unlimited na un. Dati gumastos ako ng P500 a week for cellphone lang. Dami din problems..nababawasan mag-isa load ko..naknangteteng.

Ginagawa lang ng Smart at Globe yan sa SUN dahil di nila kayang pumarehas sa 24/7. Un lang un!

[BlueBimmer]

grabe pati ung kaso dadaan na sa congress, i have a feeling baka matigil ang 24/7 nang di oras

[odell]

ako rin.. SUN ang mainline ko!! :D pagl ine ka pili ka pa ng numbers.. hinde katulad sa smart pati globe may dagdag ka pa.. nabayaran ko dati sa glboe for 5K ata or more for the number.. mga greedy telcoms yan!.. sun parin. haha

[KALAMPAG]

Congress!? Hindi ako masyado updated about the topic... anu nangyari sa desisyon ng NTC??? Can't they handle it?

Well if that's the case... i wish they make a good/fast decision about it... since taong bayan ang lulunok na naman nyan and para matapos na pagbabangayan ng mga companies na toh... tska ng tsikot peeps.. spread the love not war... heheh... peace.

Pahabol.. i dont hate globe and smart but i do commend sun for giving me and the people another option to choose from.

[hytan]

In my opinion, what would be the best for the consumer...I think its time that another cellular operator would offer this 24/7 service. Its been how many years an malaki ang kinikita ng smart and globe. Did there service improve?

[BlackMagic]

Maxbuwaya,
Pusod este Puson este PUSO mo parekoy. Hinay hinay lang. Baka di ka na makasama sa Pinugay niyan hehe.

Ang bad trip lang sa Sun 24/7 is pati yung Plan 250 ng misis ko affected sa Network Busy nila. Hindi kami nag avail nung promo since di rin naman nauubos yung 250 ni kumander. Kakainis lang is lalong di maubos ang 250 now kasi laging network busy.

[mazdamazda]

and it also includes voip

Threats of innovation and competition

BIZLINKS By Rey Gamboa
The Philippine Star 02/11/2005



Giants PLDT and Globe are stopping Sun cellular, a pygmy in the telecommunications industry, from marketing their unlimited 24/7 service at a very low price of P250 a month. This innovative package enables consumers to drastically cut costs on their calls and text messages. These same giants are also stopping the entry of Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP, a new technology that will enable us to communicate with our overseas kin at very low prices compared to what these profit-fat companies are currently charging us. So, what is VoIP? VoIP is an Internet technology that allows people to make cheaper calls anywhere in the world. Through this new technology, voice and voice-messaging applications can now be done via the Internet rather than through a conventional switched telephone network.If phone companies charge 40 US cents or about P23 per minute to the US, calls using the Internet could slash rates easily by half, if not more. Imagine how many Filipino couples and families separated by miles of skies and oceans could talk longer, tell more stories, discuss and resolve minor domestic problems if only long distance conversations could be affordable and not exorbitantly as expensive as it is now. Technically, voice over Internet should only require a high-speed Internet connection, which most people refer to as broadband. In fact, there are already some Internet sites that allow subscribers to make long distance calls with nothing but a high-speed or broadband connection and a headset with microphone as investment. In the Philippines, though, to allow VoIP to be operational on a larger scale, a service provider has to be given a permit to operate by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Once they have the license, the Voice over IP companies can then sell prepaid cards or offer postpaid accounts, much like mobile phone set-ups. Experts say that eventually, the technology would spawn new ways of communicating - like videoconferencing - at very affordable costs.

A threat to excessive profits


This VoIP is apparently sowing anxiety in the heart of our very profitable telecommunication industry. In fact, discussions to expand voice communication using the Internet has not progressed much outside the walls of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).The NTC said it would come up with a set of rules governing VoIP within the first quarter this year to clarify once and for all what companies are qualified to offer VoIP service. Sources say that dominant players like PLDT Co. and second-rank Globe Telecom Inc. are trying their darn best to hog VoIP delivery to themselves and to convince the NTC not to allow other players to come in.

NTC on the spotlight


The NTC is now embroiled in a discussion on whether voice over the Internet is a value-added service or a value-added network service. To treat VoIP as a value-added service will allow new players to come in and compete with existing telcos. On the other hand, if VoIP is classified as a network or telecom service, then only those public telecommunication entities with franchises could engage in providing the service. Understandably, PLDT and Globe are insisting that VoIP is a telecommunications service.Consumers are definitely eager to find out what the NTC position will be. Will NTC allow competition to broaden, or will it again succumb to the pressure of the giants? By the way, according to some experts, PLDT, Globe and other telcos are already using VoIP in completing overseas calls. Industry sources say more than half of the international long distance traffic, including that of PLDT's, already passes through VoIP. If these reports are true, then these companies have already been able to reduce their costs but have never passed on the savings to consumers. What sayeth thou, NTC? Give consumers a break. Both PLDT and Globe have raked in billions of pesos of profits. Thanks to their innovativeness and aggressive marketing. Having dominated the market and fattened themselves, I can't understand their belligerence and bull-headedness in stopping others to compete and to make available new technologies that will give more choices and opportunities to consumers to cut costs. Hey, guys, don't be too greedy. Give the consumers a break!

[afrasay]

wow haba nito ah, anyways may mga comment ako though hindi ko na matandaan kung sinong nag post

"the system will crash..." well, yes and no. may mga traffic studies and restrictions (probably why mahirap calls pag peak hours) like call gapping, etc to protect the system as well as it's own built-in protection system (phase, system restart, etc.). Yes if an the system disastrous event such as earthquake, coup, arson, etc.

"upgrade first before ..." Di ata tayo puwedeng mag upgrade without first knowing our subscriber base and the trend of increase. Like 4x4 trailing you have to know what kind of terrain that you will mostly, then make the necessary upgrade on you rig.

"predatory..." Di ba usually ang predator ang malaki?

VOIP... it's happening as we speak. In two to three years time the local exchange switch will be replaced by NGN New Generation Networks and fiber optic in every home will have it's maiden run in Makati and Alabang in April '05.

BTW, Globe gamit ko, though most of you guys know where I work. ;)

[BlueGirl]

ang tinapat ata ng globe sa sun eh yung TM nila...touch mobile na piso power..papatok kaya ito???mapapantayan kaya nila ang 24/7 ng sun????

[pajerokid]

Alfred, kelangan magkita tayo muli at mag synchronize ako sa engineering powers mo.... medyo pang marketing na takbo ng utak ko at di na ako masyado techie nyehehehe.

Anyways, VOIP rocks! When I was with an ISP before the millenium, i tested this and i thought it was pretty cool. Ngayon, the telcos will have a rut at it. hehehe. Unahan na lang hehehe. The good thing about this is that the NTC is the one promoting its use.

[IceColdBeer]

VOIP hehe. Eto gamit karamihan ng mga ISR's , where an international call is treated like a local call lang. I think even call centers use VOIP. Sobrang dami na gumagamit nito ngayon and it really affect revenues ng Globe and Smart. Dito na lang sa HK, andaming call cards and even PLDT join the foray to compete with these ISR's. Sa kanila legal itong tinatawag nilang "white route" kasi sila mismo ang Telco ;), but for others, it's illegal .

[mikaztro]

I'm sure Globe and Smart are just protecting their investments. I also think the 24/7 of Sun will grind to its halt once they've eaten up more than 10% of the cel market share. I think Suns cel network can't handle more than 10%. Intrinsically, Globe and Smart will win in the end at the expense of course of their .5% subscirbers.

I just wish Sun will make this offer permanent so as to give "de-regulation" & "competitiveness" a new meaning.

Hindi ba ninyo alam na sobra taas ng singil ng Smart & Globe sa atin mga subscribers?
If you will look their billing sa mga post-paid subscribers, ang dami nila add sa billing like the Catxtsism, Network to other Network charge, txt, calls, VAT, overseas ek ek. This is too much!

Sa mga pre-paid subscribers naman, paano nalalaman ng BIR kung magkano total revenues ng Smart & Globe gayun wala naman sila OR na binibigay kapag bumili tayo ng pre-paid card? Paano din natin malalaman na wala sila hidden charges if we are using pre-paid cards? Ang BIR ba ay merong paraan para malaman kung ilang txt & calls ang ating nagagamit? I think the two giants are circumventing the laws and are out to make more money and monoplolize the market.

We should be all aware of how this Giants work and how they charge us.
Sun vs. Globe/ Smart is like the David vs. Goliath.

VIVA SUN!!! Kahit hindi ako user.

[ts1n1ta]

true true...
i was shocked to see all the hidden charges when i first got hold of my bill!
Kung hindi ko lang kelangan ng phone talaga. i will gladly give it up. Mas maganda pa nga minsan eh walang nag momonitor sayo kung nasan ka na hek-hek hek :lol:

[BlueBimmer]

ot: tsinita from lurker -----> regular poster wakekeke

[mazdamazda]

I'm sure Globe and Smart are just protecting their investments. I also think the 24/7 of Sun will grind to its halt once they've eaten up more than 10% of the cel market share. I think Suns cel network can't handle more than 10%. Intrinsically, Globe and Smart will win in the end at the expense of course of their .5% subscirbers.

I just wish Sun will make this offer permanent so as to give "de-regulation" & "competitiveness" a new meaning.

Hindi ba ninyo alam na sobra taas ng singil ng Smart & Globe sa atin mga subscribers?
If you will look their billing sa mga post-paid subscribers, ang dami nila add sa billing like the Catxtsism, Network to other Network charge, txt, calls, VAT, overseas ek ek. This is too much!

Sa mga pre-paid subscribers naman, paano nalalaman ng BIR kung magkano total revenues ng Smart & Globe gayun wala naman sila OR na binibigay kapag bumili tayo ng pre-paid card? Paano din natin malalaman na wala sila hidden charges if we are using pre-paid cards? Ang BIR ba ay merong paraan para malaman kung ilang txt & calls ang ating nagagamit? I think the two giants are circumventing the laws and are out to make more money and monoplolize the market.

We should be all aware of how this Giants work and how they charge us.
Sun vs. Globe/ Smart is like the David vs. Goliath.

VIVA SUN!!! Kahit hindi ako user.

> Sun released a press statement that it will expand its network capacity to 6M from the present 2M within the year.

> 24/7 isn't a promo. it is a regular service.

> Prepaid? BIR? if you buy from a globe / smart / sun business centers they will issue you a receipt. when they also sell to the resellers their cards, they also issue an invoice / or. the problem is that the resellers (dealers / distributors) are the ones not issuing the receipt.

[mazdamazda]

whew...

Sun's 24/7 plan stays--NTC

Posted 01:58am (Mla time) Feb 14, 2005
By Clarissa Batino
Inquirer News Service

SUN Cellular, the smallest of the wireless giants, has been given a temporary reprieve after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) denied the petition of the leading mobile players to stop Sun's 24/7 unlimited, within-network plan.

The NTC directed Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. Friday night to answer within 15 days the charges made by its competitor that it was engaging in predatory and discriminatory pricing and that it was delivering poor service to its subscribers.

"We denied the request of Digitel's competitors for a cease-and-desist order against [the] 24/7 [plan]. The Commission believes circumstances don't warrant enjoining 24/7 since no prejudice or damage has been done to the public," NTC Chair Ronald Solis said in an interview.

The NTC had set hearings on March 7 and 8 to discuss the issues against Sun's 24/7.

Two-year-old Sun Cellular is the trade name of Gokongwei-owned Digitel. It has not been able to make a headway until it launched 24/7 in October. Since then, it had more than doubled its subscriber base from 700,000 in September to about 1.5 million to date.

The 24/7 plan allows Sun Cellular customers to call and text within the network, without any limit, for an additional fee of P250 a month or P100 for 10 days.

Pilipino Telephone Corp., a unit of Smart Communications Inc. and Innove Communications of Globe Telecom Inc. have asked the NTC separately to stop Sun Cellular from offering its 24/7 plan.

The two alleged that Digitel was failing the service performance benchmark of the NTC.

"We are pleased with the decision of the NTC to deny the requests of Smart and Globe. We have always believed that the complaint they filed have no merit," said Digitel senior vice president William Pamintuan.

"We commend the NTC for protecting the interest of consumers in ensuring that free and real competition is introduced in the cellular market," he added. Smart and Globe officials could not be reached for comment.

Last week, a lawmaker called for a congressional investigation into the pricing mechanism of telecom companies after accusing Smart and Globe of behaving like a cartel that wanted to kill competition in the industry.

"I move that we investigate the current state of the telecom industry, including the processes and dynamics of determining the rates and charges for mobile services to encourage competition, prevent monopolist control or cartelization of the industry and to protect consumers," said Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano in a privilege speech.

He pointed out that the Gokongwei carrier only accounts for less than 5 percent of the wireless industry still dominated by Smart with its more than 19 million subscribers and Globe's 12.5 million customers as of end-2004.

Albano said Sun Cellular was in no position to be the "predator" in the wireless phone industry.

"Sun Cellular has made us realize that mobile phone services should not be as expensive or as costly as they are now being offered by the two dominant telecom firms," the congressman said.