And the Telecom War is on...

[IceColdBeer]

Ganun din dati ang Smart and Globe. They just can't do business fair and square.

[Elroi]

if that's true... well...

as of this time, di pa din daw makaconnect yung digitel to pldt. but pldt to digitel ay okay naman daw..

kung sino man ang may kakilala na gumagamit ng digitel, try asking them if ganito din sa kanila. baka nationwide na ito...

[yamyam]

Whatever it is, if subscribers are not happy with Sun, they will leave it without prodding from anyone.

This says it all

[cyberdoc95]

PHILIPPINE SENATOR RAISES CONCERNS OVER SUN CELLULAR'S SERVICES
Publish Date : 2/21/2005 4:48:00 PM Source : Mobile and Gadgets News ExpressNewsline.com

Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan today asked the National Telecommunications Commission to probe charges that Sun Cellular has been providing substandard mobile phone service to its clients.

Libanan said complaint have been rising that Sun Cellular has only a 38 per cent connection rate and that it automatically drops calls of its clients when they reach the 15-minute mark.


"I understand that the NTC standard is for all telecom firms to have at least a 93-percent success rate on the first try. If it is true that Sun Cellular's connection rate is well below this requirement, then the NTC is duty-bound to impose sanctions on the erring party since we cannot allow a telecom firm to be exempted from the rules and regulations that govern the sector," he said.

Libanan said the imposition of the service performance standard should be imposed without fear or favor.

"The rigid standard governing mobile phone operations should apply to all telecom firms-no exemptions for whatever reasons," he stressed.

Libanan said the service performance standard for telecom firms has been established precisely to ensure that mobile phone users, get value for their money in the form of ready access to people being called on the phone and not having to worry about their calls being cut off for whatever reason.

"What's the point of having a cellular phone if my fingers get callous just trying to connect to the party I am calling. And if Sun Cellular does really cut the calls of its clients after 15 minutes, then it should be made answerable for arbitrary actions against consumers," he said.

Libanan said Sun Cellular should not take the liberty of disconnecting the calls of its customers since the company should always presume that all calls are made important.

"What if a call is of life-and-death nature and Sun Cellular disconnects it? Would Sun Cellular be accountable for the ill effects of its arbitrary action? The problem with this reported automatic switching off of calls being made by Sun Cellular is compounded with the reported difficulty its customers are having in making a successful call," he said.

The poor connection rate and the increase in the dropped call rates being experienced by Sun Cellular had been blamed on its campaign to lure as many subscribers possible even if its facilities cannot support additional customers.

The company is facing complaints before the NTC of unveiling a new call rate charging system without letting it pass the required processes at the NTC and of "predatory pricing" under its 24/7 promotional campaign.

[cyberdoc95]

PHILIPPINE SENATOR RAISES CONCERNS OVER SUN CELLULAR'S SERVICES
Publish Date : 2/21/2005 4:48:00 PM Source : Mobile and Gadgets News ExpressNewsline.com

Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan today asked the National Telecommunications Commission to probe charges that Sun Cellular has been providing substandard mobile phone service to its clients.

Libanan said complaint have been rising that Sun Cellular has only a 38 per cent connection rate and that it automatically drops calls of its clients when they reach the 15-minute mark.


"I understand that the NTC standard is for all telecom firms to have at least a 93-percent success rate on the first try. If it is true that Sun Cellular's connection rate is well below this requirement, then the NTC is duty-bound to impose sanctions on the erring party since we cannot allow a telecom firm to be exempted from the rules and regulations that govern the sector," he said.

Libanan said the imposition of the service performance standard should be imposed without fear or favor.

"The rigid standard governing mobile phone operations should apply to all telecom firms-no exemptions for whatever reasons," he stressed.

Libanan said the service performance standard for telecom firms has been established precisely to ensure that mobile phone users, get value for their money in the form of ready access to people being called on the phone and not having to worry about their calls being cut off for whatever reason.

"What's the point of having a cellular phone if my fingers get callous just trying to connect to the party I am calling. And if Sun Cellular does really cut the calls of its clients after 15 minutes, then it should be made answerable for arbitrary actions against consumers," he said.

Libanan said Sun Cellular should not take the liberty of disconnecting the calls of its customers since the company should always presume that all calls are made important.

"What if a call is of life-and-death nature and Sun Cellular disconnects it? Would Sun Cellular be accountable for the ill effects of its arbitrary action? The problem with this reported automatic switching off of calls being made by Sun Cellular is compounded with the reported difficulty its customers are having in making a successful call," he said.

The poor connection rate and the increase in the dropped call rates being experienced by Sun Cellular had been blamed on its campaign to lure as many subscribers possible even if its facilities cannot support additional customers.

The company is facing complaints before the NTC of unveiling a new call rate charging system without letting it pass the required processes at the NTC and of "predatory pricing" under its 24/7 promotional campaign.

Don't they have any other matters to discuss rather than focusing on this? I understand his concern but to actually tell the NTC to do a probe on this? That's something I'm suspicious about. I never heard of any congressmen ordering DPWH to check our roads in DAVAO if the budget actually made it to the town nor I have read of any news that a senator/congressman ordering Department of Health to check on substandard medicines provided by health centers/government hospitals. WHY THIS?

[IceColdBeer]

It's whom you know and how much you're willing to pay these corrupt officials to lobby for your own greedy interest :mad:

[Marc MD]

kasi yun ang uso e.. just like the billboard of tanduay ba? yun nakatikim ka na ba ng kinse anyos? and the F4 mania di ba.. syempre kung san may magandang publicity dun sila papapel.. pwede din na Sun user din silang pamilya and talaga naman nakakabwiset magkonek sa Sun lalo na pag peak! then pag nakakonek ka na you'l get disconnected after 15mins.. kaya pag important calls i use my Smart Line e.. pang chika chika lang naman ang 24/7 for the majority of us e di ba.. kaya nga almost all people nowadays have at least 2 phones..

[silver_corolla]

PHILIPPINE SENATOR RAISES CONCERNS OVER SUN CELLULAR'S SERVICES
Publish Date : 2/21/2005 4:48:00 PM Source : Mobile and Gadgets News ExpressNewsline.com

Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan today asked the National Telecommunications Commission to probe charges that Sun Cellular has been providing substandard mobile phone service to its clients.

Libanan said complaint have been rising that Sun Cellular has only a 38 per cent connection rate and that it automatically drops calls of its clients when they reach the 15-minute mark.


"I understand that the NTC standard is for all telecom firms to have at least a 93-percent success rate on the first try. If it is true that Sun Cellular's connection rate is well below this requirement, then the NTC is duty-bound to impose sanctions on the erring party since we cannot allow a telecom firm to be exempted from the rules and regulations that govern the sector," he said.

Libanan said the imposition of the service performance standard should be imposed without fear or favor.

"The rigid standard governing mobile phone operations should apply to all telecom firms-no exemptions for whatever reasons," he stressed.

Libanan said the service performance standard for telecom firms has been established precisely to ensure that mobile phone users, get value for their money in the form of ready access to people being called on the phone and not having to worry about their calls being cut off for whatever reason.

"What's the point of having a cellular phone if my fingers get callous just trying to connect to the party I am calling. And if Sun Cellular does really cut the calls of its clients after 15 minutes, then it should be made answerable for arbitrary actions against consumers," he said.

Libanan said Sun Cellular should not take the liberty of disconnecting the calls of its customers since the company should always presume that all calls are made important.

"What if a call is of life-and-death nature and Sun Cellular disconnects it? Would Sun Cellular be accountable for the ill effects of its arbitrary action? The problem with this reported automatic switching off of calls being made by Sun Cellular is compounded with the reported difficulty its customers are having in making a successful call," he said.

The poor connection rate and the increase in the dropped call rates being experienced by Sun Cellular had been blamed on its campaign to lure as many subscribers possible even if its facilities cannot support additional customers.

The company is facing complaints before the NTC of unveiling a new call rate charging system without letting it pass the required processes at the NTC and of "predatory pricing" under its 24/7 promotional campaign.

Dapat lang.

[silver_corolla]

kasi yun ang uso e.. just like the billboard of tanduay ba? yun nakatikim ka na ba ng kinse anyos? and the F4 mania di ba.. syempre kung san may magandang publicity dun sila papapel.. pwede din na Sun user din silang pamilya and talaga naman nakakabwiset magkonek sa Sun lalo na pag peak! then pag nakakonek ka na you'l get disconnected after 15mins.. kaya pag important calls i use my Smart Line e.. pang chika chika lang naman ang 24/7 for the majority of us e di ba.. kaya nga almost all people nowadays have at least 2 phones..

Correct!

[mazdamazda]

from arnold clavio...

CELL WAR

Arnold Clavio

Mga 'igan, bilang consumer, natutuwa ako sa naging desisyon ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) na payagan ang Sun Cellular na ituloy ang kanilang 24/7 subscription promo.

Sa panahon ngayon, kung saan ang paggamit ng cellular phone ay isang pangangailangan at hindi luho, mas marapat na bigyan ng karapatan ng consumer na makapamili.

Ang inyong lingkod ay subscriber ng Globe, Smart at pati Sun. Bawat isa ay may kanya-kanyang ganda ng serbisyo at sa tingin ko ay hindi dapat na mag-away.

Kaya labis akong nagtataka ng hilingin ng Globe at Smart sa NTC na ipatigil ang 24/7 na libreng text at tawag ng Sun. Ayon sa dalawang higanteng cellphone company, masyado raw mababa ang singil ng Sun.

Sa taas ng singilin ngayon sa iba't ibang produkto at serbisyo, kailan pa naging masama ang pag-aalok ng mababang presyo?

Sinasabi rin sa petisyon ng Globe at Smart na resulta ng mababang presyo ang pagbaba rin ng kalidad ng serbisyo ng Sun.

Hindi ba't iniiwan sa consumer ang karapatan na magdesisyon kung pangit man o hindi ang serbisyo ng isang service company? Ang publiko ang dapat humusga sa kalidad ng serbisyo ng Sun at tanging magpapasya kung ipagpapatuloy nila o aalis na lang bilang subscriber.

Ang sa akin lamang mga 'igan, hindi ako naniniwala na ang monopolya ay katiyakan ng magandang serbisyo.

Kung may iba lang pagpipilian ang publiko sa kuryente maliban sa Meralco o kaya ay sa tubig maliban ang Maynilad, hindi ba't mas magiging maganda ang kanilang buhay. Kung lilipat sila sa ibang kumpanya na mag-aalok ng mura pero may mababang kalidad, desisyon na ng consumer 'yun pagdusahan man niya o hindi.

Para naman sa serbisyo ng cellphone, bahala ang publiko na mamili. Ito ay tumatalima sa 'free market competition' na dapat ay suportahan pa nga ng mga higateng kumpanya.

Sa kaso ng Globe at Smart, halos 10 taon na sila sa industriya. Majority ng porsyento ng subscriber ay hawak nilang dalawa at patuloy na nag-e-enjoy ng malaking kita. Samantalang wala pang dalawang taon sa negosyo ang Sun.

Mukhang hindi ang pagbibigay ng mura o libre ang isyu rito kundi ang kakayahan ng maliit na kumpanya, tulad ng Sun, na makapag-alay nito. Kung kaya nilang magsakripisyo sa ngalan ng serbisyo publiko, bakit hindi kayang masundan ng dalawa?

Ito ay sa kabila pa ng mga reklamo ng kanilang subscriber na naniningil sa ipinapadala nilang text promo kahit na ayaw ng subscriber. O ang nakakapagtakang kabawasan ng mga 'load' ng prepaid kahit kabibili pa lamang.

Tunay ngang maliit lamang ang nakakapuwing. Pero hindi naman ako naniniwala na kayang bulagin ng Sun ang Globe at Smart. Kumbaga ay nakikibahagi lang din sila sa merkado.

Kaya mas makakabuti na hayaan na lamang nila ang Sun sa kanilang 24/7 promo. Sige kayo rin, ang Pinoy mas kampi sa underdog, baka magsisi pa kayo sa huli.

Mabuhay ang consumer power!

Lord, Kayo na po ang bahala

[odell]

pero ngayon hinde na nagdrodrop pag 15 mins.. bakit nga ba dinadrop dati?

[mazdamazda]

pero ngayon hinde na nagdrodrop pag 15 mins.. bakit nga ba dinadrop dati?

to prevent consumer abuse.

there are some users out there (with the right equipment) who routes supposedly long-distance landline calls through our network instead of going through a LEC.

[odell]

wait.. hinde ko gets.. wala bang layman terms? hehehe

[BlueBimmer]

wala na ba 15 mins limit?? parang meron pa ata e...

[Stuckinstock]

mazdamazda, eto ba yung minsan pag tumatawag sa kin yung friend ko sa states, local cell number ang lumalabas?

[Supierreman]

heck the 15 min limit is ok for me.. dati nga sa text tinitipid mo pa letters pero there are a lot of things you can say in 1 minute compared to a single text.. how much more pa kaya kung 15 minutes? dami ka na masasabi dun hehe

[cyberdoc95]

I understand kung lalagyan ng SUN CELLULAR ng 15-minute limit yung calls to avoid abuse nga. Mahaba na rin yata yun for a social call..hehehe..maybe not for some na mahilig magbabad sa telepono.

But for those na kailangan lang ng reminder for appointments or late sa appointments or anything urgent na kailangan tumawag, ok na rin ang 15-minute limit/call. Kasi kung i-convert mo yan to MINUTES/CALL sa ibang network, that will translate to approximately 80 pesos/call, when sa SUN CELLULAR ay nababayaran mo unlimited number of minutes for the entire month for a very minimal amount.

[kiper]

Kapag positive ang feedback ng tao sa isang bagay.. at hindi makasabay or hindi kayang pumarehas ng kalaban..

Ano pa ba ang susunod nilang pwedeng gawin? Alam niyo na yun.

At ganyan ang nangyayari sa ating pang-araw araw na buhay.

[IceColdBeer]

mazdamazda, eto ba yung minsan pag tumatawag sa kin yung friend ko sa states, local cell number ang lumalabas?

ISR mga yan. Illegal yan at hinuhuli ng NTC. Minsan naman those numbers are being blocked by the telco if they suspect that these are ISR operators. They use VOIP and internet for this whereby a long distance call can be treated as a local call lang. It's actually rampant nowadays.

[cyberdoc95]

Saturday, February 26, 2005 12:05 AM
Business- ABSCBN NEWS (ABS-CBN.COM)

[SIZE=3]
Smart will not imitate Sun’s unlimited calls[/SIZE]

By LENIE LECTURA
TODAY Reporter

Smart Communications, the cellular-phone units of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) has no plans to offer unlimited intra-call and text services, saying they are unfazed by the plan of rival Globe Telecom to follow the lead of Sun Cellular of Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. (DMPI).

Smart legal head Rogelio Quevedo asserted that there has been no slow down in so far as Smart and Piltel subscriber take up is concerned and that their 19-million subscribers prefer premium quality of cellular service.

“Smart will maintain the highest quality of service and standard for its postpaid subscribers. We believe there is a niche market for this premium service. Besides, our subscriber take up has not been affected by Sun Cellular’s 24/7 service,” said Quevedo.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Thursday allowed Touch Mobile, a cellular brand of Globe which targets the lower segment of the cellular market, to offer for P300 unlimited calls and text messaging services among Touch Mobile subscribers for 30 days. Unlimited text for five days will also be offered for P50.

NTC deputy commissioner Jorge Sarmiento, in an interview, said Touch Mobile has formally informed the commission of its plan to offer unlimited intra-call and text services starting March 1 to 30.

NTC rules states that promos intended to last beyond 15 days are subject to regulators’ approval.

“Yes, we allowed them to offer the promo for only 30 days. However, the effectivity has not been set yet. Touch Mobile had originally set March 1 to 30 for the promo period but I was informed by them that the effectivity will start after the launching between March 1 and 15,” Sarmiento said.

Globe senior vice president Froilan Castelo assured the company’s 12.5 million subscriber base of continued high grade of service even as industry observers fear that Touch Mobile’s network quality may eventually deteriorate, similar as to how Piltel assessed Digitel’s performance.

“Touch Mobile, which is powered by Globe, can still maintain the service performance standard set by the NTC on drop call rate and grade of service,” Castelo, in an interview, said.

Touch Mobile’s promo may not be launched on Tuesday as the company has yet to firm up marketing strategies. Castelo said though that the promo will be offered not later than March 15.

Telecom regulators require cellular operators a grade of service of 7 percent and drop call rate of only 5 percent.

Industry sources observed that Touch Mobile and Innove Communications Inc., the fixed line arm of Globe, had to respond to the rate reduction pricing tactics of other phone firms in a bid to prevent existing subscribers to drop out from the network and transfer to competitors.

DMPI’s 24/7 plan enables Sun Cellular subscribers to call and text on an unlimited basis for P250 a month.

This pricing scheme was launched last October when Digitel had only 700,000 cellular subscribers. At present, this figure has more than doubled to over 1.5 million subscribers.

The additional P250 fee is on top of the existing postpaid subscription plans of Sun Cellular, while for its prepaid subscribers, 24/7 Call and Text Unlimited can be loaded via call cards available in P100 and P250 denominations.

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) also started to offer a P10 flat rate on PLDT to PLDT national direct distance calls and PLDT to Smart or Piltel regardless of how long the call takes. This pricing scheme will go on until February 28.

Globe ended last year with 12.5 million subscriber base, of which 11.88 million subscribed to prepaid service. Touch Mobile only increased by 1.5 million to 1.698 million the number of its subscribers in the same period.