Smart Communications' Netphone: Brilliant Concept, Brilliant PR
Smart Communications seems to have its PR machine run tight. In just around 15 days after the Netphone was launched, we have seen not only the high profile bloggers tote their new Netphones, we've also seen friends colleagues wield brand spanking new ZTE Blades powered by SmartNet, or, as it is known by the brand, the Netphone 701.
Since the different high-profile bloggers have already said their piece about the phone, here is a collection of their opinions about it:
- Gadgets Magazine: Review: Smart Netphone 701
- YugaTech: Smart Netphone 701 Review
- Peter Juan of The Man Blog via SexyNomad: Unboxing the Netphone 701 from Smart
- Karen Ang: Smart Netphone 101
- Rochelle Sy Chua: Smart Netphone 701 Review
- Azrael Coladilla: unboxing: SMART Netphone 701 android phone #smartnetphone @smartnetphone
If there's anything we can just say about the whole Netphone 701 campaign, it's that Smart was very brilliant to lock its SmartNet service to the Netphone. While you can sign up for an account and even update your Facebook and Twitter via a SmartNet account on its website, you will not be able to enjoy the full benefits of SmartNet if you were on another Android. We tried using the service via a Cherry Mobile Nova, and, the website does not convert to a mobile site on the Opera Mini. It has the same proportions as the PC-based version. On the Dolphin HD Browser, the proportions are still the same, though it looks a tad bit more bearable. You may probably learn to like posting from SmartNet in landscape mode, but with Facebook for Android or even the mobile browser-based Mobile Facebook, we doubt you'd switch to SmartNet if you were on another Android.
What is more advantageous in having a Netphone is not just the dedicated app for SmartNet; it's really the free use of SmartNet. You can have only Php 1 in your Smart prepaid account, and as long as you keep the settings on "SmartNet" and not "Internet," you'll be fine. You can toggle these settings on the second panel of your Smart Netphone, as Karen Ang mentions in her post.
Thus, the brilliance of the Netphone is really locked into the SmartNet system. However, the service will only be free until December 31, 2011. After that, expect to pay Php 999 per 1GB of data monthly. Smart also has other denominations in its Always On plan suite, so you may be able to take advantage of SmartNet at lower rates.
Did Smart Communications hit the jackpot by copying the big companies and their whole software/hardware ecosystem (think Apple's iTunes, the Android Marketplace and the Blackberry Internet Service)? Did they also hit a PR jackpot by creating an effective viral campaign with the help of local and influential bloggers? Will Smart Netphone users stay on the system after December 31, 2011? Only time will tell.
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Photo Credits: Smart Netphone Official Website
Thanks for the mention here in your blog post..
ReplyDeletecool blog all about android in the Philippines!
Lorie, thanks for mentioning Peter's post about it. I just realized, I didn't know about the payment after Dec. 31, 2011... Eeep. That's another thing to consider by December.
ReplyDeleteGuys, thanks for visiting. :)
ReplyDeleteThis blog is owned and published by Out of Home Resources. :)
Jen and Peter Juan:
As for the change after December, I have a feeling that they MIGHT keep some services free, Jen. Especially with the way that the mobile networks keep saying that promo will run only up to certain dates but keep them on, I'm sure they'll consider lowering SmartNet's service rates or extending the free trial. We'll see!
And if they don't, the Always On plans seem sensible. :)
As for me, the one thing that's most sensible about being on a 3G Android phone has been the WiFi tethering. No need for me to maintain two accounts! :D I just plug my Globe Tattoo SIM into my Android and surf away. :) When I'm home, I just turn on the portable wifi hotspot function and I can WiFi away on my work computer. Rocks!
More on the advantages of an Android phone in the coming days. :D
Azrael: Thanks for visiting! Please do come back for our tips, tricks and Android News! :)