SMART Plug N' Talk Internet Phone

SMART Pinoy offers an easy USB Internet Phone service for OFWs.

It's called SMART Plug N' Talk, and it looks like a 1" x 3" rectangular device that you plug into a USB port in a PC in some country outside the Philippines. OFWs or your relatives can use it to easily call any cell phone or landline in the Philippines for as low as P6.50 per minute (in the case of SMART Gold and SMART Infinity Postpaid SIMs), or P7.50 per minute (for SMART PINOY and SMART Buddy Prepaid SIMs).

Why "for as low as"? Well, it will be P8.50/minute if the PC is used to call Philippine landline numbers and Philippine non-SMART mobile phones. The lower prices above refer to PC-to-SMART mobile numbers. For the latest pricing, please refer to http://smartpinoy.net.ph/smartpinoy/plugntalk/

They can also text you at only P1.00 per 160-character text message if they text a Philippine SMART mobile number. The rate goes up to P2.00 per 160-char SMS text, if they send a message to a non-SMART mobile numbers, or even to Philippine landline numbers (NOTE: not all landlines can accept SMS text messages).

All they have to do is plug in the USB communications device into their PC or laptop, wait for the Plug N' Talk Softphone screen to appear, and then they can call or text you. One nice thing about SMS texting from a computer is that it is easier to type out a message on a keyboard, than thumb-text messages on a regular cell phone keypad.

The SMART Plug N' Talk kit retails at P1,800 (suggested retail price) and comes with a SMART Plug N' Talk Device, a FREE SMART Pinoy SIM, an Earpiece with Mic, and a travel pouch. Here are the other requirements:

• At least a Pentium II computer
  
• Minimum of 128 MB RAM
  
• Minimum of 15 MB of free hard disk space
  
• Win 98SE, Windows 2000, WinXP, Windows Vista
  
• USB port (1.1 / 2.0)
  
• Full-duplex sound card
  
• Broadband Internet Connection (voice call quality depends on this)
  
• Any active SMART SIM card
  

(What? No version for Linux? What happens to other netbook users now?)

Anyway, this means you can use the USB device in internet cafes which have computers that meet the above minimum requirements. Just be sure that the internet cafe owner allows people to insert their own USBs. In other words, it's better to ask for permission first.

Here's an interesting note: The SMART Plug N' Talk can be used anywhere in the world (even in the Philippines!) as long as there is a broadband internet connection. So if you need to call or text without leaving your computer keyboard, you can also try this.

SMART Plug N' Talk works with all prepaid and postpaid SMART SIM cards like: SMART Buddy, SMART Pinoy, SMART Gold, and SMART Infinity. The service, however, is not available for SMART Gold with Multiline capabilities, SMART Kid and SMART Bro SIMs.

Where to Buy SMART Plug N' Talk

• Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Terminal 1


• Some SMART Wireless Centers


• SM Megamall
  
• SM North EDSA
  
• SM Southmall
  
• RP Ermita
  
• Laoag
  
• SM Pampanga
  
• SM Batangas
  
• SM Batangas
  
• SM Bacoor
  
• Cebu Email
  
• CDO Limketkai
  


• Also available in other select SMART Wireless Centers.
  

What are you waiting for? Get the SMART Plug N' Talk today (if you spend a lot of time in front of your computer, and you need to frequently send SMS texts or make voice calls).

[ First posted on 01/03/2009 by Manuel Viloria ]