We’re in the era of 3G data connectivity with the big players – SMART and Globe slugging it out to see which one holds the better service. In fact the NTC recently proclaimed Globe to be the overall winner with SMART at a very close (like really close!) second. We’re past 2G and the basics. We’ve enjoyed good reception, SMS and calls for many years now with the two giants; now we’re ranting about cheaper (!) and faster (!!!) 3.5G / HSDPA connectivity. After reading the survey results from both the Manila Times and INQUIRER.net it made me see how far behind SUN Cellular was in terms of basic services – namely calls (I guess we can add SMS there as well):

Yet, Smart registered 93 blocked calls (3.79 percent of 2,475) while Globe posted 49 (1.99 percent) and Sun, 779 (17.05 percent). On dropped calls, Smart registered 35 (1.42 percent), Globe 35 (1.42 percent), and Sun 48 (1.95 percent). [source]

This is definitely alarming. I’m starting to believe that promos that call for “unlimited” service does have a negative impact on service quality. I don’t know if it just so happens to be so, but SUN’s service quality has been in question ever since with dead spots in several regions of the metro and calls dropping before you hit 15 minutes.

I also wrote, in my personal blog how the impact of “bottomless” or “unlimited” can be a marketing ploy we need to watch out for:

Sadly, anchoring of prices can work negatively as well for consumers when marketers weave in the concept of “free” “bottomless” or “unlimited” which is a very powerful word in this industry. When we see “bottomless iced tea” in the menu, we go for it, and restaurateurs know we will – that’s why they price it high even if we only finish two or three glasses – still way beyond break even price. The “Unlimited” calls and texts of SUN for instance charge P25.00 per day, which is P750.00 per month. The average prepaid usage for calls is 214 minutes per month based on consumer research and at a buck per minute for “unlimited rates,” that’s really P214.00 per month for calls. On a daily average, calls should cost P7.14 per day, not P25.00 (more less 350% higher?). [source]

N.B. I recently started a small Internet advocacy called One Dropped Call – compiling news here and there from SUN Cellular. It’s not a place to rant about services – but more of a sounding board that compiles news – both good and bad – about the Philippines’ weakest link.

Post from: Cellphone9

iTunes Unlimited
-256 Kbps music; highest quality digital music subscription service ever
-50% of U.S. store available for iTunes Unlimited at launch, U.S.-only launch
-Available through iTunes or retail box a la MobileMe, funds applied through iTunes gift cards cannot be used towards subscription purchase
-$129.99 stand-alone or $179.99 with MobileMe, current MobileMe subscribers can add iTunes Unlimited for $99.99
-One-year subscription period
-Current a la carte options unchanged
-When signed in to subscription account, “Buy” is “Get”
-“Download and Play throughout iTunes Unlimited Subscription” or “Buy and Keep”
-“Buy and Keep” option available for downloaded subscription songs, purchased version replaces subscription version
- Late October launch with iTunes 7.8

Quoted are the predictions – speculations mostly for this service. I think that if Apple were to launch something like this, now would be an ideal time to do so for the following reasons:

1. The $129.00 service can be a value added ace for people who have been thinking of buying an iPhone, but still have not succumbed to the hype.

2. They should do it because Microsoft’s Zune store is doing it, at a yearly fee with unlimited downloads (the Zune Pass allows you to grab your XBOX Live friend’s entire playlist as well – so cool!). With Amazon offering DRM free music, Microsoft offering a superior Zune Pass product, Apple needs to reinvent the 0.99 cents per song very soon!

Post from: Cellphone9