Smart observes sustained growth in postpaid segment (Philippines)
Leading wireless services provider Smart Communications Inc. expects the continued expansion of its postpaid segment this year as it gears up for the launch of exciting handset deals and voice and data plans.
Smart and Sun Cellular ended 2011 with a combined postpaid subscriber base of nearly 2 million, following the success of their best-value offerings. Smart’s parent company Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) acquired a majority stake in Sun Cellular operator Digital Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. (Digitel) last year.
Guido Zaballero, Mobile Marketing Head, Smart, said that the company tripled its average daily postpaid activations largely because of the popularity of the Unli and All-In plans and smartphone-bundled plans. He added that they expect to top last year’s figures as they are set to launch exciting postpaid offerings in 2012. Consumers should watch out for the attractive handset deals and voice and data plans.
Among last year’s growth drivers were the Unli Plan 299, which allows unlimited texts to any Smart and Talk ‘N Text number, and the Unli Plan 599, which allows unlimited calls and texts to Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers. The iPhone Plans, Smart’s exclusive plans for the Samsung Galaxy Y Netphone edition and Netphone 701, and the Smart-Sun Text Unlimited 549 Plan also boosted postpaid figures.
The Smart-Sun Text Unlimited 549 Plan provides unlimited texts to Smart and Sun numbers, 2 hours of free Smart-to-Smart calls, and 4 hours of free Sun-to-Sun calls. It comes with a free dual-SIM phone. Smart’s All-In Plans were very popular as well, as these allow subscribers to choose Unli call and text packages, next-generation handsets, and mobile Internet plans.
Zaballero added that consumers got the best value from Smart’s Unli call and text offers as they have the biggest prepaid and postpaid subscriber base in the country, as well as the most sophisticated and reliable network.
Smart ended 2011 with a total subscriber base of 49 million.
Alltel Wireless Gives More Customers Axcess
Alltel Wireless launched its Axcess Broadband network in parts of Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas. The service runs over Alltel’s EV-DO wireless network.
Specifically, Alltel is rolling out the high-speed service in Shreveport, Monroe and surrounding areas in northern Louisiana, east Texas and southern Arkansas. The company has been making a push to extend the reach of the network. In the last year alone, Alltel has introduced Axcess Broadband in metropolitan areas such as Tampa, Charlotte, Cleveland and Phoenix. Alltel also has rolled out the service in smaller cities such as Little Rock, Ark., Raleigh, N.C., and Savannah, Ga., and in towns such as Jonesboro, Ark., Dothan, Ala., and Durango, Colo.
The Axcess service delivers average speeds of 400 kbps to 700 kbps with maximum speeds up to 2.4 Mbps. Alltel offers the service at a rate of $59.99 a month, which gives unlimited use for customers with qualifying voice plans.
Alltel recently turned to RealNetworks’ WiderThan unit to give its customers access to WiderThan’s ringback tone (RBT) services. The service, which comes with a 99-cent subscription fee, is designed to give Alltel’s customer base more personalization options.
Ringback tones are designed to replace the traditional ringing sound a caller hears while the call is connecting.
Source- wirelessweek Wireless Mobile Telecom
