Asus Eee PC 904 GO With Smart BRO Now Available in Philippines
By Rico, 1:01 am Thu Mar 19 2009 - Featured, News - 10 Opinions
Yesterday, Smart announced availability of Smart BRO Inside, basically an Asus Eee PC 904 GO with Smart BRO bundled together. The wireless broadband service takes advantage of the netbook’s built-in SIM slot, which allows mobile access to Smart’s HSPA network. It’s more or less like Globe Visibility and Sun Broadband Wireless, but without the need to keep a modem plugged into your laptop’s USB port.
The cost? P1,799 for the first of 24 months, P799 for the next 23. For a grand total of P43,176 over two years. Not bad Decent, especially when you consider that the 904 GO reportedly has a decently-sized keyboard, making surfing and typing out those reports that much easier.
But there’s a catch: the connectivity isn’t unlimited. Once you get past the 60-hour internet access limit, you’ll have to pay an additional 10 pesos per extra 30 minutes. So customers may have to watch how long they stay connected via Smart BRO.
The only thing tempering my excitement about this Asus-Smart collaboration—which provides a very very useful service at a relatively low cost—is Smart BRO’s reputation for reliability (or relative lack of).
Reggie
2:02 pm Fri Mar 20 2009
isn’t it 1,799 for every month for 24 months? that’s the way i understood it from their press release.
Rico
1:01 am Sat Mar 21 2009
Could be a poor choice of words. Will check with Smart’s PR, let’s see what they have to say.
Karlo Samson
1:01 am Tue Mar 24 2009
I called the SMART hotline. It is, in fact, P1,799 a month. What a gyp!
Rico
9:09 am Tue Mar 24 2009
Yes, I just confirmed for myself… Reggie’s right! Sigh…
manix genabe
1:01 pm Tue Mar 24 2009
is it true that it’s only for pre-qualified existing smart bro subscriber? i just called smart and that’s what the customer care personnel told me? is this true? i hope not. unless they wanna turn off people from switching, this shouldn’t be the case.
amsi
6:06 pm Tue Mar 24 2009
43k for a notebook and only 60 hours of internet ? (wifi at that… when you’re not even sure if their service is always on… you’ll only have 2 hours a month of actual use cause the signal’s too weak…that is stealing…. !!!!!)
dyoonet
12:12 am Wed Mar 25 2009
I just inquired at a Smart Wireless Center, and it’s really PhP1799 / mo x 24 mos. The PR wording was indeed (intentionally?) confusing, but they’ve got flyers out already with clearer terms.
@manix – I don’t think that’s the case (that doesn’t make a lot of business sense — why offer a mobile internet connectivity package to those who are already connected?). The guy at the center said it’s just like applying for a phone subscription — the usual docs to submit are proof of billing, financial statements, IDs — with at least a week of processing. However, it’s still best to personally inquire at a center, because sometimes customer care phone reps aren’t really updated unless they’re also with sales dept. (sorry but it’s true).
Butch
9:09 am Fri Mar 27 2009
Is it available only in metro manila?????
anton valenzuela
7:07 am Mon Apr 27 2009
very very very expensive……..
jr
12:12 am Mon May 4 2009
only a STUPID-dumb will have to enjoy this VERY EXPENSIVE netbook-3G service…
for P43,000+?
a NETBOOK? I’d rather buy myself a decent laptop
plus 60hr/mo.-INTERNET? I’d rather go to COFFEE SHOPS with WIFI bringing with me my ASUS EEEPC 2GSurf
Smart is CLEARLY EXPLOITING Filipino CONSUMERS…
Go to HELL!!!