To start the year of the Water Dragon, Smart is giving its valued subscribers free 25mb worth of mobile internet every Monday. That’s every Monday until Smart knows when (maybe end of the year?).

So what can you do with 25MB worth of internet? That’s enough to tweet, update FB status, Foursquare for the rest of the day. This promo is equivalent to the Php20 ALWAYS ON package of Smart.

To avail of this freebie, simply text FREE 25MB to 2200 every Monday. This promo applies to both prepaid and postpaid subscribers.

Well that was quick. Yesterday, Smart started accepting pre-orders for the world’s first Android 4.0 smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus. Not a day has passed and the first batch of units are already sold out.

Does this mean that there are only a few units available for reservations in the first place? Or is the Samsung Galaxy Nexus really that hot? I believe it’s a combination of both? Google phones are all about exclusivity when it comes to the Philippine market. Not to mention the gorgeous design and specs the phone  comes with – 4.6” HD Super AMOLED screen, 1.2GHz dual-core processors, HSPA+ support and Full HD video recording capabilities.

The first batch of Smart’s Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be available for pick-up on January 28th. Afterwards, it’s time to wait again for the next batch.

Smart is offering the Samsung Galaxy Nexus free on Smart All-In Plan 3500 or UnliData Plan 2000. If you can’t wait for the next availability, grey market units are selling for almost Php40k.

You may also want to check out Yugatech’s first impressions on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.

The Resistance Begins Now.

Globe Tattoo calls for ‘Resistance’ as it launched bolder and better products along with its newest brand ambassadors at Ayala Museum Thursday night. Globe Tattoo’s campaign expresses going beyond limitations, and not settling for anything less, which is why their newest set of Tattoo products, Tattoo Sonic, Tattoo 4G Flashes and Tattoo 4G SuperStick, would empower its users through stronger bandwidth and wider coverage.

Globe Tattoo’s new set of products

Providing the techno-savvy, social media enthusiasts with prepaid or post-paid options, Globe Tattoo pars with their fast-paced lifestyles with add-ons to the already powerful products. These are the Speed and Volume Boost that will maximize the potential of the newly-launched set extending the internet speed up to 12, 21 or 42 mbps and widen its volume for the kind of broadband power that suits your needs.

“Join the Resistance” is Globe Tattoo’s campaign call

Who can better represent resistance than Globe Tattoo’s newest faces, “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire Jr., Chicosci vocalist Miggy Chavez and supermodel Georgina Wilson, who are now at the peak of their chosen careers because they resisted mediocrity, uniformity and limitations.

Miggy and Georgina answers Q&A about what they have resisted. They also picked the winners of 3 Blackberry phones.

The event, hosted by Sarah Meier-Albano, showcased people who are known for making a name in the industries they are in. Prominent personalities and the media have been invited to “join the resistance.” Bloggers and retailers were invited as well.

Globe’s Management with the brand ambassadors for a photo op.

As Globe leaders reiterate, the company has taken on to the challenges of the future as it recognizes the growing need to let go of traditional and begin with the new. Globe Tattoo’s campaign is expected to create a louder call for resistance in the next months. For more information about the products, you may visit: http://tattoo.globe.com.ph

Are you a Smart Bro prepaid subscriber? If you are, are you taking advantage of the free 15-minute internet that Smart has giving away everyday to celebrate Chinese New Year? The 15-minute mania promo started last January 10 and will continue until January 23, 2012.

This promo is a real, no-frills gift from Smart Bro to its prepaid subscribers. All you need to do is register and maintain a 1-peso load on your account. Afterwards, you will receive your free minutes automatically every day without any hassle.

To register, simply send BRO15 to 2200 any day until January 22. You will receive your free 15 minutes for internet surfing the following day, every day until January 23.

“We want our subscribers to get into the habit of going online, everyday,” said Bacareza. “Online activities, especially on social networking sites, increase during holidays. With Bro Countdown to Chinese New Year Promo, we’d like our users to spread their New Year greetings online through their bonus credits.”

For more information about Smart Bro’s other promos and various surfing packages that fit your lifestyle, log on to www.smart.com.ph/bro.

We first saw the fruit of the PLDT – Sun Cellular merger which was the Smart-Sun Dual Plan last month and now there’s another one targeting the prepaid market.

The TRIO 20 is the first value for money call and text package which is available to Smart, Sun and TNT prepaid subscribers. For just P20, you can send 200 text and make 15 minutes of calls for an entire day to any Smart, Sun and TNT numbers.

Simply text Trio20 to 2477 to avail this package. According to Smart Mobile Marketing Head Guido Zaballero, Trio 20 is the only prepaid offer of its kind in the Philippines.

Tropical storm Sendong brought widespread devastations in Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City and other nearby areas in Mindanao. To aid the victims reach out to their families, Smart sets up “Libreng Tawag” stations in key locations in affected areas.

As early as Saturday morning, Smart immediately set up Libreng Tawag stations in evacuation centers and barangay halls in affected areas of Macasandig, Carmen, Kauswagan and Velez St. in Cagayan De Oro City; and Camanjac and Batinguel in Dumaguete City where a state of calamity has also been declared.  Additional free calls facilities are also
being put up by the telco in other typhoon-hit areas especially within CDO and Iligan City to provide communication and free phone charging services to affected residents.

These libreng tawag stations offer free calls, free phone charging, and in some sites, free Internet communications.

“Our mobile phone network continued to operate despite the horrific flash floods and widespread power outages,” said Ramon Isberto, head of Smart’s Public Affairs. “This has enabled Smart personnel and our provincial dealers to set up libreng tawag centers the morning after.”

“Smart employees based in the region have been deployed to affected areas to assess the situation and to respond to the needs of the residents in coordination with local official and emergency organizations like the Philippine Red Corss,” Isberto said.

How Smart subscribers can help

Smart has also actively called on its subscribers all over the country to send help to those affected by typhoon Sendong.

Smart Money users can instantly transfer funds through their mobile phones to the official Baha Fund account number 5577 5130 6822 1104. Donors may also deposit cash to the same Smart Money account number in any Banco De Oro branch nationwide or through Hapinoy and Cebuana Lhuillier outlets.

Smart subscribers may also send their financial help to the Philippine Red Cross through text. To donate, cellphone users should send RED <AMOUNT> to 4143. Valid donation amounts are 10, 25, 50 and 100 and will be charged to the subscriber’s prepaid load or postpaid bill.

The iPhone 4S is pretty much the talk of the town today and last night. Although Globe’s site is not yet updated for their iPhone 4S plans and pricing, we got the deets for you right here.

Globe offers more flexibility when it comes to their plans for the iPhone 4S. Heck it’s even available in their Plan 299 via My Super Plan but you also need to avail of a SuperSurf Plan (at least SuperSurf 99) to go with it plus the necessary cash-out.

However, their value plan for the iPhone 4S falls to the Unli Surf Combo plans starting at Plan 1799. Here’s the info:

The consumable amount can be used for local calls and text to any network, IDD, NDD and international texts.

For freebies, you can choose among:

• 10 minutes of calls and 200 SMS to Globe/TM
• 5 minutes of calls and 24 SMS to other networks
• 10 minutes IDD and 10 SMS to 10 international destinations
• Unlimited Call and Text to 1 Globe/TM number

You can have the cash-out for those plans at a 24-month installment 0% interest using your BPI credit card. So for the iPhone 4S 16GB at Plan 1799, you can have it for free and pay P1,999 per month for 2 years.

Globe iPhone 4S Prepaid

For prepaid subscribers, you can avail of the iPhone 4S for P37,690 for the 16GB model. It’s a bit more than Smart’s but you can do a 0% installment for 12-months (24-months if you’re on BPI) for your purchase.

All Globe iPhone 4S subscribers can also enjoy a 20% discount on accessories and a free app from the App Store.

Wanna compare this with the Smart iPhone 4S plans?

If you want to own the iPhone 4S under Smart’s network, here are the official postpaid plans for it.

They’re offering the iPhone 4S in either regular plans or unlimited data plans.

What’s unusual here is that they’re also offering the phone at Plan 999 but you also have to pay an extra P999 per month if you opt for the 16GB version. So essentially, it becomes P1998 per month for at least two years and you’ll only get services for a Plan 999.

Good to know that they made it easier on the pocket with the Unli data Plan 1500 with only a cash out of P12,500.

For those who don’t want the hassle of being tied up to a 2-year contract for their iPhone 4S purchase, Smart is also offering the device on prepaid with the following prices:

• P33,200 for 16GB
• P38,200 for 32GB
• P43,200 for 64GB

Smart will be releasing the iPhone 4S starting this Friday, December 16 but you can apply for one now and get it on Friday. Globe is also doing the same.

Want to compare it with Globe’s Postpaid and Prepaid plans?

Well it’s bound to happen. The PLDT-Digitel is already final and they wasted no time in offering a postpaid plan that would cater to people looking to join both Smart and Sun’s network hoping some cross-network magic is going to happen that would reduce the cost for using both networks.

You’ve probably seen the ad.

Looks pretty self-explanatory. You get a combined Smart-Sun Plan and be able to text for free across both networks. You will also get 2 hours free calls to Smart numbers using the Smart sim and 3 hours to Sun numbers using the Sun sim. Plus, you’ll get a Nokia C2-03 dual-sim phone for free!

Anyway, things aren’t as clear cut as it seems. We were able to confirm a few things from Smart and Sun:

• You can only use your unlimited text within the same network. Smart to Smart or Sun to Sun. Same with the free calls. Use your dual sim wisely.
• You can apply for this plan from Smart Wireless Centers or from Sun Shops nationwide
• You will receive two billing statements per month, one from Sun and one from Smart
• You can only apply for this dual plan as a new subscriber (no upgrades)

The Samsung Galaxy Note was officially launched yesterday and we learned that Smart will also be offering it on their data plan.

Coco Domingo, Samsung Product Marketing Group Head for HHP, demoes the Galaxy Note during the launch

Starting next week, you will be able to get the Samsung Galaxy Note for free on their Plan 2000. You might want to grab this opportunity early because Smart reps said that this will run for a limited time only. There’s no time frame yet as to when it will end but when it does, it will move up to Plan 3000.

Smart also revealed that their Samsung Galaxy Notes will be having SmartNet built-in which is odd since you are already on an unlimited data plan which renders SmartNet’s free social networking and smart browsing moot. This would only mean that we would be seeing the Samsung Galaxy Note with SmartNet also available as a Smart prepaid kit in the future.

The Galaxy Note is Samsung’s “tweener” device which is a smartphone and tablet hybrid with its 5.3” HD SuperAMOLED screen, phone features and also comes with a stylus called the S-Pen. Global units support HSPA+ and LTE networks but we also found out that for our region, we’ll only get HSPA+ support from this device.

If you’re interested in getting the note under Smart’s Plan 2000, stay tuned for their announcement next week.

Related story: 5 killer features of the Samsung Galaxy Note