racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

Last time I reviewed a Smart Bro plugit prepaid kit, with the intent of trying it out first before plunging into a postpaid subscription. I had submitted documents for an unlimited subscription last week, but I’m having second thoughts already at this point.

First, I’ve been submitting all kinds of financial documents, but the approving officer/s don’t seem to consider my finances enough to sustain the unlimited PhP 1,500 plan (or even the lower plan, for that matter). Not only is it disheartening, but for someone who pays for almost everything in cash, this is really frustrating. I even asked if I could pay for the subscription for the entire two-year lock-in period in outright cash (which translates to PhP 36,000) and they said I couldn’t do so.

I’m somehow glad I didn’t get approved. At least not yet. Reading around and from my own tests using my 3.5G-enabled Nokia E51, I’m thinking Globe Visibility is the better option.

I picked up a prepaid kit for PhP 2,500. This came with PhP 30 in prepaid load.

Here’s a comparison with Smart, based on my experience.

Pros

Convenience. For me, Globe is the more convenient option, since I use a Globe prepaid as my main mobile phone line (my alternate phone is a prepaid PLDT wireless landline). Smart BRO can only be loaded either via electronic load, or by scratch card. With the scratch card option, you can only reload by texting some codes using a Smart cellphone.

With Globe Visibility, I can just pass (or “share”) credits from my phone’s own. This simplifies things, and this is probably cheaper in the long run, if I’m just a light user. Also, I’m a big fan of Globe’s share-a-load because of its flexibility.

Speed. Based on my speed tests, Globe 3G and 3.5G connections are generally faster than Smart’s. I read somewhere that Globe’s 3G network is a “true” 3G network, whereas Smart’s is not (or something to that effect). So this means that while the point-to-point connection may be the same for both, the actual throughput is faster from Globe’s network. Speed test results below.

Hardware. Smart’s black USB dongle looks sleek (it seems to be made of aluminum or some light metal alloy, too!), but I generally find Globe’s ZTE MF626 better because of the brand and support. Because these are more widespread, you have better support (both official and community-based) for ZTE, in terms of firmware upgrades, driver upgrades, and even drivers for open-source OSes.

Also, the Visibility package’s ZTE MF626 has a slot for a micro-SD card. I know most laptops and netbooks these days come with multi-card readers, this can be handy for those who don’t have a micro-SD to SD converter, or those who don’t have a slot at all.

SIM Functionality. The Visibility bundled SIM card can be used for calling and texting. Smart Bro’s SIM can not. And so while the bundled software cannot let you make calls from your Globe Visibility SIM, you can use it to send and receive SMS. I doubt if you want to do this, though, since I think receiving SMS or calls can usually cut off data connections.

Cons

Now Visibility has some disadvantages over Smart BRO.

Time-based charging. Globe does offer time-based charging, so you don’t get charged according to the amount of data transferred. With Smart, the charge is PhP 10 (or about $0.20) per 30-minute block. For Globe, the charge is PhP 5 per 15-minute connection period. Now with Smart, the moment you connect is considered the start of a 30-minute block, and you can reconnect an indefinite number of times within that 30-minute period, and you will only be charged once. So this means you can use your Smart BRO connection on different devices and you only get charged PhP 10 for a 30-minute period.

With Globe, you get charged each time you connect. So if you get disconnected in the middle of a session, you start with your PhP 5 per 15 minutes again. The moment you connect, that’s PhP 5. If you get disconnected after 5 minutes, and reconnect again, you get deducted PhP 5 again for the first 15 minutes.

This is generally good for those who only need quick bursts of connectivity through a day, like for checking emails, twittering, or the like, since you only spend PhP 5 for that 15 minute period. But if you tend to get disconnected a lot, then it will end up more expensive.

Update: Since early 2009, Globe has implemented block-based charging. You only get charged PhP 5 per 15 minute block, regardless of how many times you re-connect during this period.

Image compression. Globe Visibility uses image compression technology to make downloads and page loading faster. The downside is that you sometimes get ugly, pixelated images! Sometimes images even get resized so websites look bad. One workaround is by using tunneling software or local proxy software such as toonel.

Software Overhead. In general, Globe Visibility’s dialer takes longer to load than Smart BRO’s. and the footprint of the Globe connection manager is about four times that of Smart’s. Globe’s will eat about 20 megabytes of RAM, while smart will only take 5 megs.

Other observations

From my tests, it seems that both Smart and Globe allow access to non-HTTP ports like FTP, telnet, and IM ports. But I haven’t tried downloading torrents from either.

Price-wise, both prepaid kits seem at par with each other:

Globe Visibility

• Kit price: PhP 2,500
• Inclusive of PhP 30 prepaid credits

Smart BRO Plug-It

• Kit price: PhP 2,500
• Inclusive of PhP 100 prepaid credots
• Must purchase a PhP 300 prepaid card along with kit

So Smart BRO ends up more expensive nominally, because you are required to purchase a PhP 300 prepaid card. But the kit itself has more inclusive credits out of the box (PhP 100 for Smart and PhP 30 for Globe).

A PhP 300 load from either network would expire within two months if not used. The good thing with Globe is that you can transfer credits to another Globe prepaid subscriber (whether Visibility or not). Also, if you decide to load thru card, you can actually use the free SMS credits that come with PhP 300 or 500 cards (you would have to load by plugging in the Visibility SIM on a regular phone, though).

Images

3G connection earlier today:

HSDPA connection from my home office:

Globe Visibility dialer:

Globe Visibility prepaid pack:

Globe Visibility MF626 plugged into Compaq B1200:

Plugged into HP mini note:

Smart BRO plug-it USB dongle and Globe Visibility prepaid USB dongle:

SIM card just peeking out:

My verdict

Having been a longtime Globe user, I would go for Globe Visibility. The image compression issue is bad, but it’s not a dealbreaker for me, since there are workarounds. But if you require raw access—perhaps you’re into graphics design or web development—then maybe you would want to think twice before going for Visibility, unless you are okay with tweaking your system a bit. Speed-wise, Globe is generally better, with more 3G-enabled cell sites. Smart may have a wider coverage, particularly in the provinces, so you might want to take this into consideration if you’re outside of the metro areas.

Globe Visibility does not have an unlimited postpaid subscription, but the closest is the PhP 1,499 plan, which gives you 100 hours mobile connectivity per month plus unlimited Globe WIZ WiFi access. Perhaps this is worth looking into. If Globe launches an unlimited account, then that would be better.

I’ve been on the lookout for a contingency connection for those times that my main Bayan DSL account lets me down (which is oftentimes these days). I do have a 3.5G (HSDPA) enabled mobile phone, which I can use as a modem via BlueTooth, but somehow I have found that option to be cumbersome. First, it causes my mobile phone battery to drain quickly, and so it’s not exactly an elegant solution as I would have to worry about notebook/netbook batteries and mobile phone batteries discharging. Also, it’s a bit expensive when used heavily, at PhP 5 per 15 minutes on the Globe network. Sure that’s cheap enough for on the go browsing, but when you’re using your internet connection the whole day, you end up spending more.

Smart recently announced the availability of an unlimited plan that comes with a USB HSDPA modem for PhP 1,500 per month (about $30 per month) and so I decided to visit a nearby Smart Wireless center to inquire and possibly apply. As I submitted my application form I was told that the modem that came with postpaid plans was still the old white Huawei-supplied one, and this reportedly had many connectivity, compatibility and reliability issues. And I was told approval would take two to three days.

I decided to pick up a prepaid kit for the meantime, to evaluate Smart’s service. I’m primarily a Globe user, and so my 3.5G-enabled mobile phone runs on the Globe network. Best try out Smart’s service this time.

Great things about the prepaid kit are:

• It came with the newer, black USB modem that looks just like a pen drive. This means no dongles to mess up your otherwise wireless set-up.
• It’s cheap at PhP 2,800 net (you have to pay PhP 2,500 for the modem, which includes the SIM card and PhP 100 prepaid load, then you have to purchase a PhP 300 prepaid card).
• It’s prepaid, so there is no need for contracts, lock-ins, or proof of identity/income, as is usual with postpaid plans.
• If you have an existing Smart prepaid or postpaid SIM, you can also use these to connect. Standard rates apply.

So far, so good. It’s been a reliable mobile connection for me, for those times I need to connect while out of the office, or when my home-office connection is simply too slow.

I do get slow speeds when the cell site I’m connected to has non-existent or weak HSDPA signals. With this, it tops at 300+ Kbps. Where there are no 3G signals, it tops at 200+ Kbps (EDGE) or 56 Kbps (GPRS). It sucks, but when it’s your only option you will take it. So far I’m able to access most services and ports I need, including instant messengers, FTP, cPanel and the like, where previously these wireless networks imposed some prohibitions with non-HTTP ports.

The provided software was a breeze to install. The USB modem itself has read-only storage, so the drivers for Windows and OS X (Tiger and Leopard) are included. You may have to download drivers and do some tweaks for Linux, though.

You can always just dialup using your OS’s dialer, but the bundled software gives you more options, like the ability to detect what kind of signal you are currently getting, and the ability to lock connection to certain types only (the connection moves across HSDPA, 3G, GPRS, and EDGE depending on signal strength and availability).

Speedtest results

168 Kbps down on EDGE.

1.2 Mbps on HSDPA

Some photos

The retail kit:

Contents:

With the SIM card:

With a USB pen drive (to compare and illustrate size):

With the SIM card just peeking out:

Attached to an HP mini note netbook:

The main advantage, as I see it, is that this takes out the necessity to bring an extra phone or to use your extra phone just to connect. The main disadvantage is that you do have to shell out some money for the unit itself. But at PhP 2,800, that’s already a steal. A couple of weeks ago, this was still retailing at PhP 3,800 (PhP 4,500 farther back).

I do hope my unlimited plan gets approved soon. When that time comes I’ll really get to put the system to an abuse test—whether it can take sustained speeds, and whether it can serve as a reliable connectivity option full-time. Of course I cannot share it among my various computers simultaneously, but again my purpose is for backup connectivity that I can also use while mobile.

When I get that plan approved, I would use it instead with this black modem and I would probably sell the white one (along with the prepaid SIM) or keep it as backup.

Updates: From research, I discovered that the black USB dongle sold with this prepaid pack is the LongCheer WM66. I believe that’s a relative newcomer, compared to Huawei and ZTE, which supplies most other dongles out there. Huawei is usually un-lockable, while ZTE dongles are more difficult (if possible at all) to unlock. But at PhP 2,500 for a prepaid kit, these things are cheap already!

Also, I have a Globe Visibility prepaid kit review upcoming!

We’ll be moving to a bigger apartment within the month, and I’m worried about connectivity. Being able to share the DSL connection via WiFi at my parents’ place here in our existing apartment (within the same compound) is sure easy. But now that my family needs a bigger—and better—living space, I’ll have to take care of these things over again. Signing up for Bayantel/Sky DSL was easy because I’d been a loyal subscriber and our line has been running for about ten years now.