New PLDT Home Fiber Plans now with 2x more speeds at the same price

New PLDT Home Fiber Plans now with 2x more speeds at the same price

Monday, February 27, 2023

What would you do if you have more speed to power your digital lifestyle? What if you could have the opportunity to experience up to twice the speed you’re getting now? That can be a reality now as PLDT Home rolls out the biggest speed upgrade with the newest Fiber Plans this February.

Faster Fiber Plans Yet

The new PLDT Home Fiber Unli Plans are double the previous speed offers and can now reach up to 600 Mbps for as low as P2699 monthly.

What’s more, all these new Home Fiber plans get faster speeds with the same price as previous plans. Now, that’s a treat especially for the new subscribers. Meanwhile, existing subscribers will need not apply for any plan upgrade to get the same faster speeds as they will automatically get the new Fiber plan speeds starting this month.

Fiber Unli Plan	Previous speed	New speed
Plan 1699	100 Mbps	200 Mbps
Plan 2099	200 Mbps	400 Mbps
Plan 2699	400 Mbps	600 Mbps

What does it mean for PLDT Home Fiber customers?

Families at home with dynamic digital lifestyles will highly benefit from the faster internet speeds of the new PLDT Home Fiber plans:

● For those who like to surf the Internet: Fiber Unli Plan 1699, 2099, and 2699 with the new speeds of 200, 400, and 600 Mbps respectively, allow users to load websites and pages within seconds, making browsing an even more enjoyable experience.

● For those who love to stream their movies and TV series: Fiber Unli Plan 1699 with 200 Mbps makes streaming SD and HD content on a few devices smooth and seamless. Fiber Unli Plan 2099’s 400 Mbps allows smooth streaming of HD and Ultra HD content on more demanding devices like smart TVs and PCs. The full power of Fiber Unli Plan 2699’s 600 Mbps speed makes streaming up to 4K HD and even 8K on the latest smart TVs easier than ever.

● For those who need to work online: The 200 Mbps from Fiber Unli Plan 1699 makes video conferencing easier with none of the dreaded lagging and dropping out, and users can also download all the files they need in minutes or even seconds. Fiber Unli Plan 2099’s 400 Mbps is there for bigger download demands, and for those who need to work with the largest files all the time, Fiber Unli Plan 2699 is the ideal setup.

● For those who demand better gaming support: Fiber Unli Plan 1699’s 200 Mbps will give a lag-free gaming experience on one or two devices such as a PC and/or gaming console. For more devices at home, 400 Mbps from Fiber Unli Plan 2099 will maintain that low latency. For those with the biggest gaming setups at home with multiple devices, Fiber Unli Plan 2699’s 600 Mbps will easily power it all.

● For those into content creation: Fiber Unli Plan 1699 allows for quick and easy content uploading to platforms like Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and more. For streamers on platforms like Twitch, Fiber Unli Plan 2099 and 2699 ensure a consistent livestreaming experience at all times.

Whole-home coverage with Fiber Plus Plans

On top of the improved Fiber Unli Plans, PLDT Home has also upgraded its Fiber Plus Plans, which come with three Mesh WiFi devices to eliminate wi-fi dead spots in larger homes.

Fiber Plus Plan	Previous speed	New speed
Plan 2399	200 Mbps	400 Mbps
Plan 2999	400 Mbps	600 Mbps

Mesh WiFi creates a wider wi-fi coverage within the home, with devices only needing to connect to one network no matter where they are in the area.

The fastest fixed network in the Philippines

The launch of the new PLDT Home Fiber Plans plays a big role in PLDT Home’s status as the fastest broadband in the Philippines. PLDT Home has consistently received this recognition in global internet testing firm Ookla’s regular rankings.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has also steadily climbed up the Speedtest Global Index over the past year, jumping two places higher in the January 2023 edition with a median download speed of 88.13 Mbps. This rise is due in part to PLDT Home’s contributions to the constant improvement of the country’s network infrastructure.

Experience the possibilities of even faster fiber internet with PLDT Home’s upgraded Fiber Plans. Visit this link today to find out more.

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COS and Linda Farrow launch debut eyewear collaboration

COS and Linda Farrow launch debut eyewear collaboration

COS celebrates the launch of sunglasses for the first time in Philippines through a pioneering collaboration with eyewear designer LINDA FARROW – offering a collection that delivers an iconic array of styles for now and forever.

Established in 1970, LINDA FARROW eyewear rose quickly to acclaim. A pioneer in showcasing glasses as true fashion accessories, Linda Farrow redefined eyewear, tirelessly experimenting with new shapes and styles that later became classic designs. Co-creating an iconic new range for the modern woman, LINDA FARROW’s renowned expertise as an iconic maker is translated through the lens of COS.

The nine-piece collection is a harmonious expression of craftsmanship, representing an understated approach to luxury. Paying close attention to detail, the collection contains five iconic styles, from aviator to wayfarer which elevate the everyday. Featuring cut-outs, gold accents, and a spin on contemporary colour ranges, unwavering quality sits at the forefront of design while all lenses provide 100% UV protection.

The collection is available globally on cos.com and in the COS Store at SM Aura for a limited time only.

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The latest research report unveils key insights to help organizations build scalable AI and become data-first

The latest research report unveils key insights to help organizations build scalable AI and become data-first

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Kyndryl (NYSE:KD), the world’s largest IT infrastructure services provider, recently launched a report, “5 Insights to Help Organizations Build Scalable AI”, in collaboration with technology research and advisory firm Ecosystm. The report, which uses feedback from five hundred C-suite leaders across ASEAN, aims to address data and AI challenges faced by organizations in ASEAN, and provide recommendations for them to build scalable strategies that deliver business impact.

 

Every successful organization today has embraced digital transformation, with data and AI initiatives at the core. However, ASEAN sees some common challenges that have disrupted the effective implementation of data and AI solutions. The study results found that 48% of participants remain challenged with integrating AI solutions with existing systems, 38% with collecting data from multiple internal sources, and 34% with the quality of data. 

  

 

Based on the study results, the joint research report offers several key insights to guide organizations as they look into building scalable AI. These include:

 

1. Data Access a Key Stumbling Block 

The report reveals that the maturity level of Data and AI adoption across ASEAN varies, and only 7% of participants focus on building the right data and AI foundation. True insights can only be derived from a consistent and complete dataset that has no data gaps. Building that dataset requires key conditions such as a focus on clean and trusted data, a data interoperability strategy, and synthetic data generation to bridge data gaps. 

 

2. Organizations Need Data Creativity 

A true data-first organization derives value from their data and AI investments across the entire organization, and organizations in ASEAN recognize that. Over the next two years from 2023 through 2024, 77% of participants will increase the use of AI and Data solutions for customer experience, 75% for human resources and 72% for marketing. The returns on investment will be measured in financial terms internally such as increase in profit margins, cost optimization, reduction of operating costs, and so on – across all lines of business, including IT. This will help identify and prioritize business cases for data.

 

3. Governance Not Built into Organizational Psyche 

According to the report, lack of an internal policy and limited understanding of the risks (36%) are the two biggest challenges of an effective data governance policy in ASEAN. Data governance policies formulated by data-first organizations should include accountability and ownership guidelines, standardized regulations, a dedicated data stewardship team and a regular process for re-evaluation of the policies set up.

 

4. Lack of End-to-End Data Lifecycle Management 

It is critical for organizations to have observability, intelligence, and automation built into the entire data lifecycle. Building a data infrastructure that is ready for current needs but may not be able to support future business requirements as data continues to proliferate, represents a myopic view. An enterprise Data Fabric, on the other hand, futureproofs organizations as it speeds up and simplifies access to data assets across the entire business. The metadata generated by the Data Fabric will include business, technical, and operational data, which can generate insights for the entire business if managed intelligently.

 

5. Democratization of Data and AI Should Be the Goal 

The true value of data and AI solutions will be fully realized when the people who benefit from the solutions are the actual users managing the solutions and running the queries. However, only 10% of organizations in ASEAN have business teams managing or maintaining AI solutions. Building scalable AI will require organizations to empower citizen data scientists through training, and access to user friendly tools that help them gather the right information for the right insights and make data-driven decisions a norm for the business.

 

 

“Executives across the ASEAN region understand that data is the foundation of their innovation and transformation journey. However, building and implementing a holistic data strategy is not easy and we see common challenges around data integration, quality and governance” says Ullrich Loeffler, CEO of Ecosystm. “Trust in the data and subsequent AI models is critical to truly embrace a data driven DNA across the organisation and this trust in the data layer is missing in the majority of organisations today.”

 

“Data and AI initiatives across organizations in the Philippines are surging as they seek to drive growth, transformation and sustainability agendas. IT and business leaders see potential in leveraging Data and AI to unlock real-time insights and deliver the agility that is required to succeed in today’s competitive and volatile market,” said Wilson Go, Managing Director, Kyndryl Philippines. “To truly embark on their transformation journeys, organizations need a strong data management ecosystem as the foundation. Kyndryl’s deep expertise in Data Management and AI can help them achieve this – starting with consulting through to execution and ongoing management of their data landscape.”

 

 

For more information on the study, please visit the website here.

 

 

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Smart Omega is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia

Smart Omega is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia

Smart Omega, the professional esports team backed by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), is gearing up for the upcoming Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, the biggest mobile games competition in Southeast Asia.

“We are excited for the new season of MPL and the fruits of the perseverance of our young esports athletes, who never gave up despite the challenges in their journey. As a staunch supporter of esports and our Filipino athletes, it is our privilege to provide them with the right tools and training environment for their success. We’re wishing Smart Omega all the best for MPL Season 11,” said Jude H. Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart. 

 

Starting February 18, Smart Omega will field Kelra, Raizen, Renzio, Mikko, Stowm, and Louis to battle it out with seven other teams in the league for the crown.

 

With a new roster for the new season, what can fans expect from Smart Omega? A journey towards redemption, according to head coach Ynot Senedrin.

“We still got most of our roster from last season, and we added some new talent. Our offseason training was good, and we can definitely see the team’s strengths and potential. We’re looking forward to seeing them in action,” Senedrin said.

 

With the goal of becoming the champion, Smart Omega thanked their fans for their unending support. “Babawi kami sa inyo guys, ipapakita natin ang lakas ng Barangay Omega!” Senedrin added.

 

Patron of esports in the Philippines

As the longtime official telco partner of MLBB in the Philippines, Smart has cemented its position as a staunch supporter of e-sports - including e-sports athletes, fans, game publishers, and tournament organizers - in the country.

 

Filipino gamers can enjoy leveled-up gaming experiences powered by Smart, the Philippines' Fastest and Best mobile network, according to Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband intelligence.

Ookla recognized Smart as the Philippines’ Best Mobile Network after dominating two crucial Ookla Speedtest Awards categories, namely the “Fastest Mobile Network” and “Best Mobile Coverage,” in Q1-Q2 2022.

 

Register Your SIM Now

In compliance with the SIM Registration Law, Smart encourages all its subscribers to have their SIM registered. Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers can visit the https://simreg.smart.com.ph/ portal. Subscribers will also receive 3GB worth of free data after their successful registration.

Smart Postpaid users, on the other hand, simply need to confirm the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application by texting YES to 5858, and wait for the confirmation message from Smart.

Learn more about how Smart enables subscribers to level up their gameplay by visiting https://smart.com.ph/Prepaid/whats-new/gigagames. 

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realme 10 Pro 5G SOLD OUT in just 3 minutes

realme 10 Pro 5G SOLD OUT in just 3 minutes

realme Philippines, the consecutive two-year champion according to Canalys 2021-2022 reports, celebrates its first big milestone for 2023 with a 3-minute sold-out record on Shopee. During the February 15 maiden selling of the realme 10 Pro 5G, the new model sold 2 units per second on average, with the initial bulk going out of stock right after the sale went live at 12MN.

“We are humbled by the overwhelming support from the realme Squad and our media partners,” says Austine Huang, VP for Marketing. “We sincerely thank the thousands of viewers who tuned in to our realme 10 Pro Series 5G launch yesterday, and we promise to match the same level of enthusiasm with everything we have lined up for 2023.”

The realme 10 Pro 5G will definitely be restocked on Shopee, in time for its end-of-month sale. Fans who missed out during the first day selling can still head over to Lazada until February 17, Friday to catch the early bird offer of only PHP 14,999. This Lazada exclusive is also at PHP 2,000 OFF the original SRP, and comes with an additional one year warranty (for a total of two years), plus a FREE Globe SIM Card with 65GB of free data.   

 

realme 10 Pro Series 5G Launch, from Left to Right: Product Marketing Manager Jimmclaude Gayo;
VP for Marketing Austine Huang; Home Credit Product Marketing Lead Richard Sarinas;
E-Commerce Lead Ryan Ng; and Digital Marketing Manager Poy Siena.

 

During the product launch last February 14, the speakers elaborated on the unique features of the realme 10 Pro 5G, such as the 1mm ultra thin side bezels made possible by RAZR Technology (Removed Adhesive Zero Resin), which allows for more compression when attaching the parts inside the smartphone, giving wider room to work with the display. This made the realme 10 Pro 5G’s Boundless Display practically thinner than the tip of a pencil, or just as thick as 3 pieces of bond paper, and even less than half the width of a 1-Peso coin.

The launch also took a deep dive into the often overlooked aspects of smartphone ownership, like overall User Experience and User Interface. It highlighted the new realme UI 4.0, which optimizes the layout, design, and functionality of the smartphone so it can suit the user better, instead of the other way around. Nifty features such as Auto Pixelate, Smart Always On Display with different presets, and even Advanced Encryption Standard for improved privacy on user’s files were highlighted so that all viewers, even those without a tech background, can better make use of the new additions.

realme’s long standing partnership with Home Credit was also given the spotlight, allowing more Filipinos to get their dream smartphone without a one-time big-time payment. The realme 10 Pro 5G is eligible for either a 6-month or a 9-month installment plan, wherein fans can #DisplayNewVision for as low as only 44 pesos a day.

On top of its cutting-edge 120Hz Boundless Display, the realme 10 Pro 5G also comes with a 108MP ProLight Camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Processor, 5000mAh Battery backed by a 33W SUPERVOOC Charging, Hi-Res Dual Stereo Speakers, and the new realme UI 4.0 based on Android 13 right off the box. It’s available in three colors: Dark Matter, Nebula Blue, and Hyperspace Gold.

   

“Spot The Real Pros” offline promo

Aside from the generous online offers, customers who purchase a realme 10 Pro 5G or any realme AIoT Device worth PHP 9,000 and up in any of the 30 participating realme Concept Stores can join the “Spot The Real Pros” retail promo, where they can get a chance to win a realme TechLife Handheld Vacuum Cleaner worth PHP 8,990. Check out the table below:

Spot The Real Pros participating realme Concept Stores
Metro Manila	North Luzon	South Luzon	Visayas	Mindanao
-SM North Edsa -SM Fairview -SM Cubao -Market Market -Festival Mall -SM Sucat -SM Taytay -SM East Ortigas -SM Sta Mesa	-SM Cabanatuan -Robinsons Santiago -Baguio Center Mall -Robinsons Malolos -SM San Jose Del Monte	-Robinsons Galleria South -SM Lucena -SM Calamba -SM Dasmarinas -SM Bacoor -SM Molino -Walmart Tanauan -SM Batangas	-Robinsons Tacloban -SM Cebu -SM Seaside -SM Mandurriao	-SM Mindpro Zamboanga -SM Ecoland -SM Lanang Premiere -SM Gensan

  

realme 10 Pro+ 5G to be sold earlier in realme offline stores

Shortly after the local realme 10 Pro Series 5G launch, fans flooded the comments section on realme’s official Facebook page asking for the realme 10 Pro+ 5G, which was offered through pre-order basis.

In a recent post of Austine Huang, realme Philippines’ VP for Marketing, it was announced that the realme 10 Pro+ 5G will be available for purchasing at realme offline stores earlier. The brand is also currently preparing to accommodate the high demand so that the realme Squad can visit any realme offline stores and make their purchase sooner than expected!

Those who are availing the realme 10 Pro+ 5G in 8GB+128GB storage variant earlier will still get a FREE realme Power Bank 2 (10000mAh) worth P899 along with a FREE TechLife Buds Classic worth P499. On the other hand, customers purchasing the realme 10 Pro+ 5G in 8GB+256GB storage variant will be getting a FREE DIZO Star 500 worth P1,299 and a FREE TechLife Buds Classic that is worth P499.

As for the online availability on Shopee and Lazada, make sure to stay tuned and follow realme’s official Facebook page for announcements and latest updates.

 

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PLDT, Smart InnoGen continues legacy of inspiring young innovators in season 3

PLDT, Smart InnoGen continues legacy of inspiring young innovators in season 3

 PLDT and its wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) continue Innovation Generation’s (InnoGen) legacy of inspiring young generations with its latest season.

The PLDT Group recently welcomed 98 teams of young innovators, the biggest number to date, to its innovation grant program’s third season. With the theme #ForwardTogether, InnoGen 3.0 sustains its tradition of becoming an avenue to help bridge societal gaps through sustainable and inclusive technology.

With the primary purpose of being changemakers in their respective communities, InnoGen participants eagerly signified their commitment to sharing their craft, with their knowledge and skills as their own contribution to nation-building. 

 

InnoGen also encourages cross-collaboration among its network of colleges and universities to extend opportunities to more students and faculty members.

In July 2022, Batangas State University (BatStateU) opened the doors of its technology and innovation center that houses several research programs to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) College of Engineering officials.

Both universities are long-standing partners of Smart in its education programs Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP) and InnoGen. 

 

In the last two seasons of InnoGen, BatStateU teams worked on finding technology-abled and purpose-driven solutions to address challenges within their communities.

BatStateU’s Team Juan LOADi developed a donation channel to help students struggling with accessing communication tools for online classes during the pandemic, with the goal of ensuring no Juan is left behind.

“We want our ideas to become valuable to our beneficiaries and the environment. InnoGen helped us to make this happen,” said Team Juan LOADi.

ReaSAL team, one of the season 2 finalists, developed a machine learning-based assessment tool to help teachers evaluate the current reading skills of early-grade learners based on the six elements of reading.

“The InnoGen mentoring sessions we attended opened our eyes to the value and contribution of the project we are developing towards quality education,” said ReaSAL team.

Shortlisted teams also shared some valuable life lessons they learned from InnoGen.

“When it comes to technology and innovation, the higher the risk, the higher the reward. The reward is not only for yourself, but for the society and those around you,” shared Team Juan LOADi.

ReaSAL team added, “If you have an idea, no matter how impossible it may seem, just do it.”

PLDT and Smart’s InnoGen is aligned with UNSDGs #4 Quality Education and #9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

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British submarines sink into World of Warships

British submarines sink into World of Warships

World of Warships is introducing an armada of content to Update 12.1. With British submarines coming to Early Access, a campaign with an Australian light cruiser waiting at the end and a new season of Clan battles, this update is jam-packed full of content. On top of all this, World of Warships has also added a chain of several special combat missions with All-American prizes waiting at the finish line.

British submarines sink into Early Access

From March 2nd, three historic British submarines will make their way into Early Access. Undine, Sturdy and Thrasher all enter the game alongside several permanent camouflages and other exciting rewards. These deep-sea vessels offer value in manoeuvrability and fast reloading acoustic torpedoes, however their limited hit-points will require players to be deft in their movements. These sub-surface ships also see the standard submarine equipment, including "Damage Control Party", "Submarine Surveillance" and "Hydrophone".

Alongside these additions, comes a special collective chain of combat missions which, upon completion, will bestow players with both a special commemorative flag and British Tokens.

Queen of the Seas campaign sets sail

In a three-week campaign format, The Queen of the Seas takes players on a special pirate-themed adventure that follows the path of an Australian bushranger on her quest to flee the continent aboard a mythical ship. Along the way players can acquire plenty of Pirate Tokens - a temporary resource that can be exchanged for two valuable prizes - Australian light cruiser Brisbane and Commander Matilda Kelly. With powerful air defence that includes ten 152-mm main battery guns and an augmented torpedo armament for underwater destruction, Brisbane is a valuable addition to any fleet, and the accompanying Commander Kelly sits at her helm with 19 skill points. 

All-American awards await

Combat missions aren’t only limited to British submarines though. Until the end of February, players can embark on a chain of combat missions where completing them brings about a number of all-American rewards including a Commander Statue of Liberty, equipped with its own unique voice acting and American Tokens. Players can also secure permanent camouflages, a commemorative flag and a number of other star-spangled goodies in exchange for tokens or across random doubloon packs.

The season of “Salamander” Clan Battles

Closing out the Update 12.1, the game also sees the 20th season of Clan Battles. Starting 20 February and running until 10 April, Warships players with Tier X ships can team up and engage in a seven-on-seven battle of strength and strategy. As usual, to keep the playing field level, there are a handful of ship restrictions with the exclusion of aircraft carriers and submarines, as well as a cap on battleships.

Update 12.1 also sees another Battle Pass added to the game, three Brawls starting on 20 February and several visual and technical changes across the board.  

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