Smart Bro Power Plug-It Power Features Should Be on My Old Plug-It

Smart is offering a new device for PC/Laptop users to connect to the internet wirelessly via prepaid - the new SMART Bro Power Plug-It.

I heard about the new Smart Bro Power Plug-it over the radio today. My attention was specifically caught because the ad pointed out its load balance display feature that appears when you plug it in. That directly addresses one of my recent rants.

Smart Bro's New Power Plug-It
Image from Smart Website

The new Smart Bro plug-it device offers speed of up to 2 Mbps and costs Php 1, 245 preloaded with 120 surfing hours valid for 5 days. Cost for subsequent use is the same Php 10.00 per 30 minutes or avail of UNLISURF.

It boasts of power features like:

• Plug ‘n Play installer and launcher
• Smart Bro number display
• Load Balance Counter
• One-step registration to Unlisurf
• Call & SMS Capability
• Free texts everyday via Chikka

System requirements: Pentium III or higher, 512 MB of RAM or higher, Ethernet / LAN card, at least 10 GB of Hard Disk Space, USB 2.0, Operating System: Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Mac Osx 10.4 (Tiger), Leopard, Snow Leopard

All of these features are quite tempting but my old Smart Bro plug-it still works just fine. It is unlikely but maybe Smart & Huawei can offer upgrades that are downloadable in order for old models to offer the new features. If so, then I wouldn't be having this concern.

For those interested in getting the new Smart Bro Power Plug-it device via post paid, check the details here.

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No SMS Way to Check UNLISURF Status

I wish that SMART Bro would come up with a way to check the status of your UNLISURF subscription via SMS or Text Message.

Early this morning, I found out that all text messages in the inbox of my prepaid SMART Bro plugit is gone. And along with those message, is my registration notification for UNLISURF. I wanted to know the specific time my UNLISURF subscription will expire that I spent some time finding a way to check my UNLISURF status via SMS/Text Message.

I failed to find it. Luckily, my UNLISURF subscription lasted enough to be able to check it online.

I remembered that today that my unlisurf will expire today but I wanted to know the specific time.

So, I searched the internet on how to check your UNLISURF status via SMS. But so far, found none. I even resorted to guessing. Like sending "STATUS" or "UNLISURF STATUS" and tried sending it 2200. But it proved to be unsuccessful and I was charged a peso for each of that transaction attempt.

Also, I tried registering to UNLISURF again, hoping that the SMART Bro system would respond that my number is still registered until a certain specific time. Yes, SMART Bro system replied that but did not specified until when. Another transaction charged.

Well, there was no choice for me but to go http://smart.com.ph/connect/ . Luckily, my account can still access the internet via UNLISURF, enough for me to be able to register my smart bro, verify via SMS, verify the e-mail I used to register.

Finally, I found out that I only have 30 minutes left out of my UNLISURF subscription. Hopefully, enough to post this entry.

In this advance technology era, it seems so easy for SMART Bro to program keywords and hotline numbers to give its prepaid broadband subscribers a way to check their prepaid subscription via SMS/ Text messages.

Or maybe I just missed it. I'm far from the know-it-all tech guy. Feel free to point out to me how.

But if I'm correct, I hope that someone from SMART Bro get to read this and do so.



* Texting BRO BAL to 2200 only provided the prepaid load balance of your SMART Bro account and not expiration of your UNLISURF subscription.

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SUPERSURF50 - 1 Day Unlimited Internet Globe TATTOO Prepaid Broadband

A friend lent me her Globe Tattoo Prepaid Broadband plugit last Sunday wherein I tried loading SUPERSURF50.

SUPERSURF50 allows Globe Tattoo users to enjoy 24 hours or one day of unlimited broadband internet. All I did was typed in the keyword [SUPERSURF50] sent it to 8888, wait for the confirmation and enjoyed internet connection even though the confirmation message said that this service is good only until 8/31/2010.

Good thing I was able to load it immediately and connect immediately as well.

I was able to enjoy 24 hours or 1 day of unlimited internet connection. Although there are downtimes and several disconnections, I would say that it was good enough for my personal surfing and blogging. I was able to update 4 of my blogs. Factor in research and editing of my blog post. I would say the 50 pesos is worth it. It was just unfortunate that I loaded it late afternoon and did not connect while I was asleep.

I think there was some extension of this service but verify first to be sure. To enjoy one day unlimited internet connection using Globe Tattoo prepaid yourself, just use the Text tab of the Tattoo interface. Type SUPERSURF50 and then send it to 8888. A 5 peso load balance should be maintained to be able to use the service. A minimum of 55 peso worth of load is actually needed to enjoy this service.

It's just too bad that Loadxtreme does not offer a direct loading of this service.

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