In a groundbreaking move, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is bringing the best of YouTube, Vimeo and other online video services to make mobile entertainment more accessible to Filipinos through new video data plans.
With this new development, Smart subscribers can now watch YouTube videos, as well as content from Dailymotion, Vimeo, Viewstream, Skype Qik, and Dubsmash on their mobile phones wherever and whenever they want.
“Smart is thrilled to make online video content more affordable and accessible to Filipinos, who are avid viewers of YouTube’s trending music videos, viral clips, and online sensations,” said Michele Curran, First Vice President and Head for Data Services at Smart.
“Now, Smart subscribers can enjoy YouTube and other online videos like Dailymotion, Vimeo, Viewstream, Skype Qik, and Dubsmash wherever they want through affordable ‘sachets,’ designed to suit their mobile lifestyle and budget.”
“This move reinforces Smart’s push to deliver fast, fun and worry-free mobile Internet to serve all the needs of Filipinos – whether to connect with loved ones, access news and information, or enjoy the vast wealth of enriching and entertaining online content,” said Curran.
“We want to make sure we are making YouTube as enjoyable as possible for our growing base of mobile users in the Philippines. By working with Smart to create a more affordable way for people to watch videos on mobile we hope Filipinos will be able to enjoy a better YouTube experience across devices, either at home or on the go,” said Rajan Anandan, Vice President and Managing Director, Google Southeast Asia and India. “In addition to this new offering from Smart, Filipinos can also enjoy a smooth, buffer-free version of YouTube by using the new offline feature we introduced in the Philippines last December.”
Online videos on-the-go for all lifestyles
Smart’s affordable packages start with YouTube5, which offers 65MB of data for 15 minutes of standard definition video streaming on mobile phones, valid for one day, for only Php5. Smart will also offer YouTube25, which offers 160MB of data for 35 minutes of standard definition video streaming on mobile phones, valid for one day, for only Php25.
Heavy viewers can enjoy YouTube50, which offers 400MB of data for 90 minutes of standard definition video streaming, valid over three days, for only Php50.
For even greater value-for-money, Smart also offers YouTube199, which provides 270 minutes of standard definition video streaming, valid over 30 days, for only Php199.
Aside from YouTube, subscribers can use these bundles to view their favorite videos on Vimeo, Dailymotion, and Viewstream, exchange quick video messages to friends via Skype Qik, and even create funny lip-synched videos through one of the year’s breakout viral apps, Dubsmash.
Safe, worry-free subscription
To avail of the offer, subscribers can simply text YOUTUBE5; YOUTUBE25; YOUTUBE50; or YOUTUBE199 to 9999. They can also dial *121# – Smart’s easy access number for all promos. Upon successful registration, subscribers will get an instant notification of their subscription, which shall be charged against their prepaid load or billed on top of their monthly service fee.
Once their video data bundle subscription is fully consumed, Smart Prepaid subscribers will be directed to a paywall or receive a notification in order to allow customers to easily manage their budget and service usage.
Driving growth in mobile data usage
Smart expects the new offers to drive even greater mobile data usage among Filipinos, who use mobile Internet services to enrich their lifestyle.
This trend is reflected in the network’s recent announcement that it grew mobile data revenues by 63 percent to P8.1 billion in 2014, a huge leap from P5 billion in 2013.
