MANILA, Philippines – PLDT Inc. has rolled out a new mobile application called SmartLife Global to provide digital content as well as other services such as bills payment to overseas Filipinos.
The new app offers carefully curated digital content such as Philippine movies, music, and news that enable overseas Filipinos to stay in touch with home.
It also features other relevant services such as bills payment for utilities and load sharing for families in the Philippines.
“Smartlife Global provides Filipinos abroad with a lively digital connection to home,” PLDT chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said in a statement.
The app is being delivered through PLDT’s international marketing and operations unit PLDT Global Corp. and being made available initially in the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Guam and Australia.
SmartLife Global is free upon download and users can enjoy a 30-day trial period during which they have unlimited access to local news and free access to a rich library of Filipino movies, concerts, original Pilipino music and premium magazines.
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After the 30-day trial period, users can continue enjoying content from the app for only $2.99 per month for music, and $4.99 per month for movies and concerts.
To date, the app has over 20,000 downloads, with more than 3,000 movies watched, more than 2,000 songs listened per day, more than 600 magazines downloaded, and more than 15,000 news feeds read.
“We are seeing increased adoption of the digital lifestyle by our overseas Pinoys as most of them are already using smartphones and tablets. With SmartLife Global, we are giving them a convenient way to connect back home using their digital devices,” Ernesto Alberto who serves as PLDT executive vice president and head of enterprise, international and carrier business said.
Earlier this year, the SmartLife mobile app was launched in the Philippines so Android smartphone users can enjoy free digital content and exciting perks.
“Through the SmartLife app, we want Filipinos to explore the best mobile entertainment and perks available out there and ultimately empower them to live a richer digital life,” Ariel Fermin, PLDT executive vice president and head of consumer business said.
Last June, PLDT also established its first full data Mobile Virtual Network Operator in Japan where a mobile data SIM bundled with a pocket Wi-Fi in a monthly prepaid subscription was introduced to serve Filipinos living there.
The bundle allows users to remit up to 100,000 Japanese yen a month without charges, as well as to make calls and text messages to the Philippines and other popular international destinations for free.
PLDT Hong Kong has likewise launched the PayMaya payment solutions of Smart Communications Inc.’s digital innovations unit Voyager Innovations Inc., to enable subscribers to do online shopping, pay bills for Manila Electric Co. and Maynilad Water Services Inc., purchase airline tickets, as well as send remittances even without a debit or credit card.
