Tags: Internet, Mobile Phone Industry, Technology Industry, Telecommunications
By Alexander Villafania
MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA – Globe Telecom introduced its own Web services-enabled smartphone, called the CloudFone Ice, in response to the recently launched NetPhone from Smart Communications.
The Globe CloudFone Ice is actually an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of the Huawei U8500, which was launched abroad in the third quarter of 2010. It has a 3.2-inch capacitive touch screen but with a low resolution of 320×480 pixels. It can already connect to a 3G network and has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
It runs the Google Android 2.1 “Eclair” operating system, has a 3.2 megapixel rear camera, and a microSD slot that can accommodate up to 32 gigabytes of memory cards.
Essentially, the CloudFone is an upgraded version of the Huawei Ideos U8150, which was introduced by Globe.
One aspect of the CloudFone Ice is its price point: P4,990 on prepaid or free under Globe’s Super Plan 499. This would be one of the cheapest Android smartphones introduced by a telecommunications provider in the Philippines.
In a statement, Globe’s Portfolio Management Head Joanna Africa said the CloudFone Ice is aimed as an entry-level device for the budget-conscious buyer. And since it runs on Android, access to a number of standard Android apps and services is made available.
On the other hand, some education-centric applications are also made available: Encyclopedia, Dictionary, Scientific Calculator, and Periodic Table, which makes it a nifty phone for students.
The CloudFone Ice competes directly with Smart’s Netphone, another OEM device that is based on the ZTE Blade phone. This unit has a slightly larger screen at 3.5-inches, runs Android 2.1 (upgradeable to 2.2 “Froyo”), and is powered by a 600 MHz Qualcomm Adreno processor.
The Netphone is also priced at P9,900 for prepaid.
The competition between Globe Telecom and Smart has becoming more intense as they target a potentially huge and lucrative mobile Internet market in the Philippines. Both companies aim to lead their customers to mobile Internet communications.
Both companies have also introduced their own cloud-based services: Smart’s SmartNet and Globe’s m.globe. Both services allow subscribers to free access certain online services, particularly social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, in an effort to draw more users.
Mobile Internet use in the Philippines remains small at around 5 million out of the 80 million mobile subscribers.
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