Monday, May 6, 2013

Smart LTE for iPhone 5

I finally got my white 16GB iPhone 5 from Smart last February 15, 2013 at Smart - Robinsons Galleria a week after I submitted my requirements. I subscribed to their iPhone 5 plan 999 with a cash out of Php 19,000.00 and a lock-in period of 24 months. It includes unlimited data and limited free text/calls (I can't remember how much and I'm too lazy to check my contract since I use the data more anyway. hehehe). I was so excited coz I'd get to experience their LTE aka 4G service. After I got my phone, I immediately updated it to iOS 6.1.1 so I can enjoy their LTE service right away. I checked their LTE locations but unfortunately, my home town which is Lipa City, Batangas, is not part of their LTE areas. I was ok with it since I stay in Manila most of the time because of work. I was very happy with the speed of the internet connection plus I get to experience iPhone 5 but I got even happier when my friend accidentally found out that LTE is available in my hometown last March 2013 when she forgot to turn off the LTE on her iPhone. What made me more happy was the LTE speed at my hometown was amazing! She was at Mcdo - Ayala Highway when she ran a speed test and she got 40Mbps download speed. At first I couldn't believe it until i tested it myself. I went there to check it myself and boom! I got an amazing 42Mbps download speed. I couldn't believe it so I retested it and boom! I got 45.94Mbps download speed. Smart's advertisement is true indeed. You may get up to 42Mbps speed but the speed availability varies, depending on the location because the highest speed test result I got in Ortigas, Pasig City was 16Mbps then 10Mbps in Boni, Mandaluyong City. Check out Smart's LTE areas here http://www1.smart.com.ph/bro/lte/coverage . Originally, Smart LTE for iPhone 5 promo was only until April 30, 2013 but according to my friend, they extended it until June 2013 so I'm a very happy camper here. How about you? How was your experience with Smart LTE? Anyone tried Globe's LTE service?