Technobiography

Smart WiFi - interesting info

February 2nd, 2006 | by ka edong |

These are some of the things I found out from two friendly bubwits:

Technology

Even before Smart WiFi came out, Meridian was using the technology where the broadband internet connection is transmitted through cellphone towers. The technology that Smart WiFi uses (I still don’t know the correct name of the technology) was first used by Meridian. Smart bought Meridian (or so my bubwits say).

Smart WiFi and PLDT myDSL-W use exactly the same technology. It’s the same hardware, same software, same people who install. Even the forms that they use (e.g. the delivery receipt) are both labeled “Meridian”. There is no technical difference.

Branding

Visit the Smart WiFi portal . You’ll see the Smart WiFi logo, the PLDT myDSL logo and a logo at the bottom saying “Powered by Meridian”.

What’s the difference then? Price. Smart WiFi is P988, PLDT myDSL-W is P999. (Other subscription packages are available).

Any other difference? Service, maybe. Marketing and front-line application for the service are different. But I believe Smart Wi-Fi and PLDT myDSL-W share the same customer support, technical support.

Installers and Subscriptions

The team that installed at our place belong to a company that has 4 teams covering San Juan and Mandaluyong. They’ve served almost 1,000 broadband internet applications since June 2005. Applications picked-up in November when they started installing from 4-5 subscriptions per day.

Although a team of installers can service 4 to 5 applications per day, some applications are closed and refunded because their location can’t be reached by. That’s around 20 applications served per day in the San Juan and Mandaluyong area.

What else?

Well, that’s what my bubwits shared.

Pahabol: Power over Ethernet (POE). I was curious about where the Smart WiFi antenna gets its power. It turns out that the antenna gets its power through the ethernet cable (LAN cable). The power adaptor of the antenna is connected to the ethernet cable instead of the power cable connecting directly to the antenna. Neat.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you what speed I’m getting, what reliability I’ve been experiencing the past days that I’ve used Smart Wi Fi

ka edong