OPPO Showcases Breakthrough Generative AI at Google I/O Connect China 2024

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Beijing, China — Following the Google Cloud Next '24, global leading smart device brand OPPO made an appearance at the Google I/O Connect China recently. Kai Tang, President of OPPO’s Software Engineering, shared insights on how generative AI technology is driving innovation in the smartphone industry and presented OPPO’s AI phone strategy, showcasing various high-productivity AI features integrated with Google Gemini models.

Expanding the Boundaries of Generative AI Applications through Deep Collaboration with Google

“As a revolutionary technology, generative AI is transforming the mobile industry,” stated Kai Tang. “OPPO is dedicated to making AI phones accessible to everyone. We will keep an open mind and work closely with industry giants like Google to deliver the best AI phone experience for our users.”

As a global leader in artificial intelligence, Google is at the forefront of AI technology development and application across various fields. Leveraging its own AI capabilities alongside Google Gemini model, OPPO has introduced a series of innovative AI features to the global market, transforming smartphones into powerful productivity tools. Key features include:

• AI Recording Summary: Supports multi-speaker recognition, automatically identifying and extracting key information to condense lengthy meetings into concise summaries. This helps users quickly grasp key points, converting manual tasks into AI-driven processes, significantly boosting work efficiency.

• AI Toolbox: Integrates three core features—AI Summary, AI Writer, and AI Speak. These tools aid in efficient reading, effortless content creation, and freeing up users’ hands and eyes. Built into the ColorOS smart sidebar, they are easily accessible for a seamless, efficient experience at any time.

These high-productivity AI features have been implemented in the new ColorOS 14 and are available on the globally launched OPPO Reno12 series. Through strong collaborations with partners like Google, OPPO is actively democratizing AI phones, enabling more people to experience the efficiency and convenience of AI.

Democratizing AI Phones and Continuously Innovating User Experience

With the continuous evolution of the smartphone market, AI technology has become a core engine driving industry innovation. In early 2024, OPPO launched the first AI phone - Find X7 series. In June, OPPO officially announced commitment to making AI phones accessible to all, being the first in industry to bring generative AI to all smartphone product lines. By the end of this year, OPPO aims to equip around 50 million devices with generative AI features, including the returning Find X flagship series to the global market.

OPPO envisions AI phones with four key characteristics: efficient computing, real-world perception, self-learning ability, and creativity. Additionally, the intelligent OS will support multimodal interactions and offer third-party services more flexibly. This will result in a full-stack transformation and ecosystem restructuring of AI phones, continuously enhancing user experiences.

As AI technology advances, OPPO will leverage generative AI to boost productivity and creativity, delivering optimal AI phone experiences. The company will continue to collaborate with top industry partners like Google, combining innovation with collaboration to lead the industry into the new AI phone era.

PLDT Home, Google launch Be Internet Awesome online series

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New kid-oriented show aims to teach kids how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online

Be Internet Awesome’s lead characters - Sam Elora (L) and Robo-berto

Following its partnership announcement to further strengthen efforts in educating Filipino kids and families about internet safety and digital responsibility, the Philippines’ leading home broadband and digital service provider PLDT Home and Google joined forces in creating a kid-oriented video series online.

The Be Internet Awesome online series combines animation and live action — featuring Gen Alpha whiz Sam and his trusty friend Robo-berto in fun-filled yet enlightening adventures on how to be smart, alert, strong, kind, and brave online. The series is based on the values of Google’s Be Internet Awesome global program and is directed by Manny Angeles, an award-winning director and producer of kid-oriented and animated shows.

Available in both English and Filipino in the Philippines, Be Internet Awesome aims to teach children the fundamentals of leading a digital life which includes what kind of information to post on social media and how to deal with cyberbullying among others. This is part of the many efforts of Google to help keep people safe online.

(L-R): PLDT Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Business Home Group, Jeremiah de la Cruz; Google Philippines Marketing Head, Gabby Roxas; First Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Product Management and Marketing, John Henri Yanez

“Our children are true digital natives. They grew up with the internet and everything the digital world has to offer. But as they broaden their horizons for discovery and learning, it also exposes them to risks and dangers,” said Jeremiah de la Cruz, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Home Group, PLDT Inc. “Through this original series, we at PLDT Home want to translate the teachings from Google’s Be Internet Awesome program into an entertaining and practical show that children can enjoy watching while learning about online safety early on.”

“PLDT Home’s partnership with Google for Be Internet Awesome aligns with our larger group-wide commitment: to strengthen customer-centricity. At PLDT, we not only find ways to simplify technology and experience for our customers, but we also strive to do business responsibly by putting their safety and well-being at the forefront of all our products and services,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT Inc. And Smart Communications, Inc.

In 2021, PLDT also invested over P2 billion in cybersecurity and protection filtering. The country’s largest integrated telco has since been very active in detecting, responding, and preventing both domain and content-level access to child sexual abuse material (CSAM) within the network. PLDT’s Child Protection Platform has blocked almost 300,000 URLs linked CSAM by the end of May and prevented more than a billion attempts to access these illegal sites from November last year to May this year.

“After launching Be Internet Awesome in 2021 in the Philippines, we are glad to have found a like-minded partner in PLDT who champions the same values when it comes to protecting kids online. Through PLDT and more potential partners in the future, we hope to scale Be Internet Awesome and provide more families with a practical way of teaching digital safety and wellness to their children so they can become responsible, confident explorers of the online world,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director of Google Philippines.

Actor and TV host KC Montero and family

Stratworks PR Director Mark Christian Parlade and sons

Edu-preneurs and media personalities Edric and Joy Mendoza with their family

(L-R) Actor, singer and writer Franco Laurel and daughter with PLDT Assistant Vice President and Head of Marketing PR

The Be Internet Awesome online series will premiere on the PLDT Home YouTube channel on July 8, 2022.

Xiaomi Celebrates Mi Fan Festival 2021

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Global technology leader Xiaomi has announced the start of its annual Mi Fan Festival (MFF). The 2021 festival will center on the theme “Explore the Possibilities”, and to cultivate the spirit of this message, Xiaomi will launch a wide array of online campaigns and invite Mi Fans to discuss and share their experiences of how Xiaomi's products have benefited their lives with their friends and families. The global shopping extravaganza will kick off on April 6 with special offers more than USD 147 millions* on official authorized channels. Xiaomi is collaborating with more than 70 online platforms and 300 offline partners** in 59 markets to bring the most innovative products at incredible prices to Mi Fans across the world.

Google and Qualcomm Technologies are also celebrating Xiaomi's founding day together through MFF 2021. The co-creation of posters for MFF 2021 use the unified visual symbol "&" as the key creative idea of the picture, symbolizing the close cooperation between Xiaomi and Google also between Xiaomi and Qualcomm Technologies. The posters also combine the "infinite" concept of the "Möbius ring" to convey that with Xiaomi, the companies strive to bring infinite possibilities to users' lives.

Xiaomi, Google and Qualcomm Technologies have always been the forerunners, setting trends for their respective industries with innovative software and hardware solutions. Xiaomi has been working closely with Google and Qualcomm Technologies to advance and accelerate the mass adoption of technological innovations. Xiaomi will continue joining hands with the two tech partners to explore new possibilities, as expressed by the theme of the MFF 2021, with an aim to make everyone's life smarter and enhance convenience in daily life.

“Xiaomi has always put Mi Fans and users at the core of everything we do. Mi Fan Festival (MFF) is an iconic representation of our Mi Fan culture. This year marks the 10th MFF, and the 11th year since Xiaomi's establishment. Every year, we celebrate this festival together with Mi Fans, users, and partners around the world to express our gratitude for their support -- which is one of our key drivers to continue exploring and innovating. With the announcement of Redmi Note 10 Pro MFF Special Edition and the launch of a series of MFF activities, we hope to convey our brand proposition of providing innovation and smart lifestyles to everyone, and our commitment to always be there for our Mi Fans and users," said Xiaomi spokesperson.

Redmi Note 10 Pro Mi Fan Festival Special Edition

At this year's Mi Fan Festival, Xiaomi is launching Redmi Note 10 Pro MFF Special Edition with the slogan "Explore Infinite Possibilities", which will serve as a unique MFF souvenir that Mi Fans can take home. The MFF special edition phone represents the adventurous spirit of Xiaomi and seeks to encourage Mi Fans to explore the infinite possibilities in life by connecting Smartphone x AIoT.

To echo the theme of infinity, Redmi Note 10 Pro MFF Special Edition comes in a package with a cosmic-inspired design. The front of the box features an image of astronauts floating through galaxies, representing Xiaomi and Mi Fans exploring the infinite possibilities of life together.

The box also contains a Mi Fan Festival postcard featuring an image of Mi Bunny astronauts. The back of the postcard is a Mi Fan Festival theme sticker***, which can be stuck onto items such as mobile phones, computers and suitcases to add an extra touch of Xiaomi to users' lives.

The Gradient Bronze version of Redmi Note 10 Pro in a natural metallic luster color was selected for this year's Mi Fan Festival, and the exclusive Mi Fan Festival 2021 icon will be printed on the back.

As the special souvenir smartphone for this year's Mi Fan Festival, Redmi Note 10 Pro MFF Special Edition will be sold in limited quantities worldwide.

Building a Better World Together with Mi Fans

From the day Xiaomi was founded, building real relationships with users and having them be a part of Xiaomi’s future has been at the core of the company's culture. From the very beginning, Mi Fans have been joining the Mi Community, offering suggestions and even contributing ideas and inventions to help drive the growth of Xiaomi. Mi Fan culture has always been an integral part of the Xiaomi brand.

To celebrate MFF 2021, Xiaomi Global Mi Community officially launched its theme song A Melody for Mi, which was co-created in an online Mi Community by Mi Fans from 15 countries. Around 1000 Mi Fans participated in this songwriting project. Contributions from 30 Mi Fans were selected and used to compose the music and lyrics. The song expresses Mi Fans' unceasing pursuit of a better life, centered on love, passion, innovation, vitality, and smarter life for everyone -- the very values that Xiaomi has been conveying to Mi Fans for over a decade. Today, Mi Fans are delivering the same message to the world. Together, united by the same vision, Mi Fans show resolute confidence and belief in building a better world.

The song A Melody for Mi has been set as an official ringtone and uploaded to Mi Theme Store where users from all over the world can download it. The song will also be applied to the customer service hotline on-hold music.

Xiaomi maintains its image as one of the coolest companies in the minds of Mi Fans and users. For years, Xiaomi product users have been connected through a shared experience of interacting and living with all of these innovative products that have truly life-altering intelligent features. In the Xiaomi Global Mi Community, thousands of Mi Fans have already posted their stories describing how the Xiaomi brand and products have changed their lives.

A Mi Fan with the username "Crossfiree" shared her story about Mi Smart Home during a Mi Community activity. She has been using more than 30 Xiaomi ecosystem products at home, although she describes herself as a technophobe rather than a tech enthusiast. Mi Air Purifier helped improve the air quality in her home and eased her severe dust allergy, while Mi Band helped her whole family cultivate a healthier lifestyle. Another Mi Fan, Arun Abhimanyu, mentioned that Mi Motion Activated Night Light solved his grandmother's long-standing problem of finding the light switch in the dark when she woke up at night to use the restroom. This was just some of his experiences with Xiaomi products, and he explained that "these products have made my life easier in a way that I never could have imagined. That’s how Xiaomi wins users' trust."

History of MFF

The first MFF was held on April 6, 2012 in Mainland China when Xiaomi decided to launch an event to celebrate the two-year anniversary of its founding. Since Mi Fans played a significant role in the rapid growth of Xiaomi, the company invited Mi Fans to celebrate its birthday together by holding a big party for them. The party venue was set up like a club and guests celebrated while a DJ performed and interacted with them. 100,000 Xiaomi smartphones sold out in just 6 minutes and 5 seconds on that day. From then on, Xiaomi has held MFF every year to show its gratitude towards Mi Fans for their support.

Outside of Mainland China, MFF was first held in India and Indonesia in 2015, before being launched in European markets in 2018, when the first shopping carnival was held in Spain. This year will be the 10th annual MFF, and even more, global markets will be joining to celebrate the occasion.

For more information about MFF 2021, please refer to MFF2021 press kit.

Disclaimers:

*The amount is calculated based on the total available promotions, product discounts and discount vouchers during Mi Fan Festival 2021 on all official authorized channels worldwide and is subject to availability and activity time of different markets.

**The sales partners for Mi Fan Festival 2021 vary between different markets. Please refer to local information for sales availability.

***The Indonesian market version is designed with the Mi Fan Festival theme sticker on the back and without the Mi Bunny astronauts image on the front.

Globe and Google for Education to transform digital learning in local schools

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As another academic year approaches, schools and universities are preparing to utilize and maximize distance learning following the government’s quarantine guidelines. Globe is partnering with Google for Education, to meet the growing demand for better academic services and transform the digital learning experience.

Google for Education is an ecosystem of products, programs, and training grounded on the platform’s innovative tools and resources. Through the partnership, Globe will provide a comprehensive onboarding process, tailor-made teacher training, and strong after-sales support for partner schools and institutions nationwide. 

“We have seen how technology has powered many industries amid the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe we can do the same for the education sector through blended or fully online learning. Together with Google for Education, we aim to boost the digital learning efforts of the Philippines’ educational system through more accessible, user-friendly, and interactive solutions for parents, teachers, and students,” says Mark Abalos, Segment Head for Education at Globe. 

Google for Education offers the following suite of services:

G Suite for Education. This platform offers best-in-class productivity tools built for the classroom, including Gmail, Classroom, Docs, Spreadsheets, Slides, and Drive. Cloud-based technology allows for collaborative learning, so teachers and students can work on lessons simultaneously.

Classroom. The Google Classroom makes the teaching experience more seamless for educators. Here, teachers can create and manage assignments with ease. Classwork pages organize assignments into modules, so educators can better facilitate discussions. They can also use built-in grading tools to sync test results and feedback in one location. Originality reports can analyze authenticity in papers and flag statements that need citations.

Meet. This service allows teachers to connect with students virtually through secure video calls and messaging. Each classroom can have up to 250 participants per call and up to 100,000 live stream viewers. Meet also makes it easier for both teachers and students to join a classroom, as each class can have a dedicated meeting space with a unique link.

Socratic. Google’s AI-powered tutor helps students navigate the learning process through high-quality videos, concept explanations, and online resources. The platform also offers curated subject guides for quick reference. When students need clarification, they can use the built-in voice and photo input to ask a question.

Read Along. Students can improve their literacy skills through this speech-based reading tutor. This platform provides an expressive and animated reading assistant to keep students engaged and help them in their reading journey. Educators can listen to a student read aloud and provide corrective feedback.

Google Forms. Teachers can create forms, surveys, and quizzes using Google Forms. Through G Suite Integration, they can import questions from Docs and Sheets. Grading is also now faster, easier, and automated as they can view results in a chart, graph, or spreadsheet format. To maintain integrity, locked mode prevents students from browsing other websites during a test.

Chromebook. This secure, simple, and powerful device is easy for schools to set up and manage. The Chrome Education upgrade unlocks the full capabilities of the device to help both students and teachers thrive in the new normal. The App Hub connects educators with Chrome-verified developers to access useful tips and content by grade, subject, and educational goals.

G Suite Enterprise for Education. Academic institutions can upgrade their digital environment with educational tools and security controls. G Suite Enterprise elevates both teaching and learning through an institution-wide email database using GMail, security and administration controls, and eDiscovery for emails, chat, and files. Schools can also access a 24/7 support platform via phone, email, and online.

With Globe myBusiness’ partnership with Google, academic institutions can improve the overall education experience for students and help them learn amid the new normal. 

Learn more how you can excel in the ever-changing landscape of 21st Century learning with Globe myBusiness via https://www.globe.com.ph/business/sme/education-offers.

Shopee and Google Launch Google Ads with Shopee, a First-of-its-kind Marketing Solution for Brands to Drive Sales Online

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Google Ads with Shopee offers specialized marketing support for brands to boost their e-commerce presence in Southeast Asia and Taiwan

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, teamed up with Google to launch Google Ads with Shopee, a first-of-its-kind marketing solution for brands to drive sales online. The launch reflects a shared commitment between Shopee and Google to accelerate digitization and enable e-commerce growth for brands across the region. Through this integration, brands on Shopee can access specialized marketing tools to boost their online presence, create deeper engagements with customers, and flexibly manage and measure their marketing campaigns.

Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines, said, “Most brands in the Philippines are expanding their online presence as e-commerce becomes a vital part of the retail ecosystem. Shopee is committed to providing the best environment for every brand to succeed online. Google Ads with Shopee extends our efforts by deepening our integration with Google and making it easier for brand partners to promote their official stores and products online. We are delighted to have a like-minded partner like Google and we look forward to deeper collaborations in the future.”

Google Ads with Shopee meets the growing demand among brands for specialized marketing tools to support their increasing e-commerce presence. Key benefits include:

1. Convenient ad campaign creation on Shopee Brands Suite: Brands can now create Google shopping ads directly on the Shopee Brands Suite, adding to the existing range of marketing solutions and tools offered by Shopee. It will allow brands to promote their official stores and products more efficiently across all channels.

2. Increased flexibility and control: Brands can directly create and manage online ads for their official stores and products on Shopee on the Google Ads platform. It allows greater flexibility as brands can tailor ad campaigns to meet different business needs.

3. One-stop monitoring: Brands can monitor the performance of all their Google ads via the Shopee Brands Suite. The one-stop access to data, brands can seamlessly measure success and optimize the effectiveness of their marketing efforts on Shopee.

Samuele Saini, Sector Lead for Apps, e-Commerce, Entertainment at Google, said, “The e-commerce industry in Southeast Asia has experienced massive growth in recent years and is forecasted to exceed 150 billion USD by 20251. It has been further accelerated by the pandemic, with more consumers shopping online, as well as both big brands and smaller sellers quickly pivoting to further building their e-commerce presence.” He further added, "We are excited to launch Google Ads with Shopee, making it faster and easier for brands to connect with their customers online, and provide them with flexible tools to measure and optimize their campaigns.” 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Google Philippines to hold Pride Conversations online event on YouTube to honor the LGBTQ+ community

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MANILA, Philippines--As part of the concluding celebration of Pride Month, Google will hold an online event called “Pride Conversations” to create a discussion and champion some of today’s inspiring members of the Filipino LGBTQ+ community. This will be streamed live on Google Philippines YouTube channel on June 30, 2020 at 5:00PM. 

The speakers of the event continue to bring pride to the LGBTQ+ community through their achievements in their respective fields. Taking part in the discussion are Antipolo City Barangay Councilor Kristine Ibardolaza; Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Fellow Dr. Berry Beriña; motorcycle enthusiast and vlogger Gaki Azurin, more popularly known as “GakiMoto”; comedian, host, and YouTube creator Mikey Bustos; and Google Philippines Program Manager Melai Lopez. 

“Google is committed to inclusion and this Pride month, we’re excited to share how we always support the LGBTQ+ community in a number of ways--from sustaining a diverse workplace culture, to providing grants, to hosting events around the world to continue the discussion on equality,” said Mervin Wenke, Communications and PR Head for Google Philippines. “We are glad to further show this commitment through our products like Google Maps which is helping enable a virtual Pride March initiative this year.” 

A home to LGBTQ+ employees

Google fosters a diverse and inclusive culture where LGBTQ+ employees are respected, celebrated, and empowered. The company ensures that they enjoy the same opportunity to shine, be heard, and succeed in the organization just as much as any other employee. Below are just some of the benefits for Google’s LGBTQ+ employees around the world including the Philippines:

• Same-sex health benefits: Google is committed to and provide same-sex health coverage for Googlers and their partners. 
• Employee assistance program: Google offers free emotional wellbeing support, 24/7, 365 days for Googlers and their dependents, as well as access to free expert information on legal, financial, and other topics. These services are confidential. 
• Parental leave: 
• A non-birth parent has at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave to spend with a new child (any parent who has a child born or adopted). 

• A ramp-back policy to help a non-birth parent transition back to work after a long leave is available. 

Googlers also have the freedom of establishing their preferred pronouns (he, she, xe, they) so colleagues will know how to best address a LGBTQ+ employee in the workplace to show inclusion and respect. 

“At Google, the use of preferred pronouns lives beyond work profiles and email signatures. Before a meeting begins, we may ask each other our preferred pronouns to address our colleagues accordingly and show respect. This demonstrates that LGBTQ+ employees are important and are always included in the discussion,” shares Melai Lopez, a trans woman and a Program Manager at Google Philippines.

Melai adds, “Google encourages us to form and participate in employee resource groups like Pride@Google. With this, I am able to use my voice to spark necessary conversations in the company and to contribute to the external LGBTQ+ community through high-impact programs and initiatives."

The “Pride Conversations” live event is part of Google’s initiatives for Pride Month, championing LGBTQ+ personalities whose stories serve as an inspiration for the community. Tune in on June 30, 2020 at 5:00 PM (Ph time) at Google Philippines YouTube channel.

About Google

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc.

Siti Saniyah Scores First Judges’ Pick on Asia’s Got Talent : Voting for other acts is now open until Sunday (March 17) at 11:59 p.m.

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SINGAPORE  – Indonesia’s Siti Saniyah scored the season’s first Judges’ Pick in the first Semi-Finals episode of Asia’s Got Talent. Siti Saniyah will advance directly to perform in the Grand Finals Show at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore where she will be one of the nine to stand a chance to win USD100,000.

Filipino talents Shadow Ace, who performed an amazing hand shadow performance, and Rock Opong, who delivered a great act with his self-made guitar, were also part of the first Semi-Finals episode and are now part of the first batch needing votes to advance to the Grand Finals!

The seven remaining acts will be up for voting, and the two acts with the most votes after the voting period closes will head to the Grand Finals. The voting period for this first batch is now open until Sunday, March 17, at 11:59 p.m.

Google Search Voting

Fans can vote for their favorite act by searching for “Asia’s Got Talent Vote” on Google. Simply click on the photo of the act you would like to vote for, use the slider to determine how many votes you want to allocate to the acts and click ‘Submit Votes’. You can allocate up to 10 votes per day on Google Search Vote.

Facebook Messenger Voting

Fans can vote via Facebook Messenger by clicking ‘Send Message’ button on the Asia’s Got Talent Facebook page, or look up “Asia’s Got Talent” on Facebook Messenger. Click "Get Started" and you will see a photo carousel of the acts eligible for voting.  Scroll through the carousel until you see your favorite act, then click to vote.

You may repeat the process up to a maximum of 10 votes per day of the voting period.

For more details on voting, visit www.AXN-Asia.com/AGTVote.

New episode of Asia’s Got Talent airs every Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on AXN. To follow the journey of this season’s acts, check out #AXNAsia and #AsiasGotTalent.

To watch extended highlights of Asia’s Got Talent and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, fans can subscribe to the official AXN Asia YouTube Channel at www.YouTube.com/AXNAsia.

PLDT, Smart unlock amazing digital experiences powered by PH’s fastest network

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Leading digital services providers PLDT, Inc. and Smart Communications unlock the future with new innovative products and services powered by the country's fastest fixed and mobile networks. In the photo: PLDT and Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan leads the celebratory toast with PLDT and Smart executives and partners from ABS-CBN, Cignal, ESPN 5, Google, Huawei, iflix, NBA, Oppo, Samsung, StarMobile, and Roku.

Fresh from their latest recognition as the Philippine’s fastest fixed and mobile networks, leading digital services provider PLDT Inc. and its mobile arm Smart Communications are ushering in a new wave of innovative products & services that aim to unlock amazing experiences for Filipinos whether they are in the comfort of their home or on the go.

PLDT and Smart presented their latest products at a powerhouse event aptly themed ‘Unlock the Future’ and graced by executives, endorsers, celebrities, and partners in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“Over the past years, we’ve been hard at work to future-proof our network and beef up our digital content and product partners. We’re delighted to present our most exciting services that are designed to meet the ever-evolving needs of Filipinos,” said Oscar A. Reyes, Jr., PLDT and Smart SVP and Consumer Business Market Development Head.

“Backed by our fastest networks, these innovative solutions will elevate the way our customers enjoy digital devices, services, and content. As we get ready to close 2018 and prepare for a new year ahead, we will continue our groundbreaking work to help empower Filipinos to enjoy an amazing life,” said Andrew L. Santos, PLDT-Smart FVP and Consumer Marketing Head.

Unlocking an amazing life for Filipinos

To establish even stronger connections at home, PLDT has introduced the new PLDT Home Fibr Google Wifi Plans, which feature a whole home wifi network system that puts an end to dead spots and ensures strong and Fibr-fast connection in every corner of your home.

New PLDT Home customers can now subscribe to Google Wifi Plan 3799, which comes with an unlimited 50Mbps connection, three Google Wifi points, and free service assistance from the Home Geek Squad. On the other hand, existing PLDT Home Fibr customers can simply avail of Google Wifi units as an add-on for Php799 per month for a set of three.

PLDT is also unlocking a new entertainment experience at home with the upcoming launch of the new PLDT Home TVolution Lite that is powered by Roku®. The new service features a plug-and-play device that allows customers to easily and effortlessly watch trending videos on YouTube; their favorite HD channels from Cignal; Top Hollywood, Asian and local movies and TV series from iflix; critically-acclaimed Netflix originals and films, and hundreds of free streaming channels on their TV.

Following their support for the much celebrated Esports and Gaming Summit 2018 and the recently concluded ‘Road to the Nationals,’ which awarded the country’s top DOTA 2 and Tekken 7 players, PLDT and Smart also affirmed their commitment to deliver the best gaming experience for Filipino gamers powered by PLDT Home Fibr, the fastest Fibr connection for lag-free gaming at home, and Smart LTE, the fastest LTE network for gaming on-the-go.

Unlocking bigger and more rewarding experiences

On the other hand, buoyed by the massive success of its Free YouTube campaign, which more than doubled the daily active YouTube users on its network and drove over 13 times more data usage traffic from customers, Smart has stepped up to unlock total entertainment with Video Every Day.

A new promo that comes with all of Smart’s GigaSurf data packages, Video Every Day provides customers with up to 1 hour of Video access daily for YouTube, iflix, iWant TV, Cignal Play and NBA League Pass - for as long as their GigaSurf subscription is valid. Smart customers can now register to GigaSurf with Video Every Day by simply dialing *121# or via the mySmart app.

Apart from these services, Smart has also announced game-changing partnerships with popular smartphone manufacturers Oppo, Samsung, and Starmobile to encourage more Filipinos to upgrade to LTE-capable handsets that come with special discounts and freebies.

Among these special LTE-capable handsets are the OPPO A71 Smart LTE phone kit, which is now available for Php5,998 (from the original SRP of Php6,990); the Samsung J2 Core Smart LTE Phone Kit priced at Php4,990 (from Php5,990); and Starmobile Play Click TNT LTE phone kit, which is very affordable at Php2,998 (from Php3,490).

To offer a much bigger digital experience, Smart also continues to strengthen its portfolio of the latest flagship devices with the data-packed GigaX Plans, which feature separate data allocations for streaming videos, as well as enjoying apps and surfing websites.

Smart offers the newly launched Huawei Mate 20 with the GigaX Plans at Php2199 per month, and the Huawei Mate 20 Pro at Php2,599 per month.

Smart also makes it easier for customers to get hold of the latest iPhones, starting with the iPhone XS at Php3,299 per month, and the iPhone XS Max at Php3,599 per month. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also available with the Smart GigaX Plans.

Finally, in celebration of its 25th anniversary, Smart announced its biggest anniversary e-raffle promo in the company’s history, which gives customers a chance to win data packages, MVP Rewards points, LTE smartphones every month, leading up to the grand raffle on February 25, 2019 in which one lucky subscriber will win Php25 million cash! To join, subscribers need only to register to select data promos and add-ons.

Twin awards for the country’s fastest network

Earlier this year, PLDT and Smart were cited for being the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for Q1-Q2 2018, respectively, by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.

Just recently, independent mobile analytics company OpenSignal also cited Smart for providing its customers the best video experience in the country. The UK-based firm has published an independent analysis of the customer experience for video services by telecom carriers in Asia, showing that Smart garnered a video experience score of 42.2, well ahead of competition in the Philippines and well above the national average.

OpenSignal also recognized Smart earlier this year for having the country’s fastest LTE network, awarding the company with four citations including best in 4G LTE download speed; best in overall download speed; best 4G latency performance; and best 3G latency performance in its March 2018 report.

Shopee is the Number 1 Shopping App in the Philippines

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Shopee, the largest e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, has achieved over 40 million downloads across the region in the first half of 2017. To date, Shopee Philippines has garnered over 3 million downloads, and is now ranked number 1 on both Google Play and App Store in just two years of operations. Beating other shopping apps in its category, Shopee consistently remains as one of the top shopping apps in the country.

“We’re thrilled to see many Filipinos enjoy our app and love shopping with us,” said Macy Castillo, Head of Commercial Business for Shopee. “The mobile shopping category is a competitive space, and we are proud that our app is ranked as number 1. Our goal is to consistently improve our features and provide the best online shopping experience.”

According to Castillo, Shopee’s integrated logistics is one of the main reasons why people find Shopee app convenient. With Shopee, users can enjoy Free Shipping and Cash On Delivery, as well as track their orders from payment to delivery.

Furthermore, Shopee offers online shopping security through Shopee Guarantee. Shopee Guarantee protects users by withholding the payment to the seller until the buyer receives the order. This makes people feel safe shopping at Shopee and give positive reviews.

Castillo elaborated, “Our features are designed with buyers and sellers in mind. We make online shopping hassle-free by charging no commission fee and offer a free shipping service to all users.”

To celebrate this achievement, Shopee will be holding special promotions from June 20 to 22 with discounts up to 90% for various items, including electronics, gadgets, makeup, and clothes from Shopee’s Official Shops and top sellers.

To learn more about Shopee and the special promotions, please visit www.shopee.ph. Shopee is available for free download on Google Play and App Store.

Google doodle celebrates Philippines’ 119th Independence Day

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Illustrator Dan Matutina designs Independence Day doodle

Google Philippines joins the country in celebrating its 119th Independence Day with a special one-day only doodle on the google.com.ph homepage designed by Filipino illustrator Dan Matutina. This year’s Independence Day doodle combines the beauty of the Philippine flag and the country’s unique island landscapes.

This is Google’s eighth Independence Day doodle for the Philippines, and it features Filipinos gathered around the Philippine flag for a flag raising ceremony while sunrise can be seen over the water, symbolizing the Filipinos’ optimism in the face of adversity.

The Philippine flag was first raised on June 12, 1898 in Kawit, Cavite as a symbol of the country’s independence from colonial rule. Now, flag raising ceremonies are held in all schools and government offices while singing the Philippine National Anthem.

Clicking on the Google doodle will lead visitors to learn more about the history of Philippine independence.

“Doodle” is the name used for decorative changes made to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and the lives of famous artists, pioneers, and scientists. Doodles make searches even more fun as we learn new things with each new design.

The first doodle was created in 2000 when Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin asked then intern and now Google’s chief doodler Dennis Hwang to design a logo for Bastille Day. Since then, the Google homepage has featured thousands of doodles, making search even more fun and entertaining.

Past Independence Day doodles

2009

2010

2012

2013

2014 

2015

2016

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