New generation of the Nokia 2 and Nokia 3 arrives in the Philippines

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HMD Global brings affordable premium design and long-lasting entertainment in new smartphones

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announces that the new Nokia 2.1 and Nokia 3.1 will be available for PHP5,990 and PHP9,990, respectively, starting August 29.

Delivering premium experience and a sophisticated aluminum design, the Nokia 3.1 exudes the quality and craftsmanship fans can expect from a Nokia smartphone. Joining the Android One family, the Nokia 3.1 is endorsed by Google as a best-in-class experience across hardware and software given its price point.

On top of 50 percent performance boost over its predecessor, the Nokia 2.1 combines a larger screen and dual front-front facing speakers with an incredible 2-day battery life to give users everything they need for entertainment on the go.

Shannon Mead, HMD Global Philippines country manager, said:

“At HMD Global, innovation means merging premium quality with affordability and accessibility. The Nokia 3.1 and Nokia 2.1 are just two of the breakthroughs we are proud to bring to the Filipinos, with the design and technology upgrade for even better mobile experience.

The Nokia 3.1 brings perfect balance between power and design while the Nokia 2.1 gives better and long-lasting experience with its great battery life, faster processor, bigger screen and dual front-facing stereo speakers.”

Nokia 3.1: Premium design, high-quality experience

Like the original, the new Nokia 3.1 blends a careful selection of materials into a perfect harmony with a stunning design. Its anodized machined metal frame and sculpted glass display deliver the perfect combination for both stand-out looks and comfortable feel in the hand. Subtle but striking metal accents are matched with dual diamond cuts for a premium finish.

The Nokia 3.1 is Nokia mobile’s most-affordable 18:9 smartphone, delivering the same screen ratio users get from modern flagships to give them more content with a single glance in a slim device. Just the right size for single-handed use, it now packs a larger 5.2-inch HD+ display protected by a damage-resistant 2.5D curved Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 to keep its original aesthetic.

The Nokia 3.1 runs on an octa-core MediaTek 6750 chip, which gives its user twice the processor cores and 50 percent faster performance than the previous generation to keep up with modern users’ busy and fast-paced lifestyle. Featuring an upgraded 13MP auto-focus rear camera, the Nokia 3.1 captures the memories that its user would want to relive over and over while the wide-angle front camera fits more subjects into every selfie.

Thanks to its full set of sensors - usually only found on premium phones - the Nokia 3.1 runs the latest apps and features effortlessly. Users can make the most out of popular AR apps such as Pokémon Go, pay securely and easily with Google Pay,[1]  and capture the whole scene with panoramic imaging.

Nokia 2.1: Long-lasting entertainment, designed to be powerful

Designed to deliver long-lasting entertainment to consumers who are always on-the-go, the Nokia 2.1 comes with 2-day battery life, a large 5.5-inch HD screen and dual front-facing stereo speakers. The Nokia 2.1’s powerful 4,000mAh battery now charges even faster so users can get back up and running even more quickly than before.

With its HD display 20 percent bigger than the original, Nokia mobile fans can now enjoy high-definition videos on the go. The dual speakers, with bespoke 3D formed stainless steel detail, provide amazing stereo sound.

The upgraded Qualcomm™ Snapdragon® 425 64-bit Mobile Platform gives users 50 percent faster and smoother performance to enable efficient and fast switching between apps.

Nokia 2.1’s cameras allow users to capture the action wherever they are with its 5MP front-facing selfie snapper or 8MP rear camera with auto focus.

Offering the quality and style fans expect from a Nokia phone, Nokia 2.1’s sophisticated Nordic design and metallic accents guarantee that its user will stand out from the crowd. Its sleek, rounded and ergonomically designed, inherently colored polycarbonate back keeps the phone looking great even after long periods of use.

Pure, secure and up-to-date Android

The Nokia 3.1 is entering the Android One family where it joins the comprehensive range of Nokia smartphones already delivering an experience designed by Google that is smart, secure and simply amazing. Nokia smartphones with Android One offer more storage and battery life out of the box as well as the latest AI-powered innovations from Google to help the user stay ahead of the game every day. The Nokia 3.1 will receive three years of monthly security patches and two years of OS updates as guaranteed in the Android One program. This puts the new Nokia 3.1 among the most-secure phones out there, always up-to-date with the latest Google services such as Google Assistant and Google Photos with free unlimited high-quality photo storage.

Tailored to devices with 1GB RAM or less, Android Oreo™ (Go edition) is what’s operating Nokia 2.1 with a new range of apps from Google designed to run faster while consuming less data. Optimized to be smooth and fast, these include Google Go web search app, Google Maps™ Go, YouTube™ Go and Google Assistant for Android (Go edition), to quickly send messages, make calls, set alarms and do more, simply by using your voice.

Availability and pricing

• The Nokia 3.1 will be available in Black/Chrome on August 29 and will retail for PHP9,990.
• Coming in three colors — Blue/Copper, Blue/Silver, Gray/Silver — the Nokia 2.1 is available starting August 29 for PHP5,990.

Pre-sale of Nokia 3.1 started in August 15 and lasts until August 26 through Nokia mobile stores and MemoXpress. See full details at http://uniteforpromo.ph/premium

With HMD Global’s extended partnership with Home Credit, you can also avail the Nokia 2.1 and the Nokia 3.1 at 0% interest for a 6-month installment period.

Experience the new generation of Nokia phones you can rely on and enjoy a free Kingston 16GB SD card at any authorized Nokia reseller, as well as any Nokia store, kiosk or exhibit:

Nokia mobile stores:

SM City North EDSA

SM City Clark

SM City Tarlac

SM City Bacolod

SM City Iloilo

Gaisano Mall Davao

Nokia mobile kiosks:

SM City Megamall

Robinsons Manila

SM City Bacoor

SM City Batangas

SM City Dasmarinas

SM City Olongapo

SM City Rosales

SM City San Fernando, Pampanga

SM City San Pablo

SM City Sta. Rosa

SM City Urdaneta

Nokia mobile exhibits:

SM Mall of Asia

Gaisano Mall Tagum

SM City Davao

SM City Marilao

SM City Rosario

Visit the official Nokia website https://www.nokia.com/en_ph/phones/store-locator for the full list of the top stores near you.

OPPO F9 Elevates Smartphone Standard with Revolutionary VOOC Flash Charge, 6GB RAM, and Gradient Body Design

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5-minute charge, 2-hour talk charging fit for a digital savvy Filipino lifestyle

Global smartphone innovator OPPO revealed today its latest product in the Philippines—the OPPO F9. Unveiled during the grand launch at Shangri-la at the Fort, the OPPO F9 has made breakthroughs in fast charging, dual rear cameras, and design. The event was also graced by OPPO’s celebrity endorsers Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto and influencers Robi Domingo, Glaiza De Castro, Sanya Lopez and Gretchen Ho.

Breakthrough in charging: Rapid charge with VOOC

The OPPO F9 offers the revolutionary VOOC Flash Charge Technology. This technology is exclusively developed by OPPO and provides a charging speed of up to four times faster than regular charging. This means that a quick 5-minute charge is enough to enable 2 hours of talk time. 

VOOC also boasts an intelligent five-layer protection system from the adaptor to the port and interior of the phone. VOOC replaced the voltage reducing circuit with an MCU, effectively preventing the mobile phone from overheating while charging and making VOOC an ingenious, fast charging technology. You can also use your phone while keeping the speed of fastcharging, which high voltage fast charge cannot do.

Since OPPO launched VOOC in 2014, VOOC has gained over 500 patents and has been used by over 90 million consumers. Equipped with a 3500mAh battery and optimized AI battery management, F9 can guarantee great battery life.

Breakthrough design: Waterdrop screen with gradient colors

OPPO F9 offers a unique and attractive design that appeal greatly to the younger generation. It boasts of three stunning gradient color combinations-- Sunrise Red, Twilight Blue and Starry Purple. A special spraying technique is used to achieve the refined gradient partnered with flower petal pattern in the phone’s body. Another notable design upgrade in the F9 is the Waterdrop screen. Inspired by the water droplet, it allows users to have better viewing experience with an extremely high screen-to-body ratio of 90.8%. The OPPO F9 also has an impressive 6.3-inch bezel-less screen that features a resolution of 2340x1080 and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9.

Breakthrough in photography: From Selfie Expert to Portrait Artist

OPPO has established itself as the selfie expert with the unprecedented innovation in the F Series. With the F9, OPPO expands its leadership to photography. The OPPO F9 is the first in the F series to be equipped with AI-enhanced dual rear cameras (16MP + 2MP). The two cameras work together to create a depth of field and achieve a great Bokeh effect. Sixteen independent and 800 combined scenes can be recognized by AI Scene Recognition.

OPPO F9’s 25MP front-facing camera also does not disappoint. The re-invented 'Sensor-HDR' technology dramatically improves backlight selfies and allows users to check high dynamic exposure live effects in real-time. OPPO F9 can now also accurately collect 296 feature points for each subject, referencing them against its massive database of facial images and analyzing features before making enhancements that are customized for each subject. The AI Beauty Technology can provide users with 8 million different beautification effects, personalizing selfies in the most attractive way possible while keeping the natural look of each human subject.  In addition, the F9 supports multiple interesting camera features such as AR Stickers, vivid mode and slow-motion video.

Breakthrough in experience: 6GB RAM + 64GB storage with ColorOS 5.2 AI intuitive system

OPPO F9 sets the new standard in mid-range smartphones with its 6GB RAM + 64GB storage that promises a superb performance. It also supports two sim cards slots and one 256GB storage card slot.

Based on Android 8.1, OPPO brings the ColorOS 5.2 Operating System to create a smarter and more intuitive experience for users. ColorOS 5.2 analyzes and aggregates user preferences and interests to enable F9 to be “One Step Ahead”. The F9 is also equipped with the Google Lens that identifies objects and shows relevant search results and information.

“The launch of the OPPO F9 serves as a major milestone for the company as it debuts world’s first technologies like the VOOC Flash Charge, gradient body, and waterdrop screen design,”OPPO Philippines’ Vice President of Marketing Jane Wan said. “It has also made leaps in its rear and front cameras, hardware, and overall user experience, which we know are very important features for Filipino smartphone users. The F9 represents how our consumers inspire the brand to push boundaries and develop innovations that not only carve out trends in a technology-driven world, but also help these consumers make the most of their digitally savvy lifestyles.”

OPPO F9 will be initially available in Sunrise Red and Twilight Blue for PHP 17,990 (6GB RAM). Additionally, consumers may avail via Home Credit at 0% interest for 9 months. It is also available with Smart at GigaX Plan 1299. Pre-order starts August 24, 2018 until August 30, 2018 where customers can get freebies worth up to PHP 3,490.

For more information on OPPO’s exciting products and activities, like OPPO Philippines’ official Facebook page and follow @OPPOPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Samsung Philippines' new ambassadors of the new super powerful Galaxy Note9 - Heart Evangelista-Escudero, Nico Bolzico, & Erwan Heussaff

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Samsung Philippines officially introduces Heart Evangelista-Escudero, Nico Bolzico, & Erwan Heussaff as the newest brand ambassadors of the SAMSUNG Galaxy Note9! In the recently held media launch of the Galaxy Note9, the new members of the Samsung family show how the Samsung Galaxy Note9 help them do more and be more in life. 

Galaxy Note9 

A powerhouse device with upgraded core performance features, the Galaxy Note9 comes equipped with the Connected Bluetooth S Pen;  ultimate performance – an all-day 4,000 mAh battery, 10 nanometer Application Processor, and 128/512 GB internal storage that is expandable --, and an Intelligent Dual Camera.

Samsung Galaxy Note9 ambassadors, Erwan Heussaff, Heart Evangelista-Escudero, and Nico Bolzico show off their new super powerful Note.

Connecting passion with creativity

With a decorated career spanning over two decades, Heart continues to redefine herself to make a difference with her talents and passions. Through artistic ventures and humanitarian endeavors, the actress molds the best version of herself to empower others.

“I am grateful for all my life experiences, whether they may be pleasant or challenging,” shares the artist. “I keep my head held high no matter what and I always look forward to better days ahead.”

Heart is eager to unlock the power of creativity to inspire meaningful change. “Throughout my travels and ventures, I have witnessed the power of art, ideas, and passion to movIe people and make them do wonderful things. Through my Galaxy Note9, I wish to showcase that ability and share my enthusiasm for life with others.”

Heart Evangelista-Escudero draws a quick sketch on her SAMSUNG Galaxy Note9 during the recent launch.

With the Connected Bluetooth S Pen, it becomes easier for the actress not only to create works of art when she is on-the-go, but also control her phone and capture inspiration. Aside from doing sketches and jotting down ideas, she can use the S Pen as a clicker to take better photos, browse through her phone’s gallery and design pegs, and even activate various applications. Lasting for around 200 clicks or 30 minutes of continued use, the S Pen only needs 40 seconds inside the Galaxy Note9 to charge back to full power, allowing Heart to use it anytime, anywhere with ease.


Running on ultimate performance

Exuding limitless energy and enthusiasm, Nico embodies the work-hard-play-hard lifestyle. Away from the cameras, the Argentinian diligently helps farmers in the country practice sustainable agriculture. Through his company, Nico aims to position the Philippines as a leading agro-export nation.

“My goals and dreams keep me eager to achieve more and become better in life,” shares the 34-year old social media star and businessman. “By keeping these things in mind, I get to power through my busy schedule, no matter how hectic it gets.”


Newest ambassador for the Samsung Galaxy Note9, Nico Bolzico, highlights two key features he likes about the SAMSUNG Galaxy Note9: bigger storage and powerful battery

Nico’s lifestyle benefits from the ultimate performance that the Galaxy Note9 delivers. Boasting a long-lasting 4,000 mAh battery, the smartphone helps him accomplish more within the day.

He can also send emails, call his family or friends, and stream content with ease as the Galaxy Note9 operates on a 10 nanometer Application Processor. This tiny yet powerful chipset allows Nico to experience faster loading and transition times within multiple applications. He can also carry many important files, with the Galaxy Note9 pioneering a 128GB base capacity. Also available in a limited 512GB variant, the Galaxy Note9 supports expandable memory of up to 512GB, allowing up to 1TB of storage. The smartphone also utilizes Samsung Knox, the company’s mobile security platform.

“The Galaxy Note9 is the best smartphone for an energetic and driven guy like me. I’m so glad to be back with Samsung as I keep on working to become better and help others do the same thing.”


Changing the way we see the world

Erwan draws from years of working from the ground up to create memorable culinary experiences. As a chef, content creator, and restaurateur, the Filipino-French is always on the lookout for ways to improve his craft.

“When you’re a food and travel enthusiast, it’s always important to keep your mind open and your senses engaged. That’s the only way to learn as much as possible and to help others see the beauty of other cultures and lifestyles,” shares the 31-year-old.

Samsung loyalist and new ambassador for the Samsung Galaxy Note9 Erwan Heussaff, shares how the new device’s Intelligent Dual Camera helps him capture engaging content.

Erwan uses the Galaxy Note9 to reimagine the way he experiences, shares, and learns about the world. Able to take gorgeous low-light shots and Super Slow-mo videos, the Galaxy Note9’s Intelligent Dual Camera now comes with Auto Scene Recognition and Auto-flaw Detection, allowing Erwan to optimize his photos based on the subjects being taken. It can also report flaws, ensuring that all pictures look professional and breathtaking.

“There’s always something new and exciting to discover everyday, and the Galaxy Note9 helps me share what I see, as how I see it, to everyone. I’m excited to travel and shoot more awesome content for everyone with my new super powerful device.”

Join Heart, Nico, and Erwan as they work on becoming even more powerful achievers with the Samsung Galaxy Note9. Pre-order until August 19, 2018 to enjoy exclusive freebies worth up to P17,800. Those interested in the pre-order exclusive of 512GB storage will receive a free 2018 Samsung 32” Smart HD TV with a 2-year warranty. Note enthusiasts may also choose from several Samsung products like the Gear Fit2 Pro, Gear IconX or Galaxy Tab A 7” when they pre-order the 128GB variant.

All pre-orders will come with NanoFixit Screen Protection with one-year insurance of up to P10,000. Get an additional 10 percent discount on the total bundle upon purchase of special add-ons such as the new Samsung Galaxy Watch and/or Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. Visit SAMSUNG online for more information on the Galaxy Note9 pre-order promos.


The Galaxy Note9 will be available on August 24 at a suggested retail price of PHP 55,990 (128GB). The 512GB variant, priced at Php 75,990, is exclusively for pre-order only. 

For more information, visit the Samsung Facebook page or log on to samsung.com/ph .

AI is Making Mobile Life Easier

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Not too long ago, artificial intelligence (AI) seems like an idea from a distant, unreachable future. In old sci-fi flicks, AI is often portrayed as robots—mostly evil robots that will bring havoc to the world. But, AI means so much more. It has even evolved into an everyday companion that complements human lifestyle.

The Vivo leveled up its AI features on the all-new NEX.

In mobile technology, global smartphone brand Vivo is among the companies that maximized AI in its recent flagship units. But this concept is not new. AI was theorized decades ago after it was introduced by American computer scientist pioneer and inventor John McCarthy at the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence in 1956. The conference was formed to discuss ideas on what they called thinking machines. He was eventually named the Father of AI.

McCarthy eventually became part of the Stanford University’s Computer Science Department and published a document breaking down his understanding of AI.  He wrote in 2007 that AI is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines or intelligent computer programs. In other words, AI will try to understand, simulate, and mimic human intelligence. McCarthy then said some of the applications of AI include game playing, speech recognition, understanding natural language, computer vision, expert systems, and heuristic classification.

Fast forward to 2018, AI has already penetrated various fields including the smartphone industry that basically touched on McCarthy’s defined applications of AI to make mobile life much easier.

Strategy Analytics Inc., a company that provides data and analysis, business consulting, advisory, and strategic market research services on a global scale, estimated that smartphone processors with on-device AI functionality such as Qualcomm grew almost three-fold year-over-year in the first quarter of 2018.

A closer look at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile platform inside every Vivo NEX. Courtesy of: Qualcomm.com

For instance, the latest Vivo NEX launched is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core 2.8 GHz. This has the 3rd Generation Hexagon™ 685 DSP that supports on-device AI processing to deliver richer camera, voice, XR, and gaming experiences.

Meanwhile, Vivo’s latest flagship smartphone in the Philippines, the Vivo X21, is run by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE Octacore 2.2 GHz (4 core) + 1.8 GHz (4 core). This chipset has an AI-powered engine with Hexagon Vector Processor, Adreno GPU, and Kryo CPU. It also has software features that make on-device AI experiences possible in camera, audio, security, and gaming.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Senior Marketing Manager Dominikus Susanto visited the Philippines in April to explain the Vivo V9’s chipset.

Going beyond the AI-powered chipsets, Vivo’s first flagship smartphone in 2018 was the V9 with a 24-megapixel AI front camera. The selfie camera allowed users to maximize every shot with the use of various AI features like the Face Beauty, the AR Stickers, and Selfie Lighting.

The integration of AI and mobile technology proved that the rise of AI should not be something to be afraid of. Now that AI is becoming ubiquitous in smartphones, one can’t help but ask, what are the next developments users should look forward to?

Vivo and Smart Forge Partnership For Unlimited Data Plan with Vivo X21

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Global smartphone brand Vivo and PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider, together with top wireless brand, Smart Communications Inc., seal a strong partnership for an exciting new offer: a non-stop data bundle with Vivo’s latest pride, the X21.

The partnership was established last August 16, 2018 in Makati City. Vivo executive Ms. Annie Lim, Vice President for PR Strategy and Partnerships, represented the smartphone brand. Representing PLDT Enterprise on the other hand was Smart AVP & Head for Enterprise Wireless Solutions Chet Alviz.

The Vivo X21 is the first in the world to implement the In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, the center of topic during the Mobile World Congress and Global Stage for Innovation CES events. Through this strategic partnership with Smart, Vivo aims to expand and cater to the Filipino corporate market.

Smart will bundle the X21 with the Data on the Go Plan 2000, which includes unlimited calls to Smart and non-stop surf—allowing corporate clients to enjoy the X21's high-end specifications for a low monthly amortization of 400 pesos for 24 months. The Vivo X21 makes for a perfect business companion. The Vivo X21's 6.28" Super AMOLED display is the ideal device for all professionals in the business and corporate world as it can aid users in various business-related functions. From attending critical business online conferences to performing business research on multiple websites, the Vivo X21 delivers the goods more than ever especially as it comes with the Smart’s non-stop surf bundle.

Smart is the exclusive operator partner of Vivo for this exciting X21 Project. The said offer will be available to all corporate partners of PLDT and Smart by August 15, 2018.