Author: Eric

SPINNR, a music service introduced by wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), was named the “Best Mobile Music App” by the prestigious GSMA telecoms industry association at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

The app, which kick-started the music streaming revolution in the Philippines, won at the GSMA’s 20th Global Mobile Awards which is dubbed the “Oscars” of the mobile industry. SPINNR was recognized among other nominees like Samsung’s Milk Music, Universal Music’s The Kleek, Bharti Airtel’s Wynk, and the Radio Sawa app.

Launched in 2013, SPINNR is the only music app that combines premium ad-free streaming with song purchases and free radio service, all for as low as P2.50 a day and with no data charges. Unlike other digital music stores, SPINNR lets Smart, Talk ‘N Text, and Sun Cellular subscribers pay for music downloads or streaming conveniently, through prepaid load deductions or charging to their postpaid bill – no credit cards or special accounts needed.

SPINNR received judges’ praise for being a multiplatform app with “a proven track record in driving subscriptions in the Philippines, thanks to a bite-sized revenue model with carrier billing in a low credit card user base environment.”

SPINNR is part of the PLDT Group’s suite of content services that have spurred the growth of mobile Internet revenues by 63% to P8.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2014. Mobile Internet usage increased by 167% to 48,329 Terabytes year-on-year.

“Our warmest congratulations to all the winners of the 20th Global Mobile Awards,” said GSMA chief executive officer John Hoffman. “Our winners are in the esteemed company of the mobile innovators, pioneers, and leaders that have won these coveted awards over the last two decades, many of whom have been game-changers in transforming the way that the world communicates.”

The GSMA is a renowned global association of mobile operators, device makers, software companies, equipment providers, and Internet companies. This year’s Global Mobile Awards received more than 800 “high-caliber” entries, judged by more than 300 independent experts, analysts, journalists, and academics.

“We are happy that our homegrown SPINNR app has been recognized as the top mobile music app in the world. Just a few years ago, Filipinos were not very familiar about the concept of music streaming. By giving users the total music experience through streaming, exclusive merchandise, and the hottest music events, SPINNR has revolutionized the way Filipinos enjoy and experience music through their mobile phones,” said Mellissa Limcaoco, head of Smart’s innovation and product development group.

Having established partnerships with the biggest music labels – Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Universal Records – SPINNR owns the exclusive rights to use and distribute in the country their entire library of digital content which includes millions of local and international hits spanning different genres. Sometimes, SPINNR even releases singles and albums a week before they become available in physical stores.

The brand is present in the biggest concerts such as Taylor Swift’s Red Tour, and offers exclusive promos, merchandise, and meet-and-greet opportunities to its users. By promoting paid music services and artist interaction, SPINNR joins the fight against music piracy and protects the artists’ right to earn from their craft.

SPINNR is available as a free downloadable app on Android phones and iPhones, and can be accessed by other internet-capable gadgets like tablets, laptops, and desktops via www.spinnr.ph. Users can log in using their Smart, Talk ‘N Text, or Sun Cellular account or their Facebook account.

The GSMA award is the latest commendation for the rapidly growing music service. Last year, SPINNR won the Best Content Service recognition from the Asia Communication Awards, and was named by the Boston consulting group JANA as the top music streaming app used by Filipinos.

This is also not the first time for Smart to win at the Global Mobile Awards. Last year, the company’s disaster preparedness and emergency response program called SafePH was named “Best Use of Mobile in Emergency or Humanitarian Situations.” The GSMA cited Smart specifically for its quick network restoration and emergency response efforts in the aftermath of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

Following the surge of mobile Internet usage among its subscribers, wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is now bundling its top prepaid call and text offers with free Internet access to further stimulate mobile web traffic.

Under this promo, Smart Prepaid subscribers all over the country who top up and subscribe to various call and text offers will also get to enjoy up to 30MB worth of FREE data per day – without any need to sign up or register.

The new offer comes at the heels of Smart’s successful Free Internet promo, which ended last February 28, and is propelled by the 63 percent increase in mobile data revenues to P8.1 billion in 2014, a big jump from P5 billion in 2013, proof that more and more of its subscribers have gotten into the habit of using their phones to access the Internet.

Dramatic increase in data usage

“With the successful run of our Smart Free Internet offer, many of our subscribers were able to experience real-life benefits of staying connected to mobile Internet – from getting in touch with their loved ones, accessing news and information, to enjoying the wealth of entertaining content available online,” said Charles A. Lim, executive vice president and head of the wireless consumer business of Smart Communications.

“This new offer will enable us to further pursue our Internet for All campaign and encourage more people to stay connected, empowered, and enriched by Smart’s fast, fun and worry-free mobile Internet, which is at the core of our Internet for All campaign this year,” Lim added.

Promos with data boost

Smart Prepaid subscribers can stay connected via call, text and surf with All Text 20 Plus, which now offers a total of 45MB of surfing, along with unlimited text to all networks, 20 minutes of calls to Smart, Sun and TNT, all valid for one day.

Subscribers can also call, text and surf more with Unli Call and Text 25, which has also been enhanced to offer a total of 45MB of surfing, along with unlimited calls to Smart and TNT, unlimited text to Smart, Sun and TNT, and 50 texts to other networks, all valid for one day. For even greater value for money, subscribers can enjoy Unli Call & Text 50, which now comes with a total of 140MB of surfing, along with unlimited calls to Smart, TNT and Sun, unlimited text to all networks, valid for three days.

Other top promos will also get a boost of additional 30MB, and subscribers can avail of all these promos by simply dialing *121# – Smart’s easy access number for all the latest promos and services.

From browsing to video streaming

With free 30MB on top of their subscriptions, users can now enjoy a wider range of online activities, like watching more videos on YouTube, Vimeo, or Daily Motion, browsing through and post on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts; visiting informative websites and updating their own blogs, or searching on Google and Wikipedia.

They can also use navigation tools like Waze and Google Maps, book a cab or limo service via Easy Taxi and Uber, or use traffic info sites such as the MMDA’s and InterAksyon’s. They can also send and receive emails, listen to songs via Smart’s Spinnr music service, shop via online stores like Zalora, Lazada, book their travel details through sites like Skyscanner and Airbnb, among other things – all without incurring additional data charges.

Largest and most advanced

The free mobile Internet may be enjoyed on all data-enable phones across all network platforms – from 2G to 3G to 4G speeds in the country.

Smart’s successive free mobile Internet offers follows the leader’s efforts to level up the deployment of its broadband network to meet the growing demand for data services. Smart continues to have the largest and most advanced network in the country today, with strategic cellular and broadband base stations supported by more than 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables around the country.

For more information on Smart Prepaid’s latest promo and services, visit smart.com.ph and follow its official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications) and Twitter (@SMARTCares).