Manny V. Pangilinan, Chairman of PLDT, the parent company of Smart Communications, has confirmed to Inquirer that the mobile network will be carrying the iPhone 4S by December of this year. Apple devices used to be exclusive to Globe Telecom but with the lapse of the exclusivity deal, it is but natural for Apple to expand its base the same way it expanded distribution in the US and other countries. There are also plans of bringing the iPad tablet to the network but there are no details yet as to when it will be offered.
When the iPhone was exclusive to Globe, Smart was constrained to offer Android and Windows 7 phones. With the interest in the iPhone still growing over the years, it is a simply a sound choice for the network to take part in its distribution.
The iPhone 4S will be offered to the high-end subscribers according to Manny Pangilinan so that means it could be offered free at Plan UnliData 4000 or All-In Plan 3500. Prepaid cost will most likely be in line with Globe’s rates, or possibly cheaper since there will be some competition now. Smart will also soon start offering wireless broadband services bundled with Apple’s iPad tablets.
