You can find many kinds of cell phones in the Philippines, but I can't tell you what's used where, other than what I've seen here in Olongapo City. I can't tell you exactly what's used in Manila, although I've heard they support the Apple iPhone there along with every other major brand. Here in Olongapo City, I've only seen three brands of cell phones and no Apple anything (iPods don't count).
Motorola and Smart Communications
My wife sent me a Motorola cell phone last year and I can't tell you the model without taking it apart and I really don't feel like doing that. It's an older flip phone with a lousy camera.
I didn't find out until AFTER I changed the SIM card to be compatible with Globe Telecom that Motorola cell phones work better with Smart Communications. I don't know why that is, but it's true.
Since I don't use the cell phone, it sits fully-charged without any service. In a few days, my wife will be bringing me a Motorola RAZR V3 – the cell phone she's been using for a year. She recently bought another, later version of the Motorola RAZR V3 for a second year with her cell phone service provider. The cell phone she's bringing me takes excellent pictures and I plan to use it for local picture taking instead of lugging around my video camera.
Nokia and Globe Telecom
From what I've seen, all of the Nokia models of cell phones work better with Globe Telecom. Again, I don't know why that is.
Most of my in-laws have Nokia cell phones. They don't have regular jobs, but they have cell phones! Text messaging is dirt cheap "in network" and costs one peso per message unless they get unlimited text messaging for X number of days, in which event it's even cheaper. One peso is a little over 2 cents (in US dollars) right now.
Sony Erickson and What?
I have an in-law of an in-law (but not my in-law) that uses a Sony Erickson model of some kind. I don't know what service she uses, but I suspect it's Smart Communications.
It's the only one I've ever seen here, so I can't say any more about it.
Monthly Service Versus Prepaid "Loads"
Most people in the Philippines, not counting the businesses, use prepaid "loads" instead of having monthly service. Monthly service requires a monthly income. While I could get a monthly service, the area I live in doesn't support text messaging well enough to justify the cost.
Loads can be purchased in increments of 20, 50, 100 or more pesos. I don't recommend the large purchases because loads get "zapped" sometimes for no apparent reason. I hate to see people waste money, no matter how little they spend.
Voice loads can be purchased as well as text loads, but I can't tell you tell you the cost. I've never attempted voice service with any cell phones here. I use a residential telephone line and DSL (using Skype and Yahoo Instant Messenger) for my voice needs.
Update, April 2011
I'm starting to see a lot more Motorola cell phones and a few Samsung cell phones now.
Update, December 2011
The last update was referring to here in Olongapo City. I don't observe what people are using in places like Manila unless I happen to be stuck waiting at one of the Manila airport terminals or at the US Embassy. I actually do observe people using smartphones at those places, but I've never been close enough to see what make or model of smartphone they're using.
As we quickly approach 2012, I want to point out a few things. A lot of people, non-Filipinos of course and only outside of the Philippines, seem to subconsciously think that metro Manila is the Philippines. Nothing could be further from the truth, but the vast majority of areas outside of Manila don't get much attention in the mass media unless something devastating happens.
While it's true that a lot of the population is concentrated in the Manila area (like concentrations in New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, etc.) and that Manila is technologically up-to-date, it's not true for many of the areas outside of Manila. Even in areas where it appears to be the case, the services are oversubscribed and the people affected end up paying for poor quality service. Since I've seen firsthand what happens to Globe and Smart subscribers, I know this to be the case in Olongapo City (not the Subic Bay Freeport Zone). In fact, the only people outside of the freeport zone that seem to get decent service is those that live in the "downtown" area and that's simply due to the proximity to the former naval base and how long it's been there.
In the end, I think what's really going on is that a lot of people believe they're getting something they're not and then they get offended when I tell them they're not getting what they think they're getting. In other words… just because you're being told you're getting a particular service doesn't mean you're getting the best of that service (it usually means the opposite). This doesn't apply only to cell phone service in the Philippines, by the way, because I have relatives in suburban areas in the US getting screwed in much the same way.
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This article is published as: Cell Phones in the Philippines
I lived in southeast Asia for a year and getting a cell phone that worked consistently was definitely a chore. There weren't nearly the options then as there are now though. It's odd how much technology you take for granted.
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Hi Ben,
Wait for some more time and you will find, your cell phone as powerful your PC. Phones with 1 GHz processor are already available in market. Technology will keep on getting better and better, and in more speed than before.
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I noticed that there were quite a number of unknowns in this post. Although the keywords were probably popular on search engines. This calls for an update once more.
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I'm more likely to remove it than I am to update it. I'm just not that interested in cell phones these days and I don't even have a working one for myself.
how can you remove a post that has been bringing you hefty traffic and giving you good number of adsense clicks per day and makes you earn a living? of course you know that if you update this post, people will no longer have to click your ads in search for what they really need.
I don't rely on one post for traffic.
Re your Update April 2011: I'm starting to see a lot more Motorola cell phones and a few Samsung cell phones now.
I am from Metro Manila and I since the beginning of the year 2011, I can hardly find people using Motorola phones here. Most people I see are holding iPhones, Blackberry's, Samsung touchscreen phones on a class a & B crowd. For lower class crowds are mostly small Nokia phones, Samsung and Cherry Mobile phones. I am aware that you live in Olongapo which is only 2 hours away from Manila travelling by land. I don't think you are knowledgeable enough to have the right to talk about the Philippines since you only want to limit yourself to staying in Olongapo.
This article sounded like Philippines is left behind when it comes to cellphones which is not true. You sounded like you have been living in the caves of Palawan for quite sometime.
I wrote the article in 2008. Where were you then? Manila wasn't 2 hours away at the time. I've actually been to Manila dozens of times, whether I wanted to go or not. Of course things change. Did I completely rewrite the article? No. So what's your problem?
The problem is that you're providing some wrong information about the Philippines. You even optimized it with the right search terms but with wrong info content. Even my foreigner husband is wondering where in the Philippines you see more Motorola users in April 2011 and how come you don't see people using iPhones, Android phones and Blackberry's around your city. This is why almost all the shopping malls, restaurants/cafes and McDonald's are equipped with Wi-Fi's because they want to target that big market.
Although even my 50+ year old father have been using an iPhone since 2007, your article would have sounded factual if you did not put that April 2011 update.
Okay, again, I'm talking about Olongapo where the only Wi-Fi is at the freeport zone. The reason you don't see the smartphones here much is because they can only be used as cell phones – none of the additional features are supported by the oversubscribed cell providers. Wait, you do see them a lot – in the pawn shops and in some electronics stores. I won't begin to talk about Manila because the only people I saw using smartphones was at the airport.
Of course, it's natural to see iPhones and other touch phones being used in Metro Manila. After all, that's where about 75 percent of the population is. But to come out and say that they're prevalent everywhere else is just naive.
In Philippines today, you can now find people using that Iphone, Ipod, Android and touchscreens phones. Even in single house in a province there's already a Wi-fi. Try to think of it, Philippines is always updated when it comes to technology whether its cellphones, computer or any gadgets.
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I suppose it depends on the exact place you live, and what you do, wherever you are.
It's similar in Britain, in the big media-oriented cities like London and Bristol you see a lot of Android, Iphones, Blackberries, but out in the smaller cities, towns and villages you still see people with Nokias, Motorolas and Samsungs. Many of the older phones don't have voice biometrics technology, but then if you're living at a slower pace then you're unlikely to need it.
I had a Nokia (Smart) for years. It worked fine here in Subic and Siargao and Baguio and certainly Manila. For the longest time the guy who cuts the lawn had a nicer phone than me. I would be careful getting it worked on in OC but no problem getting work done in Green Hills in Manila. I have always done pre-paid but I also use my phone as needed not as a social device.
Now days there are lots of smart phone and I finally became a droid for the camera, calculator, maps and alarm features. I notice the iPhone is for those who want to be seen as the "in" crowd so it is gaining in popularity. Still I could walk and text without problem with my Nokia, it is not the case with my HTC.
I appreciate the updates. It's good to hear how things are coming along in the Philippines — helps one to realise just how small the world is becoming. Trying to use an old-fashioned phone directory to keep track of the number of people with phones is going to be all-but-impossible soon.
Looking forwards to seeing more updates on this post, whenever you have more information to offer.
Thanks for sharing,will be sure to use motorola when i go to the philipines
I still prefer Nokia….for me they are more user friendly and more durable….this is just my opinion. :)