Samsung Galaxy S 4 Plans: Globe Telecom at Plan 1799 versus Smart Data Plan 2000

Globe Telecom will give you a Galaxy S 4 at Plan 1799 for a 24 month lock-in and Php4,800 cash. Bundle in Unlimited Data and you will have Php1,101 a month consumable for calls and SMS.

The closest Plan from Smart is Data Plan 2000. At this plan you can get a Samsung Galaxy S 4 with a 24 month contract for Php4,000.

Total commitment under the contact: 

Globe - Php47,976

Smart - Php52,000

Consumable:

Globe - Php1,101. Globe to Globe calls @Php6.50 per minute, and other local calls @Php7.50 per minute. SMS a Php1.00.  The consumable can be converted to other bundles like unlimited call and test with the Globe network.

Smart - 150 minutes of calls and 200 SMS to all networks. Calls in excess of 150 minutes at @Php5.09 per minute or Smart to Smart calls, and other local calls @Php6.11 per minute. SMS a Php1.00. 

Unli Data:

Globe - LTE

Smart - LTE until June 30, 2013. Not certain if there will be an additional charge after that.

All-in-all total cost is cheaper with Globe, the consumable aspect of the plan is more flexible and can be converted to thing like unlimited calls and text or other bundles and LTE is a certainty. Smart offers lower per minute and SMS rates.

The Smart LTE Question

Undoubtably, between Smart Communications and Globe Telecom, the former has a fair lead in the deployment of LTE technology. The problem is, they do not have a clear LTE policy yet. If you got a new Apple iPhone 5 last year, you had free LTE until April 30, 2013. The LTE "promo" has been extended to June 30, 2013.

If you are planning to get one of those nice new LTE handsets, like a Samsung Galaxy S 4 or Sony Xperia Z, you also get LTE connectivity till June 30, 2013, after which time what Smart does next is not clear. 

Notice the fine print "Until June 30, 2013"

In the case of Globe Telecom its regular data plans are also LTE plans. 

Basically, if you are like me, you are a Smart Subscriber about to renew his contract, it is pretty confusing at Smart right now. It feels like Smart is not sure what it wants to do with its LTE plans, and unfortunately they are leaving their customers uncertain of whether they will have to spend more in the future to maintain LTE connectivity. The uncertainty about plan pricing, minor data billing issues plus changes in retention policy makes Globe Telecom suddenly look a lot more inviting.

If you want to be sure that you get a Smart plan with LTE, without having to pay more in the future, you can avail of the Sony Xperia V or ZTE T82 which come with LTE Plans. The  Apple iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Sony Xpreria Z come with 3G Unli Data Plan with free LTE until June 30, 2013.

When the promo ends, it looks like you will have to pay Php1,000 over and above your current plan to maintain LTE connectivity.