Addict Mobile Shows Smart’s Own Addiction: Addiction to Superprofits and Deception

By Anthony Ian M. Cruz
Spokesperson, TXTPower
Celfone: 0918-9234311

April 23, 2003

We in TXTPower welcome the statement of Rep. Abraham Mitra regarding the offensive “Addict Mobile” ads of Smart Communications. But allow us to add a few points.

This latest gimmick obviously wants to make it look attractive and “hip” to buy a phone at an amazing price - as high as P22,290.00 per piece. This, aside from paying the required steep monthly service fees for either 12 or 24 months.

Those gullible or rich enough may avail of a “free” phone but would have to pay at least P1,995.00 every month for 24 months in an onerous contract. If the contract is prematurely rescinded, any subscriber would pay a fine of as high as P20,000.00.

“Addict Mobile” is yet another proof that Smart will do ANYTHING just to clean its inventory of perhaps tens of thousands of hugely-expensive cellphones that cater only to the middle and upper classes and consequently tie them down to 24-month contracts that are so onerous.

It likewise shows that the most advanced features of General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) and Short Messaging Service (SMS) are made available by Smart only to its postpaid subscribers (read: mostly the elite on high-end plans) which number a miniscule few compared to the over eight million prepaid subscribers (read: the masa).

Monopolists of all stripes, like Smart, have an insatiable greed for profit. It seems to be ill content with its net incomes of P3.5-billion in 2001 and P6.3-billion in 2002. So greedy, Smart now wants billions more.

As a matter of course, we enjoin Rep. Mitra and other pro-consumer solons like Rep. Crispin Beltran to look into this issue. We challenge Congress to protect Smart subscribers, both current and prospective ones who may be preyed on by this amazing racket and take steps towards democratizing and bringing to the Filipino people the benefits of the cutting edge in cellular technology.

Last Modified : April 26th, 2003
Filed under : News
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