Landline War goes Wireless


It looks like the local landline phone wars is headed towards the next phase as both PLDT and Bayan (formerly known as Bayantel) are now offering wireless landline services.

Wireless landline and moreWhile both did not disclose much about the technology behind their respective new services, we know enough that at least the Bayan Span wireless landline allows you to send SMS to other Bayan Span users and connect to the internet via dial up albeit its inferior connection speed to the almost mainstream DSL.

PLDT Landline Plus...err minus?PLDT’s wireless service, Landline Plus,  just limits you to regular phone calls and text capability.

Though both services allow you wireless freedom to use your landline phone, the Bayan Span without a doubt offers you more services aside from the usual phone calls.

So, is Bayan Span service a great deal? Well, not quite that great at the moment. Call quality is erratic and regular landline calls is still far much better, but I am optimistic that this will improve as the months go by and the technology develops. PLDT, on the other hand, being a late bloomer in the wireless landline department, might want offer more options rather than just regular phone calls if they want to out match Bayan considering that they do have an array of wireless service at their disposal. Keep an eye on both companies as I’m pretty sure this is just the beginning of a heated wireless showdown between the two.

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November 23rd, 2007
11 Responses
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Comment Number:
1
Written by:
Kanaging
Posted on:
11/24/2007 at 8:58 am

Bayan needs more enhancement on their services, as their signal are erratic, especially during bad wheather.

More importantly, they should also take into account their prices if they want to widen patronage of their product by consumers.

Comment Number:
2
Written by:
Kuko Ako
Posted on:
11/24/2007 at 9:32 am

Pardon the ignorance, but what exactly is wireless landline? Is it in any way related to VOIP?

Comment Number:
3
Written by:
Billy A. Ko
Posted on:
11/25/2007 at 3:01 am

I think Digitel was the first to introduce wireless landline, though I might be wrong. In the end, being the largest network, the winner will be… PLDT.:(

Comment Number:
4
Written by:
Romeo Ybanez
Posted on:
11/26/2007 at 10:57 am

You don’t mention Globelines Speak and Surf. For only P995 rental of equipment you have wireless landline and broadband internet connection. Both operates independently. Globe though disabled their SMS capability on the wireless handset but they can easily return it back. My wireless handset is based in Makati and may internet broadband connection is based in Valenzuela City. Moreover, you can call free to any Globelines phone in the country.

Comment Number:
5
Written by:
Pj
Posted on:
11/26/2007 at 3:02 pm

We have the PLDT wireless landline but each call is limited to 5 minutes else it will be cut off. As per Bayan advertisement you can make a call as long as you want to. With PLDT wireless, we are given 900 minutes of call equivalent per month; any excess would be additional charge.

Comment Number:
6
Written by:
Pj
Posted on:
11/26/2007 at 3:11 pm

i failed to mentioned that incoming calls are treated as if it is an out-going call also; hence you might used up all the 900 minutes by just receiving calls, theoretically

Comment Number:
7
Written by:
mikemalongga
Posted on:
11/26/2007 at 3:59 pm

I think they are using cdma technology on a limited coverage area. Other wireless landline includes Digitel Mango and Globelines Wireless. Globe offers the best deal contrary to what the author says as it can bundle a wireless broadband connection.

Comment Number:
8
Written by:
KIKO
Posted on:
11/27/2007 at 1:24 pm

What we are discussing here was are the phone really a wireless that can bring to any part of Metro Manila? I think only Bayan telecommunications has the capacity to do that and it as unlimitted local calls, unlike the other company who has only 600 minutes free calls and after you consume the said minutes it has charges of P 1.00 per minute.Moreover Bayan phone was already activated and ready to use. So for the best wireless landline with internet connection go for Bayan Telecommunication or call 492-80-17 for instant connection.

Comment Number:
9
Written by:
Allan David Reyes
Posted on:
11/27/2007 at 1:38 pm

Bayan Span is the better choice between PLDT and Bayan Communications as these two, at the moment, are the ones who are aggressively pursuing their campaign to attract the public in hooking up their landlines wirelessly.

Globe, on the other hand, was indeed the first to offer this service, but they have failed to capitalize on their status as being the first and have felt silent as of late in the heat of this new wireless landline battle. I didn’t even know they were still offering it up until now.

Personally, my view is it’s a waste of resources if indeed Globe is offering the best package yet they fail to let the public now about it. On the other hand, PLDT is winning the publicity war despite their poor track record in providing adequate services and pathetic customer support.

But look at this way, come 2008, these companies should put their A game on if they want to win the wireless landline battle because consumers are now becoming wiser in making their choices.

Comment Number:
10
Written by:
Marlet Badeo
Posted on:
12/29/2007 at 3:43 am

I’m using a Bayan Span. Calling is sometime a problem but internet connection is much easier when needed even at school where I would bring my unit and my computer.

My problem is that I am tied to a 12-month lock in period which means that I have to endure their erratic call signal for the rest of the one year subscription. I wanted to switch to Globe’s Wireless to try it because it comes with unlimited broadband capability.

Comment Number:
11
Written by:
Mark M.V. Salin
Posted on:
4/5/2008 at 1:03 pm

Mr Allan Reyes is correct. It will be useless if Globe has the best package yet poor advertising. Look at it this way: Globe’s wireless landline-only package (no broadband component) is only Php599.00/month, followed by PLDT @ Php600.00/mo and BayanTel @ Php699.00/mo. Globe’s package gives us unlimited local calls, free 500 SMS