The SMS-based BPI Express Mobile in SMART Menu allows Smart users to enjoy the convenience of doing wide range of bank transactions such as balance inquiry, fund transfers, bills payment, SMART prepaid airtime reloading and SMART Money reloading through their mobile phones. The SMS-based works with the text messaging facility of Smart, even without connecting to the internet. BPI Express Mobile was made available to Smart subscribers on September 2009.

BPI Express Mobile also comes in another variant — Internet-based. With Internet-based BPI Express Mobile, you can do the same transactions as SMS-based and more except Smart Money related transactions. To learn more about Internet-based BPI Express Mobile, click here.

Here’s how to setup and use SMS-based BPI Express Mobile on your Smart cellphone.

A. Register for BPI Express Mobile

1. Register your cellphone and account number.
   

   Text ENROLL <Account Number> <Joint Account Indicator> and send to 3274.

   *The Joint Account Indicator is the 2-digit number in the lower right portion of your ATM card.
   

2. Activate your enrollment through any of BPI’s ATMs nationwide.
   1. Insert Express Teller ATM Card
   2. Key-in your Pesonal Identification Number (PIN)
   3. Choose Special Services. Choose Activate Enrollment
   4. Choose EConnect – SMS Enrollment
   5. BPI will send a text message containing your initial Mobile PIN (MPIN) after (1) banking day

   

   Your initial MPIN is 157362. CHG your MPIN now! Send CHG oldMPIN newMPIN to 3274. Ref#111608314976

3. Change the initial MPIN to your own MPIN.
   

   CHG <Initial MPIN> <Own MPIN> send to 3274

   BPI will send a confirmation message.

   You have successfully changed your MPIN. Access your accounts anytime, anywhere with BPI Express Mobile. Go to Smart Menu > Mobile Banking > Activate Bank > enter BPI > enter MPIN. P2.5/txn Ref#06670345

B. Activate Mobile Banking Menu in your cellphone

1. Choose Mobile Banking in SMART Menu.
2. Choose Activate. If you already have an active bank, proceed to step 4.
3. Smart will send a text message confirming activation
4. Choose Activate Bank
5. Choose m-Pin
6. Enter BPI as Bank Code
7. Press OK to confirm
8. Enter m-Pin
9. Smart will send text messages confirming activation. BPI should now appear under Mobile Banking

Now, you are ready to use BPI Express Mobile!

C. Use BPI Express Mobile

1. Balance Inquiry for Deposit Accounts (Savings or Checking)
   

   BAL <MPIN> <AccountKey> send to 3274

   Account Key is composed of 2-letter Account Type and last 4 digits of your account number. Account Type; SA = Savings Account, CA = Checking Account. (e.g. SA1234). Balance Inquiry is also available in your Smart Menu.

2. Fund Transfer (to own deposit accounts only)
   1. Choose BPI from Mobile Banking Menu
   2. Choose Transfer
   3. Select Recipient Account
   4. Select Source Account
   5. Select Currency
   6. Enter amount to be transferred. Use either # or * in place of a decimal point.
   7. Enter M-PIN
   8. BPI will send a text message containing the details of the fund transfer

   
   

3. BPI to Smart Money Transfer. Transaction fee is Php 15 to be deducted from your BPI account. If you want to transfer Php 8,000 to your Smart Money, you will be charged Php 8,015 from your BPI account.
   1. Choose Smart Money from Smart Menu
   2. Choose Reload Money
   3. Select the Smart Money Card to be reloaded
   4. Choose BPI
   5. Select Source Account
   6. Enter amount to be transferred
   7. Enter M-PIN
   8. Smart will send a text message containing details of Smart Money reload

   
   

4. Smart Money to BPI Transfer. I tried it, it’s not working. I called Smart and they told me this is not possible. I’ll just write this down in case they implement this in the future.
   1. Choose Smart Money from Smart Menu
   2. Choose Transfer
   3. Choose Bank
   4. Choose BPI
   5. Select Recipient Account
   6. Select Smart Money Card to be debited from
   7. Enter the amount to be transferred
   8. Enter W-PIN
5. Reload Smart/TNT Prepaid
   1. Choose BPI from Mobile Banking Menu
   2. Choose Reload Prepaid
   3. Choose Buddy/TNT or Smart Bro
   4. Choose My Buddies (see Personalized Lists C6 to add Buddies) or Others.
   5. Select or Enter Mobile number
   6. Select Source Account
   7. Select the amount to be reloaded
   8. Enter M-PIN
   9. Smart will send a text message containing details of the reload

   
   

6. Bills Payment. Requires BPI-Smart Biller Codes.
7. Personalize Lists (for My Buddies and My Bills).
   1. Go to Smart Money > Personalize > My Lists > Add
   2. Choose My Buddies to add Buddies or choose My Bills to add billing accounts. Only Smart Money Biller Codes can be saved in “My Bills” list.

For other transactions, visit BPI Express Mobile for Smart.

Listed below are the prices of unlimited text promos offered by Globe, Smart, Sun Celluar, Touch Mobile, Talk ‘N Text, and Red Mobile. For as low as Php 4.00, you can subscribe to an unlimited text promo good for 1 day. ?While the lowest priced combo of unlimited call and text is priced at Php 20.00 for 1 day.

For more information on how to subscribe to these promos, read more prepaid unlimited text offers?listed after the table. You can also check out the company’s website for other promos.

Red Mobile

Php 4 – Unlimited text to Red for 1 day.

TU4 to 9949

Php 28 – Unlimited text to Red for 7 days.

TU28 to 9949

Php 120 – Unlimited text to Red for 30 days.

TU120 to 9949

Php 8 – Unlimited call and text to Red for 1 day.

CTU8 to 9949

Php 56 – Unlimited call and text to Red for 7 days.

CTU56 to 9949

Php 240 – Unlimited call and text to Red for 30 days.

CTU240 to 9949

Talk ‘N Text

Php 20 -?UNLITXT 2ALL 20. Unlimited text to all networks for 1 day.

UA20 to 4545

Php 20 -?UNLITXT20PLUS. Unlimited texts to TNT/Smart and?10-minutes call to TNT/Smart for 1 day. To call dial *4546 +11 digit TNT/Smart number.

GU20 to 4545

Php 30 – UNLITXT30PLUS. Unlimited texts to TNT/Smart and?20-minutes call to TNT/Smart for 1 day. To call dial *4546 +11 digit TNT/Smart number.

GU30 to 4545

Php 150 – UNLITXT150. Unlimited text to TNT/Smart for 30 days.

U150 to 4545

Php 100 – UNLITalk Plus. Unlimited call (from 10pm to 5pm) and unlimited text to TNT/Smart for 5 days. To call, dial *4547 + 11-digit Talk N’ Text or Smart number.

T100 to 4547

Touch Mobile

Php 10 – ASTIGTXT10. Unlimited text to TM/Globe for 1 day.

ASTIGTXT10 to 8888

Php 15 – ASTIGTXT15. Unlimited text to TM/Globe for 2 days.

ASTIGTXT15 to 8888

Php 20 – UNLI Call & Text 20. Unlimited call (from 10pm to 5pm) and text to TM/Globe for 1 day.

UNLICOMBO to 2824

Php 100 – UNLI Call & Text 100.?Unlimited call (from 10pm to 5pm)?and text to TM/Globe for 7 days.

UNLICOMBO100 to 2824

Sun Cellular

Php 10 – Winner Txt 10. Unlimited text to Sun for 1 day.

WIN10 to 247

Php 50 -?Text Unlimited 50. Unlimited text to Sun for 7 days.

TU50 to 247

Php 150 -?Text Unlimited 150. Unlimited text to Sun for 30 days.

TU150 to 247

Php 20 -?TEXTALL20. Unlimited text to all networks for 1 day. (Added September 14, 2011)

UTEXTALL20 to 247

Php 25 -?Super Loaded 25. Unlimited call and text to Sun for 1 day.

CTU25 to 247

Php 150 – Super Loaded 150. Unlimited call and text to Sun for 7 days.

CTU150 to 247

Php 450 -?Super Loaded 450. Unlimited call and text to Sun for 30 days.

CTU450 to 247

Smart Communications

Php 25 – LAHATxt Unli 25. Unlimited text to all networks for 1 day. Promo runs from July 29, 2011 to November 30, 2011

LTU25 to 2266

Php 25 – Smartalk Unli Call & Text 25. Unlimited call and text to?Smart/TNT/Red for 1 day.?To call, dial *6406 + 11-digit Smart/TNT/red #.

UNLI25 to 6406

Php 150 – Smartalk?Unli Call & Text 150. Unlimited call and text to?Smart/TNT/Red for 7 days.?To call, dial *6406 + 11-digit Smart/TNT/red #.

UNLI150 to 6406

Php 299 -?Smartalk?Unli Call & Text 100. Unlimited call and text to?Smart/TNT/Red for 15 days.?To call, dial *6406 + 11-digit Smart/TNT/red #.

UNLI299 to 6406

Globe Telecom

Php 25 -?SUPERUNLI ALLTXT 25.?Unlimited text to all networks for 1 day. Promo runs from July 16 to September 30, 2011

UALLPLUS25 to 8888

Php 25 – SUPERUNLI CALL & TEXT 25. Unlimited call and text to Globe/TM for 1 day. Promo is extended until September 30, 2011

SUPERUNLI25 to 8888

Php 150 -?SUPERUNLI CALL & TEXT 150.?Unlimited call and text to Globe/TM?for 7 days.?Promo is extended until September 30, 2011

SUPERUNLI150 to 8888

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has entered the unli postpaid market by offering the most affordable postpaid plans ever. These??two new unlimited texting postpaid plans are:

• Unli Postpaid Plan 299 (Php 299/month), unlimited text to Smart/Red/Talk N’ Text/Addict Mobile
• Unli Postpaid Plan 599 (Php 599/month), unlimited call and text to Smart/Red/Talk N’ Text/Addict Mobile

UNLI Text Plan 299 comes with a free?Samsung E1080 GSM handset. Meanwhile the UNLI Call & Text Plan 599 comes with?a more premium Nokia C1-01 handset.

“Our subscribers want a real ?UNLI? postpaid plan and so we are giving it to them,? Smart Mobile Marketing head Guido Zaballero said. ?With these new plans, we will further cement our position as the number 1 wireless services provider in the country.”

To apply for a Smart Postpaid plan, new subscribers must submit necessary documents to their nearest Smart Wireless Center.?Upon activation of the account, the unlimited service can already be enjoyed.?No SMS registration is required to avail these plans.

Do you want to know which mobile phone number belongs to which network? Below is a list of mobile number prefixes used by Globe, Smart, Sun Cellular, Red Mobile, Talk ‘N Text, and Touch Mobile. This list is useful for those who often subscribe to unlimited text or call services.

Mobile phone area codes in the Philippines are composed of three digits and always start with the number 9. Originally, there were only three prefixes or area codes used for mobile phones: 917 for Globe Telecom, 918 for Smart Communications and 973 for Express Telecom, the three existing mobile companies at the time. As service grew rapidly throughout the 1990s and even until today, existing codes have been exhausted and new codes have been added to fulfill demand. [Source: Wikipedia]

Red Mobile, which was initially introduced to operate only on 3G mobile phones, has now been made available to 2G handsets.

“By expanding the scope of our services to 2G handsets, more consumers among the estimated 14 to 16 million Filipino mobile phone users will enjoy the competitive rates offered by our network,” says Red Mobile Product Manager Darvin Sy Su.

Red Mobile is using the same telecommunication infrastructures and technology of SMART. This means that Red Mobile will be powered by 8, 477 cellsites.

Pinoy Bingo Night, which originated from America’s National Bingo Night, is the newest game show of ABS-CBN hosted by Ms. Kris Aquino.

Everyday, 200 studio audiences, called as Bingoers, will play and compete against the Solo Studio contestatant. The Bingoers can win 50,000 pesos for every game, while the Solo Studio contestant can win up to 1 million pesos. Home viewers will also have a chance to play either as Home Player or Text Player and can win 200,000 pesos.

To join as texter, text

PBN <last name>,<first name>/<age>/<gender>/<address> to 2366

P2.50/txt for Globe, TM,  Smart, Talk and Text
P2/txt for Sun Cellular

Cebu Pacific (CEB), the low fare leader in the local aviation industry is the first local airline to introduce E-ticketing and TxtCEB (booking through SMS) in the country.

TxtCEB allows anyone to get updates on Cebu Pacific‘s special flights and promos or book a Cebu Pacific flight through their cellphones (domestic bookings only). To start, here’s how:

For Globe, Touch Mobile subscribers, text

CEB FLIGHT or CEB HELP and send to 2982.

For Smart, Talk N’ Text and Addict Mobile subscribers, text

CEB to 2952

For Sun Cellular subscribers, text

CEB or CEB HELP and send to 2982

Then follow the SMS prompts. It only takes a minimum of 5 SMS messages to book a Cebu Pacific flight. You will be charged a minimal amount per text message received; P2.50 for Globe, Touch Mobile, Smart, Talk ‘N Text and Addict Mobile and P2.00 for Sun Cellular subscribers. Confirmed bookings cannot be paid via SMS. You still have to pay over the counter at any Cebu Pacific ticket office. You will be charged the fare confirmed by txtCEB at the date of ticket purchase.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has picked Globe Telecom Inc. as the most reliable and efficient mobile phone service provider in Metro Manila, based on their benchmarking study.

Tests were conducted last year (Sept. 17 to Oct. 6, 2008) by NTC engineers on three cellular service operators, namely Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, and Sun Cellular to measure the quality of services rendered. They made 2,475 network-to-network calls per operator in 13 Metro Manila cities, as part of the tests.

Three areas were reviewed namely network accessibility (circuit switch), service accessibility (telephony), and call completion rate circuit switch (telephony), to measure the quality of service indicators.

Network accessibility (Circuit Switch). All three got perfect scores.
Globe 100%
Smart 100%
Sun 100%

Service Accessibility (Telephony). Globe got the highest mark.
Globe 97.98%
Smart 96.24%
Sun 83.02%

Call Completion Rate Circuit Switch (Telephony). Globe and Smart tied at 98.55%.
Globe 98.55%
Smart 98.55%
Sun 97.65%

Signal Strength
Smart 91.81%
Globe 86.58%
Sun 84.48%

Signal Quality
Globe 93.79%
Smart 93%
Sun 84.47%

Hand Over Success Rate
Smart 99.03%
Globe 98.27%
Sun 96.72%

Call Set-up Time (based on the 2,475 sample calls)
Globe 97.29%
Smart 95.76%
Sun 80.12%

In terms of blocked and dropped calls, a lower percentage is desirable to ensure higher quality of service and therefore, the operator with a lower percentage was given a higher ranking.

Blocked Calls (based on the 2,475 sample calls). Blocked calls are failed connection to the network due to unavailability of signal.
Globe 49 (1.99%)
Smart 93 (3.79%)
Sun 779 (17.05%)

Dropped Calls (based on the 2,475 sample calls). A call is considered dropped when the signal has been cut just a few seconds upon connection.
Globe 35 (1.42%)
Smart 35 (1.42%)
Sun 48 (1.95%)

Under the NTC’s circular on service performance standards for CMTS, the allowable drop call rate is 5 percent. NTC also noted that blocked and dropped calls are caused by network congestion and system failure.

On Christmas and on New Year’s eves, unlimited text and call promotions will be temporarily unavailable according to mobile telephone companies Globe Telecom, Inc. and Smart Communications.

In an interview, Smart Spokesman Ramon R. Isberto said a promotion that allows subscribers to make unlimited calls at night and send as many text messages as they can would not be made available from Dec. 23 to Dec. 25, and from Dec. 30 to Jan. 1.

Likewise, a similar promotion from Globe will not be made available on Dec. 24 and 25, and on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, said Froilan M. Castelo, Globe’s regulatory division head.

This is to help prevent their networks from overloading at a time when most Filipinos greet their friends and relatives with Christmas greetings.

“What we are doing is managing our network, in case there are any serious obstructions [during the holidays],” Mr. Isberto said.

“We are not taking any chances. We want to protect the network from abuse,” Mr. Castelo said. “We want to avoid any congestion. We just want to clear the airwaves,” he added.

A billion text messages are sent locally everyday as estimated by both Smart and Globe. This can increase during the holidays as Filipinos greet their friends and relatives.

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to post an update message just as you would in an instant messaging client. These updates (otherwise known as tweets), are text-based posts that can only be 140 characters in length.

Plurk is similar to Twitter only that your updates (called plurks) and your friends’ are arranged in a timeline so your friends can easily view and comment on them. Plurks can be posted with qualifiers, which are one-word verbs used to represent a thought (ex. “feels”, “thinks”, “loves”, etc.). Its like an instant messenger / social networking / forum / micro-blogging service rolled into one.

An easier way to update your Plurk and Twitter is to use SMS or text messaging.

To start plurking via SMS, sign up first at phplurk.com. Then, register your PLURK account to their gateway by sending:

PREG <plurk username> <password>

To update your timeline, send either

PLURK <your update>

or

PLURK <qualifier> <your update>

Valid qualifiers:

loves, likes, shares, gives, hates, wants, wishes, has, will, asks, was, feels, thinks, says, is

mahal, ipinamamahagi, nagbibigay, kinasusuklam, gusto, naghahangad, nagtatanong, nararamdaman, iniisip, sinasabi, ay

To start twitting via SMS, sign up first at phtwitters.com. Then, register your TWITTER account to phtwitters.com, by sending:

REG <twitter username> <password>

To update your timeline, send

TWIT <your update>

To send a direct message, text

TWITD <username> <your message>

The gateway numbers to send to:

GLOBE – +63-916-4967171
SMART – +63-929-3632359
Update: SUN CELLULAR – +63-923-8852052