Globelines Wireless Landline Application/Activation - NOT FUNNY but IRRITATING

I applied for a globelines wireless landline last thursday Aug 28, 2008 at Greenbelt 4. It was a fairly easy process since I just asked them to link it to my existing Globelines account. I was then told that activation will take a MAXIMUM of 3 days. Now is the 3rd day and my line is not yet activated.

This frustrated me, being the eager beaver that I am, I called up Globelines Customer Service Hotline (171 for Globelines or 02 9198888 for other phones) to ask about the "SIM card slot" on the phone. Thru the course of the conversation with the CSR, I found out that my application was still pending for APPROVAL! WHAT! I said to the CSR, if it was still for approval, how come they already gave me the unit (ZTE N160)? Ok, so he told me to just wait for the call from their support group informing me of my telephone number and activation of the line.

Ok, I did not receive a call, so the next day, Aug 29, 2008, I called back and asked for the status of my application, and still the CSR told me that it was still PENDING approval and activation. Now I got pissed off, becuase from the previouse CSR, he told me that normally, activation is done within 24 hours! So as to pass along my frustrations and anger, I did not hang up and instead argued with the CSR (I worked in a call center before and talking too long to a customer will ruin the metrics of the CSR and the team), and even asked for a supervisor, to which they were not able to give me one.

Yesterday, Aug 30, I called back and still got the same answer, again, I argues for quite sometime. Today, still no call form the support services and I called back again. I will be calling again for the whole day just to pester them.

The leaflets, ads and the Globelines website, indicates that activation is within 48hours which has not happened to me. tsk tsk

HDMI

Just recently I bought a DVD player (Philips DVD6620) that has HDMI output. Ever since I got my HDTV, I was not able to utilize it's Hi-Def potential because my Pioneer DVD player was not HDMI capable, so I only use Component cables. The analog cables are ok compared with composite but when I compared the composite output with that of HDMI, there was stunning difference noted.

Globelines 2Mbps DSL line...happy

This is the speed I'm getting at the moment from my 2Mbps ADSL subscription. And I might say I'm impressed.

Can't Get Log on to Yahoo! Mail

It's already been a couple of days that we (here in the house) cannot access our Yahoo! Mail. I called the Globelines Broadband hotline, I told them my problem, and after asking me to turn the modem off and on again after 10secs, then she asked me to try and log in again. Lo and behold, I was able to log in.

Globe Visibility Prepaid vs. Smart Bro Prepaid

Both local telcos, Globe and Smart have launched their own Prepaid Wireless Broadband service. Previously a premium service from both company, they now are aiming at the prepaid market. Both are riding on each network's 3G connection.

What's funny is, this service and the unit (Globe uses a Huawei USB modem, while Smart uses a proprietory USB modem) are now trickling down to the main market, those who cannot afford a postpaid broadband connection, those who are always on the move (as long as their is a signal on each network's towers, these modems will work), and those who are just adapters.

The modems started out expensive but now are both down to the P3K mark, where Globe is the cheapest of the 2 with their modem priced at P3500 only.

My uMobile SIM

This was sent thru courier. uMobile is a new mobile phone company that is owned initially by CURE Telecoms but was recently acquired by SMART Network.

It's one cool idea, the subscriber gets free P100 load every month for the whole 12 months. A subscriber can also earn more free loads just by clicking on the ads sent on their phones.

Although I haven't seen any ads sent to my phone.

HDMI now OK with my new Philips DVD 6620

I bought a Philips DVD 6620 player the other day, it's got a slim and sexy appearance for a DVD player, other than that, it's the HDMI output that attracted me to it.

But when I tried connecting the HDMI output to my TV, it's not getting any signal. Now I was paranoid, it's either the DVD player is busted or my HDTV is busted or it's the HDMI cable that has a problem. I called SAMSUNG's local tech support number, turned out that they will come over my place to check if it's the TV that has a problem, that is, if I don't figure out what's really wrong.

So I brought the DVD player back to SM Appliance center hoping that it's the DVD player that's busted. Good thing, I was able to talk to a courteous customer service assistant, she helped me test my unit. Lo and behold, the unit I got was busted. They took a new unit, we tested it and I took it home.

I powered it up and hooked it up to my HDTV, it works with the HDMI connection! But while trying on different types of media and file formats, trying to find out if the player can handle it (as advertised). All's well, until I popped in a Region 1 DVD, and it gave me an error format. Now I have a sexy and pretty upconverting DVD player that can only handle Region 3 disks. Good thing I was able to find a hack that will change the region setting of the player to all-regions. Now I can enjoy my DVDs!

New Car Stereo and Speakers

Today I had the car's window tints changed into a more darker ones. And, perhaps out of impulse, I replaced my old car speakers (who were 8 years old and dying anyways) with new ones (Infinity and JBL). Though still perfectly working (except for the busted backlight), I also replaced my car audio headunit with an Alpine Headunit that is iPod compatible.

Now, with the new car stereo, I just plug my iPod Nano into the cable hidden in the glove compartment and control everything from the headunit.

Funny thing was, I can't seem to use the search function by folders (i.e. Playlist, Artists, Songs, etc.) during my first try (of course, I don't want to under-utilize the thing by not using the features), but was able to figure out how the thing works (the manual helped a bit, but honestly, the information was a bit on the limited side). And the best thing about it is, I'm very much impressed.

New Car Stereo and Speakers

Today I had the car's window tints changed into a more darker ones. And, perhaps out of impulse, I replaced my old car speakers (who were 8 years old and dying anyways) with new ones (Infinity and JBL). Though still perfectly working (except for the busted backlight), I also replaced my car audio headunit with an Alpine Headunit that is iPod compatible.

Now, with the new car stereo, I just plug my iPod Nano into the cable hidden in the glove compartment and control everything from the headunit.

Funny thing was, I can't seem to use the search function by folders (i.e. Playlist, Artists, Songs, etc.) during my first try (of course, I don't want to under-utilize the thing by not using the features), but was able to figure out how the thing works (the manual helped a bit, but honestly, the information was a bit on the limited side). And the best thing about it is, I'm very much impressed.

The uMobile Diary: Ads

It's almost a month since I got my uMobile SIM, first thing that happened was, my FREE load got consumed without me knowing it. I found out that my HP iPaq 510 Voice Messenger was connecting wirelessly (which app I don't know) and eating up my load. So the first month load just disappeared. Now, I made sure that when the next month came, my phone is off. Lo and behold there's my P100 load and I was able to make my first call today. But I can't seem to send text messages.

Regarding the ads, well, still hasn't received anything.

PLDT Landline Plus Prepaid SIM

There's a problem in marketing when a product is launched but the availability is scarce. That's what happened with the PLDT Landline Plus Prepaid SIM. Even their business centers doesn't carry them.

It was just a few days after they've launched this product when I went to the Welcome Rotonda PLDT Business Office, I told that they have it but doesn't have any stocks (what a way to put it right?), anyways, I tried looking for the SIM at "dealers" but this elusive SIM is not to be found.

Today, I went to the Pasay City Business Office to check if they have the SIM, but lo and behold, I was told that they don't have it anymore and that they're not selling it in their office (even when there's this big tarpauling advertising the product), that I should check out the dealers. YEAH RIGHT, looks like this very promising product was outed very early to provide confusion and congestion on the network, since it's really a GSM SIM with some limitations to it.

myGlobe iPhone

Globe has customized postpaid plans for you to enjoy and maximize the features of the iPhone 3G. Globe's iPhone 3G Plans include free call minutes, free text messages and free internet both mobile (using Globe's network) and Wi-Fi (using WiZ Wi-Fi). You can get the iPhone 3G for free at Plan 4999! This comes with 100 hours of mobile internet and unlimited access using Wiz Wi-Fi.

The 8GB and 16GB are available under the Prepaid Kit offer. The 8GB retails for P41,899 and the 16GB retails for P48,899. While the price may be steep, the price is a result of increase in dollar exchange rate as well as tax. This is why Globe is giving you P1,000 worth of load for every purchase. Plus, you even get P1,000 discount when you are one of the first 1,000 who avails via reservation!

myGlobe iPhone

Will you look at this, the hype is too much and so is the Price! Too much!

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