Friday, March 29, 2024

Smart?s RoamFree app allows free access to 21 apps in 26 countries

PLDT-owned mobile operator Smart Communications rolled out on Monday, Dec. 4, a groundbreaking mobile app that lets travelers use their favorite websites without data roaming charges.

Kat Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global Corp. president and CEO, speaking during the launch of RoamFree at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City
Kat Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global Corp. president and CEO, speaking during the launch of RoamFree at the Marco Polo Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City

Designed as a one-stop portal, RoamFree gives users free instant access to up to 21 apps in a foreign destination, even if he or she has not subscribed to a roaming data package.

The app is now available for use in 26 destinations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and United Kingdom.

It is also accessible for free in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Albania, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Portugal, Romania, and the United Arab Emirates.

To use the portal, users simply download the RoamFree app on Google Play Store if an Android user, or iTunes if one is an iOS device owner.

Once abroad, just turn on mobile data and open the RoamFree app to access accounts on various partner sites and services ? without worrying about data charges.

Through the app, a user can sign in to his or her account and book rides on Uber, reserve accommodations through AirBNB, Agoda, or Booking; and navigate his or her way around the city using Google Maps.

They can also check in flights ahead of time on PassnFly; get local tips on Musement; pore over recommendations from fellow travelers on TripAdvisor and Triip; or get together with locals via Meetup.com.

They can also book tours on Klook and Tiqets; order food or reserve a table in top restaurants via Foodpanda, OpenTable, and TheFork; and snag deals on Groupon, KeyFlow, and Viator. They may also have practical travel apps at their fingertips, such as Google Translate, XE Currency Converter, and ATM Finder.

?Staying online while traveling abroad makes for a hassle-free travel experience, but unfortunately, many travelers still choose to go offline out of fear of racking up enormous data roaming charges. The RoamFree app addresses this by allowing you to freely connect to relevant content and services that make for a travel experience like never before,? said Kat Luna-Abelarde, PLDT Global Corp. president and CEO.

?Working with key players in the digital travel space, we are able to deliver sponsored data to cater to the growing number of overseas travelers, and reinforce our thrust to connect Filipinos wherever they are,? said Eric R. Alberto, chief revenue officer of PLDT and Smart.

At the same time, Smart has unveiled the Data Roaming Manager, a one-stop portal that lets users buy data roaming packs and keep track of their data usage while on the go.

Accessible to all Smart prepaid and postpaid subscribers traveling in over 130 countries, the Data Roaming Manager pops up when a user opens his or her mobile browser such as Google Chrome or Safari, after turning on mobile data and data roaming.

The Data Roaming Manager gives specific details, such as data volume consumption, as well as the start and expiration of the subscription.

Smart has also introduced GigaRoam, its biggest data roaming pack, providing 1GB data valid for 7 days for only P999.

To give travelers flexibility, the RoamFree app and the Data Roaming Manager also allow users to register to data roaming packs for their needs ? whether its GigaRoam, Surf Abroad, or Chat Abroad.

Surf Abroad lets users enjoy 24-hour data roaming for a flat rate of P550 per day, while Chat Abroad, lets them stay connected to chat apps like Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, Line, WeChat, and Viber for P150 per day.

Subscribe

- Advertisement -spot_img

RELEVANT STORIES

spot_img

LATEST

- Advertisement -spot_img