Better Connectivity in Palawan: Network Upgrade Boosts Businesses, Smart Retailers’ Sales

Wazzup Pilipinas!

For a tourist-popular place like Puerto Princesa in Palawan, better mobile internet is a boon not only to travelers, but for local businesses as well.

“Mobile data is a need for our (travel) agency to keep up with the strong online community of travelers,” said Jocelyn Libato, staff at Pretty Planet Travel and Tours in Puerto Princesa. “We post updates, promos and tour packages on our Facebook page to attract customers here and abroad.”

Locally owned gaming shops like Lucky Panda Game Zone have also felt the boost. “It really helps me promote the business especially now that communication with customers mostly takes place online, be it via email, Facebook, or Messenger,” said Lucky Panda Game Zone supervisor Rochelle Baylon.

From P2,000 a week last year, store owner Evelyn Juntado now sells more than twice as much cell phone load. She is one of many Smart load retailers in Puerto Princesa enjoying a boost in earnings since Smart Communications upgraded its network, boosting connectivity and consequently driving data traffic.

“I have been re-loading from Smart agents more frequently since the LTE rollout,” she says, and P5,000 worth is easily sold out.

Marilyn Bundac, a veteran Smart retailer in Puerto Princesa, has likewise tripled her earnings because of better signal. “From P500 a day, I now average P1,000 to P1,500. My customers from the Land Transportation Office here say that they can use Smart’s faster LTE to watch videos on YouTube or play mobile games,” she said, adding that she herself is an avid Facebook user.

Smart is rolling out more Long Term Evolution (LTE) sites across Palawan, the country’s largest province in terms of land area, starting in Puerto Princesa. Initial internal tests in areas like the Puerto Princesa International Airport and Honda Bay wharf showed LTE download speeds between 12 and 60 Mbps, depending on the device.

Evelyn’s Jairus Store is located at Honda Bay wharf. Being also an online seller on Facebook, the mother of two herself uses mobile data -- GigaSurf50 for fast and stable online experience—the same promo she often recommends to her regular customers, mostly tricycle drivers and housewives.

Higher month-on-month growth

With increased data traffic Puerto Princesa, Smart in Palawan has also posted month-on-month growth in sales over the last six months.

Ryan Abadilla, provincial customer development manager for Palawan sees more opportunities for the province. “With improved connectivity, tourists can upload photos, update their social media, and keep in touch with their families via messaging apps faster.” And with more tourists coming in, “local businesses will also flourish.”

Aside from the city proper, tourist areas like Coron, El Nido, Roxas, San Vicente and Taytay have also been growing, thanks to Smart LTE already in place,” he adds.

Like Evelyn, load retailer Riza Cinco also reports a spike in business since the network upgrade.

“My customers now prefer higher load denominations ranging from P50 to 100 like GigaSurf50 and AllOutSurf 99 so they can enjoy mobile data for a longer period of time,” she says. “They also still buy call-and-text promos like the Super Combo 20 and UnliCall&Text30.”

Increasing LTE traffic

For student Aziel Almasco, who buys AllOutSurf99, mobile data is helpful for both work and play. “With the improved network in our area, I also get to enjoy the Free YouTube Everyday promo now that I am on vacation,” she says.

Until July 15, Smart, Sun, and TNT prepaid customers can enjoy up to one hour of free access to YouTube every day as long as they are registered to select promos including GigaSurf99, AllOutSurf99, GigaSurf 50, AllOutSurf 30, Panalo Data 30, Panalo Combo 30, Super Combo 20, and Big Time Data 70. This offer is also available to Smart and Sun postpaid customers, while Sun Fixed Load Plans users simply have to register to select load buckets to enjoy the offer.

Puerto Princesa is just one of many high-traffic areas where Smart has already deployed LTE. Recently, Smart also fired up LTE in the Philippines’ most picturesque tourist havens, including Batanes, Sagada, and Sarangani, as well as in the cities of Tacloban and Ormoc in Leyte, to name a few.

Investing in network transformation

In 2018, Smart is doubling the number of LTE base stations to about 17,700 nationwide and raising the number of LTE-equipped cell sites to more than 6,800, using frequencies that are compatible with CA-capable smartphones available in the market today. It is on track toward to fulfill its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to cover 90% of the country’s cities and municipalities with mobile data service by the end of this year.

Parent company PLDT has committed historic levels of resources to support network transformation, with capital expenditures expected to reach P58 billion this year. Alongside Smart’s ramped-up LTE roll out, PLDT is also aggressively rolling out its fiber broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.

3 Ways Your Printer Threatens Your Security

Wazzup Pilipinas!

What comes to mind when you start thinking about internet security? If you’re like some people, your printer might be last on your list. However, your printer can disclose more private information than you might think possible.

Our friends at internet privacy giant ExpressVPN have created an extensive guide on printer security that reminds us to include our printers as part of our security strategy.

Your printer logs everything 

Although the number of logs kept by a printer can vary by model and manufacturer, every printer records at least some information. In addition to simple time and date stamps that identify print jobs and system events, some printers go so far as to keep copies of everything they print. When someone accesses this information, your life could get complicated.

Printers that are connected to external print servers pose an additional security threat. These servers are computers that manage print jobs sent to a printer and store an entirely separate set of logs and stored documents.

Even 3D printers are at risk. For starters, they store logs that are similar to ordinary printers. Also, while they may not store physical outputs, a study by the University of California at Irvine revealed that hackers can use the sounds emitted by a 3D printer to replicate its output.

To counter these threats, check the logs your printer stores and consult the manufacturer and online security resources to find ways to keep your printer from spying on you.

Every printed document has hidden watermarks 

Whenever you print, you create a forensic trail that leads back to your printer. Unless you take precautions, this means that someone can hold you personally responsible for what you print. This reality became public knowledge years ago during some high-profile money-counterfeiting cases.

If you think this could never affect your life, you could be wrong. The FBI analyzed printer steganography, the science printers use to encode data in ordinary printouts, to investigate leaked data from the NSA. As a result, the contractor responsible for the leaks was arrested.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation warned about the threat printers pose to security and, as early as 2005, exposed how various government agencies exploit those threats as part of routine investigations.
Documents will always be tied to the printer that produced them. So, consider buying a second-hand printer so that authorities will have difficulty identifying you as its owner.

Printers and Bitcoin do not mix 

Cryptocurrencies and the wallets that store them have created new online security threats that everyone should take seriously. Although most of those threats involve computers and networks, they also involve printers, especially if you print backup encryption keys recovery codes.

Even if you never trade with Bitcoin and other currencies, this type of exploit may still affect you. Many two-factor-authentication (2FA) systems also provide emergency backup codes. As the threat of printer malware becomes more prevalent, some analysts believe that hackers and investigators will have the ability to intelligently scan print jobs for sensitive information.

Counter this threat by recording your backup codes by hand, to eliminate the threat of a compromised printer.


In summary, your printer can tell on you. After learning about the above threats, you can expect more to emerge, especially as internet-connected printers become ubiquitous. In response, stay informed and vigilant. Don’t let your printer be the weak link of your security strategy.

You can find out more here:

https://www.expressvpn.com/blog/how-your-printer-tells-on-you/

Why Mattress Brands Pick Weird Names like Koala or Ecosa

Wazzup Pilipinas! 

What’s in a name? Businesses invest quite a lot in finding the right brand name. The sleep industry is no different. I have been in the industry for a decade or so, and one of the things I’ve noted is how the brand names have evolved. As newer companies enter the market, they come with interesting “weird” names.

I’m the exploring the reasons why mattress brands pick weird names like Koala or Ecosa. They are both from Australia and among the top beds on the market. Do their names have anything to do with their success? Well, let’s find out.

To Stand Out
Your name is your identity; it's what identifies you from the rest. It's the same case for businesses. The sleep industry can be described as flooded with companies, and I think every year new brands are entering the market. With this in mind, these companies must come up with names that make them stand out from the rest of the competition.

These companies adopt unusual names that make an impression with their consumers. Take examples of the two names – Ecosa and Koala. We are familiar with Koala the animal, and when you give a mattress such a name, it's difficult to forget it. Ecosa too is different; you can read the review here.

Research has shown that some vowels relay attractiveness, taste, and size. Examples ‘a,' ‘o,' and ‘e.'

It’s Easier to Get a Domain Name
Among the top highlights in the sleep sector is the migration of the majority of brands to online retailing. They have to get domain names, and it can be a challenge at times. Businesses are often advised to get a domain name similar to the brand name. It’s a portrayal of corporate strength. When the domain and brand name are different, it can be confusing for your customers.

With weird names, getting a domain becomes easy since nobody else will have thought of it. It also sets you apart from businesses outside the industry. When you search a name like Ecosa on search engines it automatically brings up the mattress because the name is unique only to that company. There’s a lot in a brand name which these companies consider, and that's why they are often ‘weird.' The name is vital especially if your business is online.

Psychology
An organization that succeeds in its marketing campaign relies on the strategy they adopt. That means companies will invest in a marketing strategy. The best strategies focus on the target audience appealing to their needs and preferences. It uses human behavior to figure out our needs.

Weird names play with our psychology. When ‘something' is normal, it doesn't have much impact. Out of the ordinary stuff is easier to remember and captures our interest more.

Another reason why brands go for weird labels is to dominate social media. In today’s world, the internet is a critical platform for them to showcase their products and access the market, SEO is a crucial issue. Weird titles make social media domination easier.

It Helps Avoid Trademark Issues
Several brands have had to change their brand or product name, while some even faced lawsuits because of trademark issues. Having a unique or weird name helps avoid such a scenario.

Brands in the sleep industry trademark their unique names to avoid such lawsuits or changing their identity which negatively affects the business. Therefore, once you identify a name, experts advice trademarking it.

Names Tell a Story
Getting market isn’t a challenge; the test comes when you want to retain it. It’s as they say: becoming the first is easy, the problem is maintaining that first position.
One way companies attract consumers is through their label. A catchy phrase, with a backstory, can help achieve that. Take the Koala mattress for instance. It’s Australian, which is home to the Koala.

What’s even more exciting is that the brand helps protect these animals from extinction. They make donations to Koala charities. Their weird choice of identity combined with the work they do for the animals attracts a lot of consumers. Plus it will be difficult not to consider that brand when thinking of mattresses.


Koala and Ecosa are among the best of Australia's bedding. They both have attracted a huge following thanks to their quality products, unique naming, and marketing strategy. You can find more on the two here: Koala vs Ecosa.

So, why do mattress brands pick weird names? There are different reasons the primary ones being to have a distinctive identity, avoid trademark issues, to acquire domain names quickly, to tell a story and for market domination.