Honor’s new 600 series is here, Xiaomi just opened its Mi.com online store for Filipino shoppers, US satellite internet providers are working on permits to operate locally, and PLDT is bringing AI to its sales and support teams. All that and more in today’s local tech news.
- HONOR’s 600 Series officially launched, and it’s already making waves online. The big draw? Pre-order customers can enter a raffle to win a Mercedes-Benz EQA 250. We’ve already seen that lone user who bought a bunch of Honor phones to win a Tesla Cybertruck. For some odd reason, she wasn’t too happy winning a Cybertruck.
- Xiaomi’s Mi.com Online Store is now live for Filipino users. Expect 10% off vouchers, daily flash sales, and Mi Points rewards if you sign up for a new account. Plus, Xiaomi’s 17T Series is set to launch in the Philippines on May 28.
- Infinix just added two new devices to its local lineup: the 55-inch Infinix TV X6G Pro and the XBook B14 laptop, which packs a Ryzen 7 processor and a 55Whr battery. It’ll provide more options to Filipino users, and hopefully, the products will last longer.
- Acer Philippines launched its “Bag of Deals” promo, offering discounts on laptops and desktops, valid until July 19. These deals are great since the school year is about to start.
Internet & Connectivity
- Two US-based satellite internet companies are working with the NTC to get their permits, according to the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT). One of them could be Amazon Leo, which could start operations in the next few weeks, providing more satellite-based connectivity options to Filipino users.
- Commuters riding the Pasig River Ferry now get free 24/7 Wi-Fi, thanks to a new partnership between DICT and MMDA (Metro Manila Development Authority). The service launched on May 14 and offers speeds up to 60 Mbps.
Tech Infrastructure & Policy
- Proposed Youth Social Media Ban: Senate Bill No. 1955made headlines on May 15. The proposed legislation seeks to implement a social media ban for Filipinos under 16. Australia is the first country to enforce a nationwide, blanket social media ban for children under the age of 16. Hopefully, this is a good thing and will curb the negative effects of early social media use on kids.
- PLDT Home is rolling out a new AI-powered customer support platform across its Sales and Service Centers nationwide, starting May 18. It’s part of their push to make digital services faster and more efficient. While this’ll make replies faster, hopefully escalation and rerouting for quick troubleshooting also happen.
For more tech news and updates, stay tuned to TGXP3.com