Telco giant PLDT is out to revamp the very thing that made them the communications juggernaut that they are today – monopoly and nepotism the landline. And they're doing it with the help of a new device called the PLDT TelPad, a 100% Filipino-designed and -developed landline phone hybrid with a detachable Android tablet.
According to PLDT, the tablet will enable subscribers to use the many communication options available on the Google Android platform. That means besides the usual voice calls, you can now also use the tablet for VoIP and video-call applications such as Skype. Heck, as long as you install apps from the Android Market, there's no limit to what that tablet can do.
PLDT TelPad specs
- 1GHz Cortex A8 processor
- Android 2.2 Froyo
- 2GB storage
- SD explansion slot
- HDMI
- 2 megapixel front camera
Patrick Teng, PLDT VP for retail voice acquisition said that the TelPad could also potentially link the government information to the public (push notifications?), although we're more excited with the thought of leaving Post-it notes on the touch screen. Yeah, there's an app for that.
The TelPad goes free with a Plan 1849 subscription and is bundled with a 1Mbps broadband connection and landline service.
Existing PLDT myDSL customers only need to add as low as P500/month to upgrade to a TelPad.
Other schemes include Plan 2099 (1.5Mbps), Plan 3095 (2.5Mbps), and Plan 4100 (3.5Mbps), although it seems a little pricey – compared to regular plans – just to get an Android tablet. Especially with cheapo Androids like the Cherry Mobile Superion floating around.
Now with all of these innovations in tow, did PLDT really reinvent the landline? Or did they just kill it? Because as far as we can remember, a landline once meant parking ourselves beside the phone for 13 hours telling sweet nothings to our romatic flings. Our many, many romantic flings.
Nonetheless, we congratulate PLDT for coming up with this world's first. It just goes to show that even old companies can be hip and happenin' as long as MVP absorbs them.
Image via HWM
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