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Metered Charging FAQs:

 

Starting December 6, 2009, SMART offers postpaid subscribers a new call charging option for voice calls - six second per pulse charging.

  1. What is metered charging? How is metered charging different from the current postpaid charging?

Metered charging is a call charging scheme that sets the maximum unit of billing to six seconds per pulse.  Instead of being charged on a per minute basis, subscribers who make metered calls will be charged for every six seconds that they use.     

 

  1. What are the rates for metered charging?

 

Brand

 

Prevailing Rate

First Minute

Succeeding Minute
(Prevailing Rate/10 Pulses)

Flag Down
(2Pulses)

Per Pulse

Per Pulse

Gold/Infinity

6.50 (VAT Inc)

3.00 (VAT Inc)

0.4375 (VAT Inc)

0.65 (VAT Inc)

 

  1. What are the benefits of metered charging?  What are the disadvantages?

Metered charging will benefit subscribers who are short callers, particularly subscribers who use the service below one-minute. 

Metered charging will become disadvantageous to the subscriber if:

·         A Gold Lite subscriber uses metered charging for On-Net Calls:  flag down rate for metered calls is P3.00

 

  1. Will metered charging replace the per minute calling scheme?

No.  Metered charging will be offered as an option to subscribers.  The regular per minute charging will still be offered as the default call charging scheme.

 

  1. Who can avail of metered charging?

All Postpaid Retail or individual subscribers can avail the metered charging. This applies to the following brands as well: Smart Gold, Addict Mobile, Gold Lite, and Infinity.

 

  1. How can I avail of the metered charging?

Metered charging can be availed via prefix dialing.  To call, simply dial asterisk, followed by the prefix number 5433, then the MIN

 

For example:

*543309189117700

 

  1. Do I need to register in order to avail metered charging?

No.  Registration is not required.

 

  1. What type of calls can I make on metered charging?

Voice Call – Smart to Smart

Video Call – Smart to Smart

FAX/Data – to Smart Mobile

 

 

  1. Is this billed on top of my plan?  What rates apply to metered call charging?

Metered calls will be billed against the plan.

 

 

  1. Does metered charging apply to both On-net and Off-net calls?

No.  Metered charging will apply to On-net calls only.

NTC ruling on per 6-second pulse charging covers on-net calls only.  No further advise on inclusion of off-net calls.

 

  1. Can I apply this while roaming?

Pulse charging applies to local calls only. If subscriber is on roaming, he will be charged the applicable roaming fees.

 

  1. Why is the bill presentation in min/seconds?

This is to align with our existing default call charging scheme which is per minute and since this is just an option to the subscriber, it is easier to convert and compute the actual call rate in pulses. 

 

  1. Can I use the metered charging while enrolled to unlimited promos?

If the subscriber is enrolled in an unlimited voice promo, his metered calls will not be considered part of the unlimited offer, as such he will be billed for the metered calls he will make.