Called SmartLife Global, the app offers carefully curated digital content such as Philippine movies, music, and news that enable overseas Filipinos to stay touch with home. The app also features relevant services such as easy bills payment for utilities; and load sharing for families in the Philippines.

“Smartlife Global provides Filipinos abroad with a lively digital connection to home,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said.

Delivered through its international marketing and operations unit PLDT Global Corp. (PGC), SmartLife Global is initially available in the US, Canada, UK, Spain, Italy, Hongkong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Guam and Australia.

SmartLife Global is free upon download and users can enjoy a 30-day trial period during which they have unlimited access to local news and free access to a rich library of Filipino movies, concerts, original Pilipino music (OPM) and premium magazines.

After 30 days, users can extend their usage for only US$2.99 per month for music and US$4.99 per month for movies and concerts.

The app currently has over 20,000 downloads, with more than 3,000 movies watched, more than 2,000 songs listened per day, more than 600 magazine downloaded, and more than 15,000 news feeds read.

“We are seeing increased adoption of the digital lifestyle by our overseas Pinoys as most of them are already using smartphones and tablets. With SmartLife Global, we are giving them a convenient way to connect back home using their digital devices,” said PLDT EVP and Head of Enterprise, International and Carrier Business Ernesto R. Alberto.

The SmartLife mobile app was initially launched in the Philippines for Android smartphone users to enable them to discover exciting perks and free digital content.

“Through the SmartLife app, we want Filipinos to explore the best mobile entertainment and perks available out there and ultimately empower them to live a richer digital life,” PLDT EVP and Head of Consumer Business Ariel P. Fermin said.

Supporting further the digital lifestyle of Filipinos abroad, PLDT has established its first full data Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in Japan where a mobile data SIM bundled with a pocket Wifi in a monthly prepaid subscription was introduced.

This data bundle includes free remittance of up to 100,000 Japanese yen a month, and free calls and text messages to the Philippines and other popular international destinations.

Meanwhile, PLDT Hong Kong has also launched the PayMaya payment solutions of Smart digital innovations unit, Voyager Innovations, for its subscribers. This allows them to do online shopping, pay bills such as for Meralco and Maynilad, purchase airline tickets, and send remittances even without a debit or credit card.