So to continue the Smart SIM card saga, Tuesday night I swapped the SIM cards of the Nokia 3660 (which currently houses the Sun SIM card) and the Sony Ericsson M600i. On first try, M600i immediately recognized the SIM (this doesn’t happen for the 5-year old Smart SIM). The same happened when I inserted the Smart SIM on the 3660.
Yesterday, I got three “SIM Registration Failed” error messages on the 3660. I got none on the M600i. It seems the Smart SIM is about to die. So off I went to my favorite Smart Wireless Center – in SM Megamall.
The person who took my case was very accommodating, and without inspecting the SIM card, he replaced it with a Smart GOLD 3G SIM card. No questions asked. Though I was charged Php 3++ for it. That’s why “no questions asked.” Money really talks.
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Tuesday night, I also called the Smart hotline (888-1111) to relate the problem. The person on the other end asked if I have tampered my SIM card.
Duh.
Anyway, so he told me to go to a Wireless Center to have the SIM checked and replaced if necessary. I also made a followup on my four-month-old application for a new phone unit. Well, what do you know, he has no idea what happened to it. He told me that based on my past calls, all that were recorded were followups. No record whatsoever whether it was approved, denied, buried somewhere.
According to the guy, Nokia E61 is not available on any of their Wireless Centers, and I think the reason why my application is four months pending is that they are no longer going to offer this unit. See this screen grab of their Web site:
So they are offering Nokia E61i, and I asked where is this unit available. Not available in any Wireless Center at that moment, I was told. And since SE P990i is attractively priced under my plan, I asked for availability. Only available at Smart Tower, sir, and I cannot assure you that it will be available after this conversation, he said.
Time to switch?
Hhhmmm I have an approved application, but the unit, an E61i, is not yet available. Oh oh.
Hi, Robin, yesterday I had re-applied for a unit (story next week), and the lady told me that I will receive a call within the week to say if the unit is available or not. I also went for an E61i.
take comfort in the fact that sun and smart both have better retention plans than globe. bah. they cant even give me a friggin Nokia 1100
the E61i is a nice messaging “phone” device. I’m more interested with the E70 though. The resolution is just crazy. E61i has a bigger diagonal, but it’s only 320×240
Globe has similar programs (free phone or rebates). I just don’t know why they are not as open as that with Smart.
I actually prefer E90 myself. But when released, it would be ridiculously priced, so I’d rather wait. I’ll be content with E61i, as long as I don’t have to wait four months for it (only to be told that it’s no longer being offered).