Had you ever imagined of chatting with your friends on the Internet while sitting at the backseat of your Dad?s Car? Ever wished of researching data for group projects in just a snap, even when you aren?t home? All these situations are now made possible by PLDT?s WeRoam wireless Internet access service.

WeRoam offers a solution for SMEs, large corporations with remote offices, and road warriors. Thus helping too, those companies who are offering part-time jobs for students.

?Wireless data technology does not only help businesses to extract productivity, but also for the employees themselves to work, upload their works instantly, and most of all, anywhere,? Mr. Ernesto R. Alberto, SVP & Corporate Business Group Head of PLDT briefly stated.

Academically, having WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) technology in schools and universities would be a great help. Imagine, placing a computer in every classroom without bothering to connect LAN cables in every room. It is seamlessly convenient and allows direct research to the Internet to be more easily accessible.

?We have our WeRoam services rendered in some public schools, one in Lapu-Lapu and one in Cavite. We are still taking progress on WeRoam service programs not only for aiding schools and universities, but also businesses and corporations in terms of mobility in research and communication for the students and the staffs,? said Mon Isberto, PR manager of Smart Communications Inc. 

The service deals four different packages. These are PLDT WeRoam Mobile with Internet, or with VPN-Virtual Private Network, and PLDT WeRoam Direct with LAN connection to the global Internet, or with LAN-to-LAN connection.

PLDT WeRoam Mobile will make use of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution) technologies, providing the 170 kbps connection speed and nationwide cellsite-to-cellsite handover for a flawless connection while on the move using a laptop.

PLDT WeRoam Direct will have a higher speed of 1.024 megabits per second (mbps) through the use of WiFi technology. Unlike PLDT WeRoam Mobile, this package offers fixed wireless connectivity within an office or one premise only. ?The administrator of the firm can detect employees which are accessing the Internet and also fraudulent users, so the administrator can just easily delete any username or curb the accounts that can use the fixed broadband,? Nerissa S. Ramos, SVP & Corporate Business Solutions of PLDT expounded.

The GPRS/EDGE and WiFi-enabled cellsites for this service will be provided by Smart Communications. PLDT WeRoam packages range from P1,500 to P14,500 a month depending on the type of the package. Email addresses and web space with anti-virus features are also provided. ?The WiFi?s security has triple protection, namely the authentication protection using TrendMicro's Anti-Virus protection, and the protection from the user itself. Since 87% of the viruses comes from E-mail attachments, the users must be aware of it, not just relying on the security protection of WiFi,? Ramos added.

Sierra Wireless for this service will provide the Aircards or PC wireless access cards to enable wireless connectivity for the laptops. ?Sierra Wireless started from Canada 12 years ago, and has been continuously researching about wireless data technology. The Aircard 775 uses a SIM card to connect to Smart?s wide network coverage from the GPRS and EDGE technology, so you can connect anywhere around the major parts of the world, namely U.S, Russia and Asia by just using a laptop,? Sierra Director Mark Hui informed.

The WeRoam service is compatible with existing laptops, PDAs, desktop computers, and LAN routers ? no upgrades or new devices required, and installation is easy and quick. ?There are already about half a million Centrino notebooks that has been sold nationwide and costs from P80,000 to P120,000 per product, and having WeRoam wireless Internet access technology will definitely lend a hand to those who are always on the go,? Alberto added.

This is good news for everyone, especially for those who have been having a lot of problem about the fabric optic-wire for its connectivity. With PLDT WeRoam, the whole country is your surfing hotspot!

- Jason Cheng, Copyright 2005