Unlimited mobile internet sounds too costly for cellphone users who just need the basics for their communication needs. SUN Cellular proves itself to be first in offering another unlimited service at affordable rates with its Call and Surf postpaid plans which come with two options.
SUN Cellular Call and Surf: Unlimited Mobile Internet Postpaid Plans
1. Call and Surf Unlimited 999 – Unlimited Mobile Internet (as fast as 2Mbps) + Unlimited Calls & Texts (Sun-to-Sun) at PHP 999
2. Call and Surf Lite 799 – Unlimited Mobile Internet (as fast as 2Mbps) at PHP 799
This sounds like a really good deal if you compare with other networks offering unlimited mobile internet. For instance, Globe Telecom offers unlimited mobile internet for 30 days with My Super SURF at an add-on cost of PHP 999, while Smart Communications has their Unlisurf 1200 package at an add-on rate of PHP 1200 for 30 days. For SUN Call and Surf, the monthly fee to get unlimited mobile internet access is only PHP 999 and this already comes with unlimited call and text to SUN subscribers.
This really got my attention as I had been considering getting a new phone plan with unlimited mobile internet access. My first option was choosing from Globe’s My Super Plan packages. I was really bent on getting the Blackberry Curve 8520 at their Plan 999 but then I saw SUN Cellular’s latest promo, The Great Blackberry Deal, which got me more interested.
SUN Cellular – The Great Blackberry Deal: Unlimited Mobile Internet Postpaid Plan
The Great Blackberry Deal offers a monthly rate of PHP 999 for unlimited mobile internet, plus unlimited call and texts to SUN subscribers, plus 3 months free Blackberry Internet Service (BIS). Although you need to shell out PHP 2000 for the Blackberry phone, but compared to Globe’s offering, this one got my attention.
So I applied immediately at SM’s SUN Shop and submitted some needed financial documents. While waiting for my approval, I got a bit impatient after more than a week has already passed, especially when our broadband access here at home went down for more than a day. I guessed that maybe SUN didn’t approve my application, so I tried calling the number their staff gave me, only to be directed to a voice mail option. I visited their website and sent a message via their contact form:
Hello, I applied for the Blackberry 999 Deal at the Sun Shop in SM Bacolod last March 29. I submitted my BPI credit card bills and valid ID. Please advise if my application was approved, since I am also considering other telecoms provider, and need to know my application status so I can move on. BTW, I am also a SUN subscriber for the 350 Plan.
I was browsing over the other pages of the SUN Cellular website that time and this is how I learned about their Call and Surf Plans where they offer Android phones.
Enjoy Sun’s Best Android Plan. Experience unlimited mobile internet + unlimited calls and texts + free phone for only P999/month. Get activated now.
If you visit their Facebook page, you will get more updates about this service and the free phones currently available – Samsung Galaxy 5, Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 and Nokia C5-03.
I did another browsing for more information about the Android OS and also compared the available Call and Surf free phones being offered. Finally, I decided on the Sony Ericsson Xperia X8, mostly because I prefer a touch phone than the QWERTY phone, and it doesn’t need additional cash out unlike the Blackberry. I also use a Sony Ericsson C510 phone and am quite fond of it, so I was tending towards this brand.
My message sent to their online feedback form was immediately acknowledged because the next day, I got a call from the SUN Shop where I applied that my Blackberry is already waiting. I also got an email regarding my online followup that it was already sent to the concerned branch. Well, it’s good that SUN’s online customer feedback form is a faster way to let your concerns be addressed to. Since I was no longer interested with the Blackberry, I inquired if it was possible to have the Xperia X8 instead, and I got a positive reply.
So, I got my Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 phone on Sunday (you can view the unboxing pics here) but my account was activated on Wednesday, which was not really what the staff told me that it would immediately start after 24 hours. Regarding the mobile internet access, I tried to find the connection settings from their website but to no avail. I even activated the GPRS service and downloaded the mobile internet settings for the phone but still can’t connect to the internet. I called up their customer service and was advised to visit the SUN Shop. Sigh. Anyway, after the support staff at the SUN Shop configured the settings, my phone was finally connected to the internet, although I noticed the signal wasn’t acceptable when browsing. There are some spots in the mall where internet was acceptable, but ironically not in the SUN Shop and at home.
How to configure the Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 for SUN
My mobile internet access was just too slow, so I did a bit of research again about the settings. The important step is to go to your mobile network settings and change the APN to fbband. Thanks to Little Miss Geek for sharing the setup instructions which you can also follow if you’re having problems with your X8 internet settings. I just followed the instructions as is, and I noticed that my phone’s internet access improved. At least mobile browsing is better now and some chat programs are loading.
SUN Cellular Call and Surf Links
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/callandsurf
Website: www.suncellular.com.ph
Want to see how the Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 looks like? Click here to view the unboxing and phone pictures.
How fast is the mobile internet surfing? and have you tried internet tethering? (connecting other device to the internet tru your phone).
THank you in advance for your feedback!
Hi Personal, their mobile internet surfing is sooooo slow.
I guess if you plan on subscribing with a postpaid plan to any network (Smart, Globe or SUN), better try their service first with prepaid access for a day, see if the service is fast in your area. Here at home, i can only connect to chat programs and other apps. Browsing is just too slow. I have read other subscribers’ experience with SUN mobile internet and there were no complaints about slow access. Maybe I am just so unlucky to be in a low-signal area. 
Regarding internet tethering, I still have not tried it on the xperia. I’ll be posting some feedback if ever I get to use it.
Hi,
Regarding slow browse try to set your phone to WCDMA or 3G and not automatic, in that way the device won’t transfer data signals from GSM Edge to 3G/HSDPA which results to slow internet connectivity when browsing. However it will drain your battery juice overtime. Works best with my sun call&surf plan using Samsung Galaxy Ace with Android OS. It is also good in tethering either wifi or usb. You can download some apps on the android market to use with tethering, pretty handy when the good old unreliable DSL is down…XD
Hi Micollo,
Thanks for the tip, I’ll try it sometime. Nowadays I am not always using my phone’s internet connection.
[...] so far. So getting one of those Sony Ericsson touch phones, this time with their Xperia X8, for the SUN Call and Surf Unlimited Mobile Internet Plan 999 was quite an easy decision on my part. Other phones available for the Call and Surf Plan are the [...]
[...] more than a month of using the SUN Call and Surf unlimited mobile internet postpaid plan with the phone that comes with it, the Sony Ericsson Xperia [...]
[...] speed. For example, my work relies much on Internet access and the basis why I signed up to an unlimited mobile internet access is to have alternate connection during times when my ISP is down. Unfortunately, with a [...]
Hello there! Glad the instructions helped. And thanks for sharing my post’s link.
-Little Miss Geek
Hi Dana aka Little Miss Geek! Thanks for dropping by…
kindly give me info about your latest plans promo.. Thanks and god Bless
Hi Apple,
you can get the latest plans promo from SUN in their newsroom:
http://www.suncellular.com.ph/news.php
They have a promo for new applicants to citibank credit cards, a free android phone LG Optimus ME for PLan 350. You can read more about it here:
http://www.suncellular.com.ph/news_detail.php?id=185
By the way, this website is not affiliated with Sun Cellular or Citibank.
how come i still cant connect to sun’s mobile internet despite doing the manual configuration as written in little miss geek’s website? pls help
Hello Jose Rey,
Sorry no idea about that. Better go to SUN’s business center and let them check your phone.
Sun Cellular is slow! Don’t bother. Their support don’t know what they’re doing either. After 4 calls to tech support and 2 calls to customer service, its still slow. They promised 2mbps, I’m not even getting 1mbps.
Please i have sun cell internet, they said “up to 7.2MBs” but my internet speed was 1-20kbs. i never see my internet speed up to 50kbs. or higher. They only use that as business strategy to attract people. Spend your money wisely.