Experience True HD Calls with Skype

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of faceVsion Technology USA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I finally got the chance to maximize Skype during my recent Bangkok trip. As costs of international calls and messaging are still high, free services such as Skype proved to be very helpful in connecting with my loved ones and friends.

SM Fairview Cyberzone Mob Dance

I noticed that flash mob dances have become quite a popular gimik lately. I'm sure everyone remembers that certain Glee episode where our very own Jollibee had a cameo.

Hmmm...maybe the Cebu Jail Dancers somehow started the trend?

Because of its entertaining and buzz appeal, marketers utilized the potential of mob dances in effectively promoting a brand/product. A recent example would be the SM Fairview Cyberzone Launch. They used mob dance to arouse the curiosity of mall-goers and introduce their newly opened gadget/technology strip. For maximum exposure, they held it at the high foot-traffic Atrium wing.

Several bloggers were invited to witness the Cyberzone launch. Our huge thanks and congratulations to SM Fairview and sponsors Gameline, Storyland, Bacolod Chicken Inasal for the successful launch!

Manila bloggers cover the launch

Power on @ Cyberzone

A stage was setup at the foodcourt / supermarket area

Yummy snack from Bacolod Chicken Inasal

SM Cyberzone is definitely a one-stop place for all your gadget needs. It has a broad variety of concept, branded, and I.T. stores, making it a perfect venue for technology-lifestyle enthusiasts who want to keep up in the latest trends. High quality and legitimate products are to be expected from each tenants, assuring customers of their money's worth. I could attest to this because I bought my phone, desktop pc, and PSP at Cyberzone North Edsa.

Now the 15th branch, SM Fairview Cyberzone has over 30 in-line tenants and kiosk stores such as Geco Skin, I Shield, Mp3 Express, Battery Channel, Pivod, Info Maxx, among others. Free high-speed WIFI is also available in all areas so you could research for a particular brand before purchase. Great, huh?

SM Fairview Cyberzone is located at the 3rd floor of SM City Fairview, Quezon City. You may visit other branches at SM City North Edsa, SM Southmall, SM City Manila, SM City Marikina, SM Megamall, SM City Clark, SM City Cagayan de Oro, SM City Davao, SM City Cebu, SM City Naga, SM Department Store Cubao, SM City Baguio, SM City Tarlac, and SM City Bacolod.

JAC Liner Bus has FREE WIFI!

Great news to south bound passengers! JAC Liner Inc, one of the largest bus companies in the Philippines, is now offering onboard Wifi on all Biñan and Balibago routes! No need to pay extra for your net access, because the service is FREE. Yey! Literally, on the road online video streaming and status updates!

This is a screencap of the announcement from their official Facebook Fan page:

They also have several tarps announcing the Wifi service:

By the way, JAC Buses look like this.

The side mirrors kind of remind me of masked rider black, hehehe. The interiors are pretty cool too. It's like you're on a grade school fieldtrip bus! Awww...

So, will you now choose JAC over other bus companies? :) I just hope they will offer wifi in all routes soon!

JAC Liner offers daily trips to Lucena City, Dalahican Pier, Marinduque, Mauban, Binan, and Balibago. I think their main station is near LRT1 Buendia. Have to check that out, though!

For bus schedule inquiries, call or text 0917-JACLINE or visit http://www.jacliner.com/

Photos via Jac Liner's Facebook Page.

Skype for Symbian phones: Free calls, free IMs, Free Download!

Luxembourg and Espoo, Finland - Skype and Nokia today jointly announced the release of Skype for Symbian, a Skype client for Nokia smartphones based on the Symbian platform, the world's most popular smartphone platform. Skype for Symbian will allow Nokia smartphone users worldwide to use Skype on the move, over either a WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). It is now downloadable for free from the Ovi Store, Nokia's one-stop shop for mobile content or visit skype.com/m on your mobile phone.

Skype for Symbian enables Nokia smartphone users to:

• Make free Skype-to-Skype calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world*
• Save money on calls and texts (SMS) to phones abroad
• Send and receive instant messages to and from individuals or groups
• Share pictures, videos and other files
• Receive calls to their existing online number
• See when Skype contacts are online and available to call or IM
• Easily import names and numbers from the phone's address book

Skype for Symbian will run on any Nokia smartphone using the latest version of the Symbian platform. Skype will soon introduce this client to Symbian mobile devices from other manufacturers, including Sony Ericsson.

"Symbian enables us to bring smartphones to more and more people and ensures scale for our solutions and compelling services, such as Skype. We're seeing around 1.5 million downloads a day on Ovi Store now and believe that the Skype client for Nokia smartphones will have wide appeal to Symbian users," said Jo Harlow, Senior Vice President for Smartphones, Nokia.

"Skype, the king of Internet communications, running on Symbian, the world's dominant smartphone platform, makes for an explosive combination," said Larry Berkin, Head of Global Alliances and GM USA, Symbian Foundation. "With Symbian's global reach, Skype is that much closer to becoming the ubiquitous real-time communications platform for hundreds of millions of Symbian-based mobile users."

Russ Shaw, General Manager, Mobile at Skype said, "With Skype for Nokia smartphones, more than 200 million smartphone users worldwide** will be able to take the Skype features they love with them on the move. Alongside Skype's relationships with operators and handset manufacturers worldwide, making Skype available direct to consumers will help millions of users keep in contact with the people that are important to them without worrying about the cost, distance or whether they are away from a computer."

The initial Skype for Symbian application is compatible with the following Nokia touchscreen models: 

• Nokia N97
• Nokia N97 mini
• Nokia X6
• Nokia 5800 XpressMusic
• Nokia 5530 

And the following non-touch devices:

• Nokia E72
• Nokia E71
• Nokia E90
• Nokia E63
• Nokia E66
• Nokia E51
• Nokia N96
• Nokia N95
• Nokia N95 8GB
• Nokia N85
• Nokia N82
• Nokia N81
• Nokia N81 8GB
• Nokia N79
• Nokia N78
• Nokia 6220 Classic
• Nokia 6210 Navigator
• Nokia 5320

For more information on Skype for Symbian, including the latest supported handset list, click here

Try Globe Tattoo UnliMAIL for FREE until March 31, 2010!

Send and receive unlimited email directly on your Symbian/Java handsets* with Globe Tattoo UnliMAIL!
Get Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, or Outlook on your phone anywhere, anytime for free until March 31, 2010.

Here's how you could avail of this cool service:

1. Text UNLIMAIL to 8888 or visit http://wap.portal.globe.com.ph/unlimail from your mobile web browser.
2. Download the app to your phone and choose myGlobe Connect as access point
3. Setup your email account/s upon installation.

*Supported handsets: Nokia N73, Nokia N95, Nokia E51, Nokia E90, Nokia E65, Nokia N80, Nokia 6220 Classic, Nokia 6120 Classic, Nokia 3250, Nokia 6300, Nokia 5310, Nokia 6600 Slide, Nokia 5300, Nokia 6280, Nokia 7210 SuperNova, Nokia 3120 Classic, Sony Ericsson K800i, Sony Ericsson K810i, Sony Ericsson K770i and Sony Ericsson K700.

For more information, visit www.globe.com.ph/unlimail

Canon head office moves to McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig

To better serve its customers and partners, Canon Marketing Philippines, Inc. (CMPI) has relocated to a new office at the seventh floor of Commerce and Industry Plaza, Campus corner Park Avenues, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Along with the new head office, the Canon Business Imaging Solutions showroom has also moved to its bigger and better location at the first floor of the same building to improve the company’s services to its huge corporate clientele.

“Canon Marketing Philippines anticipates more success in the coming year and with our new office and showroom, I feel that we have the resources to make this happen.  We look forward to accommodating more customers with our new Business Imaging Solutions showroom and delight our customers even more,” said Alan Chng, CMPI new president and CEO.  

Canon Customer Care Centers are still located at the 5th Floor, Marvin Plaza Building, 2153 Don Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City and Liberty Center, Freedom Plaza, Ground Floor Retail Row Unit 1 & 2, Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.  For specific customer or product-related inquiries, contact the Customer Assistance Team at telephone number (632) 884-9000, email info@canon.com.ph, or visit www.canon.com.ph/customercare.

Winners of Canon PhotoMarathon Philippines 2009 announced

Around 600 photo hobbyists, both amateur and professional, flocked to Tagaytay Convention Center on November 14 for Canon Photomarathon Philippines 2009. Several bloggers were also present--not to cover--but to participate in the 4th leg of this much-awaited photography event.

Ready, Set, Go!

Participants of PhotoMarathon Philippines 2009 pose for the traditional group shot

The PhotoMarathon is an Asia-wide photo competition testing a photographer's creativity and skills. Participants are given a day to perform photography related tasks. Here in the country, no sign-up fee is collected. All successful registrants will be provided with free transportation, food, drinks, and loot bag.

Canon Marketing Philippines President Mr.Ramon Arteficio

Canon PhotoMarathon Philippines 2009 winners are the following:

OVERALL WINNER: Mr. Ramon Castillo (EOS 400D)

OVERALL 1st RUNNER-UP WINNER: Michael Declaro (Powershot SD550)

DSLR CATEGORY WINNER: Mr. Cesario Silvestre Gacoscosim (EOS 40D)

POINT&SHOOT CATEGORY WINNER: Mr. Adrian Christian Reyes (POWERSHOT S3 IS)

The grand prize winner will go to Osaka, Japan with a companion, an EOS 5D Mark II body, Crumpler camera strap, and a Canon EOS 5D Mark II miniature thumb drive. The first runner-up will get an EOS 500D with standard lens, a local trip, Crumpler camera strap, and a Canon EOS 5D Mark II miniature thumb drive. Other winners will receive the following:

EOS DSLR category
EOS 7D body
Free trip to a local destination
Crumpler camera strap
Canon EOS 5D Mark II miniature thumb drive

Point and Shoot Category
EOS 1000D with 18-55mm kit lens
Free trip to a local destination
Crumpler camera strap
Canon EOS 5D Mark II miniature thumb drive

Video Category
HF10 flash video camcorder
Free trip to any local destination

Congratulation to all the winners!

Here are some of the photos I took during the event. View complete album here.

this kid will pwn you, yes.

JP risking his life for Canon

Jonel Uy and Kin Pasana

ang aking samalamig sa Tagaytay

LOL LOL LOL

Bloggers' group shot

I would like to thank Iris, Jonel, Jennie, Jeff, Nicely, Kin, JP, Edel, and Arvin for joining the marathon. I hope you guys enjoyed! See you again next year! :)

Canon Slashes Service Fees for Ondoy/Pepeng damaged units

Canon Marketing Philippines offers 50% off on labor fees and 25% off on replacement parts for water-damaged Canon cameras. This offer is valid until October 31, 2009. For inquiries, contact Canon Service Center at 884-9000. Canon Service Center is located at 5F Marvin Plaza Bldg, 2153 Chino Roces Avenue, Makati City.

Canon extendeds warranty on select Powershot, Ixus, and EOS models

Canon celebrates the start of the Holiday season with Three-Year Extended Warranty Promo on select PowerShot, Digital IXUS and EOS Digital SLR cameras!

Participating models:
Powershot – SX120is, SX200is, SX20is, SX1is, S90, G10, G11
Ixus – 120is, 200is, 95is, 100is, 110is
EOS – 500D, 50D, 7D, 5D MII

To avail the promo, visit www.canon.com.ph and register your unit.

Promo period: October 1 to December 31, 2009
Redemption period: October 15, 2009 to February 28, 2010.

For inquiries, call Canon Philippines at (02) 884-9000. You may also join Canon Digital Camera Philippines on Facebook for updated news and promos.