Smart intros SimSafe to prepaid subs to retain number, retrieve contacts

Have you ever experience losing your phone and going in to the hassle of informing your friends and relatives about your new number? Perhaps if you’re a postpaid subscriber, that’ll be easy to have a SIM card replacement. Just pay for the replacement fee and you’re already good. But for prepaid subscribers? Impossible.

Worry no more as Smart brings SimSafe service available for all prepaid subscribers within its network. Both Smart and Talk N Text users can now retain their mobile number and retrieve their contacts from an application in case you’ve lost it.

“Misplacing one’s phone or being victimized by a thief is bad enough; no one needs additional anxiety caused by the loss of contact details of relatives, friends, bosses, and business contacts,” said Chito Bustamante, head of Smart’s Product Portfolio Management.

“We offer the SIMSafe service to our subscribers to help them become ready for the unfortunate possibility of losing their phone. We cannot prevent gadget loss, but we can give Smart subscribers peace of mind as regards the contact list they have built through the years,” he added.

To avail themselves of the service, Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers must first register their mobile number by texting REG to 7467. The text costs P1.

They must then accept the terms and conditions to be sent through text, by sending AGREE (six-letter password) (first name) (last name) (email) to 7467. (For example: AGREE psswrd bryan tan btan@yahoo.com) P120 will be deducted from their load balance.


“The amount might seem steep at first, but this will give you yearlong coverage. If you lose your SIM within a year of registration, Smart will give you a free replacement SIM with your old number. P10 a month is all it takes to save you the trouble of getting a new number and telling everyone to update your contact information,” Bustamante said. 


There’s also a SimSafe application available for prepaid subscribers using selected Nokia and Sony Ericsson handsets. With this app, you can easily sync up your contacts with a minimal fee. 


Subscribers who have lost their SIM can use another Smart or Talk ‘N Text number to report the incident. All they have to do is text LOSS (password) (lost mobile number) to 7467. They will receive instructions on how to claim their replacement SIM and how to download the saved contacts to their new handset. 


“This will eliminate the time-consuming process of individually asking loved ones and officemates for contact details, and of informing all of them of your new mobile number. With Smart’s help, you can devote your time to more productive activities,” Bustamante said.