Here are the steps to quickly connect your phone to the internet.

Connect your phone via USB cable. On a Sony Ericsson, the phone will prompt you how you want to use your phone. Choose “Phone Mode”.

Click on the Network Manager icon in the system tray and select “New Mobile Broadband connection…”

Choose the country where your provider is in.

Choose your service provider. This will be the name of your cellphone carrier. In my case, I chose Smart.

Next is to select your plan. This option varies depending on your carrier. For Smart though, you just choose Default.

Last step is to just verify if your details are correct and click on Apply.

That’s it! In a few moments, your phone should connect your computer to the Internet and a notification will display showing that you are connected.

Just look for the Airborne Access Wifi Zone logo

I can now surf the net through any of the Wi-Fi hotspots of the largest Wi-Fi network in the Philippines! Smart Gold recently paired up with Airborne Access to provide you with unlimited WiFi access at all Airborne Access hotspots across the nation. Within the Metro, when I’m having fun in Subic, or even when I’m relaxing up north in Baguio, there’s an Airborne Access hotspot within reach.

For only P99 (roughly $2 or Y200) per month, you can now register for this service through your Smart Gold subscription. All you have to do is to type in “REG” and send it to 9434.

This service is similar to the tie-up that TripleGate and the Yodobashi chain of superstores in Japan since last year, where you pay Y380/mo (roughly $3 or Php165) which gives you free Wi-Fi access to more than 6000 hotspots, which includes most McDonald’s stores, the Tokaido Shinkansen on the N700 (bullet train), major train stations, and major airports.

Yes, I did sign up for this service. And it was such a good thing to pass by my time chatting and surfing the net while I was waiting for my plane in Narita airport or the time that I was coordinating a deal while I was waiting for a friend at McDonald’s (that friend wound up at another nearby McDonald’s so it was quite a long wait. Seems like they have them in every corner in metropolitan Japan).

And I sure missed that Wi-Fi service when I came back to the Philippines. So imagine my joy that Smart Telecomms actually did something smart for a change by offering this service at this price! Am I recomminding this service? You betcha.

Once again, just type “REG” and send to 9434. To learn more about this service, visit the Airbone Access website. For non-Smart Gold subscribers, you can still avail of their service by registering and buying prepaid cards.

If you found this information useful, buy me a coffee.