PLDT unit partners with Intel

PHILIPPINE Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said its unit PLDT Home has partnered with technology giant Intel for its newest TVolution Stick that allows a television set to function as a personal computer.

The TVolution Stick runs on Windows OS, letting users stream movies and videos, search the web, send and receive e-mails through their television sets. The dongle-sized stick also has 32 gigabytes of storage and two gigabytes of memory, allowing users to save documents and photographs on the device.

“We’re very happy to introduce the most advanced TVolution, in collaboration with Intel. Apart from providing our consumers entertainment, it gives them a full suite of PC functionality on their TV screens backed by PLDT Home’s most trusted broadband services.” PLDT vice president and Home marketing head Gary Dujali said.

An earlier version of the TVolution provided television sets with Internet TV capabilities, PLDT said.

The TVolution Stick works by attaching it into the TV’s HDMI port to activate the computer on screen.

“The TVolution Stick collaboration between Intel and PLDT provides a complete computing experience compared to other ordinary streaming sticks,” Intel Philippines country manager Calum Chisholm said in the same statement.

“Its pocket-sized body is designed to be portable and space-efficient, with a USB 2.0 port and a Micro SD card slot for easy memory expansion,” he added.

PLDT Home claimed a market share of more than 70 percent in the first half of the year. Its fixed and wireless networks are supported by the country’s most expansive fiber optic network spanning more than 100,000 kilometers.

The Intel collaboration followed partnerships with global entertainment company and Asia-Pacific’s leading broadcaster Fox International Channels and Southeast Asia’s leading Internet TV service iflix, PLDT said.

“PLDT Home’s partnership with Intel in introducing the new TVolution Stick lets Filipino families integrate Fox, iflix and other digital applications in one small but powerful device, enabling a richer and a more convenient digital lifestyle as we forge the strongest connections at home,” Dujali said.