More Filipinos will now have access to up-to- date information as PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications partners with Twitter to bring the Twitter Lite experience to mobile users across the country.

Twitter has launched a data-friendly version of its service called Twitter Lite, which will enhance Filipino users’ mobile-first experience with fast and real-time information on what’s happening around the world and what people are talking about.

Twitter Lite users will still get to enjoy the key features of Twitter on mobile web, without consuming too much data. To activate Twitter Lite, users must log on to mobile.twitter.com on their phone browser, click on their user photo to go to settings, and activate the Data Saver mode. On the Twitter Lite timeline, users will see a preview of images and videos, before choosing which ones to fully load.

Optimal use via TNT, Opera Mini

To maximize the Twitter Lite experience, TNT, Smart’s value brand, is offering three-day access to Twitter, whether via Twitter app or mobile web browser, for just P10. To avail of this service, TNT subscribers may text TWITTER10 to 4545.

Smart Prepaid users may also avail of All Out Surf 30, which offers 300 MB open access that can be used for Twitter for two days, apart from unlimited texts to all networks and 30-minute calls to Smart, TNT, and Sun. Smart Prepaid subscribers may text ALLOUT30 to 9999 to get this data package.

Using Opera Mini further amplifies Smart, Sun and TNT users’ Twitter Lite experience, as the browser compresses data and loads faster. The Twitter Lite option is set on the speed dial of Opera Mini upon installation, giving Smart, Sun and TNT subscribers easy access to the latest news and information on their favorite entertainment and sports celebrities.

Beneficial partnership

“We are happy to partner with Twitter to offer the Twitter Lite experience to our more than 63 million subscribers across the Philippines,” said Harvey Libarnes, vice president for digital products and partnerships at Smart. “This partnership will benefit our subscribers, especially those who have limited connectivity, because they will get to fully enjoy the mobile web features of Twitter while at the same time have access to the latest information anytime and anywhere in the country,” Libarnes added.

“Entertainment is one of the most talked about topics in the Philippines on Twitter. For example, we saw over 4.6 million tweets during AlDub’s first-ever teleserye Destined to be Yours’ pilot episode,” said Dwi Adriansah, head of business development for Twitter Southeast Asia and Australia. “We are excited to partner with two of the largest telcos in the country to bring data-friendly, real-time updates from what’s happening with love couples like AlDub, KathNiel, and JaDine, to the latest teleseryes, as shared experiences to more Filipinos across the nation with Twitter Lite.”

With more than 313 million active users worldwide, Twitter has become a vital platform for social media-savvy Filipinos to stay updated on events and personalities in and out of the country.