Have you ever lost your smartphone and needed to replace it pronto? Or what if you just really want to reward yourself with a brand new mobile phone or tablet device—after a successful project at work? Unfortunately, you just don’t have the cash with you at the moment and you’re being very careful about your credit card limit. Well, there’s a third easy and convenient option if you’re shopping at an Allphones store.

Allphones, the country’s fastest growing mobile phone retailer, and consumer finance company Home Credit have partnered to help mobile gadget users get the device of their dreams faster and more conveniently.

“Mobile phones and other handheld devices are necessities nowadays. Losing one can be a real pain, especially when important data are gone with them. But not only that. With social media and multi-media functions, these devices keep us in touch with business associates, loved ones, and provide relief from stress through entertainment.  These devices have also become essential tools for business and schoolwork. So whether you need to replace a lost device or urgently need to get a new one, Allphones and Home Credit will make it so much easier for you,” said Allan Catli, Allphones Brand Manager.

Home Credit provides in-store, non-cash loans to customers that need to purchase goods like consumer electronics, home appliances, and personal mobile and computing devices including smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.  Home Credit stations its agents inside partner stores to quickly process loans for customers. Thanks to its simple and fast processing system, the customer is able to leave the store already with the purchased item—no more unnecessary delays and waiting.

This loan facility will be offered, phase 1, on the following Allphones stores: StarMall Alabang and Edsa, AliMall Cubao, SM Marikina and Eastwood Cyber Mall

Consumers can readily apply for and have their Home Credit loans approved thanks to the company’s computerized, online system. All that the customer needs to do is submit minimal documentation that he or she usually carries everyday—like a valid ID, etc.—and the Home Credit agent will process the loan remotely right at the store.

Home Credit offers flexible and affordable installment terms to make loan payments very easy for its customers. The company is a global name in consumer finance and ensures the highest standards of customer service. Loan terms are also very convenient and simple for customers to understand. To know more about Home Credit consumer loans, go to www.homecredit.ph

“Allphones is committed to bringing the highest quality of customer experience to our customers. We make it fun, easy, and affordable for our clients to choose and try out their mobile devices in-store, and with this partnership with Home Credit, we are now making it super convenient, and fast for shoppers to take home their new mobile device,” says Catli.

Allphones has more than 60 outlets across the Philippines, and offers the best deals for mobile phones and other devices—with options for outright purchases at huge discounts, or even acquiring mobile devices for free with a postpaid plan. Discover sweet deals from Allphones by visiting the store nearest you or check out their website at www.allphones.com.ph

How are computers and the Internet helping students learn in school? As more and more schools use computers and the Internet in their classrooms, there have been several improvements in how students nowadays are getting their education. These improvements, which have been noted by teachers and school administrators, include the following :

Independence and information gathering.  By connecting to the Internet, students learn how to do their own research. The wealth of information available on the Web plus the ease of using search engines give students more independence and confidence, as well as increased skill, when it comes to finding relevant data and putting this data together to meet a learning requirement or goal.

Critical thinking and reflection.  With the large volume of information that they access, students are induced to learn to think critically: Which information is accurate? Is this information useful to the homework or subject at hand? Is this information validated by multiple sources and by the latest research findings? Students learn not to simply accept any data, no matter how readily available. With the guidance of their teacher, they are able to practice critical thought.

Communication and collaboration. Through the exchange of ideas and messages—either by email, chat, or even social media—students are able to collaborate with each other to test their understanding of lessons. They can more easily ask questions to one another and provide answers and share research data. The can also help verify each other’s work. They can also involve their teachers in this collaborative and communication loop.

More engaging learning experience.  Information today is more engaging to the mind and the senses because of its multi-media nature. Students have text, images, video, audio, and even animation to help them better understand concepts and ideas relevant to their lessons.  This multi-media experience lets this information be better ingrained in their minds.

Preparation for jobs later on. The jobs that students will be hired for, and the professions they practice, will require them to have working knowledge of computer use in the workplace, as well as for communication and information processing. Having students use computers and the Internet in the classroom prepares them for this future work environment.

Knowing all of these improvements and advantages, more and more schools are allowing not just desktop computers and laptops, but also tablet devices and smartphones in their classrooms. Tablet devices, as their computing power and multi-media features increase over time, are becoming a preferred tool for learning and instruction.

Students and their classmates can now more easily get the tools they need for computer-assisted, multi-media, and Web-connected learning thanks to affordable and value for money deals on smartphones and tablet devices at Allphones stores. All they have to do is visit any of the more than 50 Allphones stores across the country and get deals on smartphone and tablet bundles –that they can get for free with postpaid plans or at huge discounts for outright purchases.

These Allphones smartphone and tablet bundles include: Plan 499 - Cloudfone 403D plus 706W Tab; Plan 999 - Lenovo A680 plus A1000 Tab; Plan 1299 - Lenovo A269i pus Yoga Tab; and Plan 1799 - LG L3 II plus LG G Pad.  You can also make affordable, outright purchases of smartphones including the LG G2; the Nokia 1320; and the Alcatel Magic. For more information on sweet deals from Allphones, go to: www.allphones.com.ph  

You can still make the last days of summer memorable for the next few weekends or so:  a day trip or a weekend getaway with the barkada is still one of the best summer memories you’ll ever make.  And to make  your choice among the best barkada-friendly places, isn’t it wonderful to have the Internet? Nowadays, you can even search for a weekend getaway on your smartphone.

The Philippines has many wonderful beaches apart from its most famous one, Boracay. There are those in Bohol, Palawan; as well as Nasugbu, Calatagan and Laiya in Batangas--you and your barkada can just take your pick. Don't forget to capture images and memories using your smartphones that you can get at sweet deals in any Allphones store. There's an Allphones store in all of the hottest summer destinations in the Philippines. Allphones provides smartphones at big discounts or free with postpaid plans. 

What does a smartphone search of possible barkada summer getaways show us? Well, there are both new and familiar places we can find:

Beaches.  For the longest time, Boracay has been THE summer destination for many of us, especially during the 1990s when it was fast-gaining popularity. And with good reason.  The fine, powdery white sand, the overall chill-out vibe, the sunsets—they  all seemed  like a summer dream come true.  The only downside for your barkada would be a) The crowds and b) The travel time and preparations. 

With Boracay’s popularity—having been rated in international travel magazines—it  really is a crowded place. However, if you’ve planned for the trip well and maybe if you’re going there towards the end of the peak summer season, then maybe you won’t experience as much hassle.  Boracay already has a lot of loyal “pilgrims” who make it a point to go there each summer—and the trip is really worth it. Of course, if you’ve never been there, then that’s the best reason to go.

Fortunately, the Philippines has a lot of wonderful beaches. If your barkada is looking for beaches that are more easily and conveniently accessible, then there are two areas close to Metro Manila that you might check out:  Playa Calatagan and Playa Laiya, both of which are in Batangas. Getting there takes only about  2-3 hours, give or take – depending on the  traffic.  The beaches at Playa Laiya and Playa Calatagan are quite impressive: while the quality of the sand is not like Boracay’s, the color and texture are more than good enough and the waters are clean and crystal blue. The fact that you can go there on a day trip is a big plus factor.

Other beaches close to Metro Manila are found in Subic, which is about two hours away from the Metro.

Southern charms.  Boracay island lies South of the Philippines as part of Aklan province. However, there are other southern islands that can lay claim to being beach paradises. Two of the more popular places in the south when it comes to beaches are Cebu and Bohol. There’s Ibiza Beach Club in Cebu, for example, and then Panglao island in Bohol. An important advantage in choosing Cebu and Bohol is the presence of modern infrastructure and conveniences, especially cellular phone and Internet networks.

Cooler climes. With the sweltering heat in Metro Manila, it makes sense to go somewhere cooler. And the top two destinations would be Baguio City and

Tagaytay. Baguio is, hands down, the cooler place because of its high elevation—it’s a city on a mountaintop. The more adventurous can even go farther North, towards Sagada or Banaue.

If you’d rather not go through the eight-hour land trip to Baguio, however, then Tagaytay is the ideal alternative.  Just two hours from Metro Manila, Tagaytay is a place for sight-seeing—particularly the awesome Taal Lake and Volcano—and cooling off. It’s also a wellness hub with several spas operating there.

Natural wonders. Nature’s unspoiled beauty take center stage in places like Palawan and Davao. Besides the beaches, there are breath-taking sights of islands, seas, forests, and rivers.  If you and your barkada are game for something more adventurous and opt to journey through roads less travelled, then why not go backpacking? The website www.backpackingpilipinas.com provides useful information on how to do just that.

Before your barkada go off for a weekend, however, make sure to bring your smartphones. These are already essential travel items not only for sharing  images and  comments on the Internet,  but more importantly, they provide the means for important communication while traveling—both for the sake of enjoyment and safety.

The importance of smartphones and Internet connection during travel makes it crucial for Allphones stores to be present in all of the Philippines major summer destinations, according to Maureen Gallant of Allphones Philippines, the country’s fastest-growing mobile phone retail chain.

“We have more than 50 stores across the country, from up North in Baguio and down South going to Batangas, Subic, Quezon, Cebu, Bohol Palawan, and Davao. Summer vacationers may easily avail of mobile phones and postpaid plans from our stores there,” says Gallant.

Allphones stores provide the latest, most exciting smartphone models and brands at huge discounts for outright purchase.  Customers can even get these smartphones for free via postpaid plans.  Postpaid plans at Allphones stores are very affordable and have high value-for-money as they come with customizable combos of features and services like unlimited calls, unlimited texting, and unlimited Internet.

Have your barkada take their picks from these exclusive postpaid deals from Allphones that come with bundled smartphones: a) Plan 499 with a Lenovo A680; b) Plan 599 with a Lenovo A316i; c) Plan 999 with a LG G Pro Lite; d) Plan 1299 with a LG G2 Mini LTE (Availability: Week of May 26); and e) Plan 1799 with a Sony T2 Ultra.

You may also make outright purchases of the following smartphones: the LG G2; the Nokia 1320; the Alcatel Idol X; and the Sony Xperia E1.

Gallant pointed out that bringing along a smartphone with a postpaid plan is ideal for traveling. “A postpaid plan provides you continuous service without having to worry about running out of load and then having to find a reloading station during travel. For ease of travel, peace of mind, and general safety, nothing beats a postpaid plan. With this in mind, Allphones is offering very affordable, features-packed postpaid plans.” To know more about the exclusive and affordable postpaid deals from Allphones, visit the Allphones store nearest you or go to www.allphones.com.ph.