Globe Tattoo and Smart Bro: Can I Use My Regular Phone Sim Card?

I have been wanting to learn about this before purchasing a Globe Tatto or Smart Bro modems, now that they've become cheap these days. Was searching Google to no avail.

Now, I'm posting this up for the benefit of those still wondering. I happened to test both modems, and below are my observations. If you have comments, please feel free to post them below. (I would really appreciate comments).


For Smart Bro, it was mentioned in their FAQ that you can't use the Smart Bro sim card for call or text via a regular cellular phone, and I have not tested that. Their FAQ was silent whether you can use a regular prepaid/postpaid Smart sim into their modem. This one I have tested, and no, my Smart regular prepaid sim won't work in the SmartBro modem.

For Globe Tatto, the Tattoo sim can be used for texting but not calling when used from a regular phone. Likewise, a regular prepaid or postpaid Globe sim can be used in Globe Tattoo to access the internet. Just make sure that you have TIME based charging on before you actually access the internet if you don't want to receive a skyrocketing bill by the next billing period. I've read somewhere that the charges when using a regular postpaid phone sim in Globe Tattoo are the regular charge against your consumable amount, but that I haven't checked my bills yet.

Both products claim that their modems are network locked, so you can't use a Globe Tatto sim in a SmartBro modem and vice versa. I have not tested either, and have not heard of any service that can unlock those modems.