Problems with Neotel's offering

[kaspaas]

Let's list the reasons not to get Neotel.

It should assist the marketing people in formulating better products.

1. Entry cost too high
2. Limited coverage
3. Free On-Net minutes useless for now
4. No concurrent voice and data
5. No ethernet PPPoE data connectivity
6. No faxing
7. No connecting to alarm company
8. No consumer accessable maps
9. Limited (and "primitive") handsets
10. 24 months contract

Any others?

[Syndyre]

That covers most of it I think. Bad latency for gamers.

[RichardG]

No gaming server on NeoTel :P
Kiddding, if i come across any i'll tell but that about covers majority of the things..
as you mentioned..... Now I see why we paying a contract :) after 2 years that phone will be rended useless , as new models come out in the market...

http://www.gadget.co.za/pebble.asp?relid=1112

[Newb-lite]

That covers most of it I think. Bad latency for gamers.

do we have proof of this? ( i really dont know and would like to see some figures)

[killadoob]

go neotel

your really setting the telecoms alight

[Neotel]

Let's list the reasons not to get Neotel.

It should assist the marketing people in formulating better products.

1. Entry cost too high
2. Limited coverage
3. Free On-Net minutes useless for now
4. No concurrent voice and data
5. No ethernet PPPoE data connectivity
6. No faxing
7. No connecting to alarm company
8. No consumer accessable maps
9. Limited (and "primitive") handsets
10. 24 months contract

Any others?


Hi

Neotel is aware that the current product does not meet everyones need at this time. This current offering our the first into the market, but we are listening and our product development team is taking the feedback quite seriously, already the network perfomace has been improved, your comments are noted watch this space.........

[Syndyre]

do we have proof of this? ( i really dont know and would like to see some figures)

According to the gamers yeah. I don't game so I'm not really sure what's required but it seems to be an issue for them.

[Chevron]

Hi

Neotel is aware that the current product does not meet everyones need at this time. This current offering our the first into the market, but we are listening and our product development team is taking the feedback quite seriously, already the network perfomace has been improved, your comments are noted watch this space.........

I'd just like to say that it's great seeing a Neotel Rep on the forum and hopefully you'll be around for a good long while.

:)

[Chevron]

According to the gamers yeah. I don't game so I'm not really sure what's required but it seems to be an issue for them.

pings under 200ms should be a bare minimum(under 100ms preferable) to the local game servers, but seeing as I get 60ms on iBurst to local game servers Neotel should have pings around there if not lower.

[BBSA]

go neotel

your really setting the telecoms alight

I hope you were sarcastic:p

[internetless]

Rumour has it that a "Rev. A" phone with Ethernet will be available around September.

[SlinkyMike]

After waiting for ages for the legendary SNO people sure are crap at supporting it.
I must agree that these offerings are somewhat lacking but surely they need to get people on board and start making cash to begin offering better deals?

I just smacks of the usual sense of entitlement in SA.

If you really mean to slay the beast that it Telkom then it will be necessary to support Neotel, if you simply wish to complain ...well then you have what you want.

[pkid]

Rumour has it that a "Rev. A" phone with Ethernet will be available around September.

If that is true then I am there like a bear...

[Syndyre]

After waiting for ages for the legendary SNO people sure are crap at supporting it.
I must agree that these offerings are somewhat lacking but surely they need to get people on board and start making cash to begin offering better deals?

I just smacks of the usual sense of entitlement in SA.

If you really mean to slay the beast that it Telkom then it will be necessary to support Neotel, if you simply wish to complain ...well then you have what you want.

I disagree, Neotel don't want to offer better deals if they don't have to, they want to maximise profit. If they can gain significant market share at these prices where's the incentive to reduce them? If we all refuse to switch while they charge this much though then they'll be forced to drop their prices.

[Chevron]

I disagree, Neotel don't want to offer better deals if they don't have to, they want to maximise profit. If they can gain significant market share at these prices where's the incentive to reduce them? If we all refuse to switch while they charge this much though then they'll be forced to drop their prices.

But then you're saying to telkom that their prices are ok. If we all move to Neotel then Telkom will drop prices. That's what we want.

[Moederloos]

say WHAT?
No concurrent data and voice?
Are we living in the Dark Ages, again?

Seriously - that is a deal breaker right there.
Well, the no-Ethernet was too, but the non-concurrency is pathetic.

[Pilgrim]

Perhaps Neotel got a few thousand outdated junk phones from India that they will smear off on suckers that do not know any better. Once they have a foothold they can bring in real phones :)

[frozt01100101]

Why I won't get Neotel:

1) Windriver USB modem
2) No ethernet device available

Unless Neotel will sponsor me the cash for a Windows install, a strong enough box to handle it and then also the cash for anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, anti-crash, crash-log, backup application, backup for the backup.........oh fsckit, just bring out linux drivers or an ethernet capable modem

[marjo]

That sucks!!! So, if i wanted to have a nice FreeBSD firewall for it... not possible. Common Neotel, i thought you were the right people for the job...


Why I won't get Neotel:

1) Windriver USB modem
2) No ethernet device available

Unless Neotel will sponsor me the cash for a Windows install, a strong enough box to handle it and then also the cash for anti-virus, firewall, anti-spyware, anti-crash, crash-log, backup application, backup for the backup.........oh fsckit, just bring out linux drivers or an ethernet capable modem

[Moederloos]

On the subject of this WinModem USB POS:

What business in their right mind is going to go Neotel when they have to now:
a) Rely on Tannie Martie being in the office today, because her PC has "the INTERNET"
b) Are going to have to announce over the PABX system: Please pause all downloads, Oom Jan wants to make a phone call


Seriously, Neotel - fix this problem.

[Pilgrim]

On the subject of this WinModem USB POS:

What business in their right mind is going to go Neotel when they have to now:
a) Rely on Tannie Martie being in the office today, because her PC has "the INTERNET"
b) Are going to have to announce over the PABX system: Please pause all downloads, Oom Jan wants to make a phone call


Seriously, Neotel - fix this problem.

I don't think the current products are aimed at Home Offices or Small Businesses. It is aimed at a basic home user that uses windows. That covers most of the SA population.

The funny thing is that the same people that Neotel target are the people that do not care :D Oom Jan is happy with his 1gig Do or 500mb 3G. :eek:

The internet savvy that have a immense grudge against telscum are also the ones with complex home networks that need a ethernet based gateway device. These people also happen to hate Microsoft ;)

So Neotel, why target the market you cannot get? :confused:

Target the telscum haters. They would love to join you :D

[HellTel]

Hi

Neotel is aware that the current product does not meet everyones need at this time. This current offering our the first into the market, but we are listening and our product development team is taking the feedback quite seriously, already the network perfomace has been improved, your comments are noted watch this space.........


Are you actually trying to tell us that Neotel "THOUGHT" we were fools?

Those phones, deals, free minutes whatever you are offering were obsolete in India donkey years ago so now India has to recover some of the lost monies .. lmao ..

we are in the year 2008 and not in 1980 ...

If you cant offer anything else right now get out of the South African market, go try and flog that crap in the virgin areas of the Amazon ...

[aborg]

24-month contract...........sentech(?), telscum, iflop, do they not learn....will not take it as long as this is the case, consumers need flexibility....will only switch on a fixed line option - I h8 wireless.

[frozt01100101]

24-month contract...........sentech(?), telscum, iflop, do they not learn....will not take it as long as this is the case, consumers need flexibility....will only switch on a fixed line option - I h8 wireless.

'bout the 24month thing, incidentally I did ask them about it. The terms are that you pay of the remainder of the device if you wanna cancel before the 24 months are up. R80/month, so it comes to R1920 cost for the device. No contract cancellation fee or some scaly stuff like that. In the email from them I basically got a "sorry, no clue", but at least they did respond on the same day as they said they would (which is good, since they have one helluva amount of expectation to try and live up to).

Here's from the email:

"The information that you require regarding an Ethernet port device and Linux drivers is still under development hence, we are unable to provide you with a specific date. However, rest assured that we are working on bringing out more products and we will definitely have support for more operating systems. When the products become available we will definitely contact you."

Neotel, what about releasing specs about the communication with the device or contracting someone in? There are many people who could write that driver, and already have the experience to do so. Just a suggestion, use it||don't..

[Tux]

If you cant offer anything else right now get out of the South African market, go try and flog that crap in the virgin areas of the Amazon ...

They probably have faster and cheaper connections that we have here in SA :D

[Moederloos]

Target the telscum haters. They would love to join you :D

These are also the very people you want on your side. Us that make the most noise. Make us happy, and you can just about stop advertising - we will do it for you.
How many of us telscum haters with complex home firewalls are "IT okes". Our friends and family (and colleagues) ask our advice when evaluating a new service. "Oi! Koos, should I go with Telkom, Neotel or iBurst!" and then we tell them, "Well, Telkom sucks donkey nads, but it is better than the other two".

[Moederloos]

I don't think the current products are aimed at Home Offices or Small Businesses.

IIRC, Neotel was originally going to target the SME sector?
Or did that change too?

[Pilgrim]

IIRC, Neotel was originally going to target the SME sector?
Or did that change too?

From website:


The first Consumer and SMME service will be launched via the NeoConnect platform which is based on CDMA2000 technology.

I stand corrected. Looks like Neotel dropped the ball on this one. Releasing a handset that CANNOT be used in a SMME environment for SMME? Why? :D

[Moederloos]

Looks like Neotel dropped the ball on this one. Releasing a handset that CANNOT be used in a SMME environment for SMME? Why? :D

Hoping no one would notice?
Every one of the very small clients I deal with have only the one line, with ADSL.
Some of the larger ones have a dedicated internet line. But, each and everyone of those has an Ethernet modem or CISCO router.

So, for the small guys, with one line, Neotel is useless.
For the larger guys, with a dedicated internet line, it is also useless.

And I just cannot see the likes of Investec getting excited about a USB phone, either.

[kaspaas]

Being in an SMME, I need a unit that could handle SIP (with Asterisk) for the voice side of things and ethernet PPPoE for the data side of things.

And obviously, concurrent voice and data services.

[Moederloos]

And obviously, concurrent voice and data services.

Yeah - it is almost redundant to even have to ask for that. I would take it as a given.
I just cannot believe that is even an option for them (to not have concurrency).
I am sure there are technical reasons etc, but that is not the customer's problem.

Can you imagine doing online support with a remote client using Neotel?
"OK, hang up while I connect via VNC, then click on the error, then stop, call me back and I will give the next instruction".....

[Neotel]

Hoping no one would notice?
Every one of the very small clients I deal with have only the one line, with ADSL.
Some of the larger ones have a dedicated internet line. But, each and everyone of those has an Ethernet modem or CISCO router.

So, for the small guys, with one line, Neotel is useless.
For the larger guys, with a dedicated internet line, it is also useless.

And I just cannot see the likes of Investec getting excited about a USB phone, either.
Neotel has always been very clear that the current product is not for SMME or office use and is aimed at a home environment.

[Moederloos]

Neotel has always been very clear that the current product is not for SMME or office use and is aimed at a home environment.

Really? Then explain:

The first Consumer and SMME service will be launched via the NeoConnect platform which is based on CDMA2000 technology.

And even so, it is still not a good product, for all the other reasons given.
Rather than hiding behind the "it's for home use, so it is allowed to suck" excuse, rather address the issues.

[Devo-sa]

...and while you're at it Neotel, why does 1 piece of stone-age hardware (NeoPhone), that uses tech that's been around for quite a while now cost R2000.00?

It can't even make a cup of coffee!!
(Nor connect a switchboard, or ethernet, or has concurrency...)

Your responses suck, your company's ethics suck, your roll-out sucks, and your big hype you created stinks of incompetence and extortion.

The thing is people, we all want to ditch the worlds worst company called Telscum; but investing in Oldtel.. err sorry I meant Neotel, will only help in establishing a duopoly, which can't be bothered to offer competitive prices and services, as they both have a really nice complement of clients throwing cash at crappy services. During all this time we'll be locked in a 24 month contract, hoping that services and prices will improve... sounds familiar, no?

Until Neotel can actually offer something that can compete, they can go to hell - they're not getting my business.

[rph72]

Neotel has always been very clear that the current product is not for SMME or office use and is aimed at a home environment.


The first Consumer and SMME service will be launched via the NeoConnect platform which is based on CDMA2000 technology. (http://www.neotel.co.za/neotel/view/neotel/en/page61)

:eek: Do I hear alarm bells?? :eek:

[explorian]

A coverage map will make a welcome addition to neotel's website.

[benitok]

Neotel has always been very clear that the current product is not for SMME or office use and is aimed at a home environment.

I'm glad I read this forum first, I was thinking of going over to NeoTel, but now I've changed my mind. Two reasons why I got ADSL was that it's faster and I could make phone calls while on the internet. I'm a home user.

This is the way broadband has evolved, so why oh why did Neotel think it was a good idea to not have this from the start.

The 24 month contract was a big no no as well. :sick: Broadband is changing so quickly that anything more than a 6 month contract is a joke.

[BBSA]

And the fact that Neotel, the forum rep, is sleeping most of the time is also not helping!

[rph72]

And the fact that Neotel, the forum rep, is sleeping most of the time is also not helping!

I think we need a commitment from the Neotel rep as to what times he/she will be on the forum. No use having a rep if he/she is never here. :rolleyes:

[hj2k_x]

I think we need a commitment from the Neotel rep as to what times he/she will be on the forum. No use having a rep if he/she is never here. :rolleyes:

+1

[Moederloos]

I think we need a commitment from the Neotel rep as to what times he/she will be on the forum. No use having a rep if he/she is never here. :rolleyes:

No. What we need is someone who can address the issues, not excuse them.

So far all we have heard are excuses, and the problems are still there.

[Roman4604]

I think we need a commitment from the Neotel rep as to what times he/she will be on the forum. No use having a rep if he/she is never here. :rolleyes:Yup, I think we've been spoilt by V3G, he's set a very high standard for Rep involvement.

[theone]

Change these
Packages 2.5G ( R399) 5G(R499) 10G(R599) 15G(R699) Unlimited (R999)

to
Packages 3G ( R399) 10G(R499) 30G(R599) 60G(R699) Unlimited (R999)

which is more than resonable and I will sign on that dotted line.

[aborg]

Its against company policy to disclose secret coverage map information.....invitation basis only...

[friedpiggy]

my big gripe aside fro the obvious usb and concurrency thing is the spiky latency. i mean going from 100 to 2000 back down to 560 then up to 1900 in the space of 5 seconds is retarded im sorry it is. what possible use is there in a service that does that. im a gamer among other things and even playing a mmo where latency aint that huge a deal, this is unuseable to me.

i can play with anything under 600ms so im fine if it isnt sub 100 but i do want it stable for petes sake

[alt21]

uncapped package with no Ethernet :s

I was actually considering getting the uncapped seeing as my "1mb" ADSL is so crap it would be quicker to get in my car and drive data around. But I have a network at home with 6 odd PC's (Workstations, File Server, Exchange Server, IPCop Firewall, Download Server) what must I do with a USB connection ?

I do like the fact that Neotel is cheaper than the other 3G providers. Step in the right direction. To bad Telkom is pushing their prices up instead of down :s

[Moederloos]

my big gripe aside fro the obvious usb and concurrency thing is the spiky latency. i mean going from 100 to 2000 back down to 560 then up to 1900 in the space of 5 seconds is retarded im sorry it is. what possible use is there in a service that does that. im a gamer among other things and even playing a mmo where latency aint that huge a deal, this is unuseable to me.

i can play with anything under 600ms so im fine if it isnt sub 100 but i do want it stable for petes sake

I spend all day SSH'ed into remote servers - the jumps in latency would frustrate the hell out of me.

[Pieterst]

To resolv the problem Neotel just got to allow 3rd party cdma devices.
I have a cisco 2801 + linksys wifi router + nokia n95 (with sip client) all I nead is (HWIC-3G-CDMA-V + Coverage) but as yet Neotel does not allow 3rd party dev's

[Vegeta]

To resolv the problem Neotel just got to allow 3rd party cdma devices.
I have a cisco 2801 + linksys wifi router + nokia n95 (with sip client) all I nead is (HWIC-3G-CDMA-V + Coverage) but as yet Neotel does not allow 3rd party dev's
pm Neotel rep and ask why they dont support it? Also ask him not to make an excuse but to go ask his peeps to look into it

[dleroux]

Their device for NeoConnect Lite is also not Mac compatible! Don't let their website and the useless call centre fool you!
If you're a Mac user...STAY AWAY from Neotel.