MTN Handsets

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MTNHandsets

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Hi all,

My name is Brett Loubser. I work with Christopher (MTNBroadband) at MTN, and hopefully I can help take some of the load off of him by answering any EDGE or 3G product specific queries.

I know that there is an existing thread dealing with this, but I just wanted to introduce myself and let you all know that I will help out where I can.

Let me start off by adding to what Christopher has said in the "Future EDGE Phones" Thread.

Dolby,
Thats correct regarding the Samsung D500. The chipset in the phone supports EDGE, but Samsung currently do not plan to make the EDGE enabled D500 commercially enabled locally. They have other EDGE capable product that we will see shortly, with their range expanding through the year.
The D500 GPRS performance, is comparable with any other similar class GPRS devices according to the testing that we have done internally at MTN.
Regarding your 6230, it may have been covered in this forum before, so forgive me if I am repeating this - but if you are getting an error indicating an incorrectly set up access point, try to reprovision that handset. You can do this by keying in *123# and pushing the dial key. Follow the menu as you receive it to get the settings re-sent to the phone, making sure that the new settings are set up as the default access point. I hope this helps.

Brett
 
Are there any indications (speculation) that we might see 3G enabled versions of the Sony Ericsson P910i or the Nokia 9300 in the near future? I'm looking for a 3G/Edge capable phone with a full keyboard, but still in a reasonable form factor.
 
mystic said:
Are there any indications (speculation) that we might see 3G enabled versions of the Sony Ericsson P910i or the Nokia 9300 in the near future? I'm looking for a 3G/Edge capable phone with a full keyboard, but still in a reasonable form factor.
Click to expand...

Hi,

Currently there is no indication from these two manufacturers. I don't think there is any doubt that we will see this type of product from Sony Ericsson and Nokia, however if you look at where the mentioned products are within their product life cycles, I think it may be some time before we are made aware of this type of PDA focused product from these suppliers (at the very least, 6 months), however this is pure speculation at this point.

Having said that, I am aware of products that will be available before year end that support 3G, EDGE and sport a full keyboard. Unfortunately I cannot reveal what or when, due to Non Disclosure agreements with the suppliers in question. I know this may be a frustrating answer, but I am trying to give you as much information as I can.

I hope this was helpful.

P.S. - Thanks for the welcome guys! :)
 
When will the SOMERSET WEST CENTRAL, STRAND and MBOWENI towers be upgraded? Please give me best guess if you dont know. I do know that it is planned as part of phase 3; whatever that may mean.
 
MTNHandsets said:
Having said that, I am aware of products that will be available before year end that support 3G, EDGE and sport a full keyboard.
Click to expand...

Please enlighten me without me having to Google like mad ... could a handset like the 9500 support 3G with a software upgrade since it is EDGE capable or does it require a whole lot of new/additional electronics?
 
Wow

these MTN boys are comming to the party - unlike some others who are probably too chicken to deal with what's comming their way ;-)
 
BloemGuy said:
Please enlighten me without me having to Google like mad ... could a handset like the 9500 support 3G with a software upgrade since it is EDGE capable or does it require a whole lot of new/additional electronics?
Click to expand...

Unfortunately not. 3G adds an entirely new set of requirements electronically. Our current GSM network, including EDGE which the 9500 supports, runs at a completely different frequency to 3G. Aside from the frequency differences, the radio component is managed in an entirely different way.

To put it simply, any 3G product we will launch essentially has two completely seperate radio components in them - one for GSM, and one for 3G.
 
johandutoit2000 said:
When will the SOMERSET WEST CENTRAL, STRAND and MBOWENI towers be upgraded? Please give me best guess if you dont know. I do know that it is planned as part of phase 3; whatever that may mean.
Click to expand...

Phase 3 for us starts in June and we haven't got final site lists signed off I'm afraid.

I suggest we place all the coverage queries under the EDGE MAP thread so it's easier for future people coming in to follow and easier for us to respond apprpriately. I have left the follow up in this thread to the handsets guru.

Thanks
 
Nokia 6230 Software/Firmware Upgrade

Hi MTNHS , I have a 6230 celly on contract and I need firmware/software upgrade and so where do I go for this upgrade and how much will it cost me?
 
MTNHandsets said:
Having said that, I am aware of products that will be available before year end that support 3G, EDGE and sport a full keyboard. Unfortunately I cannot reveal what or when, due to Non Disclosure agreements with the suppliers in question. I know this may be a frustrating answer, but I am trying to give you as much information as I can.

I hope this was helpful.

P.S. - Thanks for the welcome guys! :)
Click to expand...

MTNH - Wecome abourd matey...

Regarding this thread - The 6630 is fully 3G functional and has a full bluetooth keyboard (but I guess this doen't quite compare to a 9300 th0).

Anyway, I've had mine for nearly two months now and it's great phone. Battery life a bit poor tho, but I wish Nokia would bring it's GPS module in...)
 
stepper said:
Hi MTNHS , I have a 6230 celly on contract and I need firmware/software upgrade and so where do I go for this upgrade and how much will it cost me?
Click to expand...

Nokia will do this for free for you - just take your phone in. In cape town they are on somerset road, opposite the bronx night club.
cheers
 
ScrnScrm said:
Nokia will do this for free for you - just take your phone in. In cape town they are on somerset road, opposite the bronx night club.
cheers
Click to expand...

Thanks ScrnScrm, I agree with that. If you have any issues getting this done, PM me and I will follow up for you...
 
Motorola A1000

Hi MTN Handsets!

One question, through your SP channels, I spoke to Impact MTN with regards to upgrading my contract and acquiring that phone.

Initially I was assured that the phone would be made available on MTN and would be released no later than February.

Now we're getting to the end of April and I was informed that MTN aren't releasing this phone.

This makes no sense. Everyone talks about how revolutionary this 3G phone is; according to the reviews and awards its won, it clearly leads over other 3G offerings.

Why is this phone not going to be released?

Pound for pound, this phone should be a no-brainer when it comes to being released. This also should have nothing to do with Motorola, since after extensive phoning back and forth between MTN and Motorola, it was hinted at the fact that if MTN arent interested in purchasing the phone, Motorola has no interest in bringing it it.

MTNHS: Let the consumers decide what phone they want, i don't mind having to put in some cash for the phone, but right now, with no choice and being forced to select from a range of phones that I have no interest in, leaves me disappointed and disillusioned with MTN.

MTN, give us some real choice, as a very high user and having been with MTN since '94, I would of expected more..
 
Hi

MTN H can comment on whether or not it is possible for MTN to supply this particular model.

I can comment on our 3G strategy. We said last year in May that we would not rush into 3G because the handsets were not up to scratch at the time. They tended to be expensive, bulky, short on battery life and missing some other features people want in order to compensate for 3G stuff.

Since then the handsets have progressed nicely although even now I feel that we are approaching the turning point. However new models are coming onto the market fast and we have to be wide awake to track developments.

It therefore does not make sense from a mass market point of view for us to stock any handset whose main benefit is 3G functionality but which came out last year, knowing that by the time we launch 3G in June we will have a range of newer handsets.

The exception in our case is the Nokia 6630 which we purchased because it had both EDGE and 3G so gives broadband lovers a chance to benefit from EDGE now, and 3G later. It will also give them a more seamless speed experience because EDGE coverage is much wider and includes (for instance) in building coverage which 3G signals do not penetrate as effectively.

This is from a strategic point of view. As I said, MTN H can comment about the availability of that particular model.
 
Prescription said:
Hi MTN Handsets!

One question, through your SP channels, I spoke to Impact MTN with regards to upgrading my contract and acquiring that phone.

Initially I was assured that the phone would be made available on MTN and would be released no later than February.

Now we're getting to the end of April and I was informed that MTN aren't releasing this phone.

This makes no sense. Everyone talks about how revolutionary this 3G phone is; according to the reviews and awards its won, it clearly leads over other 3G offerings.

Why is this phone not going to be released?

Pound for pound, this phone should be a no-brainer when it comes to being released. This also should have nothing to do with Motorola, since after extensive phoning back and forth between MTN and Motorola, it was hinted at the fact that if MTN arent interested in purchasing the phone, Motorola has no interest in bringing it it.

MTNHS: Let the consumers decide what phone they want, i don't mind having to put in some cash for the phone, but right now, with no choice and being forced to select from a range of phones that I have no interest in, leaves me disappointed and disillusioned with MTN.

MTN, give us some real choice, as a very high user and having been with MTN since '94, I would of expected more..
Click to expand...

I agree with the points made by MTNBB. It is true that the A1000 is a fully featured product, however there are other products which were available at the same time, for example the Motorola A835, the Siemens U15, the Sony Ericsson Z1010 etc. These were literally the very first batch of 3G phones that were potentially available in our market area.

Strategically, it makes little sense to launch a 3G network and offer or promote, 6 month old products. In cellular product lifecycle terms, 6 months is a huge amount of time - many products have an entire lifecycle of less than 6 months. The risk would be that nobody would be interested in these older (and I need to add, dramatically more expensive - as is the case with cutting edge technologies) products should we offer them at our launch. Experience has shown this to often be the case...

MTN has always strived to make the widest choice of products available to our customers. Often, products that are not promoted specifically, are available on request.

Regarding your particular needs in terms of the A1000, I would very much like to assist in any way possible. I will send you a PM to discuss the possibilities in terms of this product or any potential alternatives.
 
Hi MTN H

Do you have a list of edge enabled handsets? I have a sony ericsson P900.

Also, if the handset is not edge enabled, do you still get the cell broadcast - Y'ellow broadband if you are in an area that has edge towers?

I stay in Fourways, Magaliesig and on my P900 it only shows "SA MTN, Bryanston". So does it mean the area doesn't pick up the edge service, or do I have to get another handset for edge?

Confused :)

ps I'm currently browing via GPRS
 
Hi Kompete
The p900 doesnt have EDGE, only GPRS. But that doesnt mean that you wont benefit from an EDGE Base Station - you will be able to use GPRS+ even with an old handset because the coding scheme on the base station allows for higher speeds (If you have a strong enough signal). In this case, if you are connected to an EDGE basestation, you should still get Coding Scheme 4, which allows for roughly 20Kbps per channel, so if you get all 4 channels during a download, you can go up to 80Kbps on your handset. Obviously, if you connect to a older base station that only has support for Coding Scheme 2, you can only get a maximum of roughly 48Kbps.
My suggestion to you would be to get an EDGE/3G compliant handset like the Nokia 6630 - that way you can get EDGE now and still use 3G when it comes out on MTN. The 6630 is NOT a P900, but it comes pretty close in functionality unless you are using business specific apps on the P900.
Cheers -
 
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