Virgin vs Vodacom/MTN

[albert123]

okay so Virgin mobile reckons this whole "free phone" thing is big rip off.

lets compare some things.

on Virgin Mobile you get the Nokia N91 for "R199p/m" plus R100p/m for the contract giving you R100 airtime. at R1.95 per minute that is 51 free minutes for R299p/m, over 24 months that equals R7200 for 1224 minutes.

On Vodacom (mtn almost the same figures) you get the N91 FREE on Weekende Plus contract at R167.50 per month (includes itemised billing etc.) plus you get 120 free minutes. so for R4020 you get 2880 free minutes plus you can get a new phone after 22 months if you want.

possible arguement is at vodacom your free minutes is only OFF PEAK minutes. perhaps, but for the R3180 difference over 24 months you can at R1.80 make R73.61 worth of calls each month during peak time also just to break even with Virgin.

Please explain to me why on earth one would go to Virgin? am i missing something?

[Syndyre]

I think their point is you'd pay higher peak rates using that sim so then you'd lose more money etc. Of course the smart thing to do then is just use the Vodacom sim in an old phone to use up the free minutes off peak and buy a Virgin sim to use in your new phone the rest of the time.