BlackBerry versus Samsung in South Africa: The gloves come off

[akescpt]

Unfortunately BBM > all. Whatsapp is getting there but BBM actually delivers the messages when you send it. I received 2 Whatsapp messages at 4 this morning that was sent to me about 8 hours earlier.

and my bbm messages is still there after i restart. not like whatsapp that deletes the chats. idiots. if you use a decent browser on an android like dolphin or opera mobile your usage will go up. opera mini is catching up but has problems but data usage is less.

using 2+1 at the moment and that's taking care of my android needs. i have 25 app updates that i have to do. i only update the stuff i use alot. the updates are infuriating at times. update today and then less than a week later another one.

developers dont be vasin please. plan your releases/updates! i cant be updating your bloody app every other week!

[cerebus]

In what way are the 'gloves coming off'? All I can see is some brash talk. Where's the BBM killer?

[Elimentals]

In what way are the 'gloves coming off'? All I can see is some brash talk. Where's the BBM killer?

They have that sorted - http://www.chaton.com/

Its the BIS I am wondering about.

[J0n0]

BIS is perceived as a big deal because its effectively unlimited text messaging for R69/month. LOL. Meanwhile I get a 250mb bundle with my Samsung S3 contract and I can use it in combination with GTalk and do the same thing :P

What do you pay in TOTAL for your S3?

One thing people are forgetting is that a BB can be had for under 2k and be used on prepaid. Buy them a BIS for R69, and they are set for the month. Quite a lot less than what you pay for your S3 just to get 250mb data "free" with it.

[evilstebunny]

The mobile phone landscape in South Africa looks somewhat different to the global trend

Yeah, we're being ripped a new one for voice & data. Where are the cheap bolt-on data packages to enable us to use our smartphones to the max?

Oh yeah, there aren't any .. Long live BBM!

[Skerminkel]

Redbull Mobile ... R249 gets you 200 minutes any network, 100 sms and 500 megs data. The only part I ever exceed is the data, but that is usually due to some tethering action.

My experience exactly.

For the record: I would like BB to compete. Competition is good for consumers. The current BB hype in SA is really just marketing and perception, though.

[McCrazieGoalz]

Well its easy.

Just introduce a BIS like service and you will take SA in a heart beat.

For me the BB killer would be a reduction in data costs.

We already have offers of 1GB for R99 per month.

Having such offers on a more permanent basis and having them available as add ons to your contract or as part of your contract would make data more affordable and more attractive than BIS (you can use your data how you want - even tethering). There is WhatsApp already. The real problem is internet surfing and downloading stuff on your cell phone.

Reduction in data packages are the most likely killers of BB's advantages.

I already use MTN's R189 for 2GB (pre-paid on my top-up contract), which works out to R95 per month for 1GB.

[warr10r]

What do you pay in TOTAL for your S3?

One thing people are forgetting is that a BB can be had for under 2k and be used on prepaid. Buy them a BIS for R69, and they are set for the month. Quite a lot less than what you pay for your S3 just to get 250mb data "free" with it.

I pay a lot more than that, so I guess you win.

You'll have to excuse me though, N.O.V.A. 3 is calling my name....

[drukkie]

The only reason why BB has this advantage is due to historical BS...
They had a business plan. a good one. Don't know how they sold it to the Service providers but they did.
"Hey here is our phone...but in order for you to sell it you need to make all the data on the this thing for free.
Oh and our subscribers will no longer use your sms service."
So they took all the revenue for SMS and data from the SP.
That R69 fee is going to RIM...not the SP
They started riding the wave and every SP wanted to get in on the hig volume of sales.

OK that history's.
They are dead now. and I doubt they have that leverage anymore. We are the only country that they are doing well in.
I've moved my wife to a sammy and yes she chows through a 1 GB bundle but she will rather have a true smart phone
than a crapberry.

[DrYes]

Android data bundle.
2GB for R100.

That's all.

[CeeBee]

me currently contemplating new phone for youngest daughter (me (BES), wife and oldest daughter on BB (BIS))... BB BIS on MTN=R59 ,but then unlimited data for email or BBM
if i take cheap android or Nokia (ot whateva cheapie) phone, much cheaper than cheapest BB Curve and get 500Mb bundle for R120 (8ta), it could last 2 months, and effectively give 250Mb data per month, at R60 pm over the 2mo.
she cant BBM us or friends, but can send short emails, which would transfer "almost just as fast", and of course email on BB is also "free". Some of her friends also not BB but email capable phones.
for 250Mb she can send a crapload of basic emails before it runs out
on 8ta also the advantage of "send 5 sms's and get 50 free for the day"
so, ... for her, 250Mb is not unlimited... but, if its more than one would use in any case, then it may as well be :-)

leaning towards the non-BB option

my biggest issue with BB is the just-about dead slow browsing on internet when i need to :-(

[akescpt]

me currently contemplating new phone for youngest daughter (me, wife and oldest daughter on BB)... BB on MTN=R59 ,but then unlimited data for email or BBM
if i take cheap android or Nokia (ot whateva) phone, much cheaper than cheapest BB Curve and get 500Mb bundle for R120 (8ta), it could last 2 months, and effectively give 250Mb data per month, at R60.
she cant BBM us or friend, but can send short emails, which would transfer "almost just as fast", and of course email on BB is also "free". Some of friends also not BB but email capable phones
for 250Mb she can send a crapload of basic emails before it runs out
on 8ta also the advantage of "send 5 sms's and get 50 free for the day"
so, ... for her, 250Mb is not unlimited... but, if its more than one would use in any case, then it may as well be :-)

leaning towards the non-BB option

Bump that up to R150 and get 3 gigs on 8ta. No way she uses that!

[Skerminkel]

my biggest issue with BB is the just-about dead slow browsing on internet when i need to :-(

And it might just stop working at any moment. #Bankruptcy

[CeeBee]

Bump that up to R150 and get 3 gigs on 8ta. No way she uses that!

whole idea is not to cost more than BB, otherwise may as well get BB :-)
I'm convinced she wont even use 100Mb pm so can actually get the R80/250Mb to start with... then effectively 125Mb@R40pm... so cheaper than BB, and may very well be "unlimited" to her :-)

I'm sure, while BB makes a loss on the high usage users on BIS, the still make good money on many others, who don't use that much data... my emails (on R140pm company BES, certainly dont make up more than 100Mb (on device), and do little BBM, odd msg to wife and kid), my mother only uses a bit of BBM, no way she really getting R60 worth of data).... and i'm sure its the same for many, if not most BB users... its just the fixed cost that makes it appealing to most

[mmmig]

We could see a custom firmware for South Africa with a browser compression system similar to BB and then BB will have serious competition