That's certainly an option but I'd like to know where you get your 'most users have adsl and a wifi router' statistic? Last time I checked ADSL penetration was relatively low and most people in SA had access to the internet through their phones. Most people don't have adsl and don't even have a telkom line (I don't and only a few of the people I know do). I used to buy 2gb data bundles using the inclusive airtime in my Vodacom Top Up contract but the fact that those bundles have actually gotten more expensive doesn't inspire my confidence in Vodacom and will likely result in me porting when my contract ends next year). In my case I recently bought the 8ta 10gb bundle and a wifi router (which works quite well). The situation that users in this forum are currently experiencing is exactly what turned me of Blackberry personally (so I do agree with you Cranial Blaze).
I take it you work for Vodacom as you've quoted their PR speak directly - oh yes prices are actually higher but no one uses those bundles so don't worry about it. And at a time when all the other networks are dropping prices Vodacom actually manages to INCREASE the cost of a data bundle? I find it unbelievable.
For those who don't have adsl, 300mb may not be enough (it certainly does come down to the individual user) but bear in mind BIS is a very data efficient service, when switching to any other smart phone (even if you use Opera Mobile/Mini which is no match for the OS6 or 7 Blackberry browser) you'll be using a lot more data.
MTN and Vodacom have only themselves to blame for users doing 8-12gb of data a day - in OS5 there were file size limits that prevented this (and by the way this 5kb/s situation still happened every 3 or 5 months when I had my two year contract and only OS5 devices where available - if you don't believe me search these forums and you'll see I started many of the threads myself).
Ultimately I agree that the lack of reliability of BIS is a major issue. If you have ADSL then a wifi router option is certainly a good one, while it's still available the 8ta promotions are all great. Otherwise you're pretty much stuck with the current BIS issues until they are resolved by your network. Let me repeat switching sims, reinstalling firmware, etc won't do anything it's all up to the networks and if they actually have begun intentionally throttling BIS then don't hold your breath (although I doubt that's the case).
Ok most may of been an exaggeration, put with the current economic situation those many cant even afford the blakcberry as it is. As for the bundle, i opened up that article and you are actually moaning over a 1% increase, fine its an increase but its also the only 1, the the others have all shown a costing decrease. The fact of the matter is 8ta and cellc may be bringing prices down and as for cellc i am not sure but i do know telkom is selling thier data @ R25 per gb under cost, they have so far lost 7bil on with thier data promotions and this has actually delayed the launch of the new lines that are coming in to provide the entire country with more internet.
The 1 landing site has halted construction because Telkom cannot afford to pay them, from a longevity point that's not good for all of us, Telkom may be benefiting the end user on the short term, but it could end up backfiring badly on a mobile and fixed line point. Their promotion is literally costing people their jobs.
No i don't work for vodacom and personally i also plan on porting when my contract is over, but a 1% increase on a data bundle is no big issue and at the end of the day their is a big difference between fighting the competition and shooting yourself in the foot. They have all the market research and usage stats, and if their price changes. Affect the greater majority which logically it would. All those using exclusively their phones for internet access probably don't use 1 or even 2GB per month and would probably be using the 100mb - 300mb bundles. Personally it hink they should of just left the dam bundle sizes as they were as a guy that could afford the 300mb @ 139 may not necessarily be able to afford the 500mb @ 159 even if its a small difference and its quite likely that he will not even really see the benefit of the 200 extra mb. For me 300mb is pretty much too much and i would prefer something in the 100mb range, but I'm also not going to waste my money.
As for the file size limits that had nothing to do with vodacom or mtn, that was a RIM decision and the limitations were enforced by the OS as well as the server. All BB providers have to comply with that decision or loose their access to the RIM network. Its probably that the RIM agreement does not make any form of performance requirements so its very possible that vodacom and mtn are simply throttling the network link. Even with such a huge uptake its seem at least to me unlikely that the problems occurred across most of the country around the same time. The EDGE band has not been affected and their are far more EDGE berry owners than 3G owners, not sure how the network works but it would seem that both bands should be affected if it was a simple matter of too many users.
I can confirm the OS and Firmware def does not help squat
I'm back to RED NORMAL 