A suggestion for all first-time smartphone users

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The_Unbeliever

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My suggestion for all you first-time smartphone users is the following :

1. When you finally have obtained the phone of your dreams on contract, do take the time and RICA a prepaid SIM for the same network as well.
2. Top the prepaid SIM up with a databundle and airtime.
3. Remove the contract SIM from your new smartphone, and insert the prepaid SIM
4. Now you can play with your new toy, tweaking its settings to use 3G airtime/databundle as little as possible. If you make a blooper, then you won't run the risk of meeting the OOB shark personally.
5. If possible, set up a wifi/adsl hotspot at your house, and have the phone use that. (as suggested below by HavocXsphere). I'm using this setup, and it really helps, plus I can have my iPad and wifi-enabled laptop on wireless as well. Less cables, less fuss.
Once you have sussed the phone out (say, after two months or so) then you can put the original contract SIM in.

Good luck, and do enjoy your new smartphone!
 
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It is also a good idea to switch off 3G and WIFI when not needed your battery will last longer .
 
This is a good suggestion, except I would suggest something slightly different.
Once you have the new phone, put the new sum in your old phone and use that. Then get a 2+1GB bundle sum on 8ta for R150 and carry around both phones.
I do this, one phone is my main, and one is my data phone.
I would ofcourse just port to 8ta and have 1 phone, but that data deal is a promotion and may end soon.

But yeah, easiest is to just turn off 3G and let your phone connect to WiFi while at home.
 
One possible problem that you seem to be overlooking.

The moment you remove the SIM card that the phone is issued on (your contract SIM) and replace it with another SIM card, the warranty associated with that phone may expire.

Having read the fine print when signing a new/upgrading a phone, it states that the warranty is only valid if the SIM card that the phone is issued on is used.

I also recall the salesperson in-store telling me much the same when he was explaining the CPA necessitated document that I had to sign when upgrading the phone. Something along the lines of "be careful to only use the original SIM card in the new phone...."

Perhaps someone from one on the networks can confirm this, or give clarity regarding this????
 
pezulu said:
One possible problem that you seem to be overlooking.

The moment you remove the SIM card that the phone is issued on (your contract SIM) and replace it with another SIM card, the warranty associated with that phone may expire.

Having read the fine print when signing a new/upgrading a phone, it states that the warranty is only valid if the SIM card that the phone is issued on is used.

I also recall the salesperson in-store telling me much the same when he was explaining the CPA necessitated document that I had to sign when upgrading the phone. Something along the lines of "be careful to only use the original SIM card in the new phone...."

Perhaps someone from one on the networks can confirm this, or give clarity regarding this????
Click to expand...

Good point. Clarification regarding this issue will be great.
 
pezulu said:
One possible problem that you seem to be overlooking.

The moment you remove the SIM card that the phone is issued on (your contract SIM) and replace it with another SIM card, the warranty associated with that phone may expire.

Having read the fine print when signing a new/upgrading a phone, it states that the warranty is only valid if the SIM card that the phone is issued on is used.

I also recall the salesperson in-store telling me much the same when he was explaining the CPA necessitated document that I had to sign when upgrading the phone. Something along the lines of "be careful to only use the original SIM card in the new phone...."

Perhaps someone from one on the networks can confirm this, or give clarity regarding this????
Click to expand...

i would like to see this clause. i can't believe that it would pass the cpa.
 
pezulu said:
One possible problem that you seem to be overlooking.

The moment you remove the SIM card that the phone is issued on (your contract SIM) and replace it with another SIM card, the warranty associated with that phone may expire.
Click to expand...


Dont scare the Munkey...he is anxious enough with his new smart phone toy! :p

I can not speak for the other networks or service providers, but with VSP, the warranty will be suspended after the 3 months if a Vodacom SP sim is not used in the phone. If you put a Vodacom SP sim back in the phone, the warranty will kick back in (you will be screwed if the phone is does not boot up for example though as then it wont register on the Vodacom network and the warranty database will not update)

So...it does not matter if you take a Vodacom prepaid sim or a Vodacom contract sim...as and put it in the phone...as long as it is a Vodacom sim :-)
 
Thanks for clearing up Vodacom ocleroux.
Anyone from MTN, CellC or 8ta on? Or is that wishful thinking on this forum?
 
Surely this sim connected warranty only applies to the second year where its honored by the network and not the manufacturer?
 
rorz0r said:
Surely this sim connected warranty only applies to the second year where its honored by the network and not the manufacturer?
Click to expand...

No...if you want to book it in with Vodacare, no matter if it is first or second year. then the warranty needs to be in place on our system and not be suspended. If it is suspended, then you may take it to the manufacturer for repair.
 
Great advice!!!

Except, upgrading normally means the contract is used to make and receive calls! Not all of us can simply remove the contract sim and replace it with a prepaid sim for a few months. Some folks only have ONE cell and unfortunately its a data hungry android or iphone.

Here is a simple solution: learn how to switch your data on and off to control your data usage. Don't blame your SP on your smart phone's data usage, rather blame yourself for being stupid and not taking the time to educate yourself before you got the latest and greatest phone.

My Galaxy Note is very data hungry, but I control it as follows:
1) Root your android and install droidwall
2) Use a prepaid sim when downloading and updating apps, replace the sim when you are done with updates
3) LEARN how to use a firewall - google and mybb are your friends and droidwall will assist you.

If you dont want to root your android, may the out of bundle gods await YOU @ R2/meg - I wish you all the best!

I have never been out of bundle with the paltry 75megs/month I get from MTN using the 3 steps above!

Lastly, to prevent any out of bundle shocks - a TOPUP contract

Nick
 
On Android and iOS install Onavo as your 1st app Works better than Droidwall mentioned above and you dont even need to Jailbreak or root.

Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onavo.android.onavoid
ICS https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.onavo.android.onavoics (ICS Users should Install this as well)
IPhone http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/onavo/id423545287?mt=8


You will thank me later.

Not only does it show you what apps use what data but on Android it also allows you to limit selected apps to WiFi Only. As for iPhone and Ice Cream Sandwich users the Extend app also comress data allowing it to last just that tad more.

You can read more about it over at http://www.onavo.com/
 
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