Are the new Vodafone data cards locked to Vodacom?

[Terencek]

Is it possible the new Vodafone Huawei E620 data cards and software are now locked for use on the Voda network only?

I live in a rural area where Voda occasionally goes down. In the past with an earlier version of their card and Dashboard software I was able to pop in my MTN simcard and be up and running again for the duration. But with the new Vodafone card, and Voda's Dashboard 7, I seem to have lost that facility. Or I need special settings to configure manually, unlike previous versions which simply recognised the MTN card and let me set up a new Profile within a few seconds? Can anyone advise or help please?

Thanks, terencek

<added by="ic" reason="forumites save yourself some time & click on the following link">

Vodacom to unlock data cards...​

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[UnDeR±tAkEr]

Hi Terencek

No none of the cards are network locked. I'm currently using an MTN prepaid card in an Option Nozomi card. And it works perfectly.

For the new sim you simply have to create a new profile, and call it something like 'MTN Backup'. So that everytime you use this card, you can select this profile.

But come to mention it, the MTN should work OK even with the Vodacom settings. I often change my sims from MTN, Vodacom to Cell-C, and currently use the same profile for all of them. I think they all have an 'internet' APN. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

So just pop in the MTN sim and see if it works. I think should work first time.

Cheers

 

[Phaff]

The invoice from Vodacom for all the new Hauwei cards we have say "Network Locked", I dont have a SIM from another SP to test it with though. Would be all very unfortunate if it was the case..

 

[Terencek]

No, MTN card not recognised in Huawei Voda datacard

Nope, 'fraid that's how it used to work for me with an Option 3G (and prior to that Option GPRS) card from Voda -- pop the rival SIMcard into the slot and away you go -- but no longer the case with the new datacard and software. Now creating a new profile doesn't help -- it simply won't pick up 'MTN' in the bottom-left network field in the Dashboard interface, despite any amount of tweaking. It is possible I need special settings (APN, DNS etc.) but I haven't been able to discover these if that's the case. Trying to get through to the MTN Helpdesk only flattens your cell battery.... Hopeless! So I'm stuck for now unless there's a knowledgeable samaritan out there somewhere.....

terencek

 

[grubsner]

Vodacom APNs:
internet
internetvpn:

MTN APNs:
internet
myMTN
MTNVPN

Don't really use the other networks. MTN sim works in both that Option Nozomi and Novatel U740.

HTH

 

[Piesang]

All new Vodocom cards are network locked.

 

[Wynsam]

Software or Hardware

Is it locked via the supplied software or via the actual card being flashed somehow?

I cant see how installing the generic Huawei software wont defeat this. Wont someone who has one of the new cards try and load the genric software and let all the Vodacom datacard users know? I use this software for MTN, Cell C and when my new sims arrives for VM. You just create new profile for each network.

Here is the link.http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/doc/list.do?type=-1&id=305

Use the one that is 67 mb large and says "normal with voice calls" it is second from the top.

 

[Daveogg]

All new Vodocom cards are network locked.

You sure??

Got a Novotel U740 about 2 weeks ago on a weekender contract from smartcom and a mtn prepaid works fine.
One thing whereas on vodacom username and password are left blank on MTN you have to put something in there - just forgotten what it is. Something like myMTN for both??

 

[Piesang]

You sure??

Got a Novotel U740 about 2 weeks ago on a weekender contract from smartcom and a mtn prepaid works fine.
One thing whereas on vodacom username and password are left blank on MTN you have to put something in there - just forgotten what it is. Something like myMTN for both??

It's only from say a week ago that the cards are locked.

 

[UnDeR±tAkEr]

It's only from say a week ago that the cards are locked.

I wonder why the sudden urge to do this?

 

[jalize]

Luckily I got my e620 before they locked it I think they are scared of Virgin simcards in their 3G/HSDPA cards

Me, I don't think they will bring the vodacom price of databundles down much further if they start pulling stunts like this.

 

[Daveogg]

I thought as a precursor to number portability Icasa had stopped the cell networks from locking their phones, surely their data card would fall into the same category.

 

[Skeptik]

If Vodacom have locked the cards, why don't they say so? B*stards!

 

[Debbie]

One version of the Electronic Communications Bill actually outlawed the 'locking in' of end user equipment to a particular network. Perhaps if the public had commented on this, this provision would have remained.

 

[Skeptik]

I'm confident that v3g will post a reply here as soon as he has had a chance to get the facts from Vodacom's end .

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On a somewhat off-topic note, I'm curious to know how Vodacom's 3G|HSDPA and MTN's 3G|HSDPA co-exist in the frequency spectrum [unlike cellery phones which are either dual or triple band] - do the separate 3G|HSDPA networks operate in the same frequency range? - if so, would this not be causing major network problems? - a possible reason to start locking Vodafone data cards onto the Vodacom network?​

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What does dual or triple band have to do with anything?? As far as I know there is only one band useable in RSA, which all the "cellery" phones & data cards use. It is the sim card that identifies a particular sub and connects it to an individual network.

If you're looking for a reason, there 'aint one. Locking a handset into a network is purely a subsidy/anti-competition issue.

 

[vodacom3g]

Have asked for the official policy.

Network locking is done by many operators and is a commercial issue. The networks calculate how much they can subsidise a handset, based on the revenue they expect from that specific contract PLUS the call revenue.

If you pick up a subsidised phone and then use it on another network, the model breaks down and it is this the networks try and avoid.

One solution would be to remove all subsidies and users buy their phones directly from the manufacturers. But how many people will pay R4000+ for a handset every 2 years?

 

[kaspaas]

Have asked for the official policy.

Network locking is done by many operators and is a commercial issue. The networks calculate how much they can subsidise a handset, based on the revenue they expect from that specific contract PLUS the call revenue.

If you pick up a subsidised phone and then use it on another network, the model breaks down and it is this the networks try and avoid.

One solution would be to remove all subsidies and users buy their phones directly from the manufacturers. But how many people will pay R4000+ for a handset every 2 years?

I have no problem with a network locked phone/card PROVIDED I was properly informed of this at the time I entered/renewed the contract. It is not nice to find out about this once you are locked into a 2 year contract.

I could not find anything in the big print for a recent new 3G contract about this. Small print does not qualify as being proper information.

Having said this, VC sorts out problems on billing etc without us having to resort to contract clauses etc etc etc - it is just painfully slow.

 

[debug]

If anyone knows how to unlock these new voda e620 cards please post a howto. The previous voda cards were open.

If I find something I will do likewise.

 

[FireTelkom]

Have asked for the official policy.

Network locking is done by many operators and is a commercial issue. The networks calculate how much they can subsidise a handset, based on the revenue they expect from that specific contract PLUS the call revenue.

If you pick up a subsidised phone and then use it on another network, the model breaks down and it is this the networks try and avoid.

One solution would be to remove all subsidies and users buy their phones directly from the manufacturers. But how many people will pay R4000+ for a handset every 2 years?

We must all remember that their is nothing like a free lunch!. If handsets will cost R4000 without a subsidy, we are already paying for this included in our monthly subscribtions. I would prefer to pay for my handsets that can easily last for longer than 2 years but then pay a total of R4000 less for my service charges to Vodacom. As example: I currently pay R14 400 over two years for my HSPDA service, allow me to buy my own card and reduce this payment to R10 000 over the two years.

It is time that the competition commission prohibit the network operators to network lock 'free' phones that I pay for as part of my subscriptions. Vodacom can also not complain if I use the subsidized instrument on other networks, as I am still locked into the payments of my contract!

Try to get another story Vodacom3G. This one dont work.

Regards

FireTelkom

 

[Skeptik]

Well European Vodafone branded phones have never been network locked. The Euro network, One2One (now called T-Mobile), issued locked phones to subscribers. In fact they bought unlocked phones and then put the lock on themselves! Then a law came out that said they had to issue unlock codes for a 1 yr old handset upon request from a customer + a fee of around R300. They mucked people around for days - while trying various codes. Virgin Mobile were much more obliging and would unlock for free.

Finally just about every phone shop now offers a cheap unlock service (more recent phones are a problem) It violatesthe guarantee, but can easily be restored to locked status.