Cost effective alternative to dial-up

[mancombseepgood]

I see the operators occasionally trying to lure the home dial-up user to broadband by advertising usb modems for home computers etc...
Here's my opinion:

Best alternative to dial-up and best edge modem:
Virgin will give you the Motorola V360 (edge) for R47 per month over 24 months ATM. You can also purchase the modem cash for sub R1000 ATM. Along with Virgin's 50c per meg , IMO this is one of the best alternatives to dial-up that we have ever seen.

So... for (let's say) R100 per month, you get your modem - which you can use as your cellphone if you like - and 100 meg's worth of data. Over and above that it's 50c per meg... and of course, there are no strings attached. If you want to settle the phone when you come into cash - just pay it up. What do you get from Telkom for R100 per month?

Also - why buy an edge data card when you can get the v360 for so little. it uses a standard cheap mini usb cable to connect to the PC (or bluetooth if you prefer).

Nice thing is not having to worry about being connected while you surf/bank/etc. And prepaid option also sets your top end so you don't get any nasty surprises.

 

[abuusamah]

Agreed!

Many people already have GPRS/EDGE and even 3G capable phones on their existing contracts. All they have to do is buy a bundle and add it on.

I spoke to a guy today who uses dial-up mainly for banking and email from his business. He's paying R. 145 for the ISP service alone!!!!! Add to that Telkom calls in peak time!!

If he uses Virgin Mobile he probably can do much more for less than R50/month.

Maybe I should charge for this advice!!

 

[sparklehorse]

I've been telling people to use gprs/edge rather than dialup for a while now. Most people don't even have to buy a modem - they already have a capable phone. All they sometimes need is a way to connect the phone to the pc via cable/bluetooth/IR. Check my sig.

 

[Lord Anubis]

so that's like R500-00 a Gig. Uhmm errr now how do you reason thats cheap?? Edge is utter cr@p. I used it for a while and it ultimately costs a fortune. If you must dump dial-up, go the "real" route. Get ADSL.

 

[sparklehorse]

Depends on what you do - if your going to surf a lot or download torrent's, then of course there are better solutions. But if you only use low bandwidth applications and occasionally browse - edge/gprs is fine.
The point is, a lot of people are paying a lot for phonecalls to telkom and R150 dialup account at mweb and only send 3 emails a week because they don't know any better.

 

[mancombseepgood]

Uh,,,

so that's like R500-00 a Gig. Uhmm errr now how do you reason thats cheap?? Edge is utter cr@p. I used it for a while and it ultimately costs a fortune. If you must dump dial-up, go the "real" route. Get ADSL.

Just get ADSL Btech... Besides - Telkom don't sell the weekender anymore. Remember- I'm looking at an alternative to DIAL UP... ie. the users who cant afford ADSL... cant get ADSL... dont have any other coverage, etc.

As for your experience that edge is cr@p... i use it successfully all the time - when i travel as well... you probly dont know what youre doing.

 

[Darth Garth]

Only 5% of cellphone users in Europe have a 3G account ... it is still too expensive for mere mortals but cellphone carriers need to recoup the nearly 130 billion they spent on obtaining licenses.

 

[bwana]

Only 5% of cellphone users in Europe have a 3G account ... it is still too expensive for mere mortals but cellphone carriers need to recoup the nearly 130 billion they spent on obtaining licenses.

Thats comparable to Vodacom's 6%.

 

[mancombseepgood]

Now if they can drop per mb to 10c or lower

Then we will see them become popular.

 

[gee7022]

so that's like R500-00 a Gig. Uhmm errr now how do you reason thats cheap?? Edge is utter cr@p. I used it for a while and it ultimately costs a fortune. If you must dump dial-up, go the "real" route. Get ADSL.

A but what should those poor suckers do who's been waiting 4 months for ADSL and telkom can't even give them an installation date?

 

[mancombseepgood]

Well put

A but what should those poor suckers do who's been waiting 4 months for ADSL and telkom can't even give them an installation date?

User is on an ADSL exchange and wants 3Gb ADSL internet, but not analog telephone: 3gb ADSL @ 384kbps (available from home only) for R240 (rental) + R200ish (3Gb IS) + R100 (mandatory analog rental) = R540 extra spend per month.

As above, but uses analog line: R440 extra spend per month.

These scenarios are fine for some people...
BUT...

What if:
1. I can't afford (or just don't want to spend) R440 or R540 per month extra or I simply don't need 3Gb... 750 meg or less will do me fine (and I don't want to pay for what I don't use!)?
2. I live outside of Telkom ADSL (or other) coverage?
3. I want internet on the road as I travel alot?

Many of us on this board have family members and friends in category 1. Many of us are in category 3 and some of us are in category 2.

So for all those, I suggest VM at R0.50 per meg... and Edge enabled V360 at R47 pm or R1k up front. Just one opinion of someone who has shopped around and comes from a poor coverage area.

 

[Sapphiron]

so that's like R500-00 a Gig. Uhmm errr now how do you reason thats cheap?? Edge is utter cr@p. I used it for a while and it ultimately costs a fortune. If you must dump dial-up, go the "real" route. Get ADSL.

No it's cheaper to just emmigrate