Data card vs USB

[ic]

Thanks, I will try to go the TopUp way, but will I be able to add it onto my existing account. Or do I need to apply for another account for the TopUp contract?

It would need to be a separate contract, but both contracts should be linked to the same account, i.e. one debit order.

These are separate SIM Cards used in separate devices, there is no need to have them on the same contract unless you want to share a single data bundle between your phone & modem using [searchforum]DataSIM[/searchforum]. Note that DataSIM is not available for TopUp customers.

Do you have any idea what the migration cost is? I just figured to keep the in- and out-of-bundle rates the same it is worth the extra R40 so that I need not worry about paying too much if I exceed my bundle.

No I do not, you will need to research this, but my understanding is that migrating upwards to a contract that costs more does not incur penalties, whilst migrating downwards more likely will incur penalties.

Plus I think this is a real cool feature of the [VC]BBA Contract:
"Included are HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA for free - the fastest speeds on the Vodacom network! As well as unused data bundle carry over for up to a maximum of 60 days."

[VC]BBS also has data bundle validity of up to 60 days - exactly the same as [VC]BBA.

[VC]BBA is not about speed - which BTW is not guaranteed, so don't get [VC]BBA if all you want is additional speed. Also, [VC]BBS has HSUPA.

[VC]BBA is about out of bundle charges being the same as in bundle charges.

If you're on TopUp or pre-paid you have realtime data usage monitoring and are better equipped to ensure that you can control your spending by self-capping the amount of money available to be chewed up by OOB charges - if you leave ZAR0.00 in your TopUp or pre-paid account after purchasing a data bundle, then ZAR0.00 will be spent on OOB charges once the data bundle is depleted.

If you're on a contract data bundle, whether it is a [VC]BBS CDB, or it is a [VC]BBA CDB, your self-capping control is greatly diminished.

 

[Rabidza]

Thank you for all the advice.

It really makes sense to have control on how much you spend and when you spend it. If the migration costs is not that much to go from Standard to Advanced, a [VC]BBS TopUp Contract looks like the sensible option.