Easy to use data only sim for tablet?

[SirLunk]

Hi all,

I hope you can help... I'm trying to get my 83 year old grandmother online. She can't get ADSL. I've sent her a Google Nexus 7 tablet with 3G capability. I need to buy her a prepaid data SIM but I don't know the SA market.

Aside from the obvious considerations of cost and speed/coverage, the top-up process is important. I need to be able to top-up her data remotely (eg using internet banking or a web site) and it's important that the top-up credit arrives as a data bundle (not voice or unallocated credit). In other words, my gran must not need to be involved in the top-up process. She has no cellphone and is not tech savvy.

I'm looking for guidance from folks who have experience with the products on the market. Oh, and in case you were wondering about coverage, my gran lives in Fish Hoek, Cape Town.

Thanks in advance.

Lunk

 

[Hluhluwe]

Cell C is the cheapest and with Fnb online banking you can buy prepaid data bundles. It allows you to schedule your purchases daily weekly and monthly.

 

[Aharon]

Hi all,

I hope you can help... I'm trying to get my 83 year old grandmother online. She can't get ADSL. I've sent her a Google Nexus 7 tablet with 3G capability. I need to buy her a prepaid data SIM but I don't know the SA market.

Aside from the obvious considerations of cost and speed/coverage, the top-up process is important. I need to be able to top-up her data remotely (eg using internet banking or a web site) and it's important that the top-up credit arrives as a data bundle (not voice or unallocated credit). In other words, my gran must not need to be involved in the top-up process. She has no cellphone and is not tech savvy.

I'm looking for guidance from folks who have experience with the products on the market. Oh, and in case you were wondering about coverage, my gran lives in Fish Hoek, Cape Town.

Thanks in advance.

Lunk

Hi,

Would it not make sense to perhaps get a data contract that would automatically load with (say) 2GB each month? Just a thought.

 

[VG008]

You could get her a smart data bundle from Cell C. Link: http://www.cellc.co.za/data-prepaid-packages

Basically you buy 24GBs upfront. The 24GB is then split into 2GB every month.
However, once the 12 months is up, you will need to buy this bundle again. Not sure if this can be done remotely. Best to speak to a Cell C consultant.

 

[isie]

Hi all,

I hope you can help... I'm trying to get my 83 year old grandmother online. She can't get ADSL. I've sent her a Google Nexus 7 tablet with 3G capability. I need to buy her a prepaid data SIM but I don't know the SA market.

Aside from the obvious considerations of cost and speed/coverage, the top-up process is important. I need to be able to top-up her data remotely (eg using internet banking or a web site) and it's important that the top-up credit arrives as a data bundle (not voice or unallocated credit). In other words, my gran must not need to be involved in the top-up process. She has no cellphone and is not tech savvy.

I'm looking for guidance from folks who have experience with the products on the market. Oh, and in case you were wondering about coverage, my gran lives in Fish Hoek, Cape Town.

Thanks in advance.

Lunk

With Standard bank I can load data bundles (can do airtime or SMS bundles to) on to my wife’s Vodacom prepaid sim, she doesn’t have to do anything she just gets an SMS confirming that a data bundle has been loaded. I didn’t have to register anything thers a prepaid option all I have to do is type her number, choose the type of recharge I want to send her, choose the value, I then get an sms with a pin, punch that in confirm and the data bundle is loaded on her phone

I don’t know if you can do this with whomever you bank with, though I just checked the data bundle option is only available for Vodacom and MTN, not cell C, 8ta and virgin.

 

[sajunky]

What about checking balance?
Some networks allow log to Web site using password to manage account and convert airtime credit to data bundle. But I wouldn't depend on this, rather chose one of 1 year prepaid data plans.

1. Cell C 3GB/365 days Smartdata voucher R399. Load it on prepaid SIM. Make sure you are on 99c tariff. During 365 days period your out of bundle should be 15c/MB. Now you have time (up to one year) to examine data usage pattern. If planning to use Skype, 3GB will be insufficient, see next options.
2. Subject to 8ta (non-roaming) coverage GoBig promo 60+60GB/365 days R1800
3 Cell C Giga 100/365 days voucher R2499

Cell C 3GB/365 voucher available only in stores. Check coverage here:
http://www.cellc.co.za/network-coverage-map
http://www.8ta.com/coverage/8tanetwork/

 

[SirLunk]

Hi All (and Happy New Year),

Thanks very much for all the info. After loads of research into coverage, cost and self-service capabilities, I've decided to go with 8ta (3 GIG promo). This allows me to load data on my gran's tablet remotely and there's no need for her to do anything. This is important because not only is my gran not tech savvy, the tablet doesn't have USSD, voice or SMS capabilities. I've decided against a contract or expensive prepaid option because I don't yet know whether my gran will use it.

One thing I'm a little unsure of is the extent of the coverage in Fish Hoek. The coverage map and the 8ta agent tell me it's full 3G, but a family member says she only gets EDGE in FH. Let's hope the limitation is her device, not the coverage!! I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Anyway, thanks again!

Lunk