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Exploring Virgin territory
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
Skeptik
Banned
Virgin launch - R89 just to get the SIM!
At a time when MTN and Vodacom are selling their starter packs for R1.99 and R2.99 (and previously for only 99c), the new service provider, Virgin Mobile, launched today with a pack for R89. However, R50 of this is preloaded airtime. The brightly coloured pack contains a 64k sim, a phone lanyard, a cheap plastic business card holder and a few Virgin stickers and other marketing material. There is a thick booklet provided, but it does not go into any detail about the other services such as their cheap GPRS & EDGE 50c per Mb data offering. The Virgin reps would not let anyone get this without parting with their money. You also need to show the shop your ID book at the time of purchase so they can record your details for the Virgin account, even for the Pay-as-you-go option, which they call 'V0'.
When I enquired about phone settings for WAP and MMS etc., the rep claimed that this is pre-set from the SIM. Now that sounds a but unlikely...
My view is that the initial cost is far too high and will need to be reduced to be appealing to the youth market.
At a time when MTN and Vodacom are selling their starter packs for R1.99 and R2.99 (and previously for only 99c), the new service provider, Virgin Mobile, launched today with a pack for R89. However, R50 of this is preloaded airtime. The brightly coloured pack contains a 64k sim, a phone lanyard, a cheap plastic business card holder and a few Virgin stickers and other marketing material. There is a thick booklet provided, but it does not go into any detail about the other services such as their cheap GPRS & EDGE 50c per Mb data offering. The Virgin reps would not let anyone get this without parting with their money. You also need to show the shop your ID book at the time of purchase so they can record your details for the Virgin account, even for the Pay-as-you-go option, which they call 'V0'.
When I enquired about phone settings for WAP and MMS etc., the rep claimed that this is pre-set from the SIM. Now that sounds a but unlikely...
My view is that the initial cost is far too high and will need to be reduced to be appealing to the youth market.
Last edited:
kilps
Expert Member
Isn't this illegal? Why should you be forced to give up your id# to get a prepaid service (yes I know about the new ledgislation - but I get the feeling that that should also invade on our privicy [could someone more knowledable please comment])Skeptik said:
and what about those who don't have an id - what about the youth, they are cutting out a market
kilps said:Isn't this illegal? Why should you be forced to give up your id# to get a prepaid service (yes I know about the new ledgislation - but I get the feeling that that should also invade on our privicy [could someone more knowledable please comment])
and what about those who don't have an id - what about the youth, they are cutting out a market
Well firstly, this has nothing to do with Branson, and everything to do with the leaders we elected, or allowed to get elected. As for the kids, I recon, just like it is now, their parents wil buy their sim cards, and the kids will continue to use them.
DigitalSoldier
Honorary Master
wizzard what do u mean allow to be elected ?
Skeptik
Banned
kilps said:Isn't this illegal? Why should you be forced to give up your id# to get a prepaid service (yes I know about the new ledgislation - but I get the feeling that that should also invade on our privicy [could someone more knowledable please comment])
and what about those who don't have an id - what about the youth, they are cutting out a market
The whole launch has not been thought through properly. It is clearly aimed at young adults. The starter-packs, the style and language of the booklets and the fact that they are on sale at Musica all points to a youth market. I think if you have R89 to throw at Virgin then you probably have an ID book or at least a number.
The SIM and phone laws have already been passed - it's just that the other providers will be phasing them in. I guess Virgin are being pro-active by doing it from the start. I agree -- there are few other democratic countries with such draconian cellphone legislation
When Virgin launched in the UK, they included airtime in the pack but it was worthwhile to buy the pack because simcards were not cheap as they are now. Besides, they gave more airtime away than you actually paid for.
It is significant and disappointing that in poorer South Africa, R39 of your money is going towards the SIM and the tacky goody-bag! Why not have a special launch offer with some goodies thrown in and a free sim? Crazy
DigitalSoldier
Honorary Master
I wonder what the virgin financial sector will bring to the market
Skeptik
Banned
mmmm... and what link does Virgin have with Musica? Are we about to see a Virgin Megastore chain?DigitalSoldier said:
kilps
Expert Member
Ok sure - from my very vauge understanding of what our constitution is trying to protect our privicy, so if this could possibly be a grey area then why is it not being fought.Skeptik said:
It seems that we don't have people here who are doing anything big (yes - there are people who are doing wonders with telecoms) - but I am sure if there was anything like this in the US then the EFF would have jumped on it within 2 minutes
I don't know what I am going to do when CellC asks me for my ID number - considering I don't have one I think (depending on how much time I have
) I am going to be asking them a lot of questions...Skeptik
Banned
We have a few EFFs. Lots of EFFs actually. EFFing Ivy, EFFing Mbeki, EFFing Kasrils, etc..kilps said:Ok sure - from my very vauge understanding of what our constitution is trying to protect our privicy, so if this could possibly be a grey area then why is it not being fought.
It seems that we don't have people here who are doing anything big (yes - there are people who are doing wonders with telecoms) - but I am sure if there was anything like this in the US then the EFF would have jumped on it within 2 minutes
I don't know what I am going to do when CellC asks me for my ID number - considering I don't have one I think (depending on how much time I have
supersunbird
Honorary Master
Skeptik said:
Try buying a cellphone handset, then you have to pay R199 for a Vodacom Starter Pack or similar from one of the other providers...
Regardless of what you might find at pick and pay Vodacom advertises their own starter packs for between r149 and r199 - perhaps before long Virgin will also use alternate resellers.Skeptik said:
It was sealed in the packaging - perhaps thats why?Skeptik said:
like the article sayskilps said:
They're targeting spenders.
ajax
Executive Member
I was a bit disappointed myself that there weren't more airtime included. When Cell C launched you payed R5 for the pack but included was R250 free airtime.
I guess Virgin wanted to avoid selling a lot of simcards to people who would use the airtime and then let the sim rot in the drawer somewhere.
I guess Virgin wanted to avoid selling a lot of simcards to people who would use the airtime and then let the sim rot in the drawer somewhere.
damian24
Senior Member
Looking at the virgin site, even general users will save...
compared to my R135 mycall 100, where I'm forced to user 15 peak and 85 off-peak...
For R135 bucks I get ALL calls at R1.95 (69 min 5 minutes or 87 after 5 minutes) and SMS at a maximum rate of R0.60.
50c/Mb for data.
so all round it's a better deal than MTN offers, I haven't compared to VodaCom but the deals probably still better.
Only draw-back, the 2.5k discount I get on the phone...
D
compared to my R135 mycall 100, where I'm forced to user 15 peak and 85 off-peak...
For R135 bucks I get ALL calls at R1.95 (69 min 5 minutes or 87 after 5 minutes) and SMS at a maximum rate of R0.60.
50c/Mb for data.
so all round it's a better deal than MTN offers, I haven't compared to VodaCom but the deals probably still better.
Only draw-back, the 2.5k discount I get on the phone...
D
kilps said:
The US also has the ACLU who have been fighting their government's police state tendencies for decades.
It is an endless and expensive battle.
There are many things that infringe our constitution, but someone has to spend the mountain of money it costs to fight this in court. Also our constitution was deliberately constucted with the loophole that allows the government to infringe our rights if it is 'for the greater good'.
Their tariffs aren't as straightforward as they pretend. Nor are their competitors' ones particularly complicated. You just can't easily compare them side-by-side, but that is deliberate, and Virgin are doing the same thing.
supersunbird said:
If you add Vodacom's price for the phone and the cost of the starter pack you get the actual price of just the phone from any other retailer, even online places overseas that ship to SA.
Sapphiron
Honorary Master
I think Virgin Mobile's contribution is a breath of fresh air to the Cell market in SA. They bring a radically DIFFERENT and SIMPLE product to the market.
For far too long the 3 major operator have resold the same products with different names, ripping us off in the complexities.
Good luck Virgin!
For far too long the 3 major operator have resold the same products with different names, ripping us off in the complexities.
Good luck Virgin!
Their product is not as good as id hoped 
I still feel that the 24 month contract is better..since u save on the phone.. i mean thats like 2 grand.And u pay around 130 a month with free minutes.. And the costs are definately not as complicated as they make it out to be...
A monkey can understand them
I also think that theyre not allowed to offer better services because theyre basically using the cellc network. Its like the ISP's using telkom...They can only do so much....
I still feel that the 24 month contract is better..since u save on the phone.. i mean thats like 2 grand.And u pay around 130 a month with free minutes.. And the costs are definately not as complicated as they make it out to be...
A monkey can understand them
I also think that theyre not allowed to offer better services because theyre basically using the cellc network. Its like the ISP's using telkom...They can only do so much....