FAQ Discussions - please read the sticky FAQ thread first

chop said:
That would be great! By the way are the data rates also being reduced?
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Data rates HAVE to be removed. I can tell everyone already that it WILL happen, because simply if it doesnt happen, Vodacom cannot be taken seriously as a company offering Internet Connectivity.

How the hell are you suppose to use a connection that has a potensial of 14Mbit's and pay R2 per MB (no bundle) or around .40c per MB in bundle. Its just crazy.

Vodacom needs to understand people here are looking for them to compete against Telkom. People want to use 3G for a main internet connection, and screw Telkom. At the current rates I use Vodacom's 3G just for simple IM converstaions and posting on this forum like I am now, but opening a webpage like www.gamespot.com will cost me around R3, because their main page is around 1.5MB - that is crazy
 
vodacom3g said:
I believe there won't be new packages, just a higher access speed.

Do you see a need for different packages, in terms of sizing?
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I sure do.

Especially in the 3g contract packages. Like a 3G250 and A 3G150 contract. Why should I be forced to waste R35 on a messenger contract to use my data card? (Even if you just brought out a R10 data-only contract that you can bolt bundles onto, like MTN)

Why not have *ALL* the same contract bundles as the bolt on bundles?

A 50 and a 100 MB bundle would be nicer that that 75 MB bundle.

The 350 MB bundle that MTN has for R220 in super! (If only they didn't suck so much)

I'm sure someone may find a 750 MB bundle useful.

Also if you go over your bundle there should be a better price per mb than R2. (Like MTN )

My 2c worth
 
vodacom3g said:
When you buy a phone or data card on contract, the cost of the hardware is calculated into the contract period. At the end of the contract you now own the phone and can get a new phone on a new contract. If you want to upgrade your phone before the contract ends, you can do an early upgrade and pay in some amount.
.
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What if I don't want a handset/datacard. Can I get a discount?
 
nicovdw said:
What if I don't want a handset/datacard. Can I get a discount?
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I've seen some of the retail shops do this, so phone around and see what you can get.

As always, remember you buy from the retail shops and not Vodacom directly, so they will do special deals.
 
better not hand out 2many of those 2c, after all, broadband is expensive :(
 
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Why not just a pay for what you use with the price per Mb determined by how much have used? Then no need to fiddle with packages as you will always get the best price for the amount of data you have used that month. Can always monitor our usage at vodacom4me!
 
vodacom3g said:
I believe there won't be new packages, just a higher access speed.

Do you see a need for different packages, in terms of sizing?
Click to expand...

V3G, do you think there are new data packages on the way?
 
HiltM said:
Why not just a pay for what you use with the price per Mb determined by how much have used? Then no need to fiddle with packages as you will always get the best price for the amount of data you have used that month. Can always monitor our usage at vodacom4me!
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I like the sound of that actually :)
 
HiltM said:
Why not just a pay for what you use with the price per Mb determined by how much have used? Then no need to fiddle with packages as you will always get the best price for the amount of data you have used that month. Can always monitor our usage at vodacom4me!
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Why not get Makro to deliver 20 crates of beer to your house and charge you at the end of the month on a sliding scale for the number of bottles you had?

Stock levels, capacity planning, transport, damages, inventory, delivery overheads all for their own account and own risk.

Can always monitor usage at the peach tree in the back garden :)
 
Next thing you'll want to just pay a fixed fee for voice, and have them bill you for the calls you made.

Oh wait...
 
Would an HSDPA card purchased in the US for the Cingular GSM network work here in South Africa?

I understand the differences on the cell phones and I currently have a world phone that was purchased through Cingular that operates just fine on Vodacom, it is a quad frequency phone.
 
If it complies with 3GPP HSDPA specs (same set Vodacom/Vodafone supports) it's got a good chance.

There are a number of different networks that are compliant (but with a not so popular option, myWireless for example) or nearly compliant with 3GPP and thus won't interoperate.

Do you have a brand for the card?
 
vodacom3g said:
I believe there won't be new packages, just a higher access speed.

Do you see a need for different packages, in terms of sizing?
Click to expand...

:eek:

HSDPA is designed to make more efficient use of the radio interface. Mobile operators gain by getting more capacity from the scarce radio resource and in effect it should be possible to pass some of the saving on to consumers. A factor of 10 increase will obviously not lead to a factor of 10 decrease in the cost of data as there are other overheads - but there can be some cost reduction.

I guess keeping the cost of 1MB of data the same means Vodacom gains more capacity but we continue to pay the same amount. :confused:
 
WireFree said:
:eek:

HSDPA is designed to make more efficient use of the radio interface. Mobile operators gain by getting more capacity from the scarce radio resource and in effect it should be possible to pass some of the saving on to consumers. A factor of 10 increase will obviously not lead to a factor of 10 decrease in the cost of data as there are other overheads - but there can be some cost reduction.

I guess keeping the cost of 1MB of data the same means Vodacom gains more capacity but we continue to pay the same amount. :confused:
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The question was around the need for different bundle sizes. Not so much around the forum's view on pricing. I think we all know the answer to that one :)

On the cost / Mb point; although the radio interface is more efficient, it's only one link you cross on your way to the internet, including the transmission, systems and international bandwidth.

Unfortunately HSDPA won't reduce the costs of these elements. Most of these elements, like the backhaul, actually requires massive upgrades to accommodate HSDPA.
 
If the lead article on this site is to be believed then it seems like the Vodacom HSPDA launch has been put back again. The usual excuse (shortage of data cards) is once again being thrown about.

I was just about to go the 3G broadband route (was going to get my router this week) and then add the HSPDA cards when the service was launched - with no firm launch date yet it seems like I am going to have to ditch that idea and go with DSL after all :mad:

V3G, are you in a position to confirm or deny these new delays?
 
jpd said:
V3G, are you in a position to confirm or deny these new delays?
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Sounds like the US government: "We can neither confirm nor deny the rumours..." :)

Unfortunately the data card story is true. We're still waiting for the cards to become available in bulk. To give you an idea on the card shortage; I don't have one yet :mad:

I've asked for the roll-out plan and will revert as soon as I have it. Does look like the first major rollout will be in the Sandton area but I'm speculating.
 
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