FreeMe not all that great

M

marlinf

Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
45
I'm a mobile power-user, I usually buy the big data bundles of 100GB. I was looking forward to an unlimited LTE account as advertised with this deal.

However, reading the T&Cs it seems that the Unlimited account actually means 25GB FUP, and then you are throttled down to 128kbps. That costs R999.

One step down the ladder, you've got 20GB per month at R599. That has a hard cap at 20GB.

I think we can agree that 25GB at top speed and then 128kbps is definitely not what I would consider 'unlimited'.

For the extra 5GB of bandwidth a month and the absolutely stinking 128kbps throttled speed thereafter, you are charged an extra R400.

You're paying R30/GB on this deal. Their regular high volume once-off packages cost R32/GB.

With FreeMe, you're obliged to enter into a contract with Telkom, which is easily worth paying R2/GB extra to avoid.

The only thing new here is a very slightly better price and some fresh marketing. And unlimited is not unlimited. As usual.
 
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L

ld13

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
12,997
marlinf said:
I'm a mobile power-user...
Click to expand...

I do not think FreeMe is a suitable package for you then.

marlinf said:
For the extra 5GB of bandwidth a month and the absolutely stinking 128kbps throttled speed thereafter, you are charged an extra R400.
Click to expand...

You are forgetting the extra 1500 minutes allocated to the unlimited package towards calls to other networks.

marlinf said:
With FreeMe, you're obliged to enter into a contract with Telkom, which is easily worth paying R2/GB extra to avoid.
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You are not obliged to sign a contract - these packages are available on a month-to-month basis.
 
A

Alain Craven

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2012
Messages
19
These packages appear to be aimed at a mix of voice and data users. Big voice/data users (non-streaming/p2p) will benefit from the top packages.
I see someone who travels a lot, speaks on the phone a lot, and users a laptop for email and work while travelling.
 
D

Dylan_G

Expert Member
Joined
Nov 12, 2011
Messages
3,008
Its not all that great, for you

For many others, FreeMe hits the sweet spot of "a bit of data, a bit more of IM and a bit of calling".
 
M

marlinf

Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
45
Dylan_G said:
Its not all that great, for you

For many others, FreeMe hits the sweet spot of "a bit of data, a bit more of IM and a bit of calling".
Click to expand...

Yup, it should go without saying that everything I say is my opinion. But I hear you.
 
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M

marlinf

Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2008
Messages
45
ld13 said:
I do not think FreeMe is a suitable package for you then.

You are forgetting the extra 1500 minutes allocated to the unlimited package towards calls to other networks.

You are not obliged to sign a contract - these packages are available on a month-to-month basis.
Click to expand...

The website shows it as R999.00 PM x 24, it appears (on surface inspection) to be a contract. I can believe that Telkom's website is wrong, though. :)
 
L

ld13

Honorary Master
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
12,997
marlinf said:
The website shows it as R999.00 PM x 24, it appears (on surface inspection) to be a contract. I can believe that Telkom's website is wrong, though. :)
Click to expand...

This is telkom. The media outlets tend to have more of the deets than the dudes working at telkom.
 
S

Style

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2006
Messages
328
Quite a difference between contract and prepaid hey. On the 1gb prepaid you don't get any Telkom to Telkom minutes or any of those added benefits that you will on the 1gb contract. On the prepaid 2gb FreeMe you get 300 Telkom to Telkom minutes and then the free Whatsapp benefit along with the Wifi. You don't get much at all on the prepaid 1gb FreeMe. A bit misleading with the lack of information around that. I thought I could get the 1gb FreeMe prepaid and still get all those benefits....not so unfortunately. Im sure I wasnt the only one.
 
F

FlashSA

Executive Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2007
Messages
9,633
Style said:
Quite a difference between contract and prepaid hey. On the 1gb prepaid you don't get any Telkom to Telkom minutes or any of those added benefits that you will on the 1gb contract. On the prepaid 2gb FreeMe you get 300 Telkom to Telkom minutes and then the free Whatsapp benefit along with the Wifi. You don't get much at all on the prepaid 1gb FreeMe. A bit misleading with the lack of information around that. I thought I could get the 1gb FreeMe prepaid and still get all those benefits....not so unfortunately. Im sure I wasnt the only one.
Click to expand...

FreeMe 1 GB
1 GB data
Free 500 MB for Instant Messanging and VoIP
Free 100 SMSs
Free 300 minutes to Telkom Mobile and Telkom Fixed lines
To purchase FreeMe Boost bundles dial *180# or use the Telkom self-service application for Android or iOS.
Valid for 31 days after recharging

From the Telkom site. https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/personal/plan/freeme-1-gb-boost/
 
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S

Style

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2006
Messages
328
FlashSA said:
FreeMe 1 GB
1 GB data
Free 500 MB for Instant Messanging and VoIP
Free 100 SMSs
Free 300 minutes to Telkom Mobile and Telkom Fixed lines
To purchase FreeMe Boost bundles dial *180# or use the Telkom self-service application for Android or iOS.
Valid for 31 days after recharging

From the Telkom site. https://secure.telkom.co.za/today/shop/personal/plan/freeme-1-gb-boost/
Click to expand...

Thank you wise FlashZA you gonubie god! It wasn't on any of the in-store pamphlets or books today. The person behind the counter seemed a bit more confused than I was and advised me to go for the 2gb lol. The 1gb + Huawei P8 lite for R139 was quite a deal though.
 
Chevron

Chevron

Serial breaker of phones
Joined
Oct 2, 2007
Messages
25,900
marlinf said:
I'm a mobile power-user, I usually buy the big data bundles of 100GB. I was looking forward to an unlimited LTE account as advertised with this deal.

However, reading the T&Cs it seems that the Unlimited account actually means 25GB FUP, and then you are throttled down to 128kbps. That costs R999.

One step down the ladder, you've got 20GB per month at R599. That has a hard cap at 20GB.

I think we can agree that 25GB at top speed and then 128kbps is definitely not what I would consider 'unlimited'.

For the extra 5GB of bandwidth a month and the absolutely stinking 128kbps throttled speed thereafter, you are charged an extra R400.

You're paying R30/GB on this deal. Their regular high volume once-off packages cost R32/GB.

With FreeMe, you're obliged to enter into a contract with Telkom, which is easily worth paying R2/GB extra to avoid.

The only thing new here is a very slightly better price and some fresh marketing. And unlimited is not unlimited. As usual.
Click to expand...

If you need 100GBs of data you bought the wrong package.

This is not Telkom's fault.
 
KleinBoontjie

KleinBoontjie

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
14,607
Think I'll stay on the Smartplan, 1GB + 100minutes (any network) +.., just because the Freeme doesn't have minutes to phone other networks.
 
BBSA

BBSA

Honorary Master
Joined
Jul 11, 2005
Messages
21,904
beans100 said:
Think I'll stay on the Smartplan, 1GB + 100minutes (any network) +.., just because the Freeme doesn't have minutes to phone other networks.
Click to expand...

Which smartplan is that, do you have a link?
 
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