Have your say, vote for Data Bundle Rollover

[ic]

As ic mentioned it is a complex situation and a different system from voice systems. Another problem is the size of VC - a huge beast becomes lethargic and lacks the agility and speed of smaller creatures, something I would call 'poetry in motion'. A similar problem affects Telkom couple with other donut eating afflictions

More or less yes, although I'm sure that lots of R&D is ongoing behind the scenes at Vodacom, unfortunately Vodacom appears to be burdened with rather inflexible backend systems that resist change and stifle innovation - at least that is the impression that I get as a customer peering in from outside.

One thing I can think of that does not bode well for MTN implementing DBR, is the fact that MTN doesn't even allow customers to buy more than one data bundle within a 30 day period, forcing customers to use multiple MTN SIM cards which is simply ridiculous and suggests backend inflexibility, although I am tempted to think that this might be by design in an attempt to alleviate congestion on the MTN network - if it is then it is a dumb and ineffective way of doing it since customers can simply swap in another SIM card as a workaround.

 

[vodacom3g]

More or less yes, although I'm sure that lots of R&D is ongoing behind the scenes at Vodacom, unfortunately Vodacom appears to be burdened with rather inflexible backend systems that resist change and stifle innovation - at least that is the impression that I get as a customer peering in from outside.

One thing I can think of that does not bode well for MTN implementing DBR, is the fact that MTN doesn't even allow customers to buy more than one data bundle within a 30 day period, forcing customers to use multiple MTN SIM cards which is simply ridiculous and suggests backend inflexibility, although I am tempted to think that this might be by design in an attempt to alleviate congestion on the MTN network - if it is then it is a dumb and ineffective way of doing it since customers can simply swap in another SIM card as a workaround.

Saule, in a sense, is correct; the size of the animal makes it difficult to implement changes quickly. Often the technologies needed to perform a specific function does not exists and (very big) players must first develop it. We easily know 18 to 24 months in advance (which is not always easy in such a fast changing environment) what is needed and the projects starts well in advance.

But it's not always easy when you work with the massive transaction rates a multi-million user base dictates. The difficulties around implementing PPDB's is a case in point.

On the other hand, Vodacom has (on many occasions, and often via this forum) showed it's willingness to implement user suggested enhancements.

The voice systems were developed over a 13 year period so will obviously have more functionality but often shows the same characteristics as data, for example you don't have real-time billing on contract voice. And you have OOB rates on voice.

 

[Csnoopy]

Yep, 13 MB is like R5

One user loosing 13MB/R5 not much you say, it is the cent's that make the Rands (Economics 101???) Mega Bytes that make Giga Bytes. 13MB could be your virus updates for the week?? maybe or what ever you choose!

That is one user, how many user's actually lost MB/R, 10,000 or more and who benefits to this loss???

 

[ic]

Saule, in a sense, is correct; the size of the animal makes it difficult to implement changes quickly. Often the technologies needed to perform a specific function does not exists and (very big) players must first develop it. We easily know 18 to 24 months in advance (which is not always easy in such a fast changing environment) what is needed and the projects starts well in advance.

But it's not always easy when you work with the massive transaction rates a multi-million user base dictates. The difficulties around implementing PPDB's is a case in point.

On the other hand, Vodacom has (on many occasions, and often via this forum) showed it's willingness to implement user suggested enhancements.

The voice systems were developed over a 13 year period so will obviously have more functionality but often shows the same characteristics as data, for example you don't have real-time billing on contract voice. And you have OOB rates on voice.

I don't disagree, it's all part of normal software engineering in a large company.

Also very much appreciated that Vodacom does listen to feedback from forumites .

Having said that, my opinion of Vodacom's backend systems is largely coloured by the PPDB system, which has, for want of a better word, been plagued with problems [mostly scalability - I assume], especially after taking over 2 years to collectively develop & test.

Given that Vodacom does listen to feedback from forumites, and assuming that Vodacom might, at some point in the future, consider implementing Data Bundle Rollover, and knowing that Vodacom needs to migrate the contract data systems over to the pre-paid data systems, and given that Vodacom cannot implement DBR for only pre-paid data customers as this would make contract data customers very unhappy, I don't see Vodacom being ready with DBR for pre-paid or contract for at least another 2 years...

 

[Csnoopy]

I don't disagree, it's all part of normal software engineering in a large company.

Also very much appreciated that Vodacom does listen to feedback from forumites .

Having said that, my opinion of Vodacom's backend systems is largely coloured by the PPDB system, which has, for want of a better word, been plagued with problems [mostly scalability - I assume], especially after taking over 2 years to collectively develop & test.

Given that Vodacom does listen to feedback from forumites, and assuming that Vodacom might, at some point in the future, consider implementing Data Bundle Rollover, and knowing that Vodacom needs to migrate the contract data systems over to the pre-paid data systems, and given that Vodacom cannot implement DBR for only pre-paid data customers as this would make contract data customers very unhappy, I don't see Vodacom being ready with DBR for pre-paid or contract for at least another 2 years...

Another 2 yeeeeaars? explain? It has now been over 2 years since this poll was started, how much longer are we possibly going to wait and maybe get rollover . This could take years? I could be a GGP by then & having to buy DB's on me so called guvamint pension ~(R800/M) oh my goodness I don't think I could servive this!

 

[ic]

Another 2 yeeeeaars? explain? It has now been over 2 years since this poll was started, how much longer are we possibly going to wait and maybe get rollover . This could take years? I could be a GGP by then & having to buy DB's on me so called guvamint pension ~(R800/M) oh my goodness I don't think I could servive this!

Just trying to be realistic, and that assumes that Vodacom decides to implement DBR which might not be the case.

On the subject of reality, the poll was only added to this [now merged] thread at 2007-05-17T17:59, so the poll itself has not been running for 2 years.

 

[vodacom3g]

Current % of data bundle users who have voted on the topic is around 0.2%.

Obviously we don't know the % of forumites who are Vodacom users but let's assume 60% (VC market hare) x 36K (you need to be a member to vote, right?).

This still only gives a forum representation of around 2%.

I expected much higher numbers, to be honest, knowing you guys as a bunch of activists!

 

[ic]

I'm also quite disappointed by the slow and low registered voter turnout, having said that, even 2% representation should statistically be significant considering that the majority of data bundle users [Vodacom & MTN customers] are not registered members of MyBroadband.

 

[kaspaas]

Or people might just have given up and realised that it is no use to take the trouble to vote.

VC will not provide roll-over unless it makes business sense, and it will only make business sense once the competition is doing so.

Let's hope Cell-C sets the example, or maybe, in our lifetime, NeoNeverTel.

 

[Syndyre]

Cell C don't even have 3G, they're not going to be setting much of an example. Voda's only real competition is MTN.

 

[Syndyre]

Current % of data bundle users who have voted on the topic is around 0.2%.

Obviously we don't know the % of forumites who are Vodacom users but let's assume 60% (VC market hare) x 36K (you need to be a member to vote, right?).

This still only gives a forum representation of around 2%.

I expected much higher numbers, to be honest, knowing you guys as a bunch of activists!

Is that 60% overall market share or data market share, would seem to be a lot higher for data. If it was Telkom the numbers would've been a lot higher I'm sure.

 

[ic]

Is that 60% overall market share or data market share, would seem to be a lot higher for data. If it was Telkom the numbers would've been a lot higher I'm sure.

100% of Data Bundle Users = Vodacom with 60% of DBUs + MTN with 40% of DBUs
where Data Bundles are interpreted as being applicable to Mobile Broadband in SA.

 

[vodacom3g]

We've often implemented something based on a much smaller number of requests, looking at the logic and if we could easily do it. The alternate SMS, the new notifications on buying a bundle, the lightweight usage page, etc. all came from just a few forumites. (primarily ic!!)

Rollover, however is a daunting monster and as ic have indicated, is restricted by what can be done.

@Syndyre, MTN does not publish its data numbers so we have no real idea on what the % market share is, but I tend to agree with you. Most comments from the industry puts the Vodacom data network / user base at between 3 to 4 times larger than its nearest competitor (and right on the heels of ADSL!)

 

[Syndyre]

100% of Data Bundle Users = Vodacom with 60% of DBUs + MTN with 40% of DBUs
where Data Bundles are interpreted as being applicable to Mobile Broadband in SA.

Ok, just wondering what the percentages are in terms of people using dedicated data cards, bigger bundles etc, wouldn't call the guy firing up his 10MB MTN bundle a mobile broadband user.

@Syndyre, MTN does not publish its data numbers so we have no real idea on what the % market share is, but I tend to agree with you. Most comments from the industry puts the Vodacom data network / user base at between 3 to 4 times larger than its nearest competitor (and right on the heels of ADSL!)

From my personal experience it seems to be at least around there, almost everyone I know that has an actual data card and separate sim etc, the people that you could probably call true mobile broadband users, seems to use Vodacom, although that's not exactly definitive I know. They seem to have really fallen behind in terms of coverage as well which doesn't help much.

 

[vodacom3g]

Another metric might be to look at the % activity on myADSL for the VC and MTN forums, # posts / month. Should be representative.

ic, can you measure this?

BTW, on the sizing point, Vodacom is the largest HSDPA network in the Vodafone group, worldwide.

 

[ic]

Another metric might be to look at the % activity on myADSL for the VC and MTN forums, # posts / month. Should be representative.

ic, can you measure this?

rpm might be able to shed some light, unfortunately sorting the Vodacom and MTN forum threads according to views and number of replies, does not help much due to cellphone-related threads in the MTN forum having the highest number of views and replies - not surprising since a lot of people find MyBroadband as a direct result of Googling, and of course there are other search engines [e.g. Yahoo, etc].

What I can say with certainty, is that there are still lots of unregistered lurkers that spend time on MyBroadband on a daily basis, there are lots of people that prefer to lurk and never register.

Another anecdotal clue I can offer, is that there are more Vodacom customers sending emails using the forum's ContactUs email form - most find MyBroadband via search engine results based on the wording of their emails that I receive and reply to, and based on the forum & threads that lurkers were viewing at the time when they clicked on the ContactUs link, MyBroadband's Vodacom forum appears to be more popular with lurkers than MyBroadband's MTN forum.

PS: I've posted something on FB to see if that helps promote the DBR cause: http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2230619052&topic=3305

 

[AirWolf]

I am also disappointed at the slow progress of the voting. But the results of the voting speak for themselves

 

[AirWolf]

Inch by inch, vote by vote we creep closer to 500 votes. If this poll was on the front page we could have gathered this number of votes in a day or two, but of course the poll couldn't be kept open as long as it can be here.

 

[Piesang]

The poll wont help anyway. We are farting in a thunderstorm.

 

[AirWolf]

Post number 500 is mine thank you Might be true Piesang but I think rollover will happen eventually