Help with MTN Anytime vs. Vodacom TopUp

[iDenTiTy]

Ok boring title, I know.

Anyway can anyone explain the MTN Anytime contract thing?

Why I ask, is that it seems like a bargain...

I mean, I'm coming from Vodacom TopUp135. My contract is almost done, so naturally I'm shopping around...

FACT: Their phones on the TopUp range, are absolutely useless. Utter cr@p.

But here comes MTN...

They offering a Nokia 6110 Navigator for R109 (incl. R100 airtime) on MTN Anytime 100.

Now for a crucial question...

(If there is no real catch to the Anytime contract thing) What is the cost if I (prematurely) cancel my contract at Vodacom (with 4 months left - current phone is giving hassles), move over to MTN (while porting my number), sign up to MTN Anytime 100?

Can it be done?

Hope this post makes sense...





What is the catch? Does it work like Vodacom's TopUp contract?

 

[SoTrue]

The MTN AnyTime contracts basically let you subscribe for a fixed amount, against which any of the services (voice, SMS, data) are available. If you exceed the amount during the month and you don't recharge, you automatically continue at out-of-bundle rates.

With Vodacom's TopUp accounts, your services are "suspended" until you recharge. MTN also have new AnyTime TopUp accounts, which basically work the same as Vodacom's in terms of the "suspension". 5 month carry-over on MTN.

The phones/pay-in on the MTN Anytime TopUp accounts are also bad. But from a business perspective that is understandable, because on an AnyTime account the average user is bound to spend significantly more than the monthly subscription amount, while the average TopUp user will only spend the monthly subscription.

 

[iDenTiTy]

The MTN AnyTime contracts basically let you subscribe for a fixed amount, against which any of the services (voice, SMS, data) are available. If you exceed the amount during the month and you don't recharge, you automatically continue at out-of-bundle rates.

With Vodacom's TopUp accounts, your services are "suspended" until you recharge. MTN also have new AnyTime TopUp accounts, which basically work the same as Vodacom's in terms of the "suspension". 5 month carry-over on MTN.

The phones/pay-in on the MTN Anytime TopUp accounts are also bad. But from a business perspective that is understandable, because on an AnyTime account the average user is bound to spend significantly more than the monthly subscription amount, while the average TopUp user will only spend the monthly subscription.

Sure. IT's why Vodacom have pathetic phones on TopUp, have to make money somehow...

Well on my 135 TopUp I haven't yet gone over 135...

Does anyone know what Vodacom will charge me to switch over to MTN?

 

[sn3rd]

As far as I know, you pay the remainder of your subs plus a penalty fee. The penalty fee is calculated as follows:
Take the most expensive retail price the phone has ever had, add 500, divide by 2, minus 20, multiply by 1000000000000000 and raise to the power of the current wind speed
Why not wait out the 4months? Or if you really need a phone, take out the new contract in the meantime then change number later