How exactly does Pre-paid 3G work?

[Dolby]

I posted a similar post in the MTN EDGE section, but I'm interested out the 3G prepaid works as well.

Assume I've got the 3G data card, and a prepaid SIM already. How does one do the prepaid thing? Do you buy vouchers to recharge, as with prepaid phone calls? I haven't seen DATA voucher cards in shops yet. Am I misunderstanding?

 

[diabolus]

No, it simply deducts straight from your call credits. When you buy say R100 [or R29 etc etc] of prepaid minutes, then that's also for data. So if you go online, use 10MB then R20 will be subtracted from that R100 etc. (Thus R2 p/MB).

 

[Retnox]

You use the normal recharge vouchers and get billed according to the R2/MB scale. Simple eh?

If I'm wrong would someone please smack me with a trout?

 

[goodgirl]

It does not work (yet) from what I understand and from my testing.

I tried to put a prepaid SIM into my datacard and the error is 619, which as per Vodacom data help desk is a signal error that occurs if no data service is activated for that SIM card.

 

[diabolus]

Well obviously must enable data services [which is basically a call to the helpdesk to tell them "turn the data on now!" , i believe you can activate it on vodacom4me as well]. I don't know why they don't enable it on default. I used GPRS on my prepaid sim the entire february, then i got a datacard and plugged the same sim in there and 3G worked fine [and then i got me a contract].

In short, if you got GPRS working on your SIM then you can get 3G to work too [assuming you got a 3G device].

 

[goodgirl]

Oh! The guy could have been so nice to mention that to me I asked him "so the data service for prepaid SIMs does not yet exist" and he agreed.

Calling 155 that was. (today)

 

[diabolus]

Probably misunderstood thinking you were referring to data bundles or something. I activated GPRS [data services] on my prepaid sim like Oktober last year and back then it was like R40 p/MB still.

Of course if i actuially could log in at vodacom4me i could probably point to the quick way to activate it yourself...

 

[goodgirl]

No the guy clearly understood my question. I am already used to the incompetent people, and I use very loud, clear English, short sentences, clear and simple questions

I didn't actually register my prepaid at 4me and don't plan to, I love the option of having an anonymous SIM! Your hardly get that in many countries, where you need to supply ID to activate a prepaid SIM.
What do they require to activate data on the prepaid SIM, do they require any forms filled out and ID at that stage?

I only registered my messenger contract on 4me where I add data as needed. (They f...ed it up though and didn't actually add the 1GB to the contract.

But paying 35 Rand per month, having cheap cheap SMS to send from the dash application, and being able to buy relatively cheap data at 60c/MB, while only buying each month what you need, seems like the best option at the moment!

 

[diabolus]

What do they require to activate data on the prepaid SIM, do they require any forms filled out and ID at that stage?

Eh, no, don't need anything, just your number. Same for registering on 4me [only number needed, don't actually have to give any real detail last i checked].

 

[genade]

i have a 3G modem which i bought outright. G-Connect supplied the sim card to enable me to connect through them, fee for connection to be paid by you. there after when ever i need to "top up" my account i connect to their site- credit card at hand and then decide what amount i want to buy. only pay for the data downloaded which at this time is -+0.67c/MB. you can track your usage on their site as they keep a 5 day record of what your usage is. if your account drops to 0 you can still connect to them and top up. no pressure to use up data bundle before the end of the month. use it whenever you feel like. at this point in time i do not know if there are cheaper rates out there from other ISP's.

 

[BBSA]

i have a 3G modem which i bought outright. G-Connect supplied the sim card to enable me to connect through them, fee for connection to be paid by you. there after when ever i need to "top up" my account i connect to their site- credit card at hand and then decide what amount i want to buy. only pay for the data downloaded which at this time is -+0.67c/MB. you can track your usage on their site as they keep a 5 day record of what your usage is. if your account drops to 0 you can still connect to them and top up. no pressure to use up data bundle before the end of the month. use it whenever you feel like. at this point in time i do not know if there are cheaper rates out there from other ISP's.

WOW..... R670/Gig

 

[bullzeye.za]

If you dial *111# you can load data bundles onto your phone using your prepaid airtime as "credit" - works out much cheaper.

 

[Terencek]

To clarify one point above: unless things have changed recently, Vodacom data is enabled 'out of the box' without you needing to have it switched on for a new SIMcard. MTN requires a data activation request.