How much WhatsApp calling really costs in SA

[Bradley Prior]

How much WhatsApp calling really costs in SA
It is over 95% cheaper to make voice calls on WhatsApp with 1GB monthly data than using regular calls with prepaid voice minute bundles or out-of-bundle rates in South Africa, MyBroadband calculations show.

 

[Dan C]

OK

 

[Lawnchairman]

Thought the R35 Whatsapp bundle for 30 days on Vodacom was the cheapest.

 

[Dan C]

Thought the R35 Whatsapp bundle for 30 days on Vodacom was the cheapest.

It's in the article..

It should be noted that WhatsApp call prices can be even cheaper when using discounted WhatsApp-only bundles.

 

[Grubscrew]

I only use Vodacom Please Call me* to communicate for free.

*Trademark Makate Industries

 

[supersunbird]

Now do a "How much does it cost to do a WhatsApp call over uncapped fibre?"

 

[Swa]

With network calls also being digitised why is the quality so poor? With whatsapp it's consistent and either works or doesn't. One would think voice calls should be better with receiving priority.

 

[Johnatan56]

With network calls also being digitised why is the quality so poor? With whatsapp it's consistent and either works or doesn't. One would think voice calls should be better with receiving priority.

It depends, since you can still get CDMA on 4G LTE, you need both parties to have VoLTE equivalent.

 

[Swa]

It depends, since you can still get CDMA on 4G LTE, you need both parties to have VoLTE equivalent.

Not sure what you're saying but digital is digital. I don't get how someone on the other end can't hear me or that it's barely audible when it's the same phone and same speaker.

 

[Johnatan56]

Not sure what you're saying but digital is digital. I don't get how someone on the other end can't hear me or that it's barely audible when it's the same phone and same speaker.

Not all digital is equal, you get different codecs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Variable_Rate_Codec > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CDMA2000
And if you have an older or unsupported phones, you are not able to do VoLTE you'll drop back to 3G calling.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

almost always do whatsapp calls while connected to WiFi ... i.e. it costs nothing

though interesting to note even with mobile data it works out cheaper generally

 

[Bliksis]

What's with the WhatsApp spam?

 

[quovadis]

It depends, since you can still get CDMA on 4G LTE, you need both parties to have VoLTE equivalent.

Also, depending on coverage and handset you might have different technologies in use on either side/intermediaries requiring transcoding whereas with WhatsApp being an app it generally only has to cater for jitter and latency and everything else is pretty much static.

 

[princeradebe]

Now compare WhatApp with international calls

 

[quovadis]

Why local voice and sms revenue is still a thing is a curiosity imho.

 

[1am7h30n3]

With network calls also being digitised why is the quality so poor? With whatsapp it's consistent and either works or doesn't. One would think voice calls should be better with receiving priority.

Absolutely! I've almost given up on traditional cell phone voice calls, I can almost never have a conversation where both parties can understand everything said. With whatsapp calls it almost always works perfectly.

 

[Bliksis]

Now compare WhatApp with international calls

No! Compare WhatsApp calls with HAM RADIO!

 

[Bliksis]

Absolutely! I've almost given up on traditional cell phone voice calls, I can almost never have a conversation where both parties can understand everything said. With whatsapp calls it almost always works perfectly.

It's true. It used to be the other way around, but not anymore.

 

[G.A.S]

How much WhatsApp calling really costs in SA
It is over 95% cheaper to make voice calls on WhatsApp with 1GB monthly data than using regular calls with prepaid voice minute bundles or out-of-bundle rates in South Africa, MyBroadband calculations show.

It should be noted that WhatsApp call prices can be even cheaper when using discounted WhatsApp-only bundles.

From my experience (on Vodacom), WhatsApp-only bundles doesn't work for WhatsApp voice calls: The call will ring, but cannot connect. So the bundles seem to be "useful" only for WhatsApp text and images.

 

[Johnatan56]

Now compare WhatApp with international calls

Quality or data usage? Find latency becomes an issue there, depends on how lucky you are with where the servers are.

Personally always use Google duo / meet for international, best latency and video calling (latency barely noticeable vs telegram and whatsapp always an issue, talking 180-200 ping). If younger crowd, discord is good for just voice.