How Vodacom will combat WhatsApp

So no added network charges for WhatsApp traffic?

Or is this not the full picture just yet? Because their plans won't necessarily combat WhatsApp if that's all the plans entail...
 
DJ... said:
So no added network charges for WhatsApp traffic?

Or is this not the full picture just yet? Because their plans won't necessarily combat WhatsApp if that's all the plans entail...
Click to expand...

I think thats purely the official story they will probably cripple Whatsapp traffic in the background to make voice unusable.
 
Im not sure if this guy is an idiot or if he thinks we are stupid. It's either/or. The R4 an hour probably does not apply to 90% of their user base, so I really don't see how it will have any impact. Instead of creating crap promotions, release a fixed rate minute and slash our marketing budget to subsidize it. Simple as that.
 
Ahhh so Vodacom plan to combat WhatsApp by using their monumentally confusing pricing models to try and BS clients into thinking its not value for money to use WhatsApp...

Lets assume that WhatsApp uses a similar technology to Skype for calling Mobile phones, it would use around 1meg a minute, so at maximum OOB rates, you're talking R2 per minute, and a normal bundle will bring that WAY down....
 
ToxicBunny said:
Ahhh so Vodacom plan to combat WhatsApp by using their monumentally confusing pricing models to try and BS clients into thinking its not value for money to use WhatsApp...

Lets assume that WhatsApp uses a similar technology to Skype for calling Mobile phones, it would use around 1meg a minute, so at maximum OOB rates, you're talking R2 per minute, and a normal bundle will bring that WAY down....
Click to expand...

Drama queen.
Theres is a significant amount of packet loss on VoIP. Normal calls have a much better quality than a data call/.
 
duderoo said:
Viber already offers voice calls
Click to expand...

So does Skype and Hangouts, but it's all about user base and the amount of data a call consumes.
Whatsapp is good on the user base, it will now depend on the data consumption. If the data cost is less than a voice call, the service providers will need to rethink they strategies.
 
I'm already calling my SO from bbm voice. We both do it over WiFi and it works great.

My Cell C bill has been reduced from R500 p/m to R250 p/m.

Voice as a revenue stream is going to die in the next few years IMO.
 
F1 Fan said:
Im not sure if this guy is an idiot or if he thinks we are stupid. It's either/or. The R4 an hour probably does not apply to 90% of their user base, so I really don't see how it will have any impact. Instead of creating crap promotions, release a fixed rate minute and slash our marketing budget to subsidize it. Simple as that.
Click to expand...

Agree there will be lots of conditions ect. Can't see how they would actually be able to provide calls at 7c per minute when it cost them almost 10 time that about a year ago.

http://mybroadband.co.za/news/cellular/82567-the-true-price-of-a-vodacom-call.html

So more likely they will put up the cost of VOIP data to bring whatsapp back in line.
 
Gulio said:
Drama queen.
Theres is a significant amount of packet loss on VoIP. Normal calls have a much better quality than a data call/.
Click to expand...

I am aware of the technical stuff regarding VOIP, but to combat WhatsApp purely on some BS promotional pricing offer that is not available to all clients, and requires jumping through some hoops is not the way to do it...
 
Gulio said:
Drama queen.
Theres is a significant amount of packet loss on VoIP. Normal calls have a much better quality than a data call/.
Click to expand...

In layman terms, why this the case?
 
Wall said:
In layman terms, why this the case?
Click to expand...

You get two ways of sending data, gaurenteed and maybe.

Gaurenteed is needed for downloads, maybe is used for streaming and VOIP. Means that the sender can just send and forget instead of retrying if something doesnt get to you. Makes voice/radio/music stutter or skip instead of just stopping
 
Ummm pretty much all TCP/IP traffic is a maybe, with CRC checks etc to resend if somethings get lost along the way.

Your Download traffic is no different to streaming or VOIP as far as the traffic on the wire is concerned. Yes Operators can throw different types of traffic into different priority buckets etc etc...

But at the end of the day, packet loss is a fact of life with TCP/IP traffic, and it does pose a small problem with VOIP traffic... but not massively so.
 
ToxicBunny said:
Ummm pretty much all TCP/IP traffic is a maybe, with CRC checks etc to resend if somethings get lost along the way.

Your Download traffic is no different to streaming or VOIP as far as the traffic on the wire is concerned. Yes Operators can throw different types of traffic into different priority buckets etc etc...

But at the end of the day, packet loss is a fact of life with TCP/IP traffic, and it does pose a small problem with VOIP traffic... but not massively so.
Click to expand...
Packet loss, more so, packet delays, are a big thing on GSM networks.
I have seen single packets on an established EDGE connection take up to 2 minutes to arrive.
 
Well yeah, but a massively delayed packet is treated as packet loss as far as I'm aware and resent from the source after a certain time frame....

TBH, to put my tinfoil hat on, I would not think it to far from the realm of possibility that VC will enable rules on the Deep Packet Inspection equipment that will deprioritise WhatsApp voice traffic randomly... and it will just not be the greatest experience to use...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X