iPhone 4 - data bundles and pricing investigated

[*SynergyX*]

I'd like to see that data halving thing in print. Never trust a callcentre prawn...

that what i asked the lady at the mtn store -- where is the print---apparently there is none--- or as she said "we werent informed"

 

[SlightlyPeeved]

Can't wait to get my hands on the iphone 4 to test.

The reason that most of these bundles are around 150megs is because the average iphone user consumes 150megs of data. It's not as high as the article suggests.

I disagree. Everyone I know who has an iPhone, will tell you a similar thing. We are constantly watching how much Data we use, and when we start getting up over 100, you start throttling your own usage. You SELF regulate, to ensure you do not exceed your account. I right now have 79.1mb left, which is nothing. Consider also that I never use YouTube (unless I have wi-fi access) and I never even touch the App Store App on the phone, as they would cause my Data usage to skyrocket.

Simple issue is that given 2gig, I would probably still be sitting with only 79mb left, but I would have made far better use of a phone I paid a lot money for. 250mb/month, and many of the phones features become unusable.

 

[whatwhat]

I'd like to see that data halving thing in print. Never trust a callcentre prawn...

It's true. Just go to the MTN store and look at the data packages that is part of the R379 bundle. It's 75Mb for R50 with 75Mb free until December 2010. Search for my previous posts on this, and that leaked page that the other guy here posted. It's on there.

 

[*SynergyX*]

This is from MTN --- to me it seems like its for the length of the contract

Please find attached herewith deals for Apple iPhone, Valid until 31st January 2011. Also note all the deals for this Promotional period are including CLI. 3. Business Rule:
 These prices are subject to change, at the discretion of MTN SP, from time to time. All the prices are VAT inclusive.
These promotions are valid from 21st September 2010 and ends at midnight on 31st January 2011 or unless otherwise communicated.
 The offer is valid while stocks last, unless otherwise agreed to by MTN SP in writing.
 All promotional Data Deals are available as New Connections and Upgrades.
 Returns will only be accepted if authorisation is received.
 Returns will only be accepted if returned by RTT.
 Please note that all Promotional offers exclude Itemised Billing (Optional). CLI is mandatory but included in the Subscription cost. Value Added Services is an optional extra. Customers will be charged accordingly.
4. iPhone terms
 iPhone is sold with data bundles included in the subscription either 150mb bundle (at R49 per month) or 300mb bundle ( at R99 per month).
 iPhone operates with micro simcard and follow normal simswop process if required.
 iPhone carries 12 month warranty
 Inside the carry box there is terms and conditions which customer has to accept, if not happy with terms and conditions customer can return the Apple iPhone with original packaging and contents under the MTNSP return policy.
 Activation of device happens via iTune and happens instore or over the internet.
 Due to global shortage of stock, should the customer to placed on the waiting list please direct to the registration page on www.mtnsp.co.za or www.mtn.co.za

 

[Chunkyfeather]

iphone 4 does this natively without any app...switches ass it picks up signals and u have access to it ofcourse

Android 2.1 (using HTC desire) does that also. AFAIK its been doing that even in previous versions.

 

[Elvis007]

call them now on 0861 123 123 you'll be surprised at the response you'll get. Just confirmed again.

One of three things is happening here
1. They are lying to you. -I doubt that
2. You are not hearing correctly - probably
3. You are lying to us for some reason. - probably

I got the Iphone 4 on the R379 a month contract 3 days ago with Vodacom.

The Topup 275 costs R275 a month. Now to get the Iphone 4 you need to pay extra R104 a month and that = R379

 

[Budza]

Even MTC in Namibia offers 600MB of data per month (along with 300 minutes, 300 on-network minutes and 300 SMSes) for N$399 (R399).

:wtf:

Us Saffers really are suckers.

 

[biltonguy]

I have wifi at work and at home, so the data bundle isnt that important to me. However if I didnt have access to wifi, 150mb per month would be totally unacceptable - whats the point of even having a smartphone then?

 

[noemfie]

this was confirmed on one of the forums om MBB.

I was spun the same story when calling vodacom direct , but if you go onto the vodacom direct site (not normal vodacom) and you click buy , the package are grouped a nicely and there you can see the R275 airtime is included . I have no idea how that call center can be so confused

 

[AirWolf]

Even MTC in Namibia offers 600MB of data per month (along with 300 minutes, 300 on-network minutes and 300 SMSes) for N$399 (R399).

:wtf:

Us Saffers really are suckers.

My thoughts exactly - how can one of our poorer neighbouring countries offer that, and we being the most technologically advanced country in Africa get screwed left, right and centre?

 

[AirWolf]

Also how come they don't have a data plan for other smart phones like the BlackBerry BIS one?

 

[Acydebyte]

I also got mine on the iPhone 275s Top-up... I used to be on the 315 Top up and it would have cost me about R500 to do the upgrade and get the phone on the same contract

On the R379 contract i get R275 airtime, 110MB Data (R89 if bought as a bundle) and the phone, so that means i am paying R15 a month for the phone... Didnt check if the R379 includes CLI and Itemised billing but if it does then i dont pay anything for the phone....

Even better is that if you take out the contract you pay no sim (R100+/-) or connection (R100+/-) fee..

All in all you cant complain about that.... Yes more data would be nice but i am still saving R120 per month compared to if i had upgraded on the night of the launch

 

[BeVonk!]

I got my iPhone on the R379 deal today. No additional costs. With a deal like this all the "iPhone is too expensive when compared to HTC/Samsung Android ..." statements have become obsolete. A very good deal imo. I will load more data bundles when needed but as already mentioned most data will be over Wi-Fi.

 

[Viper25]

I got my iPhone on the R379 deal today. No additional costs. With a deal like this all the "iPhone is too expensive when compared to HTC/Samsung Android ..." statements have become obsolete. A very good deal imo. I will load more data bundles when needed but as already mentioned most data will be over Wi-Fi.

No Pay in?

 

[BeVonk!]

No Pay in?

Nope.

 

[kingrob]

I think Kingrob showed in that thread you can get a Samsung Galaxy S with 100 SMS, 120 MIN, per second billing & 300MB data - comes to +- R479. So in the end you basically get just as good a deal if you buy the stuff seperately.

Thanks for the mention, Synaesthesia.

Currently I'm paying R450 a month for the "iPhone contract", which gives me 250MB data a month. Now if you're running two mail accounts on your iPhone + use your phone for internet access, you're not gonna make it. For the last few months I went over my allocated 250MB & I'm not even using YouTube on it anymore.

If you have an iPhone 4, which is fast and nice to use for app/internet access, I would think 500MB will be the minimum data bundle I'll take with the phone. Keen on getting the Samsung Galaxy S next, that big screen was made for internet surfing, so might even have to go up to 1GB. Will see.

 

[NetDude]

It's amazing what a bit of competition can produce!

 

[ndlovue6]

One of three things is happening here
1. They are lying to you. -I doubt that
2. You are not hearing correctly - probably
3. You are lying to us for some reason. - probably

I got the Iphone 4 on the R379 a month contract 3 days ago with Vodacom.

The Topup 275 costs R275 a month. Now to get the Iphone 4 you need to pay extra R104 a month and that = R379

One of three things is happening here:
1. You didn't read the fine print. -probably
2. You were too exited to get the IPhone that you forgot to listen to the sales person. - Probably
3. Your hearing is impaired. -probably.

statistically, the probability that you will pay R379 + R275 is 3/3*100=100%

 

[ndlovue6]

My thoughts exactly - how can one of our poorer neighbouring countries offer that, and we being the most technologically advanced country in Africa get screwed left, right and centre?

are you sure? the last i checked R1=N$1

 

[Synaesthesia]

Namibia's not that poor . Although I'll grant they're much smaller.