Mobile Operators: it’s over between us

I get your sentiment Arthur, but consumers have to put their money where their mouth is... are you saying you're kicking your cellphone into touch? If not, those operators are laughing at your open letter sorry to say.

I still see people dreaming about their upgrade day and rushing off to get the latest contract leaflets the month they get to swap their two year old model for a shiny new one. Unfortunately the clever little partnership these companies have with handset manufacturers mean that they will always be sitting in the pound seat.
 
Well if the cell operators want to put obsticals in the way of innovation instead of embracing it they will go the way of the dinosaur .
All it takes is some one to work out a way to use private WiFi to run the OTT services over .
 
deweyzeph said:
To me it is the most preposterous term ever invented. Fixed-line internet service providers have never referred to anything as "OTT" because to them EVERYTHING is OTT.
Click to expand...

Quite true. This whole nonsense to regulate or charge for "OTT" is bizarre.

That said, I do find Arty Goldw@nk of the World Wide Wanx intensely annoying.
 
dominic said:
it has been raised as being central to the debate in Parliament and in the media
(as has the problem with using terminology like OTT....)
Click to expand...

I would love to see MTN's white paper on net neutrality - charge for OTT, zero rate our own video service, ... What's the position on internet.org?

Let's see the whole picture of what they have in mind
 
Last edited:
BlindMelonChitlin said:
I get your sentiment Arthur, but consumers have to put their money where their mouth is... are you saying you're kicking your cellphone into touch? If not, those operators are laughing at your open letter sorry to say.

I still see people dreaming about their upgrade day and rushing off to get the latest contract leaflets the month they get to swap their two year old model for a shiny new one. Unfortunately the clever little partnership these companies have with handset manufacturers mean that they will always be sitting in the pound seat.
Click to expand...

This. Everybody complains about mobile operators and prices, but when I say buy a cheaper phone or get one second hand, they say "no, need the latest. I'm too good for an old S4, I need an S6 or an iPhone. I'll take a R500/month contract. That's acceptable."

Really? I'm an uber techno geek and an S4 is good enough for me. What are you doing with your phone?
 
K3NS31 said:
This. Everybody complains about mobile operators and prices, but when I say buy a cheaper phone or get one second hand, they say "no, need the latest. I'm too good for an old S4, I need an S6 or an iPhone. I'll take a R500/month contract. That's acceptable."

Really? I'm an uber techno geek and an S4 is good enough for me. What are you doing with your phone?
Click to expand...

I've been contract-free for years already. If I want a new phone I simply go to Takealot's website and buy an older model (like the S4, for example), brand new for cash for half the price of the latest model. Cellphone service providers have become like the furniture stores, nothing but glorified credit providers for people who can't afford to pay cash for phones.
 
K3NS31 said:
This. Everybody complains about mobile operators and prices, but when I say buy a cheaper phone or get one second hand, they say "no, need the latest. I'm too good for an old S4, I need an S6 or an iPhone. I'll take a R500/month contract. That's acceptable."

Really? I'm an uber techno geek and an S4 is good enough for me. What are you doing with your phone?
Click to expand...

deweyzeph said:
I've been contract-free for years already. If I want a new phone I simply go to Takealot's website and buy an older model (like the S4, for example), brand new for cash for half the price of the latest model. Cellphone service providers have become like the furniture stores, nothing but glorified credit providers for people who can't afford to pay cash for phones.
Click to expand...

Very much this.

I got a Huawei Mediapad T1 on the R99 cellc deal - need nothing fancier or glitzier. Just add a data bundle or two as I need it, so it works out for me.
 
So after this letter did Arthur ditch Vodacom and MTN and instead sign up with Cell C or even Telkom mobile?

Telkom just seems neutral on the issue while Cell C supports these services as a way to move the industry forward.
 
deweyzeph said:
I've been contract-free for years already. If I want a new phone I simply go to Takealot's website and buy an older model (like the S4, for example), brand new for cash for half the price of the latest model. Cellphone service providers have become like the furniture stores, nothing but glorified credit providers for people who can't afford to pay cash for phones.
Click to expand...

Exactly, and for those who don't know, the Orange store also has excellent pricing and they bring in phones our operators don't, eg. Google Nexus, full Motorola range etc.
 
Lol ok. So what are you going to do now Arthur? Go back to the old landline days? Face it, you are dependent on mobile. It's just a matter of going to the network that offers the best value and without all these dark practices. Calling off mobile operators as a whole is not the correct way to proceed.

deweyzeph said:
I've worked in IT for almost 20 years. Before this whole debacle started a few months ago I had never heard of the term "OTT". To me it is the most preposterous term ever invented. Fixed-line internet service providers have never referred to anything as "OTT" because to them EVERYTHING is OTT. It's only the mobile internet service providers who refer to anything that vaguely challenges their monopoly on voice and sms as OTT. This alone should indicate the depth of the conflict of interest that mobile ISP's have when it comes to providing internet access.

It really boils down to the question of what right does an ISP have to regulate what services you can or cannot use over your internet connection. Should cellphone service providers even be in the business of providing internet access if this is their attitude?
Click to expand...
Well said. I hope this backfires and they force the operators to provide equal access to all services at the same price.
 
Prepaid FTW. Have never been in a cellphone contract and do not feel abused like the writer, i got my freedom of choice
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X