MTN Prepaid Rates and SMS features

[inkunzi]

I am new to the contry and to 3G and have been using Vodacom for 6 weeks however the service is barely usable. I have searched this forum but obviously prices are changing fast, and some people are confused. Perhaps someone has already moved from Vodacom to MTN and could advise whether it was a good move

1. I think Pre-paid is R289 for 1GB/30 day limit, R389 for 2GB/30 days (like Vodacom)? I think it is but the rep at the Hilton Mall shop swears that those prices are contract only, prepaid must pay a flat R2/MB. Surely not. Can anyone confirm?

2. With MTN is it possible (a) to query remaining data balance and (b) to purchase data bundle from loaded airtime using SMS? This is a handy feature that saves me having to remove the SIM from the modem, given modem software that can handle SMS, e.g. Huawei Mobile Partner -- and full marks to Vodacom for the facility. It is essential to have an accurate figure to avoid going out of bundle

I welcome any comparison of any other aspect of Vodacom and MTN prepaid

thanks folks

 

[Syndyre]

I am new to the contry and to 3G and have been using Vodacom for 6 weeks however the service is barely usable. I have searched this forum but obviously prices are changing fast, and some people are confused. Perhaps someone has already moved from Vodacom to MTN and could advise whether it was a good move

1. I think Pre-paid is R289 for 1GB/30 day limit, R389 for 2GB/30 days (like Vodacom)? I think it is but the rep at the Hilton Mall shop swears that those prices are contract only, prepaid must pay a flat R2/MB. Surely not. Can anyone confirm?

2. With MTN is it possible (a) to query remaining data balance and (b) to purchase data bundle from loaded airtime using SMS? This is a handy feature that saves me having to remove the SIM from the modem, given modem software that can handle SMS, e.g. Huawei Mobile Partner -- and full marks to Vodacom for the facility. It is essential to have an accurate figure to avoid going out of bundle

I welcome any comparison of any other aspect of Vodacom and MTN prepaid

thanks folks

You can get those data bundles on prepaid, same price as contract. Now that the prices have equalised it basically comes down to your coverage and connection, so test out both and see which is better. MTN doesn't have an sms facility AFAIK, you have to use USSD i.e *141# and go through the menu etc. If you search the forum for Gingg's app though that allows you to execute those commands on an E620 or E220 I think, never tried it myself though.

 

[Deenem]

You can definitely buy data on pre-paid. No need to get a contract.

I use Ginngs app (downloaded from here and find it absolutely invaluable. You can check balances, load airtime and buy your data bundles using the USSD commands. (just click the USSD help button)

I have been using Vodacom for a while now because their rates were cheaper, now that MTN has matched them I am trying MTN out this month.

Vodacom's good and bad:
Good, you can buy a new data bundle as soon as your old one is used up, no need to wait for the full 30 days.
Bad, Network is not as reliable and falls back to GPRS at (90Kbps) where the 3G signal is unavailable.

MTN's good and bad:
Good, more reliable network and it falls back to EDGE (280 Kbps) where no 3G signal is available.
Bad, when your data is used up you have to wait until your full 30 days is over before you can buy a new bundle (practically this means that you need to buy 2 SIM cards an alternate between the two; and hope that you don't use both up in a 30 day period) Also, MTN keeps threatening to charge R25/Mb for packets they don't like (such as VOIP or P2P), there are varying reports about whether they do or not, but if you want certainty go with Vodacom who don't charge differently for different traffic types.

As an extra bonus, buy your airtime from a Pick 'n Pay and you'll actually end up paying less than contract customers because of their discounts.

 

[inkunzi]

thanks Deenem

>> when your data is used up you have to wait until your full 30 days is over before you can buy a new bundle

That's mad! All the inflexibility of a contract, and I just paid >R2000 for the Huawei E220 too!

OK thanks for the warning. So I'll give MTN a go in that case simply to see how their network is. But first I'll migrate to the legendary Ginggs app (thanks Ginggs)

For the record -- in my area outside the 3G zone, Vodacom does actually fall back to an EDGE signal. Trouble is in practice much of the time it's more like 0Kbps than 280Kbps.


For MTN, what did you change your APN and access number to ?

 

[Deenem]

>>That's mad! All the inflexibility of a contract, and I just paid >R2000 for the Huawei E220 too!

Yes, I'd really like to know what the MTN billing department smokes during their breaks, because I want some of it too

>>For MTN, what did you change your APN and access number to ?

MTN's APN used to be myMTN, but I see now they use internet like everyone else.