MTN & Vodacom needs to catch a wakeup

[Rands]

Im looking to get a Nokia N8 on contract. Over the last few weeks pricing details have started to emerge from the various operators on their offerings for this phone. I am looking for a min R100 airtime/100 minutes included in the contract. The pricing goes something like this (thanks to Shalin_ZN) :

1. MTN
NOKIA N8-00 MTN 200 R 329.00 R 0.00 24 Months Free 75MB (at R49/Month) - R200 back every month

2. Vodacom
R185 per month + 30 MB DATA FOR 12 MONTHS FREE ON BUSINESS, TALK 130 (PER MINUTE BILLING ONLY) - with no free minutes

3. Cell C
Activechat 100 @ 280pm + 500mb data pm free

4. Virgin Mobile
R320 per month with R300 airtime & 1000 sms's

Now u dont have to be a rocket scientist to see that the deals from the two smaller operators wins. How is it possible that the two major operators have worse offerings? Vodacom and MTN could surely they could apply their minds to this and realise that smart phones require DATA to operate effectively, and I dont mean 30 or even 75 Mb! With an Android phone, that could be used up in one day, not sure yet how thirsty the N8 is.

And btw MTN, just beacuse you upgraded your system for the SWC to make it faster, does not mean that your customers actually gain from this, all it means is that we run up a higher data bill quicker.I find your 'We upgraded our network for you' advert very arrogant & misleading. A better effort for 'our' benefit would have been to reduce the cost of your data, not just the speed.

As for Vodacom, as someone said elsewhere, Vodacom offer smartphones with no data, & on business contracts nogal, so that they can fleece the customer at R2/mb...disgusting. Of all companies on earth, cellular operators should be aware of how important data is to their customers.

MTN & Vodacom treat their customers as though we have no right to access the net via our phones & it makes me sick (i am a MTN subscriber - 2 contracts)

Kudos to Virgin for at least making a decent attempt, and their data is less that half the price of MTN & Vodacom anyway.

And finally, Cell C : By far the best deals we see on smartphones, 500 mb sould be the MINIMUN for smartphones, so well don, & they offer some interesting deals on their 'speed sticks as well)



Monday morning rant over...

 

[NeonNinja]

Personally I'd go for the cheapest, which is Vodacom, then buy my own data.

 

[Rands]

Personally I'd go for the cheapest, which is Vodacom, then buy my own data.

ya, but why should you...its a SMARTPHONE, data must be included. Did u know that a 500mb data bundle at Cell C costs R150, subtract that from the contract they offering & the contract without the data = R130 per month, how does that compare to Vodacoms price now? & u still get R100 airtime per month

 

[Zenbaas]

ya, but why should you...its a SMARTPHONE, data must be included. Did u know that a 500mb data bundle at Cell C costs R150, subtract that from the contract they offering & the contract without the data = R130 per month, how does that compare to Vodacoms price now? & u still get R100 airtime per month

+1. There's no comparison really which is why I'll be porting two of my MTN contracts come January.

 

[Rands]

Porting is an option, & we will do it cos we know we being ripped off, but what about those poor sods who have no clue. flippin ICASA, gone to sleep on this and many other issues

 

[Zenbaas]

Porting is an option, & we will do it cos we know we being ripped off, but what about those poor sods who have no clue. flippin ICASA, gone to sleep on this and many other issues

The only option unless you don't mind paying the other two networks retarded prices. They won't lower their prices, packages with value has never been their priority.

 

[kingrob]

The only option unless you don't mind paying the other two networks retarded prices. They won't lower their prices, packages with value has never been their priority.

hehe....I actually foresee a mass exodus to CellC if they continue to offer such good deals.

Only thing against CellC is that they don't stock the latest phones, so you can't always get what you want.

 

[Zenbaas]

hehe....I actually foresee a mass exodus to CellC if they continue to offer such good deals.

Only thing against CellC is that they don't stock the latest phones, so you can't always get what you want.

But for a change they are stocking what I want Lets hope they continue to.

 

[Rands]

I remember when Cell C first started, they offered the best contracts, then they lost the plot. Now the new CEO seems to be making the right choices, hope they really knock the big boys