New 3G / HSDPA Tariffs

PDonut said:
bonjour,

quick question: Is it possible to use a 4U contract (0 R/pm as i see it) and then buy bolt-on data bundles if i've bought the card for cash?
Havnt been able to find a definitve answer.
Any1 doing this?
Click to expand...

Yes, can be done.

You might have to fight the retail store a bit, but it is possible and some forumites do do it.

I've been advocating this as an solution to pre-paid bundles. Same pricing structure and you don't need to pay upfront.
 
kaspaas said:
Ordered a 3G 500 package today for the company.

Was told that I'll get an HSDPA card, but it will be activated for 3G only as there are no more 3G cards left at no additional charge.

I do hope the sales person had her facts straight...
Click to expand...

Wonder what happened to all those thousands of returned 3G cards :confused:

Could have sworn they're being rolled out as 3G-Only packages.
 
Tony_GSI said:
I applied for my 3G card in April, but there was no stock. Finally got a HSDPA (U740) card delivered in May, as Vodacom said 3g cards are discontinued (paid R300 additionally, got billed for April and May months, still not sorted with Vodacom). I've viewed my May itemised billing, and most of the connections are 3G, with the balance being GPRS. Not once have I seen the HSDPA 'dirty blue' / magenta LED. Swopping my HSDPA card for a 3G will mean I lose my R300, and get a 2nd hand card as well. Poor showing, Vodacom !
Click to expand...

Tony, what was the R300 charge for?

Have you done throughput tests to check if you're getting HSDPA?
 
So I phoned Vodacom in Somerset Mall and Stellenbosch - neither had stock of 3G-only cards and Stellenbosch didn't seem to think they would be getting stock either!

So where does that leave me? I am going to go to the shop tomorrow and inform them that I wish to move to the cheaper tarriff and if they don't have stock of the cards, then that is Vodacom's problem not mine.

Don't make a big song and dance about reducing your tarriffs by 20% only to tell me I can't migrate to the cheaper tarriff!

I'm beginning to see why your parent, Vodafone posted the biggest loss in European Corporate history!

What have you done with all the old 3G cards, why weren't customers told at the time of the swap-out that they would only have to swap back to benefit from the cheaper rates and do you think it's fair to swap-out a new HSDPA card (R300 paid for) for a secondhand card?

Engage brains Vodacom.
 
Ok none of this really affects me but id like to know why prepaid users have to pay R2 per meg..thats actually a ridiculous rate. Most of my airtime gets eaten up on data. You should have something where prepaid users could purchase say something like 20/50/100 megs once off and use it until its finished.i frequently find myself out of airtime when i need it to make calls becaus of high data rates
 
feo said:
Ok none of this really affects me but id like to know why prepaid users have to pay R2 per meg..thats actually a ridiculous rate. Most of my airtime gets eaten up on data. You should have something where prepaid users could purchase say something like 20/50/100 megs once off and use it until its finished.i frequently find myself out of airtime when i need it to make calls becaus of high data rates
Click to expand...

Called Pre-Paid Data Bundles (PPDB) and hopefully here in the not too distant future.
 
vodacom3g - why was the cost of the out of bundle rate not reduced as well? I use less data than I could due to the ridiculous R2/MB. You would be making more money out of me if I could go over the limit. At R0.60/MB I would continue to surf. At R2.00/MB I just turn my pc off.
 
thats less a 1/3 of the price we pay...SA doesn't have any decent internet options...except for HSDPA that is. I'm gonna find out more about the 4U contract thing..
 
charl.voster said:
vodacom3g - why was the cost of the out of bundle rate not reduced as well? I use less data than I could due to the ridiculous R2/MB. You would be making more money out of me if I could go over the limit. At R0.60/MB I would continue to surf. At R2.00/MB I just turn my pc off.
Click to expand...

The pricing model restructuring will be an ongoing process and you can expect the out-of bundle and pre-paid pricing to be looked at in due course.
 
3G / HSDPA card

vodacom3g said:
Tony, what was the R300 charge for?

Have you done throughput tests to check if you're getting HSDPA?
Click to expand...

hi V3g

I had to pay R300 to get the HSDPA card, as the 3G cards were no longer available. This was according to Cellphones Direct / Vodacom Direct.

I haven't done throughput tests using the 'reference' programs mentioned in the forum. Let me give it a try.

According to May's detailed invoice, I connected at 3G and GPRS speeds only. Does the Vodacom invoice system have a provision to log connections at HSDPA?

Can the HSDPA card be controlled to connect at 3G speeds only?
 
Tony_GSI said:
hi V3g

I had to pay R300 to get the HSDPA card, as the 3G cards were no longer available. This was according to Cellphones Direct / Vodacom Direct.

I haven't done throughput tests using the 'reference' programs mentioned in the forum. Let me give it a try.

According to May's detailed invoice, I connected at 3G and GPRS speeds only. Does the Vodacom invoice system have a provision to log connections at HSDPA?

Can the HSDPA card be controlled to connect at 3G speeds only?
Click to expand...

The R300 sounds fishy to me.....See if you can't get a refund. After all upgrades to HSDPA is now free and any upgrade fees paid should be refunded. Unless it's some admin fee.

There are two networks (GPRS/EDGE) and (3G/HSDPA). So you won't see a distinction between the 'sub' networks on the billing.

The network decides if you're on 3G or HSDPA and you can't (yet) select yourself. It's a nice feature and I've asked for it but technically not so easy.
 
Just went into vodacom4me website, and had a look at the services... First thing that I noticed is that all 3G packages have been renamed as HSDPA packages... Ok, understand that, I think! :)

Then went into "Modify Services" to see whether I could add an extra 500MB to my existing 1GB contract. The list shows the AdHoc extra's, but with 0.00 cost! Does this mean I can add extra bandwidth at in-bundle costs, at no extra charge? :eek:
 
Lower Tariffs on 3G [and how to actually get it] = stupid?

I just received a letter from Vodacom stating how they reduced the costs of 3g/GPRS [but not HSDPA/EDGE] . Now currently i've not seen any HSDPA like speeds since April, i still basically get 3G speeds so i figured i'll just go onto the cheaper package [why pay for something i don't get?].


Catch 22 : I need to swop my card back!?? Is this what Vodacom's plan was with the free swop-out?

To quote the FAQ in my letter:

How can I change from the HSDPA / EDGE data tariffs / bolt-on bundles to the reduced 3G / GPRS data
tariffs?
Simply take your HSDPA / EDGE data card to a Vodacom Approved Dealer (including original
packaging, proof of ID and invoice) – and they will swap your HSDPA / EDGE data card for a 3G / GPRS
data card at NO COST, and migrate you to the reduced 3G / GPRS data tariff!
Click to expand...


So uh, i am scewered? If i go swop my card back to an old card, i only have till September and then i cant swop back [without paying] ?

It's all a bit confusing to me, so if i want to have HSDPA again next month i need to swop my card AGAIN ? [and then they tell me they're out of stock..geez].
 
Last edited:
I dont like the way that tariff structure works, but yeah.

There are different network equipment, so access on GPRS/EDGE should be cheaper than using 3G/UMTS equipment. The price should not differ between 3G and UMTS
 
MrG said:
I dont like the way that tariff structure works, but yeah.

There are different network equipment, so access on GPRS/EDGE should be cheaper than using 3G/UMTS equipment. The price should not differ between 3G and UMTS
Click to expand...
3G IS actually UMTS as well.
 
wonder how i'll be billed?

got an hsdpa card and a contract. think it's R599 per month for 1GB.

then, traded back to a 3g card cause i use a linksys router

currently happy with 3g speeds and do not want to pay the higher rate

but, took a contract at r599 per month. So will I be paying less now that i do not use hsdpa? do i need to do anything to effect the reduced billing?
 
timmee said:
wonder how i'll be billed?

got an hsdpa card and a contract. think it's R599 per month for 1GB.

then, traded back to a 3g card cause i use a linksys router

currently happy with 3g speeds and do not want to pay the higher rate

but, took a contract at r599 per month. So will I be paying less now that i do not use hsdpa? do i need to do anything to effect the reduced billing?
Click to expand...

If the swap back to 3G was done properly (by the shop), you should automatically go onto the lower tariff, but best to keep an eye on the billing.

Or call 155 and ask them to confirm on which bundle you are.
 
re: billing

swop was done at vodashop craighall. will post here if tariff not changed. ta v3g

vodacom3g said:
If the swap back to 3G was done properly (by the shop), you should automatically go onto the lower tariff, but best to keep an eye on the billing.

Or call 155 and ask them to confirm on which bundle you are.
Click to expand...
 
This is what I've picked up from the Vodacom4me site:
Bundled DATA GPRS One DC0
Month Threshold Used Bundle Remaining Bundle
June 1013626.88 KB 4208.64 KB 1009418.24 KB

HSD Active

Tariff: 3G Broadband
Click to expand...
Does this imply that I'm on the HSDPA package (I've swopped my 3G card)?

thanks ...
 
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