New iBurst Wireless pricing revealed

[Jacques]

The new iBurst Wireless products will not be ‘capped’. When subscribers reach their limit a pop-up screen will appear giving them the choice to allow their account to be ‘capped’ or they can top-up at their relevant ‘in-bundle’ rate to continue surfing.

OK, so the new product is not ‘capped’, but in fact only capped?

...try explaining that one to the Advertising Authority!

 

[InTheCube]

Only 7 pages of posts on this thread. A lot of people either aren't impressed with iBurst's new packages, or iBurst has much fewer subscribers left on myBB. My guess is on the latter.

Compare this to all the noise generated when Afrihost launched it's special, DigiChilli (mis)-launched, and Screamer crash-landed. We had at least 20 pages of threads on each of those topics the same day the news broke.

My guess is that most myBB forumites have ditched iBurst and switched over to ADSL. This is a big loss for iBurst, especially since the myBB community are the ones who recommend ISPs to friends, family, colleagues, and workplaces.

iBurst - you're too late.

 

[Kei]

This is a step in the right direction.... however all pretty much useless when the product is shaped to high heaven and is only useful for HTTP downloads.

Included in the new bundles will be a 3 month trial period for the popular iGame service hosted by iBurst. All subscribers will get 1GB of gaming data per month on top of the bundle size. This is typically good enough for about 50 hours of gaming.

So this means they've decided to possibly create an exclusion rule in their p2p blocker to allow gamers to work. I guess it won't be long when this will be exploited to run p2p applications and then they'll take it away again, knowing how iBurst handle these kinds of things, no offense.

Unfortunately, this will still not sway me back to iBurst. I am still enjoying my ADSL far too much and the unencumbered internet that brings me.

 

[Kei]

My guess is that most myBB forumites have ditched iBurst and switched over to ADSL. This is a big loss for iBurst, especially since the myBB community are the ones who recommend ISPs to friends, family, colleagues, and workplaces.

iBurst - you're too late.

You are correct, in my case. I ditched because I couldn't continue to do my downloads at work and keep paying R599 for HTTP only internet. I now pay R240/month for the same cap I always had, except now I can use the bandwidth as I wish.

 

[SaiyanZ]

From what I've read in the iburst forum, the 64kbps VAS will only be able to be bolted on if you've got at least a 5GB package and the 128kbps VAS will only be able to be bolted on if you've got at least a 8GB package.

So:
Cost of 5GB package plus 64kbps VAS = R445+R199=R644
Cost of 8GB package plus 128kbps VAS = R592+R249=R841

Looks like Screamer uncapped 384kbps at R680 (incl all line rentals) still wins.

If this is true then I think a lot of people bubbles are going to "burst"
Interpreted this from the iburst representative's words by the way.

So...is this the way it is going to be with the VAS?

 

[kaaskop]

I think they should bolt it any package. I mean its my choice if i want to surf on 64k.

Ill wait for the flatrated uncapped then ill decide what package to choose. Atm iam staying where i am.

 

[Nefertiti]

Its at least a step in the right direction. Anyhow why not make the subscription the same amount for all packages, after all the speed is the same? The amount of gigs you buy on top of it could determine your top up rate?

are we going to get a speed increase to 2mb?, without having to buy a new modem?

 

[milomak]

No restrictions mentioned in the article

For subscribers wanting to move to the new bundles, a number of bolt-on Value Added Services (VAS) are on offer, including uncapped services. With the launch of the new bundles two new uncapped services will be made available: A 64 Kbps All-day Uncapped service at R199 per month and a 128 Kbps All-day Uncapped service at R249 per month.

 

[Basjohn]

From what I've read in the iburst forum, the 64kbps VAS will only be able to be bolted on if you've got at least a 5GB package and the 128kbps VAS will only be able to be bolted on if you've got at least a 8GB package.

So:
Cost of 5GB package plus 64kbps VAS = R445+R199=R644
Cost of 8GB package plus 128kbps VAS = R592+R249=R841

Looks like Screamer uncapped 384kbps at R680 (incl all line rentals) still wins.

If this is true then I think a lot of people bubbles are going to "burst"
Interpreted this from the iburst representative's words by the way.

So...is this the way it is going to be with the VAS?

Ummm can you link where you read that? I've been on the iBurst forums all day today and haven't spotted that particular information myself.

I was under the impression you could take the 1gb account and bolt on a 128k throttled for a nice R400 a month......but if this isn't true then it certainly does NOT bode well at all.

 

[biena]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showpost.php?p=3375640&postcount=32

The 64kbps is for the 5GB package and up and the 128kbps is for the 8GB and up.

If this indeed true then I predict that nobody on the current 1G + 64kbps would upgrade

 

[InTheCube]

A little clarification for the confused.

....

The 64kbps is for the 5GB package and up and the 128kbps is for the 8GB and up.

Product rapped me on the knuckles for that one....

If this indeed true then I predict that nobody on the current 1G + 64kbps would upgrade

Actually you'll be surprised. There are lots of people who would prefer the extra gig at the same price, plus cheaper topups, while losing the throttled 64k uncapped service.

If we wanted 64kbps, we would have stuck with dialup at 56kbps. 64kbps is just totally utterly sad. It's not usable for most people, compared to 1mbps.

It's quite sad to see people bitching and moaning for 64k uncapped. We're in the 21st century, and in fact, we're almost a whole decade through it (1 month and 6 days left). It just goes to show the dismal state of broadband in RSA.

 

[Reptile2025]

if that is it, then i would think iburst might lose a few customers. I mean, if i have the 1gig package and want the 128k uncapped, its not free, i'm paying for it, so why can't i subscribe to it???

 

[Vrotappel]

if that is it, then i would think iburst might lose a few customers. I mean, if i have the 1gig package and want the 128k uncapped, its not free, i'm paying for it, so why can't i subscribe to it???

Maybe Jannie or iBurst need to come in here and explain. If it's true I'll have to start ordering the ADSL line.

 

[Ice385]

Maybe Jannie or iBurst need to come in here and explain. If it's true I'll have to start ordering the ADSL line.

Yeah Jannie/Iburst, I need some clarification please.

I'm on the 1GB @R239pm (including desktop modem fees). It gets throttled @ 64kbps after the 1GB and I live with it for the rest of the month, no problem...

On the new package, I'll be upped to 2GB @R238pm - what happens then?
Do I have to top up @R69/GB? that's what i understand from the following quote:

"The new iBurst Wireless products will not be ‘capped’. When subscribers reach their limit a pop-up screen will appear giving them the choice to allow their account to be ‘capped’ or they can top-up at their relevant ‘in-bundle’ rate to continue surfing. "

I think I'd prefer to stay on my current package or maybe migrate to the 128 Kbps All-day Uncapped service at R249 per month.

I'd much prefer the new 2GB package to go to throttled 64Kbps after I reached my cap without seeing that window pop-up.

 

[Shayd]

Ok guys there seems to be a lot of confusion, from what Shaun told me the bolt-ons 64k,128k and eventually after hours uncapped will be available on any package from the 1 gig upwards. Perhaps a better way to explain the new packages would be:

1 gig - all in cost R149 topups R99
2 gig - all in cost R198 topups R69
5 gig - all in cost R445 topups R59
8 gig - all in cost R592 topups R49
15 gig - all in cost R955 topups R39

All packages don't have 64k throttle.

Bolt-on VAS options:

64k - R199
128k -R249

Ok the only people who are disadvantaged are those on the old R199(R239) package who use it for bulk downloading, anybody who was on a higher package can migrate to a lower one and add the 128k bolt-on and it will actually be cheaper for a 128k. eg

old 3gig - R449
New 1gig - R149 + R249 for 128k = R398
Therefore R51 saving and faster conn.

Remember guys on the old 1 gig you can choose not to migrate and still keep the old "dialup" package.

Jannie/Shaun Please dear god correct me if I am wrong.

 

[bobdihi]

iBurst, MWeb, Telkom. Same bunch of thieves. The only reason they still in business is they have money to advertize and confuse consumer. R99 top ups. Are you crazy people? Monthly substriptions. Contracts. 64kbps. Is this a stone age? Wake up people and think for crying out loud. Dont let them bulls..t you.

 

[nubs]

Go iBurst

Being an iBurst subscriber for a while now, this is a welcome gesture...

For those with other 'broadband' options available for use as well (3G,ADSL) this could be useful. My iBurst is used as an easily available, and where I stay pretty stable alternative to the other options. I do not hit cap too often, so this is at least something useful in pricing/data structure change for me...

SA is still way behind in terms of overall broadband anything, but we all know that... This is a start.

 

[PeterCH]

Ok, so what happens to iBurst users who go through resellers - like MWEB. What if we want to remain with MWEB (we have email accounts and such, and we don't trust iBurst accounts department) - how will things work?

 

[Shayd]

Guys just confirmed with Shaun that the 64k Add-on is only available on the 5GB upwards and the 128k throttle on the 8GB upwards. I don't know what they were thinking with this. Who the hell is going to pay R644 for 5 GB of data and a 64k softcap and how slow would you have to be to pay R841 for 8GB data and then a 128k softcap.

Jannie if this is really what you guys are doing do you honestly think somebody who is paying R199 for 1GB and a 64k softcap is suddenly going to decide to pay 223% more for effectively the same service? WOW is anybody going to change?

And seeings that we are by and large the technical community that people come to for recommendations on an ISP exactly how many of us will recommend IBurst over ADSL+CAP at a lower price hmmm.

This isn't a personal attack BUT if this is honestly supposed to make us happy you shouldn't have signed this off after so many drinks.

I went from excited this morning and one of IBursts' biggest advocates to one of its most negative advocates in the space of 30min.

What do you guys think???

Oh and if I am wrong on this post feel free to correct me and I will apologize profusely.

 

[Land Locked]

Jannie??
Shaun??

Guys just confirmed with Shaun that the 64k Add-on is only available on the 5GB upwards and the 128k throttle on the 8GB upwards. I don't know what they were thinking with this. Who the hell is going to pay R644 for 5 GB of data and a 64k softcap and how slow would you have to be to pay R841 for 8GB data and then a 128k softcap.

Jannie if this is really what you guys are doing do you honestly think somebody who is paying R199 for 1GB and a 64k softcap is suddenly going to decide to pay 223% more for effectively the same service? WOW is anybody going to change?

And seeings that we are by and large the technical community that people come to for recommendations on an ISP exactly how many of us will recommend IBurst over ADSL+CAP at a lower price hmmm.

This isn't a personal attack BUT if this is honestly supposed to make us happy you shouldn't have signed this off after so many drinks.

I went from excited this morning and one of IBursts' biggest advocates to one of its most negative advocates in the space of 30min.

What do you guys think???

Oh and if I am wrong on this post feel free to correct me and I will apologize profusely.