New MTN EDGE Pricing

[MTNBroadband]

Thanks for the links.
<my_opinion>
I think RF-Group has some sort of hold on the S.African market so it easier to get Nokia products as opposed to some other products from other manufacturers.
</my_opinion>

Hi.

Thanks. The links provided are excellent.

There is also the official GSM Association own information:

http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/edge/index.shtml

I find that they under-report on EDGE countries compaired to other sites.

There is a link there to the terminals and it lists over 100.

You are right that Nokia is leading at the moment on handset. They standardise on EDGE on all but the low end handsets. The other manufacturers are coming into production this year.

I am preparing an up-to-date list of handsets and ask for patience. We will put most information on the website for Monday

 

[MTNBroadband]

SMTP server

Precisely, all that is necessary from the ISP side is an smtp server, beyond that you are better off with your own 3rd party POP3 account(s) that are independent of your ISP, GMail is a good option, but for business register your own domain name, and send out emails using the new domain name via the ISP's smtp server .

PS: Ditto the GMail invites, p.m. with an email address where you want to receive a GMail invite .

Regards. I have been involved with full- internet access since around 1999 when we offered a pay-as-you-surf dial-up product with M-Web. (083 123 MWEB). Users could access the service on an ad hoc service.

When we launched high-speed circuit switched data in 2000 odd we then ran our own dial-up service (083 123 DATA).

When we launched GPRS in 2002 we went commercial with the SMTP server mail.mtn.co.za . Effectively we had a full ISP service where you could also register your own e-mail address via www.mtn.co.za if you wanted.

When you use Outlook Express (for example) you use your normal ISP e-mail settings but set the outgoing server to mail.mtn.co.za and your e-mail behaves as if sent via your ISP.

GPRS can provide all normal internet services. The firewall rules are quite strict to prevent hacking and IP-attack from other 'infected' users so this is mainly web. e-mail, ftp, MSN messenger and the like. Certain ports are closed and one user cannot ping another user. Also, when communicating with a server, the return path is closed after a while. These are all conservative measures which have definitely paid dividends.

For corporates, with their specific requirements we have a whole different set of solutions and support and escalation procedures and the IP environment can be more tailored.

This has all been in place for a few years now and the only difference with EDGE is data speeds.

 

[MTNBroadband]

EDGE Handset List

Regards all

In order to revert sooner and because Nokia is already covered, I have given a short list of the following

Devices MTN has which support the full theoretical maximum EDGE speeds of 236.8 kbps download and 118.4 kbps upload.

Nokia 7280 Handset
Nokia 9300 PDA
Nokia 9500 PDA

Palm Treo650 PDA
SonyE GC85 PC Card
Sierra Wireless Aircard 775 PC Card

The other device which supports EDGE but not full speeds is the Motorola V547 handset. If there is interest I can follow up.

You may notice that the new tariffs are hitting the press now. Financial Mail carried an article this week.

Thanks

Christopher

 

[veethree]

Procedure query

From the first post in this thread I gather that the existing packages (dataLIVE 2 and 15) will simply fall away. Does this mean that one will not have to cancel formally and that the charge will just fall away? Is there any automatic conversion to the new packages or will one specifically have to request that they be added on to current packages, e.g. Mycall 100?

Thanks.

 

[jpretorius]

The firewall rules are quite strict to prevent hacking and IP-attack from other 'infected' users so this is mainly web. e-mail, ftp, MSN messenger and the like. Certain ports are closed and one user cannot ping another user. Also, when communicating with a server, the return path is closed after a while. These are all conservative measures which have definitely paid dividends.

I am busy developing a stock market timing system. A small program on my clients' machines would communicate with my server via a simple polling scheme using standard Windows sockets. The packets would be tiny (approx 80 char.) and infrequent (approx 1 every 5 minutes to each of about 400 clients), but they would obviously need to be on a port other than those used by HTTP, FTP etc. Does this mean that the MTN firewall would block my messages? What can I do about it?

 

[MTNBroadband]

I am busy developing a stock market timing system. A small program on my clients' machines would communicate with my server via a simple polling scheme using standard Windows sockets. The packets would be tiny (approx 80 char.) and infrequent (approx 1 every 5 minutes to each of about 400 clients), but they would obviously need to be on a port other than those used by HTTP, FTP etc. Does this mean that the MTN firewall would block my messages? What can I do about it?

This is a case where I recommend the Corporate Mobility approach:

E-mail the query to

[email protected]

They can then reply directly. You typically work with your existing ISP (MTN Network Solutions, IS, UUNet, AST, Datapro) to configure a private APN. We set up a virtual private network for you which is configured to your requirements. The benefit is the integration with the ISP and the fact that they connect directly with us with redundant links, have a high-level support arrangement with our NOC and are notified in advance of any network maintenance or changes and can review the monthly uptime figures. You can in turn offer your own customers higher service levels. It can also be forward or reverse billed.

 

[MTNBroadband]

From the first post in this thread I gather that the existing packages (dataLIVE 2 and 15) will simply fall away. Does this mean that one will not have to cancel formally and that the charge will just fall away? Is there any automatic conversion to the new packages or will one specifically have to request that they be added on to current packages, e.g. Mycall 100?

Thanks.

The monthly tariffs for 2 and 15 are charged pro-rated until the 11th and then fall away. You will go onto the standard flat tariff until you contact your Service Provider with a new bundle. If you have a 2 or 15 package you should receive an SMS tomorrow with this information.

 

[bHOLDher]

Strict firewall?? Oh, no. Which means that MTN will always just be an additional/fallback service for the IT guys..

Is it possible to post a list of open ports?
What about Terminal Server (Remote desktop connections)/ VNC connections?

Whats the chances that MTN can supply an open setup for certain clients that run their own firewalls and what not? (In future)

 

[ScrnScrm]

oh great! i have just noticed that mtn have opened up VPN traffic on the "internet" APN! MTNBB - please confirm if this is a permanent fixture!!!!! Stuggle like crap normally switching APNs everytime i need to get on the office network - this makes life much simpler for me! If it is only for testing, please whack suitable person over the head with a wet fish and tell them they are being spoilsports

 

[Neo]

Have I got this right?

1) If you use 75Mb / month:

a) Vodacom: R110
b) MTN: R10 + (R2 * 65) = R140

2) If you use 150Mb / month:

a) Vodacom: R149
b) MTN: R100 + (R1.50 * 50) = R175

3) If you use 500Mb / month:

a) Vodacom: R350
2b) MTN: R100 + (R1.5 * 400) = R700

4) If you use 1Gb / month:

a) Vodacom: R599
b) MTN: R649

5) If you use 2Gb / month:

a) Vodacom: R1198
b) MTN: R649 + (R1.25 * 1024) = R1929

 

[mc721221]

now were are all those suckers that said MTN is cheaper???

 

[cybernaire]

http://www.mtn.co.za/?pid=11468

 

[jano]

Almost Neo...

Have I got this right?

1) If you use 75Mb / month:

a) Vodacom: R110
b) MTN: R10 + (R2 * 65) = R140

Well, you could get MTN 100MB for R100 (R10 less, 25MB more)

2) If you use 150Mb / month:

a) Vodacom: R149
b) MTN: R100 + (R1.50 * 50) = R175

Right.

3) If you use 500Mb / month:

a) Vodacom: R350
2b) MTN: R100 + (R1.5 * 400) = R700

Right.

4) If you use 1Gb / month:

a) Vodacom: R599
b) MTN: R649

Actually R499, unless the data card/phone is bundled.

5) If you use 2Gb / month:

a) Vodacom: R1198
b) MTN: R649 + (R1.25 * 1024) = R1929

Right again.

Vodacom wins here because Vodacom's bundle sizes have been chosen. Pick MTN's bundle sizes, and guess what, MTN wins. Notice how they have only 1 bundle that's the same size? (Voda: 20, 75, 150, 250, 500, 1000, 1G, 2G, 3G, 5G, 10G - MTN: 10, 100, 1000) It makes it difficult to compare rates, although Vodacom is clearly more flexible with so many staggered levels.

The real question is whether you can buy MTN 100MB x 2?

 

[TheCynick]

I agree with jano...because of the way the bundles are structured it's really an apples/pears thing.

It certainly *would* make sense to be able to buy multiples of bundles, esp. since there are only 3 options to choose from.

mtnbb, are you listening?? This is the sort of feedback that went back to vodacom when they launched, and boy did they listen!

 

[MTNBroadband]

oh great! i have just noticed that mtn have opened up VPN traffic on the "internet" APN! MTNBB - please confirm if this is a permanent fixture!!!!! Stuggle like crap normally switching APNs everytime i need to get on the office network - this makes life much simpler for me! If it is only for testing, please whack suitable person over the head with a wet fish and tell them they are being spoilsports

The functionality to allow the PPTP protocol needed to VPN has been deployed permanently and the wet fish is back in the pond

 

[diabolus]

Pick MTN's bundle sizes, and guess what, MTN wins

In short, the breakeven between Vodacom and MTN using MTN's 100MB bundle is at 200MB (In other words you'll be paying exactly the same for 200MB at Vodacom and MTN using the appropriate bundles + out-of-bundle rate) . If you go anywhere above 200MB [but below 1GB] you will be paying MORE at MTN. At Vodacom you can buy a different bundle, at MTN you will be going out-of-bundle all the way to 1GB [a full 900MB out of bundle).

Then at 1GB and up the same thing will occur as Vodacom offers further bundles there too [which will have 60c p/MB rates compared to R1.25 p/MB rates at MTN].

I was initially a bit fooled with the out-of-bundle rates, but the lack of bundle options actually subsidise the lower rates So something to look into very carefully.

Calculation:

Vodacom 250MB = R200
MTN 250MB = R100 (100MB) + R225 (150MB) = R325

And it only gets worse on MTN system the further we go up

 

[jpretorius]

Calculation:

Vodacom 250MB = R200
MTN 250MB = R100 (100MB) + R225 (150MB) = R325

And it only gets worse on MTN system the further we go up

You are assuming that MTN will not allow you to buy more than 1 of each bundle. I can't believe they would be so dumb. The whole point of their 10, 100, 1000 would seem to suggest that you can tailor a package to fit. I am also assuming that they will allow you to change as you go along - same as Vodacom.

Anyway let's ask Mr MTNBroadband

 

[DaveO]

Previous communication with MTNbb indicates that you can only have 1 bundle at a time ( ie, you can't buy 2 x R10/10Mb in a month )

 

[diabolus]

You are assuming that MTN will not allow you to buy more than 1 of each bundle. I can't believe they would be so dumb.

Indeed that's the whole catch probably. What would the point of 'out-of-bundle' rates be if you can simply buy multiple bundles in a month? I can't imagine MTN would allow that, as that'll amount to a top-up system and therefore ability to avoid out-of-bundle rates completely (oh i've used up my 100MB, lets just get another one). Even if you can load them only at beginning of the month, imagine the adminstrative issues. I.e. On which bundle am i now ; have i used up my 3rd bundle? ; what will be my out-of-bundle rate if i have a 100MB and a 10MB bundle together etc etc? MTN will be creating a billing hell for themselves allowing such 'customizable' options.

So as DaveO mentioned, chances are 1 bundle per month is what you'll get. So MTN had 2 options : More bundles with high out-of-bundle rates or less bundles with lower out-of-bundle rates (since you'll be going out-of-bundle more often with less bundle options) ..guess which option MTN took

 

[TheCynick]

So as DaveO mentioned, chances are 1 bundle per month is what you'll get. So MTN had 2 options : More bundles with high out-of-bundle rates or less bundles with lower out-of-bundle rates (since you'll be going out-of-bundle more often with less bundle options) ..guess which option MTN took

Kind of disingeneous...the "low" out-of-bundle rates are nice for the marketing people, but when the clever peeps in this forum do the maths a rather different picture emerges. Doubtless vodacom will make use of this when they do their competitive analysis.

I had high hopes for MTN's offerings, but this counts as a strikeout to me.