No support for sim-free Option cards

[BattleAxe]

Vodacom3g, hope you are willing to stick out your head on this one... I bought a Vodafone Option Wireless 3G datacard about a year ago while in the UK. I paid an absolutely crazy amount for the card, in order to get it sim-free (without contract). Back in SA I am using my MTN sim (no hard feelings, just because I am in a area where VC 3G signal is very bad) and it runs fine.

However, on trying to download new software from the Option site, I get referred to the Vodafone network in my country. Downloaded your latest software, but it does not find any subscribable services (using my MTN sim), as it is obviously looking for the VC 65501 network code...

What now...? As VF's local proxy I feel that you have to accommodate customers who purchased branded equipment at a priemium in order not be be locked into one network... Any way of modifying your software so that it detects networks other than VC? Option wireless, by the way, are ignoring my emails in this regard...

 

[ic]

You're joking right?

Vodacom3g, hope you are willing to stick out your head on this one... I bought a Vodafone Option Wireless 3G datacard about a year ago while in the UK. I paid an absolutely crazy amount for the card, in order to get it sim-free (without contract). Back in SA I am using my MTN sim (no hard feelings, just because I am in a area where VC 3G signal is very bad) and it runs fine.

However, on trying to download new software from the Option site, I get referred to the Vodafone network in my country. Downloaded your latest software, but it does not find any subscribable services (using my MTN sim), as it is obviously looking for the VC 65501 network code...

What now...? As VF's local proxy I feel that you have to accommodate customers who purchased branded equipment at a priemium in order not be be locked into one network... Any way of modifying your software so that it detects networks other than VC? Option wireless, by the way, are ignoring my emails in this regard...

BattleAxe, let me see if I understand what you're saying here - please correct me if I have misunderstood...

You are complaining that the Vodafone Mobile Connect [aka Dashboard] software does not detect MTN's 3G network, correct?

If so, why should Vodafone expend any effort building in support for MTN's own 3G network into VMC when MTN is not in any way associated with Vodafone?

Here's the question: why not ask MTN to supply you with the proprietary s/w they supply their 3G customers with?

 

[BattleAxe]

Yes you are correct!! and that's why...

I bought this card for equavlent to R6000. This constitutes the difference that the Network would have subsidised. Vodafone offered it to me on these terms!!!!! It did not abscond them from any service level agreement in terms of rights to upgrades and maintenance, it only means that I am not bound to one network. To now refuse me support on the device stating that I am not a Vodafone/Vodacom customer is in contravention with the agreement with them (incidentally MTN never sold these cards). This is the same as paying a premium in a Vodashop for a non subsidised, not network locked phone and at a later stage being refused post purchase support given that you do not have an active VC sim in the device.

Here is Option wireless's opinion on the matter:

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The GPRS modem card you have purchased is a Vodafone product. We are sorry that we are not able to assist you with your support inquiries. The Vodafone product has been commercialised and is supported by your local Vodafone company, irrrespective of whether you subscribe to any one or more of their services. Please contact your local 'Vodafone'-support helpdesk.

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This is a PRODUCT centric support agreement, nothing to do with service/subscriptions. To put this in perspective: Say you buy a car at company xyz and you choose to not have the car serviced by that brand of manufacturer's service outlets (assuming that you take the hammering in terms of you warranty expiring). Assume a service/recall campaign now gets launched. The manufacturer has NO right to refuse you the entitlement to the uprade/fix etc. If you don't belive me, search the web and you will find various examples of such cases.

Bottom line, I purchased the card in such a way that I did not have to tender any performance (monthly contract payments) on my side to be entitled to the standard terms and conditions of sale. After all- the latest software includes a WLAN dial client which in any event is not offered by any cell phone operator in SA-what if you want to use that instead of 3G/GPRS...

 

[asmith]

Should of bought the thing direct from Option in the first place

 

[ic]

BattleAxe, what do the Vodafone terms & conditions attached to your purchase of the branded data card say?

I cannot imagine for one minute that Vodafone or for that matter Vodacom, are required to modify the proprietary VMC software to support any and all competitor 3G networks...

Besides, it is an Option card, you can setup normal DUN in Windoze or whatever - just get the relevant network specific stuff from MTN...you may not be able to send/recieve smsz from DUN but at least you would be able to connect to the net with an MTN sim card...

 

[vodacom3g]

A few comments:

- Buying any electronic goods (data cards, TV's, laptops, etc.) in another country falls under the 'grey' import definition and most manufacturers (let alone resellers) will not support it as it undermines their local channel. People who buy 'grey' normally do so at a massive discount and therefore are willing to take the support and guarantee risk.

You paid a lot of money for the card but remember, none of that went to Vodacom who must use part of the sales income to fund it's support activities. In this case the overseas reseller made the profit but support is requested here. Think of an extreme situation where everyone starts importing their own cards but expects local support. Who will fund this?

- You might expect (and get) support on the card, but I can't see how we're going to convince Vodafone to change the dashboard software to accommodate a competitor network. Once again, they paid a lot of money for the development of the VMC application and if this is made available to other networks, how will they recover that investment?

- As you state, MTN does not sell this card so I assume their equivalent of the VMC won't support the Option card? Maybe you can convince them to support any device one of their subs decide to use, but I won't hold my breath.

- So it's a bit like building a Chevy motor into your Ford, it might work but you're pretty much on your own.

- The best option (pardon the pun!) I would venture is to force the network selection via the AT command set and then use DUN as ic suggested. This is pretty much what the dash does.

Hope this helps.