Pre Paid Data Bundles [PPDBs]

Should this thread be closed (locked)?

  • Yes, put it out of its misery

    Votes: 7 41.2%

  • No, I don't like euthanasia, leave it to die painfully & alone

    Votes: 10 58.8%

  • I'm confused, maybe all of the above

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    17
  • Poll closed .
Geez, you guys love your conspiracies! :D

Telkom is a 50% share holder and as such have no controlling stake in Vodacom.

In general, 3G should not be seen as a direct competitor to DSL as it's a different application at a different price point.

In South Africa, however, the low price of 3G (compared to international averages) versus the high cost of DSL (compared to international averages) does allow direct comparisons with the resultant confusion in the local market.
 
Well my bundle ran out a little early this month [it's only the 18th! :(] , luckily there is trusty ol' MTN [wipes off the dust from his MTN sim ] . Still no 3G coverage from MTN where i am though.
 
In general, 3G should not be seen as a direct competitor to DSL as it's a different application at a different price point.

In South Africa, however, the low price of 3G (compared to international averages) versus the high cost of DSL (compared to international averages) does allow direct comparisons with the resultant confusion in the local market.
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Marketing gooblygook. You don't get much of a bigger controlling stake than 50%. :rolleyes:
 
@ V3g
hope we can take your word on prepaid data bundles...
or will u be pullin a Patricia de lille on us?

anyway I'm on topup will PDB's work on this? (forgive me if been asked before)
 
ic said:
"PDB's" :confused: - you mean pre-paid data bundles? - v3g you're going to have to add Q: What do the acronyms PPDBs and PDBs mean? to the FAQ...
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yeah thats what i mean

thanks
 
I've been on MTN Prepaid data bundles the last 2 months and I can recommend it to all of you for DATA services. Just make sure you make use of the IVR and that you never need to contact customer care.

Maybe "South Africa's Leading cellular network" needs to go ask MTN for advice.

Also Vodacom should actually be loosing more money than they are but unfortunately if you sell a product at twice the price of your competitors, you only need to sell half of the products that they sell to break even with them.

We should all boikot vodacom because the facts are:
1. The longer we take to switch to their competitor and
2. The longer they take to bring out bundles to reduce prices

THe more money they make

Peace

Eben (paying 60c per Mb)
 
Some of my experiences concerning MTN Prepaid data bundles:

* You have to wait a month after you've bought a data bundle before you can buy another one - even if if you've used it up. As someone else has suggested buy a few SIM cards. If a bundle runs out on one SIM card simply put in another and load it with a data bundle.
* You get a free e-mail address with free SMS notification. You can also set up filters.
* In my area at least the data connection is much more stable. I've had MTN connections lasting for two days. Vodacom connections are less stable. If I'm lucky a connection will last a few hours. Sometimes they last only a few minutes.
* Unfortunately no MTN 3G in my area, only EDGE. I had to use Netmonitor to force my Nokia 6680 to use a channel that has EDGE. Vodacom has 3G in my area and it is much faster than MTN EDGE.
 
perhaps Vodacom should also instate data bundles for Prepaid like MTN.

With MTN, the prepaid subscriber can load airtime and then decide how he_she wants to use it.
E.G.
User purchase r180 worth of airtime, allocate 100 mb to a data bundle, r25 to a 100 sms bundle and use the remaining r55 for airtime.

Data bundle prices are as follows as far as I can recall.

r10 for 10 mB
r100 for 100 mb
r220 for 350 mb
r499 for 1 gb

Just a thought.........
 
babagrr said:
perhaps Vodacom should also instate data bundles for Prepaid like MTN.

Just a thought.........
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babagrr, welcome to myadsl.

You probably do not know of the whole issue of Vodacom's delayed pre-paid bundles?

Or you're having a dig at me. :) (Which I thoroughly deserve!)

Either way, the pre-paid bundles are coming at the last statements I heard was before the middle of the year, but I won't even quote those.

The day I've bought, installed and used a pre-paid data bundle myself, I'll post it here!
 
This weekend I "discovered" the joy of MTN pre-paid data bundles!

I got 4 PAYG sims at R1.95 a pop and all is good! My suggestions to Vodacom is:

- at least the same price structure (R100 for 100Mb not to bad, better than R200 currently on Vodacom prepaid)
- greater diversity in bundle sizes (maybe: 10Mb, 30Mb, 50Mb, 100Mb ??)
- non-expiration after a month (it should "expire" when the allocated Mb was used fully)
- the possibility to load a new bundle as soon as the current one is depleted

I can't wait for the Vodacom PDB since I am NOT a MTN fan! :D

Regards! :)
 
vodacom3g March 2005 said:
Just to confirm:

Pre-paid data is definitely on it's way. No time frames yet, but it looks like the pre-paid pundits will have a warm winter.
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Its sooooo cold, 1 winter later :eek:

Eskom says we cant use heaters.. Cape Power Alert :(
 
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Wanting HSDPA - advice please

I have read earlier threads about the best way to get an HSDPA capability without having to sign a 24 month contract.

a) I'd like to check the curret 'state of the art' - is it still a Messenger contract plus the purchase of a datacard and then purchase data bundles as and when needed?

b) are these data bundles bought on a 'per month' basis?

c) Can I change bundles from month to month? What kind of notice do I have to give that I want to change?

d) Do I have any choice on the type of datacard I get? Assuming I do, does anyone have a view on the best model to go for?

Thanks, Ken
 
kenironside said:
I have read earlier threads about the best way to get an HSDPA capability without having to sign a 24 month contract.

a) I'd like to check the curret 'state of the art' - is it still a Messenger contract plus the purchase of a datacard and then purchase data bundles as and when needed?

b) are these data bundles bought on a 'per month' basis?

c) Can I change bundles from month to month? What kind of notice do I have to give that I want to change?

d) Do I have any choice on the type of datacard I get? Assuming I do, does anyone have a view on the best model to go for?

Thanks, Ken
Click to expand...

a) 4U + data card + bundle an even better option.

b) Yes

c) Yes, you can either phone or change the bundle on-line for the next month.

d) No, not really, but the forum would probably suggest you try and get your hands on either an Option or Huawei HSDPA card.
 
I haven't had any problems with the Option card. Had nothing but problems with Novatel.
 
"4U + data card + bundle an even better option."

Turns out I already have a 4U pay as you go card - can I use that or do I need to convert it to a contract?

Thanks for your kind assistance, Ken
 
kenironside said:
"4U + data card + bundle an even better option."

Turns out I already have a 4U pay as you go card - can I use that or do I need to convert it to a contract?

Thanks for your kind assistance, Ken
Click to expand...

You can only convert a Vodacom service provider company pre-paid sim to contract at the moment - AFAIK there's no SP number portability yet.
You can look on the prepaid documentation to see who your sp is, otherwise vodacom4me also has a service where you can look it up, I think.

You must convert to contract, yes.
 
ajax said:
You can only convert a Vodacom service provider company pre-paid sim to contract at the moment - AFAIK there's no SP number portability yet.
Click to expand...

You can convert any SP SIM to contract. VSP can only convert VSP Simms though i.e you need to contact the SP who controls the SIM.
 
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