Prepaid data

[vodacom3g]

When this was launched the explanation was that if you activated and then cancelled it, it would remain active for the remained of the 30 days and then simply not be renewed. Sounds like either the helpdesk has it wrong or it was not implemented as described.

v3g might want to comment.

I also thought so.

Max, won't you mail me and I'll ask.

 

[Steinie]

When this was launched the explanation was that if you activated and then cancelled it, it would remain active for the remained of the 30 days and then simply not be renewed. Sounds like either the helpdesk has it wrong or it was not implemented as described.

v3g might want to comment.

Thank you!!

This was my understanding, too.

 

[Steinie]

I also thought so.

Max, won't you mail me and I'll ask.

Will do, thanks, Jannie.

 

[Tweak]

So applying your argument to life would mean then if you don't know how to drive a car then it's the manufacturers fault?

Airtime - are you comparing Data usage with someone's motor driving skills? If anything it should be compared with Petrol price rather than the coherance on the road.

Oil(petrol) being a scarce natural resource have its value dictated by the goverment.

The scarcity of Internet on the other hand is being misused by companies like Vodacom because even though its also a resource in extremely short supply to south africans - the goverment doesn't see it fit to protect the consumer from exploitation yet.

 

[Tweak]

If my parents were being ripped off by anyone, I'd help them out...

Incidently, I don't consider anyone who doesn't bother to aquaint themselves with the terms and conditions of any contract they enter to being ripped off when the supplier charges in accordance with those terms and conditions. The fact that there is a cheaper option is irrelevant, if you agree to pay a certain amount, then shut up and pay it, or close the account and carry on with your life.

Terms and conditions change frequently with corporations. Hence the clause 'subject to change without notification'. All corporations are guilty of overcharning clients one time or another. They make sure they are covered in the long run.

I did try helping them out by suggesting Mxit '1c per sms'(you know you have to speak in lamens terms when explaining new technology) but its not of use because then everyone they communicate with will have to start using mxit too. You can see how this might be a problem as not all older generation people use new phones.

Why I didn't suggest sms vouchers is because It reduces your spontaneity when you are forced to send x ammount of messages each month before it expires. I don't want to overload them with things to worry about, they don't always enjoy technology as much as younger people do.


*sorry for Double Posting*

 

[Steinie]

Well, V3G has done it again!

I have just received a call from VC to inform me that they have reinstated the 3.6 service, which will run until the end of the initial 30 day period, i.e for another 14 days or so.

And, and on top of that, they have reimbursed my R49!!

I am no longer NOT a happy chappie!!

Thanks again for the excellent service, Jannie!

------------------------------------------------------
Last Result:

Download Speed: 2690 kbps (336.3 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1021 kbps (127.6 KB/sec transfer rate)




This is the best speed I have ever had on 3G!

 

[RubyGloob]

I've just bought a E220, vodacom, this after been with MTN. Think the only reason I moved to Vodacom was a) the modem was cheaper b) I could buy additional bundles through the month and c) modem was cheaper.. MTN has very little service when it comes to being able to figure out just how much data you have left, the inquery you have to phone in for, is ironically obscured by a marketing message on points of some sort, that and if you buy one bundle - that's it for the month, you don't use it, you lose it, but don't try and buy another if you've run out.. 2 sims.. yeah sure.. been through 6, not sure how great their prepaid cards are with E220, but with the aircard.. a waste of money!

good luck with your choice

 

[morkhans]

Airtime - are you comparing Data usage with someone's motor driving skills? If anything it should be compared with Petrol price rather than the coherance on the road.

Oil(petrol) being a scarce natural resource have its value dictated by the goverment.

The scarcity of Internet on the other hand is being misused by companies like Vodacom because even though its also a resource in extremely short supply to south africans - the goverment doesn't see it fit to protect the consumer from exploitation yet.

So you have now shifted the analogy from being able to operate something (working a PC / adding bundles) to management of resources (airtime / internet is too expensive)

You really are spinning this thread way off the topic. Either add something constructive or take your conspiracy theories elsewhere.

Every week we have people ranting on about the cost of internet, yet there is more than enough material (for those that care to read) about how the governments' meddling and protection of Telkom is a root contributor to the situation we currently have. No ISP will be around for long if they charged less for their bandwidth than they have to pay Telkom. Those who are trying to cut Telkom out of the loop by building their own networks will have to recover those costs. Things are getting better slowly but surely but it's going to take time. When Seacom lands in June we should see some price relief / cap increases. Until then if your current provider is not working for you vote with your feet and go shop somewhere else.

 

[Steinie]

Vodacom Mobile Broadband Speed Test


Last Result:

Download Speed: 2859 kbps (357.4 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 1047 kbps (130.9 KB/sec transfer rate)

 

[Tweak]

So you have now shifted the analogy from being able to operate something (working a PC / adding bundles) to management of resources (airtime / internet is too expensive)

You really are spinning this thread way off the topic. Either add something constructive or take your conspiracy theories elsewhere.

..
about how the governments' meddling and protection of Telkom is a root contributor to the situation
..

The reason why Im hammering on about Vodacom(isp) is because they are part of TelkomSA's holdings same as Iburst is. Sentech is also managed by the goverment(sabc). So verry little companies are independant from telkoms shareholders.

If these companies weren't managed/owned by telkom then they might be offering data at a much better rate than before.


I was simply trying to convey the image that so many of the forumites here seems to be forgetting.. People in South Africa don't care how the pc operates, when you tried to compare my arguement to a person's ability to drive, I just wanted like to point out to you that because you can drive your car doesn't mean you have to be a mechanic too.

But when you use Vodacom or other gprs providers you need to know how to load a data bundle(first try to explain to a person what is ment by data), then monitor data, to turn off automatic updates and so on..

Most people only know what they need to know to get things done, cost doesn't affect them unless they get a huge bill at the end of the month, which can easily be done by using Vodacom R2 out of bundle pricing.


You defend vodacom because telkom is overcharging them on data.. If that was true how come virgin mobile could offer data at 60 cents per meg, with using Vodacom's towers. That means they must be buying it at 5-10 cent per meg. So that means Vodacom will make 2000 % profit on the average OOB megabyte.

Not something worth justifying imo

 

[ic]

Most people dont use data bundles..


They don't even know how to operate a pc but you expect they would know how to load and manage a data bundle? This R2 per meg out of bundle is an extortion and nothing else.

Vodacon is making their money by ripping off un suspecting clients like my parents who stil spend over 300 rand a month on sms messages. SMS bundles are alot cheaper too that doesn't mean they know about these or plan to use them..


Its more convenient for vodascum to rip off the older generation than our younger ones. So that is why prices haven't changed, when these old cash cows run out of milk they will have to start upgrading their marketting agenda to exploit the IT Literate generation of consumers.

Generalising is not very useful, most people would be offended if they knew you thought they were all idiots.

There are people that are capable of buying and managing data bundles, and not all of them were born just yesterday.

 

[morkhans]

The reason why Im hammering on about Vodacom(isp) is because they are part of TelkomSA's holdings same as Iburst is. Sentech is also managed by the goverment(sabc). So verry little companies are independant from telkoms shareholders.

If these companies weren't managed/owned by telkom then they might be offering data at a much better rate than before.


I was simply trying to convey the image that so many of the forumites here seems to be forgetting.. People in South Africa don't care how the pc operates, when you tried to compare my arguement to a person's ability to drive, I just wanted like to point out to you that because you can drive your car doesn't mean you have to be a mechanic too.

But when you use Vodacom or other gprs providers you need to know how to load a data bundle(first try to explain to a person what is ment by data), then monitor data, to turn off automatic updates and so on..

Most people only know what they need to know to get things done, cost doesn't affect them unless they get a huge bill at the end of the month, which can easily be done by using Vodacom R2 out of bundle pricing.


You defend vodacom because telkom is overcharging them on data.. If that was true how come virgin mobile could offer data at 60 cents per meg, with using Vodacom's towers. That means they must be buying it at 5-10 cent per meg. So that means Vodacom will make 2000 % profit on the average OOB megabyte.

Not something worth justifying imo

If you have been following the press then you will know that for a long time now there is no love lost between Telkom and Vodacom and that shareholding is coming to an end shortly.

You really are expecting a bit much when you want everything served to you on a plate without doing anything for it. If you want airtime or data bundles you need to do something for it. It might involve walking to a store and handing over money to someone who gives you a voucher (in a startlingly similar fashion to pre-paid electricity). You then have to load the voucher. I honestly can't see what your issue is here? If loading data bundles is beyond your parents then either help them or suggest they call customer service and have it loaded over the phone. I just had a bundle loaded on Sunday by calling customer care and it took under 2min (including minimal hold time). A simple SMS containing MM to 31050 gives you the current balance of your bundle.

Managing the updates on your PC, Anti-Virus, Firewall etc. is not the ISP's problem. Many do supply customers with free packages (which is the clients responsibility to maintain) and Vodacom do in fact firewall their 3G customers for the bulk of internet based attacks. There have however been some cases where people have run up large bills unwittingly and I believe for the most part an understanding was reached and a R20 000 bill was averted.

I am not defending Vodacom. I am putting in my 2c about the current state of internet in this country and what ISPs have to contend with. I do however believe your gripe with Vodacom is misdirected and unfortunately your argument about being unable (and unwilling) to use the services presented by them in order to save yourself (or your parents) money unsubstantiated.

Vodacom have chosen one business model and Virgin another. Good luck to Virgin, their 60c/mb OOB rates and EDGE coverage. With data bundles at 19c/mb in bundle it works ouch much cheaper for me and I prefer HSDPA speeds. If you refuse to buy a bundle then you will pay R2/mb. As I said before if a provider is not working for you vote with your feet and move to someone else. Applying your logic then surely MTN should also be charging 60c/mb OOB because they are not part of Telkom? MWeb and IS should be undercutting Telkom on the ADSL front by at least say 50%?

On a personal note I am busy looking at setting up my 65 year old father with internet at home and I don't expect him to manage things on his own. I will be managing his usage by monitoring things online using the v4me site and if things get out of hand NetLimiter will tell me what went wrong. The weekends that I pop over to visit I will make sure his updates are installed. I will however be grilling some common sense into him regarding the "your PC could run faster" banner adds and "free anti-virus" pop-ups but for the most part FireFox and ad-block will take care of those.

So rather than speaking for all the other forumites (who I am sure can speak for themselves) if you cannot load bundles or have insufficient knowledge to manage your PC then make use of the channels available to help you and get a friend or neighbour who knows a bit more to help out. This forum is one such great place for helping people out. Unsubstantiated ranting about costs just gets in the way of helping others and sharing information.