R5992 per MB

[AirWolf]

In spite of the arguments for the high cost of sms, the man on the street would assume price collusion among the networks (or the big two at the very least) - pricing of similar products almost always the same / similar.

If a "free market" existed in the telecomms sector the networks would be competing for customer patronage by reducing prices and only the most efficient companies would be able to survive.

The inter-connect fees on voice calls are also part of the problem allowing ineffecient companies to progress and milk consumers.

This type of thinking is prevalent in our entire economy with the "preference given to BEE companies" nonsense. We are only shooting ourselves in the foot by paying premium to support inefficient companies.

 

[Tanarri]

On the costing, I do know that before ICASA approves any tariff they look at all costs to deliver the service and will only then approve (or not) a tariff plan.

From past experiences, I must express my utmost confidence in ICASA to always place the consumer's needs above corporate greed, corruption and government interference.

To my fellow MyBroadband users: we have absolutely nothing to worry about.

 

[PeterCH]

We are cheaper than the States? Thats nice to know

You pay to receive in the US (usually).

 

[Vrotappel]

On the costing, I do know that before ICASA approves any tariff they look at all costs to deliver the service and will only then approve (or not) a tariff plan.

Is that before or after the Mauritius visit?

 

[AirWolf]

For those looking for an SMS over gprs my friend sent me a a link to this site. I haven't tried it out yet.

For my international smss I use Mobisms, which works out to 27 - 30c (depending on the exchange rate) per sms. The good thing is their bundles don't expire. I last bought a bundle of 200 smss on 02/10/2007 and I still have 13 smss left.

 

[justinlawrence]

This post has been brilliant, thanks. Why not start a petition against SMS rip-off on mypetition.co.za?

 

[Tux]

Vodacom will probably be responding via SMS

 

[krycor]

Just consider that if SMS was very cheap or even free, your phone would die in an avalanche of spam messages. (We already do!)

SMS hardware is not expensive, so this argument is invalid.

Was about to say this.. it can never really be free.. If it was then the network would be swamped.. but then you also have to look at the social aspect of it in that sms popularity is particularly due voice cost. In places where voice cost is cheap, sms's are not used as much. IMS such as mxit etc is popular only due to cost variance vs sms. That being said.. lately the ability to have a singular presence on pc and mobile is awesome (e.g. gtalk/msn etc)

I remember reading about the cost of sms's to the mobile companies some time last year. It was an article referring to Aussie companies - it said it costs them less than Aussie-1c per sms.

Surely it must be similar here - maybe a couple of cents at most.

I read the same thing..

- An Instant Message is between 2 end devices and there is no guaranteed delivery or store and forward capabilities on the network. It's just a best-effort setup.

This is uhm.. just plain odd. Jabber services store messages too.. pending the provider you use. The thing i don't get is that sms's are sent with arguably less overhead than a IM network over tcp. Also sms's are regarded as a best effort service too.. just that there is a singular provider for the underlying network mostly(on-net sms) and of cause in SA due to cost, sms reliability had to be improved.. every chrismas we get reports on this

On the costing, I do know that before ICASA approves any tariff they look at all costs to deliver the service and will only then approve (or not) a tariff plan.

Thats the reason any provider currently gives for every pricing of their products and possibly the worst and most lame as we all know how skewed this is. Its pretty much like i said, they can get away with it.

SMS has an average global price of 0.11 USD and maintains a near 90% profit margin.

 

[alt21]

I will be canceling / downgrading all my vodacom contracts as soon as the current contracts expire.

I'm really sick of article after article on how we are getting screwed by all the telecoms companies and government of South Africa.

 

[Kuga]

From past experiences, I must express my utmost confidence in ICASA to always place the consumer's needs above corporate greed, corruption and government interference.

To my fellow MyBroadband users: we have absolutely nothing to worry about.

I lol'd and fell off my chair.

Oh, and I'm stealing your sig. Thanks

 

[smokey]

In spite of the arguments for the high cost of sms, the man on the street would assume price collusion among the networks (or the big two at the very least) - pricing of similar products almost always the same / similar.

If a "free market" existed in the telecomms sector the networks would be competing for customer patronage by reducing prices and only the most efficient companies would be able to survive.

The inter-connect fees on voice calls are also part of the problem allowing ineffecient companies to progress and milk consumers.

This type of thinking is prevalent in our entire economy with the "preference given to BEE companies" nonsense. We are only shooting ourselves in the foot by paying premium to support inefficient companies.

+1

 

[<moLe>]

hmph...whatever sharks i tell u! sharks corporate furries who just want to see green.

 

[eaglebeaver]

In New Zealand , a few years ago when I lived there NZ Telecom (main opposition to vodafone) brought out a "unlimited sms on all packages" . They had to change it to 200 a day when a bored truck driver sent about 50 000 (or was it 30 000) in a month testing the "unlimited " term.