Some queries on new MTN data offer

[fskmh]

I am considering moving from VC to MTNSP on this new 1GB+1GB offer.

Regarding the conditions stated on http://www.mtn.co.za/?pid=232088 and potential changes in June, am I safe in assuming that NX (or even VNC) will be charged as data without the creation of some special bracket, like with P2P?

(Sorry about repeating my question in a new thread, my original post got buried under the MXit saga in another thread.)

I also have a question about the F@stlink E220 USB modem. Can I use the same nozomi kernel module (Linux) that people over in the VC forum are using? Also, does someone have a wvdial.conf for me?

 

[YelloFever]

I am considering moving from VC to MTNSP on this new 1GB+1GB offer.

Regarding the conditions stated on http://www.mtn.co.za/?pid=232088 and potential changes in June, am I safe in assuming that NX (or even VNC) will be charged as data without the creation of some special bracket, like with P2P?

(Sorry about repeating my question in a new thread, my original post got buried under the MXit saga in another thread.)

I also have a question about the F@stlink E220 USB modem. Can I use the same nozomi kernel module (Linux) that people over in the VC forum are using? Also, does someone have a wvdial.conf for me?

Not sure what NX is but VNC is Virtual Network Computing which is a protocal to control one computer remotely from another which should be charged at normal rates. The rates for Mixit and that will be looked into in June as for the Linux question I'm not sure I'll have to find out and get back to you

MTNDD

 

[fskmh]

Hi MTNDD

Yes, kind of like remote desktop, only better .

 

[YelloFever]

Hi MTNDD

Yes, kind of like remote desktop, only better .

 

[diabolus]

The rates for Mixit and that will be looked into in June as for the Linux question I'm not sure I'll have to find out and get back to you

Ok my Vodacom contract has ended, i am looking at signing another data contract. So far MTNs look best BUT can someone just lay out all these "catch 22" stuff out somewhere? It's all very vague and i don't know what is rumour and what not. I'm not signing a contract that limits what i can do with my bandwidth to the extend that i'm wasting money, AND then be told "we will look into it JUNE"...huh? .

i.e. is it confirmed that the following will not fall under the 'normal' usage?

a) P2P
b) MXit [or any messenger?]
c) VOIP

..what else? and what is the penalties for above. I use my messenger services
all the time [not MXit though, but MSN/GoogleTalk/AOL/ICQ]..so this is quite important , i'm not paying 'extra' for this.

I don't care too much about P2P, but would like to know CLEARLY and PROPERLY i would get nailed for doing so (and no some obscure "Term and condition" implying VOIP is illegal in SA is NOT sufficient). I mean come on, how does MTN tell "less-savvy" users this part? Any idiot can use P2P software , but there's no way they will understand the fact that it doesn't fall under 'normal' internet usage...how is this communicated? Surely someone must've received a huge bill and it had to be laid out?

In fact just define how MTN determines what is 'normal' use and what falls under the "crazy" tariff. Something like this:
If it doesn't use the following ports : 80,21, 447 ....etc etc then it is not part of the agreement. I want to KNOW if i'm starting to use a new service (i.e. stock exchange service, or a weather cast or whatever) that opens a -random- port on its own, whether i'm within the agreement or not and if i'm paying extra.....

All messengers opens all kinds of ports for example...but in the same vein my Microsoft Money ALSO opens similar ports to the services...so it's quite vital to know this on the "how MTN makes the call whether it's indeed VOIP/P2P traffic or not" level.

 

[YelloFever]

Ok my Vodacom contract has ended, i am looking at signing another data contract. So far MTNs look best BUT can someone just lay out all these "catch 22" stuff out somewhere? It's all very vague and i don't know what is rumour and what not. I'm not signing a contract that limits what i can do with my bandwidth to the extend that i'm wasting money, AND then be told "we will look into it JUNE"...huh? .

i.e. is it confirmed that the following will not fall under the 'normal' usage?

a) P2P
b) MXit [or any messenger?]
c) VOIP

..what else? and what is the penalties for above. I use my messenger services
all the time [not MXit though, but MSN/GoogleTalk/AOL/ICQ]..so this is quite important , i'm not paying 'extra' for this.

I don't care too much about P2P, but would like to know CLEARLY in PROPERLY i would get nailed for doing so. I mean come on, how does MTN tell "less-savvy" users this part? Any idiot can use P2P software , but there's no way they will understand the fact that it doesn't fall under 'normal' internet usage...how is this communicated? Surely someone must've received a huge bill and it had to be laid out?

Guys effectively we lodged for R25 to be charged for VOIP, MIxit and P2P at this stage it's not being charged it will probably be charged from June but will keep you guys posted

MTNDD

 

[diabolus]

Guys effectively we lodged for R25 to be charged for VOIP, MIxit and P2P at this stage it's not being charged it will probably be charged from June but will keep you guys posted

MTNDD

But i assume it's already written [or shall i say: encoded] into existing contracts? So come June, we wouldn't be able to just cancel the contract based on change of tariffs which you didn't originally agree/bargained on.

If so, that is a big problem. That's like a little backdoor that basically says "we can change your entire contract to pay 10 times more anytime we like!" . Surely this is a dealbreaker kinda thing if Vodacom decides not to do it also...


In short: I don't care if MTN is charging it right now or not, if it stands there in the contract it means they WILL the moment they get the gap. That's a very nasty surprise to sign into for 2 years....

 

[YelloFever]

But i assume it's already written [or shall i say: encoded] into existing contracts? So come June, we wouldn't be able to just cancel the contract based on change of tariffs which you didn't originally agree/bargained on.

If so, that is a big problem. That's like a little backdoor that basically says "we can change your entire contract to pay 10 times more anytime we like!" . Surely this is a dealbreaker kinda thing if Vodacom decides not to do it also...


In short: I don't care if MTN is charging it right now or not, if it stands there in the contract it means they WILL the moment they get the gap. That's a very nasty surprise to sign into for 2 years....

Correction we've only lodged R25 per MEG for VOIP and not Mixit or P2P

My apology

MTNDD

 

[diabolus]

Correction we've only lodged R25 per MEG for VOIP and not Mixit or P2P

My apology

MTNDD

Ok, thanks. So i can assume if i sign a contract now that there is no way MTN can 'legally' break my 2GB bundle apart, saying i will pay seperately for whatever types of data MTN deem "no longer competitive to offer at current rates" ? (except VOIP). I just don't want to sit with a "white elephant"-2GB bundle and then can't use it because MTN decided "oh
any streamed content now falls under VOIP terms" etc.

VOIP is something i don't use too often, although i still wonder how MTN would determine VOIP ...i can whip up MSN and do a voice chat on there via the same ports MSN-text-chat use. Are there something about these protocols i don't know which points out i'm using video/audio ?

 

[YelloFever]

Ok, thanks. So i can assume if i sign a contract now that there is no way MTN can 'legally' break my 2GB bundle apart, saying i will pay seperately for whatever types of data MTN deem "no longer competitive to offer at current rates" ? (except VOIP). I just don't want to sit with a "white elephant"-2GB bundle and then can't use it because MTN decided "oh
any streamed content now falls under VOIP terms" etc.

VOIP is something i don't use too often, although i still wonder how MTN would determine VOIP ...i can whip up MSN and do a voice chat on there via the same ports MSN-text-chat use. Are there something about these protocols i don't know which points out i'm using video/audio ?

Well MTN can change rates at anytime during the 2 Year contract hence the terms and conditions on the contract - So no I can't assure that MIxit will never be changed

MTNDD

 

[diabolus]

Well MTN can change rates at anytime during the 2 Year contract hence the terms and conditions on the contract - So no I can't assure that MIxit will never be changed

MTNDD

Tariff change is fine. It's more about the :

You have 2GB, can MTN change this to become:

a) The 2GB only applies to port 80 or anything they feel like. Thus adding exclusions to your data bundles at any time. [i.e. suddenly saying in 6 months, that content from website x is now outside your bundle].


or

b) All data of a specific nature [i.e. messenger or streamed content] are now charged at R25 p/MB REGARDLESS of your bundle. Therefore changing your bundle from 2GB "pure data" to 80MB "effective data" [2gb divide by R25 p/mb] .

That's my primary concern. The changing of the "meaning" of 2GB data.

Example:
MTN goes and say MXit is now charged at R25 p/MB. I have a 2GB bundle, can they now charge me "outside" the bundle and/or make 1MB of Mxit data count as 25MB "within" the bundle....stuff like that bothers me.

 

[YelloFever]

Tariff change is fine. It's more about the :

You have 2GB, can MTN change this to become:

a) The 2GB only applies to port 80 or anything they feel like. Thus adding exclusions to your data bundles at any time. [i.e. suddenly saying in 6 months, that content from website x is now outside your bundle].


or

b) All data of a specific nature [i.e. messenger or streamed content] are now charged at R25 p/MB REGARDLESS of your bundle. Therefore changing your bundle from 2GB "pure data" to 80MB "effective data" [2gb divide by R25 p/mb] .

That's my primary concern. The changing of the "meaning" of 2GB data.

Example:
MTN goes and say MXit is now charged at R25 p/MB. I have a 2GB bundle, can they now charge me "outside" the bundle and/or make 1MB of Mxit data count as 25MB "within" the bundle....stuff like that bothers me.

Only a) is possible

MTNDD

 

[ajax]

This VOIP "conditional tariff" thing in June is ruining most of the attractiveness of MTN's new bundle prices.

Neither Vodacom nor Cell C have made any "threats" of this nature (yet), so I'd rather pay for a bundle of theirs and rest assured there's no chance that some obscure packet of mine may get "misinterpreted" as VOIP and get charged for at R25/MB.

 

[YelloFever]

This VOIP "conditional tariff" thing in June is ruining most of the attractiveness of MTN's new bundle prices.

Neither Vodacom nor Cell C have made any "threats" of this nature (yet), so I'd rather pay for a bundle of theirs and rest assured there's no chance that some obscure packet of mine may get "misinterpreted" as VOIP and get charged for at R25/MB.

Look let's put it this way there is no WAY MTN would launch something like that if VC and Cell C don't do so too

MTNDD

 

[FireTelkom]

On 7 January 2006, Vodacom3G responded in the Vodacom forum stating the following:

"Got this PM from EdRobinson, but as it's a general interest question, I'll post an answer here:

"Is it legal to use VOIP on Vodacom 3g? Is it throttled?"

It is perfectly legal to use VoIP on the Vodacom 3G network. When the initial data rates were lodged with ICASA, a specific tariff of R10/Mb was lodged for voice. However, this is not implemented and currently yo pay normal data rates for any protocol you might want to use, including P2P."

It is from this mail clear that Vodacom is also keeping the back door open to charge more for VOIP traffic when they determine that it is hurting their normal call income.

FireTelkom

 

[YelloFever]

On 7 January 2006, Vodacom3G responded in the Vodacom forum stating the following:

"Got this PM from EdRobinson, but as it's a general interest question, I'll post an answer here:

"Is it legal to use VOIP on Vodacom 3g? Is it throttled?"

It is perfectly legal to use VoIP on the Vodacom 3G network. When the initial data rates were lodged with ICASA, a specific tariff of R10/Mb was lodged for voice. However, this is not implemented and currently yo pay normal data rates for any protocol you might want to use, including P2P."

It is from this mail clear that Vodacom is also keeping the back door open to charge more for VOIP traffic when they determine that it is hurting their normal call income.

FireTelkom

 

[jano]

It looks like detecting / blocking / billing VoIP is quite possible...
Narus and Shanghai to Block Unauthorized VoIP Calls in China

The NarusInsight Discover Suite should rather be called the NarusInsight BigBrother Suite!

 

[YelloFever]

It looks like detecting / blocking / billing VoIP is quite possible...
Narus and Shanghai to Block Unauthorized VoIP Calls in China

The NarusInsight Discover Suite should rather be called the NarusInsight BigBrother Suite!

 

[fskmh]

'k now I'm getting a little concerned about using Google Talk for sending IMs (no voice).

 

[YelloFever]

'k now I'm getting a little concerned about using Google Talk for sending IMs (no voice).

Don't