The cards have come...

Speedster

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MTN's HSDPA cards available this week
BY DAVE GLAZIER, ITWEB JUNIOR JOURNALIST


[Johannesburg, 2 May 2006] - MTN's high-speed downlink packet access HSDPA) cards have arrived on South African shores, and are being distributed to the company's channel stores.

This is according to senior communications manager Mandisa Korri, who says: “We are in the process of distributing the data cards to MTN service centres nationwide. I would expect they will be on sale by the end of the week.”

Many thousand cards arrived in the first shipment, notes Brian Seligmann, senior manager for data and messaging, though he declines to reveal the exact number.

So far, 50 stores have received cards in a distribution programme that began last Wednesday, he adds.

Seligmann anticipates the price of the cards will be between R1 500 and R1 600, although he cautions that individual stores will be responsible for setting the prices.

Until now, only the corporate-focused Sierra Wireless AC 850 HSDPA cards have been available from MTN. These were brought out earlier in the year, and have been usable since MTN's HSDPA network launch on 23 March.

MTN is also considering trade-in programmes for existing 3G users, he says.

The cards will be compatible with any laptop or desktop with a PC card adaptor.

Seligmann promises average downlink speeds of between 800 and 900Kbps, with peaks of 1.3 to 1.4Mbps, on the MTN network.
 
I have phoned around, but could not locate one shop who has any cards. Does anybody know where one can find these cards?
 
I was at Hatfield this morning and they promised they'd have before the week was out
 
I saw a couple of 'em around the office today being wrapped as gifts for a few people :cool: ~ MTN F@stlink Cards made by Huawei { or however you spell it } ~ They come in a DVD like package, with the card all Y'ello & nicely branded :D
 
undefined said:
I saw a couple of 'em around the office today being wrapped as gifts for a few people :cool: ~ MTN F@stlink Cards made by Huawei { or however you spell it } ~ They come in a DVD like package, with the card all Y'ello & nicely branded :D


Whats the use supplying the datacard when when you can't even pick up 3G where you suppose too. MTN should stop investing money all over the world and sort out the coverage problems in SA.
 
Can anybody shed some light on the package offerings? Those i can get this card free on.
 
Zerofocus,

I did a bit of homework yesterday and figure the best option is to take out the R75/month contract. You will have to pay a once off payment of R270 (or something) for the card and then have R75 data a month (ie 37.5MB) included. Then you simply add a monthly bundle (start at R1/MB depending on how much you want) or buy top-up data.

Anyone with a better suggestion?
 
Speedster said:
Zerofocus,

I did a bit of homework yesterday and figure the best option is to take out the R75/month contract. You will have to pay a once off payment of R270 (or something) for the card and then have R75 data a month (ie 37.5MB) included. Then you simply add a monthly bundle (start at R1/MB depending on how much you want) or buy top-up data.

Anyone with a better suggestion?

This sounds like what i want. I wanted something that i could "throw away" if it sucked without paying hundreds for it every month. Losing R75 pm is ok'ish.

Any Idea where i can pick something like this up in the Midrand area? And what exactly do i need to take with me?
 
Pretty much any MTN shop SHOULD be able to help you (not saying they will though - service does suck more often than not). Maybe just phone to make sure their stock has arrived - MTN is shipping the cards this week so some stores might not have received stock yet.
 
You'll probably need the usual for taking out a contract: ID, Bank statement etc
 
Seligmann promises average downlink speeds of between 800 and 900Kbps, with peaks of 1.3 to 1.4Mbps, on the MTN network.

achieving 1.4Mbps may be achieved when you sitting inside MTN Head Offices or next to a Base Station (not many that support HSDPA presently - only main centres only - if they operational :) )
 
COVERAGE !! .. i really dont understand your meaning of COVERAGE - speedster .. they only have HSDPA in the 4 Major Centres presently :) If you consider this COVERAGE... WOW
 
Yip, but they have 3G in slightly smaller areas and EDGE, GPRS in the rest. Besides I'm in major centres mostly. Most importantly they have coverage at my home in Centurion (as does Vodacom) unlike the other wireless providers.
 
rpm said:
I have phoned around, but could not locate one shop who has any cards. Does anybody know where one can find these cards?

Morningside has stock cnr of Rivonia and Summit road.
 
chop said:
Morningside has stock cnr of Rivonia and Summit road.

AWESOME!!! Im getting me one this weekend. One other thing, if i take in all my stuff (id, bank statements etc) can i get it straight away like with vodacom? or do i have to wait a few days?
 
I signed up yesterday.

You have to sign up for a MyChoice 75 top up (R75 a month)
You then also have to pay R260 for the card, R99 for a new connection and something else I can't remember. About R400 in total.

I got the card immediately and only needed my drivers licence as proof. I think this might be due to me already having a MTN contract, I don't know.
 
Remember to ask for the fastlink card or they might not know what you are talking about.

The card is between R1500 and R1600 cash.
 
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