Virgin Mobile hardly better

VM tech is only up to Edge tech cause its on the cell-c network right? ie gprs + edge access
 
Origin248 said:
Whether VM is indeed cheaper or not, the thing that really makes me feel optimistic is that someone has finally come up with something different from everyone else.
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I think that's the way a lot of people feel. Even though I'm only joining for data, the way everything else is structured is very different and refreshing. People have been conditioned by the cartel of operators to think in terms of peak and off-peak, and now when VM introduces something fresh then they are compared on the same basis in which they were programmed to think, which I think is a bit unfair.

I'm pretty sure that once the issue of interconnection fees gets sorted out, VM will be able to reduce their current flat-rate prices to below the off-peak rates offered by the other operators. This will then give them the upper hand because everybody else will have to change their pricing structures to match VM, while VM would have already had experience in flat-rate calling plans.
 
Highflyer_GP : True enough, but I think VM is going to find it tough to beat the R0.99/minute (Voda - Voda and Voda - Telkom) VodaCom offers during offpeak times
 
You are all sheep and its still all smoke and mirrors and will be as long people like Richard B are involved. This is also exactly why we consumers need to give Virgin and their ilk the finger and not pay any attention untill they offer some *meaningful* competition. Power to the consumers!
 
Tommygun said:
You are all sheep and its still all smoke and mirrors and will be as long people like Richard B are involved. This is also exactly why we consumers need to give Virgin and their ilk the finger and not pay any attention untill they offer some *meaningful* competition. Power to the consumers!
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Smoke and mirrors?? There are three simple packages. I dont think anyone can call that misleading. Can you say the same about all the other providers?

Now obviously with only 3 choices there isnt going to be a package for everyone. Many people wont benefit from switching - fortunately I will. I'm not a phone junky - I dont need one every two years and when I do I have always just gone and bought the one I wanted.

As for the article - how could this expert omit data and only gloss over sms'es?
 
What the author of the article is missing is not the pricing of the products. It is cheaper if you make peak calls and more expensive off-peak. He is missing is the SIMPLICITY of Virgin's products.

How many product does the other providers have 15-25 different packages each, each with their own pricing structures. How must the consumer make a decision on something so complex. The Awnser is they don't, they just take what is on special.

The consumer is then forced to CHANGE there Habits to match their cell package.

Role play: "Hey I see the new Superman movie is out, I wonder if Michelle would like to see it tomorrow. I will call her now. O wait I can't, it will be less expensive to call tonight."

Why cant you call the Girl NOW!!!. The CHOICE should be the consumer's, not the providers.
 
And you wanna know the best thing about virgin mobile - its making everyone ask questions.
 
And another thing.

My mother is on Vodacom 4U. She keeps having to buy more airtime, just to keep her sim card active. She makes practically no calls, but she needs the phone so the family can contact her. She usually ends up with a few hundred rands on her phone with a sim card that will expire in 30 days, unless she buys more.
She paid for the acual sim when she bought the starter pack.
It costs Vodacom next to nothing to keep her sim card active. Why must she PAY to remain a CLIENT. Now that is a rip-off.

The V0 package is perfect for her, since it does not expire and she only pays for what she uses, not what vodacom wants her to spend.
 
Sapphiron said:
What the author of the article is missing is not the pricing of the products. It is cheaper if you make peak calls and more expensive off-peak. He is missing is the SIMPLICITY of Virgin's products.

The consumer is then forced to CHANGE there Habits to match their cell package.
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Exactly, We've been brainwashed into thinking in terms of peak and off-peak. What's worse is people are actually believing that this concept is a good thing and make comparisons based on it.

Bottom line: it costs the operator the same amount regardless of what time the client has chosen to make a call! Peak and off-peak is merely a money making scam.
 
Sapphiron said:
The V0 package is perfect for her, since it does not expire and she only pays for what she uses, not what vodacom wants her to spend.
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Actually, it does expire according to the booklet that come with the starter pack.
page 19 said:
Of course you can't put your mobile in a bottom drawer and never use it. If you are a Prepay account holder and you dont top up or V Charge for a whole 90 days , we will have to assume the relationship is over and zero your account. And if you dont V Charge for another 30 days your mobile number and service will be cancelled.
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It goes on to say you can call them to hibernate your account if youre going away etc.
 
This oke needs a smack or to give vodacom back their "insentive". The absolute kicker is the actual per second billing. Most peeps don't talk for ten minutes a day, hell, I use my phone maybe 4/5 times a week, But even if the rate is higher per minute, if I make 5 10 second calls ("need bread and milk", "be home in 10", meet you at ..." etc), that's only R2.50 compared to R10 on the other networks.

I agree with Sapphiron, why the hell should should someone pay to remain a customer, when they get paid from the other end anyway.
The other thing there contract amounts actual carry over month to month and don't expire, Shock, horror! Awesome!
 
This article puts a little perspective on things...guess the Virgin promise has not really lived up to BIG CHEAP rates, except that out of bundle rate which is better than R 2.00 per meg we are currently paying...

Us poor South Africans, living in hope for a better deal...maybe one day..
 
doobiwan said:
This oke needs a smack or to give vodacom back their "insentive". The absolute kicker is the actual per second billing. Most peeps don't talk for ten minutes a day, hell, I use my phone maybe 4/5 times a week, But even if the rate is higher per minute, if I make 5 10 second calls ("need bread and milk", "be home in 10", meet you at ..." etc), that's only R2.50 compared to R10 on the other networks.
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Exactly doobiwan! I duno how much this guy was paid to write this "virgin sucks compared to voda,mtn" and "i wont be swopping" article.

He didnt take into account the per-second billing from the FIRST second. The writer was talking about making 150 calls p/month (how vague can you get) on V100, but what if those calls were an average of 30s long? The other providers are gona charge you for 150min (presuming the calls are 1min or less), VM is only gona charge you for 75min! That works out to a lot more than a "10%" saving p/month! AND he doesnt even mention the data rates.

This article and analyst are useless.

Does anyone know the length of an average call? Because if its less than 1min (and im sure it is) there is your big saving. Why do you think providers only charge per-second from the 2nd minute?
 
Phaff said:
This article puts a little perspective on things...guess the Virgin promise has not really lived up to BIG CHEAP rates, except that out of bundle rate which is better than R 2.00 per meg we are currently paying...

Us poor South Africans, living in hope for a better deal...maybe one day..
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Can you point out to me where virgin promises big cheap rates? The only reference I could find was virgin promising to be competitive. http://www.mybroadband.co.za/nephp/?m=show&id=2444
 
biltonguy said:
Does anyone know the length of an average call? Because if its less than 1min (and im sure it is) there is your big saving. Why do you think providers only charge per-second from the 2nd minute?
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Exactly! We are being shafted by them because of that first minute. I prefer to be shafted for as short a time as possible when I make a call. Hopefully no longer than 10-20 secs.
 
I think Virgin's offer has been overhyped. There might be some benefit to some customers but overall it will not really relieve the costs of an average SA user.
 
VJB 449 said:
I think Virgin's offer has been overhyped. There might be some benefit to some customers but overall it will not really relieve the costs of an average SA user.
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Whats the average SA user?

EDIT - I'm thinking the average is using prepaid and rarely actually making calls because they cant afford to.
 
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bwana v.13 said:
Whats the average SA user?

EDIT - I'm thinking the average is using prepaid and rarely actually making calls because they cant afford to.
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And they try to call at times when it is cheaper to do so.
 
Did Virgin say anywhere that they are/were/are going to be "much/some/a bit" better? It's an alternative. It's attractive to some people. They're a big brand name.

More choices for consumers can't be bad, especially if it's from a reputable international company.
 
Analising prepaid options:

Vodago:
Vodacom to Vodacom (Peak) R2.55
Vodacom to MTN / Cell C (Peak) R2.85
(not per second, pay for minute)

Vodago Smartstep:
Vodacom to Anywhere R2.70 - 1st minute, R1.55 - thereafter
(not per second, pay for minute)

4U Prepaid:
Vodacom to Anywhere (Peak) R2.99
(5 cents per second)
(per second billing)

VM prepaid:
VM to Anywhere R2.35 - 1st 5 minutes of day, R1.55 - thereafter
(4 cents per second, 2.6 cents thereafter)
(per second billing from first second)


How bout them apples?
 
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