Vodacom Complains about MTN HSDPA Ads

[Skeptik]

http://www.asasa.org.za/ResultDetail.aspx?Ruling=3619

(too long to quote here)

 

[Pitbull]

http://www.asasa.org.za/ResultDetail.aspx?Ruling=3619

(too long to quote here)

LOL.... we can't beat their network reliabilty so lets try and kill their advert...

So they think Vroom = Vodacom..... lol...

What a wast of time and money they could have spent on their network structure !

 

[JK8]

Lol u a shareholder in MTN?

 

[Beri]

they should use the money on training their staff.
Vodacom shops in pe and the helpdesk

 

[ajax]

I started reading the thing but it is waaaay too long. Somebody please summarise in plain English what's going on.

 

[kingrob]

I started reading the thing but it is waaaay too long. Somebody please summarise in plain English what's going on.

MTN is poking fun at Vodacom/Telscum and they don't like it. That's it!

 

[Syndyre]

The Directorate has established from www.wikipedia.org that two types of Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) exist, namely Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) and Symmetric Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL).

So I guess if you want your complaint upheld by ASASA you need to edit the appropriate Wikipedia articles before you submit it.

 

[qdada]

what i learned from this saga is that it seems it is possible to load data bundle on a prepaid MTN line, can anyone confirm this ?

 

[diabolus]

So in summary,

The ad in question is the one with the guy in a suit sitting in front of a laptop explaining all the wonders of MTN HSDPA/3G .

Vodacom believes that:

a. Using a Toy Ferrari in your ad to indicate speed [or to insinuate the lack thereof with the word "bamboozle" ] is a direct attack on Vodacom because they used a Ferrari in a previous HSDPA ad.

-> Vodacom seems to believe they "own" the Ferrari = Speed concept and therefore any reference to it [good or bad] is a direct reference to THEM.

b. Using exotic locations [island with cocktail glasses etc] to indicate mobility is apparently also a direct reference to Vodacom.

c. in the add the dude says "..is fast, even faster than ADSL" . Vodacom is saying Telkom launched a 4MBps service which is faster than HSDPA..therefore the claim is "misleading" .

d. Vodacom is saying that the R9.99 p/m offering is misleading and unclear because it doesn't state that no data is included and that data bundles need to be loaded on top of that.


and wait for it, this one is hilarious:

e. "The bigger the bundle the more value for money you receive". Vodacom believes this to be misleading as average users won't use the full bundle and loose the extra bandwidth.....

 

[acidrain]

Now how childish is that... guess vodacom is just bummed and that their data price cuts must not be working as planned if they have to bully MTN. I mean "fast, faster than ADSL" statement isn't misleading. Havn't seen a 4Mbps package on Telkoms website and when you go to the click supplied there it takes you to a telkom page with the words "content unavailable".... hmmm

Just all too much.

 

[SecretCode]

what i learned from this saga is that it seems it is possible to load data bundle on a prepaid MTN line, can anyone confirm this ?

Yes indeed. R10 for 10MB, R399 for 1GB (actually 2GB?), other bundles in between. Load via 141 IVR.
Pricing
Details (instructions for loading near bottom of page)

 

[kingrob]

Now suddenly Telkom is saying that their 4Mpbs line is standard, although we all know they made it clear that it's ONLY a trial and it's not guaranteed.

Melkhom most probably bribed the judge with a 4Mbps line + no cap, for free.. mind you, if I was the judge, that would be an offer that's 'simply irresistable'....

 

[Sony_3G]

Oh My Gawwwdddd

So in summary,

The ad in question is the one with the guy in a suit sitting in front of a laptop explaining all the wonders of MTN HSDPA/3G .

Vodacom believes that:

a. Using a Toy Ferrari in your ad to indicate speed [or to insinuate the lack thereof with the word "bamboozle" ] is a direct attack on Vodacom because they used a Ferrari in a previous HSDPA ad.

-> Vodacom seems to believe they "own" the Ferrari = Speed concept and therefore any reference to it [good or bad] is a direct reference to THEM.

Does VC actually own a patent or something on this?

e. "The bigger the bundle the more value for money you receive". Vodacom believes this to be misleading as average users won't use the full bundle and loose the extra bandwidth.....

AND VC does not so this themselves?

Strange, they did not mention anything bout MTN offering prepaid clients the same deals...

 

[Skeptik]

Now how childish is that... guess vodacom is just bummed and that their data price cuts must not be working as planned if they have to bully MTN. I mean "fast, faster than ADSL" statement isn't misleading. Havn't seen a 4Mbps package on Telkoms website and when you go to the click supplied there it takes you to a telkom page with the words "content unavailable".... hmmm

Just all too much.

What I would have said about it too... One big whinge from Vodacom
I think they're upset because someone keeps shutting down their own ads with their ludicrous claims about speed etc . It must be getting expensive .

 

[Kalvaer]

Now suddenly Telkom is saying that their 4Mpbs line is standard, although we all know they made it clear that it's ONLY a trial and it's not guaranteed.

Thats greats! If its standard.. when do we all get our free upgrades to the new standard?

 

[acidrain]

Just walk it off VC
...and also instead of attacking MTN why dont u just fire your advertising company. Clearly MTN's is smarter and better planned.

 

[AirWolf]

In a movie I watched someone said: "Only people who don't have brains need to use bullets". Enough said

 

[CeeBee]

I have to agree to a certain extent, "...faster than ADSL...." is a bit misleading. I've read in another discussion, MTN didn't mean 4Mbps, but 1Mbps.... but, how many of us on HSDPA actually get anywhere near 1Mbps??? Its been said many times, u lucky if u get more than 700kbps.
So it is not really faster than (implied) 1Mbps.
Myself I get about 500-600kbps with full signal, only rarely, very close to a tower managed 900-1200kbps, but only short max, definately not consistent.
BUT, in MTNs defence, the same can be said for all the providers, incl VC, Telscum, Iburst, the advertised speed is just wishful thinking, rarely attainable, so VC or anybody else should not be fingering MTN about this, when they all give us the same BS.
But... there is still hope, especially when they go to 3.6Mbps HSDPA, we might see consistent 1Mbps+ ! ... as long as they dont market that u can now zoom at 3.6Mbps in real world practical terms

 

[w1z4rd]

Thats sad VC very sad It was a DUMB move strategically.

 

[kingrob]

I remember when MTN launched their 'MTN - the better connection' campaign. Telkom/Vodacom went into a frenzy about this, but when they conducted tests, it was found that MTN drop less calls than Vodacom.