Vodacom, G-Connect partner for new Wi-Fi products

ld13 said:
So Gconnect was right in the end? (re: court battles etc etc)
Click to expand...

impossible to say really

- partly because the papers aren't really available

This is a fairly standard commercial little tiff and all parties will seek ways to serve there own rational interests and profits. The deal looks good for both of them and I suspect the actual issue is that 5 years ago WiFi offloading was a premature development in our market whereas 2 years ago it was ripe and ready for monopolising by the BAUTs. For Vodacom it would have made sense to essentially shut out and down G-Connect and basically under a Vodacom brand establish a hotspot network whereas for G-Connect Vodacom being tied to their network was a cash calf waiting to become a full cow. A proper clash was of the making. Of course trends of this sort can change and the idea now of a BAUT branded WiFi service isn't as rosy as it was 2 years ago (look at Telkom Mobile WiFi spots) but a proper integration benefits everybody. My guess is that there isn't an exclusivity premise keeping Vodacom out of the WiFi business but there is an expected uptake that is satisfactory to G-Connect of sales consequent upon Vodacom.
 
I already registered for a G-Connect account. At those prices, it is cheaper than cellular data so it is worth it especially since it lasts for a month.
 
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