VoIP issues

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Firstly, Personally I have not seen 1 advert ANYWHERE, which stated even in small print that VoIP will be/can be charged at R10/meg. So not sure what you would term "public"

Secondly, Agree it is not being charged at the moment, that was my point i.e. get thousands to sign up, use a service and then milk them dry

Thirdly, I think there is one reason and one reason only. I have paid you for 1 gig and how I decide to use that 1gig is none of your business. Are you going to start scanning all downloads for porn and block that because it is illegal? Or charge R10/meg for porn downloads? The point is that the ONLY reason why Vodacom/Telkom would consider this option is because they KNOW they are loosing money cause I am not using my cellphone to make the call. Which goes back to the point, if calls were cheaper this would be a NON ISSUE. Look at both Vodacom & Telkoms profits, and tell me they cannot afford to halve the current pricing. Why is it that I can phone a UK landline on Skype for R0.12/min? yet Telkom is R1.50/min? Perhaps because they MILKING ME DRY!??

P.S. Did you know, that it is cheaper to make a national call on Skype, than it is todial via Telkom? Skype = +-R0.60/min & Telkom R0.89/min.... isn't that ridiculous? Instead of keeping my money in the country, I am sending it out by buying more and more skype airtime.

Guess, as you said, this is a sensitive issue. Just pisses me off that one day (perhaps in 6 months) you will decide to start charging me, and there is nothing I would be able to do about it then.

Such a good service and offering, about to be screwed up by some fat cat wanting to make another few billion rand this year
 
Not attacking Vodacom3G as in the person here in the forum - but the service and the prices.. Vodacom's service and help desk is excellent.. in fact I called just now to ask about this and the fellow said they cannot identify Skype conversations so it's normal price of R2/MB but that if Vodacom started offering VoIP services over 3G that it would be R10/MB.. hardly competitive tho.
 
Vodacom3G, none of this is personal. I appreciate you being online at 23:45 and replying to this crap. As I have told you in the past, I think your service has been amazing. But this thread sucks :)

But can see this is a good topic, 24 posts in 3 hours :D
 
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I wouldn't be one bit surprised if this turns out to be a price maintenance issue, initiated by Vodacom's majority shareholder - Telkrap! :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
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Not taking this personally at all...there's a headset next to my notebook...

ic is quite right in that I don't make policy and pricing decisions. However, I do know that when the data prices were dropped, VoIP was left at the original rates not because of a marketing scam, but rather because of all the uncertainty government created around that time period (November last year). Icasa has certain regulations around how one can change pricing and this had to be taken into consideration as well. You basically have one chance to get it right.

So the current policy is one of wait and watch.

What would you estimate your monthly Skype data usage to be?

I'd like to try and build some usage models as I suspect this is a relative non-issue.
 
This month I have performed around 350 minutes of skype out time alone. Which at MaD's calc, makes 210 megs (350min*60sec/100 (sec/meg)). Thats forgetting about Skype to Skype calling

P.S. As someone else said already, Telkom & Vodacom for that matter should realise that the main reason I performed 350 minutes of SkypeOut calling was because it was mostly to UK landline at around 11c/min..... if I was to be billed R1.50/min it would have been way less :( So the fact that you getting my R600/month and making Vodacom rich should be enough? Anyway, you get enough money from me on my cellphone billing each month :)

Good night all
 
Hi Guys

18 hours later and my SIM is not even activated yet...

v3g, my current use of ADSL is 90% Skype (on 1 GB). I used to allocate the rest of the 2 GB for company use. I have stopped the ADSL and basically assume that that I will use at least 800MB for VoIP (if I cut down). Our group is widespread, from Australia, Florida USA, Barbados to the UK. I cannot even contemplate what this will cost if I have to call these people on a conference call on whatever telephone.

So 800 x R10 = R8000 per month for free Skype to Skype. I don't just want to bitch and moan but do realize that I have now chosen 3G as my link to the world and if I am going to be punished at R6/min I am goint to leave the country. My group uses VoIP like a virtual office, so I am always on and receiving messages. I might even go up to 3G 2 gig. Paying the extra R600/month won't bother me if I have the chance to spend it wisely.

Lets say I am now on for 40 hours on Skype to Skype. I too have calculated an average of 5k in and 5k out per second. That is 10k per second usage. 1 MB will last roughly 102 seconds. 40 hours * 3600 = 144000 seconds. 144000/102 = 1411 MB. So by this stage I would have upgraded my contract to 3G 2G at R1200/month. BUT now some fat cat decides to punish my for doing VoIP and hits me with R10/meg at 1411 * 10 = R14110 (+R1200 for standard 3G + VAT).

The truth of the matter is that for that kind of cost I can get on an aeroplane and stay for free at a friend in Barbados bypassing Vodacom and Telkom completely. Infact those guys have 756kbit DSL with no noticeable cap at all.

I know many will read these messages and wonder now if they will be able to pay for food at some stage. This will be like being fined for using the alternative road to the toll road.

BUT just think of the following. When I make a call, either from cell or landline, the line is dedicated. There is virtually no latency. The sound is clear. The service provider connects me directly to the destination point and makes sure that my quality of service is close to 100%. If there is noise on the line I log a call and they come and fix it. VoIP comes with no guarantee. Lots of latency, voice breaking off etc... problems that we learn to live with for the much reduced cost. Unless you pay for premium service on a system like Skype, you canonly talk when the person is online. Thus I usually call the other party on my telkom line to ask them if they are close to their PC. If not I have to wait. So R1.15/min compared to R0.60 to R0.80/min (Voip) to the UK seems fair in this relation. The one is a dedicated link that must be kept at 100% performance and the VoIP is my risk. But even to pay R10/meg for Vodacom's own VoIP service will be stupid at R6.33 /min, because you will still sit with all the latency and other problems. Most PCs are equiped with the bad MicroVirus sound drivers that introduces latency long before it even reaches internet. You have to buy fancy software and hardware to get rid of it (i.e. SB Audigy 2 or EMU1212M). Being cheap you don't mind these problems, but at R6.33 /min I want crystal clear sound (on both sides) with video.

My mother in law complained about a similar industry, the medical business. She got billed by the physio. This lady helped her to get out of bed and down 3 stairs, into the wheelchair and had to dash. They billed her more than R100 for this 'session'. Some docters do hospital rounds and just sign the register as they pass a patient and charge for the service. We sometimes refer to this as Touch Service. Like touch rugby. If you touch the subject it equals a tackle. Touching the patient equals service rendered. Touching one of my electronic systems equals a callout and 1 hour's labour.

So because Vodacom is 'touching' my VoIP packet it now gains higher billable status. I don't know how many people are getting into 3G (and ADSL) but believe it has much to do with the fact that VoIP was declared legal. Yesterday when I mentioned this to the VodaShop owner he replied:"But you know who owns 50% of Vodacom?", as to say you don't really believe that they will actually let it pass by.

Just as a side interest. In the last few short minutes my ADSL connection has disconnected about 10 times. It is now in the best condition in the last 8 months. Maybe these 'giants' are NOT capable of really providing the service. Maybe someone else should start getting in and provide some real service. Where is the new land line service provider?

Vodacom, please sort this out. The store owner told me the details with confidence. I brought it to the forum's attention. Just imagine how this story already spread (NOT BY THIS FORUM) to other 3G and non 3G (potential) users and how it will hurt sales if left unattended. Maybe I should cancel using the 7 days cooling off period and wait or go for another deal like Sentech. I cannot ( and others as well) afford to pay for something not planned for.

VMS
 
I am loading video and voice on MSN (which i use a lot) and will see what happens. If they charge extra for MSN I will be in the k@k and so will vodacom. I jan I was only billed extra for my sms's. (I dont know how much MSN I used in jan)

(Average MSN usage per day 1 to 2 hours)

I agree that VOIP and other "billable" extras must be stipulated up front. (I do not use skype so I cannot comment on that)

If we are charged R2 /meg data why R10 /meg of VOIP?
This does not make sense. Does VOIP cost Vodacom more?
Has telkom set this stupid amount?
 
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Just checked my Jan Invoice.

Services
3G one data bundle R525.44
3G Voice service R0
VAS itemised billing R15

Calls
Data R0
GPRS R0
SMS R2.10 (R 0.70 /sms)

vodacom3g
is the voice service stated above for normal calls or VOIP?
 
Just had a call back from Vodacom3g.

Looks like he got clarity from the top guys at Vodacom that VoIP WILL NOT be charged and that this (for now) looks like a mix up between old info and new perceptions. The original plan was keep the price open at R10/meg but that it is not enforced at the moment, nor will it be good for Vodacom to chase away clients due to the current structure.

Vodacom3G is also aware of the source of the information I got. We also have the assurance that we will be informed in advance if Vodacom will proceed with billing VoIP calls that we will be informed via the forum (which in that case I reckon Vodacom will lose a lot of clients, especially new ones).

This morning the Vodashop, where I signed up for 3G, did not want to comment on the things said. The lady stated that she is refraining from commenting on any billing as it is Vodacom's department. She said I should call the helpdesk, which i did, which also came up with the same R10/meg story.

So, my current frustration is with the slow activation of my SIM (don't even know if it going to work in my area, although the map says so) and that the Vodacom personnel and shops are not knowledgeable enough to give correct information about what will be billed or not.

For now I know that Vodacon3G is using Skype at no extra charge and that I can do the same.

It will just be a shame if eventually the pedophiles can still download kiddie porn , the terrorists information on bombs, marketing companies emailing SPAM but we are billed extra to chat to a friend over internet. Lets hope it never gets to that point.

Subject closed?

VMS
 
Morning all

Well lets hope that Vodacom does not decide to use it clause, "we can change anything at anytime and you will pay" in the near future (say the next 22 months until my contract is over :) )

But thank you Vodacom3G for clearing this up as a priority this morning. I might sleep better tonight knowing that I won't be getting a bill for a few thousand rands soon.
 
Close call..

That's good news.. just as well that notice wasn't uploaded! :) phew!

I'm still changing my contract to Vodacom this month from MTN.. that's if they won't reject me now :eek: :)
 
hmmm

Apart from the fact that I cannot seem to get 3G anywhere (at the Vodashop I get 1 bar but no data) I still trod on with GPRS...but that I will write about in another thread.

Last night I contacted a friend via Net Messenger and asked him to connect via Skype.

Even at GPRS speeds we could talk...BUT only for a minute. I actually watched the data flowing. I was connected, had 3 bars, but no data flowing back. Like being cut off. This was about 11 pm. I restarted the dash board, uninnstalled and reinstalled the 3G card, changed the profiles, rebooted, powered down completely etc...

After more than an hour I gave up. Thought that if I was cut off Vodacom would forgive the VoIP sin by morning....and surely as I got back to the laptop GPRS was working (since about 7am).

Did they do maintainance on the towers because I was connected, just no data of any kind (ping, HTTP, net messenger etc...)?

VMS
 
We're getting ad-hoc reports of this happening. You're connected fine but no data will flow. The guys are working on this to try and resolve it.

If it happens again, please do an ipconfig and see if you've still got an ip stack on the interface. I noticed once, on my own system, the ip stack disappearing and would like to check if other people are seeing something similar.

We're awaiting the new dashboard with baited breath.

Again, no port shaping or throttling is taking place.

IT could have been maintenance. I had the opposite reports from a member late last night. After 11pm their throughput suddenly went through the roof.
 
You win some, you lose some.

Ok I will check it out when it happens again. For now I still have a link and it is wireless.

Still looks the 3G network is in the baby stages. If so why are we paying premium now?


VMS
 
It happened again. Got connected via Skype. Got voice for about 20 seconds. Link cuts off, reboot with no effect. It took 30 minutes for me to get back online again.

Last time it was 11pm. Now it was 9pm. Coincidence? Are the Vodacom guys working at the exact same time as when I want to chat on Skype?

Will try it again tomorrow. My friends are getting angry with me for disconnecting everytime.

VMS
 
also are you using win xp sp2? got the patch. My life been awesome since I got the patch. never went into the office today so have been online since 9am this morning till now, 11pm, only had 1 disconnect around 18:00, but then I realised it was because I closed the dash down and it disconnected me :) so no disconnects .....

Had a patch or two of slower speeds, but just had a 22 min conversation with SkypeOut. MSN all day with the office, mail and browsing
 
Without Dashboard- No

SP2 with patch - Yes

Will check again tonight. Maybe Vodacom only dislikes me now :-)

VMS
 
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