Xtreme Data versus BlackBerry Internet Service
At a flat monthly fee of R59, Nashua Mobile’s recently launched Xtreme Data Service (XDS) has priced itself to compete head-on with BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) in South Africa.
Both services offer uncapped on-device data usage and target a single handset brand, but are also dissimilar in many respects.
BIS is available to all BlackBerry handsets, while XDS is limited to certain Symbian-based Nokia handsets (Nokia C3, X2-01, N8, E5 or E7).
XDS has a clearly defined fair usage policy (FUP), limiting users to speeds of 512kbps from the get-go and throttling them to 256kbps after using 100MB and to 56kbps after hitting the threshold of 160MB.
Usage counters are reset at the start of every new month.
Operators also typically have a fair usage policy for BIS that they can invoke when the service is strained under load, but it isn’t as rigidly defined in terms and conditions as the XDS FUP, however.
| Service element | Xtreme Data Service | BlackBerry Internet Service | Winner |
| Price | R59/month | R59/month | Draw |
| Devices supported | Some Symbian-based Nokias | All BlackBerries | BIS |
| Fair usage policy | Throttled to 512kbps; 100MB: 245kbps; 160MB: 56kbps | Standard, less specific terms of service | Draw |
| Streaming media included | No; YouTube blocked | No; no blocks | BIS |
| Tethering included | No; APN locked | No; can use standard data | BIS |
| Networks | MTN, Vodacom | 8ta, Cell C, MTN, Virgin Mobile, Vodacom | BIS |
As with XDS, media streaming and bulk downloads are against the BIS terms of service, but 8ta offers users 500MB of free YouTube streaming with its BIS packages.
Other operators also offer BIS with slight variations in pricing. Cell C’s BIS costs R57, for example, while Virgin Mobile offers 7-day (R19) and 14-day (R29) packages. MTN charges up to R69 for the BIS add-on on certain contracts.
Neither XDS nor BIS allow tethering, but BlackBerry subscribers do have the option of loading an additional data bundle alongside BIS if they want to use their BlackBerry as a 3G modem.
Nashua Mobile previously confirmed that it isn’t possible for users to temporarily switch away from their Xtreme Data plan to access YouTube or tether their Nokia phone to a PC.
Compared like-for-like, XDS is no BIS killer, but it is an interesting start to cheaper uncapped packages for non-BlackBerry mobile devices in South Africa.
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