Flat-rated smartphone data packages difficult: Vodacom
Vodacom said that it is difficult to launch affordable flat-rated smartphone data packages on a truly unlimited basis.
MTN has recently launched smartphone data packages priced between R29 and R49 per month, but these packages are not truly flat-rated and unlimited as is the case with the popular BlackBerry Internet Service (BIS) offerings.
Nokia and Nashua Mobile have partnered to bring consumers a fixed cost data service (called Xtreme Data) which offers e-mail, browsing and instant messaging at R59 per month. This service does however carry a fair use policy where high-end users are throttled to protect the network.
Vodacom was rumoured to be planning a flat-rated smartphone data service, but it seems that the company is struggling to make the business model work.
It is understood that Vodacom is still looking at service based flat-rated products, which instead of unlimited data will offer unlimited services, such as social networking or internet messaging.
Vodacom also said that there is “no update” on their plan to launch cheaper BlackBerry packages.
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