Pre Paid Data Bundles [PPDBs]

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fergus

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Here's a suggestion, Vodacom should bring out prepaid data vouchers which give prepaid users access to the R0.60 data rate (much like the new sms vouchers which give you access to cheaper sms'es). For example, they could bring out a R18 data voucher which would buy you 30MB of data transfer.

I for one don't see why prepaid users should be penalised with higher data rates just because they're wary of 2 year contracts. Besides, prepaid customers are the best kind of customers as far as I see because you'll never catch them defaulting on their contracts (they can't!). I was thinking about getting a Messenger contract for R35 a month and then getting data bundles bolted onto that as v3g suggested but I'm not going to because I disagree with signing a 2 year contract. I shouldn't have to. And you would be crazy to sign any kind of 2 year contract at the moment with all the changes taking place in the market. Better to wait for things to settle down a bit first.

I think being able to get data services on a prepaid Vodacom sim is one of Vodacom's greatest services at the moment. Since the recent price drop to R2 a meg Vodacom's data services have finally been available at prices that won't cripple your bank account. Now I think they should better themselves by giving it to us at reasonable rates just like they do for their contract users - by introducing prepaid data vouchers.
 
Absolutely, and like airtime, they should make the unused data roll over to the next month. Alternately, attach a "time window" to the data vouchers just like when buying e.g. a R29 recharge voucher with a 90 day airtime window.

The higher the value of the data voucher, the longer the airtime window.
E.g. 30 days for the R18, and 180 days for the R600 (1 GByte).

Wouldn't this indirectly assure Vodacom of (prepaid) customer loyalty? I wouldn't switch so quickly to a different provider if I've got some 800 Megs of data left to use at the end of the month.
If Vodacom would do this it would make a very good always available connection alternative for the email/browsing home user.
 
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thats a great idea.... oh darn, I signed a 2 year contract :) And I am ALL for the roll over... sure v3g is getting tired of hearing that by now.... p.s. v3g your private box is full :)
 
ic said:
I can understand that the majority of the target market for pre-paid (voice) vouchers do not have access to the net, but with data why bother with vouchers - just use the net to purchase any old Rand amount at whatever the per MB pre-paid rate is - that way the expense of generating & printing & distributing data vouchers is completely avoided & should then be cheaper for the intended data target market.
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Thats also a good idea but then only those that are already online AND have a credit card would be able to get access to it. They should do both.
 
Three ideas here, if I read correctly:

1) Pre-paid data vouchers - These are definitely coming. Will have to get an update on time frames.
2) Window on data usage - This idea is being investigated, not just for pre-paid but also for contracts (especially for Harley79)
3) Roll-over - probably the top request (outside lower tariffs), also see 2 above.

Will give feedback soonest.
 
Just a few on having data vouchers:

If prepaid actually get access to 60c p/MB rates via vouchers then it'll effectively mean contract users will need to have access to 60c p/MB rates -without- any bundles. Imagine this funny situation:

Prepaid buy 1GB for R600 which are valid for 3 Months.
Contract user pay flatrate R600 p/month for 1GB and it carries over for 3 months too.

Sounds all nice and 'equal'. Imagine the contract user use his 1GB up within the month .....R2 p/mb ? I don't think so. Prepaid customer will just buy another R600 voucher and effectively will -never- pay R2 p/mb . It will be absurd to require a contract user to do the same [buying a new 'bundle' everytime it's used up to avoid the R2 p/mb].

Conclusion? The most 'economic' voucher must be more expensive [or equal] than the the 'out-of-bundle' rate contract users pay to justify having a contract. That means , going any lower than R2 p/MB on prepaid in any form [even if it's a R1000 voucher for 1GB] and not doing the same on the contract 'out-of-bundle' will be a disaster [what's going to stop contract user buying the same voucher when his bundle is used up?] .
 
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vodacom3g said:
Three ideas here, if I read correctly:

1) Pre-paid data vouchers - These are definitely coming. Will have to get an update on time frames.
2) Window on data usage - This idea is being investigated, not just for pre-paid but also for contracts (especially for Harley79)
3) Roll-over - probably the top request (outside lower tariffs), also see 2 above.

Will give feedback soonest.
Click to expand...

Vodacom3g,
in the beginning there was the R275 voucher and Vodacom scored because it kept it simple. Now there are more and more and more vouchers. Why doesn't vodacom implement vouchers which recharge your account as we have now. Then via the vodacom4me website purchase say SMS. It deducts R45 or whatever it costs and credits you with 150 SMS valid for 30days. Same with data . You could even have a 'debit order' to purchase 150 SMS every month. Makes it so much easier than a voucher for this and a voucher for that.
 
vodacom3g, if vodacom can offer viable email packages as "pay as you go" configurations, you guys will sweep in the bucks.

If I could get email affordably on my phone, as in "almost free" I'd kiss anyones ass.

If I could use vodacoms telephony affodably for web based applications, I'd pay.
 
vodacom3g said:
Three ideas here, if I read correctly:

1) Pre-paid data vouchers - These are definitely coming. Will have to get an update on time frames.
2) Window on data usage - This idea is being investigated, not just for pre-paid but also for contracts (especially for Harley79)
3) Roll-over - probably the top request (outside lower tariffs), also see 2 above.

Will give feedback soonest.
Click to expand...
Thats great news. The cheaper the better :D

Now if Vodacom can just do something about the ridiculous pre-paid voice rates I'll be ecstatic. I mean R3.60 per minute is absolutely ridiculous :eek: . I spent R10 today on the phone to Kulula listening to their bizarre ads whilst waiting for the operator to get back to me before I hung up. But thats off-topic.

With regards to what diabolus said I think I agree with that. Personally I think the whole out-of-bundle thing is a bit of a gimmick. Why not just give everyone the same rate?
 
add my vote

I just want to add my vote on these suggestions - I am also rabidly anti-contracts, but this R2/meg is really not on either; I'd LOVE to go for a bundle with a lower per meg price, but to have to sign a 2 year contract just so I can chose a monthly bundle does NOT appeal... And as has been pointed out, prepaid users as the least likely to run up a huge bill and then duck because they cant!!
So please Vodacom3G, get it rolled out fast!! :-)
 
diabolus said:
Just a few on having data vouchers:

If prepaid actually get access to 60c p/MB rates via vouchers then it'll effectively mean contract users will need to have access to 60c p/MB rates -without- any bundles. Imagine this funny situation:

Prepaid buy 1GB for R600 which are valid for 3 Months.
Contract user pay flatrate R600 p/month for 1GB and it carries over for 3 months too.

Sounds all nice and 'equal'. Imagine the contract user use his 1GB up within the month .....R2 p/mb ? I don't think so. Prepaid customer will just buy another R600 voucher and effectively will -never- pay R2 p/mb . It will be absurd to require a contract user to do the same [buying a new 'bundle' everytime it's used up to avoid the R2 p/mb].
Click to expand...



But the contract user did get a subsidised phone/data card....somebody has to pay for it.

Conclusion? The most 'economic' voucher must be more expensive [or equal] than the the 'out-of-bundle' rate contract users pay to justify having a contract. That means , going any lower than R2 p/MB on prepaid in any form [even if it's a R1000 voucher for 1GB] and not doing the same on the contract 'out-of-bundle' will be a disaster [what's going to stop contract user buying the same voucher when his bundle is used up?] .
Click to expand...

er...nothing. The R2/MB out of bundle rate is too expensive.
 
arf9999 said:
But the contract user did get a subsidised phone/data card....somebody has to pay for it.
Click to expand...

I paid for my own phone and sim, so should I get calls at the same rates as a contract person (say a talk 500) on my pre paid? :rolleyes:

Comes down to the same thing.
 
rabbiddog said:
I paid for my own phone and sim, so should I get calls at the same rates as a contract person (say a talk 500) on my pre paid? :rolleyes:

Comes down to the same thing.
Click to expand...
Should or Would....?
 
If contract and prepaid data costs were to be the same.

Then I can can my 3g contract, pay for my card and just get prepaid at the same cost. :)

Also my vodago should be cheeper. :D
 
vodacom3g said:
Just to confirm:

Pre-paid data is definitely on it's way. No time frames yet, but it looks like the pre-paid pundits will have a warm winter.
Click to expand...

Any updates, Vodacom3g?
 
I know there's been some challenges in constructing some of the back-end systems. Last date I heard was around June, but will have to check up again.

Now that VLive! is out, the guys will probably have more time available to catch up.
 
Would you users on prepaid ever consider going to a 'rival' network? I achieved slighty faster GPRS line speed and exactly half the price on prepaid.
 
Dolby, your post does not make sense. Please clarify the last sentence.

Vodacom3G, when do you sleep? Yesterday you answered a query at 00h30, this morning at 7am. Or have they cloned you? ;)
 
Nope, just me :)

Dolby, I agree with Ajax. Not to sure if the post was a request for a Vodacom response?

In any case, as far as I know both Vodacom and MTN pre-paid data rates are the same at R2/MB, if this was what you were referring to?
 
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