MTN to charge for Skype, MXit

f that traffic is to co-exist with normal internet and e-mail data traffic, we will need to consider implementing differential tariffs for these protocols to ensure sustainable performance of our data network
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Proof that the music and movie industry doesn't have a monopoly on stupidity in business.

To this day I have no idea how people this ignorant of the core tech. that their business uses can still be employed.
 
Just read it on Infoquest!
Bad move if they going to charge more for Mxit!!
Just watch theirs ubscriber base drop!!:D
 
Well, it's going to cause a ruckus ... again...
It has been discussed before ... many times... and it has been in the fine print since last year, but time will tell whether they will start charging for it, then the real action will start.
I don't think MTN wants to [-]chase away[/-] lose customers... not a very good business plan that... ;)
 
The headline's quite misleading seeing as nothing's conclusive yet.

MTN’s small print points out: “In terms of the current regulatory regime in SA, these tariffs and technologies may not be used to transfer or generate VoIP traffic. Should it be found that VoIP traffic was carried over the MTN network using these tariffs or technologies, MTN reserves the right to cancel the agreement that you have with MTN. You will also be charged retrospectively at R21,93/MB (VAT excluded) for any VoIP traffic transferred by such means.”
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AFAIK there's no "regulatory regime" i.e. ICASA forcing them to do this so that's a bad justification.

Vodacom also sells high speed data cards to connect computers to the internet, but its contracts do not single out any services as possible targets for higher prices. If data users remain within their monthly allowance there is no extra fee for using Skype or MXit, even though those services erode Vodacom’s potential profits. Users who exceed their limit pay R1,20 for every extra megabyte.

Chief communications officer Dot Field says Vodacom does not offer voice calls over the internet itself as the technology was not of a high enough quality. “However, Vodacom allows VoIP on the network and deems it just another data stream, similar to sending e mails or browsing the internet. Our standard data rates apply.”
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Now Vodacom's attitude I respect.
 
Because the services are so much more economical than traditional cellular services, their growing popularity is inevitable, he says. The UK cellular operator 3 is one of several to offer cellphones with Skype preinstalled and ready to use.
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Hey, Vodacom, MTN? Are you listening?

Make your SMS'es cheaper... then people will stop using MxIT...

It's a natural reaction to your high prices...
 
As far as I know, Vodacom has a rate of about R10/MB in its fine print for VOIP. However, both will loose me as customer if they implement these. Just hope the people at MTN know that they will lose nearly all their broadband customers if they start this. There is this simple rule about business: it is less costly to retain customers than to get new customers (rule of thumb ratio of 1:5 or something like that), but it is also less costly to get new customers than to get old customers to come back (rule of thumb ratio 1:2). Remember this MTN
 
lilDeath said:
Well, it's going to cause a ruckus ... again...
It has been discussed before ... many times... and it has been in the fine print since last year, but time will tell whether they will start charging for it, then the real action will start.
I don't think MTN wants to [-]chase away[/-] lose customers... not a very good business plan that... ;)
Click to expand...

They'll have a lot of customers locked in for 2 years with the new 2GB offer, this uncertainty must be putting a lot of people off though.
 
“Services such as Skype and MXit have congested the network and have affected the quality of the service that we can offer our customers,” says media relations manager Ravin Maharaj.
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it's not the customers problem they are using the network. they already paid you for the network usage. why should the customer be charged more for that.

What a joke. this poor country is so backward sometimes. the customers are the ones who make you money, customers are seen as bad entities by these companies it seems.
 
I wanna see them charge me higher rates for Voip data calls!!! I've had my cell contract with them for the past 8 years and there's no mention in the original contract about Voip....

Breach of contract on THEIR part if they do charge me!!! Will sue the pants off them if they charge and/or try opt out of the contract as they can't charge me what they want if it wasn't specified in the original contract!!

Eat that you swines!!!!! :D
 
The_Librarian said:
Hey, Vodacom, MTN? Are you listening?

Make your SMS'es cheaper... then people will stop using MxIT...

It's a natural reaction to your high prices...
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Mxit is not only about cheap smss, its about meeting people and it allows you to chat to 20 different people very easily, If the 2 SPs have to compare 4 mill Mxit users to 40 mill+ subscribers they have, 34 mill are still sending sms's, its not about sms's its about data!
 
I think according to the contract they can change the T&C's at any time.
 
Oupoot said:
As far as I know, Vodacom has a rate of about R10/MB in its fine print for VOIP. However, both will loose me as customer if they implement these. Just hope the people at MTN know that they will lose nearly all their broadband customers if they start this. There is this simple rule about business: it is less costly to retain customers than to get new customers (rule of thumb ratio of 1:5 or something like that), but it is also less costly to get new customers than to get old customers to come back (rule of thumb ratio 1:2). Remember this MTN
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Vodacom has stated in this article though that they won't charge differently for VOIP.
 
Chavez, your contract has probably been amended over the years to take account of all these changes. And they should have sent you the notices of these changes. I suggest you go through all your MTN communications/posts/emails b4 you decide to sue them. Your monies will be long gone before you even see they inside of a courtroom.
 
Ravin Maharaj - VoIP and Mxit is causing congestion...

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAhAhahahahahahaaaaa...

Nice try; but it's ONLY about the dent these services leave in your revenue generated by your most profitable services, voice and SMS.. - And you know that !!!
 
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You have no right to tell what I can and can't do on the internet. You sold me data. It's not my fault your business model is outdated.

This will not hold up in court, it's price grabbing.
 
probably been said before

If I pay to use 10 meg of bandwidth I want to use my bandwidth like I want to

It's not as if using Skype for 10 meg or downloading child porn for 10 meg would make a difference to how "MTN suffers" It will only still be 10 meg

Dumbasses the bunch of them
 
JK8 said:
Is it not?
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Hardly.

They wouldn't be complaining if you used the same amount of bandwidth downloading porn.

They're complaining because Skype and MXit effects the amount of money they make on their other services...

It's an outdated business model.
 
Wait till WiMax hits.

The Cell companies will drown.

That's basically why CellC is doomed. There is going to be no market for traditional carriers... Everything boils down to data. Why pay for a service that's basically dirt cheap. We never complained because we never had an option.

Now we do, so suck it up and change with the times.
 
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