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South African mobile discussion


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Posted by coolapostle
@brix Now that GPRS is non longer free, how r u guys takin it? Here in Naija, Glo will start chargin in 3 days time. Is it expensive? Do u get charged for login to ESATO?


Posted by brix25
Hi Coolapostle.

I haven't used GPRS since they started charging for it but from what I heard it's overpriced and people have been turned off and would rather use the internet if they wanted information.

BTW I hope you guys aint taking the result of the football too badly. South Africans have been suffering for 10 years at the hands of the Super Eagles.

Posted by OluYom
@brix. Football, schmidt! I have no problems with the results, but then I am not the average Nigerian (I'm not into football that much) A lot of Nigerians ARE taking it badly. Areafada at the Proudly Nigerian thread says he abandoned d bedroom to his wife and daughter after we lost d match , and slept in d sitting room. Hear! Hear!!

Posted by craigl21
Anyone started using edge yet? Is it available?

Posted by brix25
Craig, if you're on MTN GPRS and using one of the EDGE-capable handsets availabe (Nokia 6230 all I can think of) then you should be able to have faster downloads...if you need more clarity just call those guys at MTN 173 they're always willing to help.

BTW saw that their revenues in Nigeria had slowed down because of they're expanding their network in that country.

Posted by celltech
Yo guys, nice to see this thread "Proudly SA", keep it going.

Posted by brix25
Anyone went to the Black Eyed Peas concert in Cape Town last night? I was there and it surely rocked.

Posted by OluYom
@brix. Plus d fact dat a good number of mtn-ng subscribers are switching to d gprs enabled and consumer friendly glomobile network

Posted by brix25
So some bird whispered in my ear that Vodacom has gone live with 3G in all the big cities. Last week MTN said they would probably be launching 3G by the middle of next year( I think that will depend on the availability of handsets and the enthusiasm by users).

Vodacom has made a scoop by securing Vodafone Live content for it's subscribers...so now South Africans with 3G phone will be able to catch English Premierships highlights hours after the games have finished.



Posted by coolapostle
@Brix Can you give me a guess of the number of GPRS subs on all the netwroks? Hey... no one has mentioned CellC in this thread. What do you have to say about the network?

Posted by OluYom
What I dont understand is why MTN-SA is coming up with EDGE now when they have plans to go 3G next year.

While I see the commercial sense behind Vodacom introducing VodaLive! on its network, I have never been impressed with the horrible alterations that Vodafone inflicts on handsets in the name of branding! :-|

Posted by brix25
@ coolapostle...I'm not sure about the number of GPRS subscribers but they should number about 1million on all three networks....About 60% of the market in SA is still prepaid.

About not mentioning Cell C well not too many people I know use the network...only a couple of months ago they introduced GPRS- two years after the other networks introduced it and they still don't offer MMS. Judge for yourself why I never mention them...they're hardly innovating.



Posted by brix25
@AYA...No-one in SA will ever tolerate network branded cellphones thats an irritation that American and European users will have to deal with.

MTN tried it in the early days with Alcatel handsets but no-one bought these phones because they simply looked ugly- especially with MTN's logo all over the place.

Posted by OluYom
Quote:

On 2004-11-29 19:55:30, brix25 wrote:
@AYA...No-one in SA will ever tolerate network branded cellphones thats an irritation that American and European users will have to deal with.

MTN tried it in the early days with Alcatel handsets but no-one bought these phones because they simply looked ugly- especially with MTN's logo all over the place.



Tell me about how that MTN logo looks ugly! Unfortunately, Nigerians bought it when they implemented it in the country. Shame.

Posted by brix25
Indeed AYA, that logo looks ugy.

Yesterday I got myself a brand new T68i....Basically the same phone as my old T300 but without polyphonics and Mophun games...I'll miss her but of late she's be giving me problems...reception was bad and I missed vital calls on the weekend which landed me in trouble so the decision was made to ditch the phone.

The biggest motivating factor for choosing the T68i was Bluetooth and the fact that I was used to the User Interface...would hate to buy a phone and spend the better part of two days getting to know it's ins and outs.

Was thinking of the K700i but I want to go on holiday across South Africa this December and in the toss up between seeing this beautiful country and buying a cellphone...South Africa came out victorious.

Posted by OluYom
@brix25. Sounds to me like you made the right decision, mate. Let's know what SA (the rest of it, that is) is like on your return.

Posted by brix25
It will only be for a week but I won't be visiting either Joburg or Durban...there's enough drama in Cape Town.

I'll be in the Eastern Cape and the semi-arid Karoo region hope to post some pics in the New Year when I return to work.

Posted by coolapostle
Now that you will be gone... who will keep this thread going? Have a great holiday.

Posted by OluYom
Quote:

On 2004-12-01 17:09:05, coolapostle wrote:
Now that you will be gone... who will keep this thread going?



Good question, since it seems SA is populated by only 1 South African & 2 Nigerians

Bon voyage, Brix25!

Posted by brix25
Quote:

On 2004-12-01 18:28:00, AYA wrote:
Good question, since it seems SA is populated by only 1 South African & 2 Nigerians

Bon voyage, Brix25!



I'm not gone yet guys so please don't bid farewell.

Interesting news my friend AndyO from Wirelessmonkey fame boasts that he is one of only handful of people in Cape Town with the new S700i...went aroun d town today snapping pics and almost got arrested for taking a picture of high profile government building.

Posted by OluYom
Hmn. Sounds like a scene off the streets of my dear country.

Posted by brix25
Usually police and the army are not heavy-handed when it comes to taking pictures of goverment buildings- he was taking one of the Reserve Bank building.



Posted by brix25
I'm trying hard to keep this thread going with titbits of information.

This week we heard that Virgin Mobile were in discussions with Cell C...to do exactly what is stilll a mystery, either Branson is going to buy into the company and rebrand it as Virgin Mobile or something of that sort.

They've also announced that they would be introducing 3G sometime next year...lets all wait and see.

Posted by OluYom
Judging by what I hear of CellC, looks like they need an injection of drive, something the Dick Branson boys seem to have plenty of.

Posted by coolapostle
Brandson is also talking with Vmobile Nigeria. That man is up to something. How was ur holiday man? The full details PULEESE... :)

Posted by brym!
What's gwan here? Aya & Coola you kept this to yourselves; you dont want a third naija man to join the party?

@brix25, being a journalist I'm sure that your paper will offer you a discount if you place an advert inviting south africans to this site.


Posted by brix25
I'm not going to be placing ads asking people to join the thread. My holiday was ok...just have Christmas shoppers...everyone seems to have lost their marbles. CellC is very profitable if all reports can be believed. I think Branson just wants a foothold in this market.

Posted by grav80
@brix Do u think cell c would b able 2 manage 3g so soon after launching 2.5g?

Posted by coolapostle
@grav Cell C has 2.5G???? Thats news to me. @Brix More questions: In the past 10 years of GSM in SA, how many times have the netwroks reduced airtime tariffs. What triggered it? Are SA subs complaining about tariffs today like 10 years ago?

Posted by NAWTYBRATT
HELLLOOOOOO SOUTH AFRICAN POST...... WHY R THERE NIGERIANS HERE...?????

Posted by NAWTYBRATT
ANY cute chicks in jhb....

Posted by coolapostle
Are U trying to be naughty? Esato has no visa requirements so we Nigerians come and go as we please. You from South Africa? Maybe U can answer my last question. AND: I am expecting you at the Proudly Nigerian thread soon! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL SOUTH AFRICANS!

Posted by vineet_d
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of u from SE India Thread.

Posted by NAWTYBRATT
IM NOT COMPLAINING BOUT NE SUBS.... MTN SUBSCRIBERS SHUD B I THINK......

Y SO MANY INDEPTH Q'S..... R U DOING A SURVEY OR SUMFIN...??



Posted by brix25
I'm trying to be serious here...Welcome to Nawrybratt and everyone who decided to add to the thread.

Back in 94-95 people were bitching and moaning about the price of calls but with the introduction of per second billing it has been reduced...there are also several price plans for the Pay As Go segment ofered by all three networks....you could either go on a straight "per minute" price plan( which comes with other benefits) or go "per second" which comes with few benefits( that's only if you're going to have short calls).

If I haven't mentioned it before i got an email newsletter from my friend AndyO( wirelessmonkey.co.za) about the 3G price plans by Vodacom...it's quite expensive( at for now only the top bracket of the market can afford it)

Posted by NAWTYBRATT
AGHEM........

3G----ITS THE SAME AS MAKING A NORMAL CALL...
4 now only in march will the price increase...???


just that e1000 is a kak phone....

CT-- y u not @ d beach???

Posted by brix25
I'm actaully at an internet cafe in Kimberley( one kak place...hot and dry).

I'm back in Cape Town tommorrow. Should be at the beach, but it's packed with all the tourists.

I don't know about prices coming down for voice calls but Vodacom is having a special offer for data during December...charging only R10/MB($1.80)which is bloody cheap compared to the prices they were charging...hope it can be continued though because I've only recently returned to using GPRS after MTN's free offer expired in November.

check out www.wirelessmonkey.co.za for more info on GSM in SA.

Posted by brix25
Had too laugh @ the newbie who started a thread about SA without having used the search function on esato.

Posted by RicK700i
Yeah Im a newbie from Cape Town.I shouldve searched... Im getting a K700i on MTN contract very soon.So are you using Vodacom pre-paid GPRS? ;-)

Posted by brix25
Yeah I'm connecting 2 wap via Vodacom's GPRS. Quite fast and about 80% reliable. Was travelling in the Karoo last week and could still surf wap via GPRS- truly awesome:-D. Good luck with the K700i.

Posted by coolapostle
Happy New Year! Looking forward to seeing more Vodacom GPRS subs finding this thread. Let me re-phrase my last question: How many time in the past ten years have the GSM networks reduced their call tariffs. Is it every year?

Posted by brix25
@coolapostle...networks generally haven't decreased their rates...the only time when they decreased their charges was when Cell C launched. The service, especially from Vodacom is good. I don't think call charges are as high as in Nigeria.

Posted by HyperiaBlue
Hello there all my fellow South Africans and our African neighbours!

I am an SA guy living in th UK @ the moment and stumbled upon this thread. Its good to see that we are represented allbeit sadly just by 5 SA people!

Reading the thread so far, i have enjoyed all the questions and comments. I would like to add by saying: Mobile networks in SA are quite good, even on par with networks here in the UK.

I have worked for all three networks in SA as an engineer / project manager and i can say the following:

1) Vodacom, is as big as they cos they have a large amount of cash to spend and they are not afraid to. They do cater for majority of the population with mediocre services @ reasonable prices.
They also leech off Vodafone quite often...

2) MTN is the 2nd largest network and targets the population rather differently from Vodacom: the business sector is where MTN is very strong. Recently though, they have focused on all areas of the market and have matched or surpassed Vodacom.
They are rated by the GSM organisation as a very high quality network with high quality coverage and products.
Their Nigerian operation is the money spinner right now. However all other African operations are also showing profit.

3) CellC is well CellC. Totally low end...totally unfocused as and in so much trouble financially, therefore the rumours of Virgin mobile doing a deal with them. Their focus is becoming profitable first...not the best company in the world...very gimmicky.

If you would like more information on GSM in general and on the quality of the networks globally visit this website:

http://www.gsm.org

Ciao for now!


Posted by coolapostle
Thanks alot U two. So, my suspicion is true: most networks WILL NOT reduce tariffs until forced by competition. How are the networks vis-a-vis Telkom SA? Are there more landlines than mobile lines in SA?

Posted by HyperiaBlue
I think there are an equal amount of mobile lines and Telkom landlines.
Telkom was supposed to have a competitor by now but nobody knows where they are...since the government is still dragging their heels (not to mention them finding a foreign investor)!

Posted by WirelessMonkey
Halo dudes / dudettes and anything else that moves, and occasionally breathes... I am da MonkeyMan and I heard that someone's been talking about me around these parts... care to reveal yourself??

Posted by brix25
Hey AndyO, It's Q from the Cape Times... I started this thread and thought we should all share ideas and frustrations with mobile communications in Emzansi (South Africa). Good to see Da Monkey on Esato.

Posted by brix25
Anyone know when Vodacom's R10/MB offer expires?

Posted by Rhino8
Hey. Just found this foRum. Vodacom stops r10 deal end of jan. That sux, but they may keep it low since 3g costs only R0.59 per meg.

Posted by brix25
Yeah, that sucks like hind tit:-(


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