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South African mobile discussion |
Rhino8
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 104
From: South Africa (Bloemfontein)
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Voda got probs wiv gprs, always. Never a dull moment. But ya,its cheap.
ARSENAL : Samsung Galaxy SII
http://members.esato.com/rhino8 |
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rapidblue
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Posts: 49
PM |
We have 6 new phones coming in with Vodafone branding - this gives them access to the Vodafone Live! portal. All personal preference. I must admit, I've had problems connecting to GPRS at night in Jo'burg. No problems connecting to 3G though.
This message was posted from a Z1010 |
brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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@rapid: I take it you're reffering to 3G phones/devices? If they start branding normal 2.5G phones people will resist it...My K700 was only slightly branded with Vodacom images that I can't remove but otherwise they haven't done what European networks are notorious for...branding a phone in such a way that's it looks ugly....The SE F500 which is a case in point. |
Rhino8
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 104
From: South Africa (Bloemfontein)
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We all got probs wiv gprs. And its slow. Whats pricing on 3g handsets?
ARSENAL : Samsung Galaxy SII
http://members.esato.com/rhino8 |
ihejirika
Joined: Nov 19, 2004
Posts: 2
From: Lagos,Nigeria.
PM |
Hi folks! Keep d flag flying.
This message was posted from a Nokia |
brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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@Rhino: Don't know if they're selling 3G phones without a contract... Read on another thread that a V800 on Vodafone costs £400... That should give you an idea of what it would cost in SA.
This message was posted from a K700i |
rapidblue
Joined: Jul 09, 2004
Posts: 49
PM |
We're getting about 6 2.5G phones and about 3 3G phones (Vodafone branded). A E1000 costs R4999. Still quite expensive though. Can buy it cash and use 3G on prepaid - no need for a contract. Price should drop when new handsets are released later this month.
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brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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@rapid: R5000 is ridiculous for the E1000. While on the subject of 3G are users restricted to the Vodafone Live portal or can you still surf normal wap sites?
This message was posted from a K700i |
Rhino8
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 104
From: South Africa (Bloemfontein)
PM |
@ brix
I cant see the advantage to voda if they restrict us to the vodafone portal, as very little sa users will use that.
ARSENAL : Samsung Galaxy SII
http://members.esato.com/rhino8 |
brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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@Rhino: they have to ringfence their 3G subs to recoup some of the money it took to set up 3G.
This message was posted from a K700i |
Rhino8
Joined: Jan 07, 2005
Posts: 104
From: South Africa (Bloemfontein)
PM |
Well, maybe ill rather get a datacard,and w8 wiv da 3g phone.
ARSENAL : Samsung Galaxy SII
http://members.esato.com/rhino8 |
mario2002
Joined: Feb 15, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Jeffrey's-Bay ,South Africa
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I can buy a 6630 for 300£ on ebay and have it brought to SA.Will it work on 3G? And also does anyone know how far is MTN with the introduction of EDGE.I personaly believe 3G won't bring much money nor have lots of users in SA for the next few years.Edge might do better thou.Every GPRS user would'nt mind having EDGE for the same price.Greetings from Jeffreysbay. Mario.
This message was posted from a Nokia 7650 |
brix25
Joined: Aug 20, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Cape Town, South Africa
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@mario: Afaik EDGE has already been deployed by MTN since late last year albeit very hush hush.
This message was posted from a K700i |
uthetha ituvi
Joined: Mar 01, 2005
Posts: 47
From: East London, both in SA & UK!
PM |
@ mario,
I know that this seems particularly obvious, but ensure the phones on ebay are sim-free or unlocked, unless you know someone in SA with the unlocking software for them. Quite a few on ebay are locked to eg. T-mobile, 02, Vodafone or Orange etc. The biggest trump card that sells 3g here is video calling, but the 6630 requires its stationary docking port for this, whereas the newer 6680 has an integrated forward camera for this. Yes, I know it has just been announced, but it might be worth waiting a few more months before forking out £300. But, of course, this is my opinion, you may not be too fussed with video calling.
Secondly, there are a good few complaints about the 6630 on some forums and at www.gsmarena.com, although one has to sometimes question the maturity and age of SOME of the posters on the latter website...
As regards unlocked UK 3g handsets in SA, I have only brought in Nokia 7600's. In 'phone settings', one needs to scroll down to 'network mode' and select GSM, not 'dual mode', if you are only using standard 2g or 2.5g services from your SA sim card. It's the same here if using UK non-3g sims and networks. Otherwise I have found that it will seemingly prioritise searching 3g signals and hardly have any signal for 2g or 2.5g reception when in 'dual mode.' I would imagine it would be a similar scenario with the 6630 phone settings, but I am not sure.
If your'e just after EDGE, the older Nokia 6220 handsets are going much, much cheaper,(currently £158.95 at expansys sim-free) but obviously no 3g capabilities...
Do yourselves a favour: check out PAYG handset prices from the 3g-dedicated UK network,3, at www.three.co.uk. If we can get loads of these into SA...
I am pretty excited to here about the great advancements regarding 3g in SA! Excellent!!!!!
@brix, currently, as far as I know, the 3 biggest cellphone chain stores in the UK, www.carphonewarehouse.com, www.thelink.co.uk and www.phones4u.co.uk all have the v800's on contract, but yes, they do go for £398 'sim-free' (of course, Vodafone branded etc. handsets...) from www.mobilefun.co.uk. Mind you, watch how the prices drop as the handsets become older in the months ahead... |
mario2002
Joined: Feb 15, 2004
Posts: > 500
From: Jeffrey's-Bay ,South Africa
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@ Uthetha Ituvi Buddy a BIG THANKS to you for the info ! I somehow appreciante unbiased advice ! If you ever want to chat with me I am using all the major IM programs + IRC.And ofcourse from my cellphone too.Let me know which one you prefer and I will add you right away.I am into programing (c & c++) stock trading (mostly tec) and forex, I enjoy flying (paramotors), wildlife, diving (scuba), space discoveries and mathematics (I worship calculus) Greetings from South Africa. Mario :-)
This message was posted from a Nokia 7650 |
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Posted: 2005-03-05 11:45
