Telecom 3g Prepaid data question

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wreck90

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#66161 13-Aug-2010 17:01

Telecom sell 512mb data for 30 bucks. Telecom say this only applies for the calendar month.

If I get to the last day of the month, and need to access the internet from my telecom mobile then I have to pay $30 for 512 mb right?

But, from what I can tell, the 512mb data will expire the next day since it is a new calendar month. Is this true?

Behodar

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#367274 13-Aug-2010 17:30

It's charged at 10c/MB for the first 300 MB (with the remaining 200 MB free). So even if you wait until the last day, you'll still only pay for what you use.

Ragnor

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#367420 14-Aug-2010 00:17

More info (full credit to some random post on the gpforums awhile back):

10c per meg until it gets to 300MB ($29.95 worth of data) then you get 200MB free to take you 500MB

If you use up the whole 500MB (made up of your $29.95 300MB chunk plus the 200MB free chunk) of data within the CURRENT calendar month it will automatically, providing there is money on the SIM, start this cycle again charging 10c per meg reaching the $29.95 mark again.

Money will carry over and expires after 6 months but data (or your current level of achievement or usage towards the current $29.95 mark where you then get some free data) will not carry over (ie: resets each calendar month).

Regardless of your dollar amount on the prepay account, there is a $29.95 cycle.
This should be a consideration when topping up. If you are topping up then it's best to do it at the beginning of each calendar month as this gives you more opportunity to reach the minimum spend amount to get the free component of each month's usage.

Also it's worth remembering that telecom have "bonus $$$" with topping up.

Extremely casual users (only checking for basic emails [.ie. without huge attachments] very occasionally) will likely never reach the $29.95 mark each calendar month therefore will perpetually be being charged 10c per megabyte as they may never reach the magic target of $29.95 worth of usage to get the free 200MB each month before that .

You can use the SMS feature, built into the "Connection Manager" software which gets installed when you plug the device in to send and receive text messages. These are charged at 20c per text. Using this SMS feature you can set up a password to be able to use the online prepay usage meter.

wreck90

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#367475 14-Aug-2010 09:53

Ragnor: More info (full credit to some random post on the gpforums awhile back):

10c per meg until it gets to 300MB ($29.95 worth of data) then you get 200MB free to take you 500MB

If you use up the whole 500MB (made up of your $29.95 300MB chunk plus the 200MB free chunk) of data within the CURRENT calendar month it will automatically, providing there is money on the SIM, start this cycle again charging 10c per meg reaching the $29.95 mark again.

Money will carry over and expires after 6 months but data (or your current level of achievement or usage towards the current $29.95 mark where you then get some free data) will not carry over (ie: resets each calendar month).

Regardless of your dollar amount on the prepay account, there is a $29.95 cycle.
This should be a consideration when topping up. If you are topping up then it's best to do it at the beginning of each calendar month as this gives you more opportunity to reach the minimum spend amount to get the free component of each month's usage.

Also it's worth remembering that telecom have "bonus $$$" with topping up.

Extremely casual users (only checking for basic emails [.ie. without huge attachments] very occasionally) will likely never reach the $29.95 mark each calendar month therefore will perpetually be being charged 10c per megabyte as they may never reach the magic target of $29.95 worth of usage to get the free 200MB each month before that .

You can use the SMS feature, built into the "Connection Manager" software which gets installed when you plug the device in to send and receive text messages. These are charged at 20c per text. Using this SMS feature you can set up a password to be able to use the online prepay usage meter.

I thought you buy a '500mb' data pack. I guess I thought this because it is the way vodafone data add-on works.

Must say, I like vodafones system much better.

sbiddle

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#367484 14-Aug-2010 10:31

wreck90:
I thought you buy a '500mb' data pack. I guess I thought this because it is the way vodafone data add-on works.

Must say, I like vodafones system much better.

You don't buy a data pack on Telecom prepay - you simply have a data "addon" which is billed as explained above.

I'm not entirely sure why you think Vodafone's system is better. With Telecom you get the benefit of 500MB of data for $29.95 (same as Vodafone) but unlike Vodafone there is no upfront costs. If you only use 100MB one month you only pay $10 for your data. On Vodafone if you used 100MB you'd still pay $30.

IMHO this is the best data option in NZ for anybody who has a need for casual data usage and doesn't want a fixed commitment.

old3eyes

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#367569 14-Aug-2010 15:16

Hi all,

Thanx for clarify this as I have been wondering for a while and am about to get a Tstick for my wife to use as she will only be checking email with it and a bit of web work and will never come close to 500 Meg while she is out and about..

Regards,

Old3eyes

wreck90

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#367581 14-Aug-2010 15:48

sbiddle:
wreck90:
I thought you buy a '500mb' data pack. I guess I thought this because it is the way vodafone data add-on works.

Must say, I like vodafones system much better.

You don't buy a data pack on Telecom prepay - you simply have a data "addon" which is billed as explained above.

I'm not entirely sure why you think Vodafone's system is better. With Telecom you get the benefit of 500MB of data for $29.95 (same as Vodafone) but unlike Vodafone there is no upfront costs. If you only use 100MB one month you only pay $10 for your data. On Vodafone if you used 100MB you'd still pay $30.

IMHO this is the best data option in NZ for anybody who has a need for casual data usage and doesn't want a fixed commitment.

Yes, but if I use telecom at the end of the month. I top up my account with 29.95, and use up 300mb.

Then, I 'lose' 200mb of free data the next day.

This is rubbish.

Under vodafone, I'd have an entire month to use up that 200mb.

eXDee

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#367590 14-Aug-2010 16:21

I actually prefer the calendar method, because it means i know exactly when my text and data expires and dont have to have another date to remember.
And instead of taking the whole lot off at once, it takes it off as you use it which is handy.
And XT in general seems to be faster, so im happy.

(i went from vodafone 3g 500mb > telecom 3g 500mb)