Mobile Data plan sharing already available with VF corporate customers

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Mobile Data plan sharing already available with VF corporate customers

jjnz1

1371 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 195

Lifetime subscriber

#80175 28-Mar-2011 07:41

According to Stuff.co.nz this morning, VF NZ already offer corporate customers the ability to share data among users.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/4815373/Telcos-edge-toward-offering-shared-wireless-data-plans-for-mobile-devices

How many active phones does one need to become under the corporate umbrella? >5?

Why is it impossible for VF to offer such a service for customers that are not defined as corporate?
-Is there an internal systems limitation? Business case not strong enough?

joff_nz

446 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 43

#452625 28-Mar-2011 08:11

I find it interesting that the artical was prompted by the Rogers case, and that they charge $15USD/mth to have the sharing allowed.

For that sort of money I don't think I'd bother

jjnz1

1371 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 195

Lifetime subscriber

#452629 28-Mar-2011 08:23

I guess it would only appeal to a certain few, ones with mobile plans that provide greater than 1GB of data, and also own a tablet/data stick.

There must be a few people out there with an iPhone as well as a 3G iPad etc.

I also think $15 is not bad as it would cost more than twice that for a good amount of data on your tab/stick.

SteveON

1916 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#452716 28-Mar-2011 12:38

Humm interesting days ahead for us, I wonder if the new one billing system 2d is coming out with will incorporate this or if it will be via sim card only. A little competition is healthy.

nate

6473 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 458

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#452751 28-Mar-2011 13:53

jjnz1: How many active phones does one need to become under the corporate umbrella? >5?

I would say more than 50. This is at a guess, I have one client who has the "data share" package and they've got a fair few SIMs (ie hundreds)

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#452758 28-Mar-2011 14:03

If your phone or tablet is also a wifi hotspot (which AFAIK all new iPhones and androids already are or will be soon), then there hardly seems much point having shared data.

athor

125 posts

Master Geek

#452762 28-Mar-2011 14:06

I would much rather have shared data than a hotspot. Running your phone as a hotspot will drain the battery much faster

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

jjnz1

1371 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 195

Lifetime subscriber

#452768 28-Mar-2011 14:12

athor: I would much rather have shared data than a hotspot. Running your phone as a hotspot will drain the battery much faster

Exactly.

billgates

4705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 671

Trusted

#452771 28-Mar-2011 14:15

We have the corporate data plan on XT for our company's close to 40~50 broadband stick. We also have had a corportate APN setup for VF broadbands sticks which is ~ 70 - 80 sticks.

By far the XT corportate deal/setup is cheapest.

Do whatever you want to do man.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#452786 28-Mar-2011 15:05

One of the problems people overlook is the complexities of managing such a setup. If you've got multiple IMSI's and IMEI's using a shared data cap you have extremely complex setups required to send an SMS to users advising they've exceeded limits.

For coporate customers this isn't an issue, but low to mid range it is. Remove the SMS you say? And how long before the first person appears on TV with a $2000 bill because they didn't get a warning?

geekiegeek

2513 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 625
Inactive user

#452788 28-Mar-2011 15:11

"Telecom spokeswoman Stephanie Fergusson said it was considering data plans that could be shared across two or more mobile devices. But it had recently introduced postpaid plans that bundled 50 megabytes of data a month and that "generous allowance" meant there was less need to introduce shared plans, she said."

50MB generous???

jjnz1

1371 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 195

Lifetime subscriber

#452796 28-Mar-2011 15:33

geekiegeek: "Telecom spokeswoman Stephanie Fergusson said it was considering data plans that could be shared across two or more mobile devices. But it had recently introduced postpaid plans that bundled 50 megabytes of data a month and that "generous allowance" meant there was less need to introduce shared plans, she said."

50MB generous???

If you don't own a smart phone, sure.