I have a nokia n70 on vodafone contract. I use the Opera mobile
browser(not mini). Thing is I've noticed that I can browse the
internet, using a fair amount of data and not get charged for it at
all. I thought it was about £2 per mb or something like that. It's
also free if I use my mobile as a modem for my laptop. When I check my
bill on Vodafone site all the data usage is included - ie has a tick
next to it meaning included in tariff. Does anybody know any more about
this ? Not that I'm complaining, I just don't want to risk ringing
Vodafone to enquire and then they put a stop to it.
..>"mafustokes" <mafustokes@googlemail.com> wrote in message
>news:1158423521.906992.214740@i3g2000cwc.googlegr oups.com...
>I have a nokia n70 on vodafone contract. I use the Opera mobile
>browser(not mini). Thing is I've noticed that I can browse the
>internet, using a fair amount of data and not get charged for it at
>all. I thought it was about £2 per mb or something like that. It's
>also free if I use my mobile as a modem for my laptop. When I check my
>bill on Vodafone site all the data usage is included - ie has a tick
>next to it meaning included in tariff. Does anybody know any more about
>this ? Not that I'm complaining, I just don't want to risk ringing
>Vodafone to enquire and then they put a stop to it.
If you have a package with some text messages included I think there is a
crazy calculation that allows text messages to be swapped for surfing mbs.
No idea how it works, but it seems to. Can't get anyone from vodafone to
explain it either.........
> If you have a package with some text messages included I think there is a
> crazy calculation that allows text messages to be swapped for surfing mbs.
> No idea how it works, but it seems to. Can't get anyone from vodafone to
> explain it either.........
How strange does that seem. Do you use Vodafone/know of other cases of
this. I can't find anything in terms+cond about this. Makes me worry
how much I am actually allowed to use(data). And if I go over limit how
much will I be charged. I don't want to be suddenly be hit with big
bill. Another forum I read a few weeks back left me with the same
impression - Vodafone themselves were very vague about the whole thing
and didn't have clear answer. By the way, I get 200mins and 250
texts.Anyway thanks for reply.
>
>> If you have a package with some text messages included I think there is a
>> crazy calculation that allows text messages to be swapped for surfing mbs.
>> No idea how it works, but it seems to. Can't get anyone from vodafone to
>> explain it either.........
>
> How strange does that seem. Do you use Vodafone/know of other cases of
> this. I can't find anything in terms+cond about this. Makes me worry
> how much I am actually allowed to use(data). And if I go over limit how
> much will I be charged. I don't want to be suddenly be hit with big
> bill. Another forum I read a few weeks back left me with the same
> impression - Vodafone themselves were very vague about the whole thing
> and didn't have clear answer. By the way, I get 200mins and 250
> texts.Anyway thanks for reply.
>
I believe that 1Mb of data uses up 20 text messages from your allowance.
>
> I believe that 1Mb of data uses up 20 text messages from your allowance.
This is getting stupid now (not your comment). I mean if that's the
case where the hell does it say this in any of Vodafone's T&Cs. And
I've just checked previous bills and it appears that my text message
usage is what I expected - ie I haven't had any used up by data usage.
It amazes me that this issue hasn't been addressed by Vodafone already.
As I said in earlier post, Vodafone themselves don't seem to be too
sure about the whole affair - what this says about them as a company I
don't know.
>
>>
>> I believe that 1Mb of data uses up 20 text messages from your allowance.
>
> This is getting stupid now (not your comment). I mean if that's the
> case where the hell does it say this in any of Vodafone's T&Cs. And
> I've just checked previous bills and it appears that my text message
> usage is what I expected - ie I haven't had any used up by data usage.
> It amazes me that this issue hasn't been addressed by Vodafone already.
> As I said in earlier post, Vodafone themselves don't seem to be too
> sure about the whole affair - what this says about them as a company I
> don't know.
>
I probably didn't make myself clear, sorry!
What I meant was that for every 1Mb of data that you use, you can only use a
maximum of (x-20) texts. Where x = your inclusive text allowance.
So if, in your case, your inclusive texts = 250, and you use 5Mb of data.
Then you only have 150 texts left for SMS.
>
> I probably didn't make myself clear, sorry!
>
> What I meant was that for every 1Mb of data that you use, you can only use a
> maximum of (x-20) texts. Where x = your inclusive text allowance.
>
> So if, in your case, your inclusive texts = 250, and you use 5Mb of data.
> Then you only have 150 texts left for SMS.
>
> I hope this makes more sense!
Thanks for reply. My point is that I've just checked my last couple of
month's bills. It lists exactly how many txt+pic messages etc that I've
sent. It also lists the data usage aswell. But when I add my txts+pic
messages up the total is what Vodafone have stated it to be - and I
haven't had any txts taken up by me using data. Im just mystified how
this can happen - not that I'm too bothered though, and I'm certainly a
bit dubious about reporting it to Vodafone in case they put a stop to
it,
> This is getting stupid now (not your comment). I mean if that's the
> case where the hell does it say this in any of Vodafone's T&Cs. And
> I've just checked previous bills and it appears that my text message
> usage is what I expected - ie I haven't had any used up by data usage.
> It amazes me that this issue hasn't been addressed by Vodafone already.
> As I said in earlier post, Vodafone themselves don't seem to be too
> sure about the whole affair - what this says about them as a company I
> don't know.
Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think it would be best
to use it as if you were going to be charged and if you aren't charged
then treat that as a bonus!
>
> Personally I wouldn't worry about it too much. I think it would be best
> to use it as if you were going to be charged and if you aren't charged
> then treat that as a bonus
Well that's the sort of approach I'm taking. I was just more curious,
and not worried, about how the situation could arise in the first place.
>
> Thanks for reply. My point is that I've just checked my last couple of
> month's bills. It lists exactly how many txt+pic messages etc that I've
> sent. It also lists the data usage aswell. But when I add my txts+pic
> messages up the total is what Vodafone have stated it to be - and I
> haven't had any txts taken up by me using data. Im just mystified how
> this can happen - not that I'm too bothered though, and I'm certainly a
> bit dubious about reporting it to Vodafone in case they put a stop to
> it,
But could the combination of texts and data (at a rate of 20 texts per
M still be within your allowance?
It could be possible that they state you've used 57 texts when you've
sent 57 and used 2MB of data (and not put 77 texts used - since you
wouldn't have actually sent that many)
mafustokes wrote:
> I have a nokia n70 on vodafone contract. I use the Opera mobile
> browser(not mini). Thing is I've noticed that I can browse the
> internet, using a fair amount of data and not get charged for it at
> all. I thought it was about £2 per mb or something like that. It's
> also free if I use my mobile as a modem for my laptop. When I check my
> bill on Vodafone site all the data usage is included - ie has a tick
> next to it meaning included in tariff. Does anybody know any more about
> this ? Not that I'm complaining, I just don't want to risk ringing
> Vodafone to enquire and then they put a stop to it.
I finally found someone on Vodafone customer care who could explain it
after three attempts: as others have said it is the texts package you
have for your contract that is soaking up the data. Technically this is
ridiculous as they are very different, but they are ultimately combined
at the billing stage. "250 texts" means "250 texts worth of text and
data". A text is 12p after VAT so I (250 texts) have a 30 pound buffer
to use with any combination of text and data (UKP 2.35 per MB after
tax).
Note that until the 1st of September picture messages also game out of
that allowance but now are charged separately: there was a text message
about it.
> Note that until the 1st of September picture messages also game out of
> that allowance but now are charged separately: there was a text message
> about it.
>
> Mark
Thanks for reply. At last seem to be getting somewhere. However my
last two bills are still somewhat of a mystery, as I stated in previous
posts - my text usage and data just dont add up with the itemised bill.
I suppose it's something I'll have to take up with them.
On 17 Sep 2006 03:24:13 -0700, "mafustokes"
<mafustokes@googlemail.com> wrote:
> However my
>last two bills are still somewhat of a mystery, as I stated in previous
>posts - my text usage and data just dont add up with the itemised bill.
>I suppose it's something I'll have to take up with them.
>
We've all learnt something this morning. The 250 texts allowance
inclusive isn't really a 250 texts allowance. It (now) seems to be a
GBP 30 allowance (ie, 3,000p) that can be used by texts at 12p, or by
data at 235p/MB.
Are you saying that your texts that you used priced at 12p each, plus
the data you used at 235p per MB, come to more than 3,000p, yet have
not been charged? If so, as you acknowledge, probably a mistake.
But you haven't posted saying that specifically. Do you want to post
the specific usage here, and we can discuss the apparent charging
algorithm?
(Wouldn't blame you if you didn't, by the way, it's your private
business, but this new development of the tariff is very interesting,
and I think many of us would be interested to see what is actually
charged, since there is no public tariff information.)
Ok here goes , I'll explain best I can. This is looking at my last 3/4
months bills. The last bill I used 60 texts and nearly 3mb of data.
When I look at my bill online it states that I have indeed used 60
texts and it itemises them - I counted them up and it's correct. It
also lists my data usage aswell, which comes to nearly 3mb. Now when I
got the bill a couple of weeks back I rang Vodafone just to confirm
how many texts I had left to use from my monthly allowance. They said
it was 190 (250-60). So is it just a fault on their part do you think?
My other bills show similar results. I just think its a farce that if
their arrangement over this is have you have stated then where do
Vodafone say this ? - It certainly wasn't something I was aware of when
I signed up and I can't see anything about it on their terms+cs. And
the point about 250 texts being worth £30 is new to me. Not that I'm
complaining, just seems unbelievable that a company like Vodafone can
be so vague about this.
The way it works is that 250 texts, say, gives you 250x12p of data/sms
usage at 12p per text and £2.35 per megabyte of data if you stray out of
the live portal.
If you download your bill from VF's website, then cut and paste the
entire bill worksheet into the second sheet of the above spreadsheet,
you can then toggle to the front page and have a look at the stats. The
text messages are totalled at 10.2p excl VAT and data is rounded up to
the nearest 0.001p excl VAT per transaction, then totalled at the top.
It nearly fits with VF's maths, but my last data usage (slightly over my
free £30) was 0.2p out from what I calculated. I've no idea where the
rounding differs, but the spreadsheet might show you how things work.
On 17 Sep 2006 04:09:23 -0700, "mafustokes"
<mafustokes@googlemail.com> wrote:
Mafu, well done, useful reply. Let's look at the detail:
>
>Ok here goes , I'll explain best I can. This is looking at my last 3/4
>months bills. The last bill I used 60 texts and nearly 3mb of data.
Consumption:
60 texts = 60 x 12p = 720p
3MB of data = 3 x 235p = 705p
>When I look at my bill online it states that I have indeed used 60
>texts and it itemises them - I counted them up and it's correct. It
>also lists my data usage aswell, which comes to nearly 3mb. Now when I
>got the bill a couple of weeks back I rang Vodafone just to confirm
>how many texts I had left to use from my monthly allowance. They said
>it was 190 (250-60).
Expected billing as per published tariff:
60 texts: allowance of 250, 60 is < 250, so inclusive; 0p charged
3MB data: allowance 0MB (as published tariff); 3 x 235p chargeable, so
705p expected on bill
Unused texts allowance: 250 - 60 = 190 texts
BUT, actual bill (please correct me if wrong)
60 texts: allowance of 250, 60 is < 250, so inclusive; 0p charged
3MB data: allowance 190 * 12p = 2,280p worth
(as unpublished tariff where any unused text can allow 12p to be put
towards your data charges); 3 x 235p = 705p used, 705 is < 2,280 so 0p
charged for 3MB
Unused texts allowance: 250 - 60 = 190 texts
>So is it just a fault on their part do you think?
Not quite. This is what I think. I suspect that if you had made
another 190 texts, they would have come out of your inclusive
allowance - the tariff clearly says that you have 250 texts, so they
take 'priority' over anything else any unused texts can be put
against. However, if or when you did/do consume those 190 texts, you
data usage will be charged as per the tariff.
I think what is happening is that any 'unused' inclusive texts can be
used to provide an equivalent cost of data to also be allowed, the
costs calculated at the nominal, retail, price of the text, presently
12p.
>My other bills show similar results. I just think its a farce that if
>their arrangement over this is have you have stated then where do
>Vodafone say this ? - It certainly wasn't something I was aware of when
>I signed up and I can't see anything about it on their terms+cs. And
>the point about 250 texts being worth =A330 is new to me. Not that I'm
>complaining, just seems unbelievable that a company like Vodafone can
>be so vague about this.
>
Oh, for sure. I, too, am surprised this tariff variation hasn't been
published, especially since it would seem to make their tariffs
slightly more attractive, and might stem some, at least, of the loss
of customers to other networks.
Thanks for replys/time and effort. Like you said I can't see why
Vodafone wouldn't advertise this. It'd certainly make the tariffs more
appealing to me.
Anyway, I think the best thing I can do is to just carry on using data
and keep an eye on how much I'm using.
Ronnie wrote:
> Not quite. This is what I think. I suspect that if you had made
> another 190 texts, they would have come out of your inclusive
> allowance - the tariff clearly says that you have 250 texts, so they
> take 'priority' over anything else any unused texts can be put
> against. However, if or when you did/do consume those 190 texts, you
> data usage will be charged as per the tariff.
On my last bill I had sent about 60 SMS messages but used a lot of data.
One of my text messages was labelled as partly in bundle and I got
charged about 4p for it, so the credit is knocked off as it is used, by
SMS or data.
On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:20:58 +0100, Mark Coley
<mdc1003@nospam.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>Ronnie wrote:
>> - the tariff clearly says that you have 250 texts, so they
>> take 'priority' over anything else any unused texts can be put
>> against.
>
>On my last bill I had sent about 60 SMS messages but used a lot of data.
>One of my text messages was labelled as partly in bundle and I got
>charged about 4p for it, so the credit is knocked off as it is used, by
>SMS or data.
>
Interesting, Mark, nevertheless, Voda should abide by its promise to
you for the texts it said you would not have to pay for. Which is
back to Mafu's first post - there is nothing in the T&Cs about this,
and there ought to be. It's 'new approach' is actually quite an
improvement, in my view, and simply needs to be formalised.
How long ago did you first notice this new billing approach?
Ronnie wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:20:58 +0100, Mark Coley
> <mdc1003@nospam.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>> On my last bill I had sent about 60 SMS messages but used a lot of data.
>> One of my text messages was labelled as partly in bundle and I got
>> charged about 4p for it, so the credit is knocked off as it is used, by
>> SMS or data.
>>
> Interesting, Mark, nevertheless, Voda should abide by its promise to
> you for the texts it said you would not have to pay for. Which is
> back to Mafu's first post - there is nothing in the T&Cs about this,
> and there ought to be. It's 'new approach' is actually quite an
> improvement, in my view, and simply needs to be formalised.
>
But it doesn't ever make you worse off - only better!
I first read about it back in 2003 iirc, so I don't think it's a new
approach. It used to be on the Vodafone website though.
> If you have a package with some text messages included I think there is a
> crazy calculation that allows text messages to be swapped for surfing mbs.
> No idea how it works, but it seems to. Can't get anyone from vodafone to
> explain it either.........
>
>
>
It's not that difficult, the old extra packs which aren't available with
the new price plans give you X amount of usage, for £3 you get £6 of
use, this can be for 50 sms or about 2.5mb of data usage...
£6 gives you £12, 100 sms or 5.1mb
£14 gives you £30 or 250 sms or 12.7mb
£25 gives you £60 or 300 sms or 25.5mb
£40 gives you £120 or 1000 sms 51mb
Just to add a twist. This same thing happened to me about 5 months ago.
I have a payg sim bought on ebay, and AFAIK, it does not have any text
package. I installed opera mini on my phone about 5 months ago, so I
wanted to make sure it works, so I tested it with my voda sim. That's
when I noticed I was not charged for the usage. I only had about 16
pounds credit. I used it like that for about 2 - 3 months or so.
Checking my credit every time I use it without any changes. Then I
checked on one of those days and my credit showed 12 pounds. So, I
figured thay have started or figured out how to charge for it. BTW,
this only happens if I use GPRS via the opera mini browser. If I access
it directly using the phones built-in broswe, I got charged as usual.
So, it's definitely something to do with opera mini. BTW, I am based in
the US and all the usage was here. It roams on both Cingular and
Tmobile.
On 17 Sep 2006 05:33:15 -0700, "mafustokes"
<mafustokes@googlemail.com> wrote:
>Thanks for replys/time and effort. Like you said I can't see why
>Vodafone wouldn't advertise this. It'd certainly make the tariffs more
>appealing to me.
>Anyway, I think the best thing I can do is to just carry on using data
>and keep an eye on how much I'm using.
Have you tried phoning 191 and using the automated option to get an
SMS with your current billing info? The SMS I get shows the GPRS data
used along with SMS & call usage (which is actually easier to
understand than the website - I sometimes wonder whether anyone from
Vodaphone has ever tried using their website and looked at the
unbilled call info... I've never been able to comprehend how the
website calculates the "Minutes used from your bundle" value...
> Have you tried phoning 191 and using the automated option to get an
> SMS with your current billing info? The SMS I get shows the GPRS data
> used along with SMS & call usage (which is actually easier to
> understand than the website - I sometimes wonder whether anyone from
> Vodaphone has ever tried using their website and looked at the
> unbilled call info... I've never been able to comprehend how the
> website calculates the "Minutes used from your bundle" value...
>
> Rod
Remember stop the clock slows minute use... And if you want to see if
you had rolled over minutes you need to go to the old bill and scroll
down and look at the box at the bottom right. I've just discovered this...
On Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:46:06 +0100, Mark Coley
<mdc1003@nospam.cam.ac.uk> wrote:
>Rod wrote:
>
>> Have you tried phoning 191 and using the automated option to get an
>> SMS with your current billing info? The SMS I get shows the GPRS data
>> used along with SMS & call usage (which is actually easier to
>> understand than the website - I sometimes wonder whether anyone from
>> Vodaphone has ever tried using their website and looked at the
>> unbilled call info... I've never been able to comprehend how the
>> website calculates the "Minutes used from your bundle" value...
>>
>> Rod
>
>Remember stop the clock slows minute use... And if you want to see if
>you had rolled over minutes you need to go to the old bill and scroll
>down and look at the box at the bottom right. I've just discovered this...
>
>Mark.
I knew about the rollover minutes (and I usually have some on my
tariff). Had forgotten about the effect of stop the clock though -
which might explain the apparent discrepancy in the website figures.
I still think Vodafone could at least _try_ to make their website
billing info less impenetrable - in my slightly cynical moments I
think they actually designed it to be less than helpful - but when I'm
really cynical I remember how disfunctional IT can be in larger
organisations, especially when it has to interact with marketing and
sales...
Vodafone gprs - not charging 
still be within your allowance?
Linear Mode
