300Mb quota exceeded

DiGi Smart Plan LITE is the latest mobile internet plan from DiGi telco Malaysia. For a low price of RM28 a month, you will get 300Mb of data. Internet users in Malaysia are getting more cautious since telcos have started using a term called FUP, or Fair Usage Policy. Basically, this is where the telco will tell you that you have been allocated a certain amount of data usage allowance (maybe 300mb, 3gb or 6gb, some truly unlimited usage) and if you exceed that amount, the telcos will start doing weird and sometimes nasty things to your mobile service and bill.

But for Smart Plan lite, the first thing Digi will happily tell you is that if you exceed the quota, you will not be charged an extra sen, unlike some green M telco in Malaysia. But what happens to the speeds and can the internet still be used?  I’ve been to a few DiGi booths and DiGi roadshows, included the latest one in 1 Utama New Wing Oval on the 2nd of January 2011. I asked one of the promoters there about the speed and according to him, the speeds will be throttled to 128 kbps. To make things clear, during the entire conversation, i only asked about the DiGi Smart Plan lite and not other plans, so the DiGi person was not confused.

128 kbps speeds after exceeded the quota maybe true for other plans such as the Broadband Discover Plan which i used previously personally but that’s not true for DiGi Smart Plan lite. DiGi has been lying to their customers because the true speed of DiGi Smart Plan lite after the quota is finished is actually only less than 10 kbps!!

I understand that if i wanted a needed quota, i should have gotten the more expensive Smart Plan, but since i was using Facebook, Twitter and RSS feeds most of the time, 128kpbs would be acceptable for me after 300mb is all used up. Besides, 3Gb would be way too much. It’s only middle of the month and i’ve only used 300mb. I would be just paying blindly for more which i will never use in the end. However at these speeds, it’s better just to turn off internet entirely instead of waiting for pages to load. Final word of warning, depending on your usage, 300Mb is really very tight. You might even need to think twice if you wanna use data intensive functions such as Google Maps.

Windows Phone runs on HTC HD2

The newest and latest Windows Phone OS runs on the HTC HD2 as seen advertised here by HTC Malaysia on our RapidKL LRT trains. Also seen on the HTC ‘decorated’ LRT coach is a mention of the HTC HD mini (below the window on the upper left corner of the picture) and also the HTC Touch 2 (partial picture on the right).  Do both the phones comes with the new Windows Phone software as well?

Unfortunately, the answer is actually NO. Windows Phone OS DOES NOT run on the HTC HD2, HD mini and Touch 2. This is obviously a misleading ad by HTC. You don’t see computer manufacturers advertise a Pentium 3 computer beside a Windows Vista logo, do you? These three older phones (around 1 year old, give and take) actually run the older (and obsolete) Windows Mobile 6.5. I assure you that not once does Windows Mobile 6.5 logo appear on the same train.

Currently, the latest phones with Windows Phone (7) which are available on the market are the:

• HTC HD7 on Maxis[source]

• HTC 7 Mozart on DiGi[source]

• LG Optimus 7 on Celcom[source]

So, don’t be mislead by anything you see advertised by mobile phone brands (and also telcos) nowdays. Phones are gaining momentum and are gaining popularity as mobile computers that they’ll tell you anything to make a sale.

Christmas with DiGi

Christmas is not in another 1 week plus or so but santa has already dropped by to visit DiGi. That’s because finally DiGi is getting the Samsung Galaxy S. Maxis sold the ‘great’ Samsung Galaxy S since the phone was released in June. To join the fun, the Samsung Galaxy S will be sold on DiGi on contract with a ‘younger sibling’, namely the Samsung Galaxy 3. Both phones are available from DiGi without contract, or you can sign with DiGi Smart Plan contract (RM63/month for 3GB of data only, calls and SMS are additional) for 1 or 2 year contracts and get discounts on the phone. Check the pics below for prices on DiGi. So, if you’re on DiGi, would you get the Samsung Galaxy S, or the slightly cheaper (by RM100) 4.3″ HTC Desire HD?

[source]

[source]

Good to DiGi for finally building up some smartphones to sell with the phone plans.

you are now 3+8

Starting 15th of December 2010, all new mobile phone numbers which are registered will have the code 011 in front followed by 8 different digits at the back for each user. Previously, it was 010,012,013,014,016, etc in front depending on the telco plus 7 different digits for each user. The increase in digits is to accommodate the rising number of mobile phone users in the country. Refer webpage below by DiGi.

[source]

[Update:15-Dec-2010]

Seems like Maxis and Celcom decided to finally join in the fun of letting everyone else know.

Maxis [source]

Celcom [source]

DiGi Smart Plan LITE

Smartphones are what’s IN right now, a lot of people have one, more people crave for one but everyone hates paying for one. Why? This is because most smartphones are outright expensive to begin with, not the mention the even higher cost for mobile internet. You can use a smartphone without internet connectivity, but this somewhat dwarfs the function of the phone since major smartphone functions evolve around the usage of mobile web browsers and email. In the end, if you really really really desire a smartphone, which has an internet connection, what’s the lowest amount that you have to pay each month?

DiGi recently rolled out a new data plan, called Smart Plan LITE. It’s called LITE because this is a cheaper plan than the original Smart Plan. The difference between the two will be summarized in the table below.  The most attractive thing about this Smart Plan LITE is that you only pay RM28 a month for data. This is considered cheap when other plans will come around the RM60-100 range. But of course with paying less, you get less. What is less? The data volume; you’ll only get 300mb. Sounds measly but most smartphone users will most likely average around 100mb usage per week.  But even if  you exceed your allocated volume, DiGi will not block your connection or even worse, make you pay more like some telcos, you only get a slower connection because your internet connection is blocked.

All calls and SMS are charged on a per use basis of 15sen/min and 10sen respectively. MMS are charged 20sen. This package is definitely suitable for new users who wish to try out mobile internet without burning their pockets or light users who normally just rely on push email, RSS feeds and normal internet browsing and reading. Those with large screens phones like the Galaxy Tab who are prone to watch more Youtube video for example, can opt for a higher volume plan from DiGi, namely the Smart Plan or other plans from Celcom. See table below for a summary of minimum cost which you have to pay the telcos and how much data you are getting.

So, don’t wait any further. The DiGi Smart Plan LITE is a good plan to get almost anyone started on mobile internet. Give it a try.

Source:

Digi : [1], [2]

Maxis : [1], [2], [3]

Celcom:  [1], [2], [3]

U-mobile and other telcos not listed due to coverage limitations.

UPDATE:3-1-2011

Sorry everyone for the mis-information. DiGi has misguided a lot of people about the quota of the Smartplan LITE. Although this plan has a lower monthly fee and lower quota, unlike Smartplan (Rm68@3GB) which will be throttled to 128kbps after the limit is reach, this LITE plan will block your internet connection. Refer here.

This information is not found at all on the Smartplan LITE page here, but found on a different 3G internet page here. See snapshot at bottom of page below: