USB modem and 3

culabula

It IS coming and very soon.....it now features in the latest edition of the 3 magazine.

I have some exclusive information about it and will post soon when I get to sit down, pour myself a drink and be massaged gently by three Thai ladies (the last part is the fantasy of the old and bewildered.....).

JNive

lol, good going there, should be pleasant.

legs11

comes with mandatory 12 month contract i guess.......

will they swap a redundant pcmcia card for it?

culabula

The new modem should be released this month, hopefully next week.
It will be called the 3DataModem.
It is exactly the same as the Vodafone one and so will support Macs.
The SIM provided with it will be a data only SIM –there will be no voice or SMS (even though the Vodafone version offered SMS within the software supplied).
The DataModem/SIM will not roam on other networks onlike the datacard/SIM: it will roam on all other 3 networks worldwide including Israel(!).
The datacard will remain on sale.
Holders of the existing datacard can apparently migrate to the new tariff (TBA)
The current tariff of 3GB will remain but the 250mb is going.
The rumoured new tariff is 10GB @ 19€ a month.

More info as I get it.

culabula

legs11 wrote:

comes with mandatory 12 month contract i guess.......

will they swap a redundant pcmcia card for it?

Well, of course it will, what's wrong with that?

There's every chance that you will be allowed to swap or upgrade at an advantageous rate, at least. Remember, be cool.

jimmycrackcorm

Now if only I had a usb port on my phone then I'd be able to get the mobile broadband to work properly.:rolleyes:

JNive

i guess, the recent vodafone price reductions are to prepare for the new tariff from 3 and the launch of the O2 service, once both these occur we should really see good compeition, considering O2 are Vodafone's main competitor in the mobile market.

I can see the vodafone package going to 10GB soon and going from EUR40 down to EUR30, and keeping the SMS/Voice capability ( wonder if they will keep the USB Modem sims different to the datacard ones like 3 )

Fun Fun Fun

culabula

JNive wrote:

)

Fun Fun Fun

"Until her daddy takes the T-Bird away....."

culabula

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

Now if only I had a usb port on my phone then I'd be able to get the mobile broadband to work properly.:rolleyes:

Ya wha?

jimmycrackcorm

The 3ireland.ie pages load ok but every day at some point I find that normal internet web pages aren't coming back - just a tcp error. There is always a noticeable delay as you wait for the widerweb to reformat the pages for mobile display.

godskitchen

culabula wrote:

The current tariff of 3GB will remain but the 250mb is going.
The rumoured new tariff is 10GB @ 19€ a month.

More info as I get it.

So at what price point will the 3000Mb be? im guessing they wont try and keep it the same.

neilled

legs11 wrote:

comes with mandatory 12 month contract i guess.......

will they swap a redundant pcmcia card for it?

Well upgrading any handset on any networks normally involves renewing a contract for 12 months or more. Whats new with that? Pretty much standard industry practise.........

culabula

godskitchen wrote:

So at what price point will the 3000Mb be? im guessing they wont try and keep it the same.

That's what I'd like to know.

Urban Weigl

legs11 wrote:

comes with mandatory 12 month contract i guess.......

The reason for the 12 month contract is that they are selling you a subsidised USB modem, data card or phone. So they need to be able to recoup the cost.

Now if you were to buy only the SIM card and supply your own equipment, or pay full whack for the equipment, there would be no contract.

Solair

I enquired about providing your own data card, or indeed a laptop with a built in HSPDA adaptor and I was told in no uncertain terms that "Three operates a policy of locked sims and only equipment supplied by Three can be connected to our network"

It kind of defeats the whole purpose of GSM/3GSM/UMTS !! i.e. the interchangable SIM.

Urban Weigl

That's not actually enforced, however they do currently force you to buy a subsidised handset or data card. Can't just get the SIM card on its own, unfortunately. In Italy, I see 3 are even selling subsidised laptops! :eek:

jimmycrackcorm

Urban Weigl wrote:

That's not actually enforced, however they do currently force you to buy a subsidised handset or data card. Can't just get the SIM card on its own, unfortunately. In Italy, I see 3 are even selling subsidised laptops! :eek:

Lets be very clear about this. Three post pay does enforce the locking of the sim to the handset / card. Idiots.

culabula

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

Lets be very clear about this. Three post pay does enforce the locking of the sim to the handset / card. Idiots.

How? Mine doesn't.

Solair

I think I'll be moving to a network who doesn't treat me like a criminal if I try to put my SIM into another handset and who doesn't treat me like crap generally.

I'm unbelievably unimpressed with them and I'm really sorry I signed a 12 month contract with them.

Their customer service is completely unprofessional.

Tom Dunne

culabula wrote:

The rumoured new tariff is 10GB @ 19€ a month.

More info as I get it.

Ok, now you've got my interest.

I wonder if there are Linux drivers for the USB modem? Probably not. Damn me for installing Linux on my laptop.

Sam Vimes

culabula wrote:

The SIM provided with it will be a data only SIM –there will be no voice or SMS (even though the Vodafone version offered SMS within the software supplied).

are you sure about that? the current datacard can be used to send sms and it would be odd to remove the feature for a usb modem which is also capable of it.


but this is 3 were talking about :rolleyes: i wouldn't put it past them

culabula wrote:

The DataModem/SIM will not roam on other networks onlike the datacard/SIM: it will roam on all other 3 networks worldwide including Israel(!).

so they've crippled it for no apparent reason? why would they prevent the usb modem from romaing but not the datacard?

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

Now if only I had a usb port on my phone then I'd be able to get the mobile broadband to work properly.:rolleyes:

how do you mean? your phone can be plugged into a usb port with a data cable

tom dunne wrote:

Ok, now you've got my interest.

I wonder if there are Linux drivers for the USB modem? Probably not. Damn me for installing Linux on my laptop.

dual boot?

culabula

Commander Vimes wrote:

are you sure about that? the current datacard can be used to send sms and it would be odd to remove the feature for a usb modem which is also capable of it.


but this is 3 were talking about :rolleyes: i wouldn't put it past them


so they've crippled it for no apparent reason? why would they prevent the usb modem from romaing but not the datacard?

As sure as I can be with official 3 Ireland instructions in my hand. I too am amazed they are blocking SMS but I believe they are really going to target the dispossessed of broadband and they don't want to confuse people. Just pure data, data, data-at home, on the move and there where you can't get fixed broadband. That appears to be their strategy. Keep it simple.

As for the roaming aspect your guess is as good as mine. I suppose that if they are going to go for households they don't want any extraneous charges prompting mass and wholesale returns such as we have seen so far -or at least massive complaints for bills of over 1200 euro etc.

Me, I just don't get the israel bit.

culabula

There seems to be a new '3' network in Indonesia. 3 Ireland seem to have confused that with the non-existent 3 Israel. So I guess we can take all other information with large pinch of coarse sea-salt too........

Urban Weigl

Heard about the new 3 network in Indonesia a few weeks (months?) ago, don't remember when exactly, but it was a little while ago. It's funny they mixed up Indonesia with Israel.

legs11

cula,

its 1,500e not 1,200e...........;)

culabula

legs11 wrote:

cula,

its 1,500e not 1,200e...........;)

Wasn't actually referring to yours: a friend of mine got a bill last month for 1200€ plus.

culabula

Tuesday (14/05) is now the day mentioned for the USB modem launch. New tariffs as promised, but they are at this point remaining extremely tight-lipped.

JNive

lol, oh this is going to be fun :-) i just know it

JTMan

The Sunday Business Post had an article on this today ...

Price per month: 20 EUR
DL Speed: 3.6 MB
Cap: 10 GB
usage above: 5c per MB
cost of adaptor: 130 EUR
Launch : "this week"

No word on what happens (????) to those who are paying 39 EUR for 3GB and 50c per MB after that.

Sam Vimes

Fungus wrote:

The Sunday Business Post had an article on this today ...

Price per month: 20 EUR
DL Speed: 3.6 MB
Cap: 10 GB
usage above: 5c per MB
cost of adaptor: 130 EUR
Launch : "this week"

No word on what happens (????) to those who are paying 39 EUR for 3GB and 50c per MB after that.

sounds very interesting. now all they need to do is train their staff in something other than how to say "i don't know" and they're sorted

culabula

Fungus wrote:

The Sunday Business Post had an article on this today ...

Price per month: 20 EUR
DL Speed: 3.6 MB
Cap: 10 GB
usage above: 5c per MB
cost of adaptor: 130 EUR
Launch : "this week"

No word on what happens (????) to those who are paying 39 EUR for 3GB and 50c per MB after that.

As I have posted, migration WILL be allowed (according to official in-house bumph).

JTMan

culabula wrote:

As I have posted, migration WILL be allowed (according to official in-house bumph).

OK ... so you just have to phone them and ask ???

The article in the SBP also said that they will launch a package with an unlimited cap is early 2008.

Sam Vimes

culabula wrote:

Tuesday (14/05) is now the day mentioned for the USB modem launch. New tariffs as promised, but they are at this point remaining extremely tight-lipped.

i don't know if your info is 100% reliable because tuesday's the 15th

Sam Vimes

i was just on the 3 website checking my upgrade eligibility. i put in my account number and DOB and then it said it had sent a password to my phone to get to the upgrade store that i had to enter in the next 15 minutes. i don't actually want to upgrade, i just wanted to see what they're offering.

anyway, the text never arrived so i rang up and asked what the story was. he went and asked (as they do when you ask anything other than "what is your name") and he came back with: "the text should arrive in the next hour"

i reminded him that the password is only valid for 15 minutes. he said it'll that its been happening a lot and it works anyway. so here i am an hour later and, would you believe it, no text. i just want to go to mumbai and give these people a big hug

Urban Weigl

And I have heard Apple will be releasing a new laptop on Tuesday as well. Maybe I will buy it along with the 3 USB modem and €19/10GB plan that will also come out on Tuesday.

Ah, rumours. Nothing beats the anticipation.

culabula

Urban Weigl wrote:

And I have heard Apple will be releasing a new laptop on Tuesday as well. Maybe I will buy it along with the 3 USB modem and €19/10GB plan that will also come out on Tuesday.

Ah, rumours. Nothing beats the anticipation.

Looks like there's every chance of new offerings from Apple, though.

culabula

Commander Vimes wrote:

i don't know if your info is 100% reliable because tuesday's the 15th

Well spotted! Legs11 gets me all confused! Anyway, they told me the 13th, which is today.

legs11

cula,

still not convinced they will sort out this 10gig cap and a usb modem this week.

i could get a return flight to mars and back before they do i bet........:D

godskitchen

Hummm, interesting................I have a few problems with this though, it has been stated on the boards by culabula (I think he secretly runs Three from an evil layer just outside Knock Shrine) that they are thinking about or going to abandon all credit checks and hand these things out like flyers for a night club...............What is that going to do to the already crippled "Customer Service"?

Its hard enough to get something simple done right now when they only have 20 customers, imagine when they get more, which they will with this deal (unless vodafone plan to counter this, which i assume they will)............Its going to make an already frustrating experience unbearable!

Oh and to cap things, I got a text on my SIM in my data card today, telling me that the bill is not paid, which of course it is, and two voice mail, which of course i cant listen to as i dont have a 3G phone and dont know my voicemail password, and dont want to know it as this means talking to the Robots in India.......................Bless them, they are about to get a roasting from the new customers when things go wrong, which of course they will.

Urban Weigl

And we have confirmation from another source! The Sunday Business Post says 3 will be launching a mobile broadband product for €20 a month "this week".

There is also a mention on ENN.

Urban Weigl

Pricing information:
€130 one time (presumably for the modem) + €20 a month with a 12-month contract. Over the 12 months, that works out as €30.83 a month. Data volume will be limited to 10GB, which seems quite reasonable.

So in brief: for €30.83 a month, you get a 3.6 Mbps connection with 10 GB data volume. If 3 do not somehow manage to mess this up, it looks like they could finally be gaining some market share.

godskitchen

What page on Sunday Business Post?

culabula

legs11 wrote:

cula,

still not convinced they will sort out this 10gig cap and a usb modem this week.

i could get a return flight to mars and back before they do i bet........:D

It's people like you wot cause unrest!

culabula

It's still coming this week but they are now saying it won't be in tomorrow.

x in the city

i am being realistic, if was onto a dude today, and in broken english he said sometime this month (for all this new price plan)
and how do they propose to monitor someones usage (ahem),

well, they have stopped my data card now the cnuts,

cula, what happens ur mates bill for 1,200, is he a csi nut also?
btw, i got every show from every season now to save you some $$$$$:rolleyes:

Myxomatosis

Urban Weigl wrote:

Pricing information:
€130 one time (presumably for the modem) + €20 a month with a 12-month contract. Over the 12 months, that works out as €30.83 a month. Data volume will be limited to 10GB, which seems quite reasonable.

So in brief: for €30.83 a month, you get a 3.6 Mbps connection with 10 GB data volume. If 3 do not somehow manage to mess this up, it looks like they could finally be gaining some market share.

Err, no, it works out at 20 euro a month. A lot of companies have an initial hardware fee. You can't include that in the monthly bill to somehow try and belittle what they are offering.

culabula

x in the city wrote:

i am being realistic, if was onto a dude today, and in broken english he said sometime this month (for all this new price plan)
and how do they propose to monitor someones usage (ahem),

well, they have stopped my data card now the cnuts,

cula, what happens ur mates bill for 1,200, is he a csi nut also?
btw, i got every show from every season now to save you some $$$$$:rolleyes:

He's still trying to work it out, neither he nor 3 know. me, I blame it on his kids. I warned him, but he didn't listen. Someone telling porkies somewhere.

I guess they will monitor a person's usage the same way they always do; by the s/w for Windows supplied with the yoke or via 333/Planet 3/My3. Updated at around 00:10 every 24 hours.

Why have they stopped your datacard now?

There is no such thing as a 'CSI nut', there is only you. How could you save me €?

:-)

Sam Vimes

Myxomatosis wrote:

Err, no, it works out at 20 euro a month. A lot of companies have an initial hardware fee. You can't include that in the monthly bill to somehow try and belittle what they are offering.

sure you can. some give free hardware and some don't so you take the total money you're going to give them over the year. also, €130 is the most any company takes as a harware cost. if they took no connection fee and €30.83 a month you'd pay them exactly the same amount but they didn't want to advertise it like that

if they took €1000 connection fee and €1 a month could i include it then

culabula

Myxomatosis wrote:

Err, no, it works out at 20 euro a month. A lot of companies have an initial hardware fee. You can't include that in the monthly bill to somehow try and belittle what they are offering.

I don't think he was trying to 'belittle' anything -he's just pointing out what the real cost is over a year. Sure, there's a charge for the hardware and it's still real money at the end of the day.

Urban Weigl

Yes. Just to be clear, I think it is a fantastic offer.

Whenever I sign up for something that involves a contract and subsidised hardware, like is the case here, I always calculate the average cost over the first 12 months. I think it makes a lot of sense to just sit down and figure out "okay, over the first 12 months, it is going to cost me X amount on average per month". Particularly because different mobile operators charge different subsidised prices for the same equipment. It is probably the best way to create a valid comparison.

Update: Here is a comparison:
Vodafone: €48.24 a month
Three: €30.83 a month

Both including their respective charges for the USB modem and calculated over the 12 month lifetime of the contract. I should note that 3's offer includes 10 GB, whereas Vodafone's only includes 5 GB. It's pretty easy to see who is the winner here.

Sam Vimes

Urban Weigl wrote:

It's pretty easy to see who is the winner here.

true. the only drawback to the 3 offer is that its 3 and i'd be willing to bet they'll have some ridiculous condition that makes it useless.


and of course there's the robots in mumbai