Mobile Browsing: GPRS v WiFi

ashthedivx · 6th January 2009, 10:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderNomad

I am also a Vodafone Corporate customer and the voice plan I have is quite good. So does it mean I should check with them if they have a good corporate GPS plan too?

For me working on gprs is more or less like you have been on old dial-up lines where you need to wait a hour or so to download a 10 MB attachmen: Cant agree more dude.

By the way I am Amit.

Amit, you need to check with your admin dept. at first stage or could get in touch with Vodaphone people directly. Ask Vodaphone people how much you'll be charged under corporate plan you are on.

iceman91 · 6th January 2009, 10:44

I use edge only to chek emails on the move else it is too slow or half the sites dont open.
Else at home and office WIFI it is. pretty quick and handy

given2fly · 6th January 2009, 10:57

Apart from etc etc discussion that I have seen so far on the thread, my opinion on your question is that Wifi is a place specific service. You won't find it all the way from Delhi to Chandigarh or Mumbai to Pune or Chennai to Bangalore. However, you will have GPRS/EDGE connectivity all the way through on all these important routes. Same goes for your train journeys. SO, if you are looking to use exclusively Wifi as your preferred Mobile Internet Acces, not a very wise idea outside your house or office.

Regarding connectivity speed & pricing depends from circle to circle. Airtel charges 450 in Mumbai to prepaid users while in CG/MP circle, it is close to 230/250. Similarly I haven't yet seen any unlimited packages from Vodafone for retail mobile subscribers. Hence your choice of service provider should solely depend on your specific area.

diabloo · 9th January 2009, 10:54

Thanks for the inputs. So,
WiFi - frees you from wires, not location. But its cheap.
GPRD/EDGE/3G - true mobility but it costs.
WiMax - mobility, but waiting for WiMax handset to be launched.

Does anybody offer such a facility?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Does his office bus have a WiFi router?

WanderNomad · 9th January 2009, 14:09

Wrote to Corporate care at Vodafone and these are the corporate plans they have for us:

Rs. 199: 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received
Rs. 499: 500 MB free and after that 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received
Rs. 699: 1 GB free, there after 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received

srishiva · 9th January 2009, 14:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloo

Thanks for the inputs. So,
WiFi - frees you from wires, not location. But its cheap.
GPRD/EDGE/3G - true mobility but it costs.
WiMax - mobility, but waiting for WiMax handset to be launched.

Does anybody offer such a facility?

Some luxury trains do. They still need a WAN connection from the bus (like mobile WiMax, 3g or 4g, satellite etc.,)

I am not sure but WiMax in India may not be really mobile. It should be fixed WiMax.

shajufx · 19th January 2009, 17:49

Anyone is able to use messengers like Yahoo, google, MSN or similar on your mobile with the wi-fi at home or office ? I tried it on my blackberry pearl 8120 (without BB services active) but could only do browsing. None of the messengers are working, it shows 'Data services unavailable'. Any suggestions ?

ashthedivx · 19th January 2009, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by WanderNomad

Wrote to Corporate care at Vodafone and these are the corporate plans they have for us:

Rs. 199: 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received
Rs. 499: 500 MB free and after that 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received
Rs. 699: 1 GB free, there after 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received

Sad to hear Vodaphone dosen't offers unlimited plans to you.

spiff · 23rd January 2009, 17:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashthedivx

Sad to hear Vodaphone dosen't offers unlimited plans to you.

Yes , I actually wanted to switch as well and I found out that last month they stopped offering unlimited plans :(

Can anybody recommend any other service providers who offer good unlimited GPRS service ( Idea/MTNL ).

given2fly · 28th January 2009, 11:50

Mumbai, you don't have any option (ok, Airtel prepaid does have a 15 Rs per day unlimited offer). Idea's network coverage is shady and recently, a friend from Pune was in his Mumbai home and Idea kept switching between idea and vodafone network and he got a billed of 3.5K for roaming calls for his GPRS usage. I will say, don't go the Idea way.

Btw, if possible through legal ways, pick up a SIM from another state where an operator gives unlimited option. Plonk it in & there you go.

NetfreakBombay · 28th January 2009, 12:21

In Mumbai MTNL is the only operator with unlimited GPRS/EDGE connections. It costs approx 400 per month.

given2fly · 28th January 2009, 12:30

@Netfreak, How is the coverage and reliability of the MTNL Dolphin GPRS service?

NetfreakBombay · 28th January 2009, 13:13

Coverage is pretty good in my home and office (Malad (W) and Churchgate).

But like any other provider, it depends a lot on specific location. E.g. building / flyover that gets between cell and tower can make GPRS lousy.

Reliability in your area is easy to try out with a Pre-paid SIM that costs 200 Rs.

ntomer · 28th January 2009, 14:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabloo

GPRD/EDGE/3G - true mobility but it costs.

Not really. I have an AirTel connection, and I am charged 99/- per month for unlimited data download.

And while roaming, if I remain on AirTel network, there are no charges for surfing. I have to pay for surfing only when I am on a non-AirTel network. This effectively means that I had never have to pay for surfing :-)

\N

ashthedivx · 28th January 2009, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by ntomer

Not really. I have an AirTel connection, and I am charged 99/- per month for unlimited data download.

And while roaming, if I remain on AirTel network, there are no charges for surfing. I have to pay for surfing only when I am on a non-AirTel network. This effectively means that I had never have to pay for surfing :-)

\N

Looks like you are on Airtel Corporate plan as well

6th January 2009, 10:44	#47
iceman91 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: melbourne/banga Posts: 1,961 Thanked: 34 Times View My Garage	I use edge only to chek emails on the move else it is too slow or half the sites dont open. Else at home and office WIFI it is. pretty quick and handy
	() Thanks

6th January 2009, 10:57	#48
given2fly BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 213 Thanked: 0 Times	Apart from etc etc discussion that I have seen so far on the thread, my opinion on your question is that Wifi is a place specific service. You won't find it all the way from Delhi to Chandigarh or Mumbai to Pune or Chennai to Bangalore. However, you will have GPRS/EDGE connectivity all the way through on all these important routes. Same goes for your train journeys. SO, if you are looking to use exclusively Wifi as your preferred Mobile Internet Acces, not a very wise idea outside your house or office. Regarding connectivity speed & pricing depends from circle to circle. Airtel charges 450 in Mumbai to prepaid users while in CG/MP circle, it is close to 230/250. Similarly I haven't yet seen any unlimited packages from Vodafone for retail mobile subscribers. Hence your choice of service provider should solely depend on your specific area.
	() Thanks

9th January 2009, 14:09	#50
WanderNomad BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delhi Posts: 271 Thanked: 11 Times	Wrote to Corporate care at Vodafone and these are the corporate plans they have for us: Rs. 199: 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received Rs. 499: 500 MB free and after that 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received Rs. 699: 1 GB free, there after 0.05paise per 10KB data sent and received Last edited by WanderNomad : 9th January 2009 at 14:11.
	() Thanks

19th January 2009, 17:49	#52
shajufx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: BLR & Singapore Posts: 1,806 Thanked: 831 Times View My Garage	Anyone is able to use messengers like Yahoo, google, MSN or similar on your mobile with the wi-fi at home or office ? I tried it on my blackberry pearl 8120 (without BB services active) but could only do browsing. None of the messengers are working, it shows 'Data services unavailable'. Any suggestions ?
	() Thanks

28th January 2009, 11:50	#55
given2fly BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 213 Thanked: 0 Times	Mumbai, you don't have any option (ok, Airtel prepaid does have a 15 Rs per day unlimited offer). Idea's network coverage is shady and recently, a friend from Pune was in his Mumbai home and Idea kept switching between idea and vodafone network and he got a billed of 3.5K for roaming calls for his GPRS usage. I will say, don't go the Idea way. Btw, if possible through legal ways, pick up a SIM from another state where an operator gives unlimited option. Plonk it in & there you go.
	() Thanks

28th January 2009, 12:21	#56
NetfreakBombay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 1,021 Times	In Mumbai MTNL is the only operator with unlimited GPRS/EDGE connections. It costs approx 400 per month.
	() Thanks

28th January 2009, 12:30	#57
given2fly BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 213 Thanked: 0 Times	@Netfreak, How is the coverage and reliability of the MTNL Dolphin GPRS service?
	() Thanks

28th January 2009, 13:13	#58
NetfreakBombay Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,466 Thanked: 1,021 Times	Coverage is pretty good in my home and office (Malad (W) and Churchgate). But like any other provider, it depends a lot on specific location. E.g. building / flyover that gets between cell and tower can make GPRS lousy. Reliability in your area is easy to try out with a Pre-paid SIM that costs 200 Rs. Last edited by NetfreakBombay : 28th January 2009 at 13:15.
	() Thanks