INTERNET DATA PLAN - COMPARATIVE - COMPETITIVE

I’m currently using Maxis with RM150-00 monthly commitment (1.5GB Data plan RM58-00).

In view that the 1.5GB per month is insufficient, I need to increase it to a recommended 3GB data plan. At the same time maintain or reduce the per minute call – currently is RM0-08 sen per minute.

The possibility to migrate to other telcos (U-Mobile,Tune Talk, Celcom or Digi) would be considered if the plan is worthy.

Before I proceed with the findings, please note of the followings :

- My monthly bill is around RM150 plus so I need to be within this range

- The research is based on current website shown at each telcos

- It will concentrate on data plan and call charges – sms charge is less priority (using whatsapp for message)

- it’s a postpaid plan (for high volume I would prefer postpaid rather than prepaid)

- It’s a smartphone – android /windows phone (not Iphone, blackberry or tab – there are more options out there)

- most telcos had unlimited data plan , like mine- if you had utilized all your quota of 1.5GB before your bill due date, you are still able to connect to the internet, you will not be charged. However, the speed throttle is too poor at 64mbps. ‘A customer complaint that 64mbps is ridiculous as he unable to connect with internet at all’. On the other hand, in maxis reply – they advised us to purchase data at RM5 per 500MB (24 hours only). – It’s their marketing plan.

Let’s view the rising telcos – Umobile package :

  They have U28, U58 and U88

	U28	U58	U88
Data Capacity	1GB	2GB	3GB
Monthly Commitment	RM28	RM58	RM88
Free calls within Umobile	nil	100 min	100 min
Free calls to other network	nil	200 min	200 min
Free sms within Umobile	100 sms	nil	100 sms
Free sms to other N/work	200 sms	nil	200 sms
If quota above had been utilized, the following rates shall apply:
Call within umobile	18 sen/min
Call to other network	20 sen/min
Sms within umobile	5 sen/min
Sms to other network	12 sen/min

Careful on the ‘call to other network’, having long conversation with different operator is not recommended for 20 sen per minute i.e 1 hour talk = RM12-00/30 minutes = RM6-00. Even the same operator also still high at 18 sen per minute. Tune talk and maxis talkmore 78 are cheaper.

Tune Talk – It’s my 3rd best option :

	Data Tata Plan	Weekly Plan 10	Monthly Plan 38
Data Capacity	3GB	200MB	1GB
Monthly commitment	RM58-00	Weekly commitment	RM38-00
Call – all operator	10 sen per minute after 3 minutes	No info	60 minutes free
Sms	5 sen each	No info	No info

The 3GB is worth considering for RM58-00 monthly. The 10 sen per minute is still cheap (1 hour = RM6-00/30 minutes = RM3-00). Maxis Talkmore 78 is cheaper. I heard that Tune Talk is part of Celcom's which mean that whenever there is Celcom's territory, Tune Talk signal will also be present.

 

Celcom – Yup, I’m also considering this but after evaluating the details ...nope....

Data Capacity	mAdvance Plus 3GB	mPro Plus 5GB
Monthly Commitment	RM68-00	RM88-00
call	Free 60 minutes (no info to celcom or other)
sms	Free 60 sms to all
Once quota used up :
Voice	20 sen/min	15 sen/min
sms	20 sen/min	15 sen/min

The after quota rate is 15 sen per minute i.e 1 hour = RM9-00/30 minutes RM4.50 (for 5GB package). Tune talk and maxis Talkmore 78 are cheaper.

It’s worst on 3GB plan at 20 sen per minute.

Digi Plan

Digi also not bad- my 2nd best option :

	Digi Smart plan 58	Digi Smart plan 88	Digi Smart plan 148
Capacity	2GB	4GB	6GB
Monthly Commitment	58.00	RM88-00	RM148-00
Call	200 calls to digi only	300 calls (maybe to all)	600 calls (maybe to all)
Call to other network	No info	No info	No info
Sms within digi only	200 to digi only	300 (maybe to all)	600  (maybe to all)
Sms to other n/work	No info	No info	No info
Charge after quota :
calls	15 sen	15 sen	10 sen
sms	10 sen
Bonus	100% discount if reaches RM250-00. 25% discount if reaches RM150-00 (on monthly fee)		NIL

The 10 sen per minute after the quota is cheap like Tune Talk but Maxis Talkmore 78 is cheaper.

The 6GB capacity is outstanding, but I don't need that much, well...not yet. Not sure whether the 600 calls and smses (similar to maxis Talkmore 78, only sms is 100 sms more by Digi) covered all network, I presumed - to all network.

 Maxis – Recommended !

	SurfMore 50	Surfmore 75
Data Capacity	2GB	5GB
Monthly Commitment	RM50-00	RM75-00
Call within maxis	12 sen/min	12 sen/min
Call to other N/work	20 sen/min	20 sen/min
Sms within maxis	5 sen	5 sen
Sms to other N/work	15 sen	15 sen
Bonus	Once hit RM150, discount RM12.50, if you hit RM250, discount RM50-00	Once hit RM150, discount RM18-75, if you hit RM250-00, discount RM75-00

	Talkmore 28	Talkmore 48	Talkmore 78
Data Capacity	-	-	-
Monthly Commitment	RM28-00	RM48-00	RM78-00
Call within maxis	200 min to all	400 min to all	600 min to alll
Call to other N/work
Sms within maxis	100 sms to all	200 sms to all	500 sms to all
Sms to other N/work
	Once quota used up :
Call and sms within maxis	12 sen/per min/per sms	10 sen/per min/per sms	8 sen/per min/per sms
Call and sms to other N/work	15 sen/per min/sms	15 sen/per min/sms	15 sen/per min/sms
Bonus	6 sen per min/per sms to maxis once reaches RM75	5 sen per min/per sms to maxis once reaches RM110	3 sen per min/per sms to maxis once reaches RM150

Surfmore 75 – 5GB is the choice but the 20 sen per minute is a killer (1 hour talk = RM12-00/30 minutes = RM6-00), 12 sen per minute is not bad (1 hour = RM7.20/30 minutes = RM3.60). Tune Talk is cheaper.

Talkmore 78 also another choice, (8 sen per minute) where I can talk more for less but it doesn’t have any data plan with it.

Proposed solution : combining Surfmore 75 and Talkmore 78 where I can enjoy both bigger data and bigger deals on call rate. It only cost me about RM153-00 monthly (my current plan is RM150-00 remember?).....however, it cannot be done! Maxis said that you can only choose one.

Solved ! : I opt for Talkmore 78 then asked maxis to add data 3GB on it. Surprisingly Maxis said CAN! I just need to pay additional RM68-00. The total charge per month will be RM146-00. YAY!!
(I presumed for 5GB cost RM75-00).

I now can enjoy free 10 hours of free calls and 500 free messages. Not only that, I'm still able to maintain 8 sen per minute (maxis to maxis) rate. In addition to the joy, once the bill reaches RM150-00, the rate will become lower at 3 sen per minute/per sms (to maxis).

My opinion is that you may need to ask your existing operator for any new package which will keep on revising. All the telcos compete with each other and always need to come up with new attractive rates sooner or later. In addition, we also need to revise our existing plan and compare to the new plan offered, who knows you might be at the losing end all this while.

Thanks.