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3G FAQs

Read about the benefits of Vanilla 3G/HSDPA

3G

Fast Internet sounds nice and useful, but what is the point if you cant take it anywhere.... Whether you are on the beach, out of town, at your favourite restaurant, the advantages of 3G have been undeniable! To many people it has become an indispensable tool in communication.

3G HSDPA gives you instant access to seamless wide area coverage and a super fast mobile Internet.... what more could you possibly want?

What is 3G HSDPA?

3G HSDPA is a 3G enhancement that delivers superior speed. Its performance is comparable to today's wireless LAN services, but with the added benefit of mobility and ubiquitous coverage.

HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access) is a new mobile data protocol and is sometimes referred to as a 3.5G (or "3½G") technology.

The absolute maximum theoretical speeds are:

• Downlink: 1.8 Mbps
• Uplink: 128 Kbps

Advantages:

• Portability - plug into your laptop and you are set to surf the net anywhere anytime
• Speed - speeds of up to 1.8Mbps and faster than ADSL!
• Free email address (with data contract packages)
• NO installation costs
• NO Internet Subscription costs (NO ISP charge)
• NO Waiting - simple and easy to use (instant access)

What is needed to access the 3G HSDPA Broadband network?

The latest HSDPA data card that can be used with a Vodacom 3G contract or with a 3G/MyMeg Bolt-on.

Vodacom is introducing the new HSDPA enabled Vodafone Mobile Connect Card - the Option Nozomi. The Novatel U740 and Huawei E620 data cards have also been approved on the Vodacom network.

How much does it cost?

Utilizing HSDPA will cost exactly the same as 3G during the launch phase. Customers may however experience increased usage if moving from 3G as reduced download time means customers tend to download more.

Prices as at 14 November 2006 from Vodacom Service Provide.

connection fee: R97

Vodacom 3G/HSDPA proces

Package	Monthly Rental	Included data	Out of Bundle charge	Effective Bundle Charge
3G HSDPA 500	R350	500MB	R1.50/MB	R0.70/MB
3G HSDPA 1GB	R599	1GB	R1.20/MB	R0.60/MB
3G HSDPA 2GB	R1098	2GB	R1.20/MB	R0.55/MB
3G HSDPA 10GB	R1098	10GB	R1.20/MB	R0.50/MB

Why should i get 3G?

• Mobility: You can take the Internet and your company network with you. Use it when and where you need to with super fast broadband speed.
• Speed: Under perfect conditions, HSDPA downlink speeds are 1.8mbps, but you can expect speeds of between 400Kbps and 800Kbps with peaks of approximately 1.4Mbps.
• Wide area coverage: Vodacom has 3G HSDPA coverage throughout its 3G network providing the widest 3G HSDPA coverage in SA!

International coverage - International roaming on 3G HSDPA is possible through Vodacom's partnership with Vodafone, providing high speed data access in all Vodafone partner networks that offer HSDPA. Vodacom's 3G HSDPA service is being rolled out in major metropolitan areas throughout South Africa.

• Simplicity: It is easy to set-up - No ISP, no waiting, no searching for a connection point, just plug and play!
• Responsiveness: The latency of interactive applications such as chat and on-line gaming is reduced with HSDPA, making these applications respond faster.
• VideoMail: VideoMail is one of a new generation of applications made possible by 3G – and it will change the way you communicate with business associates, family and friends.

How does it work?

To browse web pages or collect your email, you need to connect to the internet. The Vodafone 3G Broadband Mobile Connect software is designed to let you perform the most common actions by clicking on a single button. The Vodafone 3G Broadband Mobile Connect Card works with Vodacom's 3G HSDPA, offering connection speeds that are up to 7 times faster than a 56K PSTN modem dial-up connection. If you find yourself in an area without 3G coverage, the Vodafone 3G Broadband Mobile Connect Card will keep you connected by switching seamlessly to EDGE or GPRS. The intuitive on-screen Mobile Connect software for Windows (v3.0 or later) provides:

• Access to email
• Web browsing
• Send and receive SMSs
• Chat using your existing instant messaging service
• Monitor your usage for 3G ,and GPRS

The volumes of data transmitted and received are presented on the dashboard software enabling you to control the costs. The usage information is presented in megabytes and not as a financial value. It is an indication and may vary slightly from what appears on your bill.

What do I get with the Vodafone 3G Broadband Mobile Connect Card?

• A CD with software that needs to be installed onto your laptop before you insert your data card into the PCMCIA slot (The Vodafone Mobile Connect Card can be used on almost any laptop)
• A User Manual to guide you through the installation process
• The 3G Broadband Mobile Connect Card which must only be inserted into the PCMCIA slot once the software has been installed
• The software allows you to:
• • Send and receive emails
  • Surf the web
  • Send SMSs
  • Keep an eye on your usage

What do I need to do to connect to the Vodacom Network using the Mobile Connect Card?

You need to subscribe to one of Vodacom's 3G data tariffs which will give you access to Vodacom's 3G HSDPA, 3G, EDGE and GPRS Network. Your Vodacom SIM card is at the heart of your mobile office. To be productive whilst mobile is more than just being able to talk. It's about sending and receiving information too. Now you don't need fixed lines and wires to restrict you from accessing that mission-critical information.

The 3G Broadband Mobile Connect Card is free with a 3G One tariff plan. This includes free internet access, email address and 1 Gigabyte of data per month - which is the approximate equivalent of 200 000 emails; the ability to browse 25 000 websites; download 10 000 word documents; or download 20 000 PowerPoint slides.

Are the current 3G Vodafone Mobile Connect Cards compatible with HSDPA?

No, unfortunately the current cards cannot be upgraded to support HSDPA. Customers will need to purchase the new HSDPA enabled Vodafone Mobile Connect cards.

Why can the current Vodafone Mobile Connect cards not be upgraded?

All current Mobile Connect cards do not have the physical capability to be used on the higher speed, so upgrading the software won't help.

Can any handsets make use of the 3G HSDPA Network?

Current 3G handsets are not compatible however new HSDPA enabled handsets are likely to only become available later this year.

Are the 3G Routers compatible with the 3G HSDPA cards?

Yes the existing Linksys Routers are compatible however a firmware upgrade to the router will have to be done. Click here for downloads.

Where can the 3G HSDPA Broadband Network be accessed?

All 3G enabled base stations have been upgraded to also support HSDPA, however the coverage is not identical as the HSDPA network is more sensitive to external influences such as indoor coverage, topography and weather conditions.

Can customers roam with 3G HSDPA?

Yes, roaming will be available initially in Germany, Austria and Portugal. It must be noted however that it is very costly and potentially more so than 3G due to the increased ability to download more data. Current 3G data roaming rates apply.

What speeds can be attained on the 3G HSDPA Broadband Network?

Under perfect conditions one would get speeds of up to 1.8 Mbps, but expect to see speeds of between 400 Kbps and 800 Kbps with peaks of approximately 1.2 Mbps

If there is no HSDPA signal will I be able to use 3G and GPRS?

Yes, when the signal drops off you will be able to access the 3G, Edge and GPRS network in the same manner as with the 3G Data cards.

When I am connected, how will I know that I am on 3G HSDPA and not 3G?

When you are connected via 3G HSDPA, you will seamlessly move between HSDPA and 3G, as they use the same network infrastructure. The flashing lights will however indicate which bearer you are using - 1 flash for GPRS, 2 for 3G and 3 for HSDPA. (This applies to the Option Nozomi card only).

Why am I getting 3G like speeds whilst "connected" to HSDPA?

The HSDPA/3G network has the intelligence to supply you with increased bandwidth, where available, only as you require it thereby providing a far more efficient utilization of bandwidth. For instance, searching for a Web site on Google would not require large bandwidth, yet downloading a large video clip would require a lot more bandwidth and thus will allocate you more bandwidth only when you start downloading.

3G-HSDPA vs 3G vs GPRS

3G is 9 times faster than GPRS with a maximum download of 384kbps, ensuring you can do more with your cellphone than ever before. 3G keeps your world totally connected all of the time with seamless handover between 3G, EDGE and GPRS.

3G-HSDPA is 4 times faster than 3G. 3G HSDPA is a 3G enhancement that delivers superior speed. Its performance is comparable to today's wireless LAN services, but with the added benefit of mobility and ubiquitous coverage.

3G-HSDPA vs DSL vs Dial-up

You still can't decide if you should get 3G or DSL or even Dial-up?

Have a look at our comparison page to learn more about the differences.

How do I get 3G?

Speak to your Service Provider - We at Vanilla will be glad to service your request!

Its as simple as that....

Basically,

1) You will fill in a credit application form if you are a new Vodacom subscriber.

2) You will need a copy of a canceled cheque, a 3 months bank statement, a copy of your ID and a letter stating what services and/or products you require from Vodacom.

3) We will then perform a credit check, and once passed, you will receive your order on your doorstep...

What are the system requirements?

For PC:

• Specifically designed for Windows 2000 (SP2 and above) and Windows XP. Runs on Windows 98, 98SE and NT4 but certain patches may be required
• Type II PC-card slot with card-bus interface
• Memory – 32 MB RAM minimum, 64 MB recommended
• 100MB minimum of free hard disk pace
• To use the WLAN service a WLAN-enabled laptop is required

Terms and Conditions

1. Subject to 3G HSDPA, GPRS and WLAN coverage and availability
2. Not compatible with all laptops
3. HSDPA-Network, maximum downlink speed is 1.4mb/s. Maximum uplink is 128 Kb/s
4. The 3G HSDPA service may be affected by:
5. 1. The number of users accessing the 3G and 3G HSDPA Network in your cell
   2. Strength of signal and your distance from the nearest antenna
   3. Factors out of your control such as atmospheric conditions

Enabling 3G HSDPA on Mac OS X

For anyone who may be struggling to enable their 3g on Mac OS X you can try the following.

edit
/Library/Modem Scripts/MMHS Modem

Change the line that says

write "AT+CGDCONT=1,\34IP\34,\34internet\34,,0,0\13"

to

write "AT+CGDCONT=1,\34IP\34,\34mobile.is.co.za\34,,0,0\13"