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Why telcos prefer time-based charging on 3G?

If you survey various telcos around the globe, you will notice that all of them offer packet-based charging for 3G or Ev-DO. Only in the Philippines you’d get time-based charging. And the reason why?

A telco executive once told me most Filipinos do not understand packet charging or related terms such as bandwidth, KB, megabyte or gigabyte. Time-based charging is more understandable since it’s the same way as using net cafes or dial-up internet at home.

When GRPS and WAP services was first introduced years ago, they were offered at packet-based charging. People didn’t like it because they don’t want to be surprised how much their bill would end up after connecting to the net.

When I first tried GPRS back in 2003, I tried visiting my blog, left a comment and logged out. That 3 page visits I made cost me about Php100 on my prepaid account. I never tried it again.

The other week, when I went to an overnight trip to Singapore, I used my XPeria X1 tethered to my MSI Wind to go online. SingTel 3G charging was on per KB so I was careful not to visit heavy sites or download anything. Had they been doing time-based charging, I would have easily managed my connection time.

In hindsight, I thought we’re much fortunate to be able to choose between packet-based and time-based charging when running on 3G (at least for Globe Telecom). Besides, Smart Bro’s Php1,500 Unlimited offer is already a good bargain.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

33 Responses

  1. Avatar for bukoflavar bukoflavar says:

    hahay! napakinbangan nio naman ung fbt bkt kelangan itopic pa d2.. hay!

  2. Avatar for UBT.FBT addict UBT.FBT addict says:

    hoy edzshtar wag ka pasikat!
    if i know gumamit kn dn ng FBT/UBT o UMMS

    bakit mo alam kung di mo nasabukan :lol:

  3. Avatar for pointclick pointclick says:

    wala problema sa freedom of speech ang problem nasa sau mismo! d ka marunong, saan dapat lumugar… when & where mo iaapply ung freedom of speech mo… ganyan lng ka simple… pasikat!

  4. Avatar for cub0ne cub0ne says:

    kupal..

  5. Avatar for Edzhstar Edzhstar says:

    bakit my written law ba na nagsasabing bawal magingay,,bakit pa my freedom of speech?

  6. Avatar for ToinxBob ToinxBob says:

    I mean @ edzhstar… inggay mo…

  7. Avatar for ToinxBob ToinxBob says:

    @akai ganyan ka ba talaga?!! ang inggay mo!! wait lang…

  8. Avatar for Edzhstar Edzhstar says:

    now those people in http://pinoyden.com/index.php?topic=2418.0 blaming for revealing UFBT

    http://promditarlac.blogspot.com/

    pls make a move

  9. Avatar for anonymous anonymous says:

    @isl30fvi3w

    are you satisfied with packet charging?

    if so, good for you, sobrang yaman mo naman.

    Globe’s time based internet does not perform well anyway.

    So what are you going to choose? a lousy packet charging or a lousy time based charging?

  10. Avatar for isl30fvi3w isl30fvi3w says:

    Those telcos must always make sure that the services they are providing will satisfy their subscribers. It’s NOT the price, it’s the QUALITY of services. We always choose cheaper rates but are we satisfied? Most of the time… NOT!

  11. Avatar for deuts deuts says:

    I’m not sure if you answered your own question….

  12. Avatar for cheftonio cheftonio says:

    sa totoo, ayaw ko ng packet based or time based charging. gusto ko use all you can. Right now, i still have the unlimited visibility plan and I can say that ok naman ako with it except dun sa image compression na inapply nila..

  13. Avatar for nether nether says:

    Akai wag ka nman maingay

  14. Avatar for emben emben says:

    oo nakita kita, sabi ko si yuga o..

    ntry ko na rin dati yong /KB ang payment ng globe, inis di mo alam kung gano kalaki babayaran mo

  15. Avatar for Lucien Dominick G. Tiojanco Lucien Dominick G. Tiojanco says:

    No way I’m dealing with packet based charging again, LOL!

    I’ll be trying out Sun’s unlimited broadband soon. :-D

  16. Avatar for retz retz says:

    lol wow tapang ah

  17. Avatar for Tsong Tsong says:

    @Retz

    asshole!

  18. Avatar for edzhstar edzhstar says:

    Hey Mr. Yuga isa pang problema ng globe un mga hacker,kasi nga diba pag sa globe you can able connect to GPRS(inside the globe wapsite) even ZERO balance.Pwede ka pa rin makaconnect outside globe wapsite for free even Zero balance.
    Syempre nanjan na yung using 3rd party browser or kahit anung tricks man yan para makapagbrowse outside the globe wapsite(Friendster mobile,free downloads outside globe etc.)
    we called it UFBT(Unlimited Free Browsing Technique)
    And even UMMS(Unlimited MMS)pwede ka mkapagsend & retrieve ng MMS for free..
    Unlike SMART kapag zero balance na hindi na makabrowse at send MMS..
    although nagkaroon na din ng UFBT sa SMART..
    kaya nga ako nakacreate ng Wapsite ko nun dahil sa UFBT.
    try to Visit http://akai1987.wen.ru thru your phone
    anjan yung mga ibat ibang tricks..

    http://www.topblogs.com.ph/out/6820

    http://promditarlac.blogspot.com/

    http://humble-pride.blogspot.com/

  19. Avatar for edzhstar edzhstar says:

    1st comment?
    Yuga Nakita kita sa TV patrol I agree with yeah!

    http://www.topblogs.com.ph/out/6820

    http://promditarlac.blogspot.com/

  20. Avatar for retz retz says:

    wow, i just saw ur tips on buying a new mobile phone on TV Patrol, hehe sikat!

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