Karibu member

jnn

and if one got an opened modem (safaricon) can one enjoy the fastest 3G+ internet?

When you run so fast to get somewhere,you miss the fun of getting there... Life is not a race,so take it slowly....

3G+ is CDMA (I think) not GSM so no... the opened safaricom modem will not work... If 3G+ is GSM (I doubt) then yes...

Greedy when others are fearful,Very fearful when others are greedy - to paraphrase WB

@VVS,true,3G+ service is EvDO (Evolution Data Optimized) technology running on the CDMA platform. Therefore Kamaa,hard luck with an open 3G modem.

@Mukiha,as the name EvDO suggests,the technology has been tweaked to handle data better. This contributes to the good speeds. Also,the contention rate is much lower (how many guys are on 3G+?). I hope the Machungwa fellaz will uphold the reliability currently being experienced on the service.

@Feish,since GSM technology set in before CDMA,the scales tilt in favour of GSM. People are generally sceptical when told ati they need yet another gadget in order that they make use of the CDMA network. That's the drawback!

From the bussiness standpoint,the telecomms stage is still another 'Kula Korner' for foreigners. The technical bit & infrastructure is undertaken by the chinese (Huawei Technologies),which is fine,while I'm sure there's a chain of 'Specialists' from France enjoying their sabbatical in the name of supporting the chinese technology. LOL.

Else,technologywise,CDMA comes tops on most benchmarks when compared to GSM. But what the heck!


I came,I saw and was overcharged.

When I first got frustrated by Zain's speeds,some guys from SCOM offered me their connection. I told them to come and do a test run.

RESULT:
Their moden was not faster than Zain! So I don't understand why so many people sing praises of SCOM 3G.

This is the reason I moved to Orange. I was not just looking for another provider. I wanted different technology altogether. And by the way,Sh4,000 didn't seem so expensive compared to the Sh6,000 that I had paid for the Zain modem a year ago.

Incidentally; Internet connection is still virgin territory in Kenya. It's not like the voice call sector that has 18 million subscribers.

There are still less than 2 million internet users [including all the students who use cyber cafes] in the country. No wonder MJ of SCOM is sound very upbeat about this line of business.

Therefore,the choice between GSM and CDMA is not a big problem....

Behind the gardens...Behind the wall...Under the tree (Including: Red...Dark Blue...Yellow)

@mukiha - there are actually 3.5 million internet users - out of which abt 1.6 million use mobile data (handsets,USB modems,etc) - so yes,the ground is very,very fertile. And,you rightly say the bulk of the users are through cybers and corporate connections...but when people go back home,they have no internet - thats the frontier the battle will be waged. AK are unlikely to hack it with their 'internet@home' which costs way too much anyway vis a vis the USB's by Orange,Green and Zain. If you were to look at individual connections (excluding the mobile 1.6 million,users) i.e. when you count a cyber as ONE connection (with between 50-250 yahoo/gmail users per day),Barclays as ONE connection (with abt 1000 users),etc total connections (not users) are less than...100,000



The problem with equality is that we desire that it be with those that have more than us rather that those that have less

@ outvestor.I hav used my phone handset as my modem using the safcon network,I recently loaded my orange line with data,but av not been able to access their network even after being sent their settings.Do phones hav this change of platform in terms of cdma n gsm? otherwise nice topic

Godisnowhere

@Kangi:
For clarity,I'll match the jumbled up products at Telkom-Orange with their base Technologies.

Telkom wireless /Orange Fixed Plus/ 3G+/EvDO ->CDMA
Orange/Internet everywhere ->GSM
ADSL/Orange Nyumbani/Livebox/Dialup/Jambo/9555 ->Fixed Line

For your case,having used your phone on Safcom network,it is definately a GSM handset. I guess you want to use the Orange service (as per my classification above).

You need to activate data bundles for use. Sadly,this info is not with the poor guys at CusCare. Before I delve into other possible restrictions try the following:

1. Access the data menu #123#,click on call.
2. Listen for & choose the appropriate sub-menu ( Not sure if it's 4 )
3. Choose the bundle to purchase.

You should be access the internet after this. Let's know the results.


I came,I saw and was overcharged.