Prepay from Vodafone

amnesia
By amnesia

You can now get prepaid sims from Vodafone :D

It's called Red.

http://vodafone.com.qa

Just in case people wanted to know.

By anonymous• 16 Sep 2009 11:40
anonymous

i have called up customer service to enquire if i can convert Flexi to RED and they informed me twice that they are still under migration process and currently dont have the option of switching from Flexi to RED ?

Can you let us know when this can happen ? I am looking to avail the special offer of getting the 500 QAR number for free on Flexi and migrate to RED as i just need the number, and will be rarely using it anyways...

any info ?

thx

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 16:56
amnesia

@crapcircle, Actually I'm not sure about that. In the Gulf market, it isn't something that's typical so that's why networks don't work on contracts.

WHen I was in the UK, I loved the fact that I could take out contracts and have a nice mobile phone. (It would be nice to have the option anyway).

In regards to something like Hala, that's what Red is.

So you get a card, buy your top ups, and enjoy your credit (and a few added value stuff in there too).

I'll pass on your comments for sure, thanks for that!

@Maverick, I just took a look at their site, and for 50 they give you 25 qr of credit and it lasts for 30 days (and the sim expires after 120)

With Vodafone, you pay 60 QR and get 36 QR of credit and 17 Vodafone minutes as a bonus.

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By anonymous• 9 Sep 2009 16:47
anonymous

we need something like a hala, when they give gave us like an introductory if you bought a hala card you would get a 1 year validity or 50 QAR sim card with a 50 QAR credit...

Its a new product from vodafone, we need something catchy .. wat say ?

By crapcircle• 9 Sep 2009 16:35
crapcircle

there's any chance Vodafone will be offering a US style all inclusive flat rate contract with unlimited minutes/messages for a set monthly fee? Perhaps with free phones like in the States?

Or something like the Hala cards, pay as you go no plan at all model?

I think those two would create the badly needed variety of services and result in serious competition...as is it's kind of a dead race really as both providers offer the same essential services with the notable difference that Vodafone is offering quite a bit of promotions which won't be around forever...

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 16:32
amnesia

*sighs*

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By sdias• 9 Sep 2009 16:28
sdias

I think you're the one that needs to relax other than get all wet and worked up.

Did at any point I mention that I sniff some conspiracy here? As Crapcircle said, it's but obvious...although I too dont know a thing about you.

So the reasons why you personally moved to Vodafone, no need to comment...everyone knows

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 16:21
amnesia

@crapcircle, since you don't see, I shall explain. I was trying to prove the point that I am not some corporate employee that has just come along to spam a forum or as you said "vainly pretend they're part of the community".

Just please understand, if I post something about Vodafone, I'm not just posting Vodafone stuff, it's just a a minute fraction of my posts.

That being said, I still appreciate your criticisms.

@Maverick, it's exactly a prepaid plan, you buy credit in advance, when you spend it you have to go out and buy some credit to top up.

Or if your credit doesn't run out, it lasts for an extra 30 days (rather than expiring immediately.)

So it's a 100% pre-paid plan. :)

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By anonymous• 9 Sep 2009 16:14
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

just to update Vodafone RED is not a complete prepaid card at all ! I have called up Vodafone customer service to enquire about it and it is basically the same as a Freedom plan with the only part of you paying by Cash.

how it works as explained by a rep, we can go to any of the stores and pick up a RED Card, with RED plans, it is valid for 60 days only same as a Freedom plan where you have to use your credit within 30 days or it gets carried over to the next month, if we fail to buy a prepaid scratch card and fill before the end of the 2nd month the card is deactivated.

Any comments on RED ? I am still a bit confused ...

Also if we have a freedom flexi plan to convert to RED can be possible only after 16th of Sept as now they cannot ..

By crapcircle• 9 Sep 2009 16:06
crapcircle

I don't see how your charitable work, internet message board seniority, noble aims and ideals, or anything really, are in any way relevant to this discussion. I figured you were a Vodafone employee without knowing a thing about you. I don't really check people's "profiles" or whatever... we're all here to communicate and chitchat. I just don't think you're doing the company much of a service with that kind of grassroots marketing that's all... You can take the observation, or leave it ;)

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 15:54
amnesia

@sadias, no I'm not, I have an employee phone which I use to receive phone calls, my 'public' phone (Qtel line) and my personal line (Vodafone standard which I use the most).

You need to all relax, not everything is a conspiracy.

You know why I chose to move to Vodafone? Because the people are down to earth, easy to contact and they care. You've got some VF people on Qatar Living and they're more than happy to listen to what people have to say and make a difference.

__________________________

Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 15:51
amnesia

um did you bother to click on my profile. You've only been on QL for 7 weeks so perhaps you don't know me, but I've been a QL member for over two years.

I also have been posting and contributing on the forum for a very long time. (long before Vodafone was announced that they were going to come to Qatar)

My aim is to help, chat, and provide a Qatari view for people on this site.

I also only just joined Vodafone a month ago (something which I've never hidden), and although I am highlighting that Vodafone now has Red (because people asked about when they could pay by cash), I ALSO post Qtel news because I would like to think that I am unbiased when it comes to the facts.

Oh and if we delve even deeper, besides trying to make Qatar a better place through my company, working with charities, working with the NHRC to improve quality of life in Qatar AND trying to improve legislation to make it more transparent and get rid of useless laws, I am also a person who is PRO-COMPETITION.

So again, my interest? Facts, Freedom and a better future.

I post a lot about Apple, Showtime channels, and Villaggio, I guess I must be working for all of them too and have a negative motive. *sighs*

So get your facts straight please.

//gets off of soap box

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By sdias• 9 Sep 2009 15:49
sdias

"I got my Qtel bill down from 2,850 a month to 420 after joining Vodafone :)"

maybe because you are on an employee rate plan

By crapcircle• 9 Sep 2009 15:37
crapcircle

Why would you otherwise promote the company with such devotion, I mean, are you really in love with a telecom company? Even if you don't have a vested interest?

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 15:14
amnesia

@crapcircle, do you mean me?

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By anonymous• 9 Sep 2009 14:11
anonymous

excellent points mate,

By anonymous• 9 Sep 2009 13:42
anonymous

Vodafone just getting better and better everyday :)..love you Vodafone

--------------------------------

Either follows my way or Highway

By crapcircle• 9 Sep 2009 13:33
Rating: 4/5
crapcircle

But there's a rule of thumb in western marketing that dictates "if it looks corporate, scrap it". See I kinda liked Vodafone's copywriting on their website. Kinda being the keyword. It tried to be all carefree and stuff, but it was a little pretentious too. But what makes me stick to a Q-Tel I have no love of is the viral marketing strategy, the, "let's send one of our reps into an online community to vainly pretend they're part of the community while they're basically indulging in unsolicited spam". Come on Voda, we're not THAT dumb. And the Facebook group... now that's plain hilarious but I guess everything has a Facebook group (part of the reason I don't have an FB account anymore).

I understand the need for an upstart to promote itself in every way possible, but the iPhone fallout will not be easy to correct, Q-Tel dealt you guys quite the underhand but it clearly isn't their fault you tossed them a free steak with your pricing. In the end, people get really sick of aggressive marketing and start refusing your services out of spite. You might convert the phoneaholics to your cause but the vast majority of the market which thrives on 10 QR. prepaid cards will stick with your well established competitor. It's kind of like Qatar Airways/Emirates vs. Bahrain Air/FlyDubai. The majority of the population of the Gulf is always going to be low skill/low pay expat labour. They have no money, and frankly no interest in 5 star transportation. A solid business model beats any marketing trickery in the long run.

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 13:06
amnesia

lol smoke, that's like saying if something was 40 and I only have 39 so why isn't it 30.

If Vodafone was identical to Qtel, they should just merge and create another monopoly :P

I agree with you though, you're saying that 0's easier than dealing with 5's. I'll pass it on ^_^ (I'd rather they round down instead of up though lol)

I really take everyone's opinions to heart (as long as they don't hurt it :( ) lol

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Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By anonymous• 9 Sep 2009 13:03
Rating: 5/5
anonymous

I used to get 600 a month these 2 months 100 or a bit less :D

By smoke• 9 Sep 2009 12:23
Rating: 4/5
smoke

Yes but can i walk into the local abdulla shop next to my house and ask for a 10 riyal RED card? I have only 30 riyals in my pocket what do i buy? RED for 35 or Hala for 30..20..10? why didnt they just round up all the RED? just looks more pleasing to the eyes. :p

Good Fortune always comes knocking at your door...when you are sh*tting in the toilet!! :)

_[]~SMoKE~[]_

 

By amnesia• 9 Sep 2009 12:12
Rating: 5/5
amnesia

um, if we do the math it works out cheaper.

You shouldn't look at flat rates, you look at overall value.

With Vodafone, you never pay the flat rate.

E.g.

Get a Flexi 220 on red and get 250 QR worth of credit and 110 Vodafone minutes.

250 / .5 (the flat rate) = 500 minutes.

So on a Flexi 220 you're rate is .43 dhs per minute.

Either way though, with the value you get, and the constant offers, I think it's worth it.

I got my Qtel bill down from 2,850 a month to 420 after joining Vodafone :)

__________________________

Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.

By Kwan• 9 Sep 2009 11:43
Rating: 5/5
Kwan

but the Vodafone rates being higher than Qtel, I don't think it is a good option. And moreover the quality of vodafone n/w is nowhere near Qtel's.

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