Free Feedback for Mobile2i

I came across Odzangba Kafui Dake’s Blog, this afternoon. He is a Ghanaian blogger who is also a student in one of Ghana’s higher institutions of learning. From what I can glean from his blog, he is a Linux fan too.
The blogger is not happy with Mobile2i’s Terms of Service, and is vehemently expressing his views: Mobile Internet In Winneba

I’m blogging from the house ‘cos she (my sister) bought one of these mobile internet office packages (this one runs on the kasapa cdma network). The annoying thing is it comes with drivers and special software for *only* windows (why am I not surprised?). That’s very inconsiderate of the service providers because not everybody in Ghana uses windows. The Mac user base is beginning to flex its muscles and an increasing number of people, notably sys admins and IT professionals, are using linux whenever they can. But gets worse… here are snips of the terms and conditions imposed on all users of this service

>Mobile2i Pay-As-You-Go data sessions may be used with wireless devices for Internet browsing, Email (including >Document & Photo Attachment upload/downloads), and Corporate intranet access.

That’s it? That’s all I’m *allowed* to do? I’m paying good money (or at least my sister is) for this service. They charged GHC2,000,000.00 for the starter kit and GHC30/kb thereafter! Who uses *only* email these days anyway?

>Mobile2i Pay-As-You-Go Internet services may not be used:
>(i) For uploading, downloading or streaming of movies, music files or games,
>(ii) With server devices or with host computer applications, including, but not limited >to, Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, Voice over IP (VolP), >automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P)file sharing.

I’m over-paying them for this so-called internet service and they have the impudence to tell me what I can and cannot with it? So how are theur customers going to get all those hefty updates for windows, anti-virus apps and all those programs that need regular updates.

Can I stop laughing? Well, its a serious matter. The telecom companies in Africa, almost always get away with the imposition of such terms, as well as high tariffs and poor service quality, on subscribers. And why not? The regulatory bodies are almost always toothless bulldogs. This is free feedback for Mobile2i and one can only hope that they act.

I will write a full review about Mobile2i’s service, when I have the chance of using it, myself.

* Winneba, an historic fishing town in Ghana is the capital of the Awutu/Effutu/Senya District in Central Region.

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Oluniyi D. Ajao
Oluniyi D. Ajao is an Internet Entrepreneur and Tech Enthusiast based in South Africa. Follow him on twitter @niyyie for more tech updates.

7 Comments

  1. please get your facts right . they do not charge per kilobyte.
    I have been using it for over a year, and i think its a great companion for the mobile worker.

  2. YEs, Ma bra, get yr facts right. i’m a user and service is wonderful. Works on the WINSVista and Mac OP.
    Those conditions apply to downloads for commercial purpose.

  3. yes it seems the sites has been updated without any information on mobile2i nor its drivers downloads. they use to have it + the vista version but…
    such a poor service!

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