Where Can I Buy Payg Vodafone Internet Sim Without Dongle Options

[sputnik]

I am using a notebook which has slot for a SIM card.

I wanted to simply buy a Vodafone pay-as-you-go broadband Internet Sim card without the dongle, and stick it in.

However the store assistant told me the only way is to buy the complete package, and then extract the Sim card.

This is what I have done, but I don't like it -- it is wasteful -- I have no use for this redundant dongle. I don't like to cause waste, and it feels inefficient to do it this way also.

Where can I get just the Sim card? I hope it is possible to do this.

and please somebody tell me how I can de-censor the card so that it doesn't block certain websites? this is doing my nut.

Thanks,

Sput

[LeeH_Vodafone]

Hi sputnik,

Unfortunately, the sales advisor you spoke to was correct We are unable to supply the SIM only, it's the entire package or nothing!!!

Sorry,

LeeH
eForum Team

[sputnik]

Hi sputnik,

Unfortunately, the sales advisor you spoke to was correct We are unable to supply the SIM only, it's the entire package or nothing!!!

Sorry,

LeeH
eForum Team

Please, 'unable' is not the right word. It is diametrically opposite to the truth. my guess at the truth would be ' entirely able, but choosing not to, for the sake of maximising profits'.

What is the rationale behind this decision? it seems a crazy decision because there is an obvious market. but I think I can figure it out... it took me a while so I may as well present it in case anyone is interested...

You are throwing away an emerging market sector - the forthcoming generation of netbooks is going to sport a SIM socket. I have done some homework on this - most manufacturers have placed the necessary hardware and solder points on the motherboard already. It is possible (though ugly) to hack the existing models. So obviously they are holding back readying themselves to hit the market with mobile ready machines. Christmas?

I guess it is to do joint deals between netbook Manufacturers, phone network providers such as yourselves, and retail outlets such as carphone warehouse - you will soon be able to buy an Internet enabled netbook at your focal phone shop.

And Carphone warehouse would not be very happy if a group of cowboys started buying netbooks off eBay, and a bunch of SIMs off Vodafone, and started selling net-enabled Netbooks months before them. So much for spearheading a new technology into the market, if it is already established and well known.

I get the impression that Vodafone are holding back on a good product, crippling it in some way to squeeze more money out of their customer base.

I don't want to bleat on - I admire you guys who work on the forums from maintaining a positive energy, and ranty customers must be draining, so please forgive.

I am just hoping maybe there is a chance someone can throw this back up the chain far enough to get a policy change. I think if you sold individual simcards with a licence preventing a reseller from bundling it, you could keep everyone happy without compromising alliances or losing shareholding.

</rant>



Sput

[PICNIC]

I have to somewhat agree with you sputnik ,

Have you seen the Mobile broadband via your phone add-on which they have ?

It is possible for contract customer's to have this put on their sim but not PAYG , the reason not PAYG most likely being because they are more disposable such as you can have one in your laptop and leave it their , instead of having to take it out to make calls etc. So yes , i definitely think it is possible but if Vodafone allowed this add-on o a PAYG that would be ok and sort out your problem for you.

[LeeH_Vodafone]

Hi sputnik,

I believe you have a very valid point, and agree that it would make sense for us to provide a 'SIM only' mobile broadband experience. I have to say that you make your point very well, but for the time being the possibility of our customers being able to take out this sort of deal is, for now, out of the question.

Believe me, I have tried to get this sorted out before, even spoke to some of my very good friends in the sales team, and have been rebuked on each occasion, with my colleagues citing that this is not possible.

Rather than 'palming you off' I'll send you an email to your registered address, where we'll gain access to your account and feed your point of view back to the business via our Voice of the Customer feedback tool.

Once we have your reply, we'll raise this on your behalf. I have to be honest, you're not likely to see changes overnight, but we've experienced changes due to feedback from our customers in the past, and I expect more changes in the future.

Cheers,

LeeH
eForum Team

[Trudi9101]

I believe you have a very valid point, and agree that it would make sense for us to provide a 'SIM only' mobile broadband experience. I have to say that you make your point very well, but for the time being the possibility of our customers being able to take out this sort of deal is, for now, out of the question.Cheers,
LeeH
eForum Team

I posted a question about this yesterday without having seen this thread. I have now experimented and have been able to put a standard Vodafone telephone PAYG SIM card into an unlocked dongle and used it to obtain a 3G connection. It debited 50p off my pre-paid balance for a modest amount of surfing. This is the correct rate for up to 25 Meg of mobile broadband, so this is actually all easily do-able.

This post has been edited by Trudi9101: Jul 28 2009, 07:08 AM

[mechnowhiz]

I posted a question about this yesterday without having seen this thread. I have now experimented and have been able to put a standard Vodafone telephone PAYG SIM card into an unlocked dongle and used it to obtain a 3G connection. It debited 50p off my pre-paid balance for a modest amount of surfing. This is the correct rate for up to 25 Meg of mobile broadband, so this is actually all easily do-able.

Please HOW ???? Ken

[PaulE_Vodafone]

Hi again Ken

I've no idea how this was possible, as the Pay as You Go SIM uses a different APN (Access Point Name) to the Top Up and Go

If it did work, I think it'd be more due to luck than judgement

Paul
eForum Team

[hey.arno]

http://www.vodafone.nl/shop/handset/Prepai...nly/sku12720017
http://www.vodafone.nl/prive/internetten/M...et/Abonnementen

Hi all. I hope some Vodafone reps are still reading this thread.
I recently purchased a Vodafone payG modem in Spain (had to), but purchased VF simply because I believed it would be useable thru Vodafone in UK...after all, the hardware and software are the same, just need a SIM Card. So, like the original post, I've been looking for a SIM to activate this device, but have been told that data-only SIM cards are not possible, even from Vodafone...have to buy the whole kit.

The links above are from Vodafone in the Netherlands. There, you can purchase a pay-and-go data only SIM for €5. (First link). The tariffs are also outlined explicitly (2nd link) and seem in line to what I paid in Spain as well, though more expensive than what I've seen in the UK.

When I was in Spain, the Vodafone rep informed me that my card could "toggle" between voice and data...however, I had to do it by sending an SMS from my phone to change it over. That said, when I had to top up the card, it was always topped up as voice credit, and I had to send the SMS to change it to data before it would work in the modem. So apparently, it is technically possible to make use of a voice card that can also be used for data, and vice versa...

So, comments like "out of the question", and "unable" are not helpful. Question is why does Vodafone UK choose to NOT do these things. There is no profit in the modem to the company, the profit is in the use of the network....so, by denying the small few who have the hardware already, why deny them the opportunity to spend their money with your company?

I think the original poster has it spot on...Vodafone is not keeping up, and it would be nice to know if/when they will decide to catch up to the market demand.
So, for now, I'll just wait, but hopefully for not too long...

[Wayne_Vodafone]

Hi Hey.arno and welcome to the eForum

I completely appreciate your frustration with this. I think a Data Only pay as you go SIM is a great idea. It is also one that we have fed back on a few occasions to the bigwigs. I'm confident that this will happen sooner or later.

I can't give any definitives or dates as of yet as nothing has been confirmed.

Please let me know if you have any more questions and we'll be more than happy to help you further

Thanks

Wayne

eForum Team

[80sman]

I've just registered to add my support for getting vodafone to release this product as a sim only option.

I would certainly buy one, I'm not somebody who is into wastage and my laptop has a 3g modem built in. In this new enviromentally friendly world we live in I think it is more than a little irresponsible of vodaphone to push wastage for the purpose of generating profit, and this is what it must be about. I would guess that the manufacture cost of these dongels is around £5.

Where the profit on the broadband (especially with it not being time limited) must be much less. If you use 1Gig of data every 3 months then the incoming profit would be fairly tiny.

However I would still think this would be a good way for vodafone to attract new customers, currently I use orange and have been happy with the service. For the first time in years I've looked at an alternative mobile operator but am put off with this broadband option not being available despite there obviously being a fairly large market of people who would like it and the unwillingness of vodafone to listen to the many requests for it. Makes me think that maybe my money is better off elsewhere.

Please note. This is in no way a gripe to those people who administrate the forum as I've been thoroughly impressed with the courteous and helpfull replies that I've seen given. Well done. Please feel free to forward my comments to the sales dept of vodafone.

[LeeH_Vodafone]

Hey 80sman,

Consider your feedback - well - fed back

Cheers for taking the time to come on to the forum and post your opinion. As I say, I'll pass this on to the relevant people and we'll see what we can get changed. Once again, I can't promise anything, but the more we have in the way of feedback, the more power to you guys, the end users.

You know where we are in future if you need us so please stop by again soon.

Cheers,

LeeH
eForum Team

[80sman]

Hey 80sman,

Consider your feedback - well - fed back

Cheers for taking the time to come on to the forum and post your opinion. As I say, I'll pass this on to the relevant people and we'll see what we can get changed. Once again, I can't promise anything, but the more we have in the way of feedback, the more power to you guys, the end users.

You know where we are in future if you need us so please stop by again soon.

Cheers,

LeeH
eForum Team

Thanks Lee, much appreciated.

[sixedup]

You really need to get the sales people to revisit this subject. As more and more laptops come with 3G hardware built in there is going to be an increasing need for the SIMs without any additional hardware. We're probably still at the bleeding edge of that demand, but even so, if Vodafone don't service that demand then I'm sure someone else eventually will.

Cheers
Richard

[fennells]

Please add my request too for hardware-free PAYG internet sim cards. I've heard of Voice of the Customer from our Vodafone Corporate account manager, although I can't say as I've heard of anyone actually listening to it!
I need a quantity of such cards to keep ready to go into notebook pcs based out on new construction sites - only necessary of course because BT Openreach are so slow but that's a different story.
Many people have many different reasons for wanting such a simple offering from Vodafone. Ignore your customers at your peril. No one is too big.....

Regards,
Stuart

[rs1000]

I brought a few vodafone data only sims on the mobile broadband tariff from a well known online auction site,

[Sharon_a_f]

Agree with Sputnik Vodaphone UK just doesn't want to sell sim seperatly

Other countries including Spain and NZ, Cyprus are able and willing to sell seperatly

Vodaphone is however is very short sighted as the dongle was surely designed with international travellers in mind. Those that have a dongle can just buy a prepaid in the country they are visiting and get on-line just like you can do with prepaid mobiles.

Oh no I forgot not only don't some countries like the UK sell the sims seperatly but they and some other countries, but luckily not all, lock the phone to the countries network thus preventing the use in other countries with out a lot of hassle getting unlock codes off the net.

Yes vodaphone you are acting very short sightedly and are not looking at the full picture when it comes to the use of the items globally as they were intended. And remember in this day and age it is a global market you are dealing with. Customers will stay with vodafone all over the world if you provide ther service They will only go to other networks if you fail to provide ther services they require. Locking dongles/ phones will win customer loyality.

[James_Vodafone]

Heya Guys,

Thank you for all of your feedback regarding selling just the data Sims without hardware, I just thought that i would pop on to let you know that we do value all feedback that you our customers give to us and we do feed this back to the business to look at getting the ideas implemented.

At this moment in time i don't have any details on if we will be doing this in the future however any comments we have do get passed back to make our customer experience better.

James
eForum Team