Jun 22, 2008 06:56 PM
1667 Views
(Updated Jan 09, 2011 08:42 PM)
This is updated review. My previous review is given at the bottom.
I was not on Vdafone for more than a year and then came back mainly for using the BlackBerry.
Now about the network (Mumbai) in general: As my previous review shows, the network was good before, probably the best in Mumbai. I was astonished to find out that just in a space of 1 year, the quality has deteriorated so much. The voice quality is bad at most times with sme random buzzing noice suddenly cropping up during calls.
About BlackBerry: The setup and activation was quick. And then the real problems started. I have opted for an unlimited B'Berry Internet Services (BIS) plan. This means EVERYTHING that I do on my handset is bundled in the monthly subscription fees and no extra charges will be levied. To my surprise, they started deducting internet charges right from third day! I called up the helpline, the baboon at the othe end had no clue about BIS! He suggested me that I recharge with Rs.99 unlimited GPRS coupon!! What right do they have to be so stupid? Anyway, I diconnected the call and called again hoping that this time the call goes to someone who at least knows what BIS is. Luckily it did, but he could not specify why the money is charged. Then I sent 3 mails to the customer care and it took 5 days for them to sort out the matter.
But even after that, the B'Berry service is very bad. The EDGE network suddenly stops (that means no mails, messenger, internet) for a 4-5 hours and then again comes back. This has happened 5-6 times
in last 1 month. Now I mostly use B'Berry for personal use; but for someone using it for official purpose this can be torture.
All in all, considerably weakened network and sloppy B'Berry service. I am browsing through MShut to find out which is the better operatror for B'Berry. If you know, do comment.
Previous Review
The story started in 2001/02 when I bought myself a mobile handset (These were very expensive in India those days) and chose Orange as the cellular provider.
Just to give you an idea, in those days the call rates on prepaid were about Rs.3.60 per minute for outgoing AND incoming calls.Additinally, a Rs.325 refillvoucher would give you only 30 days validuty with a talktime of just about Rs.180
But the network and service was great! I don't remember dropping even a single call in those days.
Come to 2005 and Orange become Hutch. The call rates were dirt cheap and the competition in the market increased. The complaints of call drops and network problems started going up but still Hutch held its ground. In Mumbai, Hutch was still the most reliable network.
And now in 2007, Hutch became vodafone. And the service level has gone down drastically. It is in fact worse than even Airtel. (Airtel, by the way, is the worst ever mobile connection you can ever buy in India)
The network is bad, the customer care doesnot exist.
Another interesting factor is now this. I have 2 mobile numbers: One is company owned and the other one my personal. The network is obviously bad for both. But whenever I dial the customer care using the corporate connection, my call is serviced within a minute. But whenever I dial using my personal number, I have to wait for atleast 15 minutes before someone picks up the call. Double standards, cheating? Well, you decide. (In both cases, I am paying the same monthly charges)
The newwork has really become bad in the following areas:
Railway Line between Dadar and CST
Eastern Express Highway near Sion, Ghatkopar
Bandra to Andheri
The attractiveness of their advertisements has definitely gone up regularly. Unfortunately, the same can not be said about theiur network.
