Where is PTT for SA consumers? (and a rant about the networks)

PTT (push-to-talk) is a useful communications tool, which is seeing a lot of success in markets such as the USA. Cellular-based PTT has been in use in the US since 1993 and is one of the most widely-used methods of communicating there today. But why has it not come to SA on a grand scale yet?

PTT is basically a walkie-talkie-type method of communication supported on cellular handsets and, using the GSM networks as carriers, allows almost anyone with a cellular handset to “chat” to another cellular handset user at a fraction of the cost of a voice call or text message.

PTT is cheap to run, supported by most cellular handsets in the market today and the answer to a lot of peoples’ communications problems – particularly the cash-strapped prepaid market as it’s meant to be an affordable alternative to the short voice call (under 10 seconds).

But it would seem that the cellular networks, in their usual cartel-like practice, have not seen fit to bring the technology to SA consumers.

The idea of implementing the technology has been bandied around the SA market since 2003 and the prices have come down on corporate offerings, but unless you specifically look for “PTT” on the network operators’ websites, you wouldn’t even know that they offered it.

MTN and Vodacom only offer the service to their business customers at high monthly subscription fees of around R200 upwards – including x amount of “free” pushes. But
there’s so much potential with the technology – and at the end of the day they’re denying SA consumers.

Cellular cartels

You could speculate until you’re blue in the face about how they are not willing to let their voice call and text revenue slide but the fact of the matter is that it’s a reality that we have to live with here in SA – the cellular networks have you by the balls.

Have you tried to buy a network-agnostic cellphone anywhere in SA? It’s very difficult. You can’t just walk into a store (for example Edgars or Stax) and buy a phone that can be used on any network.

In fact, the sales schpiel at Edgars is that if you put your MTN SIM card into one of their Vodacom phones you lose your warranty – and I’m sure it’s the same at a number of other retailers.

If you buy a phone from some other retailers, you’re obliged to purchase and activate a SIM card from one particular network in the store before you can walk away with your network-specific handset – even if you never intend using that cellphone number or SIM card.

It’s true that South Africans are victims of corporate dictators and the plethora of price-fixing scandals and product shortages that we’re experiencing of late go to prove that without a doubt.

Maybe it’s time organisations began to put consumers first instead of trying to protect their greedy empires. Who knows, they may even surprise themselves with happy customers….?

Why I love my scooter

Taking the plunge and buying a scooter in today’s trying economic market was probably one of the best things I’ve done.

I used to own a motorbike, but I sold it last year because the repayments and insurance were getting a bit much and I really wasn’t riding it as much as I should have.

But, the steadily-increasing fuel price in South Africa (which is now at record high levels) and the traffic jams that result from more frequent power-outages as a result of load shedding, compelled me to find a cheaper and more convenient mode of transport.

My daily commute takes me from Roodepoort to Rivonia and back – a trip that can take up to an hour and 40 minutes one-way if I leave in peak traffic.

This, as you can imagine, has the potential to mess my day up entirely because I find myself having to get up much earlier in the morning to fit in my gym routine and getting to bed later in the evenings because it’s 6:30 PM before I get home and there’s still cooking and chores to do when I arrive.

And the fact that the corporate world demands your full 8.5 hours per day means that there’s no time for a personal life if you spend nearly 3 hours of your day in traffic.

But I have reached the proverbial “light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel” and it’s taken the form of my new Kymco People S 200 scooter.

It’s economical (25km/litre) – taking a little less than R50 to fill – and it’s small enough to zip in and out of sluggish traffic – reducing my 90 minute commute to just over 30 minutes in both directions.

You’ll also be surprised at how nippy scooters actually are. My particular scooter has a 200cc engine and is more than capable of holding its own on the hightway.

As a result I can wake up later, still make it to gym, get to work by 8AM, get home at a reasonable time in the afternoon and actually kick back and enjoy some TV or reading before I start cooking and winding down for the evening.

It’s definitely the way to go. With the horrendous petrol price and ever-worsening traffic chaos on Johannesburg’s roads, you’d be stupid not to consider a scooter.

Obviously there are safety concerns when riding two wheels on South African roads, particularly when minibus taxis are concerned. But considering the improvement in the overall quality of life I’ve experienced, it’s a risk worth taking.

For anywhere between as little as R5,000 and about R20,000, scooters are by far the country’s most economical mode of transport. Besides, which, the savings in petrol and running costs alone mean that the scooter will end up paying for itself fairly quickly.

And I’m not alone. Already I’ve noticed a marked increase in the number of scooters and motorcycles on Johannesburg’s roads.

The sales guy, who I bought my scooter from, said that since the first hefty petrol price increase of 2008, his sales have increased quite substantially and he’s never been this busy.

It’s a good time to consider a scooter or motorcycle. Petrol’s not going to come down and traffic jams are not going to go away either – so before scooter retailers catch on and begin to hike their prices to capitalise on higher demand.