Vodafone 3G - Odd behaviour by design?

[drumster]

I currently have Vodafone Mobile Connect activated on the unlimited plan. I wanted to switch to 3G (the highest plan of 5GB data). I of course need to deactivate VMC in order to activate 3G or I would be charged the price of both. Now, I was told by the support staff that if I go into a non-3G area, I will be completely cut off from the internet. Isnt this completely stupid? Shouldnt my phone switch to EDGE when I move into a non-3G area.I am not sure if this is some stupidity on the part of the customer care guys, or the plans have been devised in such a way. If the plans have been devised in such a way then nobody who travels a lot would use 3G. I work a consultant and travel all over the country, sometimes in areas where I really doubt there would be 3G available for a decade more.Any ideas?

 

[amitnsonu]

3 G might be available in India but i feel it is just a formality.only people having lot of money (or you can say rich businessmen) will be having interest in 3G.3G in India neither affordable nor available everyhwhere. even within city limits there will definitely blank areas where no 3G is available then what will you do.3 G itself eats lot of battery and after that network fluctuation will make further worse.I would suggest you to stick with EDGE, vodafone itself is a leader of coverage in 2G

 

[saurabh28]

Stick with Vodafone 2G or go with BSNL (which have PAN-India license for 3G)

 

[amitnsonu]

In my area Vodafone 2G is having 10 times better speed than BSNL 3G.even Speedtest.net failed to load on BSNL 3G, not able to check the speed

 

[drumster]

Okay guys, I am not talking about the quality of Vodafone 3G. I used in the trial period, but even though no 3G is enabled yet in my home area (Borivali), I get good reception in my office (Worli). And I really loved the 3G. My point is that in US, people who have 3G automatically get switched to EDGE when they are not in a 3G coverage area. This makes logical sense. But what the customer care rep told me makes no sense whatsoever. If I am driving through some rural area then it means even though there is EDGE available I cant connect to that. That would be kind of weird...

 

[soodgautam]

Same experience here ...called up the call center and got the same answerI have unlimited 399 Plan for 2G browsing/download...will have to take additional 850 bucks 3GB plan for 3G - to ensure both 2G and 3G work as and when required !

 

[drumster]

Gah! This is sheer stupidity. Guess I will live without 3G until these idiots are mature enough to put out some sensible plans. I mean I am ready to pay 1,250 for 3G and even then if they ask me to pay extra for EDGE then I think its plain greediness on their part.

 

[popcorn]

just select utms in mobile and stick only to 3g... i have seen vodafone does not black in trains between andheri to churchgate... i have tested it myself.

 

[drumster]

Like I said, I keep traveling a lot and I would rather have complete coverage on EDGE rather than intermittent coverage on 3G

 

[gopichandpai]

I guess it is ignorance of the customer care executives. I am sure 3G will fall back to 2G when 3G is not available and the only difference would be you will be paying 3G charges for 2G data.----------------Gopichand Pai