rahim helmee: My Maxis 3G and HSDPA Data Connect

I was at a Maxis 3 G focus group today, suprised or should I say not suprised at all to be selected as a participant, so here I thought of sharing some information with you. The 3 core products offered are 3G Data Card, popularly known as 3G Connect, EMO(Ericsson Mobile Organiser) and phone-to-modem feature. The focus group served more as an educational, informative session plus a bit of selling of our Maxis 3G products which we need to do more considering the low take-up of the 3G services and handsets in the market.

The most important feature of these 3 products are the convenience of being able to be connected on the go. Sales force who moves around a lot and needs to access their email, download large attachments for presentations and browse the company’s intranet would find using 3G to access the Internet useful even critical. Imagine losing a client worth millions just because you do not have the right information on your fingertips! Anyway, it was good to know that the connection speed was above 120kbps, almost beating our previously unreliable streamyx. So take your pick, broadband on the go (on laptop) or broadband on PC? Let me do a simple calculation for you:
3G Connect: RM1599
Registration fee (USIM included): RM49 - if you buy unlimited data usage
Data usage: RM120/month - unlimited data usage

In total, you will be paying RM1768 just to start your first connection via Maxis 3G. Imagine surfing as much as you want, even sending as many sms as you want for free (using the sms client software that comes together with the data card) using this package. Else, you can forgo the data card and use your 3G phone as a modem which comes up to the same price with 3G phones being in the range of RM1500-RM3000 per handset. The additional advantage being you will be the first person to enjoy using 3G services like video call, video mail, fantastic streaming services, home surveillance,and real-time traffic monitor plus showing off a high-tech 3G handset.

In comparison, why would you use streamyx if you can use 3G with additional RM40/month. The answer is definitely the lack of 3G coverage. Speed is no more an issue. But stepping out of Jalan Tun Razak in Klang Valley or Cyberjaya or Putrajaya pose a problem for 3G users. Then it will be back to GPRS as a mere 40kbps connection speed or less. So until 3G coverage increased and the prices of handset lowered, take-up will crawl.

Would you have taken up 3G Connect if the price is reduced to say RM88/month for unlimited data usage? I would love to see Malaysia practising what Koreans do, lower the price of broadband to a price so low it is ridiculous to be using normal modem anymore. So here, until the volume escalates, it would be tough to even gain a profit from 3G in the first 5 years even.

Food for thought while I resume my viewing of the trailer “Exorcism of Emily Rose” on my laptop in the car connected via 3G Connect. Incredibly fast!