Red Bull Mobile has expanded its range of prepaid and top-up voice packages and introduced prepaid and contract data offerings.
Despite initial predictions that Red Bull Mobile would be the country's second mobile virtual network operator, the international energy drinks company instead partnered with third mobile operator Cell C to present SA's first niche focused mobile offering in February.
Red Bull Mobile has now introduced two data offers with customised RBM USB data sticks which provide Internet access via Cell C's HSPA+ network.
The RBM Online 3GB data package is available for R249 per month over 24 months, with a branded Huawei E367 USB 21.6Mbps data stick. A once-off connection fee of R114 and out-of-bundle rate of 39c apply.
For prepaid customers, the RBM Online package is available for R1 499 once-off and includes 6GB (averaging 512MB per month) over a period of 12 months, and a customised Huawei E367 USB data stick.
The Red Bull Mobile offerings are, however, more expensive than the current packages offered by Cell C - such as a 24GB (2GB per month) prepaid data package for a once-off fee of R1 499, for a 12-month period.
Top-up
Simon Camerer, executive head of marketing for Cell C, says customers who want the stability and benefits of a contract with the freedom to choose how much they want to spend each month can select from two new competitive top-up packages.
For R99 per month, the RBM Top-up 100 is available on a 24-month contract and includes a Nokia 5230 handset with a monthly allowance of R100 airtime, 100MB and 50 messages (either SMSes or MMSes).
The second package is RBM Top-up 150 at R149 per month, also on a 24-month contract with R150 airtime, 50 messages and 150MB data with a customised Red Bull Mobile branded RBM C Android smartphone.
"Red Bull Mobile now offers a full suite of products to suit each individual's requirements and payment needs," says Camerer.
As for how well Red Bull Mobile is fairing in the market, Cell C says: “We cannot provide exact numbers. It is still early days; however, we are encouraged by the quality of customers we have attracted since launching Red Bull Mobile and believe the new products will create an even bigger demand for the brand.”
Competition
Responding to the need for aggressively priced prepaid data, 8ta recently introduced new lower broadband rates for prepaid users. The limited 3GB data bundle offer is available for R149.
It consists of 2GB anytime data and 1GB Midnight Surfer data for use between 12am and 5am. According to the operator, in the promotional offer, users will basically pay 5c per MB.
This follows the operator's launch of a limited offer in June that saw subscribers get 10GB per month for R199 on a postpaid contract.
Vodacom has also recently announced up to 42% cuts in data prices for prepaid customers. The new pricing will become effective from 19 September.
MyMeg 100 has been reduced from 80c for 49c per MB, while customers who previously bought MyMeg 175 at a price of 68c per MB, will now pay 40c per MB for the MyMeg 250, a saving of 42% per MB.
According to Vodacom, the average MB rate saving across all packages from MyMeg 10 to MyGig 1.5 is more than 22%.
The service provider says it will also run a “double your prepaid data” promotion from 19 September to 31 October.
“The promotion will give customers double data for the same price when they buy bigger bundles which include MyGig 1, MyGig 1.5, MyGig 2 and MyGig 2.5 prepaid and Top Up once-off bundles during the promotional period,” says Vodacom.
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