Almost all GSM networks in the country have 3G up and running at the moment. MTN and GloMobile are on. Zain is yet to officially launch, but the technology is there.

One of the issues at stake for both subscribers and operators is the availability of 3G phones. For the one, cost of acquisition is an issue. If the phones are too expensive, then uptake and usage of 3G services will remain insignificant.

To help you, we have put together a concise list of the lowest priced 3G mobile phones in the market today. One thing runs through though, not one of them costs below N20,000; so brace up!

Nokia 6233

6mb built-in memory; Micro-SD slot
GPRS/EDGE/3G
2 MP camera
FM Stereo
Average Cost: N23,000.00

Nokia 6120

S60 3rd Edition smartphone
35mb built-in memory; Micro-SD slot
GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA
2 MP camera
FM Stereo
Average cost: N25,000.00

Sony Ericsson K770i

16mb built-in memory; External Memory slot
GPRS/3G
3.2 MP camera
FM Stereo
Average Cost: N23, 000.00

Sony Ericsson K810i

64mb built-in memory; External Memory slot
GPRS/3G
3.2 MP camera
FM Stereo
Average Cost: N26, 000.00

Our Recommendation

There’s not much to choose from in terms of price, but if you are looking for really high-speed access, we recommend the Nokia 6120. Its HSDPA functionality means you get up to 3.6 mbps, while all the others are limited to 3G speeds of 384 kbps maximum. Did we mention too that it is a smartphone?

Mobile internet service has come of age in Nigeria. A few years ago when I got my first GPRS-enabled smartphone, most Nigerians had never heard of GPRS. Years down the road, demand for mobile internet service is a force that no serious operator ignores. From CDMA-based providers to GSM networks, each operator is waking up to the potentials of the mass of young Nigerians hungry for available, affordable and easy-to-use internet access.

On the CDMA front, players like Starcomms, Visafone, multilinks and Reltel are pushing the boundaries of mobile internet service. Reltel, in particular is on the edge of the game by providing feature-laden smartphones at affordable prices for its subscribers, who are now able to use the internet directly on their devices, as well as on their PCs.

Mobile internet on the GSM front was heated up with MTN’s recent bold moves. GloMobile has responded. Zain, typically, is neither here nor there. If history is anything to go by, the GSM mobile internet market is currently (and may always be) between MTN and GloMobile.

However, the question some of us are asking at the moment is, “What is Etisalat up to?”

As a new entrant, Etisalat needs to demonstrate that it understands the trends in the market. One clear trend is that mobile internet sells. Can and will they rise up to the task? Without a 3G licence, does Etisalat have any chance of making a bold imprint in the mobile internet sector?

It is my opinion that they do. Setting up an EDGE-enabled network costs next to nothing compared to setting up a 3G-based network (licence fees inclusive). More interesting is the fact that modern EDGE networks deliver 3G speeds (384kbps theoretically). Etisalat can then later push for more advanced technology.

As such, with the will, Etisalat can stamp its foot on the mobile internet market right from launch. With innovative pricing and/or incentives, Etisalat should have a segment of that market cornered easilly. Incentives can include free bundled internet access for every airtime recharge monthly, or affordable flat monthly data tariffs.

But will Etisalat rise up to the occassion? We wait.

A free theme from the Nokia team: Turquoise theme

Glomobile has attempted to match MTN’s 3.5G data bundle packages, and they’ve come out with commendable packages, but have fallen short of meeting the mark.

Find details of Glo’s 3.5G bundles below:

24X7 Pack
Happy Hours… 24/7
Monthly rental(N)… 10,000
Security Deposit … 12,000
Entry Price(N)… 19,500
Fair Usage Up to 3GB

Weekend Pack
Happy Hours… Fri 9pm-Mon 9am
Monthly rental(N)… 4,000
Security Deposit(N) … 6,000
Entry Price(N) … 13,500
Fair Usage… Up to 2GB

Day Pack
Happy Hours … 9am -9pm
Monthly rental(N)… 6,000
Security Deposit(N)… 8,000
Entry Price(N) … 15,500
Fair Usage… Up to 2GB

Night Pack
Happy Hours… 9pm -9am
Monthly rental(N)… 4,500
Security Deposit(N)… 7,000
Entry Price(N) … 14,500
Fair Usage … Up to 2GB

On all the above bundles, if you want to use the service with a Mobile Data Card, you can pick one up for just N7,500 (that’s way below MTN’s price of N25,000).

Also, if you exceed your fair usage restriction (or if you want to browse outside the bundle windows), you get to continue browsing on a pay as you go basis for just 5kobo/KB (again better than MTN’s 15 kobo/KB).

Glo is also giving a 100% waiver on the first month rental, so you actually have a full month’s free browsing. A deal!

So, what’s the problem with Glo’s bundles?

For starters, there’s a security deposit on each bundle. Hello? A security deposit?

Secondly, you have to call Glo customer care (an impossible feat on a normal day) or/and go to a Gloworld outlet to process your activation. That’s a no-no, considering that subscribers can pick an MTN SIM (new or existing), load the required credit, send an SMS and be activated for one of the 3 available bundles.

Well, there it is. The choice is yours.

Mobilefest Africa is the first Expo in Western Africa to offer manufacturers and resellers of mobile hardware to showcase their products and services to consumers. It is also an opportunity for other companies in the mobile ecosystem to increase their brand awareness.

The Expo aims to position itself as the No 1 annual Marketplace for Mobile phone devices, trends and innovations in the booming and energized West African Market.

The organisers say that Mobilefest Africa is the ideal way for consumers to be able to view and test some of the best mobile hardware devices available on the market.

Venue – Lagos Airport Hotel – Ikeja, Oramiyan Hall.
Opening Date – October 16th 2008
Closing Date – October 18th 2008

To be sure, the Organisers of MobileFest have this to say:

This is not a conference or a symposium or an exhibition. It is simply a sales and trade event for MOBILES ONLY. It is a non-speech event!!!

And that tickles our fancy a lot. We don’t like the speech-making too much either. But give us a chance to play with devices, explore possibilities first-hand, and demonstrate what those things can do, and we’re game.

If you’re planing to be there, here’s your chance to meet members of the MobilityNigeria.com team as well, because we’ll be there doing what we know how to do well – toying with mobile devices.

Visit the MobileFest Africa website for more details, and to register.

Sequel to our initial article reviewing MTN’s 50mb daily internet bundle, our team conducted a series of experiments and came to the following proven conclusions:

The MTN Daily Bundle is programmed to run roughly a 24-hour window of midnight to the next midnight. Regardless of what time of the day you activate it, the package expires anytime after 12 midnight. At times there is a delay in expiration till even after 2am.

Point: Do your activation after 12midnight or early in the morning when you get up from bed, and you’ll get full value.

Yes; MTN ought to have explained all this in clear terms. Its a shame they haven’t.

Etisalat has finally decided to unzip the sealed lips and according to them, “now you are talking”. Does anybody know someone that’s already talking on Etisalat? I don’t and don’t even have the slightest idea where to get their SIM card to test the network.

Oh! Forgive me, now I remember that at the WAFRITEL expo, I had the privileg of placing a call through to my wife using their network. The call was crisp, clear and loud. What can I say? Will this still be the case when subscribers start increasing on the network? Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, I have been informed that Etisalat is offering subscribers the opportunity to reserve their unique Etisalat (0809) numbers for FREE, as well as get 300 seconds free airtime every month for life. From the Etisalat website:

The etisalat 0809uchoose campaign allows you to pick and reserve your own unique etisalat number. It is available to all mobile subscribers.

You simply call 0809uchoose i.e 0809 8 246673 (standard rates for off-net calls apply) or visit our website on www.etisalat.com.ng/uchoose. Then select your unique etisalat mobile number of your choice starting with the etisalat prefix from the range 0809 8000 000 to 0809 8999 999. The choice is subject to availability.

After you have done this, look out for a text message notifying you when and where your SIM card can be picked up or visit one of our etisalat pick-up points. These will be announced to you via a text message shortly before our commercial launch.

This SMS will not be received immediately after reservation but shortly before redemption starts.

Fellow contributor here on MobilityNigeria.com, Yomi Adegboye, has already reserved his unique 0809 number – and I’m off to get mine too!

Seems like the long wait for Etisalat will soon be over.

Driving through Ikorodu this morning, I saw bill boards with the caption, “Are You Ready To Talk?” While this is all the information on the bill board and you won’t see “Etisalat” written anywhere to give you the slightest clue, the Etisalat brand colors were all over the bill board, and those in the know can hardly miss it.

I spoke with one of their representatives at this year’s WAFRITEL expo and the promise he made was that they are giving Nigerians an average of one dial to get their calls through. Let’s hope they make good their promise. So echoing the bill board, Are You Ready To Talk?