Some months ago, we did an article asking you what phones you wanted if cost was not an issue. Your responses showed us that there is indeed a market opportunity that we could fill. And that is exactly what we are doing now.

Mobility Nigeria has stepped up to the plate to make it easy for you to get the phones of your dreams via our new product called The Phone Club. While we have offered instalment payments on a small scale in the last two years – and so have been able to iron out the wrinkles in the system – we are now throwing it open to the public.

How It Works
Basically, you join our Club (there is a registration/processing fee). Once we are done processing your application (7 days), you are ready to start purchasing your phone on an instalment basis.

Half the cost of the target phone is required as deposit, and the balance can be spread across a maximum of six (6) months. We would love to give you a longer re-payment period, but we think its best to keep things this way for now. Over time, we will extend the re-payment plan for members who prove themselves credit-worthy.

The good news is that whether its the iPhone4, the Desire, the Galaxy S, Blackberry Torch, or the N8, your dream phone is no longer outside your reach.

Of course, terms and conditions apply, but those terms are not hidden. Head over to the official Phone Club page for complete details.

GSM operator, Etisalat, seems to be on a roll. This time, they have put out into the market a post-paid product, Elite World.

Elite World offers the following benefits:

• one simple tariff
• the choice of one out of four minimum monthly payments (MMP) – N2,500; N5,000; N10,000; and N20,000
• added rewards on voice and data
• blackberry services
• international roaming (180 countries; 500 operators)

Added Rewards

Subscribers on the N2,500 MMP plan get N250 voice airtime and 20mb data free.

Subscribers on the N5,000 MMP plan get N750 voice airtime and 50mb data free.

Subscribers on the N10,000 MMP plan get N2,000 voice airtime and 150mb data free.

Subscribers on the N20,000 MMP plan get N5,000 voice airtime, 300mb data and USB modem free.

Tariffs

For some reason, the customer care representative that I spoke with on phone did not have the tariffs for this package available. I was directed to go down to an Etisalat Experience Centre. If anyone has the tariffs for voice, SMS and data on Elite World, kindly post.

Subscription

To subscribe, you are required to go to an Etisalat Experience Centre with two passport photographs, your ID card, and the cash for the first month of the plan you wish to subscribe to.

Looking through all the news of new devices being made available on various networks across the world at subsidised prices, I had to ask myself, “When exactly will our networks begin offering subsidised phones with their services?”

Come to think of it, purchasing a phone through a network here in Nigeria often means that you are paying more for it than if you purchased the device on the open market. Yes; just try getting a Blackberry from MTN, Glo or Zain!

For example, a strategy that a late-comer like Etisalat could use to generate new subscriptions is to offer subsidised phones (and lower tariffs) on a contract. Have they considered it?

Perhaps I am merely dreaming. But, back to my question… “When?” Does anyone know?