Once upon a time, the term mobile internet in Nigeria meant taking up a subscription with one of the CDMA networks only. In addition, the internet service was restricted to just using a phone as a modem – mostly desktop phones in the early stages, and later also mobile phones. Browsing on-phone on Nigerian CDMA networks was unheard of back then.

Thankfully, things have changed. The coming of GSM technology has introduced a new level of awareness, competitionand services in the Nigerian mobile landscape – much like what the superb user interface of the iPhone did to the global mobile phone industry.

Pay as you browse internet services tend to be popular among casual internet users – those who do not want to shell out a huge payment every month but need access to the internet for light browsing and basic email. Usually, GSM networks charge for data transferred, regardless of how long a user stays connected. CDMA networks, however charge per minute.

On CDMA networks, this used to be very expensive business, with some networks charging as much as N7.50 per minute back then, though some are still close now. Translated, a subscriber would be burning N450 for staying connected continously for one hour. Xpensive!

Lower Tariffs
The tariffs for pay as you browse services have since dropped and become more pocket-friendly. Here are the options that you have on three of the most vibrant CDMA networks available now:

• Starcomms: N3.00 per minute
• Visafone: N2.50 per minute
• ZOOMmobile: N6.00 per minute peak; N4.80 per minute off-peak; N3.90 per minute midnight

We have no information on Multilinks’ tariff at the moment, as we could find no such information on this operator’s website.

The Visafone tariff of N2.50 per minute is the most pocket-friendly at the moment, closely followed by Starcomms at N3.00 per minute. Of course, you also have to pay attention to coverage and other factors in choosing a service provider, so do your research.

Do you use any of these pay as you browse services from CDMA operators? Would you like to share your experiences?

CDMA mobile operator, ZoomMobile, has an ongoing “Xmas offer”. The offer provides five (5) smartphones and one (1) feature phone at extremely rock-bottom prices.

• Treo Centro (Palm OS): N11,999.00
• Motorola Q9c (Windows Mobile): N11,999.00
• Samsung 830W (Windows Mobile; Dual Technology: GSM + CDMA): N11,999.00
• Motorola Q (Windows Mobile): N9,999.00
• Treo 755P (Palm OS): N11,999.00
• Tech 101 (Dual Technology: GSM + CDMA): N7,999.00

Unfortunately, the ZoomMobile website is outdated in terms of information. You won’t find this information there.

However, should you be interested in any of the above, dash down to the nearest Zoom centre to pick your copy up. Hurry! Promo may end anytime (christmas is over!).

Note that both the Treos and Motorolas are EVDO-compliant, so high-speed mobile internet is in view with those devices, but you need to subscribe to the ZMBlast internet plan in order to have EVDO access.

Update:
For the benefit of those interested, we are publishing the various mobile internet plans from ZOOM below.

ZOOMmobile Internet Plans

1x Service Plans

• Easy Time (24 hours for 30 days): N10,000
• Busy Time (24 hours for 14 days): N5,000
• Business Time (Day Time for 30 days): N7,000
• Relax Time (6pm – 11pm for 30 days): N5,000
• Rest Time (11pm – 7am for 30 days): N5,000
• Cool Time (8am Fri – 10pm Sunday for 30 days): N5,000

EVDO/Broadband Service Plan

• ZMBlast (24 hours for 30 days): N15,000

Pay As You Browse (Pay B) Options

• Pay B 1,000 (10 hours across 5 days): N1,000
• Pay B 3,000 (40 hours across 18 days): N3,000
• Pay B 5,000 (100 hours across 30 days): N5,000
• Pay B 10,000 (300 hours across 60 days): N10,000

Here is my updated list of the best mobile internet deals at the moment. Because we currently have two types of mobile platforms running side-by-side in the country (GSM and CDMA), I am presenting one network per technology platform.

Both networks on my list offer a variety of packages, giving subscribers great choice in their respective terrains. Both networks also give subscribers the option of browsing directly on their phone or on PC (netbook, laptop, desktop, etc)

Zain Nigeria

Zain is a GSM-based mobile operator. Zain Mobile Internet is delivered on GPRS, EDGE (up to 234kbps), 3G and HSDPA (up to 1.8mbps), depending on coverage in your locality. Zain’s packages:

1. Pay As You Use
No bundle
Cost: 15kobo per kilobyte

2. Zain Day (24-hour bundle)
Bundled Data: 50MB
Cost: N500.00
Activation: Load N500 and dial: *141*712*3#

3. Zain Lite (24-hour bundle)
Bundled Data: 100MB
Cost: N1,000.00
Activation: Load N1,000 and dial: *141*712*4#

4. Zain Pro (24 hours for 30 days)
Bundled Data: 1GB
Cost: N5,000.00
Activation: Load N5,000 and dial: *141*712*1

5. Zain Max (24 hours for 30 days)
Bundled Data: 3GB
Cost: N10,000.00
Activation: Load N10,000 and dial: *141*712*2#

Zain Mobile Internet (ZMI) must be active on your line before you can subscribe to any of the above plans.

To activate ZMI, visit a Zain centre, call Customer Care on 113 or send an SMS with the word ‘internet phonebrand model’ to 232 e.g. “internet sonyericsson P910i” to receive your settings.

ZOOMmobile

ZOOMmobile is a CDMA-based operator, deploying both CDMA 1x (50Kbps – 100Kbps Upload and Download with bursts to 144Kbps) and EVDO Rev A (600Kbps-1,400Kbps Download with bursts to 2.0Mbps; 500Kbps-800Kbps Upload with bursts to 1.8Mbps), also depending on your location. ZOOMmobile internet packages include:

1. Easy Time (24 hours for 30 days)
Bundled Data: Unlimited
Cost: N10,000.00

2. Busy Time (24 hours for 14 days)
Bundled Data: Unlimited
Cost: N5,000.00

3. Rest Time (11pm to 6am for 30 days)
Bundled Data: Unlimited
Cost: N5,000.00

4. Relax Time (6pm to 11pm for 30 days)
Bundled Data: Unlimited
Cost: N5,000.00

5. Cool Time (Friday 8pm to Sunday 10pm for 30 days)
Bundled Data: Unlimited
Cost: N5,000.00

6. Day Time (8am to 6pm for 30 days)
Bundled Data: Unlimited
Cost: N7,000.00

Subscription for all above ZOOMmobile plans can be done at any ZOOMmobile centre.

CDMA network operator, ZOOMmobile(formerly Reltel Wireless), is offering a range of smartphones for N14,999 each this season.

The available smartphone options include:

1. Treo 700p
2. Palm Centro
3. Motorola Q
4. Treo 755p
5. Samsung IP 830W

Just pick an 0707 hot number and any one of the above listed smartphones.

In our opinion, this offer is a steal.