“With more and more people all over the country using smartphones, the
appetite for Data is growing. Over the past year, we have seen a big increase
in sales of smartphones, particularly with the introduction of the Digicel DL600 and DL700 and these are
now the best-selling smartphones in Jamaica. In line with the increased sales
of smartphones the number of customers across Jamaica accessing Digicel's 4G islandwide Network has
more than doubled over the past year.”
Digicel's Head of Recharge Annalise
Harewood, commenting on the new DataFlex Card
On Valentine’s Day, Friday February 14th 2014, Digicel Showered Jamaica with some Data
Love!
Telecom Provider Digicel
launched the first ever Prepaid Card for Data Services called DataFlex as
stated in “Digicel
launches DataFlex recharge card & electronic top up for Data users”,
published Friday, February 14, 2014, The
Jamaica Gleaner. Sorry folks, but this time Digicel Jamaica YouTube Page is threadbare
of any Video Ads but Digicel Jamaica’s website, Digicel’s Facebook Page and Digicel’s Twitter Page were
quire helpful, hence why I found out about this so late!
Telecom Provider Digicel has
decided to get a bit more serious about Data Services as I’d opined in my blog
article entitled
“Digicel's
lack of enthusiasm in promoting the DL600 smartphone - How making Apps from
their Text Messaging Promotions and helping Jamaicans to design Apps Bridges
the Digital Divide”, albeit I’m yet to see them develop an App Store
supported by Jamaican Developers as yet. Still, this is an excellent product
and I might add I totally didn’t foresee this!
 |
Still this is a big deal, as it provides a way to top up your smartphone,
Tablet or 4G Broadband Modem or Tablet in a manner similar to topping up on
Prepaid Calling Credit. For more information on Digicel
DataFlex, read their FAQ
on DataFlex Vouchers *.PDF File.
Digicel
DataFlex is apparently in response to the overwhelming success of the DL600
and now the DL700. Data is hot, according to Digicel's Head of Recharge Annalise
Harewood quote: “We have had an incredible customer reaction to our 2-day Data Plan
for $100. Now Digicel
DataFlex is the easier and better value way for customers to purchase Data Plans
and do more, play more and share more on their smartphones, tablets or other Data-enabled
devices.”. Not to mention a great way to spend JA$100 in JA$20 coins burning a
hole in your pocket!
 |
This is very obvious to me as the Administrator of My Thought on
Technology and Jamaica based on the amount of traffic I receive for my blog
article entitled
“Digicel
officially launches DL600 smartphones on Friday October 18th 2013 and JA$100
2-Day Data Plans - Ours is the Fury as Digicel’s DL600 secures their Throne in
this Game of Phones against LIME”.
In the Traditional Media, both LIME and Digicel have proclaimed that
Jamaicans are hooked on smartphones, with Digicel’s DL600 and DL700 smartphones
leading the charge as stated in my blog article entitled “Jamaicans fall in love with Digicel's
DL600 and DL700 during Christmas 2013 - Sub-US$100 smartphones driving rapid
smartphone adoption in Jamaica as Manufacturing is Possible”.
Data is Hot - Pay the Right
Price Campaign needed once again
According to the DataFlex
Webpage on Digicel’s Website, the Prepaid Digicel
DataFlex Cards are available in the following Denominations corresponding
roughly with the prices for the Mobile 3G Data Services, but are denominated in
the same way as Prepaid Voice Calling Credit:
1.
JA$100
2.
JA$300
3.
JA$500
4.
JA$1,000
5.
JA$2,000
It’s also cheaper too, as you’re only charged 16.5% GCT, a coupe for
customer on the hunt to pay the right price as opined in my Geezam blog article entitled “Digicel’s
Green Tick ‘Pay The Right Price’ Campaign”.
 |
When you add on a Digicel
DataFlex Prepaid Credit, it creates a separate Account on your smartphone. To
wit, you basically have two (2) accounts:
1.
Main Balance (Prepaid Credit for Voice Service)
2.
Digicel
DataFlex Balance (Prepaid Credit for Data Service)
Interestingly too is the Airtime, which is very similar to that of the
Prepaid Voice Credit as explained in my Geezam
blog article entitled “The
Prepaid Cycle and How Prepaid Credit gives your SIM Card access to the Prepaid
Network” and is as shown below:
 |
As Digicel’s
DataFlex is strictly for Credit, most of the perks you’re used to with
Regular Credit that you top up with for Voice Calling just do not apply:
1.
Digicel
DataFlex has no rollover; once your Data Service expires it's gone forever
(evil laughter!)
2.
Digicel
DataFlex can't be used to purchase ringtones, Wallpaper and other goodies.
That coming out of your Main Account!
3.
If you topup with a Digicel
DataFlex for a Data package and you short, Digicel's taking that form the
Main Balance (WTF!)
4.
If you Data Plan runs out, Digicel switches to
Pay-as-you-go and continues to charge you for Data Service from you Main
Balance, WITHOUT notification!
5.
If during using you Digicel
DataFlex Card you exceed the allotted Megabytes for the plan, the overage
charge of JA$15 per megabyte is taken from your Main Account Balance, again
without notifications
6.
No GSM Voice Calls, unless you talking about
VoIP……That’s Data Calling!
7.
Digicel
DataFlex doesn’t support CreditU...at least not yet.
8.
Free Nights and BFFF (Best Friends for Free) as
described in my Geezam blog article
entitled “Digicel
introduces Best Friend For Free Promotion that’s really just more Bonus Credit”
are out of the question; that's perks for Voice Calling!
But Digicel’s cunning at taking you credit aside, which is expected if
you’ve been using Digicel’s Data Service since the 2G and EDGE, GPRS and
Blackberry era as I had warned many reader in my Geezam blog article entitled “How
to get 2G or 3G Internet on your Mobile Phone in Jamaica”. But it’s not all
bad; you still get the regular JA$100 Credit at the end of the month on you Main
Balance and you still get Loyalty Point that you can use to buy a phone…..so it
ain’t all bad!
Digicel’s DigiFlex comes in
many Denominations – Data Account top-up sans USSD codes
Apparently too, it may have to do with the fact that Jamaicans don’t read
too well or dislike reading at all. There are already various methods of adding Data Service to your 3G capable
smartphone, all of which involve you adding credit and using various USSD (Unstructured
Supplementary Service Data) codes to activate the Data Service of
Choice.
The procedure is as show on the DataFlex
Webpage on Digicel’s Website and is listed below for convenience. As you
can see, it’s a one step process and is clearly easier.
To recharge your Digicel
DataFlex account for your smartphone, Tablet or 3G Dongle:
1.
Place SIM for Tablet or 3G dongle into a regular
phone. If it's a smartphone you don't need to do this
2.
*121*Digicel
DataFlex Voucher Number# and Send
3.
Restart the phone and then surf the Internet
To Recharge your Digicel 4G Broadband WiMax Modem from your mobile phone,
requires that you know your 11 digit service number (1020xxxxxxx) which you
should have recorded during setup as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “How
to setup and troubleshoot your Digicel 4G Broadband Modem”:
1.
*125*11 digit service number (1020xxxxxxx)#
2.
*125*[Datable number]#
To check your account balance is thus the same as checking your account
balance for a Prepaid Voice Plan or even a VIP Text Plan as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “How
to activate Digicel VIP Text and get Free Texting on Digicel or LIME phone as
IM gets more popular”:
1.
Dial*120*10#
2.
Check your screen for your current balance
The pricing for Data
Services as listed in the Geezam blog
entitled “How
to Access LIME or Digicel’s 4G Internet using an unlocked 4G LTE Modem Dongle,
smartphone or Tablet” hasn’t changed much since 2012.
I had done an article on the Geezam blog
entitled “How
to Access LIME or Digicel’s 4G Internet using an unlocked 4G LTE Modem Dongle,
smartphone or Tablet” listing them all, inclusive of the new prices. For
the benefit of my readers, I’ll relist the USSD’s below:
LIME “4G” Network
1.
*146*1# - One (1) day 3G Prepaid Data Plan
2.
*146*7 - Seven (7) day 3G Prepaid Data Plan
3.
*146*14# - Fourteen (14) day 3G Prepaid Data
Plan
4.
*146*30# - Thirty (30) day 3G Prepaid Data
Plan
5.
*129# - Menu Based structure to activate
a Prepaid Data Plan on a SIM
Digicel “4G” Network
1. *143#
- smartphone menu based options that allow you to choose a Data Plan
2. *135#
- Blackberry menu based options that allow you to view a Data Plan
3. *136#
- Blackberry USSD to Add a Blackberry Data Plan as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “How
to Set Up a Prepaid or Postpaid Blackberry Plan on your BB for LIME or Digicel”
4. http://myweb.Digiceljamaica.com to
choose a Data Plan for your Tablet
5. http://my4gplan.Digiceljamaica.com/
to check out the Various 4G Mobile Data Plans
6. http://selfcare.Digicelbroadband.com
to top up your Digicel 4G Broadband WiMax Modem
7. *125*[11
digit service number (1020xxxxxxx)]# then *125*[Voucher PIN Number]# after
confirmation message to top up your Digicel 4G Broadband WiMax Modem
There have been some repackaging or “stretching” of some of the Prices
for Data. Telecom Provider LIME has 30-Day Mobile Data Plans for JA$300 along
with a Alcatel One Touch T’Pop (OT-4010) that they launched in August of 2013
as stated in my blog
article entitled “LIME
Jamaica introduces 30-day Data Plans for JA$300 and a free Alcatel One Touch
T'Pop - How the Butler started the Smartphone Data Revolution”.
Digicel had responded
similarly, launching a JA$100 Data Plan for 2-Days of Mobile Data which went
live around the same time the DL600 was officially launched in October 2013 as
stated in my blog
article entitled
“Digicel
officially launches DL600 smartphones on Friday October 18th 2013 and JA$100
2-Day Data Plans - Ours is the Fury as Digicel’s DL600 secures their Throne in
this Game of Phones against LIME”.
Digicel DataFlex Prepaid Cards
– Boost to Instant Messaging, Blackberry and Tablet
I expect this product to become very popular in the next few months.
Don’t be surprised though, if Digicel
DataFlex ends up outselling regular Credit Vouchers. Most smartphone users
tend to use IM (Instant Messenger) Services such as WhatsApp as noted in my blog article
entitled “Facebook
is Trailing Behind WhatsApp in Social Messaging - Teenagers and Millennials
wooed by Mobile Social Networks on smartphones and Tablets that have
Snapchat-esque Privacy Controls”.
Expect
Blackberry usage to get a boost from Digicel
DataFlex too, as BBM 2.0 is now out. BBM 2.0 is now enableing many with Blackberrys OS 10
smartphones as well as Apple iOS and Google Android smartphones to make Free
Calls over this rapidly expanding Mobile Social Network as explained in my blog article
entitled “BBM
2.0 now with Voice and Dropbox Integration – WhatsApp beaten for sure as Free
File Sharing and Voice Calling result in BBM Transcendence on Android and iOS”.
Tablet, 3G Modem
Dongle and 4G Digicel Broadband Users with a WiMaX Modem as in my case will
especially love this Card. Digicel
DataFlex literally
means that they have it sent directly to your Tablet once you know the 11
digit service number.
Before this, you had to undergo the cumbersome action of having to take out
their SIM (Subscriber Identification Module), top up and activate it on
different phone and then replace the SIM in the Tablet or buying Credit for
Voice Calling and activating it via the SelfCare Digicel Broadband Website.
So it’s clear that both Telecom Providers are adjusting their Data Rates
slowly downwards to make it an easy choice for Jamaicans now want more Data
Services. Digicel
DataFlex just makes it easier, as instead of sacrificing Prepaid Credit for
talking, you just top up with a Digicel
DataFlex Prepaid Card and top up your Data Account without all the hassled
of having to remember USSD codes.
Check
back with my blog or just follow Digicel Jamaica’s website,
Digicel’s Facebook Page
and Digicel’s Twitter Page for
details on when the next promotion is coming to a store near you!
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