How Digicel’s DataFlex Prepaid Data Credit launch means Tablets Data is hot

“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 14^th 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!

FAQ on Digicel’s DataFlex Vouchers *.PDF File