Melita launches mobile telephony and announces lower tariffs

Joseph Camilleri

Feb 7th 2009, 22:30

@Everybody.
Melita's Customer Care is so disastrous that it makes the customer care of other operaters seem execellent.

Tonio Borg

Feb 6th 2009, 12:57

Melita charges for the first full minute, Go charges for the first 30 seconds and Vodafone charges just for the seconds you talk.
http://www.intomobile.com/2008/01/17/eu-wireless-regulatory-body-looks-into-mobile-phone-billing-european-commission-wants-per-second-mobile-phone-billing.html

Chris Mallia

Feb 4th 2009, 13:15

@ Alan Micallef,
How can you compare 2G and 3G the way you compared them?

For one, you don't need 3G for - SMS, MMS and basic calls.
The only "benefit" found is voice calls and faster WEP / GPRS service, which the average joe doesn't use, since the high tariffs involved.

Secondly, as already stated, 3G doesn't offer appropriate coverage for the Maltese islands. I can still call my friends from Filfla, you just can't.

Thirdly, you're a technically advanced craphead that doesn't know that the major brand mobile phones are manufactured in China, with crappy salaries.

Cheers

Thomas De Giorgio

Feb 3rd 2009, 20:22

anthony mamo... read mark a vella comment.... i know precisely what i get and what i pay... GO and Vodafone are missleading nobody... they just aren't offering them anymore... but they do exist!

Joseph Pace

Feb 3rd 2009, 15:41

The Melita sceptics are right. EVERYONE LISTEN UP!!. The €50 credit mentioned in the website for pre-paid connections will be given at €5 a month and you have to purchase €5 EXTRA TALK TIME EACH TIME. Nowhere in the terms and conditions published in the website is this mentioned and when I mentioned this to a Melita salesman at Naxxar, the best he could come up with was "...at least I'm telling you now, aren't I?". Staff are also making it very obvoius that they were trained to pressure anyone who contacts them to commit to a contract. This is obvious from the amount and type of questions that they are asking and their response to your answer. New service, aggressive marketing, same old Melita story.

Tonio Borg

Feb 3rd 2009, 09:17

@ Cristian Micallef. Melita have reduce rates, but then they charge you for 1 minute regardless of how much you talk so in the end they are actually more expensive than the most expensive price plan existing currently in the market. I was really thinking that Melita was going to bring something different, but we are stuck with what we had. A lot of hope for nothing

Matthew Gauchi

Feb 2nd 2009, 23:21

The prime ministrer received his first call in freedom square intentionally... and not for example in his office at castille as otherwise.. there will be no reception!!!

J.Scerri

Feb 2nd 2009, 22:07

If things here go like the saying "THE STORY REPEATS ITSELF" then surely I'm not interested in subscribing with Melita Mobile. Each service I ever received (or still receiving)from this company follows always on the same track, it begins decent and then go worsen along the way. Normally the fees go up and the service the opposite way. About the Onvol is extremely expensive compared to other IPs and the service is the same or even slower than others (not to mention the customer care : PLEASE WAIT 1 MINUTE TO BE ANSWERED) and if you're on your lucky day maybe you'll be answered in half an hour. Or even worse the TV service, when one lovely day they change the channel list and when this happens is always with CHEAPER QUALITY channels. And the Customer Care is the same (or even worse if it's possible) than the Onvol one. And beware of the Terms & C of any service of Melita. Cause once you signed them (maybe you're on a hurry), there's no way to get back from them.

Anthony Mamo

Feb 2nd 2009, 21:37

@ Thomas DeGiorgio I have just done what you told me to. Just before writing this comment I have contacted GO by telephone and asked them about a 12 EURO package with 50 free minutes with the below name yo mentioned yourself. The representive of GO answered me in this way,I quote " Le m'ghadna xejn ta 12 EUR sir, li ghadna tal EUR20, EUR40, EUR60 li qed tara fuq il website." This clearly shows how GO are missleading you, and all of their customers.

Christian Micallef

Feb 2nd 2009, 21:10

First of all, I do think that it is good that Melita launched this mobile service because now it will help decrease the rates of the other 4 competitors in the market.

Regarding customer care I don't think Melita kept its promises because before they came out with the new brand Melita they promised to have a good customer care service but I think it has got worse because I've just been on the phone with Melita for just 20 minutes!!

Now regarding the launch of their new mobile service, I think it is a far more better service than the previous new mobile companies Bay Mobile and Redtouch Fone. These both had experienced loads of problems.

C. Micallef

Feb 2nd 2009, 20:11

@M. Attard
I have no affiliation whatsoever with Melita, however I must say that yesterday I called them, was advised that I would be spoken to within a minute (by a machine), and indeed I was talking to a person within 30 seconds. The same, however, cannot be said of Vodafone, with who I am subscribed. Try calling 247, and you will hear Marigold by Winter Moods over again ad nauseum for a good ten minutes - no joke....thank god its a good song! And this is not just one occurrence, but time and again!! So really and truly, there is no choice.....the aftersales of both companies apparently leaves much to be desired, which makes price the determining factor here.

M Attard

Feb 2nd 2009, 19:44

My priority for anything I purchase is after-sales service... I prefer paying slightly more but knowing that should something crop up, I will get good customer service from the provider. Melita... you could have offered rates which were 50% cheaper than other providers. I, and many others I know, will never even think about switching over to you. Your customer care does not deserved to be called 'care', because this is something you know absolutely nothing about. In the year 2009, I hardly expect to be put on hold for 20 minutes whilst getting connected to someone in the same offices.... to then be told that there is no one available to speak to me! Should there be anyone at Melita who cares about my problem, I authorise timesofmalta.com to give them mobile number. Yeah right.... I could keep on dreaming!!

Matthew Aquilina

Feb 2nd 2009, 19:35

I use both Internet services, GO and Melita. Last month panic was seen here since GO's submarine cable suffered a fault. Well, I am utterly disappointed with the service by Melita at the moment. With GO you pay less, faster speed plus no blocked ports for downloading. I am seriously thinking of stopping my Melita subscription if this goes on.

Frank Vella

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:51

I was planning to switch until I read the terms and conditions.... 12.4 You acknowledge and agree that, for training purposes and to improve the quality of its customer services including complaint handling, we may occasionally monitor and record calls and mobile usage made to or by it relating to customer services and telemarketing. 12.5 You acknowledge and agree that your personal data shall be used and processed for the purpose of direct marketing and promotion, and that we may send you information about other products and services supplied by us or any of our parent or subsidiary companies, by mail, mobile, telephone, email, electronic messaging including text messaging or fax. You may, by written notice to us, oppose the processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes.

I Zmirli

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:49

@ K. Mercieca I'm experiencing the same problem here. I pay for their 20mbps/512kbps plan and even though the service has been really bad in the last couple weeks during the afternoon/evening, it really went to hell today. Perhaps they should try to fix their current services before they introduce new ones.

G Darmanin

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:29

I have just returned home and noticed that my Melita cable Internet is extremly slow! I have tried various websites and download sites and I feel like I am back in time when we used to access the Internet via a dialup-connection! And moreover, Melita's website is still showing the message 'We are experiencing high activity on our servers due to the large amount of traffic generated during the launch of our mobile services.'. That message appeared early this morning! Well done Melita, for your lack of planning! Not only you have started with a mediocre mobile service, but you have also managed to ruin your normal cable Internet service! I am now paying for a broadband connection but being provided with speed on par of a dial-up connection!!!

Andrew Gatt

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:25

We are a web-based real estate firm with a 10 meg business connection. Our systems have been unusable for all practical purposes for most of today. It took Melita 32 MINUTES to answer my call (thanks guys!), and to then inform me that the service is slow due to maintenance works and that things should be back to normal on WEDNESDAY! The cherry on this particular cake (or qassata) was that whatever/whoever passes for Customer Service Representation were "all in a meeting" and could not give me the time of day. Message was left. Call was not returned. Each time it's the same story. Ages and ages to get through, calls that often last 30+ minutes, and all for nothing. NOTHING. No returned calls, no apologies, no advance warning, no recourse, no refunds nothing nothing nothing. Get your act together, Melita. You have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA of what customer service is, let alone how to deliver it. And we, your customers, are paying top dollar for ******* **** service. Disgraceful.

Mark A. Vella

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:18

@ Thomas de Giorgio I'm on the same contract as Anthony Mamo is, and i must say that it's the best. Even Voda offer something similar. For some funny reason they just don't advertise them..........so we are :D

TG

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:09

@Karl Mercieca i had the exact same problem with Melita 2 years ago, i switched to GO in August 2007 and so far i have no problems with download limit and slow connection.

frank grech

Feb 2nd 2009, 18:04

An appropriate logo for Melita would be: MELITA ,ITS JUST NOT WORTH IT!!!!

Chris Grillo

Feb 2nd 2009, 17:30

@Bertie O'Cassey I think you could have made it out that I was only calling 'dumb' those who cannot accept that 22c is always less than 47c..and not the people, but their way of thinking obviously. Like you, I knew that all service providers con us with 'the first minute' at full price..so when I call my wife, I always make sure that I do spend a minute chatting up with her. I also agree with you about the phone prices. Ridiculous is the word I would find best suited. Another thing I would like Melita to look after is the prices. Having 'Net (always, tee-hee) Hello and TV with sports is a bit too expensive...no make it TOO expensive. But TV and football are my only vices,I don't smoke or drink, and we make matches in the weekend a family;friends affair. Suffice to say today, Melita offices are packed everywhere, and I can't collect my sim card..for tomorrow then!

Karl Mercieca

Feb 2nd 2009, 17:15

At about 23:00pm last night, my internet connection went from its now usually sluggish speed ( it has been uncharacteristically sluggish for a bout 3 weeks now) to impossibly slow. After coming back from college today, I re-connected, only to find it was still insufferably slow, if not worse. I performed a speed check, and found out that my bandwitdth was cut by 75%, and any connections made online were unstable and unreliable as a result. Download speeds were also insanely slow. I phoned Melita to enquire, and they said that their and vodafone's fibre optic cable was going under extensive maintenace, and the launch of their mobile service has crippled their service "temporarily"TM (quote) and my internet would be like this for a while. Apart from paying for this garabge service monthly, I also pay 210 Euro Subscription Fees for an online game which i frequently and actively play. Over the past few weeks, Melita / Onvol's service has simply gone down the drain. What has this to do with anything? They have no real customer service, and no internet service. I think they should fix their old services before implementing new ones.

Herbert J. Grech

Feb 2nd 2009, 17:01

The 3G network is already giving trouble... a colleague bought a Melita starter pack and after several hours he managed to top up. Then he got charged 0.44 Euro for attempting 2 calls to my mobile. Needless to say these 2 call attempts failed after 2 seconds since we do not have proper coverage. Hence 0.22 Euro for the first 2 sec call, and 0.22 Euro for the second 2sec call... very good.. we just realised that no matter what, the first minute is charged in full.. Hence even if you spend 5 seconds on a call you still get charged for 60 seconds...

P. Aquilina

Feb 2nd 2009, 15:58

@ D. Farrugia - As Voda and Go have a 2G network when 3G is not available for Data it will fall back on there 2G networks which supports EDGE a slower speed for Data but you will see no difference in Voice and SMS from 2G to 3G , and as it has been said 3G penetration is less due to the Higher Operating Freq of 3G . I am sure that there will be alot of no receptions areas with Melita due to this and because Voda and Go have hundreds of indoor repeaters in hotels , restaurants , underground car parks & cinemas etc. A mobile network is not built in a few months but takes years and years to improve.

D.Farrugia

Feb 2nd 2009, 15:41

It is possible to cancel your order within the first 15 days (cooling off period) without paying a penalty. If the phone is used, then you have to pay for it. Thanks.

M. Bugeja

Feb 2nd 2009, 15:19

@ D. Farrugia - If you still have your Sales Order Form that you signed with Melita, look on the back of the blue page. On the right, it states the following:

"You may cancel this order or part thereof without incurring penalty and without giving any reason by giving a notice of cancellation within 15 days from the date of this order. It is advisible to keep some evidence of having given your notice of cancellation."

But then it also says:

"In the case of sale of mobile services with a handset/device, you hereby acknowledge and agree that you renounce to your right to cancel this order in case you use the handset/device delivered to you."

But i would definitely discuss that with them - and point out the fact that you have every right to declare your contract null and void since you're within the 15 day period.

C.Ellul

Feb 2nd 2009, 15:15

@Alan Micallef

One more thing, mate...

"Not to mention that 3G phones are by far sexier than any other Made in China gadget."

3G phones are made in China just like practically anything else these days. For the record, the iPhone, considered by many as the sexiest phone to have, is also made in China, in Longhua and Shangai factories, and manufactured by women who work 15-hour shifts.to earn between £27-54 per month!

C. Ellul

Feb 2nd 2009, 15:00

@Alan Micallef

While 3G is indeed a more advanced mobile technology than 2G, its advantages to most users are marginal, and it suffers from several disadvantages.

3G offers video telephony and faster Internet access rates. The vast majority of users use their mobile to call and to send SMS - they don't care about video, even at the same price as regular voice calls - and they would only care to use it heavily for Internet access if 3G internet prices were comparable to fixed broadband. Melita are conveniently not specifying their data rates anywhere yet.

On the other hand, 3G suffers from greater signal attenuation, meaning that a network operator needs to install more base stations to achieve good reception. Judging by the number of people already complaining, it doesn't look like Melita's "nationwide 3G coverage" is any better than its competitors', except that with Melita you don't get a 2G network to back you up where 3G is not yet available!

Another disadvantage is that 3G requires more power and drains your battery more quickly.

Judging by the very slow uptake of 3G worldwide, I doubt that most people will agree with you.

Thomas DeGiorgio

Feb 2nd 2009, 14:48

@ anthony mamo

call their customer care and ask for the mentioned 12.00 euros contract, and then please post the answer they give you...

1 sec....


its called corp. contract B!! 12 euros monthly 50 free mins

G Darmanin

Feb 2nd 2009, 14:24

@D.Farrugia

Although the terms and conditions (on their website) state that the contract is for a minimum of 15 months and once you sign it you have to honour that contract, at the same time the provider must ensure that you are provided with a reliable service. In your case it seems that you are not being provided with a reliable service since you cannot use the service at home. Dont forget that there is a legal framewok through which your rights can be safeguarded.

Dave Alan Caruana

Feb 2nd 2009, 13:54

to D. Farrugia,

is there no 'cooling off period' where a contract can be cancelled without further ado?
I think this is a legal requirement in most EU countries ..

Herbert J. Grech

Feb 2nd 2009, 12:51

what about reducing the TV rates.??. It is ridiculous that for the Sports Channel you pay 20 euros extra .... When we look at the ads on the Italian Channels for example... the current offer of Mediaset Premium gives you all the channels (inc Sports, Cinema and all the rest) for just 12 euros/month... So, for practically half the price of the Melita sports channel, you get all the full service...

In addition to have the full Melita TV service (inc cinema, sports etc) you need to pay close to 60 euros/ month !!! Hence with what we pay for 2 months full Melita TV service, in Italy they get 10 months full TV service (channels, sports, cinema)... Can you believe it? Unfortunately we do not have much competition on TV..

I was hoping to get much better tariffs on mobile, considering the hype created. I will wait for a couple of months to see what GO and Vodafone come up with..

David Schiavone

Feb 2nd 2009, 12:40

I am quite surprised by the fact that the Melita Website is 'down' at the moment.... Is this bluffing or what?

@Alan.. Both Voda & GO have been offering 3G for a long time. Vodafone Malta was the pioneer in brining 3G in Malta.. If you're happy in having 3G Connectivity (with hiccups).. well use it mate, however I can assure you that in certain areas 3G Coverage is not available.... Come on Mate.........

Martin Bezzina

Feb 2nd 2009, 12:37

@ Alan Micallef, the issue is why did Melita launch with 3G when the other two operators did that more than two years ago and are already planning a 4G upgrade?

E.Magri

Feb 2nd 2009, 11:22

@Alan Micallef
Its about time that you are aware that Go has been offering nationwide 3G coverage since around April 2007.

Mark Anthony Sammut

Feb 2nd 2009, 11:16

@Alan Micallef: "This is why I'm elated to finally have the opportunity to experience the power of 3G wherever I am in Malta and Gozo."

Vodafone and Go have had nationwide 3G coverage for years now. Moreover after years in service their coverage would be much better than Melita's, and in cases where 3G coverage is poor they have 2G coverage to fall back to, which Melita don't.

I C Moore

Feb 2nd 2009, 11:08

@ Alan Micallef

What is the use of buying a Ferrari if what you need is an offroader? 3g does not have the signal penetration strength as 2g and thus coverage would be much less especially considering Malta's landscape. 99% of the mobile usage is to make calls and is this is satisified better with 2g than 2g is what customer needs. It is not the supplier who shall impose on the customer but the other way round!! I've been using 3g service for data for several months and in certain buildings you have to forgetis having a reception. When you're outside its ok but when inside 3g is a disaster. So having a 3g service without the backing of 2g is a definately NO NO !! Incidentally Melita never mentioned the coverage they have with their network - why?

Alan Micallef

Feb 2nd 2009, 10:12

For all the buffs who have been complaining about possible loss of 3G coverage......

While the world is already movnig towards 4G, you still seem very happy with your 2G services. Great, indeed!!

To those who all these G's mean absolutely nothing:
2G is to 3G as dial-up internet is to super-fast cable broadband internet
2G is to 3G as B&W TV is to Colour TV
2G is to 3G as standard definition is to High definition (HD) TV

This is why I'm elated to finally have the opportunity to experience the power of 3G wherever I am in Malta and Gozo. Not to mention that 3G phones are by far sexier than any other Made in China gadget.

Maria Dolores Fenech

Feb 2nd 2009, 09:58

I don't understand why people are complaining.

If Go and Voda start to lose customers, then they will decide to do something themselves. So I say that I would like Go to have no time window for Pay as you go, if not, then I'm sorry but I will look elsewhere where I will get good value for the money I pay.

As simple as that.

D.Farrugia

Feb 2nd 2009, 09:43

...and now a friend tells me that when switching to Vodafone he got 500 free minutes and 500 free SMS for two months. At 22c/min and 5c/sms, Vodafone gives you €270!!

Compare that to Melita's offer of €150.

D.Farrugia

Feb 2nd 2009, 09:38

Yesterday I rushed to sign up to a contract with Melita. I went home happy to try my new phone and... guess what?? No reception!! Nothing... I couldn't make a single phone call from my home. I called Melita to complain about my problem and when I asked that I would like to stop my contract and return my phone they said that I had to pay a penalty of €420 (equal to 14 months x €30) plus the price of the handset!!!

What a rip-off! Now i'm stuck with a service which I can't use at home.

Bertie O'Cassey

Feb 2nd 2009, 09:30

@ Chris Grillo. Part 2
The mobile call rates are competitive if you are one that spends more than 30 seconds on the thing. It is prove that the majority of people spend only between 20 to 30 sec on a phone call and as Rafa Benitez said "this is a fAct" (pun intended).

Now coming to the part where I agree with you, I use all the other melita services, Hello, TV and internet and I must say they are top notch, telephony has the best prices (altough the problem of electricity cuts is a definate drawback), their TV is great their are only a couple of service providers that can offer all the champions league, premier league and Carling Cup live at the touch of a button from the comfort of your home ( as for the FA Cup I like to use it as an outing to go at my favourite pub with the Lads) and finally you have internet and I do not think that I have to say anything about this as I haven't had lack of internet for ages unlike other service providers.

Bertie O'Cassey

Feb 2nd 2009, 09:29

@ Chris Grillo.

I do agree with you on some points whilst on others I do not.

I do not agree with you calling people dumb, but it must be a case of "it takes one to know one".

Back in December at city gate my better half and me where approached by a Melita hound, we where told that we would get a free mobile not being as you put it "dumb" I asked her if this will also apply to those who are prepaid also, the reply was "yes", that is a case of false marketing.

The second issue is that of the cost of the 3G mobile phones, the costs are over inflated, a case in point is the HTC mobile they offer, it is stated that it costs Euro 650 when one can buy the same mobile for between euro 450 and 490. If you take the XL package I beleive that you still have to pay circa Euro 375 ( I stand to be corrected on this).

Michael Gatt

Feb 2nd 2009, 08:58

@ Chris Grillo
Well said!! I am now subscribed to all 4 services offered by Melita and definitely cannot complain... they have a great selection of tv channels, great sports content, fast internet and above all RELIABLE and cheaper telephony and mobile rates!!

P.S. I am not affiliated to Melita in any way. I am just a satisfied customer!!!

Anthony Mamo

Feb 2nd 2009, 08:39

@ Thomas de Giorgio

I cannot understand how you say that GO have plans starting from EUR12 (VAT included). Nowhere on the GO website can you find such 'plans'.

The cheapest 'pay monthly' plan is that of EUR 20, where the average Maltese spends between EUR 13- Eur 18 per month. Well done to Melita to have recognised this and set the cheapest monthly plan subscription fee at EUR 15 which as a paying customer I do beleive is reasonable.

Also I have compared the phones Melita are offering for free to those which GO offer for free and Melita's phones are way more expensive and modern than those GO offer. Melita are also offering a EUR450 phone (E71) for free with certain packages.
With the cheapest GO plan that of EUR 20, all you get is a rediculous EUR49 discount on a mobile phone, Melita are giving a way a mobile phone worth EUR150 and over for FREE.

When comparing tariffx , GO's cheapest tariff rate (pay monthly, EUR60 per month) is pretty much close to Melita's most expensive tarrif rate on pre-paid!!!.

Joe Micallef

Feb 2nd 2009, 08:30

I was honestly looking forward to this launch, so much so that I booked a number. This until the cheap marketing spin that the melita website was not available due to the "overwhelming" traffic generated by the launch.

Whilst I do not believe this, at the end of the day this is not my problem. My problem is that I could not access my mail. I am expecting a compensation for this whilst not excluding possible legal action.

Anthony Mamo

Feb 2nd 2009, 08:15

@Chris Grillo

Well said, totally agree!!

Chris Grillo

Feb 2nd 2009, 06:45

I don't understand why people complain so much about new providers. If you like it join-up,if not,don't. I believe it is sincerely a case of either 'working with' Melita's services, or 'ma npaxxijhoms'.That is oh so very true.

Now what Melita said was 'up to 30% cheaper calls'. The tariff is there for all to see,except for those who are too dumb to admit it. 22c is ALWAYS cheaper than 47c..no matter what anyone says. As for SMS,they have been kept the same,pity about that.. but thank heavens for the time window removal,imposed by Go and Voda. (Incidentally Voda employess conned my wife into signing over her number to them in Valletta, and for no reason ever will I go over to them).

As a long time Go subscriber, there is no financial reason to stay with the orange-logo guys. Calls are cheaper, and if one wants to test Melita,a starter pack (I guess) is just around 10Euros? Hardly back-breaking. If you don't like it, just put your old sim card in the phone.

PS.I'm not an employee of Melita,but as a long-time paying subscriber to their tv,hello and internet,I think they offer a darn good service!

Malcolm Attard

Feb 1st 2009, 23:05

Promising start.... We have to wait for Go and voda... cheaper prices on their way :) It is just the start... stop this complaining attitude because it just drives you to no where.

Dave Alan Caruana

Feb 1st 2009, 22:18

Compared to other countries, Maltese mobile phone rates are still so expensive as to make them unuseable. I am living in UK, and here a 34 sterling a month contract (about 37 euro) gives me a free high end mobile phone (I got an E71 when it was just released), 600 minutes to any network, 1000 SMSes, and 'unlimited' internet (500Mb / month limit, which isn't strictly enforced). Compare that with Melita's XL which works out at 4 times the price, not including internet or the free phone (145 euro for an E71 on this contract .. an incredible 400 eu for a N96!). 500Mb of internet data would cost a cool 600 euros. As I always say, Maltese must be the richest people in the world!!

R Caruana

Feb 1st 2009, 22:17

thank you but no thank you;
i gave up on melita internet. gave up on melita phone and wont do same mistake

T.T.

Feb 1st 2009, 22:12

I didn't like the fact that you have to have a 3G phone.... Today I found out that you have to have a 3G since the sim card is only compatible with the 3G card...
The only think that I liked was that you don't have any time windows...

Even the sms rate is the same as the other operators....

Dr Clive Aquilina Spagnol

Feb 1st 2009, 21:28

Give them time! I believe they already made a very good step and the consumer will benefit!

Thomas de Giorgio

Feb 1st 2009, 19:31

@david galea

you are mistaken.... GO and Vodafone have monthly plans starting from 12 Euros (VAT INCLUDED) ... and funnily enough are better then the ones of Melita...

unfortunately... all the buzz in talking they created resulted in a greater disappointment to the general public, like myself... I was expecting something cheaper and better rated than those that i am already paying... not almost exactly the same.

Sergio Farrugia

Feb 1st 2009, 19:14

Offers on monthly plans give you the right of 50 minutes talk time but only on weekends , what about the other 5 days of the week ?

Adrian Tonna

Feb 1st 2009, 18:36

I would like to know what Melita coverage situation is? They said nationwide but my brother can barely get any coverage reception at his home in Sliema...is this the sign of the times to come with Melita mobile? lower prices but porr service?

Tonio Borg

Feb 1st 2009, 18:15

To Jon Borg Barthe, with Melita you pay 22cents for a 30 second call, they charge you the first full minute unlike Vodafone. So for a 30 second call they are 30% more expensive than any operator in Malta. Most calls are lessthan a minute long, so that is how they cheat you.

Anthony Mamo

Feb 1st 2009, 18:15

@ Hildbrand Bianco
Melita do give out a FREE Nokia E71, ofcourse with the XL Big Savers package, so if you are expecting that you get the Nokia E71 with any other plan you are very mistaken. And if im not mistaken Melita do have SMS bundles which come at a rat of EUR 0.02 per SMS.

If you switch in Febuary you also get EUR 150 free talk time.

Andrew A

Feb 1st 2009, 17:16

Remember people u cant use melita mobile service on any phone. u need to have/buy a 3g phone, u need to spend at least 70 euros for one. also calls can be cheaper and more expensive than current providers. a 30 second call is more expensive by 7 cents but a 31 second call is cheaper by 10 cents. many people dnt call for more than 30 seconds & melita know that. Also go's sms bundles are 0.0233 cents per sms while melitas are 0.025 cents per sms . The main advantage melita has over go is the fact u have no time window

A Scicluna

Feb 1st 2009, 10:54

Before commenting on how cheap the new SMS service is, maybe one should read the following article that explains how were are all ultimately getting ripped for for a service which could essentially be provided for very close to free! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/28/business/28digi.html?_r=1

J Camilleri Baron

Feb 1st 2009, 10:47

Following my earlier post about time window on top-up credit - This is what Simon Busuttil had to say about time-windows:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090121/opinion/your-phones-time-window/

"...a judgement of a German court, which has been brought to my attention by another reader, Henrik Piski, held that time window clauses in mobile telephony contract are invalid because they infringe consumer rights...."

Glad that Melita and Malta is ahead of German telecom companies. Makes me proud to be Maltese and finally getting some good value for the money I pay.

Mildred Debono

Feb 1st 2009, 08:10

@ Hildbrand Bianco

Very lies? very cheaper? many fuss? I think it's safe to assume that you misunderstood them if they spoke English especially :) Check out the rates properly.... i just did and they are much cheaper, and definitely simpler....you don't need a statistician to work out what you'd be paying for!!! I also checked your Go plan...there is no way in hell that you're buying 100 smes for that price....on y bundles of 300 and 500 are available. Believe me I'd know as I'm an avid SMS user...but now I think I can call with melita.

Mario Spiteri

Feb 1st 2009, 07:06

If they treat the costomer as they usud to treat me with the cable TV service (We don't care about yoor comlaain attitute) I won't even dare to try your service. I'm sorry Melita cable you have to change your attitute in elation to the costomer. Thanks Times of Malta for giving me the chance to express my opinion in public regarding this matter.

Darren Muscat

Feb 1st 2009, 06:11

@ Hildbrand Bianco: the 2c per sms you pay are on bundles, with go, melita is going to have the same thing, bundled sms!

And if you think that go mobile is cheaper, then i would assume that you would prefair to call @ 32c per minute then 22 euro cent going down to 16 euro cent!

Darren Muscat

Feb 1st 2009, 06:09

the pre-paid is without a time-window, basically you can top up 5 euros, and it will be active for a year!, if you stay a certain period without credits, then the simcard's life, ends, the same as vodafone and also go mobile.

Who over here doesn't waste 5 euros every 6 months?

@ L. Cardona, in Malta there are only 3 providers not 4. Red Touch and Bay Mobile are virtual providers with Vodafone.

David Thake

Jan 31st 2009, 21:53

Melita mobile is off! And I'm still waiting for the "challenge to Malta’s reputation as the country with the highest mobile call-rates"

Take a look at o2's website in the UK. www.o2.co.uk

I was in London 2 weeks ago and for 10 Sterling i got:

- 10 sterling credit on my Pay as you Go card
- 50 minutes of INternational calls for FREE to any international (not UK) landline or mobile.
- free 3G Data and Wifi access for 1 year

Now THAT is what I call affordable.

Despite having three operators and another two Virtual operators, we are light years away from the prices that other markets enjoy.

Noel Cutajar

Jan 31st 2009, 21:22

@ Michael Gatt - first, your way of putting words on this blog, seems to me that you work with Melita, secondly the bundle which you are talking about says that you have to pay 45 Euro for the whole services - i,e, internet, TV, telephone and mobile...but at the bottom of the site it says when you ADD either of the three packages being offered for the mobile monthly plans...if that is not deceptive, then what it is? Maybe some pre-announced Melita customer care official would clarify this cobweb of information.

Joseph Micallef

Jan 31st 2009, 20:32

Correct me if I am wrong but the information in their website is confusing or insufficient. I could not really make heads or tails. And the conflicting comments here seem to prove it!

J.Borg(2)

Jan 31st 2009, 19:07

With Vodafone a 30second call on their Simple prepaid tariff costs €0.16. With Melita a 30second call costs €0.22. They charge the first minute in full and then per second after that. Is this what they call cheaper? Is this how they bring simpler to Malta? ... with these gimmicks?

I'm stick with the network with which I've been for years: Vodafone.

J.Borg(2)

Jan 31st 2009, 19:04

Simple? Don't think so... Have a look at the terms and conditions. If the Customer terminates the Agreement, disconnects or changes tariff plan before the lapse of the Initial Term, the Customer shall be liable to pay Melita an Early Termination Fee, which shall consist of (i) a one-time lump sum representing the retail value of the free handset or credit given; (ii) a one-time lump sum of the monthly subscription fees for the remaining duration of the term, and (iii) all outstanding amounts on the Customer's bill.

Thus, if you sign up to a 15 month contract of €50 and purchase a Nokia n96, and terminate after only two months, you will have to pay a penalty of €1400!! With Vodafone, you only pay the difference left on the subsidy (a few tens of euros).

Alex Cutajar

Jan 31st 2009, 19:01

@Hildbrand Bianco
With Melita's SMS bundle you pay €1.65 less for 500 SMS when compared to GO Mobile... I use messaging a lot and that's great for me... will definitely switch provider! If you're disappointed, I'm not!!!

T.gauci

Jan 31st 2009, 18:55

from their Terms & Conditions:

"This Tariff starts from the 1st February 2009 and will continue thereafter unless and until it is terminated by Melita."

i don't like that "unless" thing

Hildbrand Bianco

Jan 31st 2009, 18:48

Very disappointed. They also told me that they will give me a free Nokia E71. They told us very lies. With Go Mobile service is very cheaper. In fact, I send sms at 0.02 euro cent only each (x100) per month. Many fuss 4 nothing. Brain washing Melita.

Tiziana Scerri

Jan 31st 2009, 18:47

As with every offer you have to read between the lines... Calls are charged on a per second basis after the first minute. Mobile operators know that the majority of the calls are less than one minute.

Karl Vella

Jan 31st 2009, 18:46

@ Jon Borg Barthet
It seems you're calculating it right!! Add to that there's no time window with Melita's prepaid!

Michael Gatt

Jan 31st 2009, 18:41

@I Alamango

Seems like your prayer has just been answered! I just checked out their website and they're giving away FREE phones to those having other Melita services bundled up!!

Jon Borg Barthet

Jan 31st 2009, 18:40

Am I calculating this right? I'm on prepaid with VF.... the simple plan.... I just called customer care and they told me that I pay 0.16c per 30 seconds...that's 0.32c/minute.... and with melita it's 0.22c/minute....on prepaid ? What am I not getting? Can it be that they are a whole 0.10c/min cheaper?

Markus Grixti

Jan 31st 2009, 18:30

I thought melita would come out with something silly like really cheap melita to melita calls and then expensive rates to other numbers, but they've really lived up to their promise of simpler...there's one rate to all....and it's cheap....let's face it...if they gave really cheap melita to melita calls it would have been a gimmick since for the beginning there won't be too many people with melita.... having said that... with rates like these I doubt it will take them too long to catch up !

Emanuel Agius

Jan 31st 2009, 18:23

Im Quite Disappointed with the prices. I Pretended that at least. Calls Between Melita Clients and on Hello Phone numbers would be at least a bit cheaper. Not same price as calling Vodafone or Go.

Sorry Melita, U managed to impress me with your Pre Marketing Methods but not with the real Stuff

Jasmine Mizzi

Jan 31st 2009, 18:16

@S Galea

What you are referring to is the competition time windows. Melita is surely removing time window. Read carefully the terms and conclusions before coming out with any statements. No time windows exist with Melita!!

Karl Vella

Jan 31st 2009, 18:12

@Matthew Attard
Melita promised cheaper call rates, and this is what they are offering! So I can't see what you mean by deceptive marketing! They are living up to their promise to be cheaper.... Besides, not even the other providers give phones for free with pre-paid. And rightly put - those SMS bundles seem to be great for students!

@ S. Galea
Have you read the same Terms & Conditions? You can top-up within 90 days from when you end up with zero-credit... The 365 days refer to the period during which you have to make at least one call!! The moment you make a call or send an sms, then you have another 365 days to make another activity using your mobile phone!! Would you classify that as a time window??!!!!

I Alamango

Jan 31st 2009, 18:10

rates are similar as current providers. Were is the cheap mobile telephony?

What about being a Melita client already? Do i deserve a better rate as I already have another 2 services with you?

Regarding the SMS bundle @ cheap prices, there is still a time-window!!

I will definately wait for feedback regarding reception and overall service.

Now it would be the time that GO and Vodafone offers great deals and free minutes etc to their LOYAL clients!!

J Zammit

Jan 31st 2009, 18:09

Melita has made a significant 40 million Euro investment. This is a sure sign that this sector is still booming.
So one can conclude that Vodafone and Go have so far, and for sure, been operating two real gold-mines.
Perhaps now it's time for the consumer to get his due share.

Bridgid Vella

Jan 31st 2009, 18:04

Whta's all the fuss about SMS.... with call rates like these you don't have to skimp with smses anymore.... even if you're calling abroad...the international rates are as cheap as callig from Hello.... and did you see the post pay deal? you can use all your subscription fee against whatever you like...even SMSes!!!!

Angie Bartolo

Jan 31st 2009, 17:59

All I know is that if this new company can afford to put prices down by so much on the first day...can you imagine how long and how much we have been paying the two mobile giants and how much money they have been making off of us? By gosh...even to get back at them for not putting down their prices when they could, I'm off with Melita tomorrow.

L Cardona

Jan 31st 2009, 17:51

Before jumping to conclusions, let's wait for any new offers from the other four mobile phone providers.

Then we compare prices and service.

S Galea

Jan 31st 2009, 17:48

" no time window" ...yeah right!

Terms & Conditions say a different story ... 90 days .. 365 days. What's this?

charles scerri

Jan 31st 2009, 17:41

I would wait for the reaction from the competition. I don't think GO are going to sit on their rates and watch customers moving. I am going to wait for 3 months and see what the real rates are. Let's not rush ... that's what Melita wants ... if they deserve it I will move but let's wait ... Again I did not see the choice of iPhone and Blackberry! Are they available? Again what if I save 30% and still get crap customer care. Let's see what the new Melita customer care looks like ... personally I still think it will be a joke!

Matthew Attard

Jan 31st 2009, 17:31

What a joke! The female who told me to book a number a few weeks ago told me that I'd be getting a free mobile and she told me it would be the Nokia E71, which now I can see that I have to pay for....and to rub it in, no phones are given for free with the pre-pay top-up plan! The only way I can see this work for me is if I go for a pre-pay top-up plan and buy 500 SMS bundles so that I'll be getting SMS's at 0.02E considering that I usually use only SMSs. Calling rates would also be more expensive for me as I would be paying a minimum of 0.22E per call as opposed to a 0.16E per call with GoMobile, for example, and I rarely last more than 20 seconds on a mobile. And I'm sure that many students are in the same boat as myself....so I don't what Melita is happy about; maybe the deceptive marketing?

Mark Vella

Jan 31st 2009, 17:19

Where are the lower tariffs? Cheaper they said.....cant see cheaper call rates....

Simpler tariffs? Maybe yes since there is less options.

Better? I have my doubts.

The contract i'm on is far cheaper than what Melita are offering, and i get more free minutes, cheaper sms rates, and cheaper call rate.... so why change?

I've waited for something REALLY challenging, but i was disappointed. I can't see where the 30% cheaper rates are to be honest!!

Mario Micallef

Jan 31st 2009, 17:12

Please note...rates start to be charged per second after 1st minute...so this means...a 20sec call is charged the same as 1minute...i dont call that reduction...its a GIMMICK

David Galea

Jan 31st 2009, 17:05

Has anybody noted that on postpay I don't have to pay a dime before I use all my monthly subscription. This is really a good offer. The other operators only offer limited free minutes for a higher monthly subscription. Buy prepaid its worth to join Melita on a postpay account.

Edward Zammit

Jan 31st 2009, 17:03

Just checked with Melita the SMS bundles have to be used in a month's time ! :-(

M. Spiteri

Jan 31st 2009, 16:54

@ Xuereb

International rates are extremely cheap compared to all other operators. Just take a look at their website
Bundles can be used towards local operators but they are still at good rates.
Data is at 7c per 60kb

but lets wait and see.....offers are coming out slowly slowly.....whenever i log in i find out something new....

Luke Buttigieg

Jan 31st 2009, 16:49

I think it's a brilliant start, call costs are way cheaper!

e.g. with vodafone, getting a bundle of 500 SMS which must be used in a month costs €11.65. with melita it's €10, that's €1.65 cheaper and no times window!

and the call rate drops from an atrocious €0.51/min to a very reasonable €0.22/min! that's the cheapest call rate I've ever seen on a prepaid tariff, usually they're 16c/30s i.e. 32c/min!!

I would have probably switched if only Vodafone hadn't locked me into a 2 year contract for the iPhone! Hopefully this competition will still lower the prices for my plan though.

S Muscat

Jan 31st 2009, 16:44

I'm disappointed with what is being offered by Melita. The SMS rates are the same as the competitors'!!

Charles car

Jan 31st 2009, 16:39

I hope that the offers!!that Melita Mobile are offering are here to stay or not like when MelitaT.V.When Melita T.V. was launched they offered some good deals they little by little all were removed and then one had to pay more to have them.

Herbert J. Grech

Jan 31st 2009, 16:28

just have a quick look at the T&Cs before choosing the monthly plans... Same old story.. just another provider like GO and Vodafone..

D Ellul

Jan 31st 2009, 16:19

What about indoor network coverage? I would think twice before switching to a start-up mobile operator.

J Camilleri Baron

Jan 31st 2009, 16:05

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090121/opinion/your-phones-time-window/

This is what Simon Busuttil had to say about time windows on mobile credit.....

"Finally, a judgement of a German court, which has been brought to my attention by another reader, Henrik Piski, held that time-window clauses in a mobile telephony contract are invalid because they infring consumer rights.

I will continue following this issue very closely"

So, are Go and Voda acting abusively?

Michael Gatt

Jan 31st 2009, 15:54

@ J.Borg
I suggest you have a look at their website closely... I just did and they have a great selection of 3G phones with really good prices when subscribing to a mobile package - not to mention that their packages are really affordable!!

@ J. Camilleri Baron
Couldn't agree more!

M. Porsella Flores

Jan 31st 2009, 15:39

@ M. Gauci, C. Schembri

From a perusal of Melita's website, it would seem that there are SMS bundles available which are similar for all plans including the pre-paid one. SMS bundle rates are cheaper than Vodafone's and Go's. I don't know however if the Melita SMS bundle is subject to a time-window, though one could always check.

J. Borg

Jan 31st 2009, 15:35

I think that there was a big fuss over nothing, same price for SMS. The mobile phones are expensive even with the biggest bundle considering at what price one can bring them from abroad.

J Camilleri Baron

Jan 31st 2009, 15:33

@ Mario Gauci, C. Schembri

I suggest you visit www.melita.com before you jump to conclusions...- contract plans for 15Euros per month...incredible!!

and well done to Melita for removing time windows from top-up credit. i'm sure this will go down well with customers ...

Simon Busuttil, please take note.... no need to fight it any longer in the EP.

finally, customers are benefiting from some true competition

Gianni Xuereb

Jan 31st 2009, 15:30

From what I see the charges are significantly cheaper. I still have some questions though.

1) How much does it cost to send an SMS internationally. e.g. to UK ?
2) Is the 500 SMS bundle @ €10 withough a time window ? What about VAT ? If without time window SMSes will be significantly cheaper this way @ €0.02 per SMS..
3) International calling rates
4) Cost of data communications per Mb.

L.Caruana

Jan 31st 2009, 15:27

In their website you can read that the SMS's rates are the same 0.05c Euro. So my question is.. what are the tariffs that are cheaper from the other competitors? I think that it is a bad start, if you want to attract more customers you need to change the SMS's rates and mobile to mobile calls and even mobile to telephone.

Neville Bezzina

Jan 31st 2009, 15:25

"Melita Mobile is also breaking away from the current practice of fixed time windows on usage of pre-paid top-up mobile credit. Pre-paid plans have no time window and no time limit for usage."

Looks like my gut feeling turned out to be correct, I'm glad I prebooked my number :D!

Michael Gatt

Jan 31st 2009, 15:11

These are what I call cheaper mobile rates... I just checked them on melita.com and they're in fact up to 30% cheaper than competition as reported!

and finally... pre-paid plans with no time window!! finally!!!

Mario Gauci

Jan 31st 2009, 15:02

I too am disappointed. Although admittedly calls are slightly cheaper however the sms rates have remained the same as other providers. This is where the chunck of business is made with the general public.

Sorry to say but there is no incentive to switch provider. Thanks but no thanks Melita!

C. Schembri

Jan 31st 2009, 14:01

Personally, I thought we would have better prices and a broader range of plans... nothing special though. I'm a bit disappointed for what is being offered, especially for Pre-Pay top-up plans, the only actual reduction is in voice calls, which other providers offer at a slightly higher rate in special top-up plans.

What about SMS's and maybe a BIG starterpack offer?

francis cauchi

Jan 31st 2009, 13:53

I would be better if first Melita offers a real customer service before offering a new service