TOP 5 TIPS TO #GETCLEVER WITH YOUR MOBILE PLANS

CMFreporter

With mobile plans sprouting about like mushrooms, we are spoilt with choices. Now the more crucial question is how do we pick the best choice for our own use? It really depends on what you are using your phone for. Are you a real social media junkie or someone who primarily uses your phone for calls and texting? Or maybe your phone is an integral part of your work so you need ample amount of data for emails and instant messages, as well as a good call plan?

Weigh all the options available and determine what’s truly best for you.

Now let’s dive in to the meat of the matter by understanding several factors you should look out for before choosing the right mobile plan for you.

1. What do you use your phone for?

Are you using your phone primarily for calls and text messages? Then you may not need a mobile Internet plan, opt for one with lower data allowances for occasional use.

Are you a road warrior who is constantly on-the-go for work? Then you need the best of both worlds – a plan that gives a good amount of mobile data for emails and your instant messages, and a really attractive call plan.

Or you are a social media junkie where you are constantly on Instagram, Twitter and updating your status on Facebook, while streaming your favourite video on YouTube? Then you should consider subscribing to a data centric mobile plan. In fact, one that gives you a huge bandwidth to surf the Internet as if you run out of data, the speed will be throttled down, and you will need to endure not being connected for the rest of the months. Buying additional data is an option, but it can be very costly.

When it comes to payment, there are 2 options in the market – prepaid and postpaid.

Prepaid allows you to pay upfront, which in turn helps with to be in control of your spending. However, you will need to keep an eye on your credit so you are not caught in a situation where you cannot call or text during pressing times due to insufficient credit. Also, topping up is sometimes quite a hassle as you need to head to a convenient store to get it. Sometimes, they may run out of reload coupons or worse, not having a convenient store nearby.   

You won’t have the same issue with postpaid, but you will need to commit to a monthly payment scheme. Payment options for postpaid are generally done through online auto debit self-care portals, Internet banking, ATM, Walk-In Postal Payment and also at convenience stores’ checkout counters. Since it will be a monthly commitment, it is extremely important to pick the most suitable plan as you will be bound under contract for one to two years.

It has been the industry norm that most of the telcos perceive postpaid customers are MORE valuable than prepaid. Therefore they receive better deals in terms of price or  benefits. For example, the price for calls per minutes for prepaid is much higher than postpaid, and for the same monthly charge, postpaid customers receive more data allowances than the prepaid customers.

There is one exception in the market, though. U Mobile challenged industry conventions and launched its brand new prepaid and postpaid product range that offers the same rates and benefits for both prepaid and postpaid customers. Prepaid customers can finally enjoy the same plans as postpaid customers, and they no longer being treated less.

Check out U Mobile’s refreshed prepaid and postpaid plans which offer a simple and straightforward approach that will help consumers make the right choices for their mobile plans at www.u.com.my.

The New #GETCLEVER Prepaid and Postpaid Plan

2. Do you know what you’re paying for?

Consider ALL the costs associated with your plan on offer. Be aware of the various rates for all types of calls, texts and data as well as any applicable limits, allowances or “caps” associated with your plan.

Isn’t it frustrating when information is not clear enough and at the end of the day you end up feeling cheated, shocked and frustrated by your monthly mobile plan?

With mobile phones transforming into mini computers, the need for it to be “online” is paramount to the usability of the device. You don’t want to be stuck with an expensive smartphone that exists as a paper-weight when you’re out of data halfway through the month.

Do some research and ensure that the plan that you are subscribing to have no hidden charges and that everything is well explained. It is advisable to do a price and features comparison before you commit to a plan.

Start by listing down the amount of data, calls and SMSes you will be using. A rough estimate would suffice, as it is quite hard to be very specific and quantify them. There are also special mobile applications available on App Store and Play Store that will help you keep track of your data usage.

Based on what you have listed down, find your own plan category. For example, if you are an average user with monthly phone plan within the budget of RM30, considering data usage about 1.5GB per month, then you can nail down to few phone plan options available by different telcos in the market. Once you have that, you can do a comparison sheet like this to find out who offers the best deal.

3. When was the last time you done ‘window shopping’ for data?

Five years ago, voice calls and texting were considered very important, but currently mobile data has surpassed that and users are hungry for not just megabytes (MB) of data but now gigabytes (GB)! We are connecting with our friends and family via instant messaging and social networking platforms; get the latest news updates on our favourite mobile news apps, and we are streaming endless multimedia content for leisure purposes. Mobile data is almost becoming our lifeline now.The question remains “is data still expensive today,” since more and more people are using smartphone? It varies according to different service providers. Take a look at this chart.

Many service providers are trying to jump on the bandwagon by offering plans that include mobile data in their existing packages, but U Mobile has upped the ante by offering 50% more data from their previous plans for both postpaid and prepaid in its #GetClever plans. MORE data to power your smart devices now!

4. How to bag a premium phone home without burning your pocket?

Desiring the latest smartphone only to find out that it is way out of your price league?Fret not as most telco companies provide great prices and plans for the latest smartphones in town, bundled together with their mobile plans.

From basic smartphones for first-time users to more advanced ones for early adopters and working adults, telcos now widely offer a range of reduced and competitive prices, with a lot of added free services included. Some even offer the possibility of no upfront payment, making it easier for consumers to get their favourite devices without breaking the bank!

There are a lot of promotions available in the market now to suit various needs, lifestyles and budgets.

While phone subsidy is a normal practice in the industry offered by almost all the telcos, U Mobile is set to shake the industry with some innovative ideas. Take their iPhone 6 offerings for example. U Mobile is the first in the market to offer iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at the best subsidised rate for prepaid customers in Malaysia as flagship devices like the iPhone 6 are normally exclusive to postpaid users.

Postpaid users of U Mobile, on the other hand, will be able to enjoy contract freedom and they are allowed to change their mind during the contract period at any time without penalty imposed.

Then there is the U Microcredit, the first ever device financing programme offered by a telco where customers can take home the new iPhone 6 from as low as RM98.

The U MicroCredit is akin to a micro loan, but it does not require a credit card, collateral or upfront payment upon registration. All customers need to do is either apply online or walk in to any of the U Mobile stores, sign up for the device financing programme, pick an iPlan to accompany the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus and choose a monthly repayment scheme! Successful U MicroCredit applicants can walk away with their dream device starting from RM98 and the flexible repayment programme allows customers to finance the device over a spread of up to 33 months.

The best part is its availability for both postpaid and prepaid U Mobile subscribers. In addition, the easy application process and a fast 2-hour approval makes it hassle free for Malaysians to own the smartphone

Please visit http://www.u.com.my/iphone or visit any U Mobile stores nationwide to find out more details and information pertaining to U Mobile’s iPhone 6 plan.

5. Do you know how to get the unbeatable value and rewards, at your sight?

Let’s face it - everybody loves free stuff. Whichever way you look at it, getting extras on your mobile phone plans may tip the balance in you choosing a certain telco service. All mobile operators are offering very attractive freebies and value-added services, and often times, we are spoilt with choices.

That said, you need to really understand and know what types of value-added services that will truly add value to your lifestyle.

If you love streaming videos and music on your smartphone, look for a plan that gives you additional data or service that enables you to surf as much as you want on-the-go. We all know that video streaming sites take up a lot of data but with the U Mobile #GetClever plans, you can enjoy FREE data for YouTube and Tonton during off-peak hours (2 am – 10 am) and free music streaming for Era FM, Hitz FM, MY FM and KKbox.

Are you a travel junkie yourself? You do not have to wait till you get back to your hotel or head to a restaurant to use their free WiFi just so you can check your Facebook, share Instagram postings and reply your Whatsapp messages. Look for a mobile plan that gives you very affordable Internet roaming packages.

In fact, with U Mobile’s FREE Internet Roaming of 50MB every day comes in handy for customers who wish to find directions and places to visit, or to stay connected with their friends and family while travelling overseas. The 50MB FREE quota is sufficient for consumers to share their special moments, interesting thoughts, and latest status updates via social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, or for them to connect on instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp™, WeChat™, LINE™ and KakaoTalk™. This means they no longer have to brace yourself for ridiculous bills when they get back.

Or maybe you want something more tangible as a reward. There are loyalty program by telcos that give you rewards which you can redeem from your favourite beverage joints, restaurants, travel sites and retails outlets based on your interests. This way you can get rewarded regularly just by using your phone. For example, with U Mobile’s loyalty program, the U card members are entitled to a 10% discount at Starbucks outlets. This means that if you are a Starbucks fan and spend an estimate of RM300 monthly on good coffee. By using the U card, you can save RM30 per month. Find out more about it at http://www.u.com.my/ucard

We hope this quick guide provides you with some handy tips on what to look out for when you are deciding on a mobile phone plan. Don’t stress too much about it - take your time and know that in this day and age, you are indeed entitled to the best mobile experience possible.