3G EVO Wingle:
Line Rent: PKR 750
Monthly Data: 10GB
Monthly Installment: No installment as device is free.

CharJi EVO Wingle:
Line Rent: PKR 1000
Monthly Data: 20GB
Monthly Installment: PKR 500/month for first 5 months.

Charji EVO Cloud:
Line Rent: PKR 1000
Monthly Data: 20GB
Monthly Installment: PKR 500/month for first 7 months.

Additional Information:
The above mentioned prices are inclusive of all taxes.
Additional usage will be charged at PKR 100/GB.
Additional data bundle is available at PKR 500 for 5GB.

To get these devices on monthly installments without any upfront cost you can visit any nearest PTCL Smart Shop with your original CNIC. However there are a few terms and conditions for this promotion that are mentioned as follows:

* This promotion is available only to landline users with 6 months of bill payment history and is not available on new landline connections.
* Change of package is not available in this promotion.
* No return period.
*Line rent and installments will be included in landline bill.
*In case of disconnection before installment period ends, then customer will be liable to pay disconnection charges(equal to remaining amount of unpaid installments), in case of 3G EVO Wingle PKR 500 if disconnected before 3 months. However there will be no disconnection charges if the installments are paid fully and the 3 month period has lapsed in the case of 3G EVO Wingle.

We hope this initiative will benefit customers to get a device for on-the-go internet usage by deducting upfront costs and offering devices in easy installments. Do you intend to avail this promotion? Let us know in the comments section below!

Khurram Zahid

The post PTCL offers FREE Wingle/CharJi on Installments for Landline Users! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Zong has also offered online recharge and payment facility for prepaid and postpaid plans via credit/debit cards by setting up an online portal which can be found here.

We must however mention that there are a few things that are lacking. Zong must have offered a package subscription option as well to make it easier for users to select and pay for different packages on the fly.

In today’s technologically advanced world, the more a company facilitates its customers, the more they become happy with their services. We believe that it’s a smart move by Zong to facilitate their consumers.

Khurram Zahid

The post Zong Offers Innovative Bill Payment Option appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Telenor:
Telenor has introduced three different devices, namely 3G Connect, 3G Connect WiFi and 3G Mobile WiFi. The devices are priced 2200, 3000 and 4500 respectively. Telenor has launched 4 different bundles namely Introductory, Economy, Heavy and Unlimited. Given below are their details.

Daily: This is a daily package which is for 75rs per day inclusive of taxes and the validity is 1 day.

Introductory: This is the least costly package at 300rs inclusive of tax along with 30 days validity for 3GB of volume.

Economy:  This offer comes with 10GB of volume with a validity of 30 days at 750rs inclusive of taxes.

Heavy: This bundle comes with 20GB of data worth 30 days of validity and costs 1100rs along with taxes.

Unlimited: This offer has 30GB of bandwidth for 1500rs inclusive of taxes with 30 days validity.

Warid:
Warid is offering two different packages for their consumers:

Wingle Bundled Package: This package costs 6000rs/month and offers 20GB/month for upto 3 months after which user can change their package to their desired one.

Wingle Standalone:  You can get the device for 2500rs and then choose a bundle of your choice.

If you choose standalone device or want to change your package after the 3 month bundle expiry then following bundles are available:

Wingle Smart: 15GB 1500rs
Wingle Extra: 20GB 2000rs
Wingle Ultra: 35GB 3000rs

Warid has also recently launched double volume offer that gives double volume on any chosen bundle. This can be availed on both the bundle packages and standalone packages.

Mobilink:
Mobilink offers 2 devices namely Wi-Fi Wingle for Rs. 2,900 with FREE data SIM +20GB internet for the first month and Wi-Fi device for Rs. 2,900 with FREE data SIM +20GB internet for the first month. Seperately Mobilink has best bundles for their users at 1500rs for 20GB/month inclusive of all taxes. There is also a 30GB/month bundle that gives additional 20GB/month(for a limited time) at 2000rs inclusive of taxes.

We hope that we can help our users find the perfect package as per their usage needs. Do you prefer any particular telco over others for its quality of service? Let us know in the comments below.

Khurram Zahid

The post Telcos Offer New Mobile Broadband Packages! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Firstly, the price of 4G Mi-Fi has been increased from PKR2500 to PKR3000, but we feel its not unfair as there was a huge demand for it and this is just how economics plays out. What’s good is that this offer is now for 4G Wingle users as well so nobody gets left out. All you have to do is pay the device charges i.e 3000PKR for 4G Mi-Fi and 2000PKR for 4G Wingle, along with that you have to subscribe to the 3 month bundle for 4000PKR and that’s it. You’ll enjoy  Double volume for 3 months! Keep in mind that this offer expires on 31^st December 2015 so make sure you get your hands on it before the offer runs out.

To order your 4G Mi-Fi click here

To order your 4G Wingle click here

Additionally many users have been complaining that their data limit runs out quickly. To keep a check on your data limit install Huawei Hi Link app from the Android/iOS app stores and keep a check on how much data is being used in real time.

Khurram Zahid

The post ZONG Relaunches Double Volume Offer! appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Balance drained to zero in few hours

The first major issue we personally faced was of package activation. After recharging our prepaid connection at the end of the month we had to inform at Zong call center who would then activate our Zong 4G device package. Failing to inform would mean being charged regular data charges for as long as mobile broadband is active. Within hours our balance was drained down to zero. Hence one should turn off their device if they haven’t subscribed to any of the available zong internet packages.

Loss of Double Volume Promotion

Another major issue, recently brought to light, is of loss of double volume promotion especially for prepaid connections.

The double volume promotion is auto-renewal, meaning before the end of your billing date you must have recharged your Zong 4G Wingle/MiFi device otherwise the package will not auto-renew and you will lose double volume offer. One user, Arsalan Khatri, faced this problem and raised the issue on Facebook.

Arsalan also shared screenshot of conversation with Zong’s official Facebook page:

This problem is particularly prominent in prepaid cases because most people recharge after the expiry date and as a result will lose out on the double volume offer. For postpaid connections it should not be a problem since their bill is generated at the end of the month and will result in auto-renewal of the Zong WiFi packages.

Zong should have communicated to the users the requirements such as balance availability for auto-renewal so that they could use the service in peace, knowing what they have to do to continue using double volume offer.

Khurram Zahid

The post Problems with Zong’s Broadband appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

We also did a Zong 4G MiFi video review which you can also checkout to know more about this latest device that’s the talk of the town right now!

There are still questions that people ask and we have compiled a list of them for easy access.

Will the device work in our area?

Check the coverage map for 3G/4G on Zong’s official website and see if your area is covered. Also, if possible, test the coverage yourself with the help of Zong sim (your own, someone in your family or from friends). This will give a better idea of coverage in your area.

Is the GST tax applied on these packages?

Zong’s 4G devices come with package that already include taxes. You do not need to pay any extra.

How do I recharge? (it’s not that simple)

When you completely consume the data or it expires at the end of the month, you need to recharge (minimum 1500) to continue using the device.

But … you have to call and inform Zong customer service that you have recharged the sim. By recharging alone the package DOES NOT get activated and require manual activation through Zong customer service. Zong internet packages come in 24, 50, 100 and 200GB tiers

If you DO NOT activate the package, your balance will be consumed at the rate of Rs. 18/Mega Byte.

Can we only buy the device and not the sim?

No. The sim that comes with the device is tagged. The device will not accept any other sim, not even of Zong’s except the one sealed with the device.

I am not getting good 4G speed, what should I do?

Switch to 3G. There is a good chance that 4G signals are unstable in your area and would be better to stay on 3G which has much better and stable coverage.

How to switch to 3G?

• Go to Zong 4G device’s admin panel (192.168.8.1)
• Login using your admin credentials.
• Click Settings
• Click “Dial-Up” on the panel in the left and select “Network Settings”
• On the next page there will be an option “Support LTE networks” which will be active by default. Click on it to turn it off.

Another option is to use the Huawei’s HiLink Android app, connect with the device using Wireless Lan and close the LTE option. The video review shows how to do that.

Battery gets drained very fast.

If the signals in your area for 4G are weak and you haven’t turned off LTE option, Zong MiFi would repeatedly switch between 3G and 4G networks. This will rapidly drain the battery. Ideally, stay on the network that works best for you. If 4G is unstable, stay with 3G.

If you are using the device heavily, with several devices connected and even using some networking facilities such as network gaming or heavy file transfer, the battery will get drained fast.

Also, we experienced faster battery drainage in warmer weather. So if you reside in areas with higher temperature, keep it near well ventilated areas or in rooms that stay cool due to airconditioner/air cooler.

What is the different between 4G Wingle and 4G MiFi?

Zong 4G MiFi is a portable device that comes with a battery. You can carry it around in your pocket and still be able to use the internet. You only need to charge it and it’s good for few hours of use.

Zong 4G Wingle is a plug-and-play device, like a USB, that you need to insert in a laptop, computer or USB based power supply. It works just like MiFi device, just not battery powered.

Both devices come with WiFi options and can connect up to 10 devices.

Khurram Zahid

The post Things to know about Zong 4G Devices appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Device Unboxing & Review 

Zong MiFi Unboxing Uploaded on Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yImzW9MK9dc

Uploaded on vimeo

How to order this device on Smartchoice.pk

– Simply fill the order form here

– Smartchoice representative will get in touch with you for order confirmation of Zong internet device

– The device will be delivered at your doorstep

Smartchoice.pk is a full price comparison website for home and mobile broadband, if you looking for any new connection or service, check our website www.smartchoice.pk for comparison. For any help, call us on 0331 – 762 7888

Zong 4G MiFi Device Activation & Biometric

The salesman brought biometric thumb verification device that took a couple of minutes to load. It came with two sims (broadband and voice) and both required separate verifications (one person cannot verify both sims right away since there is a delay of a couple of hours before the CNIC becomes valid for second verification). Within minutes the broadband sim was verified and ready to use in device. Zong 4G device price is PKR 3000

We ordered the following package:

Device = Zong Super 4G (prepaid)

Rent = Rs. 1,500

Validity = 1 month

Data Cap = 24 GB

Special Offer = Double Volume this Eid (both new and existing customers), if device is ordered and activated by 15 August 2015

The packaging was strong and took some effort to open. The device is quite handy and easy to use. We inserted the broadband sim and turned it on (we had place the mini sim but it is recommended to insert sim with full jacket). The device worked well and was easy to setup, as the following video is going to show.

Packages
Zong MiFi comes with the following Zong WiFi packages that can be subscribed by the user:

*Not available for subscription at the time of purchase.

Accessories & Instructions

The device came with two sims and one data cable. It was fairly easy to use and instructions were clear. Once attached, you only need to login to Zong’s dashboard on the IP 192.168.8.1 and access details. The ID & Password are by default ‘admin’ and it is recommended to change them right after your first login.

Performance

The device connects with Zong 4G service and falls back to 3G when the connection is not stable or 4G service is not available. The range is quite good as well and our devices were able to connect across the office. Our smartphones registered one signal out of four across two walls over a distance of 10 meters, providing the WiFi signals are strong even if not as strong as a proper router. It is possible to force the device to not use 4G services and limit itself to 3G and 2G, though 2G is not much useful (as our highway experience told us) since we could barely receive and send WhatsApp messages.

Despite high bandwidth the performance remained a bit unstable. Although we easily experienced download speed up to 300 kbps for various files, we decided to test it out through torrents. The two movies, each 1 GB, that we downloaded one after the other experienced fluctuations. Hovering around 50 kbps, the speed would rise up to 300 and fall back to 100 regularly, finally increasing up to 1.3 Megabytes per second. Within one hour we downloaded the two movies.

The Zong 4G MiFi device is not only mobile broadband cloud but can also function as WiFi Extender. If you do not wish to use mobile broadband and receiving weak WiFi signals at home/office, simply put the device on WiFi extender role and place it to best catch and relay signals. The battery life has been decent and we have used the device for few hours constantly without the need for recharge. On Zong’s website the device usage time is listed 6 hours and standby time is 300 hours, which seems believable if the climate is cool. In our tests in hot climate in interior Sindh with temperatures up to 44 degrees, the device battery reduced the more we used it constantly. The device would also get so hot that we feared it might get damaged, so we regularly rested it and preferred using during cooler times of the day or in A/C cooled rooms.

Huawei App

Huawei offers a special Mobile WiFi app that is available on Android. Once you indicate your package and data limit on the main dashboard, the Huawei’s app (when connected to Zong’s device through WiFi) instantly displays remaining data, device battery, messages received and perform a number of settings such as activating WiFi extender or switch to 5 GHz network from 2.4 GHz (the latter has longer range and former has more stable connection).

The app is very handy as it not only prominently displays remaining bandwidth but you can use it to check signal strength and find out if the device is connected to 4G, 3G or 2G service. With a simple slider, you can turn off “Support LTE Network” to force the device to ignore 4G services and limit itself to 3G and 2G.

Coverage (This is developing section)

Our office at Bahadurabad suffered from unstable 4G signals. We received 1 to 4 signals, speed ranging from 5 Mbps to 9 Mbps. At Sindhi Muslim we experienced full signals, download speed as high as 27 Mbps. During Eid holidays we tested the device at various locations inside and outside Karachi such as Hyderabad/Jam Shoro (near Sindh University), Larkana and Sukkur.

When traveling, we lost 3G signals about 40 kilometers away from Karachi, somewhere between Bahria Town and DHA City. Device registered 3G signals about 100 kilometers later (140 km away from Karachi) that cover Hyderabad and Jam Shoro region. In Larkana and Sukkur we experienced only 3G signals with incredibly high speed.

There are two possible reasons for high speed experienced at Larkana and Sukkur despite no 4G coverage:

1. Paktel had an incredibly thorough network coverage in interior Sindh but weaker in urban region. Due to lack of high rise buildings, signals are easily caught and Zong is able to maximize 3G coverage without much effort
2. The load on Zong’s mobile internet is very low, making it possible for us to experience very high download speeds

We will be testing performance at other areas and post results.

Speed test results

Area = Download/Upload (highest speed experienced)

Bahadurabad = 11.23 Mbps/9.25 Mbps

PECHS Block 3, 2 and 6= 26.79 Mbps/9.42 Mbps

DHA #6 (Darakshan Villas) = 2.51 Mbps/0.78 Mbps

Khayaban-E-Ittehad (various points) = 5 Mbps on average

Shara E Faisal (various points) = 4-7 Mbps on average

Awami Markaz = 8.87 Mbps/3.25 Mbps

Malir (various points around Airport) = 16-19 Mbps

Tool Plaza = 19 Mbps/3.72 Mbps

Bahria Town (highway) = 18.17 Mbps/4.05 Mbps

Larkana District (highway, near Police Training School) = 17.86 Mbps/3.74Mbps

Waleed (Larkana) = 27.24 Mbps/2.75 Mbps

Sukkur (IBA Sukkur) = 22.83 Mbps/4.44 Mbps

Hyderabad/Jam Shoro (Sindh University) = 15.41 Mbps/2.42 Mbps

Tool Plaza near Hyderabad = 14.38 Mbps/3.73 Mbps

So should you buy this device?

This device is certainly worth the money, given the speed it offers and the coverage area which allows you to use this device as a true mobile broadband. If you are looking to buy this device for home use, please make sure that you have a good router which supports USB because you cannot rely on the Wifi capability of Zong Mifi as it is built to support wireless devices closer to the device. Overall it is highly recommended for personal or home usage with multiple users. One more thing to keep in mind is that this device has a capped data limit hence those people who are hardcore users should look elsewhere because Zong WiFi packages have fixed tiers of data volume and a person needs to decide first which package to go for thus the whole concept of unlimited internet doesn’t apply on Zong 4G device because users might end up subscribing to a higher tier package but not using it and thus it could be a waste of money.

Biometric Pictures

How to order this device on Smartchoice.pk

– Fill the order form here

– Smartchoice representative will get in touch with you for order confirmation

– The device will be delivered at your doorstep

Smartchoice.pk is a full price comparison website for home and mobile broadband, if you looking for any new connection or service, check our website www.smartchoice.pk to compare and order online. For any help, call us on 0331 – 762 7888

Khurram Zahid

The post Zong 4G MiFi Unboxing / Review / Speed Test appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

But is it cost-effective?

Residential Broadband

Compared to residential broadband service, mobile broadband is not cost effective. To give you an idea, check the following table of residential broadband

For consistency only 2 Mbps speed packages have been compared and their average cost calculated. Worldcall actually has no data cap for residential broadband, though for consistency sake the data cap was assumed equal to PTCL’s.

As evident, wired residential broadband is quite cheap with rates as low as Rs. 3 per GB while Wimax services are a bit expensive. Still, these are manageable costs.

Cost of Mobile Broadband

Compared to residential broadband, mobile broadband particularly Dongles, Wingles and MiFi devices are in a whole different price bracket. The following table will shed light on average data cost of the four 3G service providers with Dongles, Wingles and MiFi offerings.

For consistency, only packages of price Rs. 1,500/- were compared. As evident, each GB data is more expensive for mobile broadband than residential, the lowest package more expensive than the expensive Wimax internet.

It is good to have internet on the go, one that you can plug-and-play whenever needed, but it comes with a higher price tag. When choosing a mobile broadband package, it is not only the coverage that should be considered but also the cost of using internet.

Do you use any mobile broadband package? Is the price agreeable to you? Let us know in the comments below.

Khurram Zahid

The post The Cost of Mobile Broadband appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Telenor, Zong and Warid recently launched Dongles, Wingles and Mifi devices that claim to offer high speed internet but before deciding upon any of them it is vital to know how they perform in your area. With the following method, you can identify the most productive of the services:

1. Insert SIM of the mobile operator (this will be the SIM of provider you considering to purchase dongle) in a spare mobile and check its reception in the areas you plan to use the dongle/wingle
2. Since Mobile Use this mobile to check reception in various areas and at various times for consistency
3. In case your friend has a dongle/wingle, check the internet reception in your desired areas with their help
4. Use Speed Test, available through browser as well as on smartphones, to check the speed of the internet
5. Speed on dongle and SIM would be same for each service provider, so SIM is a good option to test the service first
6. Checking coverage map of telecom operators is helpful as it will save a lot of time by eliminating services not available in the area

Nearly all telecom service providers offer internet dongles launched in 2015.  Telenor provide 3G Connect and 3G Connect WiFi that have 20 GB and 30 GB monthly data cap and are available wherever Telenor 3G is offered. Warid LTE devices offer LTE services in major urban areas of Pakistan and Zong offers a variety of 3G/4G devices that can be used in most urban centers.

Do you use any dongle from the telecom service providers? How is the performance in your area? Let us know in the comments below.

Khurram Zahid

The post Choosing the best 3G/4G mobile broadband appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.

Warid Wingle

Warid has introduced Wingle device that can be connected through laptop, car charging port or directly using an adapter. It is able to connect with 10 users simultaneously and offers theoretical speed up to 150 Mbps.

Details:

• Device cost: Rs. 2,500
• Special Offer: Wingle Bundle Offer = 3 months internet bundle for Rs. 5,999 with 40 GB/month
• Monthly Bundles (GB/Price): 15 GB/Rs. 1500, 20 GB/Rs. 2000, 35 GB/Rs. 3000 (double data for first 3 months for all new subscribers)
• Shared Internet Plan available (with two other Warid users)

Warid MiFi

Warid MiFi (portable router) device is able to connect with multiple devices such as laptops, tablets, smartphones etc at a range of 30 feet. With Warid’s LTE technology the speed available to users is super fast and comes with Shared Internet Plan as well.

Reaching to theoretical speed of 150 Mbps, Warid currently offers double data offer for all new subscribers where monthly data is doubled for the first three months.

Details:

• Device cost: Rs. 3,500
• Special Offer: MiFi Bundle Offer = 3 months internet bundle for Rs. 9,999 with 210 GB for 3 months
• Monthly Bundle (GB/Price): 15 GB/Rs. 1500, 20 GB/Rs. 2000, 35 GB/Rs. 3000 (double data for first 3 months)
• Shared Internet Plan available (with other Warid users)

Khurram Zahid

The post Warid Introduces Wingle and MiFi Devices appeared first on Smartchoice.pk.