₦airaland Forum

I have always seen this menu called 'FastMail Sms' on my phone while browsing MTN Services. Few days back, I decided to give it a try and having read through the instructions via the MTN4U PDF Brochure, I registered (that cost me N50). Though I was amazed by the fast delivery of my email (the service is accessible from any kind of phone regardless of GRPS)the service appears to have more pains than gains.

Below is the outline of what the service is all about:

MTN FastMail: enables sending of sms to email box irrespective of phone type or email server. It is a premium service(?) that delivers sms to emails in matter of seconds. Replies to your emails are delivered directly to your phones, in the MTNFastMail Inbox.
It is like carrying your emails 'Everywhere you go'
Features, Gains And Pains:

- Once registered, a subscriber gets an email address @mtnfastmail.com e.g, nairaland@mtnfastmail.com

- To register, the subscriber sends a text message from his phone in this format: REG username(give space) password(give space)secretquestion(give space)secretanswer; eg REG nairaland 12345 mywebname nairaland; then send to 130.(This costs N25)

- A welcome message is recieved as: Welcome to MTNFastMail. Your MTNFastMail address is nairaland@mtnfastmail.com

- To LOGIN, send LOGIN to 130(This cost N25).

- To check your Inbox, Send INBOX to 130.(another N25)

- To read emails, send s/n(eg send 1, representing message 1) i.e send 1 to 130.(N25 again).This will only display the sender's name and message subject and the you will be asked to send MORE INBOX to 130 (another N25) to read the rest of the message.

- To send email, type a text message in this format: SEND EMAILADDRESS MESSAGE to 130 eg. type: SEND nairaland@mtnfastmail.com
This is to introduce MTNFastMail to members of this forum. send to 130 (N25 charge). You get a report if message is successfully sent.

Whenever you recieve an email, you get an instant notification as: MTNFastMail. You have received an email from nairaland@mtnfastmail.com(pardon my continous use of nairaland, it's just for explanatory sake). Total message in INBOX is 3. To view your inbox send INBOX to 130...

Using this service for the first time, I sent an email to a friend who was baffled at the service. He quickly replied and bet you, i spent N50 to read his reply which read: 'I received it'

I have assessed this service and have as well as discouraging my friend using it, resolved never to try it again. Imagine how rich Yahoo and MSN would have been if similar billing system is adopted.

It will be nice if you could give us ideas of what brand of fones you wish to bring down. The demand for cheap phones is high down here but mind you, quality is vital.

This is the Bomb! The slide show of this service is available on request!

WHY PAYPHONES?
For ease of communication
For individuals who are unable to acquire mobile phones.
For those who are interested in affordable tariffs.
For students and undergraduates that have shown preference for public phone services.
For the rural communities.

THE LIMITATIONS ON THE OPERATORS
Inferior quality handsets.
Inadequate power charging facilities.
Ineffective control policies (on the part of owners)
Arbitrary  setting of tariffs.
Ineffective call timing mechanism.
Inadequate support from Network operators.
Loss of revenue (sharp practices on the part of the agents).

THE LIMITATIONS ON THE CUSTOMERS

VMOBILE PAYPHONE MODEL: PAYPHONE - THE SharedPhone WAY - Gains Of The Operator:
SharedPhone brings sanity to the payphone business environment.
It removes doubts and distrusts.
It displays duration and amount utilized.
It induces control.
It monitors the activity of the operators.
It generates bigger profit.
Vmobile provides business / brand support.

PAYPHONE – THE SharedPhone WAY - Gains Of The Customer:
Makes calls with affordable amount.
Ability to make calls within planned limits.
Calls are properly timed.
Assurance of not being cheated.
Conducive call environment.

RE-BRANDING
The propriety “SharedPhone” has been taken over by Vmobile.
SharedPhone is now “Vfone”
Administration will run off SharedPhone Nig. Ltd. network server.
Branding and other sales activities will be Vmobile’s responsibilities.

ADVANTAGE OF VFONE
It is a specific payphone product.
It has an in-built billing platform.
It has features that will be difficult to imitate.
The features are tailored to the three levels of users of the phone.
The tariff is very competitive.
Easy to use.
When you buy a Vfone starter pack, you will be entitled to the following immediately:
- 1 unit beach umbrella
- 1 unit plastic table
- 2 units plastic chairs

HOW TO GET STARTED
Buy a Vfone for just 8,000 naira.
You get a Sendo S330i (later Motorola C115) handset and SIM.
The SIM card would have been inserted and activated to prevent the operator from activating the SIM on another handset.
The usual default pin has been disabled in Vfone!

HOW TO REGISTER

OWNERS’ ACCESS
The owner has access to two main categories
- Purse Manager
- Change PIN
- Balance
- Add amount
- Clear amount
- Sales total
- Clear sales total
- Monitor

Set call rates (duration & cost)
- Call duration
- Duration cost

SET UP VFONE FOR BUSINESS
To set the phone, go to “Set Call Rates”, enter the default pin number “1234”

The following network names and services will appear:
- Vmobile
- MTN
- MTEL
- GLOBACOM
- INTERNATIONAL
- LANDLINE
- SMS

Choose each network (name / service), one after the other to set the following:

Duration, seconds: This is the amount of time you want to set as a block per call e.g. 10 seconds (Please see point 12 for full description).  Press OK.

Cost in Naira: The amount you want to charge per block of seconds e.g. N5. Press OK. The phone will show call rate updated.

OWNERS’ ACCESS - PURSE MANAGER
This is the menu which allows the owner  to manage the activities of his agent.

OPERATORS’ ACCESS
The following are the features made available to the operator:
- Set Amount.
- Change.
- Call Charge.

Before the operator allows a customer to make any call, the operator must first set the amount (naira) the customer would like to use.

When a customer wishes to make calls, the agent will
Set amount: This is the menu where the operator will set the amount (naira) for the customer to use.
Select “set amount”, phone will display “amount in naira?”. Type in the amount the customer requested.  The call will end when the amount runs out.

Call charge:  After the call, the agent can check the last number dialed and the cost of the customers call.

Customer’s change: If the caller did not use up the set amount, the amount due back to the customer can be accessed and change given.

RECHARGING ACCOUNT
Load a Bumpa card - *136* recharge PIN# send
Load a recharge card - *126* recharge PIN# send or dial 148 send
Check balance - *123# send or dial 147

WHY USE?
Affordability: SIM & handset sold to the operator at N8,000.
Portable: Vfone is portable, it allows maximum mobility.
Flexible tariff setting: The operator is at liberty to set his call rates, in consonance with the network tariff.
Multiple usage: Vfone can be used personally, for rental services or for payphone business.
Monitoring: Vfone allows monitoring of agents activities, ensures control and assures the operator of accurate returns.
Timing: Calls are automatically terminated at the expiration of the amount the customer paid for.

RULES
When dialing international numbers the ‘+’does not work with Vfone.  You have to use 009.
Vfone SIMs are specially configured to work with the branded handsets.

SWAPS
Swaps are treated within 24 hours
Cost:  700 naira
Requirements:
- SIM certificate
- ID card
- Dealer/customer code or password/name*

*Note
At the point of purchase, the customer/dealers name, code and alternative number are recorded.

What if the new PIN is forgotten?
The subscriber calls 0802 859 2570 or 0802 859 4602  (Shared Phone).  But If the subscriber calls the Vmobile Helpline, the following steps are taken.

Step 1: The Call Centre Agent will go to the link sharedphone@intranet+.com on  CIMS.
Step 2: Fill in the following details
- The phone number
- An alternative number
- Dealers registered name
- Dealer code/password
- PUK number as indicated in the SIM certificate.
Step 3: After entering the details, save and close.
Step 4: The Call Centre  Supervisor will extract the details and forward to SharedPhone via Email.
Step 5: Shared Phone contacts the customer and gives feedback to Vmobile on resolution.

Queen.

Nigerians bear it..anyways.

I think we have the same taste.

My favourite car is a any Toyota (sedan) of late generation ( I see all toyota model as distinguished from other brands) but for family outings and the likes, I may consider owing a Toyota Liteace bus, too.

Hummer jeep and the likes is just mere waste, or what do you feel?

Please we need advice if the service is worth trying. Novices like us may end up in wrong hands if proper caution is not maintained.

Iam always lost at solutions when it comes to paying for e-services such as premium membership subscriptions. If this could be a possible solution, I will be glad. But the fear of scamming remains where security of ones money is gauranteed, what about refund(or is it cashback) facility, should anything goes wrong?

waoh! come see how I pose b4 my monitor, untill i saw that ugly thing and I quickly admitted 'this can never be me'.

Funny trick, u know!

Hi,

I don't watch the program neither do I hate watching it. One thing I find funny about Nigerians is that we spend our time partaking in what doesn't benefit us while pressing issues are treated with less concern. We have programs like Environment Weekly on MITV that educate about the deteriorating state of Lagos environments.

We better give attention to what is worthwhile.

Hey,

You guys are all great! Inspite of my strong addiction to the ICT thing, I never knew that a forum like this exists within our very own naija. Thumbs up for all. You have just got an aggressive inquisitor as a member.

Make i dey prepare myself.

cheers!