Surf`s up on yebo!net

Vodacom will use the South African Internet Exchange`s network for its Internet service, branded yebo!net, offering prepaid Internet access at fixed-line local call rates. SAIX already has 45 access points of presence (POP`s) around South Africa and plan to grow this to 80 in twelve months.

"Vodacom commissioned six Digital 8400 servers, making it the fastest web host in the country to allow high-speed e-mail retrieval and surfing on the Internet. With POP`s spread around the country it makes local call access available to most prospective uers," said Leon Shirk, general manager (marketing) of Vodacom Internet Company.

Yebo!net`s prepaid and subscription packages are the result of some of the most innovative product development yet seen in the Internet industry. Vodacom is the first ISP in the world to offer prepaid access to the Internet.

Yebo!net`s packages have been branded on a surfing theme and are pitched at the most affordable rates in the industry. The launch special - called High Tide - will give users unlimited access for five months for R275, or ten months` access at R55 per month if two High Tide vouchers are recharged before the end of the year. The other prepaid packages are Low Tide (R55 for 14 days) and Spring Tide (R1 000 for 360 days).

Vodago recharge vouchers presently used by Vodacom`s prepaid cellular users, will also be used to purchase Internet access, but a voucher has to be used for either cellular or Internet access. Internet access time is recharged by a simple procedure of phoning the recharge number and entering the user registration number and Vodago voucher PIN.

The subscription packages are called Tube (R95 p.m. monthly contract), SuperTube (R75 p.m. for 12 months) and Pipeline (a launch special of R279,99 for a modem and starter kit, followed by a monthly fee of R99 for 12 months). These packages will be sold by Vodacom`s service providers and dealers.

Prospective Internet users need only walk into any of Vodacom`s existing distribution outlets and pick up a YeboNet starter can. The starter can is conceptually similar to the existing Vodago starter pack.

Inside the can will be a registration number, informative literature and software contained on a stiffy disc and CD. The user will download either the software from the stiffy disc or the CD. Once the software has been loaded, the user`s computer will ask for the registration number of the starter can as well as PIN number. The user will enter the registration number found inside the can and expose the foil-covered PIN on the can. Users will then be able to choose their @yebo.co.za email address.

The user can connect to the Internet without having to telephone an operator, although a 24-hour toll-free helpline is available for support. The Internet can then be accessed by simply dialling in to a Telkom number.

Yebo!net users can have dormant accounts for three months, during which time they don`t lose their @yebo.co.za e-mail address and their email is stored. When prepaid access is recharged or a user opts for the pay-as-you-use systems, they don`t have to re-register. Pay-as-you-use is charged at reduced cellular rates and is enabled simply by re-configuring the computer to dial into a given cellular number.