Mobile operator Yota: Impression of transition

"Mobile slavery" canceled, long live freedom of choice! "- with these words about the tens of thousands of people ran to the phone shops, to move from one mobile operator to another. SIM cards shuffled between the "big three", and all remained in their places. Dissatisfied left Megafon, MTS and Beeline, as well as the latest disgruntled defected to the megaphone. And everyone is happy. However, in this turmoil, many have not noticed the emergence of a new operator - the company Yota, which has begun to distribute its "Sims" for everyone. One of them was me. How was the transition process and that eventually came out, and I'll tell you.

prehistory

It all started a couple of years ago when I decided to take a mobile router, which used to travel. The device is not just rescued in places where mobile operators can not provide high-quality communication. Now the router is in my country and operates around the clock, providing unlimited Internet access all connected devices. Having learned earlier this year that in Yota decided to enter the mobile market, I decided to learn more about what offers the new operator, and what benefits do I get if I decide to go for it.

It turned out very simple (can not be said about the main "players" of the market): buy as many minutes, as you need (100 per month) and additional plug-unlimited SMS package for the symbolic 50 rubles. Internet is included in the price and also has no restrictions on traffic. One tariff without a lot of options and confusing write-downs - it was exactly what I needed. "Jumping" every few months with the tariff rate in search of more lucrative offers and easy, and even connect some options described confuses more than the name, just tired. And how infuriated me messages like "You are approaching the threshold of failure, because spent all traffic now we'll all pootklyuchaem. Do you want to extend it? Send SMS to the number, wait for confirmation, send a new... ". Therefore, the two main factors "for the" passage were performed: simple tariff, unlimited Internet.

before connecting

Naturally, since laws are adopted and leave your "precious" No. I can imagine, I began to recognize that I need to go. I'm already mentally imagined that I was waiting for the paperwork, reconciliation and other "service" so familiar to the Russian people. Our colleague, Sergei Suyagin already wrote in Layfhakera about how to change mobile operator with number preservationAnd its material is more bothered me. to conduct a conversation for 20 minutes at the point of sales consultants are often poorly understood subject, I do not want to. However, the reality turned out much easier.

For connection to Yota had to download a special application for iOS, read about the connection and... wait for notification about the advantages when you can pick up your new SIM card. And it was probably the most embarrassing moment in all of history - "sim card" had to wait about a month. Unfortunately, the exact date was not mentioned anywhere, so I had to be patient. Now, I think that the waiting time was reduced, since I must have been in the first wave on the dealt cards.

And here, in the precious day to display my iPhone was highlighted notice that I can pick up your SIM card. Open again the application has acquired new functions, where I was shown the card issuing point and even offered to get directions to the nearest, where I went.
It is said that the SIM card can be ordered with express delivery, but I decided to play it safe and go in person, the benefit has been issuing several points.

Connecting / Transition

When they reached the nearest point on the issue and informing consultants of their choice, they asked me to call some code Confirmation - a unique ID that is displayed in the application after the notification that the card can be take away. Calling him and giving passport, I announced his intention to leave your phone number. I printed the paper on the transfer and gave the package with a SIM card, a pre-warning that the transition will take 8 days and during this period the balance on the issue should remain positive. Paying 500 rubles, which will be used to balance (no more than a hundred rubles), I said goodbye and went home. The whole process took about five minutes.

Expectation

During the whole period in my room, as it was described in the article by Sergei, came the notice that from when I can start using the new "Simcoe" (and on the same day my almost former operator has disabled me the Internet), as long as she lay on table. Then you probably ask: what exactly is the format of issued SIM card and whether it is cut? Nothing extraordinary from you would be required. The package contains one card, but depending on the phone model you pull the required size for you - all the parts are fastened together a, so if you need a conventional nano-SIM - pull out the smallest piece, if the micro - the average, and if small - the entire map completely. In the photo below you can see that all three parts are fastened to each other, and you only need to "squeeze out" a piece of the desired size.

Using

It took eight days. Exactly at midnight, the ninth day of the old SIM card informed me that "No service." It's time to insert a new "sim card", which I immediately did. Initially, the card is not connected even one single tariff that exists among of Yota, all necessary for you communication parameters you control yourself (apart from the Internet, he immediately and complete for it you pay a fixed amount). In order to start using the "Sims", you need to launch the application and select the appropriate package for your minutes and SMS if necessary. Once that is done - you can start to use.

Such an approach I like. Everything you need, you can manage yourself, and it does not need to send different SMS to any number for the connection of services, everything is done through the application. Similarly controlled and routers from Yota: you put a certain amount on the balance sheet and connect the necessary speed, which during the period can be changed. That is, you do not pay for traffic, namely the connection speed.

application

Now one of the most important - about the application. Nothing complicated about it is not only the right: the start screen greets us with information about the remaining minutes and SMS are connected, on the balance of information and menu connection conditions. At any time you can open it and find out about their spending, and this, again, do not send anything anywhere or call - all the information in front of his eyes. If you suddenly realize that do not fit in the limit of minutes, you can buy them directly in the application, as well as replenish the balance - for these operations no need to search the terminal or use the Web versions uncomfortable private offices operators, all done in a couple of Taps on display smartphone. And as the Internet unlimited, then left without communication is difficult. Unfortunately, the app is not yet optimized for iOS 8 - hence probably slow down the interface and crashes when you try to specify a package of minutes. But I think that the official release of Apple's operating system, this problem will be solved.

The same application can be contacted and customer support via chat, which is also convenient. One push of the button and you will connect with a specialist who can help with your question.

a support

And in this paragraph usually write about what a bad customer support. I myself have repeatedly spoken and written about a similar, even without taking into account namely telecom operators. As a rule, customers are dissatisfied with the level of services provided, as well as the fact that on its own inattention or misunderstanding of the problem object blame the consultants and other employees services. To some extent right and those and others, on both sides there are incompetent or unwilling to help / explain to people. And one of the main problems - lack of attention to the client and the waiting time in solving its issues / problems.

In a support Yota I spoke many times on different occasions, not only when a new SIM card and network operator. A couple of months ago I started having constant problems with connecting the router to the LTE network, as I told the customer service. My application took treatment, reported that the base station is overloaded, and promised not only its unload, but also to deal with the "iron" (maybe it was the replacement of the equipment or modernization available). Naturally, it was immediately clear that it will take a lot of time. However, after about four weeks, I received a letter in the mail notifying them that the problems eliminated, along with a proposal to assess the quality of communication: "Everything was good," and "No, still working badly". It is understood that the phrase "Your opinion is important to us" - for the most part standard excuse, but in this case I chose the first option, since communication has become more stable a week before the notification.

On receipt of a new sim card, I also ran into problems, mentioned by just above: application took off every time I tried to choose suitable for yourself packages minutes and SMS. Describe the problem in the chat, which is also available on the website of the company, helped me for 10 minutes, connecting the packages that interested me. I especially did not expect for such an approach, and expect to read something like "This OS is not yet supported by the application, so use the current version or wait for optimization under the new." Agree, not everyone puts themselves first beta version of mobile OSes, so this response, I would have taken quite adequately. But, to my happiness, the problem was resolved without a rollback to a stable iOS 7. It should be noted that the operator and the waiting time does not exceed the norm - out of all my requests wait for a response only once had more than five minutes.

Connection quality

While I was walking with a new SIM card for only a week, so it is difficult to objectively assess the quality of the full, but I keep doing speed measurements and indicators please me: download speed several times was about 8 Mbit / s (of course, it depends on your location), but lower than the 3 Mbit / s not I fell. The figure of 3 Mbit / s was the highest for my previous statement, so the quality improvements are visible at once. As you can imagine, we are talking of course about the 3G networks as before, I have the iPhone 5, the frequency of which is not working in our LTE. But with the LTE, I think, the problems also will not, but we will check it just after the iPhone 6 release.
What about voice calls - it is all quite clear: Yota uses its towers to provide Internet and Megafon station - for voice calls. Nevertheless, the connection of all the three major operators such as more or less the same, so in this point - without revelation. In places where there is no catch Megafon, will not work and Yota.

Minuses

Of course, there are cons everywhere, even at Yota. Two of them: using smartphone modem speed mode is limited to 64 kbit / s, and when loading torrent - to 32. And if the second limitation is reasonable, the first thing I do not like. In those moments when there is no Wi-Fi connection to help always came iPhone, with which it was possible to access the network without any problems. Now, it is very inconvenient because of the low rate. I understand why it was made, but I hope that the company still revise their restrictions and raise the rate of at least twice.

What is the result?

And in the end, I got what I wanted: no intricate tariff plans, hundreds of options and permanent restrictions on traffic. Talking on the phone a lot, I am not, so 100 minutes per month should be sufficient, and if the speed Internet and beyond will not fall below 3 Mbit / s - can finally use FaceTime for conversations. After all, as the sound quality is much better there than over the cellular network. And in the long journeys to Russia - will gain very lack of roaming within the country. In any case, Yota for me - it is primarily the Internet, moreover, unlimited, and that so far none of the operators can not offer.

This review is based on the use of a SIM card in St. Petersburg. Prices and quality of communication may vary depending on the region.

And you want to change the operator, or may have already done this? Share your experiences in the comments!