Mobile data prices slashed

Vodafone has cut the prices of its mobile data plans, hoping to attract business customers.

However, it is still charging more than Telecom for a service that is only one-tenth the speed.

Customers on some plans will see prices fall by more than 50 per cent. A Mobilise 120 subscriber will pay $65 a month, excluding GST, for 120MB (megabytes) of traffic, down from $150 a month.

However, a similar Telecom plan, Mobile Broadband 100, offers 100MB of traffic for $52.44, excluding GST, a month. Extra traffic is charged at 60c/MB, compared with Vodafone's $1/MB.

Casual users of the two networks are also better off with Telecom. Vodafone charges $10 a month, plus GST, per megabyte, against Telecom's $8 a month.

Vodafone has come under intense pressure since the launch of Telecom's T3G network in several main centres, offering speeds of about 500Kbps (kilobits per second). Vodafone's network runs at 30 to 50Kbps, or up 120Kbps with data compression.

However, Vodafone is building a third-generation (3G) network to go live next year.

Vodafone's service isn't without advantages. Subscribers can access compatible networks in 26 countries while Telecom's network allows roaming in only a handful.