Webbox, Cheap internet access for the masses, the easiest and best way to get access on your TV!

I recently got to try out the Vodacom WebBox which is a new set-top ‘box’ available to purchase, which allows access to the internet via your TV. Now halt, right here before all you trigger happy iPad / iPhone / been-on-the-nett-since-you-been-10 peoples fire away and say it’s pointless to have *another device * .

This device caters for a market that has never, or has had very limited access to the internet. It’s part of Vodacom’s fast growing aim to provide internet access to all of South Africa.
“I’m thrilled about our latest innovation because it’s going to change the face of Internet connectivity in South Africa. It is estimated that just over 10% of the South African population has access to the Internet; this device will ensure that Internet access is available to many more South Africans who previously had limited or no access,” said Romeo Kumalo, Commercial Director at Vodacom South Africa.
So I tried it at home, and it’s pretty damn impressive. It’s easy to connect, RCA cables and plugs in to charge the device.
Menus, large, and very simple to understand and use, provide a simple user experience that should be quick to pick up on. Basic features, is simple internet browsing (this device uses Opera Mini) which thankfully compresses data, to lower cost and increase speed. I had the device connected the whole weekend and used 3.25MB of the initial 100MB on offer.

The device also allows you connect an e-mail address, has a built in FM radio, use the SD reader slot to load pictures, videos and even has games. There’s also the functionality to load applications (Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, etc) that sit on the ‘desktop’ for quick access.
What I was really impressed with though, was how well laid out, the look and feel, and functionality of the interface was. They simplified everything out for a first time user to quite easily understand. There’s even a simple menu for loading airtime and converting it to data, or checking your balance. Simple.

The device should penetrate the lower LSM’s where laptops, let alone smart phones aren’t that prevalent. It also in my view, easily gives a whole family access as it plugs into the TV. You might have even more of a fight over who’s using the TV. Interesting to note is that they opted to give the device GPRS/EDGE capability and not 3G. I guess a wise move, as it’s easier (especially in the market they are trying to target) to find GPRS/EDGE and cuts out the ability for the device to jump around to 3G, thus using more data etc.
In terms of speed, it’s perfectly fast enough for anything anyone really needs to do on the net in my view.

My only real gripe, is the keyboard is not terribly responsive, but I guess that comes from my years of typing on keys that require heavier input. Overall a great product, however distribution and data cost will be the order of the day when getting in with this market.

The device retails for R749 (once off) and comes with 100MB preloaded to use. You can obviously top this up, as it’s a prepaid sim-card.

For more information call 08219326 or 0821YEBO.
Or ... Here’s a great video explaining more - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Coagm8tmYqk