iPhone 3GS service with Du

As anyone else who reads this online publication, I was super excited about Du officially releasing iPhone in the Emirates. After a weak launch and odd plan offerings by Etisalat, Du’s iPhone offerings were like a breath of fresh air. Competitive rates, various handset payment options and nearly “unlimited” data for everyone.

After waiting out the initial few weeks after the release I made up my mind and decided to get the phone from Du. I ended up getting it through “iPhone for Business” since I am a small business owner and it was even a better deal than I wanted. AED599 up front for the handset then AED250 for 12 months until the device is paid off. Out of that AED250, AED100 gets credited to your account for either voice, SMS or data usage. I knew that I spend more than AED100 per month on voice calls alone so at the end of 12 months, the iPhone’s total cost would be AED599 plus AED150 paid 12 times. That is AED2399 or $655 for a factory unlocked 32GB iPhone 3GS. Not a bad deal at all.

I then had to pick one of the business plans for my iPhone. I opted for Business Super Plan 150, which includes 150 local talk minutes, 150 international talk minutes to one of the 25 countries (it includes US and that is all I cared about) and 10GB “unlimited” data usage. Although SMSs were not included, AED100 credit from purchasing the iPhone were going to cover my SMS usage and more. AED400 per month total cost with all the bells and whistles included.

There I was walking out of the Du store with my new white 32GB iPhone 3GS, happy at first, until Du took my happiness away.

It all started the moment I inserted the new Du SIM card. I went home and made the first call. After receiving few “Call Failed” messages my call finally went through, although there was an odd and unusually long pause before I heard the ringing. My brother picked up and we began our conversation. I walk when I talk; I am one of those people who find it easier to speak and think when you move around. It might be weird, but that’s just me and I have never had a problem with it before. This time around my brother was not happy. He told me that I was breaking up and crackling. He was also telling me something else, but I got another “Call Failed” message during the call. I tried calling him back, but could not, because there was no network available. What happened you ask? Well, I walked. I guess I walked somewhere where I should not have walked. I walked into the far corner of the bedroom and lost the network signal. After my iPhone found the network, I walked around the apartment and noticed that I only had 4 out of 5 bars average with it dipping to as low as 1 out of 5 bars to completely loosing it.

I heard about Du’s inferior reception but I live in Dubai Marina and only on a 6th floor!!! My old Etisalat pre-paid SIM never let that happen to me. I figured I’d have to learn to deal with it. After all, all I had to do was to talk and stay in one spot like all the “normal” people do, but I was wrong, as I found out the moment I stepped outside. It took the iPhone over three minutes to find the network after I emerged from my parking garage. Etisalat used to pick the network back up even before I reached the exit gate. Du was much slower. So slow, as matter of fact, that I managed to miss a two calls. Ugh! I drove to Spinney’s for some cat food and found that Du had poor reception in and around Marina Walk area also. More dropped and missed calls. More crackling and robot voices, but hey, I could Facebook while shopping and since I had never done it before, I could not judge the data connection speed. That’s a plus right?

So what Du I Du now? Of course I am not that silly to pass judgement on Du’s service after only one day of usage. I just compressed my story in way where I could tell you the main points of my Du adventure. I have been using Du phone for four days and my experience has been horrible. So horrible, that I don’t even want to tell you about what happens with a Du “powered” phone in Sharjah. I know that people have said that Du has its share of reception problems but in all honesty I did not expect it to be this bad. I tried my SIM in my old back up Nokia handset. I tried my brother’s Du SIM as well. Did I tell you that I got three iPhones that day for my brother, myself and my fiancee.

I am not sure what I am going to do and how. I do know however, that I will not be using Du service. I simply cannot afford to not receive calls and have poor connection around town and my home. I looked over the contract and could not find any information regarding canceling the service. I doubt they will just let me walk away from it easy. After all, I did purchase the iPhones from them. Who knows. I am going to deal with it this coming week and will let you all know what happens. In the meantime, I do not advise anyone committing to Du’s mobile service. At least at first, borrow someone else’s Du SIM car and do some experiments. I know I should have done that, but its too late for me now.

Just remember, it is Nike that tells you to “Just do it”. I, on the other hand, tell you to just “Don’t Du it.”