Review of ViVoBee
Last week, we reported about the 5th MVNO in Singapore – VIVOHUB. Yesterday, we managed to get hold of the SIM and did a simple test on this new MVNO.
Their SIM is known as VivoBee and it comes in the form of a 3 in 1 SIM. It is a prepaid card with 3 plans which as low as $1.
The MVNO runs on Starhub and comes with an app for user to buy more credits or transfer credits. It can even make IDD calls through it’s soft phone built in at a very affordable rate. In fact, local calls can be made at only 1.5 cents per minute.
Here is how the SIM card looks like :
VivoBee SIM card
This $1 plan is very affordable for workers. It is valid for 12 months and every month, there is a 500MB Local data bundle, 30 minutes of local calls, 30 SMS and free caller id. The best is that no other prepaid solutions so far includes a free Unlimited Incoming Call.
If you were to use the VivoBee app to make IDD calls (over WIFI from overseas) back to Singapore, it is only 1.5 cents/min which is the cheapest in town. Of course, those who need to call back home to Bangladesh, India, China will find the IDD rates very competitive too, IDD rates check here.
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Configuration
There is no APN to manually configure the settings. Just select Starhub Prepaid on the smartphone will work. it works on any 3G/4G phones and no special settings are required to get it working.
Speedtest and IP
Network Cell Info Lite is an application which tests the signal level of the network at your current location. The tester tested it at his work place in Choa Chu Kang (not HDB estate).
To our surprise, we see that it supports LTE+ and the signal level is comparable to Singtel/Zero1. -82 dBM is very good compared to the TPG which has only 1 bar of signal. A call was made through TPG to VivoBee and it got through (VoLTE TPG to 3G ViVoBee). This is because TPG seems to have no issues calling Starhub numbers (that includes MyRepublic as well).
Voice quality is pretty decent but it lacks the clarity i am used to on VoLTE.
VivoBee uses TATA Communications as the backend for it’s MVNO. Thus, we see public IP addr that belongs to the TATA group 180.87.50.x
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VivoBee has one of the cheapest call rates you can find in Singapore. This is especially useful for workers who just need basic calls back home. Of course, they do have plans that comes with data bundle. Those plans are less competitive to post paid plans.
In Conclusion, VIvoBee has found a niche market. They have found sales channels at various dormitories and provision shops island wide. Currently, topping up of credits need to be done using top up cards. Debit/Credit card top up is in the works.
We have engaged VivoBee and they indicated that a postpaid plan is in the works and it will be available for all to apply. (Currently, VivoBee SIM can only be purchased by foreign workers with a work permit or employment pass).
It looks like there will be another MVNO war again. Will the 6th MVNO RedOne join in the fun too?
Comment below.