When Maxis tweeted the below, I thought, "Wow! This sounds good, will wait till the HTC Desire is out in Malaysia and get this offer!"
Then, I remembered that the line I'm using is a supplementary line. So, that got me into calculating if it was really worth it (for me) to opt out of the supplementary plan and sign up for this offer.
Basically, these are the current figures of my current line:
- Monthly fixed charge: RM10.00
- Average monthly usage: RM10.00
That would be a total of RM20.00
And, for comparison, I'll add in a Data Plan. I'll choose the 500MB one, which is priced at RM58.00
Inclusive of the Data Plan, my monthly cost would be RM78.00, if I'm gonna stick with the supplementary line.
The phone, my choice for the purpose of this analysis, is the HTC Legend, which retails at RM1,999.00.
If I were to opt for the
Android offer by Maxis, I will have to sign up as a new principal line holder as the Rate Plan choices are only applicable to principal lines.
As I don't call or text much, I'd go with the Value Plus 50 Rate Plan, which would bring my monthly usage charges to RM50.00.
There is a rebate of RM10.00 on the chosen Data Plan. So, by including the same Data Plan per above, the total monthly cost would be RM98.00.
The offer price by Maxis for the HTC Legend is RM1,399.00.
A summary of the above, inclusive of calculations:
Note: The offer calls for a 12-month contract, hence the calculations have been accounted for for a 12-months period, being the short-term projection. I've included another 12 months for a long-term projection (2 years).
All amounts are in Malaysian Ringgit (RM).
|
| Current Plan |
| Android Offer |
| Calls | Data |
| Calls | Data |
| 20.00 | 58.00 |
| 50.00 | 58.00 |
| Per month | 78.00 |
| Per month | 98.00 |
| 12 months | 936.00 |
| 12 months | 1,176.00 |
| Phone (RRP) | 1,999.00 |
| Phone (Offer) | 1,399.00 |
| ST projection | 2,935.00 |
| ST projection | 2,575.00 |
| Next 12 months | 936.00 |
| Next 12 months | 1,176.00 |
| LT projection | 3,871.00 |
| LT projection | 3,751.00 |
Another note for the above calculations:
My next-12-months figure is calculated on the basis that I opt out of the Value Plus 50 Rate Plan and revert back to my old plan - I don't make many calls or text many people anyways - and this would mean that I'll be paying an extra RM30.00 for the monthly charges. Total monthly usage charges = RM40.00.
Looks like after two years I'd still be better off with going for the offer.
Hold on, a few more calculations, just as a check.
How much I'd save by signing up for a 12-month contract on the offer:
| 1st 12 months | 360.00 |
| End of 2nd year | -240.00 |
| End of 3rd year | -240.00 |
|
|
| -120.00 |
| |
So, after the middle of the third year, it'll be much more expensive for me to have opted for the offer, unless, of course, I switch back my line to be a supplementary line again right after the contract period ends (opportunity costs not taken into account). But switching the line one too many times is kinda troublesome (another part of me, being a
kiam siap Malaysian, thinks otherwise).
Verdict: Will wait to see if Maxis will include the HTC Desire in the offer, when it has arrived in Malaysia, and the price before making a decision.
