Depending on the kind of cellphone user you are, you choose Pay as you Go cards to suit you:

• If you make more calls than you receive, buy a Call-a-lot card
  
• If you receive more calls than you make, buy a Receive-a-lot card

Getting connected to Pay as you Go

If you already have a cellphone:
Buy a MTN Better Connection SIM Pack at R55. This pack contains a SIM card (your MTN Network connection), an easy to read User Guide, and a R10 Bonus Card. The Bonus Card gives you free calls worth R10 and five days free access to the MTN Network. Just top up with more Pay as you Go cards to keep connected.

If you need a cellphone:
Buy a Pay as you Go Cellphone Kit. This kit contains a cellphone (various models to select from) with SIM card, battery and charger, an easy to read User Guide, as well as a R10 Bonus Card. The Bonus Card gives you free calls worth R10 and five days free access. Just top up with more Pay as you Go cards to keep connected.

Prepaid Costs:

Checking your airtime and access "Account Balance"

A free call on your phone to MTNs 555 Update Line allows you to find out how much "money" you have left for making outgoing calls, and the access time you have left. 

Free subscription to these MTN services:

• Voicemail- Your own personal voice mailbox
• Calling Line Identity - See who's calling you before you answer
• Call Barring, Holding & Waiting - You're always in touch on your own terms
• Account Balance - Update on your airtime and access balance
• Directory Enquiries - Find it fast with just one call
• CareCall - A personalised, reassurance service
• MTN's Emergency Services - Immediate help is just one call away
• MTN Customer Care - All the assistance you need at the end of the line

Call charges

The first unit is calculated in a sixty (60) second increment or any part thereof. Thereafter each half unit is calculated at an interval of thirty (30) seconds or any part thereof.

11/99: MTN will be implementing off-peak rates for prepaid calls.

Calls within South Africa:

From one MTN number to another MTN number - R2.50 per unit. All other calls (in South Africa) - R2.75 per unit

International Calls:

Global zones attract different call charges. International calls can only be made from South Africa to the countries listed below:

• Zone 1 - R5.00 per unit
  Botswana, Lesotho Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Zone 2 - R10.00 per unit
  Alaska, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bequla, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cocos Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Ireland, Jamaica, Malaysia, Mariana Island, Monaco (France), Montserat, Mustique, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, St Christopher, St Helena, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom, USA, Virgin Islands (USA).
• Zone 3 - R15.00 per unit
  Rest of the World (excluding calls to Inmarsat and Iridium numbers)

What happens to old Companion Pay as you Go cards?

Airtime cards and Service Fee cards that have not yet been used (loaded) will all be automatically converted to Call-a-lot cards by MTN's system. You don't have to do a thing. Your cards will be converted as follows:

• Companion Service Fee card (R100) will be converted to outgoing calls to the value of R100 and incoming calls for 50 days.
• Companion Airtime card (R50) will be converted to outgoing calls to the value of R50 and incoming calls for 25 days.
• Companion Airtime card (R150) will be converted to outgoing calls to the value of R150 and incoming calls for 75 days.
• Companion Airtime card (R330) will be converted to outgoing calls to the value of R330 and incoming calls for 165 days.

To get further information on MTN Pay As You Go:

Customer Services:

• From a cellphone dial 173 (free of charge)
• From a fixed (Telkom) line dial 083-173 (charged at normal cellular rates)

See the MTN Web site for more details

Notes:

1. If you don't receive or make calls within six months, your cellphone number will be withdrawn from the network.
2. Access time can be accumulated up to a maximum of 24 months at any one time.