My iZZi Review

It sounds iZZi but it is not.

As I’ve mentioned on my previous post that I’ve subscribe to iZZi Wireless Broadband, so this post is the review of the service.

Let me start my review with how it all started at PC Fair II 2008.

It’s all started at Pikom PC Fair II 2008, where I went there to buy a thumbdrive, check out the latest technology and latest offer for Wireless Broadband services as I really wanted to have an Internet connection without the hassle to subscribe to a land line. At the end, I end up at the last hall of the PC Fair and at the end there was a group of wireless broadband service providers and Streamyx booth as well.

After listening to the explanation of the promoter, I’ve decided to subscribe to iZZi. The key point that makes me subscribe to iZZi is because the promoter told me that their station is very close to my housing area and the station covered an area of 13km radius. So for me that is a very big coverage. The station is in Pandamaran and I’m staying in Pandamaran Jaya, Pelabuhan Klang. The other point is that the other service providers have a limit of 3GB file transfer in a month as for iZZi, she said it is unlimited.

As I didn’t bring so much cash, I paid a deposit of RM50 and return back to PC Fair with my wife, my son and my brothers on the next day (2nd August 08).

I took iZZiyou6 package that cost me RM699 (need to pay upfront).

The review begins

At Home…

I can’t wait to test it out right after I got back home.

Installation…

I just need to insert the installation CD that will install the driver and application software. It is very simple to install it. Then I just need to plug in the modem using the USB port. Windows will detect the device straight away.

Below is the pictures of the modem and installation CD:

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The signal strength is around 20 to 40 percent but most of the time it will be at 30%. I keyed in the temporary username and password that they provide to activate my account on the web and I’m connected to the wireless broadband. It was really slow when I tried to register the iZZi account. It took me more than 40 minutes to complete the online registration as the connection keep on disconnecting and I need to re-submit the form a few times. I’m a bit frustrated at that time but I’m telling myself that it might be for a short while.

I disconnected the temporary ID and use my own username and password. All of a sudden it became faster than before. The signal strength is still the same but the speed is a lot better. To tell you how fast is the speed, just imagine opening a Google.com page takes you up to 4 to 5 minutes. Just imagine that! To make myself happy I’m blaming the Internet Explorer, so I downloaded Mozilla Firefox.

After installing Firefox the speed is still the same. I’ve managed to call the sales promoter and she said that I need to put the modem close to the window as it cannot get a good signal if there is any blockage. For me that is ridiculous as why we need to move our PC close to the window just to get a good signal. The device was supposed to be mobile, so it should be able to get a good signal anywhere.

Once in a while the broadband speed increases and I managed to download my AVG AntiVirus updates and Mozilla Firefox after leaving my computer to run for quite sometime.

A few days later…

I still testing it after a few days. I took it to my parents house in Kampung Raja Uda, Pelabuhan Klang and my parent in-laws’ house in Pandamaran, still the signal is either very weak or there is no signal at all.

For 1 to 2 days I was able to use the service in low speed. On the fourth and fifth day, I tested out the connection after work and there is no connection at all. That is the main reason I want to get a refund.

I text messaged the sales promoter to return the modem and she told me that I need to return the modem at Menara Olympia, Kuala Lumpur in order to get the refund. The office is open only on weekdays and on office hour. Luckily that I’m working in Kuala Lumpur and my employer is good enough to give me a release time for this purpose I managed to go there. Just imagine you’re not working in KL, I bet that you need to take at least a half day leave just to make the refund.

Refund

The refund process is very simple. The person in-charge will come and you need to answer a few questions and they will give a copy of the form to you as a reference. She told me that they will charge me if I use more than 3MB of data transfer. I was shock as the promoter didn’t tell me about it. To me, “Whatever…” as long as I get my money back. She told me that it will take around 1 month for them to process the refund and they need to check my Internet usage as they will charge me if it is more that 3MB.

After a month, I started to call them as there is no call from their side for my refund status. The first time I called, the person told me he cannot find my name in the system. I was a bit tampered at that time. Anyway, I asked him to check it for me and call me immediately after they manage to find my name or what is my refund status. There is no call and I called them back a few days after that. Then they told me that they just started to process the refund and it will take a few more weeks.

Just imagine that. You need to pay up-front immediately for the service and they need to take nearly 2 months to process your refund.

Anyway, to cut it short. After a few calls and few weeks, I managed to get  the refund on 26 September 08.

Conclusion*:

• Don’t subscribe if you are not really in Klang Valley center area, like Kuala Lumpur.
• Don’t subscribe if you’re not sure the area that you want to use the service have a good coverage. Because they will charge you if you exceed the 3MB limit, although you return it within 7 days (Please lah… even the Mozilla Firefox download is larger than 3MB.)
• They are not sincere when they mentioned about the 7 days money back guarantee as they still charge you the processing fee RM82 (that is quite high for just processing) and usage above 3MB.
• Long refund period. It took me nearly 2 months to get my refund.

*This is based on my personal experience and it may differ for each individual as it might be because of other factor.