Well, when Mega option is on, the 3000 EUR limit is "burnt" at 0.90 EUR/kB. But after using all of those 3000 EUR, is data usage still charged at 0.90 EUR/kB?
If so, exceeding the limit may be a disaster :evil:

Yes.
Expecially using a postpaid simcard...

I think I need a recap.

If no Mega package, it's 1.25c/kB?

With Mega, the so-called included value gets used at 90c/kB (so €3000 would get 333MB) ?

That sounds slightly better than the old 1GB in Italy, 200MB roaming, or have I remembered the tariffs wrong and should look up which has the notional €3000 value?

90c/kilobyte = 900 €/megabyte. The Mega package gives you moreless 3.33 MB not 333 MB! Since you pay for this "virtual" 3000 € 20€ only, 1 MB from the packet costs 20/3.33 = 6 €. 1 MB w/o the Mega option costs 1250 cents = 12.50 EUR.
Let's solve a simple inequality (the unit is eurocent)
where:
x - kilobytes over 3.33 MB,
LHS - cost with Mega
RHS - cost without Mega

2000 + 90x > 4166 + 1.25x
88.75x>2166
x>24.41

So, if you exceed the Mega packet by 24 KILOBYTES ONLY, you'll pay more.

Moreover, let's consider low usage:
1.25x<2000
x<1600
Below 1600 kilobytes you'll also pay less with the regular rate.
The "data usage interval" for which Mega is cheaper than the regular rate is (in kilobytes) [1600,3357]. The maximal saving to be achieved is about 21.66€, when the packed is all used. In this case, however, you face the risk that each kilobyte extra will shoot the costs to the horrible level.

Of course, these calculations are a little rough (I assumed 1 MB =1000 kB, not 1024 kB), but I hope you'll agree with the general conclusions...

Yep - €3000 buys 3333kB

I knew I'd done some bad maths somewhere! :???:

all these 10s, 100s, 1000s, it's bound to happen once in a while

Anyway thanks to the new international rate can be interesting to use some "Imode pass" options by Wind.

"Imode Pass" is simply the name, but you can use the APN that you prefer (internet.wind too) :)

• Imode Pass ( http://155.libero.it/pls/portal30/w1...a.item?id=1901 ): 3€/month for 30€/data (2,34MB in Zone 1 and 2, 1,17MB in 3 and 4)
• Imode Pass 50 ( http://155.libero.it/pls/portal30/w1...a.item?id=1902 ) 6€/month for 50€/data (3,90MB in Zone 1 and 2, 1,95MB in 3 and 4)

So it's really better to activate a "Imode Pass 50" than a new "Mega No Limit" for the same data limit abroad... you can save 14€ and... you don't have any risk of bankrupt :)

Hmm, besides the horrible rate of 0.90€/kB, Mega is IMHO a really strange tariff solution.
The basic idea of packets of minutes/messages/data is that the customer pays in advance at "wholesale" unit rate which is lower than the regular rate. The only risk to the customer is "low usage risk" if the packet is used in a small part or not used at all before it expires. However, there's no "high usage risk" because after using all the packet the regular rate (or even lower) applies to the service. Thus the "high usage" customer who exceeds with limit of the packet pays less to compare with the situation of not purchasing the packet.

They simly don't want us to use it outside of Italy... but it was easier to make it working in Italy only...

I was thinking about such possibility but I can see no real reason for so prohibitive pricing especially when the regular rate is 12.5€/MB - not little but comparable to other operators.
I think that's a dirty marketing trick basing on two ideas:
1) A greedy customer sees a bargain "You pay 20€ only and you get 3000€", not the formal equivalent "You pay 20€ only and you get 3.33 MB". Receiving profits at 150:1 ratio is hard to resist.
2) So far so good, at least as long as the customer doesn't exceed the limit. Otherwise, he/she doesn't see 900 €/MB (or 921.6€/MB if to count 1 MB=1024 kB) but "mere" 0.90€/kB. Who will think about it when 3000€ to be used seems to be so much and some people may even read MB in place of kB (as Andy did).

I wish I were wrong :-P

From the 28/04/2007 offer MEGA will not be more valid for the traffic generated to the Foreign country. In this case the previewed rates to consumption will be applied to the Foreign country.

Wind Pass option has been prolonged for activation till 31/01/08, I suppose also the MEGA options have been prolonged as well.