The only exception is when iPhone applications are communicating with a server using other protocols at non-standard web browsing ports.

Meebo is not going to use HTTP connection and port 80 or 8080 if it had a native client on the iPhone. Similarly Smartone-Vodafone will isolate any RSS, POP3 and IMAP connections from being including in their “Internet Browsing”. There are iPhone applications that uses HTTP and port 80 to communicate with server components and these to Smartone-Vodafone would be counted as part of their “Internet Browsing” traffic.

Anything that uses the web browser is included the 20mb, even if you use online messenger websites such as meebo, because meebo is web browser based, even though it is msn/yahoo/messenger clients it is still web browsing.

20mb a day is very little. But the $15 per 15mb is ok, this at least is not a daily charge and continues to roll over throughout the billing month.

Iphone is App centric and non website stuff though will incur the data charge, for instance if you use a messenging client on the iphone theres a charge.

I still think their Customer Service is the best among the carriers in Hong Kong.

One other thing I realized is that Smartone-Vodafone has 14 Mbps HSDPA compatibility at all locations where there's 3G coverage. Comparing to 3 HK, that's much better as 3 HK only have spotty 7.2 Mbps coverage and mostly 3.6 Mbps.

BTW: the iPhone 3GS supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA downlink.

Four years of putting up with Three HK, i decided to move my money to a new service provider.

In a nutshell, they will let me sign a new 12 month contract and let me keep my old no, i can do so immediately. Where as if i want to sign a 24month contact to get a better deal i will have to jump though hoops by cancelling my out of contract no. then goto Three shop sign 24month contract and then pay to get my old no. back in which i will have to wait around five days.

so my choice was take
A) switch my current dualband and out of contract account to a 'f*ck you' 12month 3G contract, in which i and keep and use my old no. immediatley.
B) cancel my out of contract dual band account, sign onto a new 24month 3G contract, pay to have my old no (and wait five days for this to happen), of course they decide there is a charge to change my new no. to my old no.

You may ask why would you want a 24month account over a 12month loyal customer upgrade?

The 12month loyal customer upgrade would have cost almost as much as a 24month new contract!! Three customer service said literally this is.

So i'm taking option
C) cancel my account go elsewhere

As I recall, since I only read the question briefly before deleting, he asked if he can use PCCW Netvigator's Wireless plan on the iPhone.

The answer is yes, but although Netvigator's WiFi hotspots are prevalent, as of Jan. 2008 there were over 3000, there are still not enough to allow for continuous connection as one would get with GPRS (EDGE) or 3G (HSDPA).

BTW: I am using a 1st generation iPhone on the Smartone-Vodafone 3G network and tariff plan. This is because the 2G plans are comparatively more expensive for the iPhone than the 3G plan.

PS: I am also hoping to upgrade to a iPhone 3G when the Apple HK price is expected to drop after the New Year.