Yoodo Takes The Hassle Out Of Switching Plans

Smartphone technology has advanced at an accelerated pace in recent years. They command our attention and are the centre of our daily lives. We use them to order food , book a ride, answer emails, pay our bills, watch videos and interact with people. Yet, the cell services that define their usefulness, seems to always lag behind.

If we consider our smartphones as all-powerful devices that make life more convenient for ourselves, then why isn’t this the case with our data and call plans? The very idea of switching providers or changing the current plan can make anyone anxious. Worst still is when telco companies make you jump through hoops just to downgrade a plan.

This is true of most mainstream providers. If you want to sign up with one, you would need to visit the nearest authorized dealer to sign some paperwork and pay an upright fee. Then, you are usually locked into a 2 year contract which prevents you from jumping ship or switching to another plan. These barriers act as a deterrent from doing the sensible thing.

However, if you would like to upgrade to a more expensive plan, well, that’s when they roll out the red carpet. All you need to do is to call the customer service hotline and request for an upgrade. Sadly, the same can’t be said if you would like to downgrade. For that, you would need to visit the respective telco’s ‘main’ service centre, typical.

If upgrading your current plan is as easy as making a single phone call, why wouldn’t it be just as easy to downgrade to a cheaper, more affordable one? The inconvenience that they introduce is unwarranted, especially to people who simply want to live within their means without having to spend unnecessarily.

Until recently, we have had no say in the matter, but Yoodo wants to give control back to customers. Powered by Celcom, the upstart telco intends on changing the status quo by simplifying the process of purchasing a new sim card, setting your data and call plan as well as how much you would like to spend on the service for each month.

Somewhat skeptical of Yoodo’s claims, we decided to try it for ourselves. I needed verifiable proof that customers would receive exactly what was promised. And after two months of using the service, we were pleasantly surprised. Everything was as advertised, and the registration process went off without a hitch.

The Ordering Process

Signing up for Yoodo is quite simple. All you have to do is download the Yoodo app on your Android or iOS device and begin the setup process. You will be asked to submit a picture of your identification card and one of your own face. Then, it’s as simple as moving the data and voice plan sliders to that, which suits your budget or needs.

Credit: Yoodo

Credit: Yoodo

Click here to view the plans for yourself

Users also have the option of adding-on data plans for specific apps that they use most. Each plan can be tailored to individual customer requirements. This offers a level of flexibility that is unheard of, especially here in Malaysia. Once you’ve chosen the right plan, you can then opt to receive an eSIM or have a physical SIM card delivered to you.

I chose the latter because it’s probably what most people would get, because how many of us are strutting around with a Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra? An eSIM does make life easier, but most people who have such devices won’t be particularly interested with Yoodo’s flexible and affordable plans.

Three days after opting in to Yoodo with the RM25/month plan (50 mins. call time and 20GB data), the chip was delivered to my front door. However, until you choose to activate said SIM card, you won’t be charged for anything. The most efficient way of making payments is via a credit card, but you can also wire money to the Yoodo e-wallet, which will be ducted monthly.

The necessary monthly payments need to be paid upfront before you’re allowed to use the service, which seems fair. But, what I found most impressive is the fact that there aren’t any hidden or miscellaneous charges added to my monthly bill. Instead, I’m charged a flat rate of RM25/month, and nothing more.

Everything is accessible within the app, including how much data or call time you have left. It also provides options to change your plan whenever you would like, which is quite surprising. It caters to people who want a plan that can change with their needs. However, if you want decent call time as well as a good amount of data each month, this can get a little expensive.

If you temper your expectations and set a reasonable limit on both call and data plans, Yoodo can offer some affordable monthly plans. Instead of having a plain vanilla plan filled with stuff you don’t use, as you would get with most mainstream telcos, Yoodo puts you in the driver’s seat. It’s you, who decides what you’re billed for each month – it’s very liberating.

During the entire time that I used my plan, it provided me with decent cell coverage. It’s on par with Celcom and Digi. Call drops and dips in data speeds weren’t that far off from mainstream competitors. However, It’s also possible that I live and work in the City where Celcom’s towers rule supreme. But, it’s also the possibility that Yoodo’s nationwide coverage isn’t ‘low budget’.

Should You Switch To Yoodo?
That depends on your requirements. Personally, I wouldn’t make the switch because unlimited calls are just as important to me as unlimited data. Yoodo offers a maximum of 2000 minutes, which should be sufficient, but thought of having a ceiling limit would probably raise my anxiety levels too much.

Yoodo is best suited to people who know what they want and would like to change call, sms and data requirements on a regular basis. It suits us because its a test chip, used in all smartphones that we receive for review. But, even if we ever decided to opt out of the service, all we have to do is turn the ‘auto-renew’ slider to the off position – and that is it!

There’s no need to call customer service or stand in line at the ‘main centre’ to cut our line. This is especially useful during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Movement restrictions and social distancing have made such legwork rather inconvenient.