In early January this year, a new prepaid mobile service was launched to the market. Not just any prepaid service, but a 100% digital one that lets you fully customise your mobile plan based on your needs. Called tapp, it runs on Digi’s 4G+ network.
When it launched, tapp was pretty ground-breaking with the only other similar player being Maxis’ ookyo. In a nutshell, it’s a prepaid service that’s digitally-driven and everything runs from the tapp app. From signing up to requesting for a free SIM card to managing your mobile plan.
With tapp you can forget the conventional way of doing things. Your telco no longer dictates how much data you can use, nor how many call minutes and SMSes you can send in a month. You wrestle back control of that, and tweak as you see fit.
Yes, it also sounds like Yoodo and unifi mobile, two newer players that joined the “digital telco” fray.
What’s also unique about tapp is that you can sell back unused quota for tapp credit, so no wastage.
Missing features
Being a new service, there were limitations. For one, tapp required a VPN connection to work. When you install the tapp app, it requires you to install a VPN utility as well. An offset of the VPN was the lack of support for iOS devices.
The other limitation was no support for OTT services like Netflix and Snapchat.
Also, it also lacked mobile hotspot support.
Other key features missing are international roaming and the ability too port in and port out.
I know what you’re thinking – that’s a lot of compromises for a “ground-breaking new service.”
And you’re probably right.
The good news
However, here’s the good news.
Tapp has just announced that the service no longer needs a VPN to work. This means a couple of things.
Firstly, you won’t need to install an additional VPN utility for your phone. In theory, you’ll also use less power because you won’t have an additional app service running in the background.
Without VPN also means it’s easier to get connected, and you’ll have access to all apps. Speaking of apps, you’ll be able to enjoy your favourite apps like Netflix and Snapchat, two apps that could not be used previously.
The next big piece of good news is that you can now share your connection via hotspot tethering.
And now that there’s no VPN, it also means that you can finally use tapp on an iOS device. This isn’t officially supported yet, and tapp still lists iOS device as unsupported on their official FAQ. However, rest assured that it does work. I am currently running it on my iPhone 8 and it works flawlessly.
One thing you do need to note. Because it’s still officially unsupported on iOS, it only has an Android app available. Unfortunately, you’ll need an Android device to properly manage your account, including topping up credit. I know, it’s a little silly. So, you may want to wait a while unless you have a spare Android smartphone.
Of course, you can also top up via other methods like buying a Digi reload voucher although it would be easier via the app.
The best is yet to come?
It looks like tapp is stepping up and “filling in the blanks” so to speak. I’m eagerly awaiting, as are some users out there, for an official iOS app to debut. Let’s hope it’s sooner rather than later.
For more information on tapp and to register for an account, download the tapp app or visit tapp.my.
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