Telecom XT and Vodafone rip off

[scracha]

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telecom-pulls-back-curtain-xt-pricing-a-little-102634

So with the exception of faster downloads (when the network isn't too busy and the piece of string connecting this country to the rest of the world isn't overloaded) in a few city centres, basically fuck all's changed. The coverage on both networks will still be $hite. The pricing is will still be incomprehensible and ridiculously overpiced. The contracts will be stupidly long. Signal faded calls will still not be refunded. The "round up to nearest minute" rip off will still continue. There will still be no roaming between the two networks even though they use the same technology.

What a crock of shit. How many shares in Telecon and Vodyfoney do the pricks that run the Commerce Commission own?

Woo... 200MB. Is this 2009?

[Dave Lobster]

Neither company makes you buy their products.

[scracha]

Neither company makes you buy their products.

Well this is supposedly a 1st world country and to conduct business these days, mobile coverage is pretty much essential. So yes, essentially I am forced to buy their shitty products.

[disenfranchised]

Woo... 200MB. Is this 2009?

Not that I'm advocating Telecom...but it is a mobile phone, not your home PC.

I use my mobile internet for syncing email and browsing the odd webpage...trademe, news sites etc.

I'd be luckly to use more than 20MB per month

Things for mobiles are small...you just don't use that much data

[Slicksta]

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telecom-pulls-back-curtain-xt-pricing-a-little-102634

So with the exception of faster downloads (when the network isn't too busy and the piece of string connecting this country to the rest of the world isn't overloaded) in a few city centres, basically fuck all's changed. The coverage on both networks will still be $hite. The pricing is will still be incomprehensible and ridiculously overpiced. The contracts will be stupidly long. Signal faded calls will still not be refunded. The "round up to nearest minute" rip off will still continue. There will still be no roaming between the two networks even though they use the same technology.

What a crock of shit. How many shares in Telecon and Vodyfoney do the pricks that run the Commerce Commission own?

Woo... 200MB. Is this 2009?

What? What about shared plans with up to ten people? What about free calling between those ten people? What about no more on-net and off-net calling prices? That is all comin out with XT

And 200megs is heaps for if your not using your smart phone to download porn all day rather than cheaking email and TM ect
For comparison, something like 85% of people use less than 3gb their fixed line.

If you dont like it wait till nz coms brings out 2 Degrees

[scracha]

Not that I'm advocating Telecom...but it is a mobile phone, not your home PC.

I use my mobile internet for syncing email and browsing the odd webpage...trademe, news sites etc.

I'd be luckly to use more than 20MB per month

Things for mobiles are small...you just don't use that much data

Nope, you're seriously mis-informed if you think mobile data is just for mobile phones. The economic penalty this country suffers from the multitude of IT literate workers of being unable to travel around and use their laptops and other data aware tools and applications is immense.

Aside from this, video calls, downloading videos, music etc? A large amount of NZ's populace who are outwidth the range of ADSL ("normal" broadband) and in many other countries the "normal" broadband is via mobile data.

Don't end up a Telecom phanboy comparing them to Vodafone. Compare both of the swines to the rest of the world. We're getting a $hit deal and paying through the nose for it. I'm forced to use them both.

85% of people IN NEW ZEALAND use less than 3GB on their fixed line. Might be something to do with the pricing structure over here? Think of all the useful tools and applications that are available with decent and fast data.

Woo, I can share my plan with 10 people. I call about 30 different people a day mate. Their plans are 2nd rate.

[p.dath]

If your cautious 200MB of data isn't too bad. I've blown my 200MB plan out several times, and ended up going to a 1GB plan.The classic example is when a windows service pack comes out. Windows downloads it in the background. I remember one that was 350MB, and cost me around $1700 in excess data charges (and hence the move to the 1GB plan ...).

[Squiggles]

Doesnt setting a competitive price mean it'll be the same cost as, or only a bit more than, everyone else? :lol:

[Slicksta]

Nope, you're seriously mis-informed if you think mobile data is just for mobile phones. The economic penalty this country suffers from the multitude of IT literate workers of being unable to travel around and use their laptops and other data aware tools and applications is immense.

Aside from this, video calls, downloading videos, music etc? A large amount of NZ's populace who are outwidth the range of ADSL ("normal" broadband) and in many other countries the "normal" broadband is via mobile data.

Don't end up a Telecom phanboy comparing them to Vodafone. Compare both of the swines to the rest of the world. We're getting a $hit deal and paying through the nose for it. I'm forced to use them both.

85% of people IN NEW ZEALAND use less than 3GB on their fixed line. Might be something to do with the pricing structure over here? Think of all the useful tools and applications that are available with decent and fast data.

Woo, I can share my plan with 10 people. I call about 30 different people a day mate. Their plans are 2nd rate.

Do you think NZ with its 4mil people is worth while for a telco to invest in and charge next to nothing for there services?

Of course its cheaper in other countries im sorry thats the way it is always gonna be welcome to NZ

[Rayray401]

Do you think NZ with its 4mil people is worth while for a telco to invest in and charge next to nothing for there services?

Of course its cheaper in other countries im sorry thats the way it is always gonna be welcome to NZ

agreed there...we are on the arse of the world..lol..most of asias already using fibre optics (XT technology here), on top of not having enough competition in NZ, telecoms not going to care if you change to vodafone..or vice versa..NZ just not a country to be having all the up to date technology..we're too far away from everyoneelse, not worth investing in..

[scracha]

Do you think NZ with its 4mil people is worth while for a telco to invest in and charge next to nothing for there services?

Of course its cheaper in other countries im sorry thats the way it is always gonna be welcome to NZ

I've heard that argument dozens of times. There are many other countries with similar or smaller populations who have better and cheaper telecommunications costs.

[Edbear]

Do you think NZ with its 4mil people is worth while for a telco to invest in and charge next to nothing for there services?

Of course its cheaper in other countries im sorry thats the way it is always gonna be welcome to NZ


I've heard that argument dozens of times. There are many other countries with similar or smaller populations who have better and cheaper telecommunications costs.

NZ is not just a small country with a small population, it is not in Europe either.

Other interntional Telco's have come here, checked the population and the geography and decided they couldn't afford to set up a netowrk here. Telstra Clear is a combimation of Telstra Australia investing a few billion in NZ buying the Saturn and Clear networks, but have been a relatively small player, though being the second largest Telco here and able to service Govt. and large Enterprise.

The main issue other than our antiquated physical network is in mobile coverage which is notoriously difficult given the geography of the country and the small isolated population spread, making country-wide coverage a very expensive proposition, hence 2 Degrees using Vodafone's network for most of the country and Telstra Clear using Telecom's. If Telstra Clear can get access to the XT or Vodafone Networks, it can directly source technology from Teltsra Australia saving huge costs.

As an aside, to bring a bit of reality to the situation, 4G and XT is fine for the future and necessary, however the current Telecom CDMA network can deliver for most people and businesses everything they require in data and communications and has the advantage of a generally greater coverage of the country. So anyone upgrading their phone can currently get dual-mode CDMA/GSM phones that give the best of both worlds for roaming from such as Telstra Clear including the Blackberry 8830 and the latest Samsung i325 and the new Samsung flip-phone. As well, CDMA is going to be around at least until 2012 by which time XT and Vodafone's 4G will have most of the bugs ironed out and hopefully match CDMA for geographical coverage.

[Dave Lobster]

Many? I think that's a bit of a stretch.. Name ten of them.


Each cell site costs in the region of a million bucks to get installed. Is a new telco going to invest enough money to run another network? Considering they'll do well to get 1/3 of the population as customers.. I doubt it very much.
If a company has that much money to invest in a mobile network, they'll be in india where you can sign up 1.6 million new customers every month.

[Pussy]

I can even make telephone calls on my mobile :niceone:

[Edbear]

I can even make telephone calls on my mobile :niceone:

:laugh: :doh:

[discotex]

Woo... 200MB. Is this 2009?

Umm the article says there will be data plans up to 3gb. The point is the 200mb plan will be 66% cheaper than Vodafone :first: What is wrong with chopping 2/3 off the price of data?

The 200mb plan is what most people with phones will use to surf Trademe/Facebook or whatever. If you have a datacard get a bigger data plan. Even the current plans are pretty decent at ~$50 for 1gb and another $11 for 2gb (without having to change plans).

Assuming the new XT plans are better again what's your problem?

[spacemonkey]

The point is the 200mb plan will be 66% cheaper than Vodafone :first: What is wrong with chopping 2/3 off the price of data?

Yup but for how long?:sherlock:

Introductory offer..... The price will go up, and people with a multi year contract will cop it. :mobile: :doh:

[discotex]

Yup but for how long?:sherlock:

Introductory offer..... The price will go up, and people with a multi year contract will cop it. :mobile: :doh:

Guess we'll find out in a week or so eh.

[Winter]

http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/telecom-pulls-back-curtain-xt-pricing-a-little-102634
There will still be no roaming between the two networks even though they use the same technology.




They don't use the same technology. The use different technology.
Vodafone dont sell any handsets afaik with 850MHz 3G WCDMA support so you cant roam that way. It looks like Telecom will be selling handsets with 850/2100MHz WCDMA and also 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM support, the theory being you can roam now to about 205 countries from XT.

Vodafone would never agree to a one way roaming agreement. Perhaps, in 5 years, If VF sell XT compatible handsets they might agree to something like that. But for now no VF handsets (some iphones excluded) will work on the XT network.

[Brian d marge]

Done got me the Iphone

unlimited internet and free calling 2 family members cost me 6000 yen a month including the cost of the phone

In the first day I reach my cap, then it clicks over to unlimited.

using skype will bump the data up a bit and I use skype a lot ,,hello mum ! and of course you tube when I am on the train !

Still at least NZ doesn't lie about their speeds , here they advertise 100Mbps and i get a MAX of 30 ( 1.5 international )


Stephen

[The Stranger]

I can even make telephone calls on my mobile :niceone:

So you're not with Vodafone then I take.
Apparently voice is unimportant for a mobile phone network. Usually takes me 2 or 3 tries to complete any given call, between calls being dropped and talking being clipped so much as to make conversation impossible.
I note also there is a large delay in speach arriving when you do get a line clear enough to use. So much so that people regularly think the other person has finished and so proceed to talk over one another.
Oddly enough, we had some of the first Motorola brick phones in the country. The system at that time worked flawlessly, assuming you were in coverage.
But I guess that's progress.

Mind you it's Auckland, you can't expect them to have good coverage or resources in the largest city.

[Dave Lobster]

You should complain about that..

I'm on my phone half the day, and never have a problem with distorted speech or clipping..

How old is your phone? Are you using the 3G network where available, or the old 2G one?

[Pussy]

So you're not with Vodafone then I take.


That's correct, I'm not.
I have found telecom mobile works better in the rural environment, where I spend most of my working day.
Many will disagree, but to me, so long as I can make and recieve calls and texts, I'm happy. I don't know how to use half the features my phone has, and I don't need them

[boomer]

..and hopefully match CDMA for geographical coverage.

sorry mate but you're talking out ya backside.

[boomer]

So you're not with Vodafone then I take.
Apparently voice is unimportant for a mobile phone network. Usually takes me 2 or 3 tries to complete any given call, between calls being dropped and talking being clipped so much as to make conversation impossible.
I note also there is a large delay in speach arriving when you do get a line clear enough to use. So much so that people regularly think the other person has finished and so proceed to talk over one another.
Oddly enough, we had some of the first Motorola brick phones in the country. The system at that time worked flawlessly, assuming you were in coverage.
But I guess that's progress.

Mind you it's Auckland, you can't expect them to have good coverage or resources in the largest city.


try a differenet phone mate.

[Edbear]

sorry mate but you're talking out ya backside.

PLease explain?

[boomer]

I've heard that argument dozens of times. There are many other countries with similar or smaller populations who have better and cheaper telecommunications costs.

teh country that NZ compares itself against is Ireland Scratcha.. equal (ish) in population, density and geographic nature. you'll find both the coverage, quality and cost equal.

plus teh fact NZ is still a 3rd world country.. no matter how u wrap it up ..??!

[bungbung]

They don't use the same technology. The use different technology.

As long as you're talking 3G, WCDMA is WCDMA.

The difference is the frequencies used.

Telecom XT is on 850 nationwide, and perhaps 2100 in the main centres.
Vodafone is 900 and 2100.

Not many Voda phones will have 850 support.

[Taz]

I still find it alot easier to make a call while out and about than when I was a kid in the 70's. you could only get 4 feet away from the base set then and then the cord went tight and dragged the phone off the hall table. Stop your moaning, you don't know how lucky you are.

[scracha]

As long as you're talking 3G, WCDMA is WCDMA.

The difference is the frequencies used.

Telecom XT is on 850 nationwide, and perhaps 2100 in the main centres.
Vodafone is 900 and 2100.

Not many Voda phones will have 850 support.

My point is that the gubbernment shoud have forced them to use shared frequencies and support roaming. That's why other countries with "sparse populations and difficult terrain" have cheaper calls as it lowers the telco's investment costs. There are phones that support 850 and 900 but they're normally expensive quad band handsets (vodafone do have them). Telecom chose 850 when most of the world's handsets use GSM900. Very few other countries (I can't think of any but I'm sure someone will correct me) use 850 and 900 simultaneously so it's simply a way of preventing us having cheap handsets (from abroad) and throwing in a different SIM cards when we're out of coverage or more importantly, are out of contract and get pissed off with one particular provider's service.

Am I correct in thinking Telecom were forced by our own stupid government regulators into giving up GSM900 to Vodafone?

[Dave Lobster]

Am I correct in thinking Telecom were forced by our own stupid government regulators into giving up GSM900 to Vodafone?

No. Voda were forced to give up some of their 900 meg frequency to that other crowd that bribed the moari MPs into getting the law changed.


Telecom chose 850 when most of the world's handsets use GSM900.


GSM900 and Telecom's 850 meg WCDMA are not compatible, and therefore irrelevent. They're two completely different technologies. One is 2G (GSM). The other is 3G (WCDMA). Telecom isn't using 2G at all.

Do you have ANY understanding of the technology AT ALL??

[Edbear]

My point is that the gubbernment shoud have forced them to use shared frequencies and support roaming. ...(SNIP)...Am I correct in thinking Telecom were forced by our own stupid government regulators into giving up GSM900 to Vodafone?


No. Voda were forced to give up some of their 900 meg frequency to that other crowd that bribed the moari MPs into getting the law changed.



GSM900 and Telecom's 850 meg WCDMA are not compatible, and therefore irrelevent. They're two completely different technologies. One is 2G (GSM). The other is 3G (WCDMA). Telecom isn't using 2G at all.

Do you have ANY understanding of the technology AT ALL??

Word from one telco was that the 900 frequency is getting overloaded with traffic and the 850 is relatively free of traffic so can be more reliable and consistent for a long time to come. More telco's are using 850 now because of this issue.

Vodafone is promoting an "enhanced" 3G service to compete with Telecom's WCDMA. While 4G is p and running, it is sort of going to miss the boat as more advanced technology is already well under development. WCDMA is ahead of 3G and is the first publicly available service of it's type. The technology is advancing rapidly and the next few years is going to see some real amazing stuff.

I'll see if I can find the link I was on a while ago talking about the new stuff being tested right now.

[boomer]

lol i was the Networks manager for the 2/3G radio optimisation and performance teams when this shit got rolled out..

word on teh street is some of u are talking waffle..

[Edbear]

lol i was the Networks manager for the 2/3G radio optimisation and performance teams when this shit got rolled out..

word on teh street is some of u are talking waffle..

Nobody on KB should ever talk waffle... :no:

http://searchtelecom.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid103_gci214486,00.html#

http://www.umtsworld.com/technology/wcdma.htm

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/052107-special-focus-4g.html

FEI (for everyone's info..)

[scracha]

Do you have ANY understanding of the technology AT ALL??

Yes Mr Lobster, I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING of the technology....no need to shout. Not as much of an understanding as your esteemed good self but there you go. UMTS and GSM900 are pretty standard on european/asian handsets these days and my point wasn't really about protocols (Vodafone are switching to W-CDMA at 900Mhz anyhoo) but about the sharing of the bandwidth and infrastructure costs by having roaming agreements at 900Mhz and highlighting the fact that only a fraction of the world's handsets (I don't know of any to be honest) support W-CDMA at both 850 and 900Mhz.

Now what was my original vodka fueld waffle about..oh yeah...we're still getting screwed out of too much money and the coverage is $hite.



Fuck it...do you just want a fight? :2guns:

[boomer]

My point is that the gubbernment shoud have forced them to use shared frequencies and support roaming


Do you think ANY company would spend multiple millions on spectrum licencing then to be told how they're going to use it?

Every Telco, is governed to allow roaming/piggy backing to a start up company, within certain guidelines. Otherwise .. if you're prepared to invest then its a licence to print money !

[Dave Lobster]

Vodafone are switching to W-CDMA at 900Mhz anyhoo


No they aren't. They're rolling out 900Mhz in rural areas to run alongside the 2100Mhz network.



Fuck it...do you just want a fight? :2guns:

Are you english???

[MisterD]

WCDMA is ahead of 3G and...

:scratch: WCDMA is 3G...

[Edbear]

:scratch: WCDMA is 3G...


Sorry, you're quite correct. It's more that the difference is in the details.

Both companies are trying to gain an edge in performance and Vodafone refers to its "enhanced 3G" sort of trying to move it towards 4G. Telecom's 3G - WCDMA has a couple of advantages in NZ being launched as XT. They will be using a combination of technology to enhance coverage and performance. The link shows that Telecom's CDMA 1XRTT with EVDO was referred to as 3G and the technicalities are complex.

http://www.istart.co.nz/index/HM20/PC0/PVC197/EX245/AR28590

[scracha]

The technology is advancing rapidly and the next few years is going to see some real amazing stuff.

What...like being able to actually make calls without getting cut off and receiving text messages the same day? OMG...we're so lucky.



Are you english???

That's fightin talk.



lol i was the Networks manager for the 2/3G radio optimisation and performance teams when this shit got rolled out..

Fuckin burn him.

[Edbear]

What...like being able to actually make calls without getting cut off and receiving text messages the same day? OMG...we're so lucky.....

We live in hope, mate... :soon:

[Slicksta]

What...like being able to actually make calls without getting cut off and receiving text messages the same day? OMG...we're so lucky.

Never had that on telecom sounds like someone is paying to much for there poor service :shifty:

[scracha]

Never had that on telecom sounds like someone is paying to much for there poor service :shifty:
What choice do I have?

[Edbear]

What choice do I have?

In your area I'd check out Telstra Clear which uses Telecom's mobile service. The main differences are in the plans but I think CDMA coverage is much better down your way.

0508-888 800 for residential and 0508-249 777 for business.

[Brian d marge]

Sorry, you're quite correct. It's more that the difference is in the details.

Both companies are trying to gain an edge in performance and Vodafone refers to its "enhanced 3G" sort of trying to move it towards 4G. Telecom's 3G - WCDMA has a couple of advantages in NZ being launched as XT. They will be using a combination of technology to enhance coverage and performance. The link shows that Telecom's CDMA 1XRTT with EVDO was referred to as 3G and the technicalities are complex.

http://www.istart.co.nz/index/HM20/PC0/PVC197/EX245/AR28590

OMG

let me get this straight if I get a Telecom phone , its called 3g but it 2.5 g ( we had that here 5 years ago ? i forget , i still have the phone i think , the kids play with it )

So i get a chicken , but according to the marketing , I am not interested in buying a chicken , but on the services the chicken provides , ie enhanced egg laying and as a protein rich diet is good for you I will call it the The total body care plan

surely the commerce commision has something to say about this ,,,

I got a chicken under me arm that going to cure me beer belly.... ( all for 599 ,@ dick smith )

Oh i fogot NZ has some unique network situation so we have to buy a Job lot of old phones from Nextel sprint .. ( how bout dont have the buying power and nextel sprint , ,,,,surely they could have gone a little up market ,

Nope , unlimited 3g ( as in 3g ) for an all inclusive low price of 100 dollars a month , at 2Mbps ...true speed

How does the iphone cope , I have one ,( free give a way , and a slight increase per month traffic charge , and I use mine A LOT , from kiwi biker on the train , to emailing customers , to pretending to look cool :Offtopic:

I use a LOT of internet on the phone

Stephen

[Number One]

I can even make telephone calls on my mobile :niceone:
Shit awsum! Me too AND I can txt too!

BTW: Thanks for the info about current network being around until 2012...I won't b buying into the 'switch now' hooplah. My cellular needs are simple.

[YellowDog]

I believe there are scales of being ripped off to consider here.

IMO - Telecom, Vodafone, and Telstra are NZ leaders in a rip-off industry.

[Dave Lobster]

IMO - Telecom, Vodafone, and Telstra are NZ leaders in a rip-off industry.

Why don't you start up another network then?

Invest $1m per cell site rolled out.. On top of that the fibre for backhaul to your mulitmillion $ switching centres.. If you get 1/3 of the population on your network, how long will it take you to make any profit? Longer than your shareholders will allow?
You'll need at least 1000 cell sites. More, if you want to make it a good 3G network.
By the time you've rolled out your sites, there'll be new technology along, and your kit will be obsolete. It'll probably be obsolete four years before your accountants think the kit can be written off..

It's a real rip off when you expect your customers to buy enough from you that you can run at something more than a loss.

[Brian d marge]

Why don't you start up another network then?

Invest $1m per cell site rolled out.. On top of that the fibre for backhaul to your mulitmillion $ switching centres.. If you get 1/3 of the population on your network, how long will it take you to make any profit? Longer than your shareholders will allow?
You'll need at least 1000 cell sites. More, if you want to make it a good 3G network.
By the time you've rolled out your sites, there'll be new technology along, and your kit will be obsolete. It'll probably be obsolete four years before your accountants think the kit can be written off..

It's a real rip off when you expect your customers to buy enough from you that you can run at something more than a loss.

utilities should never be controlled by the free-market give the unemployed a pair of sand shoes , and get me .. my broadband ,,,,,

Stephen

[Edbear]

I believe there are scales of being ripped off to consider here.

IMO - Telecom, Vodafone, and Telstra are NZ leaders in a rip-off industry.

But of course, as DaveLobster says, the cost of investment here is considerable and the population/geography equation is considered too unfavourable for many overseas companies to invest here, that's why such as TelstraClear, NZ Communications and Black and White et al buy services from either Telecom or Vodafone who have invested multi-millions in their networks.

Telstra Clear has poured millions into its fibre-optic network only to be told by the Govt. that it may be a waste of money now. That's why all the telco's got together and commissioned an INDEPENDENT study, to examine the issue and see what the state of play was currently and what the Govt. plan would mean for the telco's. Following that they presented the findings to Govt. and are still in negotiations.

Yes, there is room for costs to come down, but they need a level playing field and some certainty going forward as to whether the investments they're prepared to put in will be worthwhile. This is where the Govt. is crucial in setting in place regulations that ensure a fair deal. Would you invest money in an uncertain venture where a third party, ie: Govt. could change the rules overnight leaving your investment worthless?

[YellowDog]

Why don't you start up another network then?

Invest $1m per cell site rolled out.. On top of that the fibre for backhaul to your mulitmillion $ switching centres.. If you get 1/3 of the population on your network, how long will it take you to make any profit? Longer than your shareholders will allow?
You'll need at least 1000 cell sites. More, if you want to make it a good 3G network.
By the time you've rolled out your sites, there'll be new technology along, and your kit will be obsolete. It'll probably be obsolete four years before your accountants think the kit can be written off..

It's a real rip off when you expect your customers to buy enough from you that you can run at something more than a loss.
I hear what you are saying and agree to a degree.

FYI: Vodafone NZ contributes more than 1% in profit to the global outfit. They take a lot of pride in this huge contribution for such a small unit. They know it is far too high for the spacity/volume reasons that you have highlighted and has been achieved by the almost complete lack of competition. Telecom are only now starting to come back by hitting Vodafone's new business ambitions however they don't seem to understand that it is the legacy sim card enabled business that is their cash cow.

If you go to Europe, for most countries Vodafone is the most expensive of the service providers and there are generally more than 4 major players for the user base. Deals are a plenty with each player trying to steal the other's business.

I just wish that Telecom were more dynamic and better at this game than they actually are. It ain't exactly difficult when you already own the PSTN. The Telstra deal does not look attractive to me and my Vodafone 49c to any number in the world is as good as is available for my usage.

[scracha]

Well, I'm sure I'm not the only punter completely underwhelmed by the new plans. $100 for 250 minutes is 40c per min so I'd be just about as well on my 49c prepay plan (not Telecon though...89c...FFS) as I'll have no commitments. Hope they explain the the poor non-tech savvy customers that they'll be getting stung a whopping $500 a farkin gigabyte if they go over their usage allowance.


But of course, as DaveLobster says, the cost of investment here is considerable and the population/geography equation is considered too unfavourable for many overseas companies to invest here,


That low population/geography argument is utter $hite and good old enzed is no different from many other countries.

The whole mobile pricing is seriously fucked up in New Zealand. If we got reasonable plans with say, 2000 minutes instead of pathetic bundles like 120 minutes then we'd actually be making calls on the bloody things instead of getting farkin text messages every 5 minutes.

[Edbear]

Well, I'm sure I'm not the only punter completely underwhelmed by the new plans. $100 for 250 minutes is 40c per min so I'd be just about as well on my 49c prepay plan (not Telecon though...89c...FFS) as I'll have no commitments. Hope they explain the the poor non-tech savvy customers that they'll be getting stung a whopping $500 a farkin gigabyte if they go over their usage allowance.



That low population/geography argument is utter $hite and good old enzed is no different from many other countries.

The whole mobile pricing is seriously fucked up in New Zealand. If we got reasonable plans with say, 2000 minutes instead of pathetic bundles like 120 minutes then we'd actually be making calls on the bloody things instead of getting farkin text messages every 5 minutes.

I'm sure it'll be in the fine print somewhere....

Interesting to hear the third party, 2 Degrees, due to release shortly, say the plans are too expensive. I'm on TelstraClear's residential mobile which is $20pm, 500 free txt/pxt to any network and 29c/min any mobile/landline in NZ, which is not too bad. Got a free Nokia 6275i with it which is an okay phone.

Truth is, the new XT as with 3G is not needed by most mobile users who just want calls and txt/pxt service throughout NZ. CDMA/2G is plenty fast enough and wide enough for this and emailing. It's only transmitting/receiving data files over the internet where the new technology is better. So if you want to browse the net and download files over an expensive medium, use your cellphone and XT/3G networks. Otherwise use your PC/Laptop.

[Pixie]

Mmmmmm........Sooo many suckers

[Edbear]

Mmmmmm........Sooo many suckers

Go on, spill.... You know you want to...<_<

[Grahameeboy]

Well this is supposedly a 1st world country and to conduct business these days, mobile coverage is pretty much essential. So yes, essentially I am forced to buy their shitty products.

NZ is really a 3rd world country as it's main industry is Horticultural.

But you know when I first got here it took me a while to get used to small supermarkets and less choices compared to UK but in the end you realise that you can still buy the same food just in a different package....we do have internet...see my point...

[Morcs]

NZ is really a 3rd world country as it's main industry is Horticultural.

But you know when I first got here it took me a while to get used to small supermarkets and less choices compared to UK but in the end you realise that you can still buy the same food just in a different package....we do have internet...see my point...

Yeah but If you use the internet as an example - when I was last in the UK in 2004, I had a 1Mbps unlimited (no such thing as download limits there!) broadband connection. It cost me 25 quid per month. ($62)

In NZ, 5 years later, ya lucky if you can actually get 1Mbps, and the most expensive plans have a 40gb download limit (Id do 20gb in a week easily), of which you get charged and raped if you go over, for a whole $80 per month, with crappy service too.

5 years behind, and still havent caught up, AND you pay more for the privaledge.

[Marknz]

Timely thread, thanks. I was getting bored of my 'basic' cellphone that will take pictures, call people, and let me tx/rx txts. I had been contemplating upgrading to a 'free' 3G phone on a vodafone broadband plan... now I think I'll just keep what i have and be happy with it.

[Grahameeboy]

Yeah but If you use the internet as an example - when I was last in the UK in 2004, I had a 1Mbps unlimited (no such thing as download limits there!) broadband connection. It cost me 25 quid per month. ($62)

In NZ, 5 years later, ya lucky if you can actually get 1Mbps, and the most expensive plans have a 40gb download limit (Id do 20gb in a week easily), of which you get charged and raped if you go over, for a whole $80 per month, with crappy service too.

5 years behind, and still havent caught up.

Life sucks I guess.....

[mashman]

Vodafone is a global mobile player... the reason it costs so much over here is there's a limited amount of budget for putting in a network as the infrastgructure here is next to non-existent and that drives prices you need to charge your customers.

5 years ago I was moving on to a 20mb home internet plan (uncapped 75 bucks a month), was on a 3g mobile plan which I bought for 100 bucks, 1000 free texts, 500 free minutes and i think it was about 100mb of data... on a month by month contract that cost me 40 bucks a month and calls charges outwith my allowance where 3p per minute, about 1c...

The 10 years prior to that, phones cost 3 times as much, there were no free texts or minutes, plans cost about 3 times as much and call charges where 50p (1.25) per minute peak and 12p (30c) per minute off peak... all to cover the start up costs of that country...

Yes they screw you over here, but the current pricing is start up pricing, you also need to take into account that your nearest 1st world country is about 2000k's away and anywhere else in the world isn't... Ireland is about 20k's from England... so likely you'll have to wear it for another 5 years before you get the betetr end of the deal...

[Trouser]

Startup pricing. Fuck me that a good one. 13 years ago I paid less per off peak minute (27c) and I was on the cheapest plan (no pre pay then). Better coverage then too. I could even get reception at my house!

I bang my head against the wall when people call them "Free minutes/Texts" Does my fucking head in. They are not "Free".

[peasea]

Mmmmmm........Sooo many suckers

C'mon genius draws, what's the guts? Where do YOU get a good deal? We're only mere mortals and are hamstrung by a monopolistic few.

Tell us your secret oh wise one.

[Slicksta]

If your tech savvy use voip on a smart phone skype charges nationwide calls for 10 dollars a month, then all you need is a big data plan. Voip uses 500k per min 1gb plan is 55 so 65 a month for 2000mins on xt, you could do it on a classic 6120 that costs $350

[mctshirt]

Well, I'm sure I'm not the only punter completely underwhelmed by the new plans.

I'm completely, totally, and utterly underwhelmed by the new plans :no:

XT offers me nothing more than I had (in terms of usage) and comes at 3 times the price of the old network. I'm a 3%er (not where you other 97% work and play) and I'm in the market for a new cellphone and provider having tossed my work one back at the boss (weekends and nights are my time) so it's all a bit disappointing after hanging off getting a new one while I waited for XT :angry2:

[Max Preload]

I can even make telephone calls on my mobile :niceone:

That surprises me since it's become all but a secondary function...

[The Pastor]

If your cautious 200MB of data isn't too bad. I've blown my 200MB plan out several times, and ended up going to a 1GB plan.The classic example is when a windows service pack comes out. Windows downloads it in the background. I remember one that was 350MB, and cost me around $1700 in excess data charges (and hence the move to the 1GB plan ...).
there is no way on gods green earth i'd ever pay 1.7k for $350mb.

[Max Preload]

there is no way on gods green earth i'd ever pay 1.7k for $350mb.

1 700 of what? And WTF is a $350 millibit?

[spacemonkey]

I'm curious, how did Voda get on with their lawsuit against telescum to stop the XT going live?

[Slicksta]

I'm curious, how did Voda get on with their lawsuit against telescum to stop the XT going live?

Well they delayed it from the 13th till the 29th that was about it they settled outside court

[The Pastor]

1 700 of what? And WTF is a $350 millibit?
probably its above your level of bandwith on the broadbean.

[Dave Lobster]

I'm curious, how did Voda get on with their lawsuit against telescum to stop the XT going live?

Telecom spent the money (that they'd wanted to save) by putting the filters on in a fecking big hurry.