Smart phone purchase or rental?

[jmmk]

Where can a guy buy or rent a smart phone for about 2 months there? Coming to bike tour for about 2 months in early Nov. and would prefer smart phone cause of GPS and other apps to easier find motels, banks, gas stations etc. Should add I will be starting out from Wellington.

[The Singing Chef]

Where can a guy buy or rent a smart phone for about 2 months there? Coming to bike tour for about 2 months in early Nov. and would prefer smart phone cause of GPS and other apps to easier find motels, banks, gas stations etc. Should add I will be starting out from Wellington.

You can get a cheap Android with Gps and all the bells and whistles for $250 from 2degrees www.2degreesmobile.co.nz don't know about renting one though?

[The Singing Chef]

https://www.2degreesmobile.co.nz/sho...3&productId=73

[davereid]

If you have a 3g android GSM phone, just bring it with you. Stick a $5 2degrees sim card in it, add $20 credit and you are up and running.

[jmmk]

If you have a 3g android GSM phone, just bring it with you. Stick a $5 2degrees sim card in it, add $20 credit and you are up and running.

You can get a cheap Android with Gps and all the bells and whistles for $250 from 2degrees www.2degreesmobile.co.nz don't know about renting one though?

Thanks for that. I need a phone there as I don't have a smart phone here. I will be touring every part of both islands and wondering how is they're coverage?

[Maha]

...just email a number of shops in the ''Wellington Region'' and ask

[Paul in NZ]

Its a very small country and we dont have many roads - a small map will be fine.

[HenryDorsetCase]

bring your own (unlocked) phone, buy a local SIM when you're here. 2 degrees are the cheapest, but not sure about their coverage. Be prepared for anal bleeding when you work out what its costing you cf the UK or anywhere else in the world, even if you do the 2 degrees thing.

[Metastable]

This is what I did. Buy an unlocked phone of your choice in Canada. You can get them at various places, Tiger Direct.ca is one of them. Then when you get to NZ, you can stop by a Vodafone shop and get a paid plan. Tell them you will be calling Canada.... the one I got actually has pretty cheap rates for calling to Canada as long as you are calling a land line. If you call a cell it is expensive. There is a Vodafone shop just on the outskirts of the airport in Auckland.... along with a grocery store and an ATM. Remember to get a bank account in Canada set up that doesn't charge you an arm and a leg to do ATM withdrawals.

EDIT->
BTW - I forgot to mention, make sure it is a phone that works in New Zealand. Most should... if it is a Quad Band GSM phone you are good. Also, I never used a GPS. Basically it New Zealand any town you will find everything in the centre of town down the main strip..... unless it is a bigger city. However, I never had problems finding grocery stores etc. I do suggest you grab a North and South Island Map, plus a regional map for well, all the regions you go to. I did order an Illustrated New Zealand Travel Atlas from AA and got it shipped to Canada before I went over, but it is not necessary. THere are a ton of maps at any touristy area or tourist information location. But if you want GPS, just get a phone in Canada and load the maps for New Zealand before you go.

One more thing -> make sure you read up on the New Zealand "Right of Way" rules... they are a touch different than anywhere else in the world.

[jmmk]

...just email a number of shops in the ''Wellington Region'' and ask

Haha man you is funny.

[jmmk]

This is what I did. Buy an unlocked phone of your choice in Canada. You can get them at various places, Tiger Direct.ca is one of them. Then when you get to NZ, you can stop by a Vodafone shop and get a paid plan. Tell them you will be calling Canada.... the one I got actually has pretty cheap rates for calling to Canada as long as you are calling a land line. If you call a cell it is expensive. There is a Vodafone shop just on the outskirts of the airport in Auckland.... along with a grocery store and an ATM. Remember to get a bank account in Canada set up that doesn't charge you an arm and a leg to do ATM withdrawals.

EDIT->
BTW - I forgot to mention, make sure it is a phone that works in New Zealand. Most should... if it is a Quad Band GSM phone you are good. Also, I never used a GPS. Basically it New Zealand any town you will find everything in the centre of town down the main strip..... unless it is a bigger city. However, I never had problems finding grocery stores etc. I do suggest you grab a North and South Island Map, plus a regional map for well, all the regions you go to. I did order an Illustrated New Zealand Travel Atlas from AA and got it shipped to Canada before I went over, but it is not necessary. THere are a ton of maps at any touristy area or tourist information location. But if you want GPS, just get a phone in Canada and load the maps for New Zealand before you go.

One more thing -> make sure you read up on the New Zealand "Right of Way" rules... they are a touch different than anywhere else in the world.

My plan is to get smart phone there just for gps and easily pull up lists for motels, gas stations,banks etc.. and to make calls within New Zealand to book rooms or call a shop or tow company if I have problems on the road. I don't need it to call back here or anything. Then when gone some lucky soul will get a free phone from me, Possibly one of the great guys that have been so kind to give their honest opinions in this thread or the other one I started.

[Hawkeye]

Get yourself a LG Optimus P500 from www.n1wireless.com.

They supply unlocked phones that work on both 2-degrees and Vodafone here in NZ.

The P500 is one of the most popular smart phones in NZ and can be off-loaded very quickly again if you aren't bothered about hanging on to it once your finished here.

I got a P500 from these guys a few months ago at a fraction of the cost it was going to cost me in NZ and was extremely pleased with the service I got from them.
(Just allow enough time for delivery - but as they are in the states, it shouldn't be an issue).

[The Singing Chef]

I have heard that the coverage is pretty good for 2Degrees, it should be somewhere on their site i would think.

The only thing i find with these android phones is their battery life, especially if you have gps activated all the time. What i find easiest to do is got to:

Settings,
Applications,
Manage Applications,
Running,
and then tap on each application that you don't need and do a "force stop"

Also to turn off GPS and Wireless etc... just go into the wireless & networks option and tap on them to turn them off.

If you are going to be making extensive rides i would also advise you to buy one of those portable phone chargers that i think are available from Dick Smiths or any other electronics retailer.

Anyway, best of luck for finding a phone!! and have a great ride hope to see you on the roads!!

[Bassmatt]

Then when gone some lucky soul will get a free phone from me, Possibly one of the great guys that have been so kind to give their honest opinions in this thread or the other one I started.

Cheers bro, PM me when you finish your trip.

[jmmk]

I have heard that the coverage is pretty good for 2Degrees, it should be somewhere on their site i would think.

The only thing i find with these android phones is their battery life, especially if you have gps activated all the time. What i find easiest to do is got to:

Settings,
Applications,
Manage Applications,
Running,
and then tap on each application that you don't need and do a "force stop"

Also to turn off GPS and Wireless etc... just go into the wireless & networks option and tap on them to turn them off.

If you are going to be making extensive rides i would also advise you to buy one of those portable phone chargers that i think are available from Dick Smiths or any other electronics retailer.

Anyway, best of luck for finding a phone!! and have a great ride hope to see you on the roads!!

Thank You
Good stuff to know as I haven't owned a smart phone yet.