2degrees wireless net?

[Winston001]

You can use a mobile phone to do the job of a usb modem for a PC, by tethering it to the computer as well.

Excellent point. I'd never tried it which is why I bought a t-stick but now having upgraded to an XT phone, decided to plug it in. Immediately the laptop spotted there was a modem available. And it works. I had previously understood tethering was difficult, maybe thats a GSM thing?

So...in some ways I wasted $129 buying the stick because I can use my phone instead. Of course I'd have to buy data which isn't cheap but since its only for occasional use, that would have worked out. No harm having two devices.

[SMOKEU]

Hey guys, thanks so much for the help, this noob is starting to understand

I have seen these android phones for sale at Countdown for around $200, LG brand from memory and they are 2degrees also, are these good to go for if I went down the android option? or am I much better off going to Dickhead Smith or Hard-on Norman and buying something from their range. I not into the flashie stuff so a bottom market phone is for me and something thats cheap too!

Cheers peeps

Find out what model they are. I have an LG P500 which is the best phone around for the price (find another phone for that price with 512MB of RAM). The only problems are that the screen is a little small and the official LG Gingerbread update is buggy.

[kneescraper]

I went into the 2degress shop today and asked about the USB stick and phones, I think it would be best to go for a phone rather than a stick modem. Im not sure I quite understand the data plans but I think I would use no more than 2 GB a month and I want a easy to use phone that wont get damaged when its put in my tool box at work so maybe a flip or slide phone would be best?

[Captain_Salty]

AFAIK - 2degrees doesn't have it's own network covering Gisborne yet, so they piggyback off of vodafone
This means those cheap prepay data packs (eg $20 a Gig) can't be used there
You could still use their standard national prepay Data Packs but they're 5 times more expensive

- If you bought a phone on a plan there will be some data with it but probably not a lot

- I don't think telecom or vodafone are any cheaper


I could be wrong about all of this

[thecharmed01]

Be wary also, as while 2Deg is cheap for prepay packs, they have the most expensive casual rate, so if you go over, or miss your renewal date you can easily chew through a truckload of data FAST.
Also, be wary of the sites they claim are 'free' to visit as 2Deg have ridiculous conditions.
Such as they advertise FB as free, BUT you have to use a browser only and the 0.facebook site. Else it costs but they don't tell you that anywhere, and it takes speaking to more than 3 customer service staff to figure it out lol

Whereas VF and XT both offer free bookface and it is irrelevant how you use it. Apps to use FB are fine and still free - it doesn't come off your limit. I have 3g a month on VF and I barely use any as I use a lot of FB, tethered to the iPad, or on my phone and it's all freeeeeeeeeee. LOL

VF have the cheapest casual data rate of all networks...

[iYRe]

VF have the cheapest casual data rate of all networks...

and 1GB addon for $20 iirc..
If you're using that much.. get a life :P