Why doesn't Vodafone AU allow their locked devices to be used on Vodafone NZ ?

Forums › Vodafone New Zealand, TelstraClear and ihug › Why doesn't Vodafone AU allow their locked devices to be used on Vodafone NZ ?

xlinknz

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Topic # 106716 30-Jul-2012 14:19
Whilst in Australia I purchased a prepaid Vodafone AU USB stick to allow me access to the Internet It is SIM locked [sigh] There is a $100 fee to unlock it, it seems silly that I cannot use it on Vodafone NZ network without paying a unlocking fee Surely it is in Vodafone's interest to have me use it on their network here ?!

ubergeeknz

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Reply # 664001 30-Jul-2012 14:22
xlinknz: Surely it is in Vodafone's interest to have me use it on their network here ?! Not really. Because now you have to either fork out $100 or buy a new stick from VF NZ.

xlinknz

416 posts

Ultimate Geek

Reply # 664009 30-Jul-2012 14:29
ubergeeknz: xlinknz: Surely it is in Vodafone's interest to have me use it on their network here ?! Not really. Because now you have to either fork out $100 or buy a new stick from VF NZ. or buy a 2degrees or Telecom one, by having it open to VFNZ would incentive people to stay with VFNZ for their mobile data needs here

coffeebaron

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Reply # 664025 30-Jul-2012 14:57
Why would a locked phone work on a different network to which it is locked too? Would defeat the purpose of locking the phone. Chorus has spent $1.4 billion on making their ADSL broadband network faster. Why not spend a couple of hundred to make sure you are getting the most out of your connection? Geekzone special price: $150* for master splitter install, normally $200+ through your ISP. Auckland and Waikato areas. *Travel charges may apply. Additional costs may apply for complex installs. I install - Naked DSL, DSL Master Splitters, VoIP, RBI Rural Broadband. Also a dealer for WorldxChange. Need help in Auckland or Waikato? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

NonprayingMantis

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Reply # 664032 30-Jul-2012 15:03
Two possible cases as to the use of a VF stick in NZ 1)Person will buy a VFAU stick and want to use it permanently in NZ. 2)Person will buy a VFAU stick and want to use it occasionally in NZ (when on holiday, business trip etc). By locking it to VFAU they make it more likely the customer will use roaming rather than a NZ SIM which makes them more money. Unlocking it might open up the revenue stream from the first case (moving to NZ) but would reduce the revenue stream from the second case

ubergeeknz

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Reply # 664045 30-Jul-2012 15:30
Also VFAU couldn't care less whether you switch to VFNZ or any other NZ carrier :) Nobody there would have any incentive for such things.

old3eyes

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Reply # 664083 30-Jul-2012 16:50
I got cought the same way a couple of years ago when i bought a cheap fone from VodaAU to replace my NZ one that refused to roam. The unlock cost more that the fone did. When i got back i found the same fone here on Voda NZ for the same price unlocked.. Regards, Old3eyes

ferg_nz

140 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 664086 30-Jul-2012 16:52
one option is http://www.dc-unlocker.com/ i used them to unlock a Pocket Wifi I got while over in aussie and now use it here. it does cost and there is a little bit of mucking around but it will be cheaper than the $100 that VFAU are after.

sbiddle

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Reply # 664108 30-Jul-2012 17:19
You purchased a prodict at a subsidised price so Vodafone AU want to recover that costl The fact you want to use it on Vodafone NZ is a moot point - Vodafone AU simply want to recover the subsidised cost of the device you purchased. *Need help configuring your Linksys ATA or IP Phones for New Zealand? Check my blog post

ajobbins

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Reply # 664118 30-Jul-2012 17:31
It's only $75 to unlock online via vodafone.com.au/unlock (They discount $25 if you do it online) Goes down to $25 after 6 months. Some devices are free to unlock tho. Pays to check the site and put the device IMEI in and it will tell if you if there is a fee or not. I picked up a couple of SIM locked Nokia 1616's from Vodafone last week for $15 each. They were actually free to unlock. 3 minutes on the website and I had 2 unlocked phones that cost me $30. Twitter: ajobbins

pwner

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Reply # 664122 30-Jul-2012 17:39
The main point here is that while Vodafone AU and Vodafone NZ are both parth of Vodafone group they are run as seperate companies. Like sbiddle said, Vodafone AU is supplying the subsidy for the handset knowing that if you use it on the Vodafone AU network they will make this money back over time. if you take this handset and use it on Vodafone NZ then Vodafone NZ makes the money off you not Vodafone AU and so Vodafone AU is out of pocket for the amount of the subsidy. Vodafone NZ don't really care as they didn't subsidise you and they still made money off you, even though they may have made more if you purchased the handset from them in the first place. The only way this could really work is if Vodafone Group acted like a single company treating all customers from all countries the same way, which is more like how Skype and the OTT players do it. The problem with this is it becomes harder to have market specific pricing etc. Any posts are personal comments and not that of my employer

old3eyes

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Reply # 664154 30-Jul-2012 18:58
Well in my case above after exchange rates they were the same price in NZ as the so called subsidized price in Ozz.. Regards, Old3eyes