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Telecom New Zealand: BlackBerry and more Windows Mobile to come in 2008

By Mauricio Freitas, in , posted: 13-DEC-2007 16:59

I am just now back from a media lunch with Telecom New Zealand's Greg McAlister (GM Business Solutions), David Craig (GM Consumer Marketing), Rebecca Earl and Katherine Murphy (both from their PR team).

Before lunch (at the Wellington's famous Logan Brown) we had a brief review of Telecom's performance during 2007. Then we had a few bits of news (and I will quote from my notes):

- The Okta Touch is the fastest selling Windows Mobile device on Telecom ever - with about three times more sales than originally expected.

- The voicemail migration should be completed by January 2008 - a long project, which I remember being involved during early planning stages while working for Unisys New Zealand, until now provider of the Telecom VSP (voice platform).

- The Worldmode service will have some new handsets. If you don't know, "worldmode" are those handsets that can be used on the existing CDMA network and on overseas GSM/3G networks (and by the end of 2008 on the new Telecom network replacing the CDMA EVDO technology).

- Data roaming is coming for Worldmode so that you don't have to use CDMA only - and stuck in countries where there's no CDMA providers.

- The Okta Mondo should be announced next week, the second Worldmode handset from Telecom New Zealand.

- The LG Groove is coming next month - a media-oriented handset with special media keys (it reminds me of those MP3 players) and built-in FM transmitter.

- Telecom New Zealand is working on launching a Worldmode BlackBerry handset. Initially they are working on testing internally at Gen-i, but soon with external clients.

- They are working on a Samsung Blackjack Windows Mobile device codenamed Albero, also to be a Worldmode handset, due to release sometime near the end of Q1 2008.

- A free security software is coming for Yahoo!Xtra (Bubble) users.

- More broadband business plans are coming in addition to currently existing residential plans.

- Telecom New Zealand will move into the business services during 2008 including hosted applications.

In summary, as Greg McAlister said:


Embracing the new opportunities and looking forward to operating as a service provider in the new environment


It seems everyone there is quite happy with Telecom's new CEO, Paul Reynolds. Good luck in 2008...

Other related posts:
What about the iPhone 4 3G coverage in New Zealand?
iPad 3G coverage in New Zealand: the big picture
Hell Pizza Hell: database security was lacking?


 





Comment by Hoosein, on 13-DEC-2007 17:47

Sounds interesting...Still waiting for Telecom to come out with a PDA/Smartphone with gps navigation.


Comment by mobygeek, on 13-DEC-2007 20:21

I was going to find a way to discreetly ask you about your knowledge of the blackberry, as I remember your post on keeping confidentiality!  I will have to bypass wanting the Touch and go for the Blackberry.  Touch and Go - get it?


Comment by HamishMacEwan, on 27-DEC-2007 10:10

The voicemail migration should be completed by January 2008

Interesting, from where to where?  Is it a platform, software, hosting or vendor migration?

In any case, nice to not even know it was occuring, what Xtra cannot, it appears traditional PSTN can.  


Author's note by freitasm, on 28-DEC-2007 10:17

Hamish, the Telecom voice mail system runs on the VSP, a voice platform based in Hamilton and managed by Unisys New Zealand.

The system runs on four mainframes with full redundancy and automatic failover. Actually during one of the years I worked with the team we had 100% uptime on that platform.

Thy are moving to a different provider - a project that's been going on for a few years - unlike Vodafone New Zealand's "pit stop" Telecom projects were always transparent for the public...


Comment by Raewyn, on 13-MAY-2008 19:12

Can anyone tell me if a comparison of Vodafone and Telecom Blackberry's, especially roaming with them exists???? Thanks


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Mauricio Freitas
Wellington
New Zealand


I live in New Zealand and my interests include mobile devices, good books, movies and food of course! 

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