Ditching your landline and going 100% mobile

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Ditching your landline and going 100% mobile

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#4611 10-Aug-2005 12:01

mentioned in another thread.

Jetstream 1GB 256kbit $40
Phoneline $40 (?)
Mob Data Connection $50
Call Minder $10

Total = $140

So.... if you already use mobile data (to the tune of around fifty bucks or more), and have basic j/s, a homeline & call minder, you could dump it all in favour of a 3G card at $149 for a GB. Your speed will be about the same, you will be totally mobile too.

(But you will be unable to use Skype)

So its doable right now, on Vodafone, and maybe Telecom soon if they match price.

I would be keen to do it if my employer didnt pay my entire phone bill.

1 | 2

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#17909 10-Aug-2005 12:05

to clarify though, we hardly ever use the landline for voice (normally only when i cant find the cellphone). so it would be a very easy switch for us. we wouldnt even bother with an 0800 #.

mike

307 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#17910 10-Aug-2005 12:31

I could go mobile from early next year but the 1GB limit bugs me right now.

If you read voda's fair use policy is says they consider anything over 1GB excessive use and basically don't want you. I'm not sure I could manage within 1GB for my primary connection.

Skype would be most useful but if that's a no-no? And what about IM and voice calls through the likes of MSN, etc?

Interesting times, I've always enjoyed the stories (mainly from the US) of people selling-up and buying a giant RV (think ned flanders/john daily) and living on the road totally mobile.

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#17913 10-Aug-2005 12:50

I think the typical 'early adopters' here in NZ are capable of making the change now.

Perhaps in only 12 - 18 months it will be feasible for Joe Bloggs average non-geek kiwi to do it to? (in terms of data allowance, speed etc)

alasta

6706 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#17922 10-Aug-2005 13:34

Like you, I never use a landline for voice, but I don't currently use mobile data either, so your assumption of already spending $50 would be a problem for me. The 1Gb cap is also possibly a bit lean for my liking.

I can see you point, though, and I will continue to reassess the options as the pricing and services improve.

Pernod

52 posts

Master Geek

#18078 11-Aug-2005 17:34

We switched to being completly mobile about a year ago. With only 2 of us in the house and both working longish hours, no one ever bothered calling us on anything but our mobiles anyway!

Have been running Woosh (downtown Auckland), but with the speed difference between Woosh (below average coverage at home) and 3G (full Vodafone 3g coverage) i'm looking forward to switching back to Vodafone :-)

Also the advantage of roaming anywhere will ba a great advantage - just finishing off my car pc so will be able to hook that to the net wherever we may be!

I feel like a kid at christmas whos just had his training wheels take off!

Back on topic - The totally mobile switch saved us a heap as we were paying for the mobiles anyway, plus $45 for the landline!

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#18081 11-Aug-2005 18:05

Great to hear that people are already doing this :-)

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#18083 11-Aug-2005 18:16

I must be losing the plot I am sure I put a post in this thread!

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
8476 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#18087 11-Aug-2005 18:29

johnr: I must be losing the plot I am sure I put a post in this thread!

All that travelling John!! And maybe radiation sickness from all the geek gadgets with RF signals...

paradoxsm

3000 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#18124 11-Aug-2005 21:28

I currently use 3 systems and an happy and cheaply I ditched the landline..

Telecom 027 Mobile on 200 free off peak minutes plan for calling other mobiles.
Telecom 027 Mobile with $10 TXT cap for the txts I send.
A devoiusly setup 0800 number ported to an international prepaid calling card from all my mobile -> landline based calls which cost me a paltry 7c a minute anytime.

Woosh modem handles my internet. (portable TD-UMTS wireless network)

I do temp work mostly (due to much higher wage and flexibility) so need the ability to cheaply move around. So far it works perfectly. When Telecom reduces the data rates, I'll hopefully start using SKYPE on my (replacement) harrier :-D

destroy_the_right_wing

19 posts

Geek
Inactive user

#18502 16-Aug-2005 20:57

One GB data limit is PATHETIC.
Why can't this country get up with the play.
$140 for one GB you have to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I use and pay for Ihugs unlimited even though I am entitled to fre xtra jetstream.
Yeh it is only 256kbps, but it is unlimited, and the most xtra offer is 10GB even that is pathetic.

so my point is.................

Mobile> no way, not yet, can't even get a decent data allowance from telecom.
I only have my landline so I can use ADSL
ah this country sucks..........

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#18509 16-Aug-2005 21:15

destroy_the_right_wing: $140 for one GB you have to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not really. 1GB on mobile data is a lot. I don't think people can really replace a last mile solution like copper (for DSL) that is already established and paid for. Cellular technology is relatively new and there are costs associated with it.

I don't expect to see people downloading ISO images of Linux installations through a mobile connection - unless we are talking about Woosh, or a WiMax solution - these ones really targeting the last mile market.

cokemaster

Exited
4929 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#18518 16-Aug-2005 22:33

I use Motormonth on account for all of my cell calls (even the rare 027 ones which I avoid due to the cost)... and use a free landline here (toll barred) for local landline calls.

Internet-wise we use building internet capped at 128kbps which is a direct connection (from the building) via fibre to inspire who is just opposite us at the square in PN.

I'd like to shift most of the calling over to the cell, however most of the calls happen during the day (knocking out Off peak Nights and weekends) and I also use text messaging a lot (which makes the mobilise? plans not as nice).

Motormouth is ok... but I'd would really like the ability to use included minutes for landline calls - I wouldn't mind paying a wee bit extra either.

webhosting

Loose lips may sink ships - Be smart - Don't post internal/commercially sensitive or confidential information!

paradoxsm

3000 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#18540 17-Aug-2005 00:30

That's the only nasty pill about the motormouth plan, not including in the free minutes to landlines.

Does anyone know of any Prepaid calling cards that work form a mobile phone without surcharges?

I used to have Gotalk but they changed their rules.
"yabba" works for international calls at the advertised rates from 027 only
"cellcalls" is defunct.
And what's that 1CellNet we hard so much hype about last year???
looks like they finally curled up their toes and passed away. the site no longer works but i did discover
http://www.cellwireless.com/
Can anyone eleborate?? has anyone used it?

taniwha

961 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#18556 17-Aug-2005 10:41

add in some cafenet wifi.. and free WIX traffic account.
(my work is on the wix, so i get free traffic back to the office) you can get faster than 3G traffic from pretty much anywhere in the city.

if only geekzone was wix traffic :-)

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79296 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#18558 17-Aug-2005 10:54

taniwha: if only geekzone was wix traffic :-)

Hmmm... Not sure. Geekzone is hosted in one of the ICONZ datacentres in Auckland. ICONZ is part of the WIX, it should be ok for you.

1 | 2