Telecom Prepaid best choice?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom Prepaid best choice?

backinnz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#39833 20-Aug-2009 06:42

Coming back to NZ on the weekend for 2+ weeks. Seems like the 3G network is a ton better than when I left in 2005!

We're going to be on the south island, driving from Christchurch down to Invercargill and then up the west coast back to CHCH. Will be wanting it primarily for email, Google maps with the GPS, and a little web surfing here and there.

My Nokia E71 is UMTS 850/1900 so seems like I'll have the main 850 network just not the 2100 overflow one. That should be fine, right?

Do I have to go to a Telecom store to buy a prepaid SIM or can I just pick up a pack somewhere? Are they sold everywhere?? Could I get one in the International terminal in the Auckland Airport while we're waiting for the connection to CHCH? (The connection is in the int'l terminal - go through customs in CHCH).

Also then do I just call up and order the 240MB "data extra"?

Anything else I need to be aware of?

Cheers!

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#248883 20-Aug-2009 06:57

backinnz: Coming back to NZ on the weekend for 2+ weeks. Seems like the 3G network is a ton better than when I left in 2005!

We're going to be on the south island, driving from Christchurch down to Invercargill and then up the west coast back to CHCH. Will be wanting it primarily for email, Google maps with the GPS, and a little web surfing here and there.

My Nokia E71 is UMTS 850/1900 so seems like I'll have the main 850 network just not the 2100 overflow one. That should be fine, right?

Do I have to go to a Telecom store to buy a prepaid SIM or can I just pick up a pack somewhere? Are they sold everywhere?? Could I get one in the International terminal in the Auckland Airport while we're waiting for the connection to CHCH? (The connection is in the int'l terminal - go through customs in CHCH).

Also then do I just call up and order the 240MB "data extra"?

Anything else I need to be aware of?

Cheers!

As long as the phone is not SIM locked then the phone SHOULD work fine

If it is 850 then XT is the network that will give you the best 3G coverage travelling the South Island (I don't even think johnr will disagree here...

You can add the 240mb data by calling *123 or visiting a Telecom store

In terms of getting the sim as convieniently as possible, there is a Telecom kiosk in the international terminal in Aukland airport, I assume they hve sim cards. Otherwise DSE, bond and bond etc have them

Hope this helps!

backinnz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#248897 20-Aug-2009 08:02

Sweet, thanks.

Yep the phone was purchased unlocked so no worries there.

Cheers

muncher12

90 posts

Master Geek

#248913 20-Aug-2009 08:48

i think your better of going into a telecom store to get your sim card becuase you might be able to find a staff member to change all your settings and apns for you so your internet will work :)

backinnz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#248916 20-Aug-2009 08:57

Good point but I'm hoping I can handle it myself. Is the data here http://www.geekzone.co.nz/NealR/6498 all correct?

What's the difference between TelecomContent and TelecomData? Is Content cached via a proxy and Data isn't? I didn't really understand this link http://www.geekzone.co.nz/NealR/6460

Do I even need the top half of that or just the "for smartphones" part?

backinnz

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#248923 20-Aug-2009 09:16

Think I asked that question too quick...

I use internet.telecom for my email/websurfing/etc and I use wap.telecom for just the portal and mms, right?

Thanks!

Paulthagerous

698 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#248946 20-Aug-2009 10:28

If NealR says those are the correct settings then I would bet money they are. They look right to me based on my exposure to them.