Red Network and access to Telecom's 0161 Toll call service

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › Red Network and access to Telecom's 0161 Toll call service

crazyv

12 posts

Geek

#30471 9-Feb-2009 21:58

Hi All,

Just wondering if anyone out there is on the Red Network and using Telecom's 0161 toll call service? Or if this is possible?

I called Vodafone just before, the CSR says "No" - I would like to just double check (one can never be too confident of these things)

On Vodafone's website it does give mention of the 0161's usability but I am not sure if it applies when on the "Red Network" or just having the phone line with Vodafone (I am currently on the latter)

I am currently not on the "Red Network" and am able to use the 0161 service. I am scheduled to be moved over (to "Red Network") soon but need to check that I will still have access to Telecom's 0161 service.

Thanks for shedding any light on this...

manhinli

2483 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#194999 9-Feb-2009 22:14

0161 is a Telecom short code.

The Red network does not run on Telecom Wholesale (naturally) so therefore you will lose access to Telecom short codes.

Find me on Twitter!

I posted 1, 2 x 10^3 times!

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#195001 9-Feb-2009 22:15

The reason you are able to access Telecom 0161 calls via your current setup is because Vodafone is reselling a phone line provided by Telecom Wholesale. All toll calls are re-routed from Telecom's network to Vodafone unless you dial a Telecom-specific override code such as 0159 or 0161. Local Calls and special numbers such as 123 or 018 are also carried via Telecom's network.

Once you are switched to the Red Network however, your phone calls will never go near Telecom's network because Vodafone are reselling a pair of copper wires provided by Telecom's Chorus business unit. So, it will not be possible for 0161 calls to work.

There are many other benefits of the Red Network, so I would recommend switching to a low-cost VoIP provider or using Skype. It will most likely be even cheaper than using Telecom 0161.

crazyv

12 posts

Geek

#195002 9-Feb-2009 22:19

Thanks again manhinli, grant_k - does make good sense now

Cheers.

richms

28191 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#195024 10-Feb-2009 00:54

Can someone explain to me why telecom are required to allow you to use any toll provider you like, and even set them as defaults, yet when you are on another network you lose all such selections and are stuck with the one that is bundled with the line?

Surely that is anti compeditive and should be regulated, or does it not matter since it is not telecom? orcon+ have a $3.95 cap for one hour to aussie - whereas others have a lower cap for 2 hours so really if you go on orcon+ you are screwed and have no easy way to get out of it.

Ihug have $1.24 to mexico, telecom on 0161 have 20c - 2talk on voip are 15c - really this is not made clear to people before signing to these unbundled networks that they are losing choise and are at the ransom of the unbundled telco.

Richard rich.ms

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
79306 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#195040 10-Feb-2009 06:58

richms: Can someone explain to me why telecom are required to allow you to use any toll provider you like, and even set them as defaults, yet when you are on another network you lose all such selections and are stuck with the one that is bundled with the line?

True, true. The nature of the beast. Any monopoly is bad unless it is my monopoly...

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#195048 10-Feb-2009 07:58

The reason this happens is simply that other toll providers don't seem interested in negotiating coded or non coded access via telco's other than Telecom.

I'm not aware of any other telco providing access via TCL's phone network in Wgtn/Kapiti & Chch despite this being in use for well over 10 years now. TCL haven't prevented this - it's just that other providers haven't bothered to negotiate deals with TCL.

The whole market for coded and non coded access is very small anyway which probably explains why these companies haven't bothered - they are far better focussing on the calling card market where you don't have to worry about billing customers and dealing with credit issues.

Those of us who know about VoIP realise that it offers far better value for money anyway.

crazyv

12 posts

Geek

#195070 10-Feb-2009 09:41

grant_k:
Once you are switched to the Red Network however, your phone calls will never go near Telecom's network because Vodafone are reselling a pair of copper wires provided by Telecom's Chorus business unit. So, it will not be possible for 0161 calls to work.

Would the Line Rental also be billed by Vodafone if on the "Red Network" ?

grant_k:
There are many other benefits of the Red Network

Just wondering other than the benefits increased speed (ADSL2+) & better line status/management by Vodafone & Vodafone phone plans - is there any other benefits of the Red Network that is being referred to by above quote?

Sharesies

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

jesseycy

294 posts

Ultimate Geek

#195072 10-Feb-2009 09:47

On a related note....

If you wish to use Telecom's overseas calling services, as I did when I "left" Telecom, maybe you can consider signing up for their Easycall calling card. Same rates I believe as 0161, and easycall's online facility allows you to "affix" 3 numbers you'll call from, so you can avoid the pain of inputting the pin number everytime...

I would think also, that ISPs are not making agreements for coded access, simply because having cheap overseas calls on a network would be one of their selling points... My gf didn't choose to leave Telecom for Vodafone simply because she loved her 0161 service, and Vodafone doesn't provide any "broadband only" plans now.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#195178 10-Feb-2009 20:04

crazyv:
grant_k:
Once you are switched to the Red Network however, your phone calls will never go near Telecom's network because Vodafone are reselling a pair of copper wires provided by Telecom's Chorus business unit. So, it will not be possible for 0161 calls to work.

Would the Line Rental also be billed by Vodafone if on the "Red Network" ?

Yes, everything on the Red Network is billed directly by Vodafone who then pass on their payment for the Copper Wires to Chorus.

crazyv:
grant_k:
There are many other benefits of the Red Network

Just wondering other than the benefits increased speed (ADSL2+) & better line status/management by Vodafone & Vodafone phone plans - is there any other benefits of the Red Network that is being referred to by above quote?

What I was driving at here is the value for money offered by some of the plans Vodafone was offering as "sweeteners" to sign up. During the promotional period after our local exchange was unbundled, I had a Vodafone Rep. come to my door offering a 20GB Full-Speed Broadband Plan with Phone Service and Unlimited National Calls for $90 per month. At the time (June last year) that was a deal which couldn't be matched by any of Telecom's offerings.

Without consulting the excellent resources offered by NZConnections.net, I don't know whether this comparison still applies, but at the time, when I was looking to leave Xnet, it was a very tempting offer. The reason I decided against it in the end, was because I wanted a Naked DSL plan which Vodafone didn't (and still don't) offer. Orcon were offering a Naked DSL plan at that time, but were having well-publicised problems with International Bandwidth.

Again, my perception of the relative merits of the Red Network vs. a Telecom Wholesale connection is possibly out-of-date, but it is certainly worth going through the exercise to determine which network will be best in any given situation.