Buying a phone overseas - will it work in NZ?

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Blakey

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#5259 13-Oct-2005 11:42

Friend of mine is off to the states and was considering buying the K750i in NZ but can get it cheaper while he is away - however as the countries have different service providers - when he comes back home I presume the phone will not work due to the reason above. However can it be 'unlocked' to work on the Vodafone network in NZ?

Cheers for the advice in advance.

chiefie

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#21463 13-Oct-2005 11:50

if it is a GSM phone (a.k.a Vodafone friendly with SIM cards) then it's 50% possible.

you will also need to check to see if the phone is sim-lock to the local network or not, if it is locked, get them to unlock it first (which may be ok, some will require you to pay for the unlocking service because the phone is subsidised so much that it is cheap, but locked to their home network) or pay someone else to unlock it "unofficially"..

then you will need to consider whether you want to use Vodafone NZ's services like Vodafone NZ Live! or Live 3G services. IF this is not too much of an issue for you, then that's good. otherwise, Vodafone NZ won't support the configuration for your non-NZ phones for Vodafone NZ Live! services.

then you will need to check and see, if you can figure out the GPRS/PXT/WAP settings, or if your model is supported via Vodafone NZ Wireless OTA setup, then you have an easier option.

Given all that, you have 80% of being a satisfied imported phone user on Vodafone NZ network.

IF you are looking at getting CDMA phones into NZ and use on Telecom NZ? forget it... that will never happen... (turn back!)

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Blakey

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#21464 13-Oct-2005 11:58

Gees it is relatively fraught with dangers huh. Is this how people on trademe go about things when they bring phones from Asia etc into NZ?

chiefie

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#21465 13-Oct-2005 12:07

yup!! cheap deal doesn't always mean good deal in long run. unless you know what you need to do about it.

personally I would go ahead getting it IF i know what to do to get it working well in NZ.. otherwise I rather get it in NZ albeit it's more expensive, but in defence, I get support from Vodafone NZ if anything goes custard.

I would get any 3G devices from Vodafone NZ because you will expect the supports and services from Vodafone NZ's 3G services...

BUT if you only want the phones and won't worry too much about majority of other bells and whistles, then get it from overseas, just don't complaint to Vodafone NZ or anyone else if they don't supports services that you think it will work, in Vodafone NZ's network. hehe

Curiosly, what phone are you looking at getting from overseas?

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Blakey

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#21468 13-Oct-2005 12:35

Yeah I know what your saying - pretty on the ball really.

My friend is looking to get the same phone as myself - K750i.

Great phone in my opinion.

sbiddle

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#21470 13-Oct-2005 15:43

Probably the best compromise if to buy a phone from Vodafone Australia. You win both ways - you get a phone with Vodafone firmware in it which means you can fully access Vodafone Live! and if you shop around you should be able to get most phones for probably 15% less than in NZ, remembering you also can get your GST back as well for goods leaving Australia.

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#21472 13-Oct-2005 16:36

I remember reading in one of the posts here that even VF Aus phones may not be able to access the VF NZ live! content for 3G...

chiefie

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#21478 13-Oct-2005 17:02

i remember reading that too. and i think the poster actually had VFAU's phone too..

I can understand if VFNZ only allowed NZ sold phones to access its Live! 3G services though. :-) As i would too, to protect the exclusiveness to the products and services offered in that country.

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#21505 14-Oct-2005 09:58

chiefie: i remember reading that too. and i think the poster actually had VFAU's phone too..

I can understand if VFNZ only allowed NZ sold phones to access its Live! 3G services though. :-) As i would too, to protect the exclusiveness to the products and services offered in that country.

Its more the copywrite laws they're protecting.

Phones in OZ are not always as cheap as you think.. the claiming back of the GST does help though :)

jesseycy

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#21553 15-Oct-2005 01:40

Yes they are!!!!

I brought in about 10 SE J200is.. Brand New... They were selling for $99 brand new, with a $20 prepay connection packed. All Vodafone phones in Aus are not locked....

Sold them for $140 each in NZ! That's $400 in one round, free ticket, woohoo!!!

Cheap phones are cheap in Aus... High end phones, get them from Asia if you are knowledgable, you can get about 20% less....

P.S. They're still selling the J200i in Aus for $99....