please help Mr UK understand about vodafone 3g broadband!

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › please help Mr UK understand about vodafone 3g broadband!

pukkapunto

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#9933 25-Oct-2006 07:07

hi all, im coming to Auckland in January and im pretty upset about the internet situation in NZ :( all expensive and limited! WTF
well gutted as im used to leaving my PC on 24/7 downloading!

but anyway im looking into the vodafone 3g broadband packages.
but i need to know a few things:

i use bittorrent quite a bit will i still be able to use that ok on vodafone 3g? i know a lot of ISP's are getting wise to
P2P software.

can you use VOIP software on it as i want to talk over MSN or Skype to mates in the UK

is the sim card you get different type to a phone sim, heard somthing about needing a data sim??

and is this type of connection better than a landline type connection?

any help would be great.
cheers
Rick

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#49582 25-Oct-2006 07:28

Vodafone Broad band is covered on the vodafone.co.nz website

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/hsdpa/maps.jsp

Sounds like it would not be the best option if you are downloading 24/7

Vodafone BB is HSDPA you have it in the UK

pukkapunto

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

#49583 25-Oct-2006 08:17

yeah i know we have it in the UK but im not buying the modem over here just incase the modems locked or somthing, or connecting up for a couple of months just to try it and i dont know anyone here with it either.
ill have to cut down on my usage anyway i know that! - im hoping theres more to outdoor life in NZ than there is in the UK!

still need to know about these tho:

the vodafone.nz website doesnt say if it will handle P2P on 3g network
or if it handles VOIP (msn voice or skype) programs.

thanks if anyone knows.

alasta

6706 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#49584 25-Oct-2006 08:25

I agree with Johnr. I am currently using 3G Broadband and it's a great service, but if you're performing regular heavy downloads then it's not for you. If you go beyond the 2Gb allowance, the excess traffic charges are enormous.

grant_k

3539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#49599 25-Oct-2006 10:17

pukkapunto: the vodafone.nz website doesnt say if it will handle P2P on 3g network
or if it handles VOIP (msn voice or skype) programs.

thanks if anyone knows.

Like you I don't see any mention of P2P on VF's web site so I would assume it is handled OK so long as you can afford the traffic charges...

However, VF's web site explictly says this regarding VoIP:

3G broadband Terms & Conditions

Vodafone does not support Voice over Internet Protocol (voIP), and can provide no assurance that currently available access levels may be maintained.

A bit of a bummer really

Bellerz

8 posts

Wannabe Geek

#49643 25-Oct-2006 13:58

bear in mind that this is a relatively new service in NZ and that Vodafone has a massive arsenal of products that they will not release here until they know that there is a market for it.

Truth be told - VF is all about voice and data (VO-DA) and VoIP seems to be the kind of thing that they would adopt, modify, re-brand and then try to make a killing with. I expect to see more capabilities for 3G broadband but not until they have made as many $$$'s as possible out of the initial stages.

eg: they will not release a phone with a 6mp camera whilst they can still make money with the new SE k800i (3.2mp camera) but you can bet you bottom they know how to do it and it will be on the market within 18 months

You should see some of the things that they are doing in Japan with 3G
- Magazone like laser games using your phone as the gun
- city wide treasure hunts for "treasures" supported in the network until you walk through it and then it reappears somewhere else

To help fellow "Mr UK" you will probably be better getting a fixed line broadband and then re-visiting the prospect of VF3G broadband when the capabilites are up and they have some wonderful introductary offers etc...I feel you pain in the decision making part though - alas no free texts on prepay unlike O2 (genie) ha ha

Bellerz

juha

1317 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#49649 25-Oct-2006 14:17

Rick, I think the internet situation's improving in New Zealand, but rather gradually unfortunately. January next year is probably too soon to see any real change, but tomorrow for instance we're "taking a step back in time" with the return of full-rate DSL.

New Zealand had that when DSL launched here in 1999, but it was unaffordable for most people with low data caps (5/600MB and 1GB) and steep excess charges of 20¢ per MB. Telecom then introduced a 128/128kbps plan with fixed charges, and that is what most people had until recently, when 256k, 1M and 2Mbps plans started to appear, and after that, 3.5Mbps. Even the upstream got better, moving from 128kbps to 512kbps and now as much as your line (and backhaul).

Data caps are probably low compared to most countries, but they've gone up as well. Most providers can't afford to buy substantial amounts of international capacity however and since there isn't much content served from New Zealand, you'll likely find peer-to-peer on the slow side compared to the UK.

Wellingtonians and people in Christchurch are a bit better served than Aucklanders when it comes to broadband alternatives - they have TelstraClear cable which seems to go well when it doesn't break completely.

Next year, there should be some wireless providers setting up in Auckland but again, I don't think their products will be suited for high volume usage.

Juha