International Traveller seeking advice

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DeToX

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#9809 15-Oct-2006 06:42

Hi All,

Nice forum you guys have here. I'm coming to NZ at the end of November for about two weeks and will be touring your beautiful country (unfortunately just the north island). In the US I have a T-mobile MDA phone (Qtek 9100) with wireless internet (GPRS), but the phone also has built in wifi. So since I dont want to bring my huge laptop, I'm looking for options of getting my phone connected while in NZ.

Is it possible to get a pay as you go Sim Card for my phone, possibly with a data plan for such a short amount of time?

Alternatively, if I go the wifi route, which company is the best to go for (in terms of coverage/hotspots on the North Island)?

Any information will be helpful, including general rates for such services (so I can get an estimate of how much I will be spending).

Basically I want to be able to check my email (both pop3 and exchange) from my phone. Actually being able to make phonecalls in NZ (without paying international roaming fees) will be a big plus.

Thanks guys,
Dieter

johnr

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#48680 15-Oct-2006 07:51

You will need a prepay SIM from vodafone NZ this will come with GPRS and the access point you will need to use www.vodafone.net.nz

sbiddle

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#48684 15-Oct-2006 08:50

If you choose to get a PrePay SIM (around $30) your only option for data is paying $10/MB

In terms of WiFi hotspots Telecom NZ is the way to go www.telecom.co.nz/hotspots which will costs you $NZ9.95 per hour. You can buy cards at some places that have hotspots or online.

johnr

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#48688 15-Oct-2006 09:00

Not many NZers know how to lock down there home WIFI just walk around for 10 minutes and I would say you would find one,

I know of 4 in less than 10 minutes walk

freitasm

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#48691 15-Oct-2006 09:23

Back to "legal" ways of accessing the net. As sbiddle says, prepaid options in general do not have data plans. You are using data on a $10/MB. This is the same as in the USA, where I couldn't find any SIM prepay with a plan, and the operators won't sell me anything else because I am a foreigner.

Also, T-Mobile lock their devices to their network. I think you'd be lucky to actually have a SIM from another network on your Pocket PC, unless you have unlocked it already or it's not locked (which I doubt).

DeToX

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Wannabe Geek

#48713 15-Oct-2006 15:07

Yeah, my phone is unlocked, which was easy to do using simple online instructions. So it will work with any sim card.

So there are no unlimited monthly subscriptions to hotspots? Paying $10 per hour seems a bit heavy, especially since I'm sure I'll be using like 20 min or so per day to upload photos etc. Maybe I should try and get hold of a Xtra Broadband subscriber, since they have free access to Hotspots (Telecom Wireless) using their account login. Maybe I can pay someone like $40 or so and they will allow me to use their account for two weeks? Anyone up for that? I could always return the favor and allow them to use my T-mobile hotspot access in the US.

Also, anyone know of good street map GPS software (Pocket PC based) for New Zealand? I'll be renting a car, so having GPS would be very good to have. I spoke to the rental company but they dont seem to do GPS yet, would it be possible to rent a GPS?

freitasm

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#48717 15-Oct-2006 15:34

Telecom Hotspot is available in the main centres, but you can also find Cafenet.co.nz, which is available with day passes or per MB (last I checked it was $20/70 MB).

As for maps, the best one is Navman (www.navman.co.nz).

psychrn

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#48755 16-Oct-2006 00:44

As far as streetmaps for your pda the only other option I know of is Goldfinger which comes on an SD card-all of NZ then all you need is a BT GPS receiver.

http://www.goldfinger.co.nz/gf001.htm

Also memory map on: http://www.memory-map.co.nz/

I dont know if navman sell maps for your own PDA-but they do sell all in one units like the Pin 570. (PDA)

I know I have an In car nav system like the ICN 320 which comes with a sd card but with the software pre installed on the equipment you buy.

However Im still looking.

I heard a review of the Goldfinder system and Id have to say it didnt get a good write up.

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#48886 17-Oct-2006 19:26

Yes, Navman sells standalone maps for Pocket PCs, I have a New Zealand version installed on an old Ipaq h3970.