GSM handset questions

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SuperHemi

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#21000 12-Apr-2008 13:30

I am thinking of buying a new handset and have been doing a bit of research. According to the NZ Connections Wiki, only Vodafone currently offer GSM services in NZ; but NZ Communications, Orcon and Compass all have GSM services coming in 2008. In addition, I understand that Telecom are currently deploying a GSM/WCDMA network.

Basically, I want a handset that would let me simply switch SIM cards to change to another service provider. My understanding is that a quad-band GSM handset will work any of the providers mentioned above. Is this correct? Will a 3G capable handset work on Vodafone's 3G network and Telecom's new 3G network?

Do Vodafone NZ lock their handsets? (Or do they plan to lock them in future?) i.e. If I bought a handset from Vodafone NZ, will they be able to prevent me inserting a Telecom or NZ Communications SIM and using it on these new networks?

If I buy a parallel imported handset and insert a current vodafone SIM card, will the phone have the same functionality as if I had bought the handset from Vodafone NZ? i.e. would mobile TV, video calling and all other services work (assuming it was a 3G capable handset)? If not, is there any way to get around this?

Can anyone recommend a good handset for around $300?

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#123043 12-Apr-2008 13:43

SuperHemi: Do Vodafone NZ lock their handsets? (Or do they plan to lock them in future?) i.e. If I bought a handset from Vodafone NZ, will they be able to prevent me inserting a Telecom or NZ Communications SIM and using it on these new networks?

Nope. Look around Geekzone.

SuperHemi: If I buy a parallel imported handset and insert a current vodafone SIM card, will the phone have the same functionality as if I had bought the handset from Vodafone NZ? i.e. would mobile TV, video calling and all other services work (assuming it was a 3G capable handset)? If not, is there any way to get around this?

Most stuff will work but somethings may not work like the stuff listed here.

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rscole86

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#123044 12-Apr-2008 13:49

VFNZ don't lock their handsets at all.

TNZ, no one really knows what they are going to do. They may lock their handsets, or they may not? We will just have to wait and see.

NZ Communications.... well I would not rely on them to produce a network before cellphones become a thing of the past.

Parellel imported handsets are in no way supported by VFNZ, so any loss in premium services you will just have to live with. Some people can still use all of their services, some people loose them.

Good hanset for around $300, with the potential to work on all networks? Not sure if something exists. The closest you can get atm is the Nokia 6121.

xboxmodder

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#123241 13-Apr-2008 18:37

Hello xboxmodder here,

Do Vodafone NZ lock their handsets?

No! they dont lock there phones, they only add the "vodafone live firmeware" which can remove some of the OEM features...

My understanding is that a quad-band GSM handset will work any of the providers mentioned above. Is this correct?

Yes! with vodafone all you need is the simcard, with telecom i believe you give them the IMEI number of the phone.

Will a 3G capable handset work on Vodafone's 3G network and Telecom's new 3G network?

Yes! but im not sure about telecom.

If I buy a parallel imported handset and insert a current vodafone SIM card, will the phone have the same functionality as if I had bought the handset from Vodafone NZ? i.e. would mobile TV, video calling and all other services work (assuming it was a 3G capable handset)?

yes and no, just say you had a k800i parrell imported and a vodafone k800i.

k800i imported will be unlocked and will work with any current vodafone SIM card, but when you browse the "Live!" section in the browser certain thinigs like the "SkyTv" wont appear this is because vodafone live cant authenticate its because of the standard firmware...there is a way around it

k800i vodafone all different layout e.g bottom right corner would most likely say "Live!" all vodafone live features will work because it has the vodafone live firmware...its also locked to the network.

Your best bet would be a cect p168 which you can find on trademe
they feature:

Tri-band Phone:
* Dual-SIM card Support 900/1800/1900MHZ NZ Vodafone
* Display: 3.5" Touch Screen display with 26k colors, 240 x 320 pixel resolution
* Speakers: stereo speakers
* Handwriting Text messaging
* Vibration
* Internet Browser (WAP2.0)
* GPRS data service supported
* Bluetooth 2.0
* Messaging: SMS,EMS,MMS, E-mail
* Phone Book: Memory supports 300 records
* Multimedia Features
o Ring tones Type: Polyphonic (64 channels), Monophonic, True Tones, MP3
o Music player: Support MP3 player, with mp3,midi,wav format
o Movie player: Support 3GP/MP4 movie player with full-screen
o Camera function: Camera with 2M Pixel, 1280x1024 Max, 16 Digital zoom, SXGA/XGA/VGA/QVGA
o Camcorder function: Video recording (MPEG4)
o Digital Voice recording
o Picture Viewer: JPEG/GIF/BMP
o Memory: Support T-FLASH card (Micro SD) (Max 1GB) (256mb Micro SD included)
o Data Interface: USB 2.0
* Supports Caller Ringing / Caller Video Player
* Games: Two games built in + downloadable
* Calculator/world time/stopwatch
* Alarm music/calendar/memo
* Unit Conversion/Currency Conversion
* Stand-by time: Up to 150h
* Talk time: 180min--300min
* Languages: English (Default), Chinese

manhinli

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#123243 13-Apr-2008 18:40

xboxmodder:
Do Vodafone NZ lock their handsets?

yes they do anyone mobile phone which has "vodafone" on it will most probably be locked..there are ways to bypass it by re-flashing the firmware.

Um... as everyone has been saying: Vodafone do not lock their handsets. Also reflashing is usually best avoided unless completely necessary.

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xboxmodder

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#123244 13-Apr-2008 18:49

Um... as everyone has been saying: Vodafone do not lock their handsets. Also reflashing is usually best avoided unless completely necessary.

sorry i have just learnt somthing new ty..Ill edit that post

johnr

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#123249 13-Apr-2008 19:12

xboxmodder:
Um... as everyone has been saying: Vodafone do not lock their handsets. Also reflashing is usually best avoided unless completely necessary.

sorry i have just learnt somthing new ty..Ill edit that post

Vodafone NZ have not locked handsets since 2002

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rscole86

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#123251 13-Apr-2008 19:13

xboxmodder:

My understanding is that a quad-band GSM handset will work any of the providers mentioned above. Is this correct?

Yes! with vodafone all you need is the simcard, with telecom i believe you give them the IMEI number of the phone.

Can you please find a source for your claim about Telecom? AFAIK Telecom have said nothing about compatiblity with phones not purchased off themselves.

nzbnw

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#123283 13-Apr-2008 21:04

rscole86:
xboxmodder:

My understanding is that a quad-band GSM handset will work any of the providers mentioned above. Is this correct?

Yes! with vodafone all you need is the simcard, with telecom i believe you give them the IMEI number of the phone.

Can you please find a source for your claim about Telecom? AFAIK Telecom have said nothing about compatiblity with phones not purchased off themselves.

I think he is confused with Telecom's CDMA network, in which case Teleom need to know the ESN (not IMEI - GSM Term), and Telecom's up and coming GSM EDGE / WCDMA network.

nzbnw

johnr

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#123284 13-Apr-2008 21:08

Confused about a few things.

paradoxsm

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#123316 13-Apr-2008 23:47

Remember to connect to the Telecom network the phone must support 850 MHz GSM, Vodafone is currently 900MHz so most phones out there will not connect to the Telecom gsm unless the 850MHz is supported.

My current choice of handset would be a Nokia 6220 or N96 or the Sony Ericsson Winmobile pda. problem is none have been released yet but are not far away.

Vodafone may lock future handsets if Telecom does, Vodafone Australia recently reverted to locking some handsets again.
Parallel imported handsets can be a bit of a gamble. Sometimes they work flawlessly and get full access to everything, sometime they hardly work at all, be warned on this.

pwner

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#123393 14-Apr-2008 13:20

Vodafone do lock down their Vodems though, which could be a pain once Telecom and NZ Communications etc get their networks up

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johnr

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#123394 14-Apr-2008 13:37

pwner: Vodafone do lock down their Vodems though, which could be a pain once Telecom and NZ Communications etc get their networks up

Vodafone NZ do NOT lock devices including the Vodem!!

What makes you think the Vodem is SIM locked?

NZtechfreak

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#123397 14-Apr-2008 14:00

Regarding the Vodafone branding and so forth - in the Nokia N-Series of devices its very easy to reflash them. If you went for one of those phones then you have the option to debrand (they automatically detect the Vodafone networks settings once the SIM goes in anyway).

Its worth doing because Vodafone is slow at releasing the new firmware upgrades from Nokia (which tend to be more stable than Vodafone's custom firmware), so rather than something that should tend to be avoided (earlier post), its something thats advantageous to do and I for one would advocate for it.

Once my brand new N95-8GB is done charging its debranding for me, and then upgrade to the latest V20 firmware - wahoo!

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#123399 14-Apr-2008 14:02

pwner: Vodafone do lock down their Vodems though, which could be a pain once Telecom and NZ Communications etc get their networks up

I know for sure the Merlin XU780 HSDPA Express Card is not locked. While in a conference in Amsterdam I had a local data card and used it for a full week with no problems.

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SuperHemi

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#125045 20-Apr-2008 12:13

Thanks for the replies.

I have have been thinking about getting the Sony Ericsson V640i. The Official Sony Ericsson site seems to indicate that this is a quad band phone:

"Networks

GSM 850
EDGE
HSDPA
UMTS 2100
GSM 900
GSM 1800
GSM 1900"

However, the Vodafone NZ site states that it is a tri band handset. i.e. "GSM Bands GSM 900/1800/1900".

Does anyone know which is correct?

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