Which mobile network provider?

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frankschechter1

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#33505 7-May-2009 05:54

Hi guys,
I'm in the Philippines now and I'll be in Nelson on Friday. Could someone tell me (a) mobile network provider/s that offer/s the cheapest rates to send messages and make phone calls to my relatives here? Weird or stupid it may seem but my girlfriend and I update each other like every second of the clock regarding our every move and whereabouts. Hehe
I know that Yahoo Messenger, Skype and stuff are probably the cheapest, fastest and the best way but my dad had told me that I couldn't go online everyday to talk to my girlfriend because he's kinda scared about the next electric bills to come. F*** that.
Well, I suddenly thought of buying a new phone with wifi since he has wifi in his house (but I still don't have much money) but I'm also looking into other options like the cheapest rates of network providers for text messaging and phone calls to the Philippines. Your soonest response will be much appreciated. Really. :)

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#213003 7-May-2009 06:16

At the moment the only one that would work is Vodafone, and here are their prepaid pricing. Telecom is currently not offering their WCDMA network as of yet. As for phone call, get a phone card from dairy, cheaper than any other option if you are travelling.

Andy Ghozali Geekzone Member	E: andy@ghozali.ru M: +64 21 395 458 A: Andy's Business Services, 231 High St, Christchurch 8011, NZ
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paradoxsm

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#213059 7-May-2009 09:32

You can get a Vodafone SIM here and then buy a card called "V8" or "Superbuzz" and use thosse for the international calls as it's much cheaper than using the mobile direct.

As for local calls, you'll be stuck paying 90c a minute.

"Dairy" is a convenience store, like a 7-11.

kiwiboi

123 posts

Master Geek

#213112 7-May-2009 11:08

Vodafone prepaid can call any Philippines landline $2 for 60 minutes. This for me is the best deal to call Philippines, as long as they have a landline close to them whenever you want to talk to them. As for SMS, why not take a Philippines sim card and activate roaming feature? She will save a few pesos when texting you, but of course you'll be paying 20 cents (NZ currency) to reply.

And have safe trip mate.

carter323

21 posts

Geek

#213201 7-May-2009 15:33

I remember I had a Kiaora Card like a year ago that I used to call friends in oz. I got a $20 card and called home numbers over there and it was 1.7c per minute or something like that. Obviously the cost would be different if you wanted to call somewhere else but if you want cheap calls definately getting a card is the way to go. Keep in mind though that most the time it is best to use the card from a home number though as you still have to call a local number to use them i think

frankschechter1

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#214074 11-May-2009 12:16

Hi everyone, I just bought a vodafone sim. Now in Nelson. :) Shivers! This country's one of the best!!! :) Love the place, people, food, climate and stores! :) Fantastic! :)

Hi Zocster and Pradoxsm,
Is the phone card from dairy the so-called "V8" or "Superbuzz"?

Hi Kiwiboi,
That has been my plan - to buy a sim card here and have my number in the Philippines roaming services activated. :) I had a very safe and sound trip. So nice. Thank you. :)

Hi Carter323,
I remember I had a Kiaora Card like a year ago that I used to call friends in oz. I got a $20 card and called home numbers over there and it was 1.7c per minute or something like that. Obviously the cost would be different if you wanted to call somewhere else - alright. Thanks. Got it. :)

but if you want cheap calls definately getting a card is the way to go. - Are you referring to the Superbuzz and V8?

Keep in mind though that most the time it is best to use the card from a home number though as you still have to call a local number to use them i think - what do you mean "use the card from a home number as you still have to call a local number to use them"?

carter323

21 posts

Geek

#214077 11-May-2009 12:21

well i suppose so they make some money off it what you actually do is buy a card and then there is a number on the back that you call to enter the card number etc that is usually a local number, so if you call it off your cellphone it is still going to cost you whatever it normally does to make a call.

zocster

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#214080 11-May-2009 12:26

Here is an example of a rate for a card, Kia Ora, there are tons others. If that's true that $2.00 can do 60 minutes you might as well go for that I have not personally heard of that before as I don't call overseas on my mobile unless I am roaming.

Andy Ghozali Geekzone Member	E: andy@ghozali.ru M: +64 21 395 458 A: Andy's Business Services, 231 High St, Christchurch 8011, NZ
www.andy.mobi

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carter323

21 posts

Geek

#214084 11-May-2009 12:39

zocster: Here is an example of a rate for a card, Kia Ora, there are tons others. If that's true that $2.00 can do 60 minutes you might as well go for that I have not personally heard of that before as I don't call overseas on my mobile unless I am roaming.

yes it does seem cheap but there is a catch. It is cheap if you use it from a land line or if your on a plan i suppose. Only because you actually have to call a land line number when you use the card. So if you are on prepaid still then you would still have to pay the $1 per minute or what ever it is for a land line call on top.

paradoxsm

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#214118 11-May-2009 15:18

frankschechter1:

Hi everyone, I just bought a vodafone sim. Now in Nelson. :) Shivers! This country's one of the best!!! :) Love the place, people, food, climate and stores! :) Fantastic! :)

* Welcome and thanks!

Hi Zocster and Pradoxsm,
Is the phone card from dairy the so-called "V8" or "Superbuzz"?

* Yes, the "cards" are sold at most "Dairies". Try and look for one which is called "ezi pay" as that is a physical plastic card that can be easily recharged, otherwise you get a paper voucher which can only be recharged by credit card.

Hi Carter323,
I remember I had a Kiaora Card like a year ago that I used to call friends in oz. I got a $20 card and called home numbers over there and it was 1.7c per minute or something like that. Obviously the cost would be different if you wanted to call somewhere else - alright. Thanks. Got it. :)

* the Kia Ora cards and similar are cheaper to use if you can find a landline that has "free local calls" to the access number on the back of the card, if you use a mobile with one of the other cards, the mobile surcharge is more like 50c.
If you use v8 or superbuzz, you can use the mobile phone. You will pay a higher per-minute but then you have no "mobile" surcharge over the advertised rate.

but if you want cheap calls definately getting a card is the way to go. - Are you referring to the Superbuzz and V8?

* V8 and Superbuzz are the two options for calling internationally from a VODAFONE mobile and calling the 3 digit number provided from your mobile.
I would suggest "Easycall" as my top choice if you can get access to a "free local calls" LANDLINE phone within NZ. Easycall is what people at work from Laos, Phillippines, India and Pakistan recommend saying call quality is much better than most others..

Keep in mind though that most the time it is best to use the card from a home number though as you still have to call a local number to use them i think - what do you mean "use the card from a home number as you still have to call a local number to use them"?

* Get Easycall for the calls from the "free local calls" landline home number as it has good quality and good rates

* Use the V8 or superbuzz cards from a Vodafone mobile as there is no 40c-80c surcharges on those two cards when you dial the special 3 digit number provided on the card.

paradoxsm

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#214120 11-May-2009 15:24

carter323:
zocster: Here is an example of a rate for a card, Kia Ora, there are tons others. If that's true that $2.00 can do 60 minutes you might as well go for that I have not personally heard of that before as I don't call overseas on my mobile unless I am roaming.

yes it does seem cheap but there is a catch. It is cheap if you use it from a land line or if your on a plan i suppose. Only because you actually have to call a land line number when you use the card. So if you are on prepaid still then you would still have to pay the $1 per minute or what ever it is for a land line call on top.

Vodafone are running a special, $2 for up to 1 hour calling to certain countries (Australia, UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, India, Malaysia, Philippines)

Superbuzz, V8 have no surcharges for INTERNATIONAL calls using a VODAFONE mobile. (dial the special number provided on the card EG:246)

Yabba has no surcharges for INTERNATIONAL calls using a TELECOM mobile, Dial 0800 talk aw (ay)

All other cards I know of have a surcharge when calling from mobile phones of between 35c - 80c and same with payphones.

frankschechter1

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#214332 12-May-2009 12:16

Thanks Carter323 and Zocster. :)
Hey, paradoxsm, much thanks for taking the time to explain more and reply to each statement. More appreciated. :)
Thank you all for helping me. :)

carter323

21 posts

Geek

#214343 12-May-2009 12:58

No problem! Im actually a newbie and have just sort of started learning about the technical side of networks and mobiles when I became interested in what could work on the XT network. It is very good to know that I can give input as well as recieve it!

SAS742

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#214350 12-May-2009 13:37

VODAFONE UK - give it 20 sterlings & it will give you ...300 mins to any network @ any time

                                                                         ...also Unlimited Text messages to any network
                                                                        & also ...its really cheap to call abroadtooo ..
                                                                    &&&& ....You can buy a Gold number from me ....£100 ..

W e l c o m e t o E n g l a n d ...Yo..

dan

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#214399 12-May-2009 16:04

Electric Bills? Seriously? Cmon!!!

if you have a PC, you could install Chikka which allows you to send free txt messages to the philippines, when they reply its delivered to your PC, not incuring international charges, just their local rate i believe

http://www.chikka.com/

SAS742

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#214517 13-May-2009 03:18

vodafone

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