How important is the frequency when buying a phone overseas for use in New Zealand

Forums › Mobile handsets › How important is the frequency when buying a phone overseas for use in New Zealand

GerryAttrick

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#33835 13-May-2009 11:57

I need to get a new (2nd hand?) 3G /3.5G phone for use on the Vodafone network in New Zealand. I can get a good phone cheaply from Australia but, although it is HSDPA- which I understand is the Vodafone network, does it also have to be 2.1Mhz or will any HSDPA phone be OK?

What would any limitations be.What do I need to verify to ensure it will work?

Don't want to buy a phone from Oz and then find it is not compatible with Vodafone NZ.

Hope I have phrased this correctly as I am a real Noddy when it comes to mobile phone technology

freitasm

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#214600 13-May-2009 12:50

You need to get 900/2100MHz for Vodafone (2100MHz in main centres, 900MHz outside), or 850MHz/2100MHz for Telecom XT Network (850MHz everywhere in New Zealand).

coffeebaron

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#214607 13-May-2009 13:15

Make sure the phone is unlocked. Vodafone or Telecom in NZ will NOT be able to unlock a locked phone from an overseas carrier.

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GerryAttrick

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#214660 13-May-2009 16:54

coffeebaron: Make sure the phone is unlocked. Vodafone or Telecom in NZ will NOT be able to unlock a locked phone from an overseas carrier.

I thought you could get a phone unlocked by other than Vodafone/Telecom. There are lots of adverts for the service and I am pretty sure some of the mobile phone forums have tutorials on how to do it.

Anyway I'll try and ensure that any phone is unlocked before I front with my $$

johnr

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#214671 13-May-2009 17:43

Vodafone NZ will not SIM unlock devices purchased overseas and I am quite sure it will be the same for Telecom NZ

John

eXDee

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#214690 13-May-2009 19:32

A Telstra Aus phone sold as "Next G" Will work on telecom XT and likely on vodafone too.

GerryAttrick

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#214704 13-May-2009 20:26

Thanks for the input guys.

I only want a phone usable on the Vodafone network so it appears that it needs to be HSDPA 900/2100. To accept a Vodafone SIM card it needs to be either unlocked or I need to get it unlocked. I can't understand why a carrier would not unlock a phone if they are capable. After all if I was an Australian coming to live in New Zealand and already had a mobile phone surely they would not expect me to buy another phone to use in NZ

Or am I being naive?

What is not clear is if HSDPA will run at 2100 and 900 or does it specifically have to have both of those frequencies? Lots of phones are said to be HSDPA but they don't specify the actual frequencies.

I am just not prepared to pay the prices that are asked for various phones in New Zealand when there are better phones at cheaper prices available overseas.

I made a mistake and took the Nokia 3120C being given away free by Vodafone (cheaper than a battery for my Motorola V3X)and, much as I prefer their network, the phone itself was rubbish and I gave it away within 48 hours and bought a replacement battery for the V3X. It'll do until I can get a V9 or similar.

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#214718 13-May-2009 21:49

eXDee: A Telstra Aus phone sold as "Next G" Will work on telecom XT and likely on vodafone too.

Telstra next g phones will only work on metro 3g with Vodafone. they are all 2100/850 which is what the XT network uses not the Vodafone (2100/900)

Hmmmm

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johnr

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#214721 13-May-2009 21:57

V9 is not 900/2100 WCDMA

Its 900 GSM (2G)

John

GerryAttrick

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#214741 13-May-2009 23:49

Not according to specs here:
http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=201

its states:

? 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) 3.6 Mbps wireless broadband connection and EDGE/GPRS class 10 & 12

Also most of the adverts I have seen refer to it as 3G

I have no idea if WCDMA is the same as HSPDA - as I said I am a real Noddy when it comes to mobile phone technology. Just as well there is somewhere like this where I can try and rectify that

coffeebaron

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#214772 14-May-2009 09:13

GerryAttrick: Not according to specs here:

http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=201

its states:

? 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) 3.6 Mbps wireless broadband connection and EDGE/GPRS class 10 & 12

Also most of the adverts I have seen refer to it as 3G

I have no idea if WCDMA is the same as HSPDA - as I said I am a real Noddy when it comes to mobile phone technology. Just as well there is somewhere like this where I can try and rectify that

GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
WCDMA 850/1900

So will work on Telecom XT, Vodafone GSM, NOT Vodafone 3G.

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#214774 14-May-2009 09:21

Pretty much close too 100% of phones sold in Australia are SIM locked to the carrier as they are typically branded phones. If you purchase a phone outright with no contract you'll still have to pay to get the phone unlocked.

Non branded (ie generic Nokia firmware) are available from places like Expansys and and these are not locked and have generic firmware on them. Branded handsets will typiclaly have customised firmware and may not let you access such features as Music Store if this of importance to you.

aklbruce

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#217779 25-May-2009 18:39

dont need to worry the network lock, nz govt not allow vodafone to sell any phone with phone lock, but Oz different, Oz phone got network lock

scottjpalmer

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#217821 25-May-2009 20:42

aklbruce: dont need to worry the network lock, nz govt not allow vodafone to sell any phone with phone lock, but Oz different, Oz phone got network lock

Vodafone sold locked phones last year, the government didn't stop them, the consumer outcry did.

As the thread is about importing a phone from overseas you do need to worry about locked phones, if you import a locked phone the government isn't going to be able to help you regardles of their policy on locked phones.

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#217861 25-May-2009 23:03

If you are such a self-professed Noddy, and don't fully understand the implications when you go and purchase, I would seriously suggest buying a phone here.

The small amount extra would surely be worth the peace of mind that it is absolutely going to work here - on the correct frequencies, with the correct APNs, MMS settings etc etc?