Wifi phones for under $500

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xlinknz

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#48143 13-Nov-2009 11:00

My wife and I require new handsets and I decided we will only entertain handsets with Wifi [since I refuse to pay the extortionate data rates the mobile Telcos charge unless we have too]

It seems the only hands that meet th criteria for Wifi under $500 are the Nokia E63 from Vodafone and the Sony Ericsson W705a

Any other suggestions ?

BTW we are both currently on VF but want handsets that will also work on TCNZ and 2degrees if need be, even if only for voice calls

sbiddle

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Biddle Corp

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#272820 13-Nov-2009 17:40

There are NO handsets that will work perfectly on both Vodafone and XT due to the frequencies. If you go for a 850/2100 handset for XT you'll be stuck using GPRS on Vodafone since you won't get nationwide 3G and if you get a 900/2100 device for Vodafone you'll have very limited XT coverage as their network is primarily 850 with some 2100 sites in the major cities.

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fallen

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#274049 17-Nov-2009 21:52

Bit above the $500 price, telecom have the sony W995 for $599...

kyhwana2

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#274065 17-Nov-2009 22:55

Have a look at http://www.expansys.co.nz/mobile-phones/sim-free-phones?filter=5|0|400-800

(Just make sure the 3G frequencies are the ones you want)

xlinknz

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#274149 18-Nov-2009 10:12

sbiddle: There are NO handsets that will work perfectly on both Vodafone and XT due to the frequencies. If you go for a 850/2100 handset for XT you'll be stuck using GPRS on Vodafone since you won't get nationwide 3G and if you get a 900/2100 device for Vodafone you'll have very limited XT coverage as their network is primarily 850 with some 2100 sites in the major cities.

Sbiddle, firstly thank you for the PM reply

Mmm I'm a little confused

So XT is 3G only and is 850/2100 [which will explain why my 900/1800/1900 2G handset cannot see it ?]
VFNZ is 900/2100 only [I assume 900 for 2G and 2100 for 3G ?]
2degrees is what 900/1800/2100 [the later being 3G?]

My venerable handset sees a network called NZ-24 who is that ?

What do I need to have a handset see all their networks at least for basic calling ?

freitasm

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#274154 18-Nov-2009 10:20

xlinknz: So XT is 3G only and is 850/2100 [which will explain why my 900/1800/1900 2G handset cannot see it ?]
VFNZ is 900/2100 only [I assume 900 for 2G and 2100 for 3G ?]
2degrees is what 900/1800/2100 [the later being 3G?]

Telecom mobile service is a 3G network operating on 850 MHz (with some 2100 MHz sites but not enough to make it worth it a non-850MHz handset).

Vodafone mobile service is actually three networks: 2G (GSM) 900/1800 MHz, 3G 2100 MHz and 3G 900MHz. Note Vodafone uses 900MHz in some places for 2G and some other places for 3G. A 900MHz 2G handset won't see 900MHz 3G services because 2G is not the same as 3G.

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xlinknz

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#274156 18-Nov-2009 10:30

So I would be mad to buy a 2G only handset since it will never be ablke to work on the XT network

I see the Nokia 5530 which is GSM 850/900/1800/1900 but I assume despite being 850 it won't work on XT right ?

wongtop

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#274162 18-Nov-2009 10:49

xlinknz:

What do I need to have a handset see all their networks at least for basic calling ?

As far as I know all the XT phones (but not the network) are GSM capable (for roaming). So if you buy an XT phone you should also be able to use it for 2G services (calling and texting) on Vodafone and 2degrees.

sbiddle

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#274169 18-Nov-2009 10:58

xlinknz: So I would be mad to buy a 2G only handset since it will never be ablke to work on the XT network

I see the Nokia 5530 which is GSM 850/900/1800/1900 but I assume despite being 850 it won't work on XT right ?

No. It's GSM 850. Telecom don't have a GSM network.

You need a device that's 850 and mentions UMTS/WCDMA/HSDPA

dman

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#275135 22-Nov-2009 11:45

if you are willing to go second hand it is very easy to get a phone for under 500 with Wifi, for instance my Nokia N82 was only $225 second hand and even brand new it can be got for a tad under 500 and I use it on my wifi network at home all the time

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NZtechfreak

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#275171 22-Nov-2009 13:53

Why not go to Pricespy and apply filters for WiFi/network? You'll be able to get a complete list in like two seconds...

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xlinknz

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#275724 24-Nov-2009 09:23

NZtechfreak: Why not go to Pricespy and apply filters for WiFi/network? You'll be able to get a complete list in like two seconds...

yes thank you I did do that subsequently