Port to telecom but no handset?

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richms

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#28558 4-Dec-2008 12:14

I dont want to get a stupid CDMA phone to last a few months till telecom get their proper network going.

Is it possible to port a number to telecom and have it not assigned to a ESN, with the intention of getting a sim as soon as they are available? So long as a call can go to voicemail and I can check it I would be happy.

Richard rich.ms

freitasm

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#181990 4-Dec-2008 12:20

Telecom is not going to switch their existing CDMA EVDO network off for at least another four or five years, so getting a CDMA handset now wouldn't hurt. There are lots of cheap handsets that would be good for this task - since you only wanted access to voicemail I believe you are not looking for any data device, smatphone, etc...

richms

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#181993 4-Dec-2008 12:27

Yeah, I was just hoping to come up with a zero cost way to move off telecom, but in thinking about it with no notification of messages left it would end up expensive checking them all the time so I might just go to the warehouse and pickup a sanyo 2500 for now

Richard rich.ms

johnr

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#181995 4-Dec-2008 12:34

get something off trademe

Make sure the ESN has no $$$ owing first

coffeebaron

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#182006 4-Dec-2008 13:12

Why do you need to port to Telecom now? You can wait and port to them when their W-CDMA is live.

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n00dy

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#182018 4-Dec-2008 14:14

richms: so I might just go to the warehouse and pickup a sanyo 2500 for now

Go to a Telecom Retail or Dealer store, its the same price as warehouse and the port can be done as well as you will get a $20 airtimer credit, If you buy from DSE, warehouse etc, it will come preloaded with an 027 number, which has the $20 and that would need to be disconnected etc and takes longer for the transaction to process, as well as some stores wont port prepaid number with a handset supplied elsewhere as it is time consuming and there is nothing in it for them

allstarnz

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#182027 4-Dec-2008 14:52

n00dy:
richms: so I might just go to the warehouse and pickup a sanyo 2500 for now

Go to a Telecom Retail or Dealer store, its the same price as warehouse and the port can be done as well as you will get a $20 airtimer credit, If you buy from DSE, warehouse etc, it will come preloaded with an 027 number, which has the $20 and that would need to be disconnected etc and takes longer for the transaction to process, as well as some stores wont port prepaid number with a handset supplied elsewhere as it is time consuming and there is nothing in it for them

really? I got my previous phone from the Warewhare (Telecom shop didn't have any), took it into the Telecom shop, and they ported it straight away, no cost. This was 3 years ago though.

n00dy

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#182029 4-Dec-2008 15:01

allstarnz: This was 3 years ago though.

Number portability hasnt been round for 3 years ?? Started only June this year

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johnr

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#182030 4-Dec-2008 15:05

n00dy:
allstarnz: This was 3 years ago though.

Number portability hasnt been round for 3 years ?? Started only June this year

April 2007

richms

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#182038 4-Dec-2008 15:33

Have warehouse vouchers so its kind of a decided thing already.

Richard rich.ms

tonyhughes

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#182047 4-Dec-2008 16:03

If you are not going to use the CDMA phone, just go to any telecom dealer and ask them for a "dead" phone with a free ESN. Tell them what you are doing, any dealer will have dead phones lying around. They are handy for moving connections around to free up good handsets for various reasons.

riahon

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#182055 4-Dec-2008 16:27

If you have Telecom landline with callminder service you can link the landline and mobile voicemails together. That way you can check your mobile voicemail for free via your landline.

richms

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#182415 6-Dec-2008 01:30

Ended up getting a M300 at a telecom store for a bit more, the sanyo wont take 021xxxxxx numbers, too short for it, the nokia 1325 is a completely crap phone. They were totally incomptent at the warehouse so ended up paying some more at the telecom shop. Shame since the 2500 actually seemed to be quite a decent phone.

vodafone wouldnt port the data plan number to prepay, Stupid really since when I asked about the commerce commision making them allow for swaps to prepay, they said it was only for voice plans and they didnt have to offer it for a mobile broadband account. Still, I guess seeing a customer move to your competition rather then being somewhat flexible with your offerings is a normal business decision for a company owned by british.

Still waiting for the port to happen because ended up getting it right at the end of the business day.

Richard rich.ms

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#182431 6-Dec-2008 07:52

tonyhughes: If you are not going to use the CDMA phone, just go to any telecom dealer and ask them for a "dead" phone with a free ESN. Tell them what you are doing, any dealer will have dead phones lying around. They are handy for moving connections around to free up good handsets for various reasons.

I have a Geekzone test account with Telecom, which I use to review their phones from time to time. I had an Okta Touch on that account and when I ported my personal number from Vodafone to Telecom I first wanted to use the Touch - the local Telecom store dipped into the recycle bin and got an old non-working Samsung just to use the ESN to "hold" my Telecom test account, so that I could transfer the Okta Touch to my personal account.

Yes, the Telecom folks in store can be very helpful.

PS. No preferences here. I have a Telecom test account but I pay any voice calls and only have a small data allowance paid for, which I pay after (if) used. I would have a Vodafone test account too, if they ever answered my requests.

nzbnw

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#182452 6-Dec-2008 11:05

richms: Ended up getting a M300 at a telecom store for a bit more, the sanyo wont take 021xxxxxx numbers, too short for it...

Actually it will take all 021 variants, AFAIK the only phone that won't is the Nokia 2355.

nzbnw