Telecom's WCDMA move

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sbiddle

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#12728 2-Apr-2007 15:31

Maybe the strongest signal yet that Telecom will infact move?

http://stuff.co.nz/4012142a28.html

(Kevin Bowler)

He says customers who buy a CDMA-only phone today can rely on Telecom maintaining the CDMA network in New Zealand for a minimum of "more than two years and probably more likely four years.

tonyhughes

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#65991 2-Apr-2007 16:01

If they dont inform their customers well enough they may find sales of high end handsets suffering (Why should I buy a $1200 handset that could be obsolete from a network standpoint in 2 years).

I think its a great move personally... cant wait to hear more about it.

alasta

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#66003 2-Apr-2007 18:52

tonyhughes: If they dont inform their customers well enough they may find sales of high end handsets suffering (Why should I buy a $1200 handset that could be obsolete from a network standpoint in 2 years).

I think its a great move personally... cant wait to hear more about it.

I seem to recall reading somewhere that the average life of a handset in New Zealand is 18 months and the sort of person who buys an expensive smart phone is likely to be the sort of person who would want to regularly upgrade to the latest model anyway.

Still, they kept the 025 network running in parallel with the 027 network for over five years and I would expect them to do the same with their next transition. Perhaps they could introduce more dual mode phones so that people can use the 027 network now and switch over to the UMTS network once it has a decent footprint? Does anyone know if dual mode CDMA/UMTS phones are widely available or are they all just CDMA/GSM?

tonyhughes

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#66005 2-Apr-2007 19:00

alasta:I seem to recall reading somewhere that the average life of a handset in New Zealand is 18 months and the sort of person who buys an expensive smart phone is likely to be the sort of person who would want to regularly upgrade to the latest model anyway.

That doesnt surprise me, and in fact, id agree with that, but its the perception that you are buying technology that already has a shelf life that could well put people off....

richms

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#66014 2-Apr-2007 20:03

At least next time there wont be the totally unnecessary change of numbers like happened with the closure of TDMA, that was the main gripe about moving among people I know.

Richard rich.ms