Telecom New Zealand now locking handsets

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Telecom New Zealand now locking handsets

freitasm

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#133568 26-Oct-2013 19:00

It seems Telecom has started locking handsets joining other networks already doing it with select handsets (Vodafone, Skinny).

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#922164 26-Oct-2013 19:05

Just disgusting...

Morgan French-Stagg

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#922181 26-Oct-2013 19:13

I think they are are skinny phones. Or extremely low end phones sub $50 that would be locked. I'll check what the story is though as I didn't think it was the case but I could be wrong.

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#922183 26-Oct-2013 19:15

plambrechtsen: I think they are are skinny phones. Or extremely low end phones sub $50 that would be locked. I'll check what the story is though as I didn't think it was the case but I could be wrong.

I believe there is one new telecom brand low end phone which is locked

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#922184 26-Oct-2013 19:16

Yyrael:
plambrechtsen: I think they are are skinny phones. Or extremely low end phones sub $50 that would be locked. I'll check what the story is though as I didn't think it was the case but I could be wrong.

I believe there is one new telecom brand low end phone which is locked

Uh huh: http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/personal/phone-details/telecom-t4010-black-locked

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freitasm

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#922188 26-Oct-2013 19:18

Manhinli tweet:

Dun dun dun... First Skinny, Vodafone and now Telecom NZ: http://t.co/zT2QaZzzUl - 9 months or $30. That leaves 2degrees all alone (for now)
— James Li (@manhinli) October 26, 2013

freitasm

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#922189 26-Oct-2013 19:19

manhinli:
Yyrael:
plambrechtsen: I think they are are skinny phones. Or extremely low end phones sub $50 that would be locked. I'll check what the story is though as I didn't think it was the case but I could be wrong.

I believe there is one new telecom brand low end phone which is locked

Uh huh: http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/personal/phone-details/telecom-t4010-black-locked

Well, that shows Telecom folks didn't know Telecom is now locking some handsets ;P

Sure, it's an entry-level handset - same policy as Vodafone. But it's a shame local operators decided to go this way. It's a race to the bottom.

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#922191 26-Oct-2013 19:24

manhinli:
Yyrael:
plambrechtsen: I think they are are skinny phones. Or extremely low end phones sub $50 that would be locked. I'll check what the story is though as I didn't think it was the case but I could be wrong.

I believe there is one new telecom brand low end phone which is locked

Uh huh: http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/personal/phone-details/telecom-t4010-black-locked

Sorry my bad a sub $80 phone running android 2.3 and you can get it unlocked for $30 or free after 9 months like skinny. Not exactly the phone I would personally choose but I am sure there is a market at that end.

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freitasm

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#922195 26-Oct-2013 19:29

On another note, the number of people using cheap Android handsets (mainly LG) around is incredible. Everywhere I look I see people using those.

Sure there are people buying iPhone 5 and Samsung 5 and HTC One and whatever. But these are outnumbered by entry- and mid-level smartphones by a large margin.

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#922196 26-Oct-2013 19:31

bit of a storm in a tea cup isn't it, same as when we had thread on VF doing it, so what its not big brother taking over, or is it. Ok out with the tin foil hat again :)

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#922200 26-Oct-2013 19:42

I really don't see the issue. I think NZ is the exception and not the rule when it comes to locking phones. You look at everywhere else around the world and they even lock their top end phones.

If you don't want to be loyal to a provider, who is selling you a handest below cost, then be prepared to pay more. Fair enough I say.

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#922204 26-Oct-2013 19:54

$80 Android phones are the reason girls buy iPhones, they cheap out and buy a cheap slow bloated hardware that's branded as a 'Smartphone' and are then put off Android for good, and because their friends iPhone doesn't suck and their LG most certainly does, they rule out high end Android and go straight to iPhone.

Locked Phones are also a terrible idea, why are we going backwards?

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#922206 26-Oct-2013 19:57

why are we going backwards??

there is no evidence they will lock more expensive phones and common sense would say that unless all telco's collude then it won't happen.

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#922210 26-Oct-2013 20:07

macuser: Locked Phones are also a terrible idea, why are we going backwards?

How are we going backwards?

There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. People can't have cheap pricing and subsidised low end phones. Companies need to make money somewhere.

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#922211 26-Oct-2013 20:08

These phones probably sit in a market space where loyalty is relatively low and there is a need to recoup costs?

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#922212 26-Oct-2013 20:09

jeffnz: why are we going backwards??

there is no evidence they will lock more expensive phones and common sense would say that unless all telco's collude then it won't happen.

If this does creep up to high end phones, or longer lock periods it will become a bigger issue. Regardless - why should I have to pay more to be free to use the thing I own, however I want. The power of modern networks is that they're all compatible.

They should just do AD supported lock screens.

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