Spark Open Term Plan Changes? (27/2)

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Spark Open Term Plan Changes? (27/2)

taneb1

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#165994 27-Feb-2015 07:52

Looks like Spark have updated the Data plans that come with their $59 and $79 plans this morning

Unless they have more changes planed, it's really disappointing to see their $39 plan left behind and taking a decrease in data by 250MB a month and 100 Minutes (Comparing to 2degrees $39 plan offering 1.5GB of data a month)

Also odd they are not offering unlimited texts to Australia but unlimited calls are available.

http://www.spark.co.nz/shop/mobile/plansandpricing.html

$39 Open Term

300 Minutes (NZ Only - Decrease of 100 minutes)
Unlimited Texts
1GB Data (Decrease of 0.25GB a month)
1GB Wifi a day

$59 Open Term

Unlimited Talk to NZ/Aus Phones (Previously 600 Minutes)
Unlimited Text to NZ Online
2.5GB Data (Increase of 1GB)
Spotify Premium
1GB Wifi a day

$79 Open Term

Unlimited Talk to NZ/Aus Phones
Unlimited Text to NZ Online
5GB Data (Increase of 2.5GB)
Spotify Premium
1GB Wifi a day

Any comments made are my personal views and does not represent those of my employer

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#1247527 27-Feb-2015 08:01

Have they made the $39 one worse? I thought they updated last year to include 1.25GB data and 400minutes of chat time - now it has gone backwards?

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Benjip

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#1247538 27-Feb-2015 08:31

Woohoo! This is fantastic news and is enough to stop me from switching to 2degrees' new plans. I'm on the $79 plan and that data increase is just what I was after with 2degrees.

Thanks Spark!

Stu

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#1247539 27-Feb-2015 08:32

Ouch. Disappointing. Yes, given more to the other plans at the expense of those on the $39 plan.

It kinda looks like they don't want to compete in the lower end of the market at all? The same plan on Vodafone at least includes calling and texting to Aus. 2Degrees looks to be better again. Sorry Spark, but we might be parting ways in the mobile market this year. We're not all interested in moving to Skinny and/or prepay, sorry.

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corksta

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#1247540 27-Feb-2015 08:33

24 month plans have changed too. 10GB on the $139 one.

freitasm

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#1247544 27-Feb-2015 08:35

Here's the press release:

Spark continues to reinvent what is expected from a mobile provider with an announcement today that it is packing a whole lot more value into its pay-monthly mobile plans. The new plan line-up includes substantially bigger mobile data allowances and unlimited calling on the $59 open-term plan and above.

Spark Home, Mobile and Business Chief Executive Chris Quin says that when combined with free Spotify Premium, free WiFi and the option of adding Spark Socialiser –underpinned by New Zealand’s largest 4G network and great customer service - Spark’s new mobile plans are in a league of their own.

“Many customers tell us their smartphones are now the most important thing they own. The average smartphone user checks their phone 150 times a day, more than two thirds of us check our phone before we get out of bed in the morning, and we all know that sick feeling when you arrive at work and realise you’ve left your phone at home,” says Quin.

“The question is no longer whether you want or need a smartphone. The question is what sort of experience you want to have when you’re using it. Our customers tell us great coverage and 4G data speeds are becoming minimum requirements, and the new frontier is digital services – music, video, social media. More than half of us listen to music on our phones, and that’s why we offer free Spotify Premium. Almost 2 million of us use Facebook every day, and that’s why we launched Spark Socialiser.

Spark’s $59 open-term plan now includes 2.5GB and unlimited person-to-person calling to New Zealand and Australian standard numbers. Spark is also substantially increasing data allowances for the $79 plan and above (details in the table below). The entry-level $39 plan will remain the same for existing customers, but will see a slight reduction in data and minutes for new customers. This is in recognition that Spark is investing more into the mid-size plans, which are becoming increasingly popular as customers rely on their mobiles for more and more.

Quin says the new plans complement Spark’s broadband offer nicely.

“If you have both your mobile and broadband with Spark, then for as little as $148 a month you can have your digital, video and music life covered – unlimited home broadband data, more than 6,000 hours of insanely good TV through your included 12-month Lightbox subscription3, access to 20 million songs on Spotify premium, unlimited standard mobile minutes (to Australia and within NZ), unlimited standard texts, 2.5GB of mobile data and 1GB of free WiFi every day. That’s quite a package.”

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firefuze

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#1247545 27-Feb-2015 08:35

Not related to the thread topic of Open Term, but the 24 Month fixed term plans have also changed.

Only $99 or $139 fixed termed plans are available, there were $49 and $69 fixed term plans previously available in addition to the $99 and $139, these are now gone.

The $99 and $139 plans have had data allowance upgrades. 5GB and 10GB respectively

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old3eyes

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#1247546 27-Feb-2015 08:37

Benjip: Woohoo! This is fantastic news and is enough to stop me from switching to 2degrees' new plans. I'm on the $79 plan and that data increase is just what I was after with 2degrees.

Thanks Spark!

Just as a matter of interest how do you justify a $79 plan unless it's your primary phone and internet access or it's a business account??

Regards,

Old3eyes

rendezvous

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#1247550 27-Feb-2015 08:42

It's nice to see some high data plans, but at the same time is disappointing that the allocated data has been reduced on cheaper plans. $39 for 1GB of data? That's pretty steep.

Wade

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#1247556 27-Feb-2015 08:53

BigHammer: Ouch. Disappointing. Yes, given more to the other plans at the expense of those on the $39 plan.

It kinda looks like they don't want to compete in the lower end of the market at all? The same plan on Vodafone at least includes calling and texting to Aus. 2Degrees looks to be better again. Sorry Spark, but we might be parting ways in the mobile market this year. We're not all interested in moving to Skinny and/or prepay, sorry.

Funny you mention that as it was exactly what i thought yesterday when the Skinny $46 plan was announced, Spark obviously see their offerings as being worth a premium over the rest of the market

Interesting that Spark have still not conceded to rollover data

openmedia

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#1247626 27-Feb-2015 10:50

Very disappointing in the changes to the $39 plan but pleased to see OZ calls coming in on the more expensive plans.

Still not enough to move back from Skinny.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

heavenlywild

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#1247628 27-Feb-2015 10:57

I assume people already on the $39 plan will still get their usual allocation of minutes and data going forward?

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Stu

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#1247641 27-Feb-2015 11:17

Yes, in the press release above "The entry-level $39 plan will remain the same for existing customers"

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

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Bee

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#1247710 27-Feb-2015 12:16

Waited all week for this. Really? resume moving to 2 Degrees!

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jeeg

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#1247969 27-Feb-2015 17:24

I see that the cheapest on contract plan is now $99.

Kind of backwards, it's like they don't want customer on contract and prefers them on open-contract plans.

nakedmolerat

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#1247981 27-Feb-2015 18:12

jeeg: I see that the cheapest on contract plan is now $99.

Kind of backwards, it's like they don't want customer on contract and prefers them on open-contract plans.

But you get phone discounts on the 24 months.

The way how I see it, Spark is trying to differentiate their plan as a premium offering and Skinny as the cheaper brother.

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