Telecom completes first test calls on WCDMA network

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nzbnw

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#19022 1-Feb-2008 23:22

According to the NBR, Telecom has conducted its first test calls over its new and unfinished WCDMA network. Telecom has confirmed approximately 100 cell sites exist with WCDMA equipment installed, mainly in Auckland.

I wounder how the GSM 850 EDGE roll out it coming along?

http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=20001&cid=3&cname=Technology

nzbnw

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#108090 2-Feb-2008 00:48

I was having a look at Parallel Imported and at Ferrit to see who offers Quad Band GSM phones in NZ at a reasonable price.

Unless you want to pay $500 or more, there don't seem to be many options. This could severely limit the uptake of Telecom's GSM network among Prepay users, Students and the like.

Does anybody have any links to Quad Band GSM phones available for $200 or less?

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#108103 2-Feb-2008 07:40

grant_k: Unless you want to pay $500 or more, there don't seem to be many options. This could severely limit the uptake of Telecom's GSM network among Prepay users, Students and the like.

I'd expect them to range tri-band handsets, but supporting 850/1800/1900 (like the USA handsets) rather than 900/1800/1900 you normally see here. Tis will give them access to lower price devices, and also has the pleasant (for Telecom) side effect that the lack of 900 support is a barrier for the customer to move to Vodafone and using their Telecom hndset....

Comments are my own, don't blame my employer...

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#108104 2-Feb-2008 07:46

nzbnw:
According to the NBR, Telecom has conducted its first test calls over its new and unfinished WCDMA network. Telecom has confirmed approximately 100 cell sites exist with WCDMA equipment installed, mainly in Auckland.

I wounder how the GSM 850 EDGE roll out it coming along?

http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=20001&cid=3&cname=Technology

nzbnw

My favourite quote:

Telecom’s Gen-i national mobile manager Joe Caccioppoli said... “We don’t believe that anybody knows whether CDMA or WCDMA is going to win the race.”

Ohhhh reaalllly? I'm pretty sure I know...

Comments are my own, don't blame my employer...

sbiddle

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#108105 2-Feb-2008 08:24

BigFella:
nzbnw:
According to the NBR, Telecom has conducted its first test calls over its new and unfinished WCDMA network. Telecom has confirmed approximately 100 cell sites exist with WCDMA equipment installed, mainly in Auckland.

I wounder how the GSM 850 EDGE roll out it coming along?

http://www.nbr.co.nz/home/column_article.asp?id=20001&cid=3&cname=Technology

nzbnw

My favourite quote:
Telecom’s Gen-i national mobile manager Joe Caccioppoli said... “We don’t believe that anybody knows whether CDMA or WCDMA is going to win the race.”

Ohhhh reaalllly? I'm pretty sure I know...

I couldn't help but laugh when I read that. The only reason Telecom are rolling out WCDMA & GSM is because the race has already been run and a winner found!

mckenndk

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#108110 2-Feb-2008 08:53

BigFella:

My favourite quote:
Telecom’s Gen-i national mobile manager Joe Caccioppoli said... “We don’t believe that anybody knows whether CDMA or WCDMA is going to win the race.”

Ohhhh reaalllly? I'm pretty sure I know...

Well if I went back to NZ at the moment I would go with Vodafone as telecom does not currently support my N95 and any of my friends going to NZ from here won't be able to use telecoms network as they don't have CDMA phones over here.

I believe the main reason for doing this is due to roaming and they have been pritty much forced to do it as their clients that go to aussie uk etc won't be able to use their handsets on the networks overseas and have to buy or rent a handset that is supported in the country they are going to.
Getting overseas people to use telecoms network while they are in NZ will just be a bonus way of making money to help pay for the installiation of the network.

Hopefully they will have their network up and running in November when I return to the mother land so I can look at both companys for the best deal.

Dion

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nzbnw

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#108115 2-Feb-2008 09:15

mckenndk:
Hopefully they will have their network up and running in November when I return to the mother land so I can look at both companys for the best deal.

Dion

EX Gen-i

Thats the plan, November 2008.

nzbnw

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nzbnw

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#108116 2-Feb-2008 09:17

BigFella:
grant_k: Unless you want to pay $500 or more, there don't seem to be many options. This could severely limit the uptake of Telecom's GSM network among Prepay users, Students and the like.

I'd expect them to range tri-band handsets, but supporting 850/1800/1900 (like the USA handsets) rather than 900/1800/1900 you normally see here. Tis will give them access to lower price devices, and also has the pleasant (for Telecom) side effect that the lack of 900 support is a barrier for the customer to move to Vodafone and using their Telecom hndset....

Mmm the problem with that is again the main reason for switching to WCDM / GSM, Australian Roaming. Sure you will be able to use WCDMA in Aussie, but then what if you roam outside those areas.

BigFella:
My favourite quote:
Telecom’s Gen-i national mobile manager Joe Caccioppoli said... “We don’t believe that anybody knows whether CDMA or WCDMA is going to win the race.”

Ohhhh reaalllly? I'm pretty sure I know...

LOL, I think we all know.

nzbnw

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#108370 3-Feb-2008 22:48

Would it be possible to "see" Telecoms WCDMA network if you say did a manual network search on quad-band device? I have a Telecom roaming SIM card. Would this allow me to connect to the network in any way at all?

nzbnw

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#108375 3-Feb-2008 23:20

adamj: Would it be possible to "see" Telecoms WCDMA network if you say did a manual network search on quad-band device? I have a Telecom roaming SIM card. Would this allow me to connect to the network in any way at all?

Not sure, but in any case you would not need a quad band device to pick up the WCDMA network, as it operates on the 2100 MHz frequency. Only the GSM EDGE network will use the 850 MHz frequency.

nzbnw

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#108454 4-Feb-2008 12:27

nzbnw:
adamj: Would it be possible to "see" Telecoms WCDMA network if you say did a manual network search on quad-band device? I have a Telecom roaming SIM card. Would this allow me to connect to the network in any way at all?

Not sure, but in any case you would not need a quad band device to pick up the WCDMA network, as it operates on the 2100 MHz frequency. Only the GSM EDGE network will use the 850 MHz frequency.

nzbnw

I'm in the Wellington CBD, not sure if they have any towers here with active equiptment but I put my Telecom roaming sim into my Nokia N73 and did a manual network search but it would only pick up Vodafone NZ (But would not connect to it - obviously)

wongtop

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#108458 4-Feb-2008 12:39

Nokia 6085 is Quad band GSM - $150 - no 3G though.

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DjShadow

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#108465 4-Feb-2008 13:08

I just tried doing a Network search also using my N95 (Vodafone Sim) in the Hamilton CBD (next to the central exchange) and it only detected 2G/3G Vodafone only.

grant_k

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#108467 4-Feb-2008 13:14

wongtop: Nokia 6085 is Quad band GSM - $150 - no 3G though.

Cheers for that

3G is not necessary for our family.

I just checked on Parallel Imported web site, but the nearest they have is Nokia 6080, but they don't say whether it is Quad Band or not. I'll check up on it later when I have more time.

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#108470 4-Feb-2008 13:20

grant_k:
wongtop: Nokia 6085 is Quad band GSM - $150 - no 3G though.

Cheers for that 3G is not necessary for our family.

I just checked on Parallel Imported web site, but the nearest they have is Nokia 6080, but they don't say whether it is Quad Band or not. I'll check up on it later when I have more time.

http://store.vodafone.co.nz/Mobile_details_Summary.aspx?ptrecno=3247 - It's $249 on that site tho

http://www.dse.co.nz/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/E3504 - But only $149 at DSE - Clearance stock tho

BrentR

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#108487 4-Feb-2008 14:07

Motorola V3 is also Quad band.. Plenty on TradeMe.

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