Using a PDA with Telecom pre-paid

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MikeGayner

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# 21302 22-Apr-2008 14:42

I currently have a pre-paid Telecom phone. My Dad is getting a new PDA so is giving his old PPC-6700 PDA to me. I called Telecom and got this guy with a very thick Indian accent on the other line:

Me: Hi, I have a pre-paid Telecom phone and I'm wanting to swap the account over to a PDA I have.

Indian Guy: You can not.

Me: Huh? I can not?

Indian Guy: You can not.

Me: Why not?

Indian Guy: You can not. Our systems don't support PDAs on pre-paid accounts.

Me: Why not? I don't need 3G or anything fancy, I just want to use it as a phone.

Indian Guy: You can not.

Me: Why not?

Indian Guy: We can not connect a PDA to a pre-paid account.

Me: Even if I just want to use it as a telephone?

Indian Guy: No.

Me: Why?

Indian Guy: You can not.

Me: Can you please tell me why not?

Indian Guy: It won't work on our system.

Me: Can you please direct me to someone who can tell me why I can't use this telephone as a normal telephone on a pre-paid account.

Indian Guy: Call *123

Me: *hangs up*

I called the *123 guy and he told me the same thing but never told me why. How annoying - all I want is to use this PDA on a normal pre-paid account, why are they making this so awkward? Anyone know if this is possible?

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BDFL - Memuneh
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# 125571 22-Apr-2008 14:49

In theory it would work for voice only. But I guess Telecom can't block data access for some models or number - I am not sure - and if by mistake it connects and you pay casual data... At $8 per megabye you wouldn't be happy. So they probably just don't connect it to prevent problems.

But who know the real reason?

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rscole86

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# 125575 22-Apr-2008 15:09

Does it really matter what accent this guy has?

freitasm is right, there are reasons for them not doing it. And they are probably the same reasons that they do not sell PDA's on pre-pay.

If you are not wanting to be on account, then could you not get your mobile added the homes account? (Assuming you have a telecom landline) Ok, so its not prepay, but then you do not have to worry about seperate bills.

MikeGayner

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# 125579 22-Apr-2008 15:21

Unfortunately no, my home phone is on TelstraClear. So does anyone know what my options are here? I'm really confused about what I need for this - do I have to have a data plan or will a normal Telecom call plan work? Will it be possible to keep my pre-paid number? I'm a total newb with cell phones.

zocster

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# 125581 22-Apr-2008 15:27

Have you taken it to a store? I had to take both phones to transfer my number from one prepay phone to another.

freitasm

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# 125583 22-Apr-2008 15:28

The store will also say PDAs cannot be connected to prepaid accounts.

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zocster

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# 125584 22-Apr-2008 15:32

Hmm ok I wonder why .. would you as chief find out? Not all people need post pay on a PDA if they only will be using the off line functions?

tchart

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# 125590 22-Apr-2008 16:00

Hmmm, sounds like BS to me. Ive seen plenty of Harriers on Trademe connected to prepay accounts.

Ive got an i-mate JAQ on Vodafone Prepay. I use it mostly as a phone as I like to text using a keyboard. I have occasionally used it to check email but dont do that often. I dont mind paying exorbitant per MB fees if I do it once a year while IM away on holiday.

Cant wait for prepay data plans though.

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freitasm

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# 125592 22-Apr-2008 16:02

Vodafone Prepay has nothing to do with Telecom Prepay.

Now that this is clear, there was a time that some Telecom stores would connect PDAs to prepay accounts. This is not possible now.

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MikeGayner

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# 125595 22-Apr-2008 16:28

Can someone give me a reasonable explanation of why this isn't possible? All I want is to take this telephone and use it like any other telephone. Why is this such a big ask? Why is it "not possible"? I have zero interest in data plans or 3G or any of that fancy stuff. I just want my telephone to be a telephone.

freitasm

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# 125596 22-Apr-2008 16:29

Quoting my first reply:

freitasm: But I guess Telecom can't block data access for some models or number - I am not sure - and if by mistake it connects and you pay casual data... At $8 per megabye you wouldn't be happy. So they probably just don't connect it to prevent problems.

Also their system probably doesn't do real time data billing.

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allan

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# 125604 22-Apr-2008 16:59

The only way I know of achieving a non-plan solution is to put it on Telecom Onebill - i.e. your home account, which provides a "pay as you go" solution (which is how I have mine set up), but as you have already said that it is with TelstraClear, I don't think there is a working soluition for you.

s.joseph

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# 125605 22-Apr-2008 17:06

I had my old HTC Harrier on prepay. I just phoned them and asked to switch 2 numbers around 1 of which was a prepay and then bam! my pda was on prepay! i could sms and call. was cool

cokemaster

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# 125610 22-Apr-2008 17:20

MF and others are right on the money. You can't connect pda's to a prepaid connection.

There are a number of reasons discussed previously - data being a big reason..

The devices are not sold as prepaid devices as well....

Your best bet is to either consider a monthly plan, onebill, or to sell/swap the phone for a normal wap enabled phone.

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askelon

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# 125629 22-Apr-2008 18:10

Its strange but Ive never had any problems connecting my old one up to prepay for a friend of mine. Ive handed down two of my PDA's to him now and both times they've been switched to pre-paid with no issues. The last one was hooked up approx 2-3 months ago for the record - a Palm Treo 650 (upgraded to a 700wx).

tonyhughes

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# 125633 22-Apr-2008 18:20

Heres the unofficial low down as I see it:

Telecom have a policy to not connect PDAs onto Prepaid accounts. This is a rule. Live with it.

Why? They do not offer data plans on Prepaid because they used to be unable to bill any data on prepay at all I believe, and even now, they don't pro-actively offer data on Prepaid as a service (let alone any included MB plans).

Some existing PDAs are on Prepay due to loopholes, and reps breaking the rules (for which they could lose their jobs, so don't bother asking them to do it). The loopholes still exist, but being that I learned some of them while in the course of being employed at Gen-i, I am unable to disclose.

They have a clearly stated policy, and have never officially changed the policy. So - end result, you just can't do it.

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