Making the switch from Voda

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Making the switch from Voda

cookernz

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#34707 28-May-2009 22:45

I am trying to get this crystal clear before I get peppered with questions (from friends & family) over the weekend. We know that you need a 3G 850Mhz phone to work on XT (list of worldwide available handsets previously posted here). However the only *VF* range handsets I can find that are switchable look like:

- iPhone
- Blackberry Bold
- A couple of nokia’s.

My two questions:

Am I missing something? Or are these really the only VF mobiles that can come across? If so, its seems to be a tiny number of users who can move without buying another phone. Its like a technology lock-in all over again. (Argh)

Are 850Mhz capable handsets becoming the norm? I.e. will we see most mobiles that come out from now on being compatible with 850 as well as the other bands (that VF and maybe 2d will use)?

Kickass

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#219005 28-May-2009 22:50

at least for another year or two.... there will be two different versions of most major phones in NZ.

Quad Band GSM , with 850/2100 (or 850/1900/2100) WCDMA - Telecom

and

Quad band GSM with 900/2100 WCDMA - Vodafone

For a while nokia was manufactoring 850/2100 3G only models like the 6500 Nokia but now provides two or three kinds with different bands e.g E71-1,E71-2,E71-3.

Its gonna be confusing for the next few years but hopefully soon we will see some quad band WCDMA phones in New Zealand.

scottjpalmer

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#219055 28-May-2009 23:41

"Axe" made a list elsewhere

Blackberry Bold
iPhone 3G
Nokia 6500 slide.
SE K850i
Nokia 6600 Fold
Nokia e51
Nokia 5610

Make sure you double check actual phone specs though . . .

cookernz

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#219131 29-May-2009 08:34

@scottjpalmer Thanks for the list. I think you're sig is the quick answer for the weekend questions:

YOUR VODAFONE MOBILE PHONE PROBABLY WON'T WORK ON THE NEW TELECOM XT NETWORK - THE FREQUENCIES ARE DIFFERENT

I just had a look at the XT site and it says...

'Your current mobile from another provider may be able to work on the new XT mobile network if you purchase a Telecom SIM'

I'm suprised they'd write that. It applies to such a tiny %age of NZ users (a couple of %?). Its going to add to the confusion.

scottjpalmer

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#219164 29-May-2009 09:39

cookernz: @scottjpalmer Thanks for the list.? I think you're sig is the quick answer for the weekend questions:

YOUR VODAFONE MOBILE PHONE PROBABLY WON'T WORK ON THE NEW TELECOM XT NETWORK - THE FREQUENCIES ARE DIFFERENT

I just had a look at the XT site and it says...

'Your current mobile from another provider may be able to work on the new XT mobile network if you purchase a Telecom SIM'

I'm suprised they'd write that.? It applies to such a tiny %age of NZ users (a couple of %?).? Its going to add to the confusion.

Updated my sig to be more helpful. Good to see someone at Telecom thought of offering this service :-)

mjb

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#219165 29-May-2009 09:45

The 2100MHz side will work.... :)

contentsofsignaturemaysettleduringshipping

RedJungle

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#219268 29-May-2009 12:52

I wouldn't rush down to switch just yet. I just waited 45 minutes at the Napier Telecom store, only to be told "we can't port numbers until Tuesday". Launch FAIL.