My Favourites on XT/Telecom

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › My Favourites on XT/Telecom - no TXTs??

ahmad

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#38219 26-Jul-2009 10:30

I have been considering a move to XT and presumed that "My Favourites" was essentially identical to Vodafone's "Best Mate" offering.

However having just read the fine print, I see that "My Favourites" is for voice calls only??

Doesn't include TXT/SMS, video calling, as Best Mates does.

I just can't understand why TXTs wouldn't be included in this - anyone else feel strongly about this? Or just me

friedCrumpet

271 posts

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#239039 26-Jul-2009 11:57

It depends on your usage patterns, XT offers text packages on prepay that vodafone doesn't, so for example I was on vodafone and had my wife as a best mate, but also spent another $20 or more per month on text messages to other people. Now on XT I can buy a $6 text package (150 texts) and have the my favourites for ringing my wife and save money over what I was spending before.

richms

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#239068 26-Jul-2009 13:25

I know someone who cranks thru the mins on video calls with vodafone because they have a security camera that does video calling. I should probably mention this to them before they think of changing to XT - probably a non issue at the moment with no 2100 XT working... but its still something to keep in mind.

Oh for a dual sim 3g handset.... with 850MHz...

Richard rich.ms

sinister1981

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#239188 26-Jul-2009 21:51

I plan to buy an iphone in the next few weeks and really want to put it onto the XT network. My wife however sends alot of text messages my way during the course of the day, probably around 4 - 5 hundred a month! I simply cannot convince her to switch to XT as my favourite does not include text. The only text bundle that would keep her happy would be the 600 for $12 and I would still need my favourite on top of that, taking the total spend to $18 x 2 a month. 3 times more than our average spend on vodafone! It doesn't make any sense why they wouldn't add txt to my favourite to compete with vodafone. If they did, I would have already switched over by now.

Looks like I'm gonna have to deal with the iphone on voda for the time being. Lucky for me, I can't get a 3G signal in work anyway, so the main advantage to being on XT with an iphone is lost for the 8 hours I'm in work.

Alternatively, I could just make her switch to XT and not give her the text bundle, then I wouldn't have to deal with the 4 - 5 hundred pointless texts a month.......

richms

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#239198 26-Jul-2009 22:27

Its her phone, perhaps she will stop nagging you so much if it starts to cost her?

Richard rich.ms

ahmad

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#239217 27-Jul-2009 00:13

I did think before posting this that it might be pointless but I hope someone at XT/Telecom is reading because I can't see the logic in it at all and it obviously is a barrier to some people including myself making a switch to XT.

sinister1981

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#239226 27-Jul-2009 07:20

richms: Its her phone, perhaps she will stop nagging you so much if it starts to cost her?

It is tempting. We don't keep our money seperate though, it'll end up hurting my wallet as much as hers! Still, it's a better set up now to what it used to be in the UK. I paid for her phone contract there, so I ended up paying for her to nag me - what a dick!

RedJungle

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#239282 27-Jul-2009 10:29

I have to say, I'd assumed the same.. That TXT messaging to "friends" would be free.

That's a bit dissapointing, I was about to set that up.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

tdgeek

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#239365 27-Jul-2009 15:32

Re TXT and My Favourites

I am seeking a response on this topic, hopefully will get back to you Tuesday.

Tony
Telecom ORT

n00dy

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#239377 27-Jul-2009 16:13

My Favourite was always aimed at voice calling, it was never promoted with the txt option. With the current setup of "extra" I think they are trying to keep the majority happy, some people are not interested in txt others are not interested in voice, the the txt , favourite, you can choose what suits you best. if you has a favourite where your calls are free why would you bother to txt, faster to call the person and talk

ahmad

1937 posts

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#239407 27-Jul-2009 17:32

n00dy: My Favourite was always aimed at voice calling, it was never promoted with the txt option. With the current setup of "extra" I think they are trying to keep the majority happy, some people are not interested in txt others are not interested in voice, the the txt , favourite, you can choose what suits you best. if you has a favourite where your calls are free why would you bother to txt, faster to call the person and talk

Hey if Vodafone can do Best Mates (and beat Telecom to it), then Telecom can follow suit if it chooses to.

The fact is a lot of us are on Vodafone and having to change behaviour patterns is yet another barrier to switching.

"On-net" TXTs are not going to cost much money (essentially the infrastructure cost only), so I see no good reason why Telecom/XT cannot improve My Favourites. Unless it's because people will complain that they cannot TXT to landlines (I can see people doing it now

tdgeek: Re TXT and My Favourites

I am seeking a response on this topic, hopefully will get back to you Tuesday.

Tony
Telecom ORT

Thank you so much for this. It really is one of the last remaining barriers for me (and it seems others) to making the leap to XT.

ahmad

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#239796 28-Jul-2009 15:39

Well I have a response from Telecom which I couldn't help interpret as a "thanks for contacting us but we aren't going to do anything about it; have your heard about our other services?" typical response:

Thank you for your email.

It's difficult to predict or speculate on what changes may occur to our mobile plans in the future. While My Favourites doesn?t currently include txt, it does include the ability to nominate New Zealand landlines for your calling, and we often include free Telecom TXT Extras in our offers such as the current Bebo Promotion http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/special-offers/phones/prepaid-bebo-offer

Kind regards

Looking forward to hearing what 2 Degrees plans to offer as this seems like a very inexpensive change that can be made to the current offering which could potentially win over converters. AFAIK on-net TXTs cost very very little to the provider.