Telecom XT - Smart Phones; Stupid Plans. What do you think?

Forums › Spark New Zealand › Telecom XT - Smart Phones; Stupid Plans. What do you think?

ahmad

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Topic # 65049 28-Jul-2010 15:49

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/ahmad/7342

Just wrote the above based on shopping around for plans suitable for an iPhone.

What are your thoughts on it? I get the feeling Telecom doesn't' give a hoot about us customers that don't do a lot of voice calling. They seem to be catering to the corporate market?

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Reply # 357789 28-Jul-2010 15:55

Disagree with your contention that 2 degrees services won't be available to you in Dunedin. If you are considering Vodafone, then 2 degrees is just as viable.

Also in respect of voice calls, whilst I don't know your usage patterns, I can tell you having switched from 2d->Vf->2d again, the period I was with Vodafone I called far less because it was expensive (on prepay mind you). I think if you get on a carrier/plan which gives you choices in regards its pricing structure, then your usage patterns may adjust accordingly. I no longer cringe as I make a phone call, whilst with Vodafone I assiduously avoided it.

Behodar

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Reply # 357792 28-Jul-2010 16:01

I don't use voice much either so I use prepaid voice plus the 500 MB mobile broadband pack. I'm happy with the price.

ahmad

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Reply # 357793 28-Jul-2010 16:07

walt12: Disagree with your contention that 2 degrees services won't be available to you in Dunedin. If you are considering Vodafone, then 2 degrees is just as viable.

Also in respect of voice calls, whilst I don't know your usage patterns, I can tell you having switched from 2d->Vf->2d again, the period I was with Vodafone I called far less because it was expensive (on prepay mind you). I think if you get on a carrier/plan which gives you choices in regards its pricing structure, then your usage patterns may adjust accordingly. I no longer cringe as I make a phone call, whilst with Vodafone I assiduously avoided it.

Disagree all you like but Customer Service does not believe that I will get 3G coverage in Dunedin, and this concurs with leaked information on the internet from retailers that 2 Degrees "fast 3G" will be available in particular "zones" - almost certainly this means that you will only get 3G coverage from 2 Degrees's own cellphone tower/sites.

hellonearthisman

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Reply # 357802 28-Jul-2010 16:24

For the amount of data your using, the 2 degrees non 3g speeds would be sufficient though.

ahmad

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Reply # 357804 28-Jul-2010 16:26

hellonearthisman: For the amount of data your using, the 2 degrees non 3g speeds would be sufficient though.

You pulling my leg?

NonprayingMantis

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Reply # 357806 28-Jul-2010 16:27

I put comments on the blog, but it's much easier here. (for some reaosn I have to authorise every single comment from an email. what a pain)

Are you speaking from your own personal usage, or just low voice users in general?

On XT low voice users are nearly always better of on prepaid - all the same data and txt extras are available there, but with bonus topup toomaking them a lot cheaper than on postpaid.

It also allows for more flexibility. the iPhone 40 plan gives yo a good subsidy, but is only really good if you know your usage is going to be pretty close to the allowance. too much under and you aren't getting full value for money, and too much over and you get hit with pretty hefty overage charges.

ahmad

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Reply # 357812 28-Jul-2010 16:35

I was talking total cost of ownership. While you say that we should ignore the $480 handset subsidy, if we look at the total cost of ownership over 24 months, it is noteworthy.

To use iPhone on XT prepaid you must purchase the device outright at retail cost (I'm only considering new from retailer here).

$1099 RRP for 16Gb iPhone 4

Monthly use assuming zero calling, a few TXTs, and moderate data:

$0 + $4.80 + $14.40 (presuming a minimum topup bonus of 20%) = $19.20 per month

Over 24 months that comes to $460.80 + $1099 = $1559.80

No voice minutes

150 TXTs

240Mb data

On Vodafone iPhone $40 (this presumes that the plans remain about the same price and that the handset subsidy remains $480 for a 24 month term on this plan):

$619 handset

Monthly $40 (presuming no overage on this plan or on the XT prepaid plan above)

Over 24 months that comes to $1579.00

30 voice minutes

300 TXTs

250Mb data

So for the SAME total cost over 24 months, you pay a LITTLE more but get a whole lot more (marginally more data but nothing to write home about, 30 calling minutes "included", and 300 instead of 150 TXTs).

Assume you break your contract after 12 months and pay the $175+GST penalty. You are still better off on the Vodafone plan.

Furthermore there is less upfront cost and you can spread your payments more easily.

These are simply my opinions and relies on no over-usage. By the way, this is a comparison on cost alone - I have gone on record as preferring XT for data speeds for the iPhone 3G (see signature). Some things are worth paying more for.

1eStar

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Reply # 358017 28-Jul-2010 23:09

Maybe when telecom actually start selling smart smartphones we might see some improvements in the plan offerings. My way round the voice pricing on prepaid XT is voip. Seems to work well enough, 2talk offer 15mins free to landlines per month, get a softfone that supports a low bandwidth codec [g729], data usage is approx 0.5meg a minute (I'm on 500meg plan so assume 5-6c per minute). 2talk to cellphone is 25c a minute. To landline 3c per min.

ahmad

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Reply # 358018 28-Jul-2010 23:14

1eStar: Maybe when telecom actually start selling smart smartphones we might see some improvements in the plan offerings. My way round the voice pricing on prepaid XT is voip. Seems to work well enough, 2talk offer 15mins free to landlines per month, get a softfone that supports a low bandwidth codec [g729], data usage is approx 0.5meg a minute (I'm on 500meg plan so assume 5-6c per minute). 2talk to cellphone is 25c a minute. To landline 3c per min.

Did you read the post just above yours? That just showed that you basically have to have free VoIP calling over XT before you'd have a lower Total Cost of Ownership over 24 months (and even 12 months really).

The iPhone $40 really is that good compared to any XT offering due to the subsidy. Count me extremely surprised.

SteveON

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Reply # 358024 28-Jul-2010 23:34

ahmad:
walt12: Disagree with your contention that 2 degrees services won't be available to you in Dunedin. If you are considering Vodafone, then 2 degrees is just as viable.

Also in respect of voice calls, whilst I don't know your usage patterns, I can tell you having switched from 2d->Vf->2d again, the period I was with Vodafone I called far less because it was expensive (on prepay mind you). I think if you get on a carrier/plan which gives you choices in regards its pricing structure, then your usage patterns may adjust accordingly. I no longer cringe as I make a phone call, whilst with Vodafone I assiduously avoided it.

Disagree all you like but Customer Service does not believe that I will get 3G coverage in Dunedin, and this concurs with leaked information on the internet from retailers that 2 Degrees "fast 3G" will be available in particular "zones" - almost certainly this means that you will only get 3G coverage from 2 Degrees's own cellphone tower/sites.

Have you read the forum??! Pop a 2degrees sim card in - you wont be disappointed. They have not released prices yet. FYI last weekend I had 3G on Mt Ruapehu... I am sure that 2degrees do NOT have towers up there!!!

ahmad

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Reply # 358032 28-Jul-2010 23:45

According to leaked retailer information 3G will only be in 2 Degrees "zones". Furthermore their CSRs are advising the information they currently can reveal says that 3G won't be available roaming on Vodafone (eg. in Dunedin). If that changes fine but at their currently data pack pricing it would still be cheaper on Vodafone. It is all in the subsidy and total cost of ownership.

ahmad

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Reply # 358035 28-Jul-2010 23:55

Just for you though, based on CURRENT pricing:

2 Degrees

* No voice minutes (overage at 22c or 44c/minute depending on Magic)
* 112-1000 TXTs (promo until end of 2010, after this 500; overage at 0-9c/TXT depending on Magic)
* 100Mb data

Comes to $22 per month plus voice calls as above.

I'd still go with one of the plans above unless I was a heavy caller (in this case 2 Degrees probably wins). But add more data ($6 per 50Mb) and 2 Degrees becomes very expensive.

Their focus has never been on data and it shows in the pricing.

Edit: I just saw those forum posts you refer to - it seems you should be well aware of the whole "zone" thing. Not sure why you have been making these comments knowing that the most likely scenario is that 3G will be UNavailable in Dunedin...

SteveON

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Reply # 358038 29-Jul-2010 00:03

ahmad: According to leaked retailer information 3G will only be in 2 Degrees "zones". Furthermore their CSRs are advising the information they currently can reveal says that 3G won't be available roaming on Vodafone (eg. in Dunedin). If that changes fine but at their currently data pack pricing it would still be cheaper on Vodafone. It is all in the subsidy and total cost of ownership.

STEP ONE: Go buy a 2degrees sim card, I know for a fact that they only have hardware in the three main centres but I also know for a FACT that they have roaming on Vodafone 3G - you will have 3G on 2degrees today if you pop a sim card in.

How do I know? Well I drove from Wellington To Mt Ruapehu last weekend and I had constant 3G network. Whilst I was having my Mocca at the caffe I was able to check my emails at full 3.5G speeds. Now if they have recently built their network to cover the lower north island I will be shocked because this has not been documented anywhere.

Wait till Friday, the $6 pack will NOT be the only deal.

eXDee

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Reply # 358039 29-Jul-2010 00:05

Personally i'm on prepaid with $30 for 500mb then $12 for 2500 texts. I dont make calls from my cell phone. If i did i'd use VoIP anyway.
It works out at a $40 topup gives $50 credit, then the $8 of extra credit i could use on a little bit of calling, checking voicemail etc.

I too found that plans were limiting for what i wanted from them, prepaid addons worked out much more flexible. I'd make calls if it weren't so expensive.

ahmad

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Reply # 358040 29-Jul-2010 00:09

Wow are you company cheerleader? Seems like it from a selection of posts I have seen?

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