Buying a Samsung Galaxy S2 and running on the X2 network: some questions

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Buying a Samsung Galaxy S2 and running on the X2 network: some questions

frednz

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#90684 27-Sep-2011 20:20

I am in the market for a Samsung Galaxy S2 and I see that on a prepaid plan, Telecom sells it for $1099, Vodafone for $1199, and Dick Smith (DSE) for $999.

Is there any reason why I should buy the phone from Telecom or Vodafone rather than from DSE?

Telecom advised me to make sure that if I buy the phone elsewhere and I wish to run it on the XT network, I need to ensure that it has both WCDMA 850 and 2100 frequencies.

DSE sells the S2 “unlocked”, so is there any reason why it wouldn’t have both WCDMA 850 and 2100 frequencies operational?

It seems that if you buy the S2 from Telecom or Vodafone they put some of their own software on it before you buy it, is this correct?

Thanks for your help.

Fred

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#526454 27-Sep-2011 20:31

Unlocked will be just fine, mine is unlocked from the UK and I've used it on both networks. Why not buy local parallel imported? Can be had for under $800 that way...

I'm not sure how much Telecom/Vodafone have messed with the phone software, but there is pretty much no case to be made for carriers improving the software, so I always give them a wide berth.

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heavenlywild

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#526457 27-Sep-2011 20:34

I agree with NZTechFreak. Simply get it via a parallel importer and Bob's your uncle. It can run on any network flawlessly thanks to it's wide ranging frequency bands.

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frednz

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#526471 27-Sep-2011 20:59

heavenlywild: I agree with NZTechFreak. Simply get it via a parallel importer and Bob's your uncle. It can run on any network flawlessly thanks to it's wide ranging frequency bands.

Thanks very much for your replies. I have had a look on the "pricespy" site, and I agree that you can buy the S2 for less than $800 with a parallel import deal. But, what happens if you need to get the phone serviced under guarantee, will Samsung NZ deal with the problem for you, or does the phone need to go back overseas?

I have heard that you are a lot "safer" buying with a NZ guarantee, even if this does cost you a couple of hundred dollars more?

Thanks

Fred

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#526477 27-Sep-2011 21:12

If you buy from a local parallel importer then you have a NZ guarantee - they are obliged to provide it and cover warranty issues like anyone else selling in NZ.

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matt45

311 posts

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#526478 27-Sep-2011 21:14

im not sure if parallel imported has changed their fix/repair process science i delt with them a year or so ago, but i returned a amp faulty and it took them weeks to repair it just to have it break a month later out of warranty. know of people who have had similar issues with phones and cameras. Thats not to say that the product is more likely to break, its not, its the same apart from maybe software.

There is more than 1 version of the S2 in terms of radio chipset as they are sold for many different networks around the world, to work on telecom correctly it MUST have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM).

2c: my workmate has got one ... if only that screen was in my iPhone! looks great.

Shameless plug:
I have just been given one as part of a plan resign (telecom) which i don't intend to use (its still sealed in the box) as i have an iPhone which plays nicer with my iMac than any android will.
If you are interested send me a PM. (i don't expect you to get $1100 for it)
Got receipt and all for warranty (@ telecom store)

matt45

311 posts

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#526481 27-Sep-2011 21:18

NZtechfreak: If you buy from a local parallel importer then you have a NZ guarantee - they are obliged to provide it and cover warranty issues like anyone else selling in NZ.

This is true and no doubt they will .... but consumer law states "within a reasonable timeframe" for solutions and they tend to stretch this ALOT from my experience. if someone took my phone for 4 weeks i would go ape!

frednz

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#526485 27-Sep-2011 21:25

NZtechfreak: If you buy from a local parallel importer then you have a NZ guarantee - they are obliged to provide it and cover warranty issues like anyone else selling in NZ.

Thanks, I realise the NZ Consumer Guarantee legislation gives you some peace of mind, but I wondered whether people may experience longer delays getting a parallel imported phone serviced, particularly if the unit is sent overseas for servicing?

Can a parallel importer get the NZ Samsung people to service a Galaxy S2 if it is faulty during the warranty period, or does the phone have to be sent to some overseas destination?

Incidentally, I guess DSE do not sell parallel imported phones, is that correct?

Thanks
Fred

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matt45

311 posts

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#526487 27-Sep-2011 21:30

frednz:
NZtechfreak: If you buy from a local parallel importer then you have a NZ guarantee - they are obliged to provide it and cover warranty issues like anyone else selling in NZ.

Thanks, I realise the NZ Consumer Guarantee legislation gives you some peace of mind, but I wondered whether people may experience longer delays getting a parallel imported phone serviced, particularly if the unit is sent overseas for servicing?

Can a parallel importer get the NZ Samsung people to service a Galaxy S2 if it is faulty during the warranty period, or does the phone have to be sent to some overseas destination?

Incidentally, I guess DSE do not sell parallel imported phones, is that correct?

Thanks
Fred

DSE do not sell parallel imported phones.

as above in my experience the repair timeframe has been weeks. my 1st gen iPhone was an import and that took over a month when half the screen died... that was a $1600 phone!

most importers will use a third party repairer and then wear the cost themselves... samsung nz wouldn't have a bar of them as its not an international warranty.

frednz

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#526489 27-Sep-2011 21:31

matt45: im not sure if parallel imported has changed their fix/repair process science i delt with them a year or so ago, but i returned a amp faulty and it took them weeks to repair it just to have it break a month later out of warranty. know of people who have had similar issues with phones and cameras. Thats not to say that the product is more likely to break, its not, its the same apart from maybe software.

There is more than 1 version of the S2 in terms of radio chipset as they are sold for many different networks around the world, to work on telecom correctly it MUST have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM).

2c: my workmate has got one ... if only that screen was in my iPhone! looks great.

Shameless plug:
I have just been given one as part of a plan resign (telecom) which i don't intend to use (its still sealed in the box) as i have an iPhone which plays nicer with my iMac than any android will.
If you are interested send me a PM. (i don't expect you to get $1100 for it)
Got receipt and all for warranty (@ telecom store)

Thanks for your reply. From the earlier replies received to my questions, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S2 does have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM) - is there any reason why an S2 bought from DSE would not have these frequencies?

Thanks for your offer, but I generally like dealing with DSE if their price is right!

Thanks
Fred

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#526491 27-Sep-2011 21:35

That's true that you may end up with longer time frames via a Parallel Importer. That said I can give anecdotal cases of people being without their electronic devices for very long periods when places like DSE have sent them for warranty repair too though. That's the problem with anecdotal evidence. Up to the OP at the end of the day, pros and cons to each approach.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

matt45

311 posts

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#526493 27-Sep-2011 21:36

frednz:

Thanks for your reply. From the earlier replies received to my questions, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S2 does have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM) - is there any reason why an S2 bought from DSE would not have these frequencies?

Thanks for your offer, but I generally like dealing with DSE if their price is right!

Thanks
Fred

If its sold as a telecom phone then yes it most defiantly will be 850/2100 WCDMA

what I'm saying is if it's sold as a Vodafone phone its not necessarily the same.

frednz

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#526494 27-Sep-2011 21:45

matt45:
frednz:

Thanks for your reply. From the earlier replies received to my questions, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S2 does have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM) - is there any reason why an S2 bought from DSE would not have these frequencies?

Thanks for your offer, but I generally like dealing with DSE if their price is right!

Thanks
Fred

If its sold as a telecom phone then yes it most defiantly will be 850/2100 WCDMA

what I'm saying is if it's sold as a Vodafone phone its not necessarily the same.

Thanks, I don't think DSE sell their phones as either Telecom or Vodafone phones, they might deal with 2 Degrees? But, DSE say the S2 is unlocked, so perhaps it should automatically work on both Telecom and Vodafone networks?

Thanks
Fred

NZtechfreak

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#526496 27-Sep-2011 21:49

matt45:
frednz:

Thanks for your reply. From the earlier replies received to my questions, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S2 does have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM) - is there any reason why an S2 bought from DSE would not have these frequencies?

Thanks for your offer, but I generally like dealing with DSE if their price is right!

Thanks
Fred

If its sold as a telecom phone then yes it most defiantly will be 850/2100 WCDMA

what I'm saying is if it's sold as a Vodafone phone its not necessarily the same.

matt45: It's a quad band phone, it will work on both whoever sells it.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

matt45

311 posts

Ultimate Geek

#526498 27-Sep-2011 21:53

NZtechfreak:
matt45:
frednz:

Thanks for your reply. From the earlier replies received to my questions, it seems that the Samsung Galaxy S2 does have 850/2100 WCDMA/HSDPA (NOT JUST 850 GSM) - is there any reason why an S2 bought from DSE would not have these frequencies?

Thanks for your offer, but I generally like dealing with DSE if their price is right!

Thanks
Fred

If its sold as a telecom phone then yes it most defiantly will be 850/2100 WCDMA

what I'm saying is if it's sold as a Vodafone phone its not necessarily the same.

matt45: It's a quad band phone, it will work on both whoever sells it.

Not according to Samsungs site

http://www.samsung.com/nz/consumer/mobile-phone/mobile-phone/smartphone/GT-I9100LKAVNZ/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&tab=specification

NZtechfreak

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#526500 27-Sep-2011 21:54

Sorry, their own information is incorrect (this is not a first for Samsung).

This is accurate:
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9100_galaxy_s_ii-3621.php

I own one of these and have used it on both networks also.

Twitter: @nztechfreak
Blogs: HeadphoNZ.org

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